Flexible optical fiber connectors and assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11899250-B2
Application number	US-202217822774-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 27, 2022
Priority date	Jun 11, 2019
Publication date	Feb 13, 2024
Grant date	Feb 13, 2024

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 assembly comprising:
a flexible connector having a housing configured to receive an optical fiber;
a terminating connector comprising a back post and a ferrule configured to receive the optical fiber;
wherein the flexible connector is configured to receive at least a portion of the back post, wherein the flexible connector is configured to couple to the terminating connector via the back post, and wherein the flexible connector comprises a protrusion configured to receive a crimp ring to secure the back post of the terminating connector to the flexible connector housing.

2. The flexible optical fiber connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the terminating connector further comprises an outer housing.

3. The flexible optical fiber connector assembly of claim 2 , wherein the outer housing comprises a key configured to prevent rotation of the flexible optical fiber connector assembly.

4. The flexible optical fiber connector assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a crimp ring disposed around a cylindrical protrusion of the flexible connector to prevent rotation of the terminating connector relative to the flexible connector.

5. The flexible optical fiber connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the terminating connector is configured to decouple from the flexible connector to allow the flexible connector to receive a pushable connector therethrough in lieu of the terminating connector.

6. The flexible optical fiber connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is a cylindrical section emanating from prongs of the flexible connector.

7. The flexible optical fiber connector assembly of claim 6 , wherein the prongs are separated by a slit having a double-D hole therebetween, wherein the double-D hole is configured to receive at least a portion of the back post of the terminating connector.

8. The flexible optical fiber connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the terminating connector is configured to couple with the flexible connector by snap-in or latch feature.

9. The flexible optical fiber connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the terminating connector comprises a SC connector, a LC connector, or a MPO connector.

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