Device for an optical-fiber connection

A method of manufacturing a fiber optic coupling for interconnecting first and second fiber optic connectors in coaxial alignment, each connector including a generally cylindrical ferrule holding an end of an optical fiber, wherein the fiber optic coupling includes a coupling housing with an axial passage defined by a top wall, a bottom wall, a right wall, and a left wall, the axial passage extending between a first opening defined at a first end of the coupling housing and a second opening defined at a second end of the coupling housing, the first end configured to receive the first fiber optic connector through the first opening and the second end configured to receive the second fiber optic connector through the second opening for mating with the first fiber optic connector and a ferrule alignment structure located within the axial passage, the ferrule alignment structure including a sleeve mount defining a first end, a second end, and a center portion, wherein the first end of the sleeve mount is positioned toward the first end of the coupling housing and the second end of the sleeve mount is positioned toward the second end of the coupling housing, the sleeve mount further defining an axial bore that defines a longitudinal axis extending from the first end of the sleeve mount toward the second end of the sleeve mount, the axial bore configured to receive and coaxially align the ferrules of the first and second fiber optic connectors when the connectors are inserted into the fiber optic coupling, wherein the sleeve mount includes a first portion extending from the center portion of the sleeve mount toward the first end of the sleeve mount and a second portion extending from the center portion of the sleeve mount toward the second end of the sleeve mount, each of the first and second portions defines an inwardly extending finger for capturing a ferrule sleeve within the axial bore, the method comprising:

• molding the sleeve mount including the inwardly extending finger at each of the first and second portions thereof as a unitary structure;
• and
• after molding the sleeve mount, inserting a ferrule sleeve into the axial bore of the sleeve mount from one of the first end and the second end of the sleeve mount.