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Optical connector having a one-piece housing

  • US 6,206,581 B1
  • Filed: 03/13/2000
  • Issued: 03/27/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A connector for terminating an optical fiber, the connector comprising:

  • a ferrule assembly having a first end, a second end and an axial passageway extending from the first end to the second end, the second end of the ferrule assembly adapted to maintain an end of an optical fiber in a substantially fixed position with respect to the second end of the ferrule assembly, the optical fiber passing through the axial passageway of the ferrule assembly;

    a housing having walls having exterior surfaces and internal surfaces that define a cavity adapted to receive the ferrule assembly, the housing including a deformable first opening for receiving the ferrule assembly and a second opening through which the second end of the ferrule assembly protrudes, the first and second openings of the housing being located at opposite ends of the housing and axially aligned, the first opening in the housing having a substantially rectangular shape having a first transverse dimension, said housing being made of a material sufficiently flexible to enable at least some of the walls defining said cavity in the housing to be flexed outwardly in directions transverse to the length of the housing to deform said first opening, the housing having a keying mechanism; and

    an insert having a first opening formed in a first end thereof, a second opening formed in a second end thereof, and a passageway for allowing an optical fiber to pass through the insert, the second end of the insert adapted to engage the first end of the ferrule assembly, the insert comprising a keying mechanism having a second transverse dimension greater than said first transverse dimension, the insert being adapted to be secured to the housing by pressing the insert into the housing and deforming said first opening by flexing the housing walls outwardly until the keying mechanism of the insert interlocks with the keying mechanism of the housing, the keying mechanisms preventing the insert from being inadvertently removed from the housing or rotated within the housing when the keying mechanism of the insert is interlocked with the keying mechanism of the housing.

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