Optical connector

An optical connector comprising:

• a ferrule having a body for supporting an optical fiber and having a first end formed into a convex surface inclined relative to a plane orthogonal to an axis of the optical fiber, and a flange member having an end portion connected to a second end of the body and a flange part projecting circumferentially from the end portion, the flange part having a plurality of grooves each having a first surface extending along a plane disposed at a first angle relative to the optical fiber axis and a second surface extending along a plane disposed at a second angle relative to the optical fiber axis different from the first angle;
• and
• a holding member supporting the ferrule in an assembled state of the optical connector to define an axis of the optical connector which is collinear with the optical fiber axis in the assembled state of the optical connector, the holding member having a plurality of projecting portions corresponding to respective ones of the grooves of the flange part so that the first surface of each of the grooves is spaced from the corresponding projecting portion to provide a first clearance therebetween for restricting rotation of the ferrule about the fiber optical axis relative to the holding member and so that the second surface of each of the grooves is spaced from the corresponding projecting portion to provide a second clearance therebetween greater than the first clearance for allowing rotational movement of the ferrule so as to permit the ferrule to incline in a direction transverse to the axis of the optical connector.