High density fiber optic connector
US5373573A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 21, 1993 |
| Grant date | Dec 13, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 21, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3821
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A fiber optic connector is described, which has a retention clip (100, FIG. 4 ) that is part of the terminus so the clip is removed with the terminus from a connector housing, to enable replacement of a broken clip as well as to provide a more compact and low cost connector. The clip has a rear end (102) forming a ring that slides along the terminus body, and has a plurality of tines (104-107) that extend forwardly and radially outwardly. The free forward end of each tine has a rearwardly-facing clip shoulder (112) which abuts a forwardly-facing housing shoulder (114) so the clip cannot be removed in a rearward direction until the tines are deflected together. The front ends of the tines abut the rear end (92) of a spring that lies around the terminus body. The termini of the plug and receptacle connectors are identical except that one of the connectors (14, FIG. 5 ) uses a spacer (140) in place of a helical spring.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.