Connector assembly with cleaning devices

A connector assembly comprising:

• a first connector forming a first mating face with a first optical element thereon, said first optical element defining a first mating portion thereon;
• a first cleaning device located on the first mating face and in front of the first optical element along a mating direction;
• a second connector forming a receiving cavity to receive the first connector therein in said mating direction, and defining internally a second mating face exposed to said receiving cavity in a lateral direction perpendicular to said mating direction and facing toward the first mating face during mating;
• a second optical element located upon the second mating face with a second mating portion thereon;
• and
• a second cleaning device located on the second mating face and in front of the second optical element in said mating direction;
• wherein
• the first connector and the second connector are structured to have the first cleaning device and the second cleaning device offset away from each other in a lateral direction without excessive abrasion therebetween during an initial stage of mating while being urged toward each other in a successive stage during mating to have the first cleaning device efficiently wipe the second mating portion and the second cleaning device efficiently wipe the first mating portion;
• wherein
• the first cleaning device protrudes out of the first mating face and the second cleaning device protrudes out of the second mating face so as to form a gap formed between the first mating face and the second mating face in the lateral direction when the first connector and the second connector are fully mated with each other.

A connector assembly comprising:

• a first connector adapted to be mated with a second connector along a mating direction, said first connector including:
• a first mating face exposed in a first lateral direction perpendicular to said mating direction;
• a first optical element disposed upon the first mating face with a first mating portion thereon;
• a first cleaning device disposed upon the first mating face, located in front of the first mating portion and backwardly moveable along said mating direction;
• the second connector including:
• a second mating face exposed in a second lateral direction opposite to said first lateral direction;
• a second optical element disposed upon the second mating face with a second mating portion thereon for confronting the first mating portion during mating;
• and
• at least a pushing post urging the first cleaning device to move backward in a direction opposite to the mating direction during mating to wipe the first mating portion;
• wherein
• the first cleaning device protrudes out of the first mating face and the second cleaning device protrudes out of the second mating face so as to form a gap formed between the first mating face and the second mating face along either one of the first lateral direction and the second lateral direction when the first connector and the second connector are fully mated with each other.