Fiber optic connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023123261-A1
Application number	US-202218047012-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 17, 2022
Priority date	Oct 17, 2021
Publication date	Apr 20, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fiber optic connector terminates a drop cable. A connector housing can include a back post where the drop cable to enters the housing. A cable clamp insert is least partially received in the back post. The cable clamp insert defines a passage for receiving the drop cable. A crimp ring is crimped onto the back post to secure the cable clamp insert to the housing and clamp the cable clamp insert onto the drop cable. Fiber optic connectors can also have a cable clamp insert and a cable clamp retainer that couples to the rear end portion of the housing whereby the cable clamp retainer pushes the cable clamp insert forward in the housing and applies an increasing force to create a tight connection between the housing and the cable clamp insert.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A fiber optic connector for terminating a drop cable, the fiber optic connector comprising:
a housing including a back post, the housing being configured for the drop cable to enter the housing through the back post; a cable clamp insert configured to be at least partially received in the back post, the cable clamp insert defining a passage for receiving the drop cable; and a crimp ring configured to be crimped onto the back post whereby the crimp ring secures the cable clamp insert to the housing and clamps the cable clamp insert onto the drop cable.

2 . The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the cable clamp insert comprises an insert portion configured to be received in the back post and a cable grip portion configured to extend out of the back post, the cable grip portion configured to be crushed by the crimp ring onto the drop cable.

3 . The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the passage has a perimeter that generally corresponds to the perimeter of the drop cable.

4 . The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the cable grip portion defines gripping teeth in the passage.

5 . The fiber optic connector of claim 4 , wherein each gripping tooth is an elongate gripping tooth having a first end and a second end spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the fiber optic connector, the first end and the second end of each gripping tooth having an undercut.

6 . The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the cable clamp insert comprises crush recesses spaced apart along an imaginary line on opposite sides of the passage, the cable clamp insert having a first section on one side of the imaginary line and a second section on another side of the imaginary line.

7 . The fiber optic connector of claim 6 , wherein the crush recesses configure the cable clamp insert so that the first and second sections deflect toward one another in directions generally perpendicular to the imaginary line when the crimp ring is crimped.

8 . The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the back post and the cable clamp insert comprise complementary keying features configured to circumferentially align the cable clamp insert with the back post.

9 . The fiber optic connector of claim 8 , wherein the keying feature of the back post comprises an internal keyway and the keying feature of the cable clamp insert comprises an external rib.

10 . The fiber optic connector of claim 9 , wherein the keying feature of the back post comprises an external keyway and the keying feature of the cable clamp insert comprises a forwardly projecting tab.

11 . The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a front body and a back body configured to couple to the front body, the back body defining the back post.

12 . The fiber optic connector of claim 11 , further comprising a connector received in the housing.

13 . The fiber optic connector of claim 12 , wherein the front body defines an internal stop, the inner connector defines an external stop, and the back body is configured to press the inner connector forward in the housing to engage the external stop with the internal stop and thereby hold the inner connector in the housing.

14 . A fiber optic connector for terminating a drop cable, the fiber optic connector comprising:
a housing having a front end portion and a rear end portion spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the fiber optic connector; a connector configured to be received in the housing; a cable clamp insert configured to clamp onto the drop cable and be received in the housing, the cable clamp insert extending along the longitudinal axis; and a cable clamp retainer configured to couple to the rear end portion of the housing whereby the cable clamp retainer pushes the cable clamp insert forward in the housing; wherein the cable clamp retainer is configured to apply an increasing force to create a tight connection between the housing and the cable clamp insert.

15 . The fiber optic connector of claim 14 , wherein the cable clamp insert being formed from first and second clamp shells configured to be pressed together on the drop cable.

16 . The fiber optic connector of claim 15 , wherein at least one of first and second clamp shells is formed with gripping teeth.

17 . The fiber optic connector of claim 14 , wherein the cable clamp insert comprises a tapered surface configured to bear against a non-parallel surface of the housing as the cable clamp retainer pushes the cable clamp insert forward in the housing.

18 . The fiber optic connector of claim 17 , wherein the housing and the cable clamp insert comprise complementary keying features, the keying feature of the cable clamp insert defining the tapered surface.

19 . The fiber optic connector of claim 14 , wherein the connector comprises a plug body, a back post, and a crimp ring having a front end portion crimped onto the back post and a back end portion spaced apart from the front end portion along the longitudinal axis.

20 . The fiber optic connector of claim 14 , wherein the cable clamp retainer comprises front end portion and a back end portion spaced apart along the longitudinal axis, the front end portion being internally threaded to threadably couple the cable clamp retainer to the housing, the back end portion defining a pushing surface for engaging the cable clamp insert.

Assignees

• Senko Advanced Components Inc

Inventors

• Newbury Paul

Classifications

• G02B6/3887

  Anchoring optical cables to connector housings, e.g. strain relief features · CPC title

• G02B6/3869 Primary

  Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs · CPC title

• G02B6/4471 Primary

  Terminating devices (demountable connectors G02B6/3807); Cable clamps · CPC title