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US 6,443,626 B1Granted
Optical fibre connector having bayonet coupling
AssigneeITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
InventorNigel Stewart Foster
Life of this patent
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AssigneeITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
InventorNigel Stewart Foster
Estimating the term…
An optical fiber connector element comprises a connector body (10) which receives an optical fiber (12). The connector body (10) is provided with a bayonet coupling (30) to enable two identical connector elements to be mated to connect optically the optical fibers. The bayonet coupling (30) has two diametrically opposed connection arms (50,52), the arms of one connector fitting in the spacing between the arms of another connector to enable a bayonet connection to be established. An alignment feature (60) is positioned such that when the alignment feature (60) of the one connector and of the other connector are aligned, the arms (50,52) of the one connector are inserted into the spaces (54) between the arms of the other connector with the correct relative positioning to enable the bayonet fitting to be established. This facilitates the assembly of the coupling, which may be required in darkness and in adverse weather conditions when gloves are required.
An optical fiber connector element comprising a connector body which receives an optical fiber, the connector body being provided with coupling means to enable two connector elements having identical coupling means to be mated to connect optically the optical fibers, the coupling means comprising bayonet couplings having two diametrically opposed connection arms, the arms of one connector element fitting in the spacing between the arms of another connector element that has an identical coupling means, relative rotation between the one connector and the other connector then enabling a bayonet connection to be established, wherein:
An optical fiber one connector which has a connector body constructed to receive an optical fiber, the connector body having an axis and a bayonet coupling with a plurality of arms angularly spaced about the axis for connection to a mating connector with an identical connector body, the arms of the one connector fitting into the space between the arms of the mating connector, with subsequent rotation about the axis of the one connector with respect to the mating connector then establishing a bayonet connection, wherein:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.