# US 10,768,382 B2 · Multiport assemblies including access apertures and a release tool > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,768,382 B2 - Document ID: US10768382B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/204,382 - Filed: 2018-11-29 - Published: 2020-06-04 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-11-29 - Assignees: Corning Research & Development Corporation - Applicants: Corning Research & Development Corporation - Inventors: Monique Lise Cote; Joel Christopher Rosson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10768382B2 ## CPC - G02B 6/3897: {Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards (G02B6/44528 takes precedence)} - G02B 6/3821: {with axial spring biasing or loading means (G02B6/3847 takes precedence)} - G02B 6/3869: {Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs} - 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 6/3898: {Tools, e.g. handheld; Tuning wrenches; Jigs used with connectors, e.g. for extracting, removing or inserting in a panel, for engaging or coupling connectors, for assembling or disassembling components within the connector, for applying clips to hold two connectors together or for crimping (tools for cleaning, G02B6/3866; tools in general B25B)} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract A multiport assembly includes a shell defining a cavity, a plurality of apertures extending through the shell to the cavity, and a plurality of optical connector ports defining connector insertion paths, a plurality of optical adapter assemblies positioned within the cavity of the shell, and a plurality of sealing piston securing members associated with respective ones of the connector insertion paths, where each of the sealing piston securing members is repositionable between an engaged position, in which at least a portion of the sealing piston securing member intersects the connector insertion path, and a disengaged position, in which a securing portion of the sealing piston securing member is spaced apart from the connector insertion path, and where a width of a button portion of each of the sealing piston securing members is greater than width defined by each of the plurality of apertures. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A multiport assembly comprising: a shell extending between a front end and a rear end positioned opposite the front end, the shell defining: a cavity bounded by the shell; a plurality of apertures extending through the shell to the cavity, each aperture defining a tool insertion path extending inward from the plurality of apertures into the cavity; and a plurality of optical connector ports positioned at the front end of the shell and each defining a respective connector insertion path extending inward from the plurality of optical connector ports into the cavity of the shell; a plurality of optical adapter assemblies positioned within the cavity of the shell, the plurality of optical adapter assemblies structurally configured to optically couple one or more input optical connectors to one or more output optical connectors; and a plurality of sealing piston securing members associated with respective ones of the connector insertion paths, each sealing piston securing member of the plurality of sealing piston securing members comprising a button portion and a securing portion positioned below the button portion, wherein each of the sealing piston securing members is repositionable between an engaged position, in which at least a portion of the securing portion intersects the connector insertion path, and a disengaged position, in which the securing portion is spaced apart from the connector insertion path, and wherein a width of the button portion of each of the sealing piston securing members is greater than width defined by each of the plurality of apertures. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The multiport assembly of claim 1, wherein each tool insertion path is transverse to a respective connector insertion path. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The multiport assembly of claim 1, wherein the width defined by each of the plurality of apertures is less than 5 millimeters. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The multiport assembly of claim 1, wherein the width of the button portion of each of the sealing piston securing members is greater than 50 millimeters. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The multiport assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of securing member biasing members each engaged with a corresponding sealing piston securing member of the plurality of sealing piston securing members, wherein the plurality of securing member biasing members each bias the corresponding sealing piston securing member into the engaged position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The multiport assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of sealing piston securing members comprise a bore extending through the sealing piston securing member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The multiport assembly of claim 1, further comprising a splitter positioned within the cavity of the shell and a plurality of optical fibers extending between the splitter and the plurality of optical adapter assemblies. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The multiport assembly of claim 1, further comprising an input tether comprising a plurality of optical fibers connected with corresponding optical adapter assemblies of the plurality of optical adapter assemblies. ### Claim 9 A multiport assembly kit comprising: a multiport assembly comprising: a shell extending between a front end and a rear end positioned opposite the front end, the shell defining: a cavity bounded by the shell; a plurality of apertures extending through the shell to the cavity, each aperture defining a tool insertion path extending inward from the plurality of apertures into the cavity; and a plurality of optical connector ports positioned at the front end of the shell and each defining a connector insertion path extending inward from the plurality of optical connector ports into the cavity of the shell, wherein each aperture of the plurality of apertures is associated with a respective connector insertion path; a plurality of optical adapter assemblies positioned within the cavity of the shell, the plurality of optical adapter assemblies structurally configured to optically couple one or more input optical connectors to one or more output optical connectors; and a plurality of sealing piston securing members associated with respective ones of the connector insertion paths, each sealing piston securing member of the plurality of sealing piston securing members comprising a button portion and a securing portion positioned below the button portion, wherein each of the sealing piston securing members is repositionable between an engaged position, in which at least a portion of the securing portion intersects the connector insertion path, and a disengaged position, in which the securing portion is spaced apart from the connector insertion path, and wherein a width of the button portion of each of the sealing piston securing members is greater than width defined by each of the plurality of apertures; and a release tool sized to be insertable into apertures of the plurality of apertures to engage the button portion of each of the sealing piston securing members. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The multiport assembly kit of claim 9, wherein each tool insertion path is transverse to a respective connector insertion path. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The multiport assembly kit of claim 9, wherein the width of the button portion of each of the plurality of sealing piston securing members is greater than a width of the release tool. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The multiport assembly kit of claim 9, wherein the release tool defines a width that is less than 5 millimeters. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The multiport assembly kit of claim 9, wherein the width defined by each of the plurality of apertures is less than 5 millimeters. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The multiport assembly kit of claim 9, wherein the width of the button portion of each of the sealing piston securing members is greater than 50 millimeters. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The multiport assembly kit of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of securing member biasing members each engaged with a corresponding sealing piston securing member of the plurality of sealing piston securing members, wherein the plurality of securing member biasing members each bias the corresponding sealing piston securing member into the engaged position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The multiport assembly kit of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of sealing piston securing members comprise a bore extending through the sealing piston securing member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The multiport assembly kit of claim 9, further comprising a splitter positioned within the cavity of the shell and a plurality of optical fibers extending between the splitter and the plurality of optical adapter assemblies. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) The multiport assembly kit of claim 9, further comprising an input tether comprising a plurality of optical fibers connected with corresponding optical adapter assemblies of the plurality of optical adapter assemblies. ### Claim 19 A method for selectively disconnecting a fiber optic connector from a multiport assembly, the method comprising: inserting a release tool into an aperture of a multiport assembly to depress a sealing piston securing member positioned within a cavity of the multiport assembly and engaged with an optical connector; moving the sealing piston securing member away from a connector insertion path defined by the multiport assembly with the release tool; disengaging the sealing piston securing member from the fiber optic connector; and removing the fiber optic connector from the multiport assembly through optical connector port of the multiport assembly. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein moving the sealing piston securing member away from the connector insertion path comprises overcoming a biasing force of a biasing member engaged with the sealing piston securing member.