# US 11,994,722 B2 · Fiber optic adapter assemblies including an adapter housing and a locking housing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,994,722 B2 - Document ID: US11994722B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/522,396 - Filed: 2021-11-09 - Published: 2022-06-02 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2020-11-30 - Assignees: Corning Research & Development Corporation - Applicants: Corning Research & Development Corporation - Inventors: Guy Barthes; Thierry Luc Alain Dannoux; Michel Teva Menguy; Felice Scotta - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11994722B2 ## CPC - G02B 6/3831: {comprising a keying element on the plug or adapter, e.g. to forbid wrong connection (keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical coupling H01R13/64)} - G02B 6/3825: {with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs} - G02B 6/3843: {with auxiliary facilities for movably aligning or adjusting the fibre within its ferrule, e.g. measuring position or eccentricity (testing the alignment of axes, including eccentricity, G01B11/27)} - G02B 6/389: {characterised by the method of fastening connecting plugs and sockets, e.g. screw- or nut-lock, snap-in, bayonet type} - G02B 6/3897: {Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards (G02B6/44528 takes precedence)} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract A fiber optic connector assembly includes a connector housing defining a rotationally-discrete locking portion defined on an outer surface, an adapter assembly selectively coupled to the connector housing, the adapter assembly including an adapter housing defining an adapter front end and an adapter retention member that is positionable between an engaged position, in which the adapter retention member restricts movement of the connector housing with respect to the adapter assembly in an axial direction, and a disengaged position, in which the connector housing is movable with respect to the adapter assembly in the axial direction, and a locking housing positioned between the adapter housing and the connector housing, the locking housing defining a locking front end positionable at least partially within the adapter housing, and a locking retention feature that is engaged with the adapter retention member when the adapter retention member is in the engaged position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fiber optic connector assembly comprising: a connector housing defining a rotationally-discrete locking portion defined on an outer surface of the connector housing; an adapter assembly selectively coupled to the connector housing, the adapter assembly comprising: an adapter housing extending around the connector housing and defining an adapter front end and an adapter retention member that is positionable between an engaged position, in which the adapter retention member restricts movement of the connector housing with respect to the adapter assembly in an axial direction, and a disengaged position, in which the connector housing is movable with respect to the adapter assembly in the axial direction; and a locking housing positioned between the adapter housing and the connector housing, the locking housing defining a locking front end positionable at least partially within the adapter housing, and a locking retention feature that is engaged with the adapter retention member when the adapter retention member is in the engaged position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the locking retention feature comprises a slot defined on an outer surface of the locking housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the adapter retention member defines a forwardly-facing locking engagement face positioned at least partially within the locking retention feature of the locking housing in the engaged position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the adapter housing defines an outer surface and an inner surface, and wherein the adapter retention member comprises an arm extending inwardly from the inner surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the adapter retention member defines a ramp facing rearwardly and outwardly in a radial direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, further comprising a connector retention feature engaged with the locking housing, and wherein the rotationally-discrete locking portion of the connector housing defines a connector locking face engaged with the connector retention feature. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 6, wherein the connector retention feature comprises a clip engaged with an outer surface of the locking housing and the connector locking face. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, further comprising a boot rearward of the connector housing in the axial direction, the boot defining a forwardly-extending adapter engagement feature. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 8, wherein the boot is movable between an engaged position, in which the forwardly-extending adapter engagement feature is engaged with the adapter retention member, and a disengaged position, in which the forwardly-extending adapter engagement feature is spaced apart from the adapter retention member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 9, wherein the forwardly-extending adapter engagement feature of the boot restricts outward movement of the adapter retention member in a radial direction that is transverse to the axial direction in the engaged position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 8, wherein the forwardly-extending adapter engagement feature is positioned between the inner surface of the adapter housing and the adapter retention member in the engaged position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 8, wherein the forwardly-extending adapter engagement feature comprises a finger extending forwardly from the boot. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 8, further comprising a sealing element positioned between the connector housing and the locking housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 8, further comprising a sealing element engaged with an outer surface of the adapter housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the adapter housing comprises a plurality of adapter retention members positionable between the engaged position and the disengaged position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, further comprising a boot rearward of the connector housing in the axial direction, the boot defining a forwardly-extending adapter engagement feature, and wherein: the locking retention feature comprises a slot defined on an outer surface of the locking housing; the adapter retention member defines a forwardly-facing locking engagement face positioned at least partially within the locking retention feature of the locking housing in the engaged position; and the boot is movable between an engaged position, in which the forwardly-extending adapter engagement feature is engaged with the adapter retention member, and a disengaged position, in which the forwardly-extending adapter engagement feature is spaced apart from the adapter retention member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the locking housing defines a protrusion extending outward from an outer surface of the locking housing.