Windowless, rectangular ferrule in a preassembled multifiber connector and associated assembly method

Abstract

A preassembled multifiber connector is provided that includes a connector housing and a windowless multifiber ferrule that is substantially rectangular in lateral cross-section. The windowless multifiber ferrule can be at least partially disposed within an internal cavity defined by the connector housing to thereby form a multifiber connector that is free of optical fibers. Thus, the multifiber connector is capable of being preassembled prior to inserting the plurality of optical fibers into the optical fiber bores defined by the windowless multifiber ferrule. A corresponding method of preassembling a multifiber connector is therefore also provided according to the present invention. A ferrule is also provided that is capable of being selectively converted from a windowless configuration to a windowed configuration. The ferrule of this embodiment includes a ferrule body that not only defines at least one optical fiber bore, but that also defines a well extending through a side surface of the ferrule body. The ferrule body also includes a removable web at least partially covering the well to thereby define the windowless configuration of the ferrule. The web is capable of being selectively removed from the well such that the uncovered well forms a window through the side surface of the ferrule that opens into the at least one optical fiber bore to thereby define a windowed configuration of the ferrule.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.