Connector with trigger locking feature, and cable assemblies and methods including the same

A telecommunication connector, comprising:

• a connector sub-assembly including:
• a connector body;
• and
• a latch arm extending outwardly and rearwardly from a portion of the connector body, wherein an end of the latch arm can be depressed toward to the connector body;
• a housing in which a rear portion of the connector sub-assembly is received;
• a trigger extending outwardly from the housing and over the end of the latch arm, wherein the trigger is configured to move toward the housing to depress the latch arm;
• and
• a locking member movable between a forward position and a rearward position relative to the trigger, wherein the locking member and trigger are configured so that the locking member prevents the trigger from depressing the latch arm in the rearward position but allows the trigger to depress the latch arm in the forward position.

A fiber optic connector, comprising:

• a connector sub-assembly including:
• a ferrule configured to support at least one optical fiber, wherein the ferrule defines a front of the fiber optic connector;
• a connector body surrounding at least a portion of the ferrule;
• and
• a latch arm extending outwardly and rearwardly from a portion of the connector body, wherein an end of the latch arm can be depressed toward the connector body;
• a housing in which a rear portion of the connector sub-assembly is received;
• a trigger extending outwardly from the housing and over the end of the latch arm, wherein the trigger is configured to flex toward the housing to depress the latch arm;
• and
• locking means for preventing the trigger from depressing the latch arm when the locking means is in a rearward position, wherein the locking means is movable relative to the trigger to a forward position that is closer to the front of the fiber optic connector, and further wherein the locking means allows the trigger to depress the latch arm in the forward position.

A fiber optic cable assembly, comprising:

• a cable including at least one optical fiber;
• and
• a fiber optic connector secured to an end of the cable, the fiber optic connector comprising:
• a connector sub-assembly including:
• a ferrule configured to support at least one optical fiber, wherein the ferrule defines a front of the fiber optic connector;
• a connector body surrounding at least a portion of the ferrule;
• and
• a latch arm extending outwardly and rearwardly from a portion of the connector body, wherein an end of the latch arm can be depressed toward the connector body;
• a housing in which a rear portion of the connector sub-assembly is received;
• a trigger extending outwardly from the housing and over the end of the latch arm, wherein the trigger is configured to flex toward the housing to depress the latch arm;
• and
• a locking member movable between a forward position and a rearward position, wherein the forward position is closer to the front of the fiber optic connector than the rearward position, and further wherein the locking member and trigger are configured so that the locking member prevents the trigger from depressing the latch arm in the rearward position but allows the trigger to depress the latch arm in the forward position.

A method of securing a fiber optic connector, the fiber optic connector including a connector sub-assembly having a connector body and a latch arm that extends outwardly and rearwardly from a portion of the connector body, a housing in which a rear portion of the connector sub-assembly is received, a trigger extending outwardly from the housing and over the end of the latch arm, a locking member that is movable relative to the trigger between a forward position and a rearward position, the method comprising:

• depressing the latch arm of the connector sub-assembly toward the connector body, wherein the locking member is in the forward position when the latch arm is depressed;
• inserting a portion of the fiber optic connector into an adapter;
• causing the latch arm to move away from the connector body so that the latch arm engages the adapter in a manner that retains the portion of the fiber optic connector in the adapter;
• and
• moving the locking member to the rearward position after the latch arm engages the adapter, wherein the locking member and trigger are configured so that the locking member prevents the trigger from depressing the latch arm in the rearward position.