Device for an optical-fiber connection

A fiber optic coupling for interconnecting first and second fiber optic connectors in coaxial alignment, each connector including a generally cylindrical ferrule holding an end of an optical fiber, the coupling comprising:

• a coupling housing including an axial passage, the axial passage extending between a first opening defined at a first end of the coupling housing and a second opening defined at a second end of the coupling housing, the first end configured to receive the first fiber optic connector through the first opening and the second end configured to receive the second fiber optic connector through the second opening for mating with the first fiber optic connector;
• and
• a ferrule alignment structure located within the axial passage, the ferrule alignment structure including a sleeve mount defining a first end, a second end, and a center portion, wherein the first end of the sleeve mount is positioned toward the first end of the coupling housing and the second end of the sleeve mount is positioned toward the second end of the coupling housing, the sleeve mount further defining an axial bore that defines a longitudinal axis extending from the first end of the sleeve mount toward the second end of the sleeve mount, the axial bore configured to receive and coaxially align the ferrules of the first and second fiber optic connectors when the connectors are inserted into the fiber optic coupling, wherein the sleeve mount includes a first portion extending from the center portion of the sleeve mount toward the first end of the sleeve mount and a second portion extending from the center portion of the sleeve mount toward the second end of the sleeve mount, wherein at least one of the first and second portions defines three inwardly extending fingers for capturing a ferrule sleeve within the axial bore, wherein the entire sleeve mount including the three inwardly extending fingers defined by at least one of the first and second portions is a unitarily molded structure.