Connector construction

In a method for effecting a connection between first and second ends of optical fibers in a guide having an open ended passageway of such size as to readily receive said fibers, and having a track for coaxially aligning ends of fibers to be butted in a signal transmissive connection, the passageway being formed so as to bias fibers entering opposed, guide ends onto said track;

• the steps comprising locating a first fiber end on such track between the track ends;
• encompassing the end portion of a second optical fiber to be connected to said first optical fiber with a protective covering;
• locating the terminal end of such second optical fiber to be connected to said first optical fiber adjacent the guide open end opposed to said first fiber;
• simultaneously axially advancing such second optical fiber into said open ended guide and withdrawing said protective covering from that portion of the second optical fiber entering said fiber guide passageway until a butting engagement between said first and second optical fibers is effected on said passageway track.

A connector for connecting the ends of optical fibers comprising a first connector means;

• optical fiber guide means mounted therein;
• said guide means having an open-ended fiber receiving passageway;
• fiber-aligning track means disposed in said passageway;
• said passageway being of such configuration that optical fiber ends inserted into opposed open ends thereof and urged into abutting engagement are axially aligned on said track means;
• a second connector means for mating with said first connector means;
• said second means having a reciprocally movable optical fiber encompassing means mounted therein;
• said fiber encompassing means having an apertured fiber locating end adopted to be traversed by an optical fiber, and means for guiding said fiber locating end and one end of said guide means into adjacent relationship whereby an optical fiber passing through said fiber locating end may pass into an open end of said guide means;
• said fiber encompassing means having a relieved portion in which an optical fiber passing through the fiber locating end and passing into said guide means may bend upon encountering resistance to movement in said guide means.

An optical fiber receptacle for receiving an optical fiber end for purposes of effecting an optical signal transmissive connection comprising a housing;

• a clamp in said housing for clamping an optical fiber;
• an optical fiber guide having an optical fiber passageway spaced from said clamp with fiber entranceways defining opposed passageway end limits disposed in said housing adjacent said clamp whereby an end portion of an optical fiber disposed in said clamp may enter said guide passageway;
• the entranceways to said passageway for said optical fiber guide being angularly disposed to the receptacle longitudinal axis whereby optical fibers entering said entranceways are forced to assume a curved configuration adjacent said entranceways;
• the interval between said clamp and fiber guide entranceway being adequate to allow an optical fiber disposed in said clamp to gradually bend without impairment of the light conducting ability of said fiber.