Optical fiber connector assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10564368-B2
Application number	US-201816109969-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 23, 2018
Priority date	Aug 6, 2014
Publication date	Feb 18, 2020
Grant date	Feb 18, 2020

Abstract

Optical fiber connector assembly for a fiber optic cable comprising an optical fiber having an end portion terminated with a ferrule and rod members ( 4 ). The optical fiber connector assembly comprises:
a ferrule holder ( 110 ) configured to hold the end portion of the optical fiber ( 10 ), the ferrule ( 30 ) and the rod members ( 4 ); a connector ( 190 ) having an internal passageway for housing the ferrule holder ( 110 ); a locking member ( 180 ) extending lengthwise and having an internal passageway for the end portion of the fiber optic cable ( 1 ). There is also disclosed a pre-connectorized fiber optic cable comprising a fiber optic cable and the optical fiber connector assembly mounted upon an end portion of the fiber optic cable.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An optical fiber connector assembly for a fiber optic cable comprising an optical fiber, having an end portion terminated with a ferrule, and rod members, the optical fiber connector assembly extending lengthwise along a longitudinal axis and comprising:
a ferrule holder configured to hold the end portion of the optical fiber, the ferrule and the rod members;
a connector having an internal passageway for housing the ferrule holder; and
a locking member extending lengthwise and having an internal passageway for the end portion of the fiber optic cable;
wherein the connector is configured to be mechanically coupled to the ferrule holder to prevent relative rotation about the longitudinal axis and relative axial movement along the longitudinal axis; and
wherein the locking member is configured to be mechanically coupled both to the ferrule holder and to the connector.

2. The optical fiber connector assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanical coupling between the locking member and the connector is also configured to prevent relative rotation about the longitudinal axis and relative axial movement along the longitudinal axis.

3. The optical fiber connector assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanical coupling between the connector and the ferrule holder is a snap coupling.

4. The optical fiber connector assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the mechanical coupling between the locking member and the connector is a snap coupling.

5. The optical fiber connector assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the ferrule holder comprises:
a proximal portion comprising a seat for the end portion of the fiber optic cable; and
a distal portion comprising a sleeve portion configured to hold the end portion of the optical fiber, the ferrule and the rod members.

6. The optical fiber connector assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the proximal portion of the ferrule holder comprises two opposite arms forming the seat.

7. The optical fiber connector assembly according to claim 6 wherein the locking member comprises a distal portion configured to mate with the opposite arms so as to provide the mechanical coupling to the proximal portion of the ferrule holder.

8. The optical fiber connector assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the distal portion of the locking member comprises two recesses extending lengthwise, configured to mate with the opposite arms of the ferrule holder.

9. The optical fiber connector assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the two opposite arms of the proximal portion of the ferrule holder comprise respective coupling members configured to engage corresponding coupling members in a proximal portion of a body of the connector, so as to provide the mechanical coupling between the proximal portion of the body of the connector and the proximal portion of the ferrule holder.

10. The optical fiber connector assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the ferrule holder comprises a medial portion between the sleeve portion and the proximal portion.

11. The optical fiber connector assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the two opposite arms forming said seat extend lengthwise and project backward from the medial portion of the ferrule holder.

12. The optical fiber connector assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the medial portion of the ferrule holder provides an abutment surface for the front face of the end portion of the fiber optic cable.

13. The optical fiber connector assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the medial portion of the ferrule holder comprises a hole in communication with an internal passageway of the sleeve portion for receiving the end portion of the optical fiber terminated with the ferrule.

14. The optical fiber connector assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the sleeve portion of the ferrule holder comprises grooves on the lateral external surface thereof, the grooves extending lengthwise between proximal and distal ends of the sleeve portion and being configured to house the rod members.

15. The optical fiber connector assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the medial portion comprises holes in communication with the grooves for receiving the rod members.

16. The optical fiber connector assembly according to claim 1 , comprising a first crimping element configured to be disposed about the ferrule holder to grip the rod members.

17. The optical fiber connector assembly according to claim 1 , comprising a second crimping element adapted to crimp a proximal portion of the locking member about the end portion of the fiber optic cable.

18. The optical fiber connector assembly according to claim 17 , wherein a proximal portion of the locking member has on a lateral surface thereof at least one aperture and the second crimping element is adapted to crimp the locking member about the end portion of the fiber optic cable at the at least one aperture.

Assignees

• Prysmian Spa

Inventors

• Griffiths Ian
• Kerry Matt
• Pike Stephen

Classifications

• G02B6/3894

  Screw-lock type · CPC title

• G02B6/3874

  using tubes, sleeves to align ferrules · CPC title

• G02B6/3869 Primary

  Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs · CPC title

• G02B6/4477

  with means for strain-relieving to interior strengths element · CPC title

• G02B6/3887 Primary

  Anchoring optical cables to connector housings, e.g. strain relief features · CPC title