Optical connector with flexible shielding cover

A system that obstructs an energy source, comprising:

• a housing chassis;
• at least one connector housing coupled to the housing chassis, the at least one connector housing having an energy source opening and being oriented to receive a connector;
• and
• a unitary-construction shielding device having a U-shaped fastening plate including a plurality of outer edges defining a center portion and two side portions, wherein at least one of the two side portions includes a mounting notch, the shielding device further including:
• a bias portion integrally coupled between the fastening plate and a shield;
• a ledge integrally coupled to the shield and oriented to be accessible to a user when the at least one connector housing receives the connector, and;
• the shielding device being configured to rest in a first position, wherein the shield obstructs the energy source opening when the shielding device is in the first position;
• the shielding device being configured to deflect from the first position to a second position when a pressure force is applied to the ledge of the shielding device, wherein the shield does not obstruct the energy source opening when the shielding device is in the second position;
• the shielding device being configured to maintain a deflected position in response to an obstruction force;
• and
• the shielding device being configured to return to a position in the vicinity of the first position when the obstruction force and the pressure force are removed from the shielding device.

A method for providing a shielding system that obstructs an energy source, comprising:

• providing a housing chassis;
• providing at least one connector housing, the at least one connector housing having an energy source opening and being oriented to receive a connector;
• coupling the at least one connector housing to the housing chassis;
• providing a flexible shielding device having a U-shaped fastening plate including a plurality of outer edges defining a center portion and two side portions, wherein at least one of the two side portions includes a mounting notch;
• coupling the fastening plate to the housing chassis while the connector is coupled to the connector housing;
• the shielding device including a bias portion, the bias portion being coupled between the fastening plate and a shield, the shield being at least as wide as the energy source opening;
• the shield device being configured to rest in a first position, wherein the shield obstructs the energy source opening when the device is in the first position;
• the shielding device being configured to deflect from the first position to a second position when a pressure force is applied to the shielding device, wherein the shield does not obstruct the energy source opening when the shielding device is in the second position;
• the shielding device being configured to maintain a deflected position in response to an obstruction force;
• and
• the shielding device being configured to return to a position in the vicinity of the first position when the obstruction force is removed from the shielding device.

A shielding system that obstructs an energy source opening within a connector housing, the connector housing being coupled to a housing chassis, comprising:

• a unitary-construction shielding device, the shielding device including:
• a shield means for blocking the energy source opening;
• a ledge means for receiving a pressure force, the ledge means being coupled to the shield means and oriented to be accessible to a user when the connector housing receives a connector, and;
• a bias means for biasing the shielding device to deflect from a first position to a second position in response to the pressure force, the bias means further biasing the shielding device to remain in a deflected position in response to an obstruction force, the bias means further biasing the shielding device to return to a position in the vicinity of the first position when both the pressure force and the obstruction force are absent, where the shield means obstructs the energy source opening when the shielding device is in the first position, where the shield means does not obstruct the energy source opening when the shielding device is in the second position and where the shield means does not obstruct the energy source opening when the shielding device is in the deflected position;
• and
• a U-shaped fastening means that provides a fastening surface that can be coupled to the housing chassis and includes a plurality of outer edges defining a center portion and two side portions, wherein at least one of the two side portions includes a mounting notch, the fastening means being integrally coupled to the shielding device.