Fiber optic connector with fiber end protection

A fiber optic connection system comprising:

• first and second fiber optic connectors each including:
• a connector body having a front end and an opposite rear end, the connector body defining a longitudinal axis that extends through the connector body in an orientation that extends from the front end to the rear end of the connector body;
• an optical fiber that extends through the connector body from the rear end to the front end, the optical fiber having a fiber end accessible at the front end of the connector body;
• a nose piece mounted at the front end of the connector body, the nose piece defining a fiber passage through which the optical fiber extends, the nose piece being movable along the longitudinal axis between an extended position where a front end portion of the optical fiber is protected within the fiber passage and a retracted position where the front end portion of the optical fiber projects forwardly beyond the nose piece;
• and
• a shutter mounted at the front end of the connector body, the shutter being moveable between a first position where the shutter covers the nose piece and a second position where the nose piece is exposed;
• and
• an adapter for coupling the first and second fiber optic connectors together such that optical signals can be conveyed between the optical fibers of the first and second fiber optic connectors, the adapter having an alignment passage for receiving and co-axially aligning the front end portions of the optical fibers.

A fiber optic connector comprising:

• a connector body having a front end and an opposite rear end, the connector body defining a longitudinal axis that extends through the connector body in an orientation that extends from the front end to the rear end of the connector body;
• a plurality of optical fibers that extend through the connector body from the rear end to the front end, the optical fibers having fiber ends accessible at the front end of the connector body;
• and
• a nose piece mounted at the front end of the connector body, the nose piece defining a plurality of fiber passages through which the optical fibers extend, the nose piece being movable along the longitudinal axis between an extended position where front end portions of the optical fibers are protected within the fiber passages and a retracted position where the front end portions of the optical fibers project forwardly beyond the nose piece.