Duplex connectors for optical fibre plug connectors

#The invention relates to a duplex connector, comprising two fastening devices for receiving two simplex plug-in connectors for forming a duplex plug-in connector.

#A duplex connector of the generic type in question is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 579,425. The duplex connector comprises a plate-shaped element, on the side walls of which two differently designed cylindrical pins are respectively arranged and can be inserted into corresponding holes in a connector housing of a simplex connector. Arranged on the upper side of the plateshaped element is a clip-shaped element, which in the assembled state engages around the latching clips of the simplex plug-in connectors, so that the two latching clips of the simplex plug-in connectors can be simultaneously released by actuation of the clip-shaped element. The simplex plug-in connectors are formed with holes on both sides of their housing, so that each simplex plug-in connector can be arranged on either side of the duplex connector. As a result, it is possible for example for the channels to be subsequently changed over by exchanging or changing the simplex plug-in connectors. Consequently, the duplex connector allows a duplex plug-in connector to be produced from two simplex plug-in connectors. A further advantage is that, when one simplex plug-in connector is defective, only this defective plug-in connector has to be exchanged. The disadvantage of the known duplex connector is the inadequate quality of the mechanical connection and its limited suitability for use.

#The invention is therefore based on the technical problem of providing a duplex connector for optical fiber plug-in connectors which can be used universally and realizes an improved mechanical connection between a duplex connector and a plug-in connector.

#In the drawings:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective rear view of a duplex connector according to the invention;

#FIG. 2 is a perspective front view of the duplex connector of FIG. 1;

#Referring to the drawings in particular, the duplex connector 1 comprises an upper side 2 and a lower side 3, between which a web-shaped wall element 4 is centrally arranged. Arranged on each side of the wall element 4 is a C-shaped receptacle 5 and an L-shaped receptacle 6. The C-shaped receptacles 5 extend over the full width 3 of the duplex connector 1. The end faces 7 of the upper legs are formed with a bevel 8 and the end faces 9 of the lower legs are formed with a bevel 10. The end face 9 of the lower leg extends over the full length L of the duplex connector 1, whereas the end face 7 extends only as far as the L-shaped receptacle 6. Arranged parallel to the upper side 2 of the duplex connector 1 in the region of the L-shaped receptacle 6 is a web 11, which is somewhat narrower than the width B of the duplex connector 1. The web 11 is likewise formed with a bevel 12. The length of the C-shaped receptacle 5 is in this case somewhat more than twice the length of the L-shaped receptacle 6. Arranged on the upper side 2 is a clip-shaped element 13, which extends at an angle from the front side to the rear side and goes into a part parallel to the upper side 2.

#Represented in FIG. 4 is the duplex connector 1 from FIGS. 1-3, with two simplex plug-in connectors 14. The two simplex plug-in connectors 14 are of a completely identical construction. Each simplex plugin connector 14 comprises the actual optical fiber cable 15, a cable sheath fixing means 16, a kink preventer 17 and the connector housing 18. The kink preventer 17 is made up of a conical part and a cylindrical part, the cylindrical part facing the connector housing 18. Arranged on the connector housing 18 is a snap clip 19, which serves for latching and releasing the plug-in connector 14 in a corresponding receptacle. The connector housing 18 itself is of an essentially cuboidal design. The snap clip 19 is made up of a latching clip 20 and a releasing clip 21, which is explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 6.

#Represented in FIG. 5 is the complete duplex plug-in connector 22. In this case, the cylindrical part of the kink preventer 17 is securely clamped in the C-shaped receptacle 5 and part of the connector housing 18 is securely clamped in the L-shaped receptacle 6. The lateral gripping of the end faces 7, 9 with their bevels 8, 10 around the receptacles 5, 6 makes the clamping connection mechanically very stable. The clip-shaped element 13 is in this case over both the clips 19 of the two simplex plug-in connectors 14, so that they can be simultaneously released.