EP2457115A2

EP2457115A2 - Optical fiber connector having activation cover

Info

Publication number: EP2457115A2
Application number: EP10802658A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yasuyoshi Okawara; Tomoyasu Oike; Dai Horibe; Akihiko Yazaki
Original assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co
Current assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co
Priority date: 2009-07-21
Filing date: 2010-07-09
Publication date: 2012-05-30
Also published as: CN102472875A; CN102472875B; WO2011011209A3; JP5479797B2; WO2011011209A2; EP2457115A4; JP2011027760A

Abstract

An optical fiber connector having an activation cover capable of avoiding an operational error. The cover (1) has a generally plate-like pushing section (11), a belt section (13) pivotally connected to pushing section (11) by means of a hinge section (12), and a stopper section (14) which detachably fixes belt section (13) to pushing section (11). Belt section (13) may be pivotally moved between an opened position and a closed position by means of hinge (12). Stopper section (14) has an engaging hole (132) formed at or near a front end (131) of belt section (13) and a protrusion (111) formed on pushing section (11) so that protrusion (111) engages engaging hole (132) when belt section (13) is positioned in the closed position.

Description

OPTICAL FIBER CONNECTOR HAVING ACTIVATION COVER

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an optical fiber connector having an activation cover used to pressurize and displace a cap of the connector. Background Art

In recent years, a connecting structure of a field assembly type including a shorter optical fiber is used for constructing an optical fiber network such as a FTTH (Fiber to the Home). The connecting structure has, for example, so-called a mechanical splice structure therein. (This structure may mechanically connect ends of naked optical fibers each other such that the ends of the fibers abut to each other, without welding or adhering.) For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2006-30663 describes that "In a connecting operation of optical fibers, a cable holding member is located at a connection preparatory position, whereby a core fiber of each optical fiber may be kept properly bent within an optical connector (i.e., between a splice part and the cable holding member) under the pressure in the axial direction of the fiber."

A connecting tool is used for connecting such a connecting structure and optical fibers. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2007-240943 describes that "A connector tool 6 is previously detachably attached to a connector body 1 in a factory, for example. Connector tool 6, while being attached to connector body 1, pushes elements 31c and 421 so as to separate them each other, against a force of a spring 42. After the connecting operation of optical fibers is finished, the tool is detached from connector body 1. Connector tool 6 has a connector holder part 7 downwardly extending such that the holder part sandwiches connector body 1. Connector holder part 7 has a pair of side walls 7b, 7c, the side walls forming a containing recess 7a therebetween. A retainer engaging part 18 is formed at the outer surfaces of front ends of side walls 7b, 7c. A retainer 91 as shown in Fig. 9 is detachably attached to retainer engaging part 18."

Summary of Invention

Technical Problem

Generally, a cap, used to closing a core fiber fixing part of a mechanical splice or the like of an optical fiber connector, is relatively small. Therefore, an activation cover, configured to cover the cap, may be attached to the connector so that an operator may easily push down the cap with a finger. The operator may close the core fiber fixing part and connect core fibers in the fixing part, by pushing down the activation cover, without using another pushing tool. However, the operator may accidentally push the activation cover and push down the cap (or close the core fiber fixing part), during transportation of the connector. Accordingly, an integral-type activation cover, capable of avoiding the above accident or operational error by the operator, is desired.

Thus, the invention provides an optical fiber connector having an activation cover capable of avoiding an operational error. Solution to Problem

In order to achieve the object of the invention described above, one embodiment of the present invention provides an optical fiber connector comprising: a connector in which two core fibers are connected to each other by pushing a cap; and an activation cover configured to surround at least a part of the connector including the cap, wherein the activation cover comprises: a pushing section having a contacting part capable of contacting the cap; a belt section forming a containing part cooperatively with the pushing section, the containing part surrounding at least the part of the connector including the cap; and a stopper section detachably fixing the belt section to the pushing section, so that the belt section does not move relative to the pushing section when the pushing section and the belt section cooperatively form the containing part.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides an optical fiber connector comprising: a connector in which two core fibers are connected to each other by pushing a cap; an activation cover comprising a pushing section having a contacting part capable of contacting the cap and a holding section which holds the connector, the activation cover being configured to push down the cap into the connector; and a spacer inserted between an upper surface of the connector and a lower surface of the pushing section of the activation cover opposed each other.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

In an optical fiber connector having an activation cover according to the one embodiment of the present invention, the activation cover may be conveyed integrally with the connector by means of a belt section, and the connector may be prevented from dropping from the cover.

In an optical fiber connector having an activation cover according to the other embodiment of the present invention, the cap may be prevented from being accidentally pushed down into the connector by means of a spacer inserted between the activation cover and the upper surface of the connector.

Brief Description of Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an activation cover according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cover of Fig. 1, viewed in the different direction from that of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cover of Fig. 1, in which a belt section if positioned in a closed position.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the cover of Fig. 1 attached to a connector.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view along a V-V line of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view viewed in the direction of an arrow IV.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the state before the cover of Fig. 1 is attached to the connector.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the state that the cover of Fig. 1 is being attached to the connector.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the state that a mechanical splice of the connector is closed.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a modification of the activation cover, in which a spacer part is arranged in a belt section.

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 5, showing that the cover of Fig. 10 is used.

Fig. 12 is a view showing a spacer member as an alternative to the spacer part of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a view showing the spacer member of Fig. 12 which is positioned at a predetermined position on the cover.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of another modification of the activation cover, in which a projection is arranged on the outer surface of a belt section. Fig. 15 is a perspective view of still another modification of the activation cover, in which a tab is arranged at the front end of a belt section.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the cover of Fig. 1 attached to another connector. Fig. 17 is an axial cross-sectional view of an example of connector which may be applied to the present invention.

Description of Embodiments

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an activation cover (hereinafter, merely referred to as a cover) 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view to show the upside down of Fig. 1. Cover 1 has a generally plate-like pushing section 11, a belt section 13 pivotally connected to pushing section 11 by means of a hinge section 12, and a stopper section 14 which detachably fixes belt section 13 to pushing section 11. Belt section 13 is previously formed in generally a C-shape. Belt section 13 may be pivotally moved between an opened state (position) as shown in Fig. 1 or 2 and a closed state (position) as shown in Fig. 3 by means of hinge 12. Stopper section 14 in the embodiment has an engaging hole 132 formed at or near a front end 131 of belt section 13 and an engaging portion (or a protrusion in the embodiment) 111 formed on pushing section 11 so that protrusion 111 engages engaging hole 132 when belt section 13 is positioned in the closed position. Belt section 13 is not limited to a band shape. Belt section 13 may have the different width in some parts thereof. Belt section 13 may have a circular cross section.

A means for connecting belt section 13 to pushing section 11 is not limited to the hinge, as long as belt section 13 may be moved relative to pushing section 11. For example, by elastically or plastically deforming belt section 13, front end 131 of belt section 13 may be relative to pushing section 11. Although pushing section 11 and belt section 13 are integrally molded, both sections may be formed as separated members. However, in terms of maintenance and handling of the cover, it is preferable that both sections are integrally formed. The cover may be manufactured by resin molding, however, the manufacture of the cover is not limited as such. For example, the cover can be made from metal.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an optical fiber connector (hereinafter, merely referred to as a connector) 2 to which cover 1 is attached, and Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view along V-V line of Fig. 4. Connector 2 is used to connect optical fibers, and has a mechanical splice 21 (Fig. 5) configured to fix two optical fibers (not shown) while the two fibers abut each other at their ends. As shown in Fig. 3, belt section 13 of cover 1 and pushing section 11 positioned in the closed position cooperatively form a containing part 15 which surrounds at least a part of connector 2 including cap 212.

Fig. 17 shows an example of the structure of connector 2 which may be applied to the present invention. Connector 2 has a mechanical splice 21, a ferrule 24 and a shorter fiber 25 fixed to ferrule 24. Mechanical splice 21 has a core fiber fixing part 211, a backbone 213 having a recess 2131 configured to contain core fiber fixing part 211, and a cap 212 capable of moving relative to recess 2131.

Core fiber fixing part 211 has two side plates 2111 connected to each other by means of a hinge 2112, and a groove part 2113 on the inner surface thereof configured to receive the core fiber. The front end of shorter fiber 24 is previously inserted from one end of core fiber fixing part 211 into groove part 2113, and another core fiber (not shown) is inserted from the other end of core fiber fixing part 211. Then, shorter fiber 24 and the other core fiber abut each other at their ends, and optically connected to each other. As shown in a cross-sectional view of Fig. 5, core fiber fixing part 211 has generally a V- shape in a cross section perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the core fiber. In the state before cap 212 is pushed down toward core fiber fixing part 211, groove part 2113 has space sufficient to receive the optical fiber. When cap 212 is pushed down toward core fiber fixing part 211, two side plates 2111 are displaced so as to approach each other. During this, the space of groove part 2113 becomes narrow and the optical fiber in the groove part is fixed between two plates 2111.

Cap 212 has a base portion 2121 having a upper surface pushed by pushing section 11 of cover 1 and a pair of leg portions 2122 opposed each other and extending generally perpendicular from base portion 2121 (Fig. 5). The distance between the opposing leg portions is relatively small near base portion 2121 and relatively large far from base portion 2121. Before cap 212 is pushed down, the end of each side plate 2111 is received between leg portions 2122 where the distance between the leg portions is relatively large, and after cap 212 is pushed down, the end of each side plate 2111 received between leg portions 2122 where the distance between the leg portions is relatively small. Due to this, by pushing cap 212 into connector 2, the optical core fiber inserted into groove 2113 may be fixed. Ferrule 24 is generally a cylindrical member, for example, and has a center hole 241 into which shorter fiber 25 may be inserted. Shorter fiber 25 is fixed to center hole 241 of ferrule 24 by means of adhesive or the like. One end 242 of ferrule 24 is an abutment end which is connected to a ferrule of another connector (not shown), and polished or processed so as to form the same surface as the end surface of shorter fiber 25. Shorter fiber 25 projects from another end 243 of ferrule 24 opposed to abutment end 242, and the projecting portion of short fiber 25 is received by groove 2113 of fiber fixing part 211.

Backbone 213 has a recess 2132 at one end thereof, to which ferrule 24 is fixed, and a through hole 2133 at another end thereof, into which the optical fiber is inserted. Ferrule 24 is fixed to recess 2132 by, for example, adhesive.

Since connector 2 of the embodiment is a female-type connector configured to receive a male-type connector, connector 2 further has a sleeve 26 arranged coaxially to ferrule 24, and an adapter housing 27 covering one end of backbone 213 and having a recess configured to receive another connector. If necessary, connector 2 may have a housing (not shown) configured to receive backbone 213 and/or a coil spring (not shown) biasing ferrule 24 toward the other connector. Further, the connector may have a fixing mechanism (not shown) configured to fix a drop cable to the connector.

As shown in Fig. 2, pushing section 11 of cover 1 has, at an inner surface (or a surface facing connector 2 when the cover is attached to connector 2) 112, a cap contacting part 113 configured to contact cap 212 of connector 2 when cover 1 is attached to connector 2, and a connector gripping part 114 configured to grip connector. In the illustrated embodiment, cap contacting part 113 is a ridge-shaped protrusion formed on inner surface 112, and griping part 114 is a pair of rod members or plate members opposed to each other formed on inner surface 112, so as to sandwich connector 2 at the both side thereof. However, it is sufficient that cap contacting part 113 contacts cap 212 in the pushing direction of cap 212 when cover 1 is attached to connector 2, and connector gripping part 114 fixes cover 1 to connector 2 so that cover 1 is not widely displaced relative to connector 2 while cover 1 is attached to connector 2.

As shown in Fig. 5, when belt section 13 of cover 1 is positioned in the closed position, protrusion 111 of pushing section 11 engages engaging hole 132 of belt section 13, cap contacting part 113 of pushing section 11 contacts cap 212 of mechanical splice 21, and connector gripping part 114 grips connector 2 from both sides thereof. At this point, a lower surface 22 of connector 2 (or a surface opposed to pushing section 11) is separated from an inner surface 133 (or a surface facing connector 2) of belt section 13 of cover 1 by a distance "d", which is equal to or more than zero. In order to prevent cover 1 from displacing relative to connector 2 in the direction (in the vertical direction in Fig. 5) along which distance "d" is changed, as shown in Fig. 6 viewed in the direction of an arrow VI, gripping part 114 of cover 1 is constituted by a plurality of rod members 114a, 114b and 114c, and a small projection 115 is formed on one rod member (114b in the drawing), the projection extending toward the neighboring rod member (1 14c in the drawing). On the other hand, connector 2 has a ridge-shaped protrusion 23 (Fig. 7) having the width generally equal to the distance between rod members 114b and 114c. Due to this, the displacement of cover 1 may be prevented since projection 115 may engage an upper end 231 of ridge-shaped protrusion 23 of connector 2. Projection 115 may projects toward connector 2, not the neighboring rod member. In this case, a side surface (or a surface facing the rod member) of connector 2 may have a recess or a projection capable of engaging projection 115. Further, in order to effectively prevent cover 1 from dropping from connector 2, an additional projection may be formed on connector gripping part 114.

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate an operation for attaching cover 1 to connector 2. First, as shown in Fig. 7, cover 1 is moved so that pushing section 11 of cover 1 is positioned above cap 212 of connector 2. Next, as shown in Fig. 8, cover 1 is engaged with connector 2 so that rod members 114a, 114b and 114c of cover 1 sandwich connector 2. At this point, the positional relationship between cover 1 and connector 2 is determined so that cap contacting part 113 of cover 1 (Fig. 2) is slightly separated from cap 212 of connector or lightly contacts (does not push down) cap 212. Such a positional relationship may be realized by determining the position of projection 115 so that contacting part 113 contacts cap 212 or is slightly separated from cap 212 when projection 115 contacts upper end 231 of ridge-shaped protrusion 23, and by moving cover 1 toward connector 2 until projection 115 contacts upper end 231 of ridge 23. Finally, as shown in Fig. 4, belt section 13 is engaged with pushing section 11 so as to fix cover 1 to connector 2.

When cover 1 is pushed into connector 2, rod members 114b, 114c are positioned relative to ridge-shaped protrusion 23 on the side of connector 2 (Fig. 7), whereby a contacting surface of contacting part 113 of cover 1 and an upper surface of cap 212 may be retained in generally parallel state. Due to this, during the connecting operation of the optical core fiber, cap 212 may be pushed down while being generally parallel to the body of connector 2. By pushing down cap 212 while being parallel to the connector, core fiber fixing part 211 is not inclined, and the damage of the core fiber within the fiber fixing part and/or the high connection loss may be avoided. Cap 212 may be pushed down while being parallel to the body of connector 2, also by forming a groove on the side of connector 2, the groove extending from the upper surface to the lower surface of the connector, and by engaging the rod member of cover 1. Although ridge-shaped protrusion 23 in the embodiment continuously extends from the upper surface to the lower surface of connector 2, the protrusion may be constituted by a plurality of discrete portions.

As shown in Fig. 5 or 9, rod members 114a, 114b and 114c are formed so that the distance between opposing rod members is gradually narrowed toward the front ends thereof (downward in Fig. 5). Due to this, connector 2 may be lightly gripped by the rod members so that connector 2 cannot be dropped due to its own weight, whereby connector 2 does not drop from cover 1 even when belt section 13 of cover 1 is positioned at the opened position.

Rod members 114 may be formed integrally with belt section 13 (for example, on the inner surface of belt section 13), or maybe formed independently from belt section 13 (for example, formed on pushing section 11) as in the embodiment. By forming rod members 114 independently from belt section 13, connector 2 may be surely gripped by the rod members even when belt section 13 is positioned in the opened position.

Belt section 13 of cover 1 is not entirely flexible, and functions as a substantially rigid body when positioned in the closed position. Otherwise, belt section 13 may have a certain degree of flexibility, but has a stiffness so that, in case that the operator grips the connector having the cover by fingers (concretely, fingers of operator contact pushing section 11 and a belt portion 134 of belt section 13 opposed to pushing section 11 relative to connector 2), the operator cannot push down cap 212 of mechanical splice 21 if the operator accidentally applies the pressure which biases belt portion 134 toward pushing section 11. In other words, belt section 13 in the closed position has a certain degree of stiffness, whereby the distance, by which an inner surface 133 of belt section 13 may be displaced toward a lower surface 22 of connector 2, cannot be larger than distance "d" in Fig. 5, by the pressure which is normally applied to the connector by the operator. Due to this, the operator is prevented from accidentally pushing down cap 212 (or closing mechanical splice 21) while carrying the connector, in addition to that connector 2 can be protected by cover 1 from external force or the like. Distance "d" is determined so that connector 2 cannot drop from cover 1 forming containing part 15 (i.e., connector 2 cannot widely displaced in the axial direction of the core fiber relative to cover 1).

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of connector 2 having cover 1, viewed in the same direction of Fig. 5, and shows the state that belt section 13 of cover 1 is positioned in the opened position. When the core fiber (not shown) is connected in connector 2, as shown in Fig. 9, protrusion 111 of pushing section 11 is disengaged from engaging hole 132 of belt section 13, and then belt section 13 is rotated. Belt section 13 in the embodiment is rotated about an axis parallel to the axial direction of the core fiber (i.e., the longitudinal direction of the connector). Next, the operator grips connector 2 at an outer surface 116 (or a surface opposed to the inner surface facing connector 2) of pushing section 11 and lower surface 22 of connector 2, and applies the pressure so as to move pushing section 11 toward connector 2. Due to this, cap contacting part 113 of pushing section 11 pushes down cap 212 of mechanical splice 21 and core fiber fixing part 211 is closed, whereby the connecting operation of the core fiber is finished. It is preferable that outer surface 116 of pushing section 11 is formed as a concave portion in order to facilitate the operation of the operator.

As described above, in the connector having the cover of the present invention, the cap cannot be pushed down unless the belt section of the cover is moved to the opened position. As shown in Fig. 9, front end 131 of belt section 13 may have a tongue portion 135 extending in the direction which is different from (perpendicular to in the

embodiment) the extending direction of front end 131.

Fig. 10 shows a cover 1' which is a modification of cover 1. Cover 1' has a pushing section 11' and a hinge section 12' similar to pushing section 1 1 and hinge section 12 of cover 1, and has a belt section 13' pivotally connected to hinge section 12' and having a spacer part 139' integrally formed with belt section 13'. As shown in Fig. 11 similar to Fig. 5, spacer part 139' is configured so that a front end 1391' of spacer part 139' is inserted between an upper surface 28 of connector 2 on the side of cap 212 and a lower surface 112' of pushing section 11' when belt section 13' is moved to the closed position. In order to facilitate the movement of belt section 13' between the opened and closed positions, the thickness of a base portion 1392' of spacer part 139' may be reduced. Due to this, when belt section 13' is rotated about hinge section 12' from the closed position to the opened position, spacer part 139' may be bent at base portion 1392', whereby spacer part 139' may be easily withdrawn from between the cap of the connector and pushing section 11 ' of cover 1'. Otherwise, spacer part 139' may extend from belt section 13' while base portion 1392' of belt section 13' has a curvature corresponding to the rotational motion of belt section 13', whereby spacer part 139' may also be easily withdrawn.

The connector according to the present invention may have a discrete spacer member 3 as shown in Fig. 12, instead of spacer part 139' as described above. Spacer member 3 has a grip portion 31 gripped by the operator and insert portion 32 formed integrally with grip portion 31. Insert portion 32 may be inserted between upper surface 28 of connector 2 on the side of cap 212 and lower surface 112 of pushing section 11 when belt section 13 is moved to the closed position, similarly to front end 1391' of spacer part 139' as described above. The thickness of spacer member 3 is generally equal to or larger than a projecting length of cap 212 from upper surface 28 of the connector.

Therefore, when pushing section 11 is pushed toward connector 2 while spacer member 3 is inserted, cap 212 is prevented from being pushed down toward the body of connector 2.

As shown in Fig. 13, insert portion 32 of spacer member 3 may be arranged on both sides of cap 212, or one side of cap 212. In particular, when the connector is held by a member, such as the plurality of rod members, capable of limiting the rotation of the connector about the axial direction thereof, cap may be effectively prevented from being pushed down even when the spacer member is arranged on only one side of the cap.

Otherwise, spacer member 3 may be configured to move relative to the cover by means of a portion which is different from belt section 13. Concretely, the cover and the spacer member may be connected to each other by a coupling part such as a wire which is separately arranged from the belt section. When spacer member 3 separated from the cover is used, the cover may not have belt section unless the cover cannot easily drop from the connector. In this case, each of the spacer member, the connector and the cover may have an engaging structure, whereby the connector and the cover may be connected via the spacer member.

When spacer part 139' or spacer member 3 as described above is used as a spacer, the belt section of the cover may not have a certain of stiffness, i.e., may be flexible. Fig. 14 shows a cover 1" which is another modification of cover 1. Cover 1" has a pushing section 11", a hinge section 12" and a belt section 13" similar to pushing section 11, hinge section 12 and belt section 13 of cover 1, and belt section 13" has a needle- shaped or rod-shaped projection 137" formed on an outer surface 136" of belt section 13". Due to projection 137", if the operator intends to close the mechanical splice while belt section 13" is positioned in the closed position, projection 137" may stimulate a finger of the operator, whereby the wrong operation by the operator may be avoided. A recess or step may be used instead of the projection, as long as it can stimulate a finger of the operator.

Fig. 15 shows a cover 1'" which is a still another modification of cover 1.

Cover 1'" has a pushing section 11'", a hinge section 12'" and a belt section 13'" similar to pushing section 11, hinge section 12 and belt section 13 of cover 1, and belt section 13'" has a tab 138'" formed on the front end of belt section 13'". Due to tab 138'", if the operator intends to close the mechanical splice while belt section 13'" is positioned in the closed position, tab 138'" may contact a finger of the operator, whereby the wrong operation by the operator may be avoided. Further, such a tab may visually give an information that the cover is positioned in the closed position.

The cover of the present invention may be applied to various types of connectors. For example, as shown in Fig. 16, cover 1 as described above may be used in a connector 4 of different type. However, it is necessary that connectors to which cover 1 may be applied have the substantially same dimensions at a portion surrounded by cover 1 (or a portion around the mechanical splice).

Reference Signs List

1 cover

11 pushing section

111 protrusion

113 cap contacting part

114 connector gripping part

12 hinge section

13 belt section

131 engaging hole

135 tongue part

14 stopper section

2, 4 connector

21 mechanical splice

211 core fiber fixing part

212 cap

3, 139' spacer

Claims

1. An optical fiber connector comprising:

a connector in which two core fibers are connected to each other by pushing a cap; and

an activation cover configured to surround at least a part of the connector including the cap,

wherein the activation cover comprises:

a pushing section having a contacting part capable of contacting the cap; a belt section forming a containing part cooperatively with the pushing section, the containing part surrounding at least the part of the connector including the cap; and

a stopper section detachably fixing the belt section to the pushing section, so that the belt section does not move relative to the pushing section when the pushing section and the belt section cooperatively form the containing part.

2. The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein the activation cover has certain rigidity when the pushing section and the belt section cooperatively form the containing part.

3. The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 2, wherein a first surface of the connector opposed to the pushing section is separated from a second inner surface of the belt section facing the first surface by a first distance more than zero, and wherein the activation cover has certain rigidity so that the second inner surface of the belt section may be displaced toward the first surface of the connector, by means of a normal force of a finger of an operator, by a second distance less than the first distance.

4. The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a spacer which is inserted between an upper surface of the connector and a lower surface of the pushing section of the activation cover opposed each other.

5. The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein the belt section is pivotally connected to the pushing section by means of a hinge, and the stopper section has an engaging hole formed at the front end of the belt section and a protrusion configured to engage the engaging hole when the pushing section and the belt section cooperatively form the containing part.

6. The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein the activation cover has a holding member, which holds the connector and is separated from the belt section.

7. An optical fiber connector comprising:

a connector in which two core fibers are connected to each other by pushing a cap; an activation cover comprising a pushing section having a contacting part capable of contacting the cap and a holding section which holds the connector, the activation cover being configured to push down the cap into the connector; and

a spacer inserted between an upper surface of the connector and a lower surface of the pushing section of the activation cover opposed each other.