GB2476594A

GB2476594A - Extracting a fibre optic connector with a tool having a tongue

Info

Publication number: GB2476594A
Application number: GB1104476A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Darren Adams
Original assignee: Advanced Fiber Products Ltd
Current assignee: Advanced Fiber Products Ltd
Priority date: 2009-02-26
Filing date: 2009-02-26
Publication date: 2011-06-29
Anticipated expiration: 2029-02-26
Also published as: GB2476594B; GB201104476D0

Abstract

A tool having a resilient arm 120 and a tongue 130 formed upon or adjacent a distal end of the resilient arm is used for removing a fibre optic connector 1 with a guard cover 30 from a fibre optic socket. The guard cover has one or more notches and/or one or more protrusions. The tongue is passed through the guard cover of the connector. The tongue of the tool has a shape that is adapted to cooperate with the one or more notches and/or one or more protrusions formed on the guard cover. The tongue and engages with and depresses a resilient leg 20 of the connector.

Description

Fibre Optic Connector Assembly An optical fibre connector is used to terminate the end of an optical fibre for connection into a socket. When the connector is received into a socket, the optical fibre in the connector meets with an optical fibre in the socket providing a direct interface between the two optical fibres.

In many optical fibre connectors the means of connection to the socket is a snap fit. A latch mechanism is commonly employed such that when the latch is depressed the optical fibre connector is released from the push-fit connection with the socket.

Applying pressure to the latch is quick and simple.

An example of a snap fit optical fibre connector is the Lucent Connector, commonly known as the LC connector. Figure la shows a simplex LC connector while Figure lb shows a duplex LC connector.

Such a snap fit connector arrangement allows for simple reconfiguration of optical fibre paths, for example when wishing to redirect an optical fibre from one location to another.

Against this background, the present invention provides a method of extracting a fibre optic connector comprising a guard cover from a fibre optic socket, using a tool having a resilient arm and a tongue formed upon or adjacent a distal end of the resilient arm, the guard cover having formed therein one or more notches and/or one or more protrusions, wherein the method comprises: passing the tongue through the guard cover of the connector, the tongue of the tool having a shape that is adapted to cooperate with the one or more notches and/or one or more protrusions formed on the guard cover; and engaging with and depressing the resilient leg of the connector.

The tongue of the tool is formed as a key comprising one or more notches and/or one or more protrusions to correspond with the one or more notches and/or one or more protrusions formed on the guard cover.

In a first connected aspect, there is provided a fibre optic connector comprising: a first connector plug, which may be inserted into an associated socket in a first longitudinal direction; a first resilient leg, depending at a first end thereof from the first connector plug, and having a second end, distal therefrom, depressable towards the first connector plug, the first resilient leg having one or more lugs formed thereupon for engagement with a flange of a fibre optic socket, and arranged such that its distal end may be depressed towards the first connector plug; and a guard cover, configured to prevent access to the second, distal end of the first resilient leg in its direction of depression, but to permit access to the first resilient leg in the first longitudinal direction for its depression.

The fibre optic connector thus inhibits manual removal of the connector from a push-fit socket into which it has been received.

Hence it increases security by inhibiting removal by unauthorised parties. This, in turn, provides increased data security.

Advantageously, the connector is compatible with standard pre-existing push-fit sockets.

Preferably, the first connector plug is elongate and the first resilient leg extends generally along the axis of elongation.

In one embodiment, the fibre optic connector further comprises: a second connector plug, which may be inserted into an associated socket in a first longitudinal direction; a second resilient leg, depending at a first end thereof from the second connector plug, and having a second end, distal therefrom, depressable towards the second connector plug, the second resilient leg having one or more lugs formed thereupon for engagement with a flange of a fibre optic socket, and arranged such that its distal end may be depressed towards the second connector plug; and a guard cover, configured to prevent access to the second, distal end of the first and second resilient legs in their respective directions of depression, but to permit access to the first and second resilient legs in the first and second longitudinal directions respectively for their depression.

Preferably, the second connector plug is elongate and the second resilient leg extends generally along the axis of elongation.

Preferably, the first and second connector plugs extend in a direction generally parallel with each other.

Preferably, the first and second connector plugs are parallel with the said axis of elongation.

In a second connected aspect, there is provided a fibre optic connector comprising: a first connector plug, a first resilient leg, depending at a first end thereof from the first connector plug, and having a second end, distal therefrom, depressable towards the first connector plug, the first resilient leg having one or more lugs formed thereupon for engagement with a flange of a fibre optic socket; and a guard cover, positioned over the first resilient leg to inhibit depression thereof and formed integrally with the first connector plug.

Preferably, the guard cover comprises a bridge over the first resilient leg, the bridge having supports surrounding the first resilient leg and a span joining the supports and spaced from the first resilient leg.

More preferably, a region bounded by the bridge span, the bridge supports and the first connector plug defines an aperture.

Preferably, the guard cover comprises a bridge over the first and second resilient legs, the bridge having supports surrounding the first and second resilient legs and a span joining the supports and spaced from the first and second resilient legs.

More preferably, a region bounded by the bridge span, the bridge supports, the first connector plug and the second connector plug defines an aperture.

Preferably, the fibre optic connector has a guard cover comprising a bridge, further comprises a ramp adjacent to the bridge.

Preferably, the underside of the bridge span has formed therein one or more notches and/or one or more protrusions.

Preferably, the fibre optic connector further comprises a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag.

In a third connected aspect, there is provided a kit comprising the fibre optic connector described herein and a tool, the tool comprising: a tool body; a resilient arm depending from the tool body; and a tongue formed upon or adjacent a distal end of the resilient arm and adapted to pass through the guard cover of the connector and engage and depress the resilient leg of the connector.

Preferably, the tongue of the tool is adapted to pass inside the guard cover and urge against the one or more resilient legs of the connector.

Preferably, the tongue of the tool is formed as a key comprising one or more notches and/or one or more protrusions.

In a fourth connected aspect, there is provided a kit comprising: the fibre optic connector described herein; and a cap for removal of the tool from the guard cover of the fibre optic connector.

More preferably, one or more of the kits may further comprise a cap for removal of the tool from the guard cover of the fibre optic connector.

In a fifth connected aspect, there is provided a method of inhibiting removal of a fibre optic connector from a fibre optic socket, the method comprising the steps of: providing a fibre optic connector having: a connector plug, which may be inserted into the fibre optic socket in a longitudinal direction; and a resilient leg depending, at a first end from the connector plug and having a second end, distal therefrom, depressable towards the first connector plug, the resilient leg having one or more lugs formed thereupon for engagement with a flange of a fibre optic socket; and providing a guard cover upon the fibre optic connector, configured to prevent access to the second, distal end of the first resilient leg in its direction of depression, but to permit access to the first resilient leg in the longitudinal direction for its depression.

In a sixth connected aspect, there is provided a method of actuating a resilient leg of a fibre optic connector, the connector comprising: a connector plug, which may be inserted into an associated socket in a first longitudinal direction; a resilient leg depending at a first end thereof from the connector plug, and having a second end, distal therefrom, depressable towards the first connector plug, the first resilient leg having one or more lugs formed thereupon for engagement with a flange of a fibre optic socket and arranged such that its distal end may be depressed towards the connector plug; and a guard cover, configured to prevent access to the second, distal end of the first resilient leg in its direction of depression, but to permit access to the first resilient leg in the first longitudinal direction for its depression, wherein the method comprises: passing a tool in the longitudinal direction of the connector plug, beneath the guard cover of the connector, the tongue of the tool being formed as a key comprising one or more notches and/or one or more protrusions to correspond with the one or more notches and/or one or more protrusions formed on the underside of the bridge span; and depressing the resilient leg.

Optionally, the tool has a resilient arm and a tongue formed upon or adjacent a distal end of the resilient arm and the method further comprises: retaining the tool beneath the guard cover of the connector by virtue of the resilience of the resilient arm of the tool and the resilience of the resilient leg of the connector, so as to maintain depression of the resilient leg.

Specific description

Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure la shows a perspective view of a prior art simplex LC connector; Figure lb shows a perspective view of a prior art duplex LC connector; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the fibre optic connector; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a tool shown adjacent to the fibre optic connector of Figure 2; Figure 4 shows the fibre optic connector of Figure 2 together with an embodiment of a cap; Figure 5 shows a plan view of the fibre optic connector of Figure 2; Figure 6 shows a side view of the fibre optic connector of Figure 2; Figure 7 shows an end view of the fibre optic connector of Figure 2; Figure 8 shows a plan view (from the opposite direction to that of Figure 5) of the fibre optic connector of Figure 2; and Figure 9 shows an exploded perspective view of the connector of Figure 2.

A fibre optic connector is shown in Figure 2 (and, in exploded form, in Figure 9). The fibre optic connector 1 has a housing 50 and two connector plugs 10.

The housing 50 comprises a lower part 51 and an upper part 52. The housing 50 encapsulates the proximal ends of the connector plugs 10 between the lower part 51 and the upper part 52. The lower part 51 and upper part 52 snap fit together. The upper part 52 of the housing 50 includes an integrally moulded guard cover 30 Each connector plug 10 is elongate and comprises a resilient leg 20 which depends at one end of the leg 20 from an end of the connector plug 10 opposite to the housing 50. Each resilient leg 20 extends generally along the axis of elongation of the connector plug 10. A lug 25 is formed on each side of each resilient leg 20 so as to protrude from the leg 20 in an direction perpendicular to the axis of elongation.

The guard cover 30 is positioned over the ends 23 of the resilient legs away from the ends 22 at which each resilient leg 20 depends from the connector plug 10.

The guard cover 30 comprises a bridge with a span 31 and two supports 32. The span 31 covers both resilient legs. The supports 32 are located at the ends of the span 31. On the underside of the span 31 there is formed one or more protrusions and/or one or more notches 35.

The guard cover 30 further comprises two ramps 38 on the side of the guard cover 30 opposite the resilient legs 20 of the connector plugs 10.

A region bounded by the bridge span 31, the bridge supports 32 and the two connector plugs defines an aperture.

Two fibre optic cables 60 pass through the housing 50 before each is received into one of the two connector plugs 10.

In use, the optical fibre connector 1 is received into a fibre optic socket (not shown) . On entry into the socket, the ends 23 of the resilient legs 20 are forced downwards towards the connector plugs by the perimeter of the socket.

Once the lugs 25 formed on the resilient legs 20 have moved downwards sufficiently to allow entry of the connector plugs into the socket, the resilient legs 20 spring back so that the lugs 25 are restrained by a flange in the socket which inhibits removal of the connector 1 from the socket.

Subsequent removal of the connector 1 from the socket is achieved by depressing the ends 23 of the resilient legs 20 such that the lugs 25 pass below the restraining flange of the socket. Since the ends 23 of the resilient legs 20 are located under the guard cover, however, it is not possible to depress the resilient legs 20 manually. Instead, in order to remove the connector 1 from the socket, it is necessary to use a corresponding removal tool.

Figure 3 shows the tool 100 alongside the fibre optic connector 1 of Figure 2.

The tool 100 comprises a tool body 110, a resilient arm 120 depending from the tool body and a tongue 130 formed at the distal end of the resilient arm. The tool body 110 includes a recess adapted so that, when in use, it will at least partly surround a fibre optic cable 60 connected to the fibre optic connector 1. The resilient arm 120 is typically more resilient than the resilient leg 10 of the connector 1.

The shape of the tongue 130 is adapted to fit through (match) the aperture under the bridge span. In particular, -10 -where the bridge span 31 or supports 32 include one or more protrusions and/or one or more notches 35, the shape of the tongue is adapted to cooperate with the one or more protrusions and/or one or more notches 35.

In use, the tool 100 is positioned parallel to the elongate direction of the connector plugs on the side of the guard cover 30 away from the resilient legs 20. The tool is aligned by ensuring that the fibre optic cable is at least partly enclosed by the recess of the tool 100.

The tool 100 is then moved in a forward direction generally parallel to the direction of elongation, towards the guard cover 30. The resilient arm 120 of the tool 100 makes contact with the two ramps 38 of the connector. Further movement in that forward direction causes the resilient arm of the tool 100 to slide up the ramps 38. As stated above, the key 130 is adapted to fit through the aperture beneath the bridge span 31. Continued movement of the tool 100 will cause the tongue 130 to pass through the aperture beneath the bridge span 31. Once the tongue 130 has passed through the aperture, the tongue 130 makes contact with the resilient legs 20 of the connector 1. Since the resilience of the resilient arm 120 of the tool 100 is typically greater that the resilience of the resilient legs 20 of the connector 1, the resilient arm 120 forces the resilient legs downwards towards the connector plugs 10. Hence, the connector 1 is then removable from the socket through downward movement of the lugs 25 in the manner described above.

-11 -Once the connector 1 has been removed from the socket, the tool 100 remains attached to the connector 1 because the tongue 130 of the tool 100 remains on the leg side of the guard cover 30. Since the resilient arm of the tool 100 is more resilient than the resilient legs 20 of the connector 1, the tool cannot easily be removed from the connector 1.

There is also preferably provided, therefore, a cap 1000 as illustrated in Figure 4. The cap 1000 comprises a cap ramp 1010 mounted at one end of the cap 1000 and two apertures 1020 adapted to receive the two connector plugs 10 of the connector 1. The cap further comprises a resilient clip 1030.

In use, the cap 1000 is moved towards the connector plugs 10 in a direction so as to receive the connector plugs 10 into the apertures 1020 of the cap 1000. In consequence of this movement, the cap ramp 1010 slides underneath the tongue 130 at the distal end of the resilient arm 120 of the extraction tool 100. With continued movement in the same direction the tongue 130 is forced up by the ramp 1010 which, in turn, forces the resilient arm 120 of the tool 100 up towards the aperture beneath the bridge span 31. Once the resilient arm of the tool 100 is in line with the aperture beneath the bridge span 31 the tool 100 can be removed simply by moving the tool 100 in the direction of the fibre optic cable 60 away from the connector 1.

1-\lso in consequence of the movement of the cap, the resilient legs 10 of the connector 1 are received beneath the resilient clip 1030 of the cap 1000 which holds the cap 1000 in place on the end of the connector 1. Thus, the cap -12 -will, by default, remain in place on the end of the fibre optic connector when the connector is not connected to a socket.

The connector, tool and cap may be made from a thermosetting plastic.

Since a very large number of arrangements of connector guard cover apertures is contemplated and each such arrangement has at least one corresponding tool, it may be that the corresponding connector and tool include some means of identification in order for the user easily to identify the correspondence between connector and tool. For example, corresponding connectors and tools may be formed in the same colour. The cap may also be formed in the same colour.

The housing 50 of the fibre optic connector 1 may comprise any number of components. The connector plugs 10 may be formed from the housing 50. The housing 50 may include a recess 53 for receiving a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag.

While it will be noted that the preferred embodiment of the fibre optic connector comprises two connector plugs (in a duplex arrangement) each with a resilient leg and one guard cover over both legs, of course, also encompassed is a fibre optic connector comprising any number of connector plugs with any number of resilient legs and any number of guard covers. In particular, an embodiment may comprise a simplex connector comprising only one connector plug with only one resilient leg and one guard cover over that leg.

-13 -The connector 1 also encompasses embodiments which comprise any number of ramps 38.

The guard cover of the fibre optic connector may have any number of protrusions and/or notches 35 and/or other obstructions located anywhere in the aperture formed partially by the guard cover including, but not limited to, the span 31 and the supports 32 of the bridge. Whatever the nature of the aperture, the tongue 130 of the tool is adapted to pass through the aperture in order to actuate the resilient legs 20.

The tool 100 and cap 1000 are of course preferably adapted to the particular embodiment of the connector 1. For example, it is necessary that the numbers of connector plugs and resilient legs 20 of the connector 1 are accommodated by the features of the tool 100 and the cap 1000.

In the case where there is more than one connector plug and more than one resilient leg, there may be an additional component which joins two or more of the resilient legs.