Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector – Optical fiber/optical fiber cable termination structure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-10
2001-05-29
Nguyen, Thong (Department: 2872)
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Optical fiber/optical fiber cable termination structure
C385S081000, C385S086000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06238104
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fiber optic connector for termination to a fiber optic cable, a supporting member used in the fiber optic connector, and a method of assembling the fiber optic connector with the fiber optic cable, and specifically the invention provides an assembly method that is suitable for reinforcing members and outer covering of the fiber optic cable being arranged on the supporting member which position the reinforcing members and outer covering onto a housing of the connector.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A fiber optic cable termination structure in which Kevlar is used as reinforcing members is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 7-84149 wherein a fiber optic connector has a Kevlar-fastening means to which the Kevlar reinforcing members are fastened by crimping in the vicinity of a rear end of a ferrule. A sleeve is mounted beforehand on an end of the fiber optic cable. The sleeve is inserted inside an outer covering, and the reinforcing members are clamped between the sleeve and the outer covering by the ferrule, while the optical fiber extends outwardly therefrom.
However, in the conventional fiber optic connector described above, there is a danger that the sleeve will fall off in the process in which the fiber optic cable and fiber optic connector are assembled; furthermore, the direction of extension of the Kevlar-reinforcing members is not determined when the sleeve is mounted on the end of the fiber optic cable. Consequently, assembly work is rendered more difficult.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a fiber optic connector which allows easy and secure assembly with a fiber optic cable, a supporting member used therein, and a method of connecting the fiber optic connector to the fiber optic cable.
The present invention is directed to a fiber optic connector which includes a ferrule to which an optical fiber of a fiber optic cable is fastened, a member of a housing to which reinforcing members of the fiber optic cable are fastened, a supporting member which is equipped with a holding section that holds the reinforcing members and a crimping section that is crimped to an end portion of the fiber optic cable, and the holding section of the supporting member is disposed so that it guides the reinforcing members toward the fastening member of the housing.
A fiber optic connector for connection to a fiber optic cable comprises a housing having a ferrule provided with a bore in which an optical fiber of the fiber optic cable is secured and a fastening member; and a supporting member having a securing section for engagement with an end portion of the fiber optic cable and a holding section for holding reinforcing members of the fiber optic cable for disposition along the fastening member prior to being fastened thereto.
A method of connecting a fiber optic connector to a fiber optic cable comprises the steps of stripping the fiber optic cable exposing an optical fiber and reinforcing members; securing one end of a supporting member onto an outer covering of the fiber optic cable; positioning the reinforcing members in recesses of the supporting member; moving the supporting member adjacent a fastening member of a housing with the optical fiber being disposed in a bore of a ferrule within the housing; and the reinforcing members being arranged along the fastening members; and securing the optical fiber within the bore of the ferrule.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4319802 (1982-03-01), Bowes
patent: 4730890 (1988-03-01), Kashimura et al.
patent: 4795229 (1989-01-01), Abendschein et al.
patent: 4802728 (1989-02-01), Komatsu
patent: 5142601 (1992-08-01), Shibata et al.
patent: 5287425 (1994-02-01), Chang
patent: 5363459 (1994-11-01), Hultermans
patent: 5418874 (1995-05-01), Carlisle et al.
Hayashi Takehiro
Kikuta Tomohiro
Shiino Masato
Takahashi Kenji
Yamakawa Jun
Nguyen Thong
Tyco Electronics Corp
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