Two-channel hermaphroditic fiber connector
US4712861A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 7, 1985 |
| Grant date | Dec 15, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 7, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/38875
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A connector for hermaphroditic coupling with a similar connector has a hermaphroditic end cap which mates with the end face of the connector body when the latter is not in use. To ensure that the end cap is correctly located immediately the connector is disconnected, it is hinged to the connector body and spring-loaded to bias it closed. When two connectors are connected together, their respective end caps mate automatically so that they too are kept clean. This is possible because each end cap can pivot to a position in which its end face is coplanar with that of the connector body. Various locking devices are disclosed for locking two connectors together and for locking the end cap closed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.