Optical fiber adapter
First Claim
1. An adapter for coupling a first optical fiber connector to a second optical fiber connector, said adapter comprising:
- an elongate tubular one piece body formed about a longitudinal axis, said body having a first end and a spaced second end;
the first end of said body being sized and shaped to receive therein a first LC optical fiber connector, the second end of said body being sized and shaped to receive therein a second optical fiber connector selected from one of the group of optical fiber connectors consisting of an SC optical fiber connector, an ST®
optical fiber connector, and an FC optical fiber connector; and
an elongate tubular alignment sleeve positioned along the longitudinal axis of said body and received therein in a snap fit;
said alignment sleeve having an elongate tubular stepped body with a first end sized and shaped to receive the first optical fiber connector therein, a spaced second end sized and shaped to receive the second optical fiber connector therein, and an annular flange formed about the exterior of said stepped body intermediate the ends thereof.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A one-piece optical fiber adapter for coupling a first optical fiber connector to a second optical fiber connector is disclosed. The adapter is comprised of an elongate tubular one-piece body formed about a longitudinal axis, and has a first end and a spaced second end. The first end of the body is sized and shaped to receive any one of the several different types of optical fiber connectors therein, and the second end of the body is sized and shaped to also receive any one of the several differing types of optical fiber connectors therein. An elongate tubular alignment sleeve is positioned along the longitudinal axis of the body, and is received therein in a snap fit. In a first embodiment, an alignment sleeve holder is provided which is snap fit into the tubular body along the longitudinal axis thereof, the alignment sleeve being snap fit within the alignment sleeve holder. In a second embodiment, a stepped alignment sleeve used for coupling a 2.5 millimeter diameter ferrule to a 1.25 millimeter diameter ferrule is provided, which is also snap fit into and along the longitudinal axis of the tubular body. The body of the one-piece adapter is constructed and arranged to be snap fit within a mounting panel opening, a single size of mounting panel opening being used for mounting any one of the several embodiments of the one-piece adapter of this invention therein.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An adapter for coupling a first optical fiber connector to a second optical fiber connector, said adapter comprising:
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an elongate tubular one piece body formed about a longitudinal axis, said body having a first end and a spaced second end;
the first end of said body being sized and shaped to receive therein a first LC optical fiber connector, the second end of said body being sized and shaped to receive therein a second optical fiber connector selected from one of the group of optical fiber connectors consisting of an SC optical fiber connector, an ST®
optical fiber connector, and an FC optical fiber connector; and
an elongate tubular alignment sleeve positioned along the longitudinal axis of said body and received therein in a snap fit;
said alignment sleeve having an elongate tubular stepped body with a first end sized and shaped to receive the first optical fiber connector therein, a spaced second end sized and shaped to receive the second optical fiber connector therein, and an annular flange formed about the exterior of said stepped body intermediate the ends thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An adapter for coupling a first optical fiber connector to a second optical fiber connector, said adapter comprising:
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an elongate tubular one piece body formed about a longitudinal axis, said body having a first end and a spaced second end;
the first end of said tubular body being sized and shaped to receive an LC optical fiber connector therein, the second end of said tubular body being sized and shaped to receive an optical fiber connector therein selected from one of the group of optical fiber connectors consisting of an LC optical fiber connector, an SC optical fiber connector, an ST®
optical fiber connector, and an FC optical fiber connector;
an elongate tubular stepped alignment sleeve having a first end, a spaced second end, and an annular flange formed about the exterior of the alignment sleeve intermediate the ends thereof, said sleeve being positioned along the longitudinal axis of the tubular body and received therein in a snap fit; and
an alignment sleeve latching device for retaining the alignment sleeve within said body in said snap fit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
wherein said at least one latch gate is constructed and arranged to deformably yield to the flange of the stepped alignment sleeve as the alignment sleeve is passed thereover and along said axis while being positioned within the tubular body, and to resiliently expand thereafter for retaining the flange of the alignment sleeve within the capture gap against said at least one annular stop in said snap fit.
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13. The adapter of claim 11, wherein said stepped alignment sleeve is releaseably held within the tubular body of the adapter in said snap fit.
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14. An adapter for coupling a first optical fiber connector to a second optical fiber connector, said adapter comprising:
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an elongate tubular one piece body formed about a longitudinal axis, said body having a first end and a spaced second end;
the first end of said body being sized and shaped to receive therein a first LC optical fiber connector, the second end of said body being sized and shaped to receive therein a second optical fiber connector selected from one of the group of optical fiber connectors consisting of an SC optical fiber connector, an ST®
optical fiber connector, and an FC optical fiber connector; and
an elongate tubular alignment sleeve positioned along the longitudinal axis of said body and received therein in a snap fit;
said alignment sleeve having an elongate tubular stepped body with a first end sized and shaped to receive the first optical fiber connector therein, and a spaced second end sized and shaped to receive the second optical fiber connector therein.
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15. An adapter for coupling a first optical fiber connector to a second optical fiber connector, said adapter comprising:
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an elongate tubular one piece body formed about a longitudinal axis, said body having a first end and a spaced second end;
the first end of said body being sized and shaped to receive therein a first optical fiber connector having a ferrule diameter of 1.25 mm, the second end of said body being sized and shaped to receive therein a second optical fiber connector having a ferrule diameter of 2.5 mm; and
an elongate tubular alignment sleeve positioned along the longitudinal axis of said body and received therein in a snap fit;
said alignment sleeve having an elongate tubular stepped body with a first end sized and shaped to receive the first optical fiber connector therein, and a spaced second end sized and shaped to receive the second optical fiber connector therein.
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Specification