Fiber optic connector mechanical interface converter

• US 7,614,797 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2007
• Issued: 11/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Reagan, Randy, Lu, Yu
• Primary Examiner(s): Sanghavi; Hemang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Prince; Kajli
• Application Number:
  US11/657,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20080175546A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 385/53
• US Class Current: 385/53
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3821 with axial spring biasing or loading means G02B6/3847 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3847 with means preventing fibre end damage, e.g. recessed fibre surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3851 Ferrules having keying or coding means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3869 Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3894 Screw-lock type

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a backward compatibility converter including a converter housing having a first end positioned opposite from a second end. The first end of the converter housing includes an end wall defining a first opening. The second end of the converter housing defines a second opening. The converter housing defines an internal passage that extends through the converter housing from the first opening to the second opening. The first end of the converter housing includes two paddles that project outwardly from the end wall. The paddles are positioned at opposite sides of the first opening and include inner surfaces that oppose each other. The converter housing defines internal threads located within the internal passage. The backward compatibility converter also includes a coupling nut rotatably mounted about an exterior of the converter housing adjacent the second end of the converter housing. The backward compatibility converter further includes a sealing member mounted about the exterior of the converter housing at a location between the coupling nut and the first end of the converter housing.

Claims

1. A backward compatibility converter for receiving and converting a fiber optic connector, the fiber optic connector being at least partially inserted into the backward compatibility converter, the backward compatibility converter comprising:

a converter housing having a first end positioned opposite from a second end, the first end of the converter housing including an end wall defining a first opening, the second end of the converter housing defining a second opening, the converter housing defining an internal passage that extends through the converter housing from the first opening to the second opening;

the end wall including a first side and an opposite second side, the first side of the end wall defining a first shoulder and the second side of the end wall facing in a direction of insertion of the fiber optic connector;

the first end of the converter housing including two paddles that project outwardly from the second side of the end wall, the paddles being positioned at opposite sides of the first opening and including inner surfaces that oppose each other;

the internal passage of the converter housing defining internal threads located within the internal passage;

the internal passage of the converter housing defining a sealing surface extending from the internal threads to the first shoulder of the first side of the end wall;

a coupling nut rotatably mounted about an exterior of the converter housing adjacent the second end of the converter housing, the coupling nut including external threads; and

a first sealing member mounted about the exterior of the converter housing at a location between the coupling nut and the first end of the converter housing;

wherein the fiber optic connector is insertable through the second opening into the internal passage of the converter housing;

wherein the fiber optic connector includes a second sealing member that forms a seal with the sealing surface of the internal passage of the converter housing when the fiber optic connector is inserted into the internal passage of the converter housing; and

wherein the fiber optic connector includes a second shoulder that abuts against the first shoulder of the first side of the end wall of the converter housing when the fiber optic connector is inserted into the internal passage of the converter housing through the second opening.

2. The backward compatibility converter of claim 1 further comprising open side gaps defined between the paddles.

3. The backward compatibility converter of claim 1, wherein the coupling nut is mounted at the second end of the converter housing.

4. The backward compatibility converter of claim 1, wherein the coupling nut includes a gripping portion.

5. The backward compatibility converter of claim 4, wherein the gripping portion defines a plurality of longitudinal depressions.

6. The backward compatibility converter of claim 4, wherein the gripping portion has an outer diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the external threads of the coupling nut.

7. A backward compatible fiber optic connector assembly comprising:

a backward compatibility converter including;

a converter housing having a first end positioned opposite from a second end, the first end of the converter housing including an end wall defining a first opening, the second end of the converter housing defining a second opening, the converter housing defining an internal passage that extends through the converter housing from the first opening to the second opening;

the end wall of the converter housing including a first side and an opposite second side, the first side of the end wall defining a first shoulder and the second side of the end wall facing in a direction of connector insertion;

the first end of the converter housing including two paddles that project outwardly from the second side of the end wall, the paddles being positioned at opposite sides of the first opening and including inner surfaces that oppose each other;

the internal passage of the converter housing defining internal threads located within the internal passage; and

a first coupling nut rotatably mounted about an exterior of the converter housing adjacent the second end of the converter housing, the first coupling nut including external threads; and

a fiber optic connector including;

a connector housing having a first end defining a plug portion and a second end for coupling to a fiber optic cable, the connector housing also having a second shoulder between the first and the second ends;

a ferrule assembly, which is mounted to the plug portion of the connector housing, including a ferrule for mounting an optical fiber from the fiber optic cable; and

a second coupling nut, which is mounted about an exterior of the connector housing, including a set of external threads, wherein the external threads of the second coupling nut are threadingly engagable with the internal threads of the internal passage of the converter housing;

wherein the plug portion of the first end of the connector housing of the fiber optic connector is insertable in the direction of connector insertion into the internal passage of the converter housing through the second opening of the second end of the converter housing;

wherein the plug portion of the fiber optic connector projects through the first opening in the converter housing and is disposed between the two paddles of the converter housing when the external threads of the second coupling nut of the fiber optic connector are fully threaded into the internal threads of the internal passage of the converter housing;

wherein the second shoulder of the connector housing of the fiber optic connector abuts against the first shoulder of the first side of the end wall of the converter housing when the external threads of the second coupling nut of the fiber optic connector are fully threaded into the internal threads of the internal passage of the converter housing; and

wherein the fiber optic connector can be removed from the backward compatibility converter by unthreading the external threads of the second coupling nut of the fiber optic connector from the internal threads of the internal passage of the converter housing and axially pulling the fiber optic connector outwardly from the second opening of the second end of the converter housing.

8. The backward compatible fiber optic connector assembly of claim 7, wherein the backward compatibility converter includes a sealing member mounted about the exterior of the converter housing at a location between the first coupling nut and the first end of the converter housing.

9. The backward compatible fiber optic connector assembly of claim 7, wherein the fiber optic connector includes a sealing member that is mounted about the exterior of the connector housing and in sealing engagement with a sealing surface of the converter housing.

10. The backward compatible fiber optic connector assembly of claim 7, wherein the second coupling nut of the fiber optic connector includes a gripping portion.

11. The backward compatible fiber optic connector assembly of claim 7, wherein the ferrule assembly of the fiber optic connector includes a spring for biasing the ferrule in the direction of connector insertion.

12. A backward compatible fiber optic connector assembly comprising:

a backward compatibility converter including;

a converter housing having a first end positioned opposite from a second end, the first end of the converter housing including an end wall defining a first opening, the second end of the converter housing defining a second opening, the converter housing defining an internal passage that extends through the converter housing from the first opening to the second opening;

the end wall of the converter housing including a first side and an opposite second side, the first side of the end wall defining a first shoulder and the second side of the end wall facing in a direction of connector insertion;

the first end of the converter housing including two paddles that project outwardly from the second side of the end wall, the paddles being positioned at opposite sides of the first opening and including inner surfaces that oppose each other;

the converter housing defining an internally threaded portion located within the internal passage; and

a first coupling nut rotatably mounted about an exterior of the converter housing adjacent the second end of the converter housing, the first coupling nut including external threads; and

a fiber optic connector and cable assembly including;

a fiber optic cable;

a connector housing having a first end defining a plug portion and a second end coupled to the fiber optic cable, the connector housing also having a second shoulder between the first and the second ends;

a ferrule assembly, which is mounted to the plug portion of the connector housing, including a ferrule for mounting an optical fiber of the fiber optic cable; and

a second coupling nut rotatably mounted about an exterior of the connector housing, including external threads;

wherein the plug portion of the first end of the connector housing of the fiber optic connector and cable assembly is inserted in the direction of connector insertion into the internal passage of the converter housing of the backward compatibility converter through the second opening of the second end of the converter housing;

wherein the external threads of the second coupling nut are threaded into the internally threaded portion of the converter housing such that the plug portion of the fiber optic connector and cable assembly projects through the first opening in the converter housing and is disposed between the two paddles of the converter housing; and

wherein the second shoulder of the connector housing of the fiber optic connector and cable assembly abuts against the first shoulder of the first side of the end wall of the converter housing when the external threads of the second coupling nut of the fiber optic connector and cable assembly are fully threaded into the internal threads of the internal passage of the converter housing.

13. The backward compatible fiber optic connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the fiber optic connector and cable assembly can be removed from the backward compatibility converter by unthreading the external threads of the second coupling nut from the internally threaded portion of the converter housing and axially pulling the fiber optic connector and cable assembly outwardly from the converter housing.

14. The backward compatible fiber optic connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the backward compatibility converter includes a sealing member mounted about the exterior of the converter housing at a location between the first coupling nut and the first end of the converter housing.

15. The backward compatible fiber optic connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the fiber optic connector and cable assembly includes a sealing member that is mounted about the exterior of the connector housing and in sealing engagement with a sealing surface of the converter housing.

16. The backward compatible fiber optic connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the first coupling nut of the backward compatibility converter includes a gripping portion.

17. The backward compatible fiber optic connector assembly of claim 16, wherein the gripping portion of the first coupling nut has an outer diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the external threads of the first coupling nut.

18. The backward compatible fiber optic connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the second coupling nut of the fiber optic connector and cable assembly includes a gripping portion.

19. The backward compatible fiber optic connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the ferrule assembly of the fiber optic connector and cable assembly includes a spring for biasing the ferrule in the direction of connector insertion.