Optical fiber connecting tool, connector holder, connector holder equipped optical connector, and tool equipped optical connector

A connector holder comprising:

• a holder body having a groove-shaped accommodation recess for accommodating an optical connector which houses a ferule, a first optical fiber mounted in the ferule and extending from a back end of the ferule, and a second optical fiber abutted and connected to the optical fiber, the optical connector comprising a clamping portion, provided at a back portion of the ferule opposite to a distal end surface for abutment connection and having half split elements, for maintaining connection between the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber by clamping the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber in a space between the half split elements using elastic force of a spring;
• an insertion member operating portion, having a ring shape, in which the holder body is included as a portion of a periphery thereof;
• and
• an insertion member projecting from a movable end portion, which is an end portion of the insertion member operating portion located opposite to the holder body, into the accommodation recess, for maintaining a state in which the second optical fiber is insertable into and removable from the space between the half split elements by being wedged into the space from outside of the clamping portion so as to expand the space between the half split elements,
• wherein the insertion member operating portion extracts the insertion member disposed between the half split elements from the space between the half split elements by being applied lateral opposing forces to portions of the insertion member operating portion located between the holder body and the movable end portion, and thereby deforming such that a distance between the movable end portion and the holder body.

An optical fiber connecting tool for a clamping portion having half split elements for maintaining connection between optical fibers which are abutted and connected by clamping the optical fibers in a space between the half split elements using elastic force of a spring, the optical fiber connecting tool comprising:

• an insertion member for maintaining a state in which one of the optical fibers is insertable into and removable from the space between the half split elements by being wedged into the space from outside of the clamping portion so as to expand the space between the half split elements;
• an insertion member operating portion for extracting the insertion member disposed between the half split elements of the clamping portion from the clamping portion;
• and
• a stopper wall, joining peripheral ends of the insertion member operating portion, to which the clamping portion is abutted when the insertion member is extracted from the clamping portion,
• wherein the insertion member projects to an outer surface side of the stopper wall from a movable end portion, which is an end portion of the insertion member operating portion located opposite to the stopper wall of the insertion member operating portion, through an insertion member window formed in the stopper wall, and
• when lateral opposing forces are applied to portions of the insertion member operating portion located between the stopper wall and the movable end portion, the insertion member operating portion deforms such that a distance between the stopper wall and the movable end portion increases so that the insertion member is moved such that an amount of projection of the insertion member from the stopper wall decreases or projection of the insertion member from the stopper wall is eliminated.