One-piece fiber optic receptacle
First Claim
1. A fiber optic receptacle comprising:
- a receptacle housing defining an internal cavity opening through an external end and an opposed internal end, the external end configured to receive a corresponding fiber optic plug;
an alignment sleeve disposed within the internal cavity and received by the internal end of the receptacle housing, the alignment sleeve defining a lengthwise extending passageway between a first end and an opposed second end, the first end receiving and aligning a plug ferrule and the second end receiving and aligning a back-side ferrule; and
a sleeve retainer removably secured to the receptacle housing and operable for providing access to the internal cavity to insert and remove the alignment sleeve through the internal end of the receptacle housing.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A one-piece fiber optic receptacle is provided for aligning and optically connecting a plug ferrule with a back-side ferrule of like configuration. The fiber optic receptacle includes a receptacle housing defining an internal cavity opening through an external end and an opposed internal end, an alignment sleeve disposed within the internal cavity and received within the internal end of the receptacle housing, and a sleeve retainer removably secured to the internal end of the receptacle housing and operable for providing access to the alignment sleeve from the internal end of the receptacle housing. The fiber optic receptacle further includes biasing member supports that facilitate loading and ensure alignment of at least one biasing member during assembly and use. Tapered posts may be provided on at least one of the alignment sleeve and the sleeve retainer for retaining and guiding the at least one biasing member during assembly and use.
75 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A fiber optic receptacle comprising:
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a receptacle housing defining an internal cavity opening through an external end and an opposed internal end, the external end configured to receive a corresponding fiber optic plug; an alignment sleeve disposed within the internal cavity and received by the internal end of the receptacle housing, the alignment sleeve defining a lengthwise extending passageway between a first end and an opposed second end, the first end receiving and aligning a plug ferrule and the second end receiving and aligning a back-side ferrule; and a sleeve retainer removably secured to the receptacle housing and operable for providing access to the internal cavity to insert and remove the alignment sleeve through the internal end of the receptacle housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A fiber optic receptacle comprising:
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a receptacle housing defining an internal end, an opposed external end and an internal cavity extending between the internal end and the external end; an alignment sleeve received within the internal cavity through the internal end of the receptacle housing, the alignment sleeve defining a first end and an opposed second end, the first end receiving and aligning a plug ferrule and the second end receiving and aligning a back-side ferrule; a removable sleeve retainer secured to the internal end of the receptacle housing adjacent the second end of the alignment sleeve, the sleeve retainer providing access to and retaining the alignment sleeve within the internal cavity of the receptacle housing; a biasing member disposed within the receptacle housing, the biasing member engaging the alignment sleeve so as to urge the alignment sleeve in the direction of the external end of the receptacle housing; and a biasing member support defined by at least one of the sleeve retainer and the alignment sleeve for retaining and guiding the biasing member within the receptacle housing. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A fiber optic receptacle comprising:
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a receptacle housing defining an internal cavity opening through opposed external and internal ends, the receptacle housing comprising means for securing the fiber optic receptacle to a wall of an enclosure; an alignment sleeve disposed within the internal cavity defined by the receptacle housing and received through the internal end, the alignment sleeve defining a lengthwise extending passageway opening through the external end for receiving and aligning a plug ferrule and opening through the internal end for receiving and aligning a back-side ferrule; a sleeve retainer removably secured to the receptacle housing and operable for providing access to the internal cavity defined by the receptacle housing to insert and remove the alignment sleeve through the internal end and for retaining the alignment sleeve within the internal cavity; and at least one biasing member positioned between the sleeve retainer and the alignment sleeve, the biasing member operably engaging the alignment sleeve so as to urge the alignment sleeve in the direction of the external end of the receptacle housing, and thereby to floatingly align the plug ferrule with the back-side ferrule.
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Specification