Universal dust cover

• US 6,041,155 A
• Filed: 12/10/1997
• Issued: 03/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Furukawa Electric North America Incorporated (Furukawa Electric Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Anderson, David C., Stephenson, Daniel Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Bovernick, Rodney
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wise, Robert E.
• Application Number:
  US08/988,520
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 385/139, 220/827, 220/831, 220/832, 359/511
• US Class Current: 385/139
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3849 using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes G02B6/3816 takes precedence; provisionally see H01R13/44
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5213 Covers

Abstract

A connector adapter and dust cover therefor are pivotably connected by means of a pivot pin on the adapter and pivot arms on the dust cover whose distal ends engage the pivot pin. The pivot pin has a cam member located intermediate its ends, and the dust cover has a spring arm between the pivot arms whose distal end engages the cam member. In the closed position, the distal end of the spring arm engages the cam below its high point. In the fully open position, the distal end of the spring arm engages the cam beyond its high point. In both positions, the spring arm bears against the cam to resist dislodgment of the dust cover from either position.

Claims

1. In combination, a coupling adapter and a dust cover wherein said adapter comprises a connector receptacle, said combination comprising:

a dust cover member having a front surface adapted to cover said receptacle;

a pivot member, said pivot member having a cam member thereon;

first and second spaced pivot arms extending toward said pivot member, each of said pivot arms having a distal end having means for pivotably engaging said pivot member; and

a spring arm extending between said dust cover and said cam member having a distal end adapted to bear against said cam member.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pivot member comprises a pivot pin extending transversely across an upper surface of said adapter and spaced therefrom, said pivot pin having first and second ends.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein said pivot pin is mounted to said adapter by means of a U-shaped cantilevered arm.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means for engaging said pivot member comprises a detent recess in the distal end of each of said pivot arms for engaging said first and second ends of said pivot pin.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein said cam member is located on said pivot pin intermediate said first and second ends.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein said spring arm is located between said first and second pivot arms.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 6 wherein the distal end of said spring arm has a curved portion for engaging said cam member.

8. The combination as claimed in claim 7 wherein said spring arm is made of a resilient fatigue resistant material.

9. The combination as claimed in claim 7 wherein said dust cover member, said pivot arms, and said spring arm are made of a resilient fatigue resistant plastic material.

10. The combination as claimed in claim 9 wherein said plastic material is a polyetherimide material.

11. The combination as claimed in claim 9 wherein said plastic material is a polysulfone material.

12. An optical dust cover for use with an optical connector adapter having a connector receptacle open at one end and pivot means thereon, said dust cover comprising:

blocking member for blocking the open end, said blocking member comprising a first transverse portion and a second transverse portion extending from said first transverse portion at an angle thereto;

first and second spaced pivot arms extending from said second transverse portion at an angle thereto, each of said pivot arms having a free distal end;

each of said distal ends having means for pivotably engaging the pivot means on the connector adapter; and

a spring arm extending from said second transverse portion at an angle thereto.

13. An optical dust cover as claimed in claim 12 wherein said spring arm extends from said second transverse portion from a location between said spaced pivot arms.

14. An optical dust cover as claimed in claim 13 wherein said dust cover is substantially L-shaped, said second transverse portion comprising an upper leg thereof and said first transverse portion comprising a depending leg thereof, said upper leg having an upper surface from which said pivot arms and said spring arm extend.

15. An optical dust cover is claimed in claim 13 wherein said spring arm is made of a resilient fatigue resistant material.

16. An optical dust cover as claimed in claim 13 wherein said dust cover, said pivot arms, and said spring are are made of a resilient, fatigue resistant plastic material.

17. An optical dust cover as claimed in claim 16 wherein said material is a polyetherimide.

18. An optical dust cover as claimed in claim 16 wherein said material is a polysufone.