Connector cover for pulling and water resistance

• US 7,869,685 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2008
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OFS Fitel LLC (Furukawa Electric Company Limited), NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Original Assignee: OFS Fitel LLC (Furukawa Electric Company Limited)
• Inventors: Bradley, Kelvin B., Zhang, Hongbo, Utz, Quentin Wayne, Hendrickson, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): PENG, CHARLIE YU
• Application Number:
  US12/144,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20080317415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 385/136, 385/139
• US Class Current: 385/139
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3831 comprising a keying element on the plug or adapter, e.g. to forbid wrong connection keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical coupling H01R13/64
• 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 6/545 Pulling eyes G02B6/475 takes precedence

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention include a connector system. The connector system includes a connector cover. The connector-cover has a cap to protect a connector from dust and water and an adapter attached to an optical fiber cable, which is configured to connect to the cap. The dimensions and configuration of the connector-cover allow it to be pulled through conventional conduit (i.e. a 90°-bent, 0.75 inch Schedule 40 conduit).

Claims

1. A connector-cover comprising:

an adapter having an interior threading feature for securely coupling to a cable and a threading feature formed therein; and

a cap having a first end, a second end, and a surface having a threading feature that mates with the threading feature formed in the adapter;

the first end being configured to include a pulling eye; and

the second end being configured to attach to the adapter, wherein a closed space within the cap is created when the cap is securely attached to the adapter, wherein the connector-cover is made from nylon or polyolefin and dimensioned to cover an optical connector plus a length of optical cable, the connector-cover being generally smooth in the region enclosing the optical connector but including multiple annular grooves in the region enclosing the optical fiber in order to protect the optical connector while enabling controlled bending of the connector-cover when pulled through conduit bends.

2. The connector-cover in claim 1, wherein the adapter includes at least one O-ring groove to adapt at least one O-ring such that the O-ring fits seals against the inner circumference of the cap.

3. The connector-cover in claim 1, wherein the cable has an outer jacket.

4. The connector-cover in claim 1, wherein the outside diameter of the connector-cover cross section is approximately less than 0.5 inches.

5. The connector-cover in claim 1, wherein the polyolefin is polypropylene or polyethylene.

6. The connector-cover in claim 1, wherein the optical connector is a SC, LC, MPO or MPX connector.