Female hardened optical connectors for use with male plug connectors

A female hardened fiber optic connector, comprising:

• a connector assembly;
• a connector sleeve comprising a passageway between a first end and a second end;
• and
• a female coupling housing comprising an opening with an internal attachment feature, wherein the female coupling housing receives a portion of the connector sleeve using one or more pockets, wherein the female coupling housing is sized for receiving a male connector within the opening for optical mating.

A female hardened fiber optic connector, comprising:

• a connector assembly;
• a connector sleeve comprising a passageway between a first end and a second end;
• and
• a female coupling housing comprising a first portion having a front end comprising an opening with an internal attachment feature comprising threads on an internal surface of the female coupling housing, wherein the female coupling housing receives a portion of the connector sleeve using one or more pockets in the first portion, wherein the female hardened fiber optic connector only allows a complimentary male connector to mating in one orientation, and the female coupling housing is sized for receiving a male connector within the opening for optical mating.

A female hardened fiber optic connector, comprising:

• a connector assembly;
• a connector sleeve comprising a passageway between a first end and a second end;
• and
• a female coupling housing comprising an opening with an internal attachment feature comprising threads on an internal surface of the female coupling housing, wherein the female coupling housing receives a portion of the connector sleeve using one or more pockets, and the one or more pockets comprises a first pocket and a second pocket disposed on opposite sides of the female coupling housing for receiving a portion of the connector sleeve, and the female hardened fiber optic connector only allows a complimentary male connector to mating in one orientation, and the female coupling housing is sized for receiving a male connector within the opening for optical mating.

A female hardened fiber optic connector, comprising:

• a connector assembly;
• a connector sleeve comprising a connector sleeve passageway between a first end and a second end;
• and
• a female coupling housing comprising an elongate structure comprising a female coupling housing passageway defined from an opening at a front end of the female coupling housing to a rear end of the female coupling housing, the opening at the front end comprising an internal attachment feature configured as internal threads, and the connector sleeve is located within the female coupling housing passageway so that the first end and the second end of the connector sleeve are forward of the rear end of the female coupling housing and rearward of the internal attachment feature of the female hardened fiber optic connector, wherein the opening is sized for receiving a male connector within the opening for optical mating.

A female hardened fiber optic connector, comprising:

• a connector assembly;
• a connector sleeve comprising a connector sleeve passageway between a first end and a second end;
• and
• a female coupling housing comprising an elongate structure comprising a first portion at a front end that necks down to a second portion at a rear end with a female coupling housing passageway defined from an opening at the front end to the rear end of the female coupling housing, the first portion comprising an internal attachment feature configured as internal threads, and the connector sleeve is located within the female coupling housing passageway so that the first end and the second end of the connector sleeve are forward of the rear end of the female coupling housing and rearward of the internal attachment feature of the female hardened fiber optic connector, wherein the opening is sized for receiving a male connector within the opening for optical mating.

A cable assembly comprising a female hardened fiber optic connector, the cable assembly comprising:

• a fiber optic cable terminating the female hardened fiber optic connector, wherein the fiber optic cable comprises at least one optical fiber and at least one strength member;
• a connector assembly, wherein the connector assembly is attached to the at least one optical fiber of the fiber optic cable;
• a connector sleeve comprising a passageway between a first end and a second end, wherein a portion of the connector assembly is received in the connector sleeve;
• a female coupling housing comprising an elongate structure comprising a female coupling housing passageway defined from an opening at a front end of the female coupling housing to a rear end of the female coupling housing, the opening at the front end comprising an internal attachment feature configured as internal threads, and the connector sleeve is located within the female coupling housing passageway so that the first end and the second end of the connector sleeve are forward of the rear end of the female coupling housing and rearward of the internal attachment feature, wherein the opening is sized for receiving a male connector within the opening for optical mating;
• and
• a crimp band, wherein the at least one strength member of the fiber optic cable is secured to a cable attachment region of the female hardened fiber optic connector.