US 12,117,658 B2Granted

Fiber optic cable anchoring device for use with fiber optic connectors and methods of using the same

AssigneesCommScope Connectivity Belgium BVBA, Commscope Czech Republic S.R.O.

InventorsPhilippe Coenegracht, Jan Vozdecky

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Abstract

A fiber-optic connector housing (50) and cable (20, 20′) are attached together by an anchor (100, 200). The anchor includes a one-piece main body, a passage (110, 210), and an injection port (130, 230). The passage extends between first (102, 202) and second ends (104, 204) of the anchor. Strength members (40, 40′) of the cable are secured within the passage by a bonding material (90) and are thereby anchored to the connector housing. A proximal end (54) of the connector housing includes first (60) and second housing components (70) which capture the anchor. The passage passes through an optical fiber (30) of the cable. The passage includes first (120, 220), second (170, 270), and third portions (180, 280). The first portion radially positions the optical fiber. The second portion receives the bonding material and the strength members. The third portion receives a jacket (26, 26′) of the fiber optic cable. The injection port delivers the bonding material to the passage. The anchor may further include retention tabs (150) that fit within corresponding receivers (62, 72) within the connector.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A connectorized cable comprising:

a fiber optic cable comprising an optical fiber and a strength member;
and
a fiber optic connector comprising a ferrule and a connector body, the connector body having a front end and a rear end, the strength member of the cable being anchored relative to the connector body adjacent the rear end of the connector body, the ferrule being positioned at the front end of the connector body, a front portion of the fiber being secured within the ferrule;
a spring positioned within the connector body at a location behind the ferrule for biasing the ferrule in a forward direction relative to the connector body, the ferrule being axially moveable in a rearward direction relative to the connector body against the bias of the spring;
the optical fiber being anchored relative to the connector body at a bonding location located rearward of the spring, wherein a bonding material at the bonding location bonds to the optical fiber to prevent the optical fiber from moving axially relative to the connector body at the bonding location, the bonding location including a bonding chamber having a forward end defined by a necked-down portion at which a cross-dimension of the bonding chamber is reduced, wherein the necked-down portion is configured to resist the bonding material from flowing forwardly beyond the forward end of the bonding chamber, the bonding material being contained within the bonding chamber and the optical fiber extending through the bonding chamber and being bonded within the bonding chamber by the bonding material.

2 more elements

A connectorized cable comprising:

a fiber optic cable comprising an optical fiber and a strength member;
and
a fiber optic connector comprising a ferrule and a connector housing, the connector housing having a front end and a rear end, the strength member of the cable being anchored relative to the connector housing adjacent the rear end of the connector housing, the ferrule being positioned at the front end of the connector housing, the optical fiber extending axially through the connector housing with a front portion of the fiber being secured within the ferrule;
a spring positioned within the connector housing at a location behind the ferrule for biasing the ferrule in a forward direction relative to the connector housing, the ferrule being axially moveable in a rearward direction relative to the connector housing against the bias of the spring;
and
the optical fiber being anchored relative to the connector housing at a bonding chamber located rearward of the spring, the bonding chamber containing bonding material, the bonding chamber having a forward end defined by a necked-down portion at which a cross-dimension of the bonding chamber is reduced, wherein the necked-down portion is configured to resist the bonding material from flowing forwardly beyond the forward end of the bonding chamber during introduction of the bonding material into the bonding chamber, the optical fiber extending through the bonding chamber and the necked-down portion, the optical fiber and the strength member being axially fixed relative to the connector housing at the bonding chamber.

3 more elements

A connectorized cable comprising:

a fiber optic cable comprising an optical fiber and a strength member;
and
a fiber optic connector comprising a ferrule and a connector housing, the connector housing having a front end and a rear end, the strength member of the cable being anchored relative to the connector housing adjacent the rear end of the connector housing, the ferrule being positioned at the front end of the connector housing, the optical fiber extending axially through the connector housing with a front portion of the fiber being secured within the ferrule;
a spring positioned within the connector housing at a location behind the ferrule for biasing the ferrule in a forward direction relative to the connector housing, the ferrule being axially moveable in a rearward direction relative to the connector housing against the bias of the spring;
an anchor assembled at least partially within the connector housing adjacent the rear end of the connector housing, the anchor being axially fixed relative to the connector housing, the anchor defining a bonding chamber containing bonding material, the bonding chamber having a forward end at which a cross-dimension of the bonding chamber is reduced to resist the bonding material from flowing forwardly beyond the forward end of the bonding chamber during introduction of the bonding material into the bonding chamber;
the optical fiber extending through the bonding chamber and the forward portion of the anchor and being axially fixed relative to the anchor within the bonding chamber;
and
the strength member having a forward end portion secured within the bonding chamber of the anchor by the bonding material.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/329,890Filed 25 May 2021 · division
Priority: 27 Jun 2013
Published: US 2021/0349271 A111 Nov 2021
Granted: 15 Oct 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G02B 6/3889
Anchoring optical cables to connector housings, e.g. strain relief features: using encapsulation for protection, e.g. adhesive, molding or casting…
G02B 6/3821
Of a low-reflection-loss type: with axial spring biasing or loading means
G02B 6/3849
With means preventing fibre end damage, e.g. recessed fibre surfaces: using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes
G02B 6/3871
Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs: ferrule rotatable with respect to plug body, e.g. for setting rotational position ; Fixation of…

Family

Application61/840,353Us provisional application · filed 27 Jun 2013
PCT/EP2014/063265Parent of this continuation · filed 24 Jun 2014
Application16/574,596Parent of this division · filed 18 Sep 2019
US 10,444,443 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 15 Oct 2019
US 2021/0349271 A1Pre-grant publication · published 11 Nov 2021
Application14/901,226Parent of this continuation
Application16/574,596Parent of this continuation
US 2016/0370546 A1Published application
US 2020/0081199 A1Published application
US 12,117,658 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.