Fiber optic connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12353026-B2
Application number	US-202318182634-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2023
Priority date	Jan 13, 2014
Publication date	Jul 8, 2025
Grant date	Jul 8, 2025

Abstract

A connector including two connector portions each including a ferrule and a latch, each latch including a distal end, and a proximal end, wherein the latch is pivotable about an intermediate connection portion; and a boot mounted to the connector portions, the boot movable longitudinally relative to the connector portions, wherein the boot causes the distal ends of the latch to pivot toward the ferrule of each connector portion as the boot is moved away from the connector portions. Front housings of the connector portions can each be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the ferrule without rotating the ferrule or the boot, to change the polarity of the two connector portions. The spacing between the two ferrules is adjustable. A holder holds the connector portions, the holder including side slots, the connector portions mounted to the holder by moving laterally to the side slots. The holder defines an area for receipt of a fiber optic cable when the ferrule is pushed in a direction toward the boot.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector comprising:
(a) a connector portion including a ferrule and a latch; and
(b) a boot mounted to the connector portion, the boot movable longitudinally relative to the connector portion, wherein the boot causes movement of the latch as the boot is moved away from the connector portion;
(c) wherein a front housing of the connector portion can be rotated about a longitudinal axis of the ferrule without rotating the ferrule or the boot, to change the polarity of the connector portion.

2. A connector comprising:
(a) an LC format connector portion including:
i) a ferrule assembly including a ferrule and a hub mounted together, and a spring, the ferrule assembly including a front sleeve and a rear sleeve, the front and rear sleeves mounted together with an end of the ferrule protruding and the spring located in an interior area biasing the ferrule toward an extended position;
ii) a front housing mounted to the ferrule assembly to form a front of the connector portion, and including a latch, the latch including a distal end, and a proximal end, wherein the latch is pivotable about an intermediate connection portion, wherein the distal end includes a shoulder for mating with a latching shoulder of an adapter;

(b) a boot mounted to the LC format connector portion, the boot movable longitudinally relative to the LC format connector portion, wherein the boot engages the proximal end of the latch and causes the distal end of the latch to pivot toward the ferrule of the LC format connector portion as the boot is moved away from the LC format connector portion, wherein the boot includes slots on both sides of the boot for receiving the proximal end of the latch, as the LC format connector portion is rotated to change polarity without rotating the boot.

3. The connector of claim 2 , further comprising a boot return mechanism including a return spring for biasing the boot toward the LC format connector portion.

4. The connector of claim 2 , wherein the front housing including the latch is a one-piece housing.

5. A connector comprising:
(a) a connector portion including:
i) a ferrule assembly including a ferrule and a hub mounted together, and a spring, the ferrule assembly including a front sleeve and a rear sleeve, the front and rear sleeves mounted together with an end of the ferrule protruding and the spring located in an interior area biasing the ferrule toward an extended position;
ii) a front housing mounted to the ferrule assembly to form a front of the connector portion, and including a latch, the latch including a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the latch is pivotable about an intermediate connection portion, wherein the distal end includes a shoulder for mating with a latching shoulder of an adapter, wherein the front housing including the latch is a one-piece housing, wherein the front housing including the latch defines an LC connector profile for receipt in an LC adapter;

(b) a boot mounted to the connector portion, the boot movable longitudinally relative to the connector portion, wherein the boot causes the distal end of the latch to pivot toward the ferrule of the connector portion as the boot is moved away from the connector portion, wherein the connector portion can be rotated about a longitudinal axis of the ferrule without rotating the boot, to change the polarity of the connector portion.

6. A connector comprising:
(a) a connector portion including:
i) a ferrule assembly including a ferrule and a hub mounted together, and a spring, the ferrule assembly including a front sleeve and a rear sleeve, the front and rear sleeves mounted together with an end of the ferrule protruding and the spring located in an interior area biasing the ferrule toward an extended position;
ii) a front housing mounted to the ferrule assembly to form a front of the connector portion, and including a latch, the latch including a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the latch is pivotable about an intermediate connection portion, wherein the distal end includes a shoulder for mating with a latching shoulder of an adapter;

(b) a boot mounted to the connector portion, the boot movable longitudinally relative to the connector portion, wherein the boot engages the proximal end of the latch and causes the distal end of the latch to pivot toward the ferrule of the connector portion as the boot is moved away from the connector portion, wherein the boot includes slots on both sides of the boot for receiving the proximal end of the latch, as the connector portion is rotated to change polarity without rotating the boot, and wherein the boot includes ramps for unlatching the latch when the boot is pulled axially away from the connector portion.

7. The connector of claim 6 , wherein the connector portion defines an LC connector profile for receipt in an LC adapter.

8. A connector comprising:
a connector portion including a ferrule and a latch, the latch including a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the latch is pivotable in an upward direction away from the connector portion; and
a boot including slots for the proximal end of the latch mounted to the connector portion, the boot movable longitudinally relative to the connector portion;
wherein the boot causes unlatching of the latch as the boot is moved away from the connector portion.

9. The connector of claim 8 , wherein a front housing of the connector portion can be rotated about its longitudinal axis to change the polarity of the connector portion.

Assignees

• Commscope Connectivity Uk Ltd
• Commscope Telecommunications Shanghai Co Ltd

Inventors

• Murray David Patrick
• Taylor Chris Charles
• White Gordon John
• Tong Zhaoyang
• Liu Lei

Classifications

• G02B6/3885

  Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type (optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448) · CPC title

• G02B6/387

  Connector plugs comprising two complementary members, e.g. shells, caps, covers, locked together · 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

• G02B6/3893

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

• G02B6/3879

  Linking of individual connector plugs to an overconnector, e.g. using clamps, clips, common housings comprising several individual connector plugs · CPC title