US 7,744,288 B2Granted

Hardened fiber optic connector compatible with hardened and non-hardened fiber optic adapters

AssigneeADC Telecommunications, Inc.

InventorsYu Lu, Randy Reagan, Craig M. Standish

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Abstract

A fiber optic connector is disclosed for use with both a hardened fiber optic adapter and a non-hardened fiber optic adapter. The connector includes a connector housing having an end defining a plug portion. The plug portion includes first and second sets of retaining features for retaining the connector. The first and second retaining feature sets retain the connector within the hardened and unhardened adapters respectively. A threaded member can be included on the connector to threadingly engage and connect the connector to the hardened adapter. A sliding lock can be included on the connector to lock the connector to the non-hardened adapter when slid into a locking position. The sliding lock can be mounted to the threaded member. The sliding lock can include protrusions that engage and lock the non-hardened adapter when in the locking position thereby locking the non-hardened adapter to the connector.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A ruggedized fiber optic connector that is compatible with a non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter and a ruggedized fiber optic adapter, the non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter and the ruggedized fiber optic adapter each including at least one retention latch, the ruggedized fiber optic connector comprising:

a ferrule aligned along a central longitudinal axis;
a connector housing including a plug portion having an interface end sized to fit within the non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter and the ruggedized fiber optic adapter, the ferrule being positioned at the interface end of the plug portion, the plug portion having a first catch structure for engaging the retention latch of the non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter to retain the plug portion within the non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter and a second catch structure for engaging the retention latch of the ruggedized fiber optic adapter to retain the plug portion within the ruggedized fiber optic adapter;
a ruggedized retention member mounted on the connector housing, the ruggedized retention member engaging the ruggedized fiber optic adapter to retain the plug portion within the ruggedized fiber optic adapter;
wherein the non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter includes a pair of the retention latches and wherein the first catch structure includes first and second catches for engaging the pair of the retention latches to retain the plug portion within the non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter;
and
wherein the plug portion has a first side and an opposite second side, wherein the plug portion also has a third side and an opposite fourth side, the third and fourth sides extending between the first and second sides, the central longitudinal axis being positioned between the first and second sides and the central longitudinal axis also being positioned between the third and fourth sides, the first catch of the first catch structure being provided at the first side, the second catch of the first catch structure being provided at the second side, and the second catch structure being provided at the third side.

3 more elements

a ferrule aligned along a central longitudinal axis;
a connector housing including a plug portion having an interface end sized to fit within the non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter and the ruggedized fiber optic adapter, the ferrule being positioned at the interface end of the plug portion, the plug portion having a first catch structure for engaging the retention latch of the non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter to retain the plug portion within the non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter and a second catch structure for engaging the retention latch of the ruggedized fiber optic adapter to retain the plug portion within the ruggedized fiber optic adapter, the first catch structure not engaging the retention latch of the ruggedized fiber optic adapter when the plug portion is retained within the ruggedized fiber optic adapter by the retention latch of the ruggedized fiber optic adapter, and the second catch structure not engaging the retention latch of the non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter when the plug portion is retained within the non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter by the retention latch of the non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter;
and
a ruggedized retention member mounted on the connector housing, the ruggedized retention member engaging the ruggedized fiber optic adapter to retain the plug portion within the ruggedized fiber optic adapter.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/203,508Filed 3 Sep 2008 · us provisional application
Priority: 11 Dec 2007
Published: US 2009/0148102 A111 Jun 2009
Granted: 29 Jun 2010
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

G02B 6/3825
Of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres: with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle,…
G02B 6/3816
Of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres: for use under water, high pressure connectors
G02B 6/3821
Of a low-reflection-loss type: with axial spring biasing or loading means
G02B 6/3826
Of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres: characterised by form or shape