Automatic shutter assembly for multi-fiber connection systems
AssigneeCommScope Technologies LLC
InventorsJosiah D. KADAR-KALLEN, Robert Charles FLAIG
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates generally to a bare fiber connection system that includes first and second multi-fiber fiber optic connectors that have a retractable shroud with a pivotal locking member mounted thereon. The pivotal locking member can be configured to lock the retractable shroud in an extended position. The pivotal locking member can be pivoted about a pivot point while remaining attached to the retractable shroud to unlock the retractable shroud such that the retractable shroud can move to a retracted position.
Claims15
1-20. (canceled)
A multi-fiber adapter for coupling first and second bare fiber optic connectors, each of the first and second bare fiber optic connectors including a pivotal locking member mounted to a retractable shroud, the multi-fiber adapter comprising:
- a first mating adapter port and an opposite second mating adapter port for respectively receiving the first and second bare fiber optic connectors;
- a groove-defining piece positioned between the first and second mating adapter ports, the groove-defining piece defining multiple fiber alignment grooves for receiving and co-axially aligning fiber ends of optical fibers of the first and second bare fiber optic connectors;
- a shoulder configured to engage a distal end face of a shield member of the pivotal locking member as one of the first and second bare fiber optic connectors is inserted into a respective one of the first and second mating adapter ports, wherein engagement between the shoulder and the distal end face causes the pivotal locking member to pivot from a closed position to an open position;
- and
- a cutout defining an edge configured to engage a base member of the pivotal locking member as the one of the first and second bare fiber optic connectors is removed from the respective one of the first and second mating adapter ports, wherein the edge causes the pivotal locking member to automatically pivot back to the closed position.
A multi-fiber adapter for coupling bare fiber optic connectors having pivotal locking members with automatic shutter operation, the multi-fiber adapter comprising:
- a first mating adapter port and an opposite second mating adapter port;
- a groove-defining piece positioned between the first and second mating adapter ports, the groove-defining piece defining multiple fiber alignment grooves;
- a shoulder configured to automatically pivot a pivotal locking member of a bare fiber optic connector from a closed position to an open position during insertion of the bare fiber optic connector into one of the first and second mating adapter ports;
- and
- a cutout defining an edge configured to automatically pivot the pivotal locking member back to the closed position during removal of the bare fiber optic connector from the one of the first and second mating adapter ports.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.