Flexible optical fiber connectors and assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11852875-B2
Application number	US-202217822457-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 26, 2022
Priority date	Jun 11, 2019
Publication date	Dec 26, 2023
Grant date	Dec 26, 2023

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 flexible optical fiber connector comprising:
a first housing component configured to receive an optical fiber and to couple to a terminating connector; and
a second housing component configured to receive the optical fiber for termination in the terminating connector;
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.

2. The flexible optical fiber connector of claim 1 , wherein the terminating connector comprises a back post, the back post being configured to receive a spring and a ferrule.

3. The flexible optical fiber connector of claim 1 , wherein the terminating connector is an SC connector.

4. The flexible optical fiber connector of claim 1 , further comprising a key configured to prevent rotation of the flexible optical fiber connector within a port.

5. The flexible optical fiber connector of claim 1 , wherein at least the first housing component is configured to couple to a flexible port.

6. The flexible optical fiber connector of claim 1 , wherein the first housing component and the second housing component have different diameters.

7. The flexible optical fiber connector of claim 6 , wherein the first housing component is characterized by a smaller diameter than a diameter of the second housing component.

8. The flexible optical fiber connector of claim 1 , wherein the terminating connector comprises a back post configured to snap fit into the double-D hole.

9. The flexible optical fiber connector of claim 8 , wherein the back post of the terminating connector is configured to receive a spring and a ferrule.

10. The flexible optical fiber connector of claim 9 , wherein the ferrule is configured to receive an optical fiber.

11. The flexible optical fiber connector of claim 10 , wherein the optical fiber is secured to the ferrule by epoxy.

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

• G02B6/3831

  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

• G02B6/483

  Installation of aerial type · CPC title