Overmolded alignment ferrule
AssigneeThe Whitaker Corporation
InventorsBryan T. Edwards, David D. Erdman, Kevin T. Monroe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An overmolded alignment ferrule for an optical fiber connector having a high precision preformed precision portion and a lower precision overmolded body portion, the precision portion including an anti-displacement feature and a anti-flexural feature for preventing flexural, rotational or torsional movement of the precision portion relative the body portion. The overmolded alignment ferrule being formed by overmolding the body portion about the precision portion generally surrounding and embedding the anti-displacement features and the anti-flexure features and extending rearward therefrom.
Claims17
An overmolded alignment ferrule for an optical fiber connector used to couple an optical fiber therein to a fiber optic device, the overmolded alignment ferrule comprising:
- a precision portion having a front section for aligning the optical fiber with the fiber optic device, a rear section extending rearward from the front section portion for positioning the optical fiber concentrically with the front section, an anti-flexure feature on said precision portion, and
- an overmolded body portion for incorporating the alignment ferrule into the fiber optic connector, where the overmolded body portion closely enclasps the anti-displacement feature and securely embeds the antidisplacement feature therein to prevent displacement of the precision portion relative the body portion, the overmolded body portion extends rearward therefrom and has a fiber receiving opening in communication with the central passage of the precision portion for receiving the optical fiber.
An overmolded alignment ferrule for an optical fiber connector for coupling an optical fiber to a fiber optic device, the overmolded alignment ferrule comprising:
- a precision portion having
- a front section for aligning the optical fiber therein to the fiber optic device;
- a rear section extending rearward from the front section;
- a central passage extending through the precision portion for holding the optical fiber concentrically with the precision portion,
- an anti-displacement feature upon the rear section having
- a forward facing facet, a rearward facing facet,
- an antiflexure feature;
- and
- an overmolded body portion configured to incorporate the overmolded alignment ferrule into the fiber optic connector, where the overmolded body portion enclasps the anti-displacement feature, tightly embedding at least a portion of the facets to lock the portions together and to oppose displacement therebetween, the overmolded body portion extends rearward therefrom and has a fiber receiving opening in communication with the central passage of the precision portion for guiding the optical fiber into the central passage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.