Fiber optic connector with molded tube for facilitating injection of bonding material

A fiber optic connector comprising:

• a front connector body having a front end and a rear end, the front end of the front connector body defining a connector plug portion, the front connector body defining an interior including a hub seat;
• a ferrule assembly including a ferrule and a ferrule hub, the ferrule having a front end and a rear end, the ferrule defining a ferrule passage that extends axially through the ferrule between the front end and the rear end of the ferrule, the ferrule hub being mounted at the rear end of the ferrule, the ferrule hub having a front end and a rear end, the ferrule hub including a hub passage that extends axially through the ferrule hub between the front end and the rear end of the ferrule hub, the ferrule hub including a front spring stop at an exterior of the ferrule hub at a location between the front and rear ends of the ferrule hub, the hub passage defining a hub passage cross-dimension;
• a rear connector body secured at the rear end of the front connector body, the rear connector body including a front end and a rear end, the rear connector body including a rear connector body passage that extends axially through the rear connector body between the front end and the rear end of the rear connector body, the rear connector body including a rear spring stop;
• a spring captured between the front and rear spring stops for biasing the ferrule assembly in a forward direction such that the front end of the ferrule hub is spring biased against the hub seat of the front connector body when the ferrule assembly is in a full forward position;
• a tube having a front end and a rear end, the front end of the tube being mounted at the rear end of the ferrule hub, the tube defining a tube passage that extends axially through the tube between the front and rear ends of the tube, the tube extending within the rear connector body passage and within the spring, the tube passage including a tapered region including a major end defining a major cross-dimension and a minor end defining a minor cross-dimension, the minor end being positioned forwardly with respect to the major end, the minor cross-dimension being smaller than the hub passage cross-dimension and the major cross-dimension being larger than the hub passage cross-dimension;
• an optical fiber that extends within the tube passage, the hub passage, and the ferrule passage;
• and
• bonding material within the hub passage and the ferrule passage for securing the optical fiber within the hub passage and the ferrule passage;
• wherein the minor end of the tapered region of the tube passage is positioned at the rear end of the ferrule hub, wherein the tube defines an inner stop surface within the tube passage that abuts against the rear end of the ferrule hub.