# US 2014/0153878 A1 · Fiber Optic Connector with Field Installable Outer Connector Housing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0153878 A1 - Document ID: US20140153878A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/091,984 - Filed: 2013-11-27 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: Tyco Electronics Corporation - Applicants: Tyco Electronics Corporation - Inventors: Julian S. Mullaney - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153878A1 ## CPC - G02B 6/387: {Connector plugs comprising two complementary members, e.g. shells, caps, covers, locked together} - A61M 1/1601: {Control or regulation} - A61M 1/168: {Sterilisation or cleaning before or after use} - A61M 1/28: Peritoneal dialysis {; Other peritoneal treatment, e.g. oxygenation} - A61M 5/14: Infusion devices, e.g. infusing by gravity; Blood infusion; Accessories therefor - G02B 6/3821: {with axial spring biasing or loading means (G02B6/3847 takes precedence)} - G02B 6/3831: {comprising a keying element on the plug or adapter, e.g. to forbid wrong connection (keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical coupling H01R13/64)} - G02B 6/3851: {Ferrules having keying or coding means} - G02B 6/3863: {fabricated by using polishing techniques (grinding of the fibre ends B24B19/226)} - G02B 6/3869: {Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs} - G02B 6/3871: {Ferrule rotatable with respect to plug body, e.g. for setting rotational position (adjusting fibre within the ferrule, G02B6/3843); Fixation of ferrules after rotation} - G02B 6/38875: {Protection from bending or twisting} - G02B 6/46: Processes or apparatus adapted for installing {or repairing} optical fibres or optical cables (installation of cables containing electric conductors and optical fibres H02G) - G08B 5/223: {using wireless transmission} - A61M 1/3496: {Plasmapheresis; Leucopheresis; Lymphopheresis (A61M1/3472 takes precedence)} - A61M 2205/18: with alarm - A61M 2205/3553: remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office - A61M 2205/3561: local, e.g. within room or hospital - A61M 2205/3584: using modem, internet or Bluetooth® - A61M 2205/502: User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards - A61M 2205/6018: providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration - A61M 2205/70: with testing or calibration facilities - A61M 2209/01: Remote controllers for specific apparatus - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An optical connector includes a first sub-assembly that is factory-installed to a first end of an optical fiber and a second sub-assembly that is field-installed to the first end of the optical fiber. The optical fiber and first sub-assembly can be routed through a structure (e.g., a building) prior to installation of the second sub-assembly. The second sub-assembly interlocks with the first sub-assembly to inhibit relative axial movement therebetween. Example first sub-assemblies include a ferrule, a hub, and a strain-relief sleeve that mount to an optical fiber. Example second sub-assemblies include a mounting block; and an outer connector housing forming a plug portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A connector comprising: a ferrule for receiving an optical fiber, the ferrule having a front end face; a hub supporting the ferrule; a mounting block; a strain relief sleeve that interlocks with the mounting block, the strain relief sleeve being configured to provide bend radius protection to the optical fiber; and an outer connector housing having a front end forming a plug portion and a rear end, the rear end of the outer connector housing being configured to enable loading of the ferrule and the hub into the outer connector housing through the rear end, the front end of the outer connector housing providing access to the front end face of the ferrule when the ferrule and the hub have been loaded into the outer connector housing, the outer connecter housing interlocking with the mounting block such that the mounting block is secured at the rear end of the outer connector housing and the ferrule and the ferrule hub are retained within the outer connector housing by the mounting block. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the mounting block has a two-piece construction including first and second pieces that snap together about the strain relief sleeve. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The connector of claim 2, wherein the mounting block and the strain relief sleeve include an interlock interface that includes a rib that fits within a groove. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The connector of claim 3, wherein the rib is disposed at an interior of the mounting block and the strain relief sleeve defines the groove. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The connector of claim 2, further comprising a spring positioned between the hub and a spring stop of the mounting block. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The connector of claim 5, wherein the mounting block includes a main body and a front extension, and wherein the front extension fits inside the outer connector housing and forms the spring stop. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The connector of claim 6, wherein the mounting block has a two-piece construction including first and second pieces that snap together about the strain relief sleeve, each of the first and second pieces defining part of the front extension and part of the main body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The connector of claim 7, wherein the main body parts of the first and second pieces define latching arms and notches and wherein the front extension parts of the first and second pieces define pins and openings to facilitate snapping the first and second pieces together. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the hub is keyed with respect to the outer connector housing such that hub can be inserted into the outer connector housing in only one rotational orientation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The connector of claim 9, wherein the hub defines a tapered shape that fits into a pocket defined in the outer connector housing in only the one rotational orientation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the ferrule, the hub, and the strain relieve sleeve form a first sub-assembly that is installed on the optical fiber at the factory. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The connector of claim 11, wherein the outer connector housing and the mounting block form a second sub-assembly that is installed on the optical fiber in the field. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The connector of claim 12, wherein the second sub-assembly is installed on the first sub-assembly in the field. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the outer connector housing includes a latching member for securing the connector to a port. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the outer connector housing defines rearwardly extending latching arms that interlock with retention shoulders defined on the mounting block. ### Claim 16 A method of cabling a structure comprising: providing an optical fiber having a first end at which a first sub-assembly is installed, the first sub-assembly including an optical ferrule holding the optical fiber and a ferrule hub, wherein an outer connector housing is not installed on the first end of the optical fiber; routing the first end of the optical fiber to a first location at the structure; and installing a second sub-assembly over the first end of the optical fiber at the first location of the structure, the second sub-assembly being coupled to the first sub-assembly, the second sub-assembly including an outer connector housing that forms a plug-portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein installing the second sub-assembly comprises installing a mounting block around the optical fiber and sliding the outer connector housing rearwardly over the first sub-assembly until latching fingers of the outer connector housing latch to the mounting block. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein installing the mounting block around the optical fiber comprises sandwiching a portion of the first sub-assembly between two pieces of the mounting block. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein sandwiching the portion of the first sub-assembly between the two pieces of the mounting block comprises disposing a notched section of a strain relief sleeve of the first sub-assembly into a channel of a first of the two pieces of the mounting block and latching a second of the two pieces of the mounting block to the first piece. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising installing the first sub-assembly at the first end of the optical fiber at a second location remote from the structure.