Fiber optic connection system

A fiber optic connection system comprising:

• a connector body that supports at least one ferrule supporting at least one optical fiber;
• a fiber optic adapter defining a port for receiving the connector body;
• an environmental seal for providing a seal between the connector body and the fiber optic adapter;
• and
• a robust active coupler included with the fiber optic adapter and not carried with the connector body, the robust active coupler being movable relative to the port of the fiber optic adapter and being configured to retain the connector body within the port, the robust active coupler being configured to retain the connector body within the port so as to withstand a pull-out force of at least 25 pounds;
• wherein the robust active coupler is slidably movable between a coupling position and non-coupling position.

A fiber optic connection system comprising:

• a connector body that supports at least two ferrules positioned along a major axis, the at least two ferrules each supporting at least one optical fiber;
• a fiber optic adapter defining a port for receiving the connector body;
• and
• a slide clip included with the fiber optic adapter and not carried with the connector body, the slide clip being movable relative to the port of the fiber optic adapter between a coupling position and non-coupling position, the slide clip being configured to retain the connector body within the port when in the coupling position, and the slide clip being configured to allow removal of the connector body from the port when in the non-coupling position;
• wherein when the slide clip is in the coupling position, the slide clip engages the connector body at retention locations positioned at opposite sides of the connector body, and wherein the slide clip is spring biased toward the coupling position by a spring.

An apparatus comprising:

• an enclosure including a wall;
• a connection system including an adapter having an adapter housing mounted to the wall, the adapter including a ferrule alignment sleeve for receiving a ferrule of a fiber optic connector when the fiber optic connector is inserted into the adapter housing, the connection system further including a robust active coupler slidable with respect to the adapter housing, the robust active coupler being movable relative to the adapter housing to retain the fiber optic connector within the adapter housing, the robust active coupler being configured to retain the fiber optic connector within the adapter housing so as to withstand a pull-out force of at least 25 pounds, the robust active coupler being slidably movable between a coupling position and a non-coupling position, the robust active coupler being spring biased toward the coupling position, and the robust active coupler being configured to be manually pressed to move the robust active coupler from the coupling position to the non-coupling position;
• and
• a ramp arrangement for automatically moving the robust active coupler against the spring bias from the coupling position to the non-coupling position when the fiber optic connector is being inserted into the adapter housing, wherein the spring bias returns the robust active coupler to the coupling position once the fiber optic connector has been fully inserted into the adapter housing.

An apparatus comprising:

• an enclosure including a wall having an outer side and an opposite inner side;
• a connection system including an adapter having an adapter housing mounted to the wall and the adapter housing defining a port for receiving a hardened fiber optic connector, the adapter including a ferrule alignment sleeve being positioned to co-axially align a ferrule of the hardened fiber optic connector with a corresponding ferrule of a corresponding connector when the hardened fiber optic connector is inserted into the adapter housing, the connection system further including a robust active coupler that is slidably movable relative to the adapter housing and is configured to retain the hardened fiber optic connector within the adapter housing, the robust active coupler being configured to retain the hardened fiber optic connector within the adapter housing so as to withstand a pull-out force of at least 25 pounds, the robust active coupler being slidably movable between a coupling position and a non-coupling position, the robust active coupler being spring biased toward the coupling position, and the robust active coupler being configured to be manually pressed to move the robust active coupler from the coupling position to the non-coupling position;
• and
• a ramp arrangement for automatically moving the robust active coupler against the spring bias from the coupling position to the non-coupling position when the hardened fiber optic connector is being inserted into the adapter housing, wherein the spring bias returns the robust active coupler to the coupling position once the hardened fiber optic connector has been fully inserted into the adapter housing.

An apparatus comprising:

• an enclosure including a wall;
• a connection system including an adapter having an adapter housing mounted to the wall, the adapter including a ferrule alignment sleeve for receiving a ferrule of a fiber optic connector when the fiber optic connector is inserted into the adapter housing, the connection system further including a robust active coupler slidable with respect to the adapter housing, the robust active coupler being movable relative to the adapter housing to retain the fiber optic connector within the adapter housing, the robust active coupler being configured to retain the fiber optic connector within the adapter housing so as to withstand a pull-out force of at least 25 pounds, the robust active coupler being slidably movable between a coupling position and a non-coupling position, the robust active coupler being spring biased toward the coupling position, and the robust active coupler being configured to be manually pressed to move the robust active coupler from the coupling position to the non-coupling position;
• and
• wherein the adapter defines a connector insertion axis along which the fiber optic connector is moved when the fiber optic connector is inserted into the adapter housing, wherein the robust active coupler defines a connector opening for receiving the fiber optic connector, and wherein the connector opening has a matching transverse cross-sectional shape with the fiber optic connector.

An apparatus comprising:

• an enclosure including a wall having an outer side and an opposite inner side;
• a connection system including an adapter having an adapter housing mounted to the wall and the adapter housing defining a port for receiving a hardened fiber optic connector, the adapter including a ferrule alignment sleeve being positioned to coaxially align a ferrule of the hardened fiber optic connector with a corresponding ferrule of a corresponding connector when the hardened fiber optic connector is inserted into the adapter housing, the connection system further including a robust active coupler that is slidably movable relative to the adapter housing and is configured to retain the hardened fiber optic connector within the adapter housing, the robust active coupler being configured to retain the hardened fiber optic connector within the adapter housing so as to withstand a pull-out force of at least 25 pounds, the robust active coupler being slidably movable between a coupling position and a non-coupling position, the robust active coupler being spring biased toward the coupling position, and the robust active coupler being configured to be manually pressed to move the robust active coupler from the coupling position to the non-coupling position;
• and
• wherein the adapter defines a connector insertion axis along which the hardened fiber optic connector is moved when the hardened fiber optic connector is inserted into the adapter housing, wherein the robust active coupler defines a connector opening for receiving the hardened fiber optic connector, and wherein the connector opening has a matching transverse cross-sectional shape with the hardened fiber optic connector.