Connector for telecommunication enclosures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018224610-A1
Application number	US-201815946152-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 5, 2018
Priority date	Jul 16, 2013
Publication date	Aug 9, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

An optical fiber connector for external connection to a telecommunications enclosure is described herein. The optical fiber connector has an assembly base having a first end and a second end, an optical connection portion disposed partially within the first end of the assembly base and a strain relief assembly disposed on the second end of the assembly base. The assembly base includes a body portion and a release portion which defines a release mechanism that causes the release portion to move relative to the body portion. The release portion includes at least one cam that is configured to release or disengage the at least one latch element when the release portion moves with respect to the body portion so that the optical fiber connector can be removed from the port of the telecommunication enclosure.

First claim

We claim:

1 . An optical fiber connector configured for external connection to a telecommunication enclosure, the connector comprising:
an assembly base comprising a body portion having an interior passageway extending from a first end to a second end, a release portion disposed near the first end of the body portion and movable with respect to the body portion; an optical connection portion disposed partially within the first end of the assembly base, optical connection portion comprises a ferrule that defines an optical connection interface exposed at the front end of the optical fiber connector; an outer housing attached to the first end of the body portion over the connection portion, wherein the outer housing has a pair of windows disposed on two opposite sidewalls of the outer housing enabling engagement of latches of an coupling with the optical connection portion; and at least one additional engagement feature configured to secure the optical fiber connector within a port of the telecommunication enclosure, wherein the release portion includes at least one cam that is configured to disengage the at least one engagement feature when the release portion moves with respect to the body portion so that the optical fiber connector can be removed from the port of the telecommunication enclosure.

2 . The connector of claim 1 , further comprising an activation portion moveably disposed near the second end of the body portion, wherein movement of the activation portion moves the release portion in a direction parallel to the internal passageway through the body portion.

3 . The connector of claim 2 , wherein rotation of the activation portion pushes the release portion forward toward the optical connection interface to disengage the at least one engagement feature.

4 . The connector of claim 2 , wherein rotation of the activation portion pulls the release portion back away from the optical connection interface to disengage the at least one engagement feature.

5 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein the at least one additional engagement feature comprises a pair of forward facing latches formed on the outer housing, wherein the forward-facing latches engage with windows formed on opposite sides of the optical coupling.

6 . The connector of claim 1 , further comprising a strain relief assembly attached to the second end of the body portion.

7 . The connector of claim 6 , wherein the strain relief assembly comprises a connection portion, a clamping portion and an integral bend control boot.

8 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein the at least one additional engagement feature comprises a retention clip attached over the outer housing.

9 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein the at least one additional engagement feature comprises a pair retention clips attached over opposite sides of the outer housing.

10 . The connector of claim 9 , wherein each of the pair of retention clips comprise C-shaped catches that are configured to receive terminal portions of a pair latch arms of the optical coupling and a disengaging knob disposed on either side of the C-shaped catch.

11 . The connector of claim 9 , wherein the disengaging knobs interact with cams formed on the on the inside surface of the release portion when the release portion moves with respect to the body portion to lift a portion of the retention clips to release the terminal portion of the latch arms.

12 . The connector of claim 2 , wherein the activation portion comprises a bayonet channel and the release portion comprises at least one bayonet peg that fit into the bayonet channel in the activation portion such that when the activation portion is rotated, the bayonet pegs travel in the bayonet channel and cause the release portion to move in a longitudinal direction along the body portion of the optical fiber connector.

13 . The connector of claim 2 , wherein the activation portion comprises external pegs and the release portion comprises a bayonet channel such that when the activation portion is fitted into slid into the second end of the release portion, the external pegs are disposed in the two bayonet channels in the release portion.

14 . The connector of claim 2 , wherein rotation of the activation portion causes the external pegs to slide in the bayonet channel and resulting in the release portion moving longitudinally along the body portion of the optical fiber connector.

15 . The connector of claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate sealing member disposed between the body portion and release portion of assembly base to provide an environmental seal between the body portion and release portion.

16 . The connector of claim 1 , further comprising an internal sealing member within the connector to provide an environmental seal between the body portion and an optical fiber cable that is terminated with the connector.

17 . The connector of claim 1 , further comprising an external sealing member to provide an environmental seal between optical fiber connector and the port of the telecommunication enclosure.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Pimentel Nelson Goncalves
• Bund Christine B
• Hajok Johann G

Classifications

• G02B6/3891

  Bayonet type · CPC title

• G02B6/3849

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

• G02B6/3825

  with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs · CPC title

• H01R13/6273

  comprising two latching arms · CPC title

• G02B6/3893 Primary

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