Fiber optic adapter module

• US 7,706,656 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2008
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Zimmel, Steven C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Font; Frank G
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ERIC K
• Application Number:
  US12/152,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20090022469A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 385134-137, 385/76, 385/53
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3849 using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes G02B6/3816 takes precedence; provisionally see H01R13/44
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44528 Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box routing arrangements H04Q1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4453 Cassettes

Abstract

A fiber optic adapter assembly includes a plurality of adapters included in an integrally formed body. Each of the adapters may include a protective shutter mounted within one end. The adapter assembly may be configured to mount to a chassis and position the adapters for receiving fiber optic connectors of telecommunications modules mounted to the chassis.

Claims

1. A fiber optic adapter module, comprising:

a unitary body with a housing portion and a mounting portion that are formed as an integral unit, the unitary body defining a longitudinal axis;

the housing portion defining at least one fiber optic adapter formed as an integral unit with the housing portion, the housing portion defining a top, a bottom, and first and second transverse sides extending between the top and the bottom, each fiber optic adapter of the housing portion including a front opening for receiving a first fiber optic connector, a rear opening for receiving a second fiber optic connector adapted to mate with the first fiber optic connector, and a side opening for receiving a ferrule alignment sleeve and inner housing components, the housing portion including a panel closing off the side opening of at least one of the fiber optic adapters for holding the ferrule alignment sleeve and the inner housing components within the fiber optic adapter;

the mounting portion being configured to mount the unitary body to a piece of telecommunications equipment, the mounting portion including a mounting slide for slidably guiding the fiber optic adapter module into the piece of telecommunications equipment, the mounting slide formed as an integral unit with the top of the housing portion and extending along the longitudinal axis of the unitary body, the mounting portion defining a flange that extends away from the mounting slide in a direction opposite the housing portion, the flange for mounting the fiber optic adapter module to the piece of telecommunications equipment.

2. A fiber optic adapter module according to claim 1, wherein the flange defines a face that extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

3. A fiber optic adapter module according to claim 1, wherein the piece of telecommunications equipment includes a telecommunications chassis defining a front opening and a rear opening, the mounting portion configured to position the housing portion within the chassis with the at least one fiber optic adapter accessible through the front and the rear openings of the chassis.

4. A fiber optic adapter module according to claim 1, wherein each fiber optic adapter includes a movable shutter mounted within the front opening and blocking light from being transmitted from the rear opening through the front opening.

5. A fiber optic adapter module according to claim 4, wherein each movable shutter is mounted within a slot adjacent the front opening of the fiber optic adapter.

6. A fiber optic adapter module according to claim 5, wherein the movable shutter is held within the slot by a tab of the shutter engaging a tab opening in the housing portion adjacent the slot.

7. A fiber optic adapter module according to claim 1, wherein four fiber optic adapters are included in the housing portion.

8. A fiber optic adapter module according to claim 1, wherein the flange includes a releasable fastener for mounting the fiber optic adapter module to the piece of telecommunications equipment.

9. A fiber optic adapter module according to claim 8, wherein the releasable fastener is a thumbscrew captively held by the flange.