Debris-removing cap for optical devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016259131-A1
Application number	US-201514635754-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 2, 2015
Priority date	Mar 2, 2015
Publication date	Sep 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Debris-removing cap includes a cap body having a receiving cavity and an interior surface disposed within the receiving cavity. The cap body is configured to be attached to an optical device such that a mating face of the optical device is disposed within the receiving cavity. The interior surface is configured to face the mating face of the optical device. The debris-removing cap also includes a lens wiper that is coupled to the interior surface within the receiving cavity and extends away from the interior surface toward the mating face of the optical device. The lens wiper moves relative to the mating face when activated by a user of the debris-removing cap. The lens wiper engages a lens of the mating face when activated by the user to remove debris from the lens.

First claim

1 . A debris-removing cap comprising:
a cap body having a receiving cavity and a cover surface disposed within the receiving cavity, the cap body configured to be attached to an optical device such that a mating face of the optical device is disposed within the receiving cavity, the cover surface configured to face the mating face of the optical device; and a lens wiper coupled to the cap body and positioned within the receiving cavity, the lens wiper extending away from the cover surface toward the mating face of the optical device, the lens wiper moving relative to the mating face when activated by a user of the debris-removing cap, the lens wiper engaging a lens of the mating face when activated by the user to remove debris from the lens.

2 . The debris-removing cap of claim 1 , wherein the cap body includes a sleeve wall that defines a portion of the receiving cavity and is configured to surround the optical device, the cap body also including an interior projection that is coupled to the sleeve wall and is positioned within the receiving cavity, the interior projection configured to stop movement of the optical device at a predetermined point within the receiving cavity when the optical device is inserted therein.

3 . The debris-removing cap of claim 1 , wherein the lens wiper comprises a plurality of flexible strands that project away from the cover surface.

4 . The debris-removing cap of claim 1 , wherein the receiving cavity is configured to receive the optical device when the optical device is inserted in a first direction along a loading axis, the lens wiper facing in a second direction along the loading axis that is opposite the first direction.

5 . The debris-removing cap of claim 4 , wherein the lens wiper is configured to move in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the loading axis.

6 . The debris-removing cap of claim 4 , wherein the lens wiper is configured to be translated in a linear direction that is perpendicular to the loading axis to sweep across the lens of the optical device.

7 . The debris-removing cap of claim 1 , wherein the cap body includes a sleeve wall that surrounds the optical device, the sleeve wall including a flex section that surrounds a portion of the receiving cavity, the flex section permitting the user to compress the sleeve wall to move the lens wiper from an offset position to a displaced position, the lens wiper being moved toward the lens of the optical device when moved to the displaced position.

8 . The debris-removing cap of claim 1 , wherein the lens wiper is rotatably coupled to the cap body, the lens wiper being configured to sweep across the lens of the optical device when rotated by the user.

9 . The debris-removing cap of claim 1 , wherein the lens wiper comprises flexible strands and a wiper base that is rotatably coupled to the cap body and affixed to the flexible strands, the optical device configured to engage the wiper base when inserted into the receiving cavity and cause the wiper base to rotate with respect to the cap body.

10 . The debris-removing cap of claim 1 , wherein the lens wiper comprises flexible strands and a wiper base having an activation surface that is exposed to an exterior of the debris-removing cap, the activation surface configured to be engaged by the user for activating the lens wiper.

11 . A debris-removing cap comprising:
a cap body having an interior surface that defines a receiving cavity, the cap body configured to be attached to an optical device such that a mating face of the optical device is disposed within the receiving cavity; and a lens wiper coupled to the cap body and positioned within the receiving cavity, the lens wiper having an activation surface that is exposed to an exterior of the cap body and is configured to be engaged by a user of the debris-removing cap, the lens wiper engaging a lens of the mating face and sweeping across the mating face when activated by the user to remove debris from the lens.

12 . The debris-removing cap of claim 1 , wherein the cap body includes a sleeve wall that defines a portion of the receiving cavity and is configured to surround the optical device, the cap body also including an interior projection that is coupled to the sleeve wall and is positioned within the receiving cavity, the interior projection configured to stop movement of the optical device at a predetermined point within the receiving cavity when the optical device is inserted therein.

13 . The debris-removing cap of claim 1 , wherein the lens wiper comprises a plurality of flexible strands.

14 . The debris-removing cap of claim 1 , wherein the receiving cavity is configured to receive the optical device when the optical device is inserted in a first direction along a loading axis, the lens wiper facing in a second direction along the loading axis that is opposite the first direction.

15 . The debris-removing cap of claim 4 , wherein the lens wiper is configured to move in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the loading axis.

16 . The debris-removing cap of claim 4 , wherein the lens wiper is configured to be translated in a linear direction that is perpendicular to the loading axis to sweep across the lens of the optical device.

17 . The debris-removing cap of claim 1 , wherein the cap body includes a sleeve wall that surrounds the optical device, the sleeve wall including a flex section that surrounds a portion of the receiving cavity, the flex section permitting the user to compress the sleeve wall to move the lens wiper from an offset position to a displaced position, the lens wiper being moved toward the lens of the optical device when moved to the displaced position.

18 . The debris-removing cap of claim 1 , wherein the lens wiper is rotatably coupled to the cap body, the lens wiper being configured to sweep across the lens of the optical device when rotated by the user.

19 . The debris-removing cap of claim 1 , wherein the lens wiper comprises flexible strands and a wiper base that is rotatably coupled to the cap body and affixed to the flexible strands, the optical device configured to engage the wiper base when inserted into the receiving cavity and cause the wiper base to rotate with respect to the cap body.

20 . The debris-removing cap of claim 1 , wherein the lens wiper is permitted to move back-and-forth across the mating face.

Assignees

• Tyco Electronics Corp

Inventors

• Erdman David D
• Ling Tao

Classifications

• G02B6/3866

  Devices, tools or methods for cleaning connectors (cleaning in general B08B) · CPC title

• G02B6/3849 Primary

  using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes (G02B6/3816 takes precedence; provisionally see H01R13/44) · CPC title

• G02B6/387

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

• G02B6/25

  Preparing the ends of light guides for coupling, e.g. cutting · CPC title