# US 10,371,903 B1 · Spacers for use in a fiber optic connector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,371,903 B1 - Document ID: US10371903B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/997,593 - Filed: 2018-06-04 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-04 - Assignees: US Conec Ltd. - Applicants: US Conec, Ltd - Inventors: Hiep V. Nguyen; Darrell R. Childers; Myron W. Yount; Jillcha F. Wakjira; Jason Higley; Brent D. Henley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371903B1 ## CPC - G02B 6/403: {of the ferrule type, connecting a pair of ferrules} - G02B 6/3821: {with axial spring biasing or loading means (G02B6/3847 takes precedence)} - G02B 6/3873: {Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls} - G02B 6/3882: {using rods, pins or balls to align a pair of ferrule ends} - G02B 6/3833: {Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture} - G02B 6/387: {Connector plugs comprising two complementary members, e.g. shells, caps, covers, locked together} - G02B 6/3885: {Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type (optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448)} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract A spacer to be used with a fiber optic connector includes a two portions with spring retaining members and a cross member extending between the first and second portions. The cross member has an extension extending from the cross member between the first portion and the second portion and away from a front face thereof. The spacer may also have retention pins to engage a fiber optic ferrule. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A spacer to be used with a fiber optic connector comprising: a first portion having a first retention pin extending from a front face and away from the first portion and a first spring retaining member extending from a back face and extending away from the first portion; a second portion having a second retention pin extending from a front face and away from the second portion and a second spring retaining member extending from a back face and extending away from the second portion, each of the first and second retention pins configured to engage a respective opening in a fiber optic ferrule in the fiber optic connector; a cross member extending between the first and second portions, the cross member joining the first and second portions and having a front face, the cross member having an extension extending from the cross member between the first portion and the second portion and away from the front face and at least a portion of the extension extending beyond the back faces; and a male spacer key extending from the first portion in a direction orthogonal to an axis through the first retention pin and the first portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The spacer according to claim 1, wherein the extension is disposed inwardly of the first and second portions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The spacer according to claim 1, wherein there is a first gap between the first portion and the extension and a second gap between the second portion and the extension. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The spacer according to claim 1, further comprising a recessed portion on the cross member adjacent the front face thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The spacer according to claim 4, wherein the recessed portion on the cross member extends to a part of the first portion and the second portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The spacer according to claim 1, wherein the cross member has a first bottom surface lying in a first plane and the extension has a second bottom surface lying in a second plane, the first and second planes being off set from one another. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The spacer according to claim 1, wherein the cross member has a first bottom surface lying in a first plane and the extension has a second bottom surface lying in a second plane, the first and second planes being parallel to one another. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The spacer according to claim 1, further comprising a spring seat disposed on the back face of each the first and second portions, each of the spring seats extending rearward away from the first and second portions and lying in a single plane. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The spacer according to claim 1, wherein the first spring retaining member and the second spring retaining member have a chamfered portion facing away from the spacer. ### Claim 10 A spacer to be used with a fiber optic connector comprising: a first portion having first spring retaining member extending from a back face and extending away from the first portion; a second portion having a second spring retaining member extending from a back face and extending away from the second portion; and a cross member extending between the first and second portions, the cross member joining the first and second portions and having a front face, the cross member having an extension extending from the cross member between the first portion and the second portion and away from the front face and at least a portion of the extension extending beyond the back faces, wherein the first portion, second portion and the extension form a u-shaped opening allowing access to the u-shaped opening from above the u-shaped opening. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The spacer according to claim 10, further comprising a male spacer key extending from the first portion in a direction orthogonal to an axis through the first portion and the first spring retaining member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The spacer according to claim 10, further comprising a recessed portion on the cross member adjacent the front face thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The spacer according to claim 12, wherein the recessed portion on the cross member extends to a part of the first portion and the second portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The spacer according to claim 10, wherein the cross member has a first bottom surface lying in a first plane and the extension has a second bottom surface lying in a second plane, the first and second planes being off set from one another. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The spacer according to claim 10, further comprising a spring seat disposed on the back face of each the first and second portions, each of the spring seats extending rearward away from the first and second portions and lying in a single plane. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The spacer according to claim 10, wherein the first spring retaining member and the second spring retaining member have a chamfered portion facing away from the spacer. ### Claim 17 A combination of a spacer and a fiber optic ferrule comprising: a fiber optic ferrule further comprising: a main body having a front face, a rear face, a first opening extending from the rear face toward the front face to receive optical fibers therein; at least two openings extending from the rear face into the main body towards the front face; and a spacer further comprising: a first portion having a first retention pin extending from a front face and disposed within one of the at least two openings in the fiber optic ferrule and a first spring retaining member extending from a back face and extending away from the first portion; a second portion having a second retention pin extending from a front face and disposed within another of the at least two openings in the fiber optic ferrule and a second spring retaining member extending from a back face and extending away from the second portion; and a singular cross member extending between the first and second portions, the cross member joining the first and second portions and having a front face, the cross member having an extension extending from the cross member between the first portion and the second portion and away from the front face and at least a portion of the extension extending beyond the back faces. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The combination of a spacer and a fiber optic ferrule according to claim 17, further comprising a spring, the spring being a coil spring defining an elongated opening along a length thereof, the extension from the cross member being disposed within a portion of the elongated opening. ### Claim 19 A spacer to be used with a fiber optic connector comprising: a first portion having a first retention pin extending from a front face and away from the first portion and a first spring retaining member extending from a back face and extending away from the first portion; a second portion having a second retention pin extending from a front face and away from the second portion and a second spring retaining member extending from a back face and extending away from the second portion, each of the first and second retention pins configured to engage a respective opening in a fiber optic ferrule in the fiber optic connector; a cross member extending between the first and second portions, the cross member joining the first and second portions and having a front face, the cross member having an extension extending from the cross member between the first portion and the second portion and away from the front face; and a male spacer key extending from the first portion in a direction orthogonal to an axis through the first retention pin and the first spring retaining member.