Indicating communications components via illumination

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9435969-B2
Application number	US-201314082787-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 18, 2013
Priority date	Jul 11, 2012
Publication date	Sep 6, 2016
Grant date	Sep 6, 2016

Abstract

A connector plug arrangement ( 330, 600, 700 ) includes a connector body ( 334, 610, 720 ); and an indication component ( 335, 650, 750 ). The indication component ( 335, 650, 750 ) includes a first portion ( 337, 653, 751 ) that is disposed at a rear end of the connector body and a second portion ( 339, 654, 753 ) that extends outwardly from the first portion ( 337, 653, 751 ). The first portion ( 337, 653, 751 ) is configured to extend along a circumferential perimeter of the connector body ( 334, 610, 720 ). The second portion ( 339, 654, 753 ) is configured to extend along the longitudinal axis of the connector body ( 334, 610, 720 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector plug arrangement comprising:
a connector body that is configured to terminate an optical fiber, the connector body having a longitudinal axis and an outer perimeter, the connector body defining a pocket in which a storage device can be disposed; and
an indication component coupled to the connector body, the indication component including a first portion that is disposed at a rear end of the connector body and a second portion that extends outwardly from the first portion, the first portion being configured to extend circumferentially along the outer perimeter of the connector body, the second portion being configured to extend along the longitudinal axis of the connector body, the indication component being configured to extend over an open top of the pocket defined by the connector body.

2. The connector plug arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the connector plug arrangement is an LC connector.

3. The connector plug arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the indication component is molded to the connector body.

4. The connector plug arrangement of claim 1 , wherein at least part of the indication component is configured to fit flush with the outer perimeter of the connector body.

5. The connector plug arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the indication component defines flat exterior surfaces that are illuminated when light is directed to the second portion of the indication component.

6. The connector plug arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the flat exterior surfaces are illuminated when light is directed to any part of the indication component.

7. The connector plug arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the indication component includes a forked region including a first contoured section and a second contoured section transitioning from the second portion to the first portion.

8. A connector plug arrangement comprising:
a connector body defining a pocket having an open top;
a storage device disposed in the pocket; and
an indication component coupled to the connector body to extend over the open top of the pocket, thereby retaining the storage device at the connector body.

9. The connector plug arrangement of claim 8 , wherein a portion of the indication component extends over the open top of the pocket and another portion extends across a rear end of the connector body, the another portion defining a through-passage.

10. The connector plug arrangement of claim 9 , further comprising a tube member extending through the connector body and through the through-passage of the another portion of the indication component.

11. The connector plug arrangement of claim 8 , wherein the connector body defines tabs that extend across the open top of the pocket to aid in maintaining the storage device within the pocket.

12. The connector plug arrangement of claim 8 , wherein the connector body is a rear body of an LC connector.

13. A method of manufacturing a connector plug arrangement comprising:
inserting a tube member within a rear housing to form a rear housing arrangement, the rear housing defining a pocket and tabs extending across an open top of the pocket, the tube member extends outwardly from a rear end of the rear housing;
sliding a storage device through an open end of the rear housing and into the pocket until the storage device is disposed within the pocket, the storage device being slid between a guide surface and the tabs;
molding an indication component onto the rear housing so that a first portion of the indication component wraps around the tube member and a second portion of the indication component extends over the open top of the pocket to seal the storage device within the rear housing.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the tabs are configured to retain the storage device in the pocket during molding.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein sliding the storage device into the pocket comprises sliding the storage device into the pocket until the storage device snaps over a stop member disposed within the pocket.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the storage device includes an RFID tag.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the indication component is molded of translucent material.

18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising coupling the rear housing to a front housing to sandwich a spring-biased ferrule arrangement therebetween.

19. The connector plug arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the storage device includes an RFID tag.

20. The connector plug arrangement of claim 8 , wherein the storage device includes an RFID tag.

Assignees

• Tyco Electronics Ltd Uk
• Tyco Electronics Shanghai Co Ltd
• Commscope Connectivity Uk Ltd

Inventors

• Lambourn Stephen
• Xu Ai Ling
• Cook Alan
• Standish Ian Miles

Classifications

• G02B6/3897

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

• Y10T29/4922

  with molding of insulation · CPC title

• H01R43/24

  Assembling by moulding on contact members · CPC title

• G02B6/241

  Light guide terminations · CPC title

• H01R13/717

  with built-in light source · CPC title