Fiber optic cable assemblies with cap apparatuses for sealing optical fiber connectors and associated methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016349459-A1
Application number	US-201615165194-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 26, 2016
Priority date	May 29, 2015
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A cap apparatus is mounted to a fiber optic connector having a ferrule supporting optical fiber(s). A sealing apparatus is cooperatively configured with the cap apparatus for protecting an end face of the ferrule. The cap apparatus includes a body having opposite ends between which a cavity extends. The opposite ends of the body respectively define first and second openings to the cavity. A portion of the fiber optic connector extends through the first opening and into the cavity. The cap apparatus includes a cover mounted to the body and at least partially obstructing the second opening, wherein the end face of the ferrule is positioned within the cavity at a location spaced from the cover. The sealing apparatus is positioned between at least a portion of the cover and the end face of the ferrule.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A fiber optic cable assembly, comprising:
a cable having at least one optical fiber; at least one fiber optic connector mounted on an end of the cable, the fiber optic connector having a ferrule through which the at least one optical fiber extends; and a cap apparatus mounted to at least a portion of the fiber optic connector for protecting at least an end face of the ferrule, the cap apparatus comprising:
a body having opposite proximal and distal ends between which a cavity extends, the proximal end defining a first opening to the cavity, and the distal end defining a second opening to at least a portion of the cavity, wherein at least a portion of the fiber optic connector extends through the first opening and into the cavity so that the end face of the ferrule is positioned closer to the second opening than the first opening;
a cover mounted to the body and at least partially obstructing the second opening, the end face of the ferrule being positioned within the cavity at a location spaced from the cover; and
a sealing apparatus positioned between at least a portion of the cover and the end face the ferrule, wherein the sealing apparatus seals at least a portion of the cavity, and the cover extends at least partially around the sealing apparatus.

2 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cap apparatus is not configured to mount to a second fiber optic connector.

3 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cap apparatus is not configured to couple the fiber optic connector to a second fiber optic connector.

4 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body of the cap apparatus does not contact the ferrule.

5 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of the fiber optic connector extends at least 60% through the cavity of the body.

6 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body of the cap apparatus has a length B L between the proximal and distal ends of the body, and further wherein the end face of the ferrule is spaced from the cover by a distance S that is less than 0.25*B L .

7 . The fiber optic cable assembly claim 1 , wherein the ferrule of the fiber optic connector includes a front end defining the end face, a back end opposite the front end, and a length F L between the front and back ends, and further wherein the end face of the ferrule is spaced from the cover by a distance S that is less than 0.5*F L .

8 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the end face of the ferrule is spaced from the cover by a distance S that is less than 5 mm.

9 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 8 , wherein the distance S is between 0.1 mm and 2.5 mm.

10 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cover includes a fastener securing the cover to the body.

11 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein cover extends into the cavity of the body.

12 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cover is movably mounted to the body, so that the cover is movable between:
a closed configuration in which the cover at least partially obstructs the second opening; and an open configuration in which at least a portion of the cover is farther away from the second opening than when the cover is in the closed configuration.

13 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 12 , wherein the cover is pivotably connected to the body.

14 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 12 , wherein the sealing apparatus comprises an area of adhesive material that both:
confronts the end face of the ferrule, and is spaced apart from the end face of the ferrule.

15 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 14 , wherein the sealing apparatus comprises adhesive tape, and the adhesive tape comprises the area of adhesive material.

16 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 15 , wherein the adhesive tape is mounted to the body and at least partially obstructs the second opening.

17 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 16 , wherein:
an exterior of the body comprises opposite first and second sides; and the adhesive tape further comprises:
an area of adhesive material engaged against the first side of the exterior of the body, and
an area of adhesive material engaged against the second side of the exterior of the body.

18 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sealing apparatus comprises a mechanical seal configured for restricting any particle migration between the cover and the body.

19 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 18 , wherein the mechanical seal comprises a gasket positioned between the cover and the body.

20 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 18 , wherein the mechanical seal comprises:
an annular groove of a first component selected from the group consisting of the body and cover; and an annular protrusion of a second component selected from the group consisting of the body and cover, wherein the groove and the protrusion are configured for mating with one another.

21 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 18 , wherein the mechanical seal comprises packing positioned between the cover and the body.

22 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 21 , wherein:
the packing is positioned at least partially in a groove; and the groove is at least partially defined by either the body or the cover.

23 . A fiber optic cable assembly, comprising:
a cable having at least one optical fiber; at least one fiber optic connector mounted on an end of the cable, the fiber optic connector having a ferrule through which the at least one optical fiber extends; and a cap apparatus mounted to at least a portion of the fiber optic connector for protecting at least an end face of the ferrule, the cap apparatus comprising:
a body having opposite proximal and distal ends between which a cavity extends, the proximal end defining a first opening to the cavity, and the distal end defining a second opening to at least a portion of the cavity, wherein at least a portion of the fiber optic connector extends through the first opening and into the cavity;
a cover mounted to the body and at least partially obstructing the second opening, the end face of the ferrule being positioned within the cavity at a location spaced from the cover; and
a sealing apparatus positioned between at least a portion of the cover and the end face of the ferrule, wherein the sealing apparatus seals at least a portion of the cavity, and the sealing apparatus comprises an area of adhesive material that both:
confronts the end face of the ferrule, and
is spaced apart from the end face of the ferrule.

24 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 23 , wherein the sealing apparatus comprises adhesive tape, and the adhesive tape comprises the area of adhesive material.

25 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 24 , wherein the adhesive tape is mounted to the body and at least partially obstructs the second opening.

26 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 25 , wherein:
an exterior of the body comprises opposite first and second sides; and the adhesive tape further comprises:
an area of adhesive material engaged against the first side of the exterior of the body, and
an area of adhesive material engaged against the second side of the exterior of the body.

Assignees

• Corning Optical Communications LLC

Inventors

• Collier Adam Kent
• De Jong Michael
• Maack David Ralph
• Overcash Jerald Lee

Classifications

• G02B6/3849 Primary

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

• G02B6/3866

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

• G02B6/387

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

• G02B6/3893

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

• 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