Fiber optic connector receptacle assembly

• US 6,079,881 A
• Filed: 04/08/1998
• Issued: 06/27/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Molex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Molex Incorporated
• Inventors: Roth, Richard F.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGO, HUNG NHAT
• Application Number:
  US09/056,986
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 385/56, 385/59, 385/60, 385/63, 385/76, 385/78, 385/92, 385/139
• US Class Current: 385/76
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/4297 having protection means, e.g. protecting humans against accidental exposure to harmful laser radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3839 for a plurality of light guides
• 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: G02B 6/3869 Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3885 Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on

Abstract

An receptacle is provided for receiving a fiber optic connector along an optic axis. The receptacle includes a housing having an open end for receiving the fiber optic connector. A pair of shutter members are pivotally mounted on the housing at opposite sides of the open end of the housing for pivotal movement toward and away from each other to close and open the open end. The shutter members extend across the optic axis when the shutter members are closed, The shutter members are pivotable away from the optic axis upon engagement by the inserted fiber optic connector. The shutter members have inner ends which are overlapped when the shutter members are closed to ensure against light leakage along the optic axis. The fiber optic connector has a mating end which is transversely offset for engaging one of the shutter members before the other shutter member upon insertion of the connector into the open end of the receptacle.

Claims

1. An adapter assembly for mating an optical fiber of an associated fiber optic transmission means along an optic axis, comprising:

an adapter having a first receptacle end and a second receptacle end, the first receptacle end being adapted for receiving the associated fiber optic transmission means on said optic axis; and

at least a pair of shutter members pivotally mounted on the adapter at opposite sides of said first receptacle end and pivotally movable toward and away from each other to close and open the first receptacle end, the shutter members extending across the optic axis to intersect any light beams and to prevent light energy from exiting the adapter when the shutter members are closed, the shutter members being pivotable away from the optic axis upon engagement by the associated fiber optic transmission means, and the shutter members having inner ends which are overlapped when the shutter members are closed to ensure against light leakage along the optic axis.

2. The adapter assembly of claim 1, including spring means operatively associated with the shutter members for biasing the shutter members toward closed positions upon removal of the associated fiber optic transmission means.

3. The adapter assembly of claim 2 wherein said spring means comprise torsion springs operatively associated between the shutter members and the adapter.

4. The adapter assembly of claim 1 wherein said first receptacle end is generally rectangular, and including a pair of said shutter members of generally rectangular configuration for closing and opening the first receptacle end.

5. The adapter assembly of claim 1, including a shutter member pivotally mounted on the adapter for closing and opening the second receptacle end.

6. The adapter assembly of claim 1 wherein said adapter includes a main body and an end receptacle body latched to the main body, the shutter members being mounted on the end receptacle body.

7. The adapter assembly of claim 6 wherein each shutter member includes at least one pivot trunion pivoted on the end receptacle body.

8. The adapter assembly of claim 1, including an associated fiber optic transmission means having a mating end insertable into the first receptacle end and engageable with the shutter members, the mating end being transversely offset for engaging one of the shutter members before the other upon insertion into the first receptacle end.

9. A receptacle for receiving a fiber optic connector along an optic axis, comprising:

a housing having an open end for receiving the fiber optic connector inserted thereinto on said optic axis;

at least a pair of shutter members pivotally mounted on the housing at opposite sides of said open end and pivotally movable toward and away from each other to close and open said open end, the shutter members extending across the optic axis when the shutter members are closed, the shutter members being pivotable away from the optic axis upon engagement by the inserted fiber optic connector, and the shutter members having inner ends which are overlapped when the shutter members are closed; and

a spring means operatively associated with the shutter members for biasing the shutter members toward closed positions upon removal of the fiber optic connector.

10. The receptacle of claim 9 wherein said spring means comprise torsion springs operatively associated between the shutter members and the housing.

11. The receptacle of claim 9 wherein said open end of the housing is generally rectangular, and said pair of shutter members have generally rectangular configurations for closing and opening the rectangular open end.

12. An adapter assembly for mating an optical fiber of an associated fiber optic transmission means along an optic axis, comprising:

an adapter having a main body and an end receptacle body latched to the main body, the receptacle body defining a receptacle end for receiving the associated fiber optic transmission means on said optic axis;

at least a pair of shutter members pivotally mounted on the adapter at opposite sides of said receptacle end and pivotally movable toward and away from each other to close and open the receptacle end, the shutter members extending across the optic axis to intersect any light beams and to prevent light energy from exiting the adapter when the shutter members are closed, the shutter members being pivotable away from the optic axis upon engagement by the associated fiber optic transmission means, and the shutter members being pivotally mounted on the end receptacle body; and

wherein each shutter member includes at least one pivot trunion received in a Divot hole in the end receptacle body.