Plug and receptacle connection for optical fiber cables with alignment feature

A connector for connecting confronting ends of first and second lengths of fiberoptic cable, said connector comprising:

• a tubular receptacle adapted to be connected to the end of said first length of fiberoptic cable, said receptacle including a sidewall defining a plug receiving socket opening, said sidewall including a radially outwardly opening axial slot;
• a plug adapted to be connected to the end of said second length of fiberoptic cable and further adapted for insertion into the socket opening in the receptacle, said plug including an elongated plug body having an end portion with an outer end, a first girth groove in said body spaced axially inwardly from said outer end, and a second girth groove in said body that is axially inwardly adjacent the first girth groove, said second girth groove been deeper than the first girth groove;
• a ring surrounding said plug body, said ring being sized to make a loose fit with the second girth groove and an interference fit with the first girth groove;
• and
• a key on said ring projecting axially forwardly from the ring onto the end portion of the plug body,
• whereby the ring can be initially positioned in the second groove, and the plug can be inserted into the socket, with the key in alignment with the axial slot in the sidewall of the receptacle, and then the body can be rotated in position relative to the receptacle, the ring and key, until the end of the first length of fiberoptic cable is in a desired position relative to the end of the second length of fiberoptic cable, and then the ring can be pushed axially forwardly out from the second girth groove into the first girth groove and when it is in its first girth groove, its interference fit with the first girth groove will hold the ring and the key fixed in position on the end portion of the plug body.