End caps, fiber optic adapters, and fiber optic connector assemblies having a rotational lock and unlock configuration

A fiber optic adapter comprising:

• a housing having a first end and a second end, wherein a passageway is within the housing between the first end and the second end;
• a shuttle disposed on an inner surface of the housing within the passageway, the shuttle comprising a slot;
• a latch comprising a pivot end and a latching end, wherein the latch is coupled to the shuttle such that the pivot end is disposed within the slot of the shuttle;
• and
• an end cap rotationally disposed within the passageway at the second end of the housing, the end cap comprising a body, an end cap passageway within the body, a release arm, and a lock arm, wherein the release arm and the lock arm extend from the body such that the release arm pivots the latch to a released position when the end cap is rotated in a first direction with respect to the housing, and the lock arm pivots the latch to a locked position when the end cap is rotated in a second direction with respect to the housing.

A fiber optic connector assembly comprising:

• a fiber optic connector comprising a connector housing that comprises a locking face;
• a fiber optic adapter comprising:
• a housing having a first end and a second end, wherein a passageway is within the housing between the first end and the second end;
• a shuttle disposed on an inner surface of the housing within the passageway, the shuttle comprising a slot;
• a latch comprising a pivot end and a latching end, wherein the latch is coupled to the shuttle such that the pivot end is disposed within the slot of the shuttle;
• and
• an end cap rotationally disposed within the passageway at the second end of the housing, the end cap comprising a body, an end cap passageway within the body, a release arm, and a lock arm, wherein:
• the release arm and the lock arm extend from the body;
• the lock arm pivots the latch to a locked position such that the latching end of the latch is disposed between the locking face of the connector housing to lock the fiber optic connector to the fiber optic adapter when the end cap is rotated in a first direction with respect to the housing;
• and
• the release arm pivots the latch to a released position such that the latching end of the latch is removed from the locking face of the connector housing to release the fiber optic connector from the fiber optic adapter when the end cap is rotated in a second direction with respect to the housing.