Fiber optic connector with actuation element and method of installing the same

A fiber optic connector for a cable optical fiber that includes a bare glass portion and a buffer portion, the fiber optic connector comprising:

• a connector body having a front end and a back end;
• a ferrule supported within the connector body, wherein the ferrule extends beyond the front end of the connector body;
• a stub optical fiber secured to the ferrule;
• a mechanical splice assembly at least partially received within the connector body, wherein the stub optical fiber extends from a rear of the ferrule and terminates within the mechanical splice assembly;
• a sleeve at least partially positioned within the connector body and configured to receive the buffer portion of the cable optical fiber, wherein the sleeve includes at least one clamping member configured to apply a clamping force to the buffer portion of the cable optical fiber upon actuation when the buffer portion of the cable optical fiber is disposed in the sleeve;
• a boot having a front portion received over the sleeve and a rear portion extending beyond the back end of the connector body, wherein the at least one clamping member of the sleeve is configured to be actuated by the boot when the boot moves from a rearward position relative to the connector body to a forward position relative to the connector body;
• and
• an actuation element received over at least the rear portion of the boot, wherein the actuation element prevents the boot from moving from the rearward position to the forward position, and wherein the actuation element is removable from the boot to allow the boot to move from the rearward position to the forward position.

A fiber optic connector for an optical fiber, the fiber optic connector comprising:

• a connector body having a front end and a back end;
• a boot having a rear portion extending beyond the back end of the connector body, wherein the boot is configured to move from a rearward position relative to the connector body to a forward position relative to the connector body;
• and
• an actuation element received over at least the rear portion of the boot, wherein the actuation element prevents the boot from moving from the rearward position to the forward position, and wherein the actuation element is removable from the boot to allow the boot to move from the rearward position to the forward position.

A method of installing a fiber optic connector that includes a connector body having a front end and a back end, a sleeve at least partially positioned within the connector body, a boot having a front portion received over the sleeve and a rear portion extending beyond the back end of the connector body, and an actuation element received over at least the rear portion of the boot, wherein the actuation element prevents the boot from moving from a rearward position relative to the connector body to a forward position relative to the connector body, the method comprising:

• inserting a cable optical fiber through the boot and into the sleeve, wherein the sleeve includes at least one clamping member configured to apply a clamping force to the optical fiber upon actuation by the boot moving from a rearward position relative to the connector body to a forward position relative to the connector body, and wherein the actuation element prevents the boot from moving from the rearward position to the forward position while inserting the cable optical fiber;
• removing the actuation element from the fiber optic connector;
• and
• moving the boot from the rearward position to the forward position to cause the at least one clamping member to apply the clamping force to the cable optical fiber.