Multiport assembly and associated components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021382240-A1
Application number	US-202117343432-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 9, 2021
Priority date	Jun 9, 2020
Publication date	Dec 9, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods of using a multiport assembly and associated components are disclosed. The multiport assembly can include a multiport device that communicatively couples multiple sets or pairs of connectors, such as optical connectors or electrical connectors, together. The multiport assembly can also include an auxiliary port device that couples to the multiport device to expand the capacity of the multiport assembly. Both the multiport and auxiliary port devices can be selectively configured to receive specific types of connectors by selectively coupling to different types of adapters, where the types of adapters correspond to the types of connectors. When coupled to the multiport or auxiliary port devices, the adapters facilitate the formation of the communication between its corresponding set of connectors.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An auxiliary port device for a multiport device, the auxiliary port device comprising:
a first port housing including a first port, the first port configured to receive and couple to a first connector; a second port housing including a second port, the second port configured to receive and couple to a second connector, the first and second port housings being releasably coupled together, wherein when the first and second port housings are coupled together, the first and second ports are aligned with each other such that a communication connection is formed between the first and second connectors when the first connector is coupled to the first port and the second connector is coupled to the second port; and a mounting structure configured to facilitate mounting the auxiliary port on the multiport device.

2 . The auxiliary port device of claim 1 , wherein the mounting structure is defined by both the first and second port housings.

3 . The auxiliary port device of claim 1 , wherein the mounting structure comprises a seat configured to be received by a mounting bracket of the multiport device.

4 . The auxiliary port device of claim 1 , wherein the mounting structure comprises one or more projections configured to be inserted into one or more corresponding slots in a mounting bracket of the multiport device.

5 . The auxiliary port device of claim 1 , further comprising a seal at an interface of the first and second port housings, the interface formed when the first and second port housings are coupled together, the seal configured to form a fluid tight seal at the interface.

6 . The auxiliary port device of claim 1 , further comprising a coupler configured to releasably couple the first and second port housings together.

7 . The auxiliary port device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second port housings are identical.

8 . The auxiliary port device of claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second port housings includes an alignment projection and the other one of the first and second port housings includes an alignment recess sized and shaped to receive the alignment projection when the first and second port housings are coupled together.

9 . The auxiliary port device of claim 1 , wherein the first port housing includes a first receptacle receiver sized and shaped for selectively receiving a portion of an adapter therein, the first port and first receptacle receiver being arranged such that when the first connector is coupled to the first port and the adapter is received in the first receptacle receiver, an end of the first connector is received by the adapter, and wherein the second port housing includes a second receptacle receiver sized and shaped for selectively receiving a portion of the adapter therein, the second port and second receptacle receiver being arranged such that when the second connector is coupled to the second port and the adapter is received in the second receptacle receiver, an end of the second connector is received by the adapter.

10 . The auxiliary port device of claim 9 , further comprising the adapter.

11 . The auxiliary port device of claim 10 , wherein the first and second connectors are first and second optical connectors and the adapter is configured to receive one of a MPO-type optical connector, a SC-type optical connector, or a SN-type optical connector.

12 . The auxiliary port device of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second ports includes a latch retainer disposed on an exterior of the respective first or second port housing, each latch retainer being configured to be engaged by a latch of the respective first or second connector to secure said respective first or second connector to the respective first or second port, each latch retainer being configured to engage and deflect the latch of the respective first or second connector as said respective first or second connector is inserted in an insertion direction into said respective first or second port.

13 . The auxiliary port device of claim 12 , wherein each latch retainer includes a deflection surface that slopes outward as it extends in the insertion direction, the deflection surface being configured to engage and deflect the latch of said respective first or second connector.

14 . The auxiliary port device of claim 1 , wherein the first port housing includes a first identification insert mount disposed on an exterior of the first port housing to visually correspond to the first port, wherein the second port housing includes a second identification insert mount disposed on an exterior of the second port housing to visually correspond to the second port, the auxiliary port device further comprising a plurality of identification inserts, each identification insert including indicia identifying a connector type, each identification insert including an identification insert coupler configured to couple to the first or second identification insert mounts to attach said identification insert to the respective first or second port housing such that said identification insert provides a visual indication of the type of the respective first or second connector to be received by the respective first or second port.

15 . The auxiliary port device of claim 14 , wherein the first and second connectors are first and second optical connectors and the indicia identifies a MPO-type optical connector, a SC-type optical connector, or a SN-type optical connector.

16 . The auxiliary port device of claim 1 , further comprising a mounting bracket for mounting the first and second port housings on the multiport device.

Assignees

• Senko Advanced Components Inc

Inventors

• Gniadek Jeffrey
• Newbury Paul

Classifications

• G02B6/3897

  Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards (G02B6/44528 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B6/3878

  comprising a plurality of ferrules, branching and break-out means · CPC title

• G02B6/3893

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

• G02B6/3816

  for use under water, high pressure connectors (provisionally see G02B6/4428) · CPC title