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US 11,768,333 B2Granted
Small form factor connector and adapter
AssigneeUS Conec Ltd.
InventorsJason Higley, Darrell R. Childers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A two-piece fiber optic connector and a corresponding two-piece adapter allow for the tripling of the optical fibers that can be used with a standard fiber-optic cassette. The two-piece fiber optic connector has a fold-over latch to engage the adapter. The two-piece adapter has at least one latch to engage the standard fiber-optic cassette to retain the two-piece adapter and the fiber optic connectors in the adapter within the cassette. This allows for the retrofitting and/or continued use of the standard fiber-optic cassette.
Claims20
A two-piece fiber optic connector comprising:
- a first portion having at least two passageways to receive respective first and second fiber optic ferrules in each of the at least two passageways, the first portion having a pair of short sides forming a top and a bottom of the two-piece fiber optic connector and a pair of long sides joining the top and the bottom of the two-piece fiber optic connector;
- wherein the first and second fiber optic ferrules are spaced apart from each other in a direction along the pair of long sides and positioned between the top and the bottom of the two-piece fiber optic connector, each of the first and second fiber optic ferrules positioned in respective ones of the at least two passageways, the first and second fiber optic ferrules engaging the two-piece fiber optic connector;
- a single latch extending above one of the pair of short sides from a surface of the first portion to removably engage an adapter;
- two side latches, each of the two latches disposed on respective ones of the pair of long sides;
- a second portion attachable to the first portion;
- and
- a first side latch window on the second portion to receive a first one of the two side latches and a second side latch window on a surface opposite of the first side latch window to receive a second one of the two side latches to retain the first and second portions together,
- wherein the first side latch window and the second side latch window are defined at a medial position on the second portion that is between the first and second fiber optic ferrules in each of the respective at least two passageways,
- wherein the first side latch window is defined on a cantilevered first arm that extends along a length of the two-piece fiber optic connector,
- wherein the second side latch window is defined on a cantilevered second arm that extends along a length of the two-piece fiber optic connector,
- wherein the first and second fiber optic ferrules extend outwardly of a front surface of the two-piece fiber optic connector when the first portion and the second portion are retained together, and
- wherein the first portion has a height that is taller than the second portion.
9 more elements
A two-piece fiber optic connector comprising:
- a first portion having at least two passageways to receive respective first and second fiber optic ferrules in each of the at least two passageways, the first portion having a pair of short sides forming a top and a bottom of the two-piece fiber optic connector and a pair of long sides joining the top and the bottom of the two-piece fiber optic connector;
- wherein the first and second fiber optic ferrules are spaced apart from each other in a direction along the pair of long sides and positioned between the top and the bottom of the two-piece fiber optic connector, each of the first and second fiber optic ferrules positioned in respective ones of the at least two passageways, the first and second fiber optic ferrules engaging the two-piece fiber optic connector;
- a single latch extending above one of the pair of short sides from a surface of the first portion to removably engage an adapter;
- two side latches, each of the two latches disposed on respective opposite sides of the first portion;
- a second portion attached to the first portion;
- and
- a first side latch window on the second portion to receive a first one of the two side latches and a second side latch window on a surface opposite of the first side latch window to receive a second one of the two side latches to retain the first and second portions together,
- wherein the first side latch window and the second side latch window are defined at a medial position on the second portion that is between the first and second fiber optic ferrules in each of the respective at least two passageways,
- wherein the first side latch window is defined on a cantilevered first arm that extends along a length of the two-piece fiber optic connector,
- wherein the second side latch window is defined on a cantilevered second arm that extends along a length of the two-piece fiber optic connector,
- wherein the first and second fiber optic ferrules extend outwardly of a front surface of the two-piece fiber optic connector when the first portion and the second portion are retained together, and
- wherein the single latch has two rearward facing surfaces to engage a portion on the adapter to removably retain the two-piece fiber optic connector therein.
9 more elements
A two-piece fiber optic connector comprising:
- a first portion having at least two passageways to receive respective first and second fiber optic ferrules in each of the at least two passageways, the first portion having a pair of short sides forming a top and a bottom of the two-piece fiber optic connector and a pair of long sides joining the top and the bottom of the two-piece fiber optic connector;
- wherein the first and second fiber optic ferrules are spaced apart from each other in a direction along the pair of long sides and positioned between the top and the bottom of the two-piece fiber optic connector, each of the first and second fiber optic ferrules positioned in respective ones of the at least two passageways, the first and second fiber optic ferrules engaging the two-piece fiber optic connector;
- a single latch extending above one of the pair of short sides from a surface of the first portion to removably engage an adapter;
- two side latches, each of the two latches disposed on respective opposite sides of the first portion;
- a second portion attached to the first portion and having a height less than the first portion;
- and
- a first side latch window on the second portion to receive a first one of the two side latches and a second side latch window on a surface opposite of the first side latch window to receive a second one of the two side latches to retain the first and second portions together,
- wherein the first side latch window and the second side latch window are defined centrally on the second portion between the first and second fiber optic ferrules in each of the respective at least two passageways,
- wherein the first side latch window is defined on a cantilevered first arm that extends along a length of the two-piece fiber optic connector,
- wherein the second side latch window is defined on a cantilevered second arm that extends along a length of the two-piece fiber optic connector,
- wherein the first and second fiber optic ferrules extend outwardly of a front surface of the two-piece fiber optic connector when the first portion and the second portion are retained together, and
- wherein the single latch has two rearward facing surfaces to engage a portion on the adapter to removably retain the two-piece fiber optic connector therein.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.