Hardened fiber optic adapter
AssigneeADC Telelcommunications, Inc.
InventorsYu Lu, Randy Reagan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a fiber optic adapter for use with fiber optic connectors. The fiber optic adapter includes a housing having a first axial end portion defining a first adapter port and a second axial end portion defining a second adapter port. The fiber optic adapter further includes a first retaining mechanism that is operably associated with the first axial end portion for retaining a first fiber optic connector in the first adapter port of the fiber optic adapter and a second retaining mechanism that is operably associated with the first axial end portion for retaining the first fiber optic connector in the first adapter port of the fiber optic adapter.
Claims25
1-5. (canceled)
The fiber optic connection system of claim 10, wherein the first axial port defines an annular sealing surface having an inner diameter that is less than or equal to 15 mm.
The fiber optic connection system of claim 10, wherein the first axial port defines an annular sealing surface having an inner diameter that is less than or equal to 12.5 mm.
The fiber optic connection system of claim 10, wherein the first axial port defines an annular sealing surface having an inner diameter that is less than or equal to 10 mm.
(canceled)
A fiber optic connection system comprising:
- a fiber optic adapter having a first axial end portion defining a first adapter port and a second axial end portion defining a second adapter port;
- a fiber optic connector having:
- a connector housing having an end defining a plug portion sized for insertion into the first adapter port of the fiber optic adapter;
- a ferrule assembly mounted at least partially within the connector housing, the ferrule assembly including a ferrule located at the plug portion of the connector housing;
- a sealing member mounted about an exterior of the connector housing;
- the fiber optic connector and the fiber optic adapter including mating threads for retaining the fiber optic connector within the first adapter port of the fiber optic adapter;
- and
- the fiber optic connector and the fiber optic adapter including a snap-fit latch arrangement for retaining the fiber optic connector within the first adapter port of the fiber optic adapter, the snap-fit latch arrangement including first and second retention surfaces that engage one another to retain the fiber optic connector within the first adapter port of the fiber optic adapter, at least the first retention surface being angled relative to a central axis of the fiber optic connector, the first retention surface also being angled relative to a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the fiber optic connector so as to reduce a pull-out force required to remove the fiber optic connector from the first adapter port by overcoming a retention force of the snap-fit latch arrangement.
11-15. (canceled)
20-33. (canceled)
A fiber optic connection system comprising:
- a fiber optic adapter having a first axial end portion defining a first adapter port and a second axial end portion defining a second adapter port;
- a fiber optic connector having:
- a connector housing having an end defining a plug portion sized for insertion into the first adapter port of the fiber optic adapter;
- a ferrule assembly mounted at least partially within the connector housing, the ferrule assembly including a ferrule located at the plug portion of the connector housing;
- a sealing member mounted about an exterior of the connector housing;
- the fiber optic connector being inserted into the first adapter port in an inward direction and being removed from the first adapter port in an outward direction;
- the fiber optic connector and the fiber optic adapter including mating threads for retaining the fiber optic connector within the first adapter port of the fiber optic adapter;
- and
- the fiber optic connector and the fiber optic adapter including a latch arrangement for retaining the fiber optic connector within the first adapter port of the fiber optic adapter, the latch arrangement including first and second retention surfaces that engage one another to retain the fiber optic connector within the first adapter port of the fiber optic adapter, at least the first retention surface being angled to extend radially outwardly relative to a central axis of the fiber optic connector as the first retention surface extends in the inward direction.
The fiber optic connection system of claim 46, wherein the cantilever arm with the retention tab is carried by the fiber optic connector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.