# US 7,685,668 B2 · Article for cleaning optical fibers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,685,668 B2 - Document ID: US7685668B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/101,427 - Filed: 2008-04-11 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Granted: 2010-03-30 - Earliest claimed: 2002-04-26 - Assignees: Zynon Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Jay S. Tourigny - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7685668B2 ## CPC - G02B 6/381: {of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres} - B08B 1/10: characterised by the type of cleaning tool - G02B 6/25: Preparing the ends of light guides for coupling, e.g. cutting - G02B 6/3807: {Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs} - G02B 6/3866: {Devices, tools or methods for cleaning connectors (cleaning in general B08B)} - B08B 2240/02: Optical fibers or optical fiber connectors - Y10T 428/249953: Composite having voids in a component [e.g., porous, cellular, etc.] - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A cleaning device for cleaning the ferrule end surface of an optical fiber that has been installed in a connector, such as a connector coupler or bulkhead receptacle, comprises a cleaning head (22a, 22b, 22c). The cleaning head is made from thermally sintered polymers, e.g., thermally sintered particles and/or thermally sintered strands and provides a matrix of open-celled multi-directional pores. The cleaning head has zones (26, 28, 32) of increasing polymer densities from compression zone (26) to sidewall cleaning zone (28) to base zone (32). The cleaning head serves to lift, absorb, trap and remove contamination from the ferrule end faces (14a, 14b, 14c) and the end face of the optical fiber therein. The open-celled structure of the cleaning head (22a, 22b, 22c) allows the contact surface to compress both laterally and radially where it contacts the ferrule end, thus permitting effective cleaning for all ferrule end designs. The cleaning head may be used either dry or with a cleaning solvent. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cleaning device for cleaning an optical fiber, the device comprising: a cleaning head which is dimensioned and configured to be inserted into a standard ferrule connector for optical fibers and comprising a polymeric open-celled structure comprised of a coherent body of thermally sintered polymers, the coherent body having two ends, a first end and an opposite, second end, and at least two zones, the zones comprising a compression zone which terminates in a contact area at the first end of the cleaning head, and a sidewall cleaning zone adjacent to the compression zone, wherein the compression zone has a polymer density which is less than the polymer density of the sidewall cleaning zone. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the polymer density of the sidewall cleaning zone is about 10% to 50% greater than the polymer density of the compression zone. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the compression zone has a pore volume of not more than 50%. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the compression zone has a pore volume that constitutes at least about 50% of the pore volume of the open-celled structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the polymer density of the sidewall cleaning zone is substantially uniform. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the polymer density of the sidewall cleaning zone exceeds the polymer density of the compression zone in a skin region of the sidewall cleaning zone. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cleaning device of claim 1 further comprising a base zone adjacent to the sidewall cleaning zone and separated from the compression zone by the sidewall cleaning zone, wherein the polymer density of the base zone is greater than the polymer density of the sidewall cleaning zone. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the open-celled structure is formed from one or both of thermally sintered particles and thermally sintered strands of polymeric material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1, 7) The cleaning device of claim 1 or claim 7 further comprising a handle secured to the end of the cleaning device opposite from the compression zone. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The cleaning device of claim 9 wherein the handle is secured to the cleaning device by mechanical means. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the open-celled structure is comprised of thermally sintered fiber strands of polymeric material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the zones consist of one compression zone and one sidewall cleaning zone. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1, 7) The cleaning device of claim 1 or claim 7 wherein at least the compression zone is tapered to have a diameter at the contact area which is less than its diameter adjacent the sidewall cleaning zone. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The cleaning device of claim 7 wherein the zones consist of one compression zone, one sidewall cleaning zone and one base zone. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1, 7) The cleaning device of claim 1 or claim 7 wherein the compression zone terminates in a contact area and is tapered to have a diameter at the contact area which is less than its diameter adjacent the sidewall cleaning zone. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1, 7) The cleaning device of claim 1 or claim 7 wherein the cleaning head consists essentially of thermally sintered particles. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1, 7) The cleaning device of claim 1 or claim 7 wherein the cleaning head is cylindrical. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The cleaning device of claim 17 wherein the cleaning head is substantially circular in cross section. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1, 7) The cleaning device of claim 1 or claim 7 wherein the cleaning head is cylindrical and has a diameter of from about 0.040 to about 0.125 inch. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The cleaning device of claim 19 wherein the cleaning head has a length of about one inch.