Fiber optic lighting system connector

US6179480A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC. · US

Inventors

• Joseph J. Bella · Wheaton, US
• Thomas A. Benoit · Bourbonnais, US
• Kenneth LeVey · Winfield, US
• William J. Olson · Menlo Park, US
• David A. Shereyk · Homewood, US
• Jeffrey M. Stupar · West Dundee, US
• Richard A. Koscik · Richton Park, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 16, 1999
• Grant date: Jan 30, 2001
• Expiry date: Jun 16, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/3825
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A fiber optic lighting system connector for coupling a fiber optic cable to another fiber optic cable, or a light source, or a light fixture. The connector includes a sleeve member having a plurality of resilient fingers and an axial bore for receiving a fiber optic cable end portion. A cap is non-threadably coupled to the sleeve member and movable axially about the resilient fingers between first and second positions to constrict the resilient fingers about a fiber optic cable end portion or conductor member for axial retention thereof in the axial bore. The resilient fingers preferably include first and second recesses in corresponding side portions thereof, and a tooth disposed between and offset from the first and second recesses.