Multi-fiber optical connector having enhanced functionality

A fiber optic connector comprising:

• a connector body defining a longitudinal axis, the connector body having opposing major sides and minor sides, and a pin release opening is defined on each of the minor sides;
• a multi-fiber ferrule disposed at least partially within the connector body and configured to receive a plurality of optical fibers, the multi-fiber ferrule defining a pair of alignment pin openings that extend along the longitudinal axis;
• a sleeve body slidably mounted on the connector body;
• a pair of alignment pins, each alignment pin having a circumferential groove;
• and
• a pin retention structure disposed within the connector body and adjacent the multi-fiber ferrule, the pin retention structure configured to releasably secure each of the pair of alignment pins at least partially within a respective alignment pin opening of the pair of alignment pin openings to define a gender of the fiber optic connector, the pin retention structure comprising:
• a main body;
• and
• a pair of pin retainers supported by the main body, each pin retainer axially aligned with the respective alignment pin opening, and each pin retainer comprising:
• opposing L-shaped cantilever resilient elements spaced apart from one another and having a long leg and a short leg, each pin retainer movable between a pin retention position and a pin release position, in the pin retention position, the short leg of the opposing L-shaped cantilever resilient elements are engaged with a respective alignment pin at the circumferential groove at two different locations approximately 180° apart, and in the pin release position, the long leg of the opposing L-shaped cantilever resilient elements flex in a direction away from the longitudinal axis,
• wherein moving each pin retainer towards the pin release position includes sliding the sleeve body rearward uncovering the pin release openings, inserting a tool into at least one of the pin release openings, and engaging with each of the long legs to induce flexure.

A fiber optic connector comprising:

• a connector body defining a longitudinal axis and defining left and right pin release openings;
• a multi-fiber ferrule disposed at least partially within the connector body and defining left and right alignment pin openings;
• a sleeve body slidably mounted on the connector body;
• left and right alignment pins;
• and
• a pin retention structure disposed within the connector body, the pin retention structure comprising:
• left and right pin retainers axially aligned along the longitudinal axis with the left and right alignment pin openings and disposed adjacent to the left and right pin release openings, each of the left and right pin retainers being substantially U-shaped with opposing resilient elements configured to engage with a respective left or right alignment pin to retain in the fiber optic connector, wherein the opposing resilient elements are flexible in a direction that is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis to release the respective left or right alignment pin when wedged by a tool that is received within a corresponding left or right pin release opening while the sleeve body is moved in a rearward direction without being dissembled from the connector body to define a gender of the fiber optic connector, and wherein the tool engages directly with the opposing resilient elements to induce their flexure away from each other.