Fiber optic cable adapter for attaching a fiber to a fiber optic connector

An adapter operative for engaging a terminus of a non-active fiber to a fiber optic connector, the adapter comprising:

• a housing;
• a chamber formed in one end of the housing and having an opening adapted to receive the terminus of the fiber, the chamber being defined by a chamber wall adapted to envelop the terminus of the fiber when the fiber is received by the housing, the terminus of the fiber being spaced apart from at least the portion of the chamber wall opposite the opening;
• means for removably attaching the fiber to the housing so as to retain the terminus of the fiber within the chamber;
• and
• extension means formed on the housing and adapted to attach the housing to the fiber optic connector, the extension means operative for spacing the terminus of the fiber from the fiber optic connector.

An adapter operative for engaging a terminus of a non-active fiber to a fiber optic connector, the adapter comprising:

• a housing;
• a chamber formed in one end of the housing and having an opening adapted to receive the terminus of the fiber, the chamber being defined by a chamber wall adapted to envelop the terminus of the fiber when the fiber is received by the housing, the terminus of the fiber being spaced apart from at least the portion of the chamber wall opposite the opening;
• an attachment mechanism for attaching the fiber to the housing so as to retain the terminus of the fiber within the chamber;
• and
• an extension formed on the housing and adapted to attach the housing to the fiber optic connector, the extension spacing the terminus of the fiber from the fiber optic connector when the adapter is engaged to the connector.

A method of using an adapter to connect the terminus of a non-active optical fiber to a fiber optic connector such that the terminus of the non-active fiber is separated from contact with the fiber optic connector, comprising the steps of:

• placing the terminus of the non-active fiber within a chamber in an adapter housing;
• locking the terminus into the chamber so as to prevent axial translation of the terminus within the chamber, the terminus being spaced from walls of the chamber;
• and
• inserting a plug extension of the adapter housing into the passage in the fiber optic connector until a shoulder on the plug extension contacts a seat, the chamber of the housing being spaced from the fiber optic connector when the shoulder of the plug extension contacts the seat.