Multi-cavity optical connector with cable management

A backshell for interengagement with an optical connector housing, the optical connector housing configured for optically connecting a plurality of cables, each cable comprising one or more fibers terminated in a ferrule, each cable comprising a strength member and an eyelet crimped to the strength member, the connector comprising a connector housing and a connector insert disposed in the connector housing and configured to receive a plurality of ferrules, the backshell comprising:

• a backshell housing configured to mechanically interengage with said connector housing;
• a nest having a periphery and a plurality of cavities, each cavity of said plurality of cavities having an opening to said periphery and being configured to receive said eyelet of each cable, said nest defining a front shoulder and a restriction for each cavity that restrict axial movement of said eyelet when disposed in said cavity;
• a capture member mechanically interengaged with said backshell to hold said nest in a fixed position relative to said backshell housing;
• and
• wherein said nest is disposed between said capture member and said backshell housing such that said opening of each cavity is blocked by at least one of said capture member or said backshell housing to hold each eyelet in one of said cavities.

A method of assembling a plurality of cables in a connector, each cable comprising one or more fibers terminated to a ferrule, each cable comprising a strength member and an eyelet crimped to the strength member, the method comprising:

• (a) inserting the ferrule of each cable in a connector insert;
• (b) radially inserting the crimp eyelet of each cable in a cavity of the nest through an opening on the periphery of a nest such that said crimp eyelet is disposed between a front shoulder and a restriction of the nest;
• (b) radially inserting the crimp eyelet of each cable in a cavity of the nest through an opening on the periphery of a nest such that said crimp eyelet is disposed between a front shoulder and a restriction of the nest to restrict axial movement of said eyelet in said cavity;
• (c) while the crimp eyelets are disposed in the cavities of the nest such that, sliding a capture member over the nest thereby encircling the periphery of the nest and blocking the peripheral openings, thereby closing the crimp eyelets in the cavities;
• and
• (d) connecting the capture member to a backshell housing such that the nest is sandwiched between the capture member and the backshell housing, thereby preventing its axial movement.