Slide actuated field installable fiber optic connector

A connector for reversibly terminating a cable comprising a buffer cladding surrounding an optical fiber wherein an end portion of the cable is exposed to reveal the optical fiber, the connector comprising:

• an elongate member comprising a first end, a second end and an alignment groove extending at least partially along a member surface thereof between said first end and said second end, wherein the exposed optical fiber is positioned within said groove and extending from said second end;
• a ferrule comprising a front face, a rear end positioned adjacent said first end, an axial bore aligned with said groove and an optical fiber stub disposed in said bore and extending from said front face into said groove such that a stub splicing face of said optical fiber stub is positioned opposite an optical fiber splicing face of the optical fiber;
• a clamping assembly comprising a splice anvil comprising a fiber clamping surface positioned facing said member surface and overlapping said stub splicing face and said optical fiber splicing face and a buffer cladding anvil positioned adjacent said splice anvil, said buffer cladding anvil comprising a buffer cladding clamping surface;
• and
• an actuating assembly for limiting movement of said clamping assembly between an unclamped state wherein said splice anvil and said buffer cladding anvil are in an open position and said the exposed optic fiber can be freely removed from or inserted into the connector and an intermediate state wherein said splice anvil is in a closed position and said buffer cladding anvil is in said open position and the exposed optic fiber and said optical fiber stub are clamped in said groove by said fiber clamping surface and between said intermediate state and a clamped state wherein said splice anvil and said buffer cladding anvil are in said closed position and the buffer cladding is clamped against said elongate surface by said buffer cladding clamping surface.