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US 12,546,947 B2Granted
Automatic shutter assembly for multi-fiber connection systems
AssigneeCommScope Technologies LLC
InventorsJosiah D. Kadar-Kallen, Robert Charles Flaig
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates generally to a bare fiber connection system that includes first and second multi-fiber fiber optic connectors that have a retractable shroud with a pivotal locking member mounted thereon. The pivotal locking member can be configured to lock the retractable shroud in an extended position. The pivotal locking member can be pivoted about a pivot point while remaining attached to the retractable shroud to unlock the retractable shroud such that the retractable shroud can move to a retracted position.
Claims20
A bare fiber connection system comprising:
- first and second multi-fiber fiber optic connectors each including:
- a connector body having a front end and a rear end, the connector body defining a longitudinal axis that extends through the connector body in an orientation that extends from the front end to the rear end of the connector body;
- a plurality of optical fibers extending through the connector body from the rear end to the front end, the plurality of optical fibers having fiber ends accessible at the front end of the connector body;
- a retractable shroud mounted at the front end of the connector body, wherein the retractable shroud defines a plurality of fiber passages through which the plurality of optical fibers extend, the retractable shroud being movable along the longitudinal axis between an extended position where the fiber ends of the plurality of optical fibers are protected within the plurality of fiber passages and a retracted position where the fiber ends of the plurality of optical fibers project forwardly beyond the retractable shroud;
- and
- a pivotal locking member mounted at a distal end of the retractable shroud, wherein the pivotal locking member is configured to pivot between a closed position in which the retractable shroud is locked in the extended position and an open position in which the retractable shroud is unlocked to be movable to the retracted position, the pivotal locking member defining an opening through which the fiber ends of the plurality of optical fibers extend when the pivotal locking member is in the open position, the pivotal locking member further defining a seat which receives a body portion of the retractable shroud to form a pivot point about which the pivotal locking member pivots;
- and
- a multi-fiber adapter defining first and second mating adapter ports for respectively receiving the first and second multi-fiber fiber optic connectors to couple the first and second multi-fiber fiber optic connectors together.
5 more elements
A pivotal locking member for use with a bare fiber connector, the pivotal locking member being mounted to a front end of a retractable shroud of the bare fiber connector, the retractable shroud being movable between an extended position and a retracted position, the pivotal locking member comprising:
- a main body that extends between a first end and an opposite second end;
- a shield member that extends in a direction perpendicular to the main body at the first end;
- a seat formed by the main body and the shield member, wherein a body portion of the retractable shroud is mounted in the seat to form a pivot point about which the pivotal locking member pivots;
- and
- first and second fingers that extend in a direction perpendicular to the main body at the second end thereof, the first finger being positioned at a first side of the main body and the second finger being positioned at a second side of the main body, wherein the first and second fingers are parallel to the shield member.
2 more elements
A fiber optic connector comprising:
- a connector body having a front end and a rear end, the connector body defining a longitudinal axis that extends through the connector body in an orientation that extends from the front end to the rear end of the connector body;
- a plurality of optical fibers extending through the connector body from the rear end to the front end, the plurality of optical fibers having fiber ends accessible at the front end of the connector body;
- a retractable shroud mounted at the front end of the connector body, wherein the retractable shroud defines a plurality of fiber passages through which the plurality of optical fibers extend, the retractable shroud being movable along the longitudinal axis between an extended position where the fiber ends of the plurality of optical fibers are protected within the plurality of fiber passages and a retracted position where the fiber ends of the plurality of optical fibers project forwardly beyond the retractable shroud;
- and
- a pivotal locking member mounted at a distal end of the retractable shroud, wherein the pivotal locking member is configured to pivot between a closed position in which the retractable shroud is locked in the extended position and an open position in which the retractable shroud is unlocked to be movable to the retracted position, the pivotal locking member having at least one opening through which the plurality of optical fibers extend when the pivotal locking member is in the open position and the retractable shroud is in the retracted position, the pivotal locking member defining a seat which receives a body portion of the retractable shroud to form a pivot point about which the pivotal locking member pivots.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.