Reversible fiber optic stub fiber connector

A fiber optic stub fiber connector for reversibly and nondestructively terminating an inserted field fiber having a buffer over at least a portion thereof, said connector comprising:

• a housing;
• a ferrule including a stub fiber disposed within and extending from a bore through said ferrule, said ferrule being generally disposed within and supported by said housing;
• and
• a reversible actuator for reversibly and nondestructively terminating said inserted field fiber to said stub fiber, said reversible actuator for simultaneously providing reversible and nondestructive strain relief to said terminated field fiber.

A buffer clamp disposed within a fiber optic stub fiber connector and adapted to be actuated by a cam of said fiber optic stub fiber connector for providing reversible and nondestructive strain relief to a buffered field fiber terminated within said connector, said buffer clamp comprising:

• a ring an portion for attaching said buffer clamp to said connector;
• a grasping portion for reversibly engaging with and disengaging from said buffered field fiber to provide reversible and nondestructive strain relief thereto;
• and
• a cam-following surface for interacting with said cam for toggling said grasping portion of said clamp between engaging and disengaging with said buffered field fiber.

A method for terminating a field fiber to a stub fiber and reversibly and nondestructively unterminating said field fiber from said stub fiber, said method comprising the following steps:

• providing a fiber optic connector having a ferrule with said stub fiber disposed within and extending from a bore extending through said ferrule, said connector including a manually actuable and reversible cam;
• inserting a partially stripped buffered field fiber into said connector such that said field fiber generally interfaces with said stub fiber;
• actuating said cam to terminate said field fiber to said stub fiber and retain said field fiber within said fiber optic connector at a point other than said interface with said stub fiber;
• and
• reversing said cam to nondestructively unterminate said field fiber from said stub fiber and release said field fiber from said retention within said fiber optic connector such that said manually actuating said cam step may be repeated with said connector to again terminate said field fiber to said stub fiber and again retain said field fiber within said connector.

A fiber optic stub fiber connector for terminating an inserted field fiber having a buffer over at least a portion thereof, said connector comprising:

• a housing;
• a ferrule including a stub fiber disposed within and extending from a bore through said ferrule, said ferrule being at least partially disposed within and supported by said housing;
• a first cam surface for terminating said inserted field fiber to said stub fiber;
• and
• a second cam surface for releasibly engaging said buffer to provide reversible and nondestructive strain relief to said terminated field fiber.

A fiber optic stub fiber connector for terminating an inserted field fiber, said connector comprising:

• an inner housing;
• and
• a cam movable alternately between a first position wherein said inserted field fiber is held in generally abutting alignment with said stub fiber and a second position wherein said field fiber is not generally held within said connector, said cam having a lever for rotatively actuating said cam;
• wherein said lever is rotatively limited by said inner housing upon reaching at least one of said first and second positions.

A fiber optic stub fiber connector for terminating an inserted field fiber having a buffer over at least a portion thereof, said connector comprising:

• an inner housing;
• and
• a cam movable alternately between a first position wherein strain relief is applied to said buffer and a second position wherein no strain relief is applied to said buffer, said cam having a lever for rotatively actuating said cam;
• wherein said lever is rotatively limited by said inner housing upon reaching at least one of said first and second positions.