Multiports having connection ports with associated securing features and methods of making the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12429655-B2
Application number	US-202217847605-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2022
Priority date	Jun 28, 2017
Publication date	Sep 30, 2025
Grant date	Sep 30, 2025

Abstract

Multiports having connection ports with associated securing features and methods for making the same are disclosed. In one embodiment comprises a multiport for providing an optical connection comprising a shell, a connection port insert, and at least one securing feature. The shell comprises a first end having a first opening leading to a cavity. The connection port insert comprises a body having a front face and at least one connection port comprising an optical connector opening extending from the front face into the connection port insert with a connection port passageway extending through part of the connection port insert to a rear portion, where the connection port insert is sized so that at least a portion of the connection port insert fits into the first opening and the cavity of the shell. The at least one securing feature is associated with the at least one connection port.

First claim

We claim:

1. A multiport for providing an optical connection, comprising:
a shell comprising a first end having a first opening leading to a cavity;
a connection port insert comprising a body having a front face, an input connection port and at least one connection port comprising an optical connector opening extending from the front face into the connection port insert with a connection port passageway extending through part of the connection port insert to a rear portion, wherein the connection port insert is sized so that at least a portion of the connection port insert fits into the first opening and the cavity of the shell and defines a connector mating plane that is disposed within the cavity of the shell when the multiport is assembled so that the multiport is weatherproof;
at least one optical fiber disposed within the cavity of the shell and being routed from the at least one connection port toward the input connection port for optical communication at the input connection port; and
at least one securing feature associated with the at least one connection port, the at least one securing feature comprising one or more components with at least one component translating for releasing or securing the external fiber optic connector to the multiport at the at least one connection port, wherein the at least one securing feature excludes threaded portions or features for securing a bayonet.

2. A multiport for providing an optical connection, comprising:
a shell comprising a first end having a first opening leading to a cavity;
a connection port insert comprising a body having a front face and a plurality of connection ports each comprising an optical connector opening extending from the front face into the connection port insert with a connection port passageway extending through part of the connection port insert to a rear portion, wherein the connection port insert is sized so that at least a portion of the connection port insert fits into the first opening and the cavity of the shell and defines a connector mating plane that is disposed within the cavity of the shell when the multiport is assembled;
a plurality of optical fibers disposed within the cavity of the shell and being routed from the plurality of connection ports toward an input connection port disposed on the connection port insert for optical communication at the input connection port of the multiport;
a sealing element disposed between the connection port insert and the shell for weatherproofing the multiport;
and
a plurality of securing features each being associated with a respective connection port, and each securing feature comprising one or more components with at least one component translating for releasing or securing the external fiber optic connector to the multiport at the respective connection port, wherein each securing feature excludes threaded portions or features for securing a bayonet.

3. A multiport for providing an optical connection, comprising:
a shell comprising a first end having a first opening leading to a cavity;
a connection port insert comprising a body having a front face and at least one connection port comprising an optical connector opening extending from the front face into the connection port insert with a connection port passageway extending through part of the connection port insert to a rear portion, wherein the connection port insert is sized so that at least a portion of the connection port insert fits into the first opening and the cavity of the shell,
wherein the connection port insert comprises a sealing location disposed a first distance from the front face and a connector mating plane disposed within the cavity of the shell at a second distance from the front face with the second distance being greater that the first distance when the multiport is assembled;
at least one optical fiber disposed within the cavity of the shell and being routed from the at least one connection port toward an input connection port within the shell;
at least one rear connector in communication with the at least one connection port passageway from the rear portion, wherein the at least one rear connector is associated with the at least one optical fiber; and
at least one securing feature installed in the connection port insert and associated with the at least one connection port, and the at least one securing feature comprising one or more components with at least one component translating for releasing or securing the external fiber optic connector to the multiport at the at least one connection port, wherein the at least one securing feature excludes threaded portions or features for securing a bayonet.

4. The multiport of claim 1 , wherein the at least one securing feature translates between an open position and a closed position.

5. The multiport of claim 1 , further comprising an optical splitter disposed within the cavity.

6. The multiport of claim 1 , the multiport further comprising at least one pass-through port.

7. The multiport of claim 1 , wherein the at least one connection port comprises a keying feature.

8. The multiport of claim 1 , wherein the input connection port is configured as a single-fiber input connection, a multi-fiber input connection or an input tether.

9. The multiport of claim 1 , wherein the shell defines a volume of 800 cubic centimeters or less.

10. The multiport of claim 1 , wherein the connection port insert has a density of at least one connection port per each 20 millimeters of width of the connection port insert.

11. The multiport of claim 1 , further including a sealing element disposed between the connection port insert and the shell.

12. The multiport of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of securing features associated with a plurality of connection ports.

13. The multiport of claim 1 , wherein the connection port insert comprises at least one adapter that is integrally-formed with the connection port insert or configured to secure at least one adapter thereto, wherein the at least one adapter floats relative to the connection port insert.

14. The multiport of claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of securing features translates between an open position and a closed position.

15. The multiport of claim 2 , further comprising an optical splitter disposed within the cavity.

16. The multiport of claim 2 , the multiport further comprising at least one pass-through port.

17. The multiport of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the plurality of connection ports comprises a keying feature.

18. The multiport of claim 2 , wherein the input connection port is configured as a single-fiber input connection, a multi-fiber input connection or an input tether.

19. The multiport of claim 2 , wherein the shell defines a volume of 800 cubic centimeters or less.

20. The multiport of claim 2 , wherein the connection port insert has a density of at least one connection port per each 20 millimeters of width of the connection port insert.

21. The multiport of claim 2 , wherein the connection port insert comprises at least one adapter that is integrally-formed with the connection port insert or configured to secure at least one adapter thereto, wherein the at least one adapter floats relative to the connection port insert.

22. The multiport of claim 3 , wherein the at least one securing feature translates between an open position and a closed position.

23. The multiport of claim 3 , further comprising a sealing element disposed between the

Assignees

• Corning Optical Communications LLC

Inventors

• Dannoux Thierry Luc Alain
• Scotta Felice

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

• G02B6/3895

  identification of connection, e.g. right plug to the right socket or full engagement of the mating parts (keying element on the plug or adapter G02B6/3831; keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical connection H01R13/64) · CPC title

• G02B6/3851

  Ferrules having keying or coding means · CPC title

• G02B6/3871

  Ferrule rotatable with respect to plug body, e.g. for setting rotational position (adjusting fibre within the ferrule, G02B6/3843); Fixation of ferrules after rotation · CPC title

• G02B6/3893

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