Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector – Optical fiber/optical fiber cable termination structure
Reexamination Certificate
2001-12-12
2004-04-20
Nasri, Javaid H. (Department: 2839)
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Optical fiber/optical fiber cable termination structure
Reexamination Certificate
active
06722789
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The tips of two optical fibers are commonly coupled by placing each optical fiber in a terminus and biasing at least one terminus toward the other so the tips of the termini and of the optical fibers abut one another. At least one of the two connectors includes a spring that is usually a coil spring to press the terminus forwardly. When the terminus must be removed for cleaning or repair, the spring usually has to be removed with the terminus. The spring seldom needs maintenance, but its multiple turns can catch on other items, and it would be desirable if the spring could remain with the rest of the connector when a terminus was removed. It is desirable to enable removal of a single terminus by simply inserting a thin tool and pulling out the terminus instead of requiring the removal of a back plate or the like that would disrupt other mating termini. It is desirable that the terminus arrangement have a minimum number of parts and be compact to enable a large number of termini to be closely spaced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an optical fiber connector and connector system are provided which enable replacement of a terminus without withdrawing a biasing spring and which minimizes the housing passage diameter required for each terminus. The connector includes a terminus that lies in a housing passage, a spring for biasing the terminus forwardly, and a clip that is biased forwardly by the spring and that engages a shoulder on the terminus to bias it forwardly. A terminus can be removed by inserting a tool that expands the clips, and then pulling out the terminus while leaving the clip and spring behind in the housing passage.
In one embodiment of the invention, a sleeve member is provided which can slide within the housing passage. The sleeve member has a forwardly-facing shoulder that engages a rear end of the clip, and has a rearwardly-facing surface that engages a front end of the spring. The sleeve member provides a reliable sliding part to transfer force between the spring and clip. Another embodiment of the invention uses only the clip, without a separate sleeve member.
The rearwardly-facing shoulder on the terminus that engages the front end of the clip, can be formed by a groove formed in the outside of a body of the terminus. The body can have a narrow neck passage part lying radially within the groove to avoid weakening the body.
In a system with two mating connectors, all termini are biased by a spring to enable replacement of a terminus, and to enable a single terminus design to be used.
The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3947182 (1976-03-01), McCartney
patent: 3963323 (1976-06-01), Arnold
patent: 4178068 (1979-12-01), Hoover
patent: 4279469 (1981-07-01), Forman
patent: 4735480 (1988-04-01), Levinson et al.
patent: 4747658 (1988-05-01), Borsuk et al.
patent: 4787701 (1988-11-01), Stenger et al.
patent: 4798441 (1989-01-01), Clark
patent: 5097523 (1992-03-01), Marie
patent: 5253316 (1993-10-01), Shibutani et al.
patent: 5373573 (1994-12-01), Welsh
patent: 5542015 (1996-07-01), Hultermans
patent: 5608828 (1997-03-01), Coutts et al.
patent: 5764834 (1998-06-01), Hultermans
patent: 6254283 (2001-07-01), Novacoski et al.
patent: 0 624 810 (1994-05-01), None
patent: 0 624 810 (1994-05-01), None
patent: 1 249 722 (2002-04-01), None
Hyzin Peter Joseph
Nguyen Can Trong
Novacoski James Edward
ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.
Nasri Javaid H.
Turner Roger C.
LandOfFree
Releasable terminus retention does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Releasable terminus retention, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Releasable terminus retention will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3185641