# US 2022/0276458 A1 · Low cost hardened fiber optic connection system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0276458 A1 - Document ID: US20220276458A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/748,594 - Filed: 2022-05-19 - Published: 2022-09-01 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-03 - Assignees: CommScope Connectivity Belgium BVBA - Applicants: CommScope Connectivity Belgium BVBA - Inventors: Philippe COENEGRACHT - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220276458A1 ## CPC - G02B 6/3825: {with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs} - G02B 6/3877: {Split sleeves} - G02B 6/3878: {comprising a plurality of ferrules, branching and break-out means} - G02B 6/3897: {Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards (G02B6/44528 takes precedence)} - G02B 6/4442: {Cap coupling boxes} - G02B 6/4471: {Terminating devices (demountable connectors G02B6/3807); Cable clamps} - G02B 6/4472: {Manifolds} - 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 6/3891: {Bayonet type} - G02B 6/3894: {Screw-lock type} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract The present disclosure relates to a ruggedized/hardened fiber optic connection system designed to reduce cost. In one example, selected features of a fiber optic adapter are integrated with a wall (24) of an enclosure (22). The adapter comprises a sleeve port (26) into which an optical adapter subassembly is inserted. The subassembly comprises a sleeve part (44) which is inserted into the sleeve, a ferrule alignment sleeve (48) which is inserted into the sleeve part, a ferrule (55) with hub which is inserted into the alignment sleeve, and fixing clip (46) securing the ferrule with hub into the alignment sleeve and the sleeve part. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 -34. (canceled) ### Claim 35 A telecommunications device comprising: an environmentally sealed terminal housing suitable for outside environmental use, the terminal housing having a length, a width and a height, the terminal housing having opposite major sides that extend along the length and the width of the terminal housing, the terminal housing having opposite minor sides that extend along the length and the height of the terminal housing, and the terminal housing defining opposite ends that extend along the width and the height of the terminal housing; the terminal housing having a unitary one-piece molded plastic structure defining at least a portion of one of the ends of the terminal housing, the unitary one-piece molded plastic structure including a plurality of connector ports formed within and defined by the unitary one-piece molded structure, the connector ports extending along port axes that are parallel to one another, the connector ports being arranged in a row with each of the connector ports extending from an exterior of the terminal housing toward an interior of the terminal housing, each of the connector ports being configured for directly receiving a fiber optic connector from the exterior of the terminal housing; ferrule alignment sleeves positioned within the interior of the terminal housing in alignment with the connector ports, each of the ferrule alignment sleeves including a first end and a second end, the first ends facing toward the exterior of the terminal housing and the second ends facing toward the interior of the terminal housing, the first ends of the ferrule alignment sleeves being adapted to receive first ferrules corresponding to the fiber optic connectors when the fiber optic connectors are received in the connector ports from the exterior of the terminal housing; and second ferrules supporting optical fibers, the second ferrules being positioned within the second ends of the ferrule alignment sleeves. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The telecommunication device of claim 35, further comprising connector-receiving sleeves within the interior of the terminal housing, the connector-receiving sleeves being positioned in alignment with the connector ports, the telecommunication device also further comprising interior housing arrangements positioned within the interior of the terminal housing for aligning the ferrule alignment sleeves with the connector ports, each of the interior housing arrangements including a front housing portion having a front snap-fit arrangement for engaging a corresponding one of the connector-receiving sleeves. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The telecommunication device of claim 36, wherein each front snap-fit arrangement includes flexible cantilevers that engage the corresponding one of the connector-receiving sleeves. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The telecommunication device of claim 37, wherein each of the interior housing arrangements includes a rear housing portion having a rear snap-fit arrangement for retaining the second ferrules in the second ends of the ferrule alignment sleeves. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The telecommunication device of claim 38, wherein each rear housing portion has a rectangular shape and defines axial slots separating elastic retention arms of each rear housing portion. ### Claim 40 (depends on 36) The telecommunication device of claim 36, wherein the connector-receiving sleeves are unitary with the one-piece molded plastic structure. ### Claim 41 (depends on 35) The telecommunication device of claim 35, further comprising latches configured such that when the fiber optic connectors are inserted in the connector ports the latches move from a latching position to accommodate the fiber optic connectors and then snap back to the latching positions to latch the fiber optic connectors in the connector ports once the fiber optic connectors have been fully inserted in the connector ports. ### Claim 42 (depends on 35) The telecommunication device of claim 35, wherein the optical fibers supported by the second ferrules are routed within the interior of the terminal housing and through the unitary one-piece molded plastic structure to an input fiber optic cable secured to the one-piece molded plastic structure. ### Claim 43 (depends on 35) The telecommunication device of claim 35, wherein the fiber optic connectors adapted to be received in the connector ports from the exterior of the terminal housing are hardened fiber optic connectors.