Flexible optical fiber connectors and assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11435534-B2
Application number	US-202016897587-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 10, 2020
Priority date	Jun 11, 2019
Publication date	Sep 6, 2022
Grant date	Sep 6, 2022

Abstract

A flexible optical fiber connector comprises a first housing component configured to couple to a terminating connector, and a second housing component configured to receive an optical fiber for termination in the terminating connector. The first housing component and the second housing component are further configured to receive a pushable connector therethrough. A flexible optical fiber connector assembly comprises a flexible connector and a terminating connector coupled thereto. The flexible connector assembly is configured to couple to an adapter held by a holder coupled to a port.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A terminal comprising:
a port base comprising a plurality of ports, at least one port of the plurality of ports configured to receive a flexible connector, the flexible connector being configured to receive a pushable connector and to couple to a terminating connector, wherein the port base is further configured to receive a plate configured to couple to the port base to secure the holder for holding the adapter to the at least one port;
wherein the at least one port is further configured to receive a holder for holding an adapter configured to receive the terminating connector.

2. The terminal of claim 1 , wherein the flexible connector comprises:
a first housing component configured to couple to the terminating connector; and
a second housing component configured to receive an optical fiber for termination in the terminating connector.

3. The terminal of claim 2 , wherein the first housing component comprises a first prong and a second prong separated by a slit, each of the first prong and the second prong having a double-D hole and a flat configured to accommodate coupling the first housing component to the terminating connector.

4. The terminal of claim 2 , wherein the terminating connector comprises:
a back post configured to couple to the first housing component;
a spring; and
a ferrule for terminating the optical fiber;
wherein the back post is further configured to receive the spring and the ferrule.

5. The terminal of claim 4 , wherein the terminating connector further comprises an internal housing for housing the ferrule and an outer housing.

6. The terminal of claim 1 , wherein the holder comprises:
a base portion configured to couple to the at least one port; and
an adapter holding portion configured to hold the adapter.

7. The terminal of claim 6 , wherein the holder is a single integral piece.

8. The terminal of claim 1 , wherein the at least one port is configured to receive a plurality of different holders, each holder of the plurality of different holders being configured to hold a different adapter for coupling to a different terminating connector.

9. The terminal of claim 1 , wherein the at least one port is a flexible port comprising a seal, a press-in element, and a clip.

Assignees

• Clearfield Inc

Inventors

• Hill John P
• Larson Brian
• Gniadek Jeffrey
• Johnsen David J
• Henschel James John
• Brigham Matthew John

Classifications

• G02B6/3893 Primary

  Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on · CPC title

• G02B6/3897 Primary

  Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards (G02B6/44528 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B6/3825

  with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs · CPC title

• G02B6/483

  Installation of aerial type · CPC title

• G02B6/3831

  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 title