Ingress protected, outdoor rated connector with integrated optical connector plug frame
AssigneeSenko Advanced Components, Inc.
InventorsKazuyoshi Takano, Jeffrey Gniadek, George Wakileh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An outdoor rated ingress protected ruggedize connector with molded inner body configured with a plug frame to accept a ferrule. A ferrule assembly has a flange that accepts one or more alignment members formed as part of the inner body. The alignment members and align the ferrule assembly under the force of a bias spring supported by a spring push integrated into a back body.
Claims17
An ingress protected outdoor connector comprising:
- a connector outer body having a front end, a rear end configured to receive a fiber optic cable, an inner surface defining an interior cavity and comprising key on the inner surface and a threaded coupling on the inner surface spaced apart rearward of the key;
- a ferrule assembly configured for reception into the cavity of the connector outer body, the ferrule assembly comprising a ferrule and a front flange projecting outwardly from the ferrule, the front flange defining a notch configured to receive the key for orienting the ferrule assembly within the connector outer body and preventing the ferrule assembly from rotating with respect to the connector outer body, the ferrule assembly further comprising a back flange, the back flange having a forward facing surface, the forward facing surface configured to engage the key to limit forward longitudinal movement of the ferrule assembly with respect to the connector outer body;
- a connector back body threadably connected to the connector outer body by the threaded coupling on the inner surface;
- a coupling nut free to float over the connector outer body and configured to secure the ingress protected connector to a mating element.
A dual flanged ferrule assembly comprising a body having a first end and a second end and a longitudinal passage extending from the first end to the second end, the longitudinal passage being configured to receive a ferrule therein such that the ferrule extends from the first end in a forward longitudinal direction, and the longitudinal passage being configured to receive at least one optical fiber therethrough passing into the ferrule, the body including a front flange and a back flange, the front flange being located closer to the first end of the body than the back flange, the front flange being formed to accept an alignment member such that the alignment member is passable longitudinally through the front flange, and the back flange having a forward facing surface, the forward facing surface is disposed to engage the alignment member to limit longitudinal movement between the ferrule assembly and a connector component.
An ingress protected outdoor connector, comprising:
- a connector outer body having a front end, a rear end configured to receive a fiber optic cable, an inner surface defining an interior cavity and comprising a first alignment member on the inner surface, the front end of the connector body including a plug frame and a shroud around the plug frame, wherein the connector outer body is a single integrally molded piece of material;
- a ferrule assembly configured for reception into the cavity of the connector outer body, the ferrule assembly comprising a ferrule and a flange projecting outwardly from the ferrule the alignment member engaging the ferrule assembly within the connector outer body and preventing the ferrule assembly from rotating with respect to the connector outer body;
- a connector back body connected to the connector outer body;
- and
- a coupling nut movable with respect to the connector outer body and configured to threadably mate with a mating element to secure the ingress protected connector to the mating element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.