Optical fiber connector

• US 6,565,261 B1
• Filed: 02/22/2000
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, Seikoh Giken Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Uchiyama, Takeshi, Shimada, Tomohiro, Nakajima, Masahiro, Sumida, Shin, Iwano, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Boverniek, Rodney
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAK, SUNG H
• Application Number:
  US09/510,037
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 385/53, 385/55, 385/56, 385/58, 385/60, 385/69, 385/70, 385/72, 385/76, 385/77, 385/78, 385/139
• US Class Current: 385/60
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3889 using encapsulation for protection, e.g. adhesive, molding or casting resin

Abstract

An optical fiber connector has a stop ring having an end portion having an outer periphery and an optical fiber cable having a strength member extending from an end thereof. An adhesive material is disposed over the end portions of the stop ring and the optical fiber cable so that at least a portion of the strength member of the optical fiber cable is embedded in the adhesive material. A heat-shrinkable tube has an inner surface and is disposed on the adhesive material so that the portion of the strength member is disposed between the inner surface of the heat-shrinkable tube and the outer periphery of the stop ring.

Claims

1. An optical fiber connector comprising:

a stop ring having an end portion having an outer periphery;

an optical fiber cable having a strength member extending from an end thereof;

an adhesive material disposed over the end portions of the stop ring and the optical fiber cable so that at least a portion of the strength member of the optical fiber cable is embedded in the adhesive material; and

a heat-shrinkable tube having an inner surface and disposed on the adhesive material so that the portion of the strength member is disposed between the inner surface of the heat-shrinkable tube and the outer periphery of the stop ring.

2. An optical fiber connector according to claim 1;

wherein the adhesive material is disposed on the inner surface of the heat-shrinkable tube.

3. An optical fiber connector according to claim 1;

wherein the strength member extends through a through-hole at the end portion of the stop ring and is folded over an outer jacket of the optical fiber cable.

4. An optical fiber connector according to claim 1;

wherein the strength member extends through a through-hole at the end portion of the stop ring and is folded over an outer jacket of the optical fiber cable; and

wherein the stop ring has a cut-out disposed at the end portion thereof for introducing the strength member into the through-hole.

5. An optical fiber connector according to claim 1;

wherein the stop ring has at least one claw portion projecting in a radial direction thereof.

6. An optical fiber connector according to claim 5;

wherein the claw portion is disposed on an end of the stop ring opposite to the end portion having the outer periphery.

7. An optical fiber connector according to claim 6;

wherein the at least one claw portion comprises a pair of claw portions disposed parallel to an axis of the stop ring.

8. An optical fiber connector according to claim 7;

wherein the pair of claw portions is symmetrical about the axis of the stop ring.

9. An optical fiber connector according to claim 5;

wherein the at least one claw portion comprises a pair of claw portions extending in a radial direction of the stop ring.

10. An optical fiber connector according to claim 5;

wherein the claw portion is connected to a body of the stop ring through an intermediate joint.

11. An optical fiber connector according to claim 5;

wherein the claw portion has a pointed end penetrating the strength member and disposed parallel to a radial direction of the stop ring.

12. An optical fiber connector according to claim 5;

wherein the claw portion has a central slit through which the strength member extends.