Fiber optic cable connector clip

• US 6,592,266 B1
• Filed: 10/04/2001
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tellabs Petaluma, Inc. (Infinera Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Fibre Communications (HK) Limited (Infinera Corp.)
• Inventors: Hankins, Christopher, Arnstein, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Juba, Jr., John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Azzaf, Fayez
• Application Number:
  US09/971,860
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134-137, 385/147, 385/53, 385/55, 385/58, 385/56, 385/59
• US Class Current: 385/53
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3878 comprising a plurality of ferrules, branching and break-out means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3879 Linking of individual connector plugs to an overconnector, e.g. using clamps, clips, common housings comprising several individual connector plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on

Abstract

A number of fiber optic connectors are held by a connector clip that positions the fiber optic connectors so that the connectors can only be inserted into a corresponding number of receiving connectors in one way. In addition, the connector clip can only be assembled in one way to prevent the connectors from being improperly positioned within the connector clip.

Claims

1. A fibre optic connector clip comprising:

a clip base having;

a base member having a base interior surface and a base exterior surface, the base interior surface having a first surface region bounded by a plurality of first line segments and a second surface region bounded by a plurality of second line segments;

a plurality of side walls connected to the base member to extend away from the interior base surface, the side walls contacting a number of the first line segments and a number of the second line segments;

a first retaining member flexibly connected to the base member; and

a second retaining member flexibly connected to the base member; and

a clip top having;

a top member having a top interior surface and a top exterior surface;

a first holding member connected to the top member to extend away from the top interior surface, the first holding member contacting the base exterior surface;

a second holding member connected to the top member to extend away from the top interior surface, the second holding member contacting the base exterior surface;

a first pin connected to the top member to extend away from the top interior surface; and

a second pin connected to the top member to extend away from the top interior surface.

2. The connector of claim 1 wherein at least two first line segments are connected to side walls, and at least two second line segments are connected to side walls.

3. The connector of claim 2 wherein three first line segments are connected to side walls, and three second line segments are connected to side walls.

4. The connector of claim 2 wherein the base member lies substantially in a single plane, the top member lies substantially in a single plane substantially parallel to the single plane having the base member.

5. The connector of claim 4 wherein:

the first retaining member includes a compression section that is spaced apart from and substantially parallel with a side wall connected to a first line segment, a pivot section connected to the base member, and a holding section connected to the pivot section, and

the second retaining member includes a compression section that is spaced apart from and substantially parallel with a side wall connected to a second line segment, a pivot section connected to the base member, and a holding section connected to the pivot section of the second retaining member.

6. The connector of claim 5 wherein the first retaining member has a first retaining tab normal to a length of the holding section of the first retaining member, and the second retaining member has a second retaining tab normal to a length of the holding section of the second retaining member.

7. The connector of claim 2 wherein the side walls have substantially uniform thicknesses.

8. The connector of claim 7 wherein:

the first retaining member includes a compression section that is spaced apart from and substantially parallel with a side wall connected to a first line segment, a pivot section connected to the base member, and a holding section connected to the pivot section, and

the second retaining member includes a compression section that is spaced apart from and substantially parallel with a side wall connected to a second line segment, a pivot section connected to the base member, and a holding section connected to the pivot section of the second retaining member.

9. The connector of claim 1 wherein:

the base interior surface further includes a third surface region bounded by a first line segment, a second line segment, and two third line segments connected to the first and second line segments so that the third surface region lies between the first and second surface regions; and

the clip top further includes a stabilizer projection that extends away from the top interior surface and lies over the third surface region adjacent to a side wall connected to a first line segment and a side wall connected to a second line segment.

10. The connector of claim 9 wherein a side wall is connected to the base member to contact a third line segment and extend away from the base interior surface.

11. The connector of claim 10 wherein the clip top further includes a wrong way projection connected to the top member that extends away from the top interior surface, the wrong way projection contacting a side wall to prevent the clip top from being improperly connected to the base member.

12. The connector of claim 11 wherein at least two first line segments are connected to side walls, and at least two second line segments are connected to side walls.

13. The connector of claim 12 wherein three first line segments are connected to side walls, and three second line segments are connected to side walls.

14. The connector of claim 1 wherein the first holding member has a proximate end and a distal end that is deformable with respect to the proximate end, and the second holding member has a proximate end and a distal end that is deformable with respect to the proximate end of the second holding member.

15. The connector of claim 14 wherein the first pin lies over a first line segment to form a first covered segment and the second pin lies over a second line segment to form a second covered segment.

16. The connector of claim 15 wherein no side walls are connected to the first covered segment, and no side walls are connected to the second line segment.

17. The connector of claim 16 wherein at least two first line segments are connected to side walls, and at least two second line segments are connected to side walls.

18. The connector of claim 1 wherein the first pin lies over a first line segment to form a first covered segment and the second pin lies over a second line segment to form a second covered segment.

19. The connector of claim 18 wherein no side walls are connected to the first covered segment, and no side walls are connected to the second line segment.

20. The connector of claim 19 wherein at least two first line segments are connected to side walls, and at least two second line segments are connected to side walls.