JP3259947B2 - Optical connector boot mounting structure - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a boot mounting structure for an optical connector used for connection between optical fibers or for connection between an optical fiber and a photoelectric conversion element.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an optical signal transmission line using an optical fiber is laid by being optically connected using an optical connector or the like at an appropriate distance. In order to prevent damage to the portion of the optical fiber extending from the optical connector due to the laying state or the like due to bending or the like, the optical connector is appropriately provided with a protective boot.

[0003] For example, as a mounting structure of a boot in this type of optical connector, a boot mounting structure disclosed in US Patent No. 4,744,629 or a boot mounting structure disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 61-126204 is disclosed. There is a structure in which a locking ridge is provided along a peripheral edge portion, a fitting groove is provided on a corresponding connector housing side, and the locking ridge is fitted and locked in the fitting groove.

[0004]

However, according to the above-described structure for mounting the boot by screwing, the mounting is troublesome, and the boot may be detached due to loosening of the screw. In addition, according to the mounting structure in which the locking ridge on the boot side is fitted and locked in the fitting groove on the connector housing side, a single thin locking ridge is simply fitted into the fitting groove. However, there was a drawback that it was weak in pulling force.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a boot mounting structure for an optical connector which can be easily mounted and has good coupling strength.

[0006]

A technical means for achieving the above object is to provide a ferrule mounted on an end of an optical fiber and an urging means for urging the ferrule toward its distal end. A connector body that has a receiving recess that opens to the connector recess, and retains and holds the ferrule in a state where the tip of the ferrule projects from one wall of the receiving recess; and a connector body that closes the opening of the receiving recess. A connector housing comprising a connector cover attached to the optical fiber, and a ferrule-side end of a boot fitted into the optical fiber, which is inserted into the connector housing and is retained and locked. , Said co
Multiple locking protrusions are provided on both the connector body and the connector cover.
Part is formed, connector body or connector cover,
Or on both the connector body and the connector cover
The central locking projection is longer than the locking projections on both sides.
And the insertion portion of the boot
Multiple locking recesses where each locking projection is locked
The central locked recess is a through hole,
With the connector cover attached to the connector body
The central locking projection, which is a through projection, is locked at the center of the boot
The point lies in that it penetrates the recess and comes into contact with the corresponding locking projection .

[0007] Also, the central locking of the connector body side.
The projection has a split groove at the center in the front-rear direction.
A pair of rear locking projections and front locking projections extending in the left and right direction, respectively.
And a corresponding central locking projection on the connector cover side.
The portion is a through projection, and a tongue piece portion is provided at a tip portion thereof.
And the connector cover is attached to the connector body.
The tongue piece fits into the groove between the rear locking projection and the front locking projection
The structure may be as follows.

[0008] Further, a center engaging member on the connector cover side is provided.
The stop projection is formed as the penetrating projection and has a tongue piece at its tip.
Provided and corresponding central locking on the connector body side
The protrusion is provided on the tongue piece with respect to the connector housing.
A rear locking projection that comes into contact with the boot
It is good also as the structure which becomes .

Further , the boot is made of an elastomer.
And the boot is located on the side opposite to the ferrule side end.
The end may be formed to be thin. Further, a support projection may be formed on the connector body side or the connector cover side facing the protruding end of the through projection, so as to be in contact with the connector housing from the side in which the boot comes off.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, an optical connector 1 is mounted on an end of an optical fiber 2. FIG. Ferrule 3 and helical spring 4 as biasing means mounted loosely around outer periphery of ferrule 3
And a connector housing 7 comprising a connector body 5 and a connector cover 6 for housing and holding the ferrule 3 and the spring 4, and a boot 8 attached to the connector housing 7.

The connector body 5 and the connector cover 6 are integrally formed of a synthetic resin, respectively, and the connector body 5 is provided with a housing recess 11 for housing the ferrule 3 and the spring 4.

On the front side of the front wall portion 12 on the front end side of the housing recess 11, a connecting tube portion 13 for connecting the optical connector 1 to an adapter or the like is provided in a protruding manner. The accommodation recess 11 is open on the upper side and the rear end side. The upper opening is closed by the connector cover 6, and the opening on the rear end side is closed by the boot 8.

In the housing recess 11, a positioning projection 14 in the front-rear direction and a fixing hole 1 are provided at the center in the left-right direction.
5 is provided with a projection 16. Then, in the accommodation recess 11 thus formed, two sets of ferrules 3 and springs 4 are arranged side by side,
It is configured to be accommodated on both sides of the positioning projection 14 and the projection 16. At this time, the distal end of each ferrule 3 is configured to pass through the through-hole 12 a formed in the front wall portion 12 and the inside of the connection tube portion 13 and protrude from the front end portion of the connection tube portion 13.

On the inner surface side of the left and right side walls 17 and 18 forming the housing recess 11, a stepped portion protruding inward at a position advanced from the upper end surface by the thickness of the connector cover 6 downward. When the connector cover 6 is mounted on the connector body 5, the inner surface of the connector cover 6 comes into contact with the upper surface of each step 19, thereby preventing the connector cover 6 from entering the housing recess 11. It is configured to be regulated.

Further, three fixing holes 15, 21, 21 for fixing the connector cover 6 are formed in the connector body 5.
2 are provided. Of these, the fixing hole 15 is located at a position on the rear end side of the center in the accommodation recess 11 slightly below the bottom wall portion 23.
The fixing holes 21 and 22 are provided on the front end side of the step portion 19 provided on the left and right side wall portions 17 and 18, respectively.

The bottom wall 23 of the connector body 5 is provided with a lever lock 24 for maintaining the connection state when the optical connector 1 is connected to an adapter or the like. The lever lock 24 extends in a cantilever manner in the front end direction, and is configured to be elastically deformable.

On the other hand, the connector cover 6 has such an outer shape that it fits exactly into the opening above the housing recess 11 of the connector body 5, and has three fixing pins 26, 27, 28 and a positioning projection 30 are provided.

These three fixing pins 26, 27, 28
Are formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with a slightly tapered taper, and are provided at positions corresponding to the fixing holes 15, 21, 22 provided at three places of the connector body 5, respectively. The connector cover 6 is fixed to the connector body 5 by press-fitting the pins 15, 21, 22 into the corresponding fixing holes 26, 27, 28, respectively.

The positioning projection 30 is provided at a position facing the positioning projection 14 of the connector body 5. When the connector cover 6 is mounted on the connector body 5, the lower end surface of the positioning projection 30 is positioned. It is configured to abut the upper end surface of the projection 14 to close the gap in the lever lock 24 portion.

Also, the left and right ends on the inner side and the positioning projections 30 at the intermediate portion in the front-rear direction of the connector cover 6.
Each of the spring pressing portions 32 is provided with a projection taper 32a at the end thereof.

On the other hand, the side wall portions 17 on the connector body 5 side corresponding to the respective spring pressing portions 32 on the left and right side end portions,
Pressing portion fitting grooves 33 are formed on the inner surface side of the spring 18 so that the outer portions of the spring pressing portions 32 are fitted and guided.
Further, an upper end portion on the rear surface side of the pressing portion fitting groove 33 is formed as an insertion guide 33a which is gradually inclined rearward.

When the fixing pins 26, 27, 28 are pressed into the fixing holes 15, 21, 22, respectively, the fixing pins 2
The insertion guide 33a guides the spring pressing portion 32 to a predetermined position so that the fixing holes 15, 21, 22 and the fixing holes 15, 21, 22 coincide with each other.

Each of the spring pressing portions 32 is fitted into the pressing portion fitting groove 33, so that each guide taper 32a is formed.
Thus, each spring 4 housed in the housing recess 11 is gradually pressed forward, and is finally held in the compressed state by the spring pressing portion 32.

The boot 8 is fitted over the optical fiber 2 and has a wide end on the connector housing 7 side and a gradually narrow width toward the other end so as to close the opening on the rear end side of the housing recess 11. It is formed in a substantially triangular shape in a plan view and is formed of, for example, a vinyl chloride elastomer to have a flexible structure.

A plurality of ridges 8a are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the boot 8 so as to be spaced apart in the front-rear direction, and the thickness on the connector housing 7 side is relatively thick from the middle part in the front-rear direction. The thickness of the end portion on the narrow side on the side is formed to be thin, and particularly, the end edge on the narrow side is formed extremely thin. Here, the connector housing 7 side is harder to bend than the middle part of the boot 8, and the other end is easily bent.

Further, the connector housing 7 of the boot 8
At the side end, a rectangular tube-shaped insertion locking portion 8b inserted into the connector housing 7 is provided in a forward projecting shape.
A plurality of concave / convex portions 3 are provided on the upper and lower sides of the insertion locking portion 8b in the left-right direction corresponding to the upper and lower surfaces, respectively.
5a, 35b and 35c are formed. At this time,
The central recess 35b is a through-hole that penetrates vertically.

On the other hand, the rear edge of the bottom wall 23 of the connector body 5 and the rear edge of the inner side of the connector cover 6 corresponding to the position where the insertion locking portion 8b of the boot 8 of the connector housing 7 is inserted. , The concave portions 35a, 35b, 35
c, a plurality of locking projections 36a, 36b, 36c, 37a, 3 serving as a plurality of locking concave and convex portions in the left-right direction.
7b and 37c protrude. Also, the central recess 35
b, the central locking projection 37 on the connector cover 6 side
b is a penetrating projection protruding longer than the locking projections 37a and 37c on both sides thereof, and the recess 35b at the center of the boot 8 when the connector cover 6 is attached to the connector body 5.
, And is brought into contact with the projecting end face of the locking projection 36b at the center of the connector body 5 side.

The long projecting locking projection 37b is provided.
Is formed in a tapered shape that becomes gradually thinner in the direction of the protruding end so as to easily penetrate the recess 35b.

The present embodiment is configured as described above, and the ferrule 3 and the spring 4 mounted on the end of the optical fiber 2 are mounted on the connector bore 5 by placing the ferrule 3 and the spring 4 in the housing recess 11. This is performed by inserting the ferrule 3 and projecting the distal end portion of the ferrule 3 from the front end portion of the connection tube portion 13 through the through-hole 12 a provided in the front wall portion 12 and the connection tube portion 13.

When the ferrule 3 and the spring 4 are mounted, the connector cover 6 is mounted on the connector body 5. At this time, each locking projection 36a, 3
The recesses 35a, 35 on the lower surface side of the boot 8 are provided in 6b, 36c.
b and 35c are engaged and locked.

By the attachment of the connector cover 6, the spring 4 loosely fitted on the outer periphery of the ferrule 3 is compressed by the flange portion 3a formed on the outer periphery of the ferrule 3 and the spring pressing portion 32. The ferrule 3 is configured to be urged toward its distal end by a resilient force.

The fixing pins 26, 27 and 28 are press-fitted into the fixing holes 15, 21 and 22, and the locking projections 37a,
37b and 37c are concave portions 35a and 3c on the upper surface side of the boot 8, respectively.
5b and 35c are fitted and locked, and the optical connector 1 is assembled here.

As described above, when the boot 8 is attached to the connector housing 7, each of the engaging projections 36a, 36b, and 36c on the connector body 5 side is fitted with each of the recesses 35a, When the connector cover 6 is attached to the connector body 5 in a state where the engagement protrusions 37b of the connector cover 6 are fitted together with the engagement engagement portions 35b and 35c.
a, 37b, and 37c are the concave portions 3 on the upper surface side of the insertion locking portion 8b.
5a, 35b, and 35c are fitted and locked therein, and the upper and lower locking projections 36a, 36b, 36c, 37a, 37b,
Since the boot 8 is retained and locked by the connector housing 7 by the fitting and locking of the recesses 35a, 35b, and 35c with the 37c, the boot 8 can be easily attached. On this occasion,
Upper and lower locking projections 36a, 36b, 36c, 37a, 3
7b, 37c and the respective recesses 35a, 35b, 35c are fitted and locked, respectively, and the respective recesses 35a, 35b, 35
The so-called convex part located between c functions as a reinforcing rib,
There is an advantage that a good joining force can be exhibited even with respect to a pulling force.

In the present embodiment, the central concave portion 35b on the boot 8 side is a through hole, and the corresponding central locking projection 37b on the connector cover 6 side is a long penetrating projection penetrating the concave portion 35b. Therefore, the coupling force between the connector housing 7 and the boot 8 becomes stronger, and the detachment of the boot 8 can be more reliably prevented.

Furthermore, since the boot 8 is made of a flexible elastomer, the connector housing 7 is thicker than the middle part and the other end is thinner, the bending position of the optical fiber 2 is restricted. The bending of the optical fiber 2 near the ferrule 3 can be effectively prevented, and the optical fiber 2 can be effectively protected. Further, since the other end of the optical fiber 2 is formed to be thinner, a sharp bend of the optical fiber 2 near the exit of the boot 8 can be effectively prevented, and forcible bending of the optical fiber 2 can be prevented. From this point, the optical fiber 2 can be protected.

Also, the connector cover 6 is fixed to the connector body 5 by press-fitting the fixing pins 26, 27, 28 into the fixing holes 15, 21, 22 without using screws for fixing. In addition, the number of components is reduced, and the optical connector 1 can be easily and quickly assembled. At this time, since the insertion amount of the connector cover 6 is regulated by the step portion 19 of the connector body 6, it is possible to effectively prevent the optical connector 1 from being damaged due to excessive press-fitting at the time of assembling. The connector cover 6 can be fixed to the connector body 5 at the position.

At this time, the mounting direction of the connector cover 6 to the connector body 5 and the flange 3a of the ferrule 3
Since the biasing direction of the spring 4 held in a compressed state differs between the spring pressing portion 32 and the spring pressing portion 32, the possibility of spontaneous decomposition occurring even after long-term use can be effectively avoided.

Further, the gap is closed by the positioning projections 14 and the positioning projections 30 provided on the connector body 5 and the connector cover 6, respectively, to effectively prevent dust and the like from entering the inside of the connector housing 7. be able to.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a second embodiment, in which the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, the connector body 5
The locking projection 36b at the center of the side is provided with a split groove 3 at the center in the front-rear direction.
6d, and is provided with a pair of rear locking projections 36e and front locking projections 36f extending in the left-right direction before and after it, respectively.

The central locking projection 37b on the corresponding connector cover 6 side is provided with a tongue piece 37d at the distal end thereof, and when the connector cover 6 is mounted on the connector body 5, FIG. As shown in FIG.
The tongue piece 37d is fitted into a split groove 36d between the front locking projection 36f and the front locking projection 36f.

Here, the rear locking projection 36e on the rear end side is applied to the tongue piece 37d from the release direction side when a force in the release direction from the connector housing 7, that is, a pulling force acts on the boot 8. The projection 37b contacts and acts as a support projection that regulates the deformation of the locking projection 37b.

Therefore, when a pulling force acts on the boot 8, the free end side of the locking projection 37b projecting from the connector cover 6 in a cantilever state is supported by the rear locking projection 36e.
Here, the locking projection 37b is configured to be supported at both ends, so that breakage of the locking projection 37b can be effectively prevented.

FIG. 12 shows a third embodiment, in which the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

That is, in the second embodiment, the tongue piece 37d of the locking projection 37b is structured to be fitted between the locking projection 36e and the locking projection 36f. In the third embodiment, only the rear locking projection 36e is provided.

Also in this case, as in the second embodiment, a function of supporting the locking projection 37b can be exhibited, and the same effect can be obtained.

In each of the above embodiments, the through hole (recess 35b) formed in the insertion locking portion 8b of the boot 8 is used.
Although the through-projection (locking projection 37b) penetrating through the connector body 6 is provided on the connector cover 6 side, the structure may be provided on the connector body 5 side, and both the connector body 5 and the connector cover 6 may be provided. May be provided.

Also, the fixing pins 26,
27, 28, fixing holes 15, 21, 2, in connector body 5
2 shows a structure provided with the connector cover 6.
The connector body 5 may be provided with a fixing hole, and a fixing pin may be provided on the connector body 5, or the connector body 5 and the connector cover 6 may be fixed with screws or an adhesive.

[0049]

As described above, according to the optical connector boot mounting structure of the present invention, the connector body and the connector cover are provided.
Of the connector body, a plurality of locking projections are formed on both sides.
Or connector cover, or connector body
The central locking projections on both sides of the connector cover are on both sides
It is a through projection projected longer than the locking projection of the
Multiple locking members where each locking projection is locked to the insertion part
A stop recess is formed, and the central locked recess is a through hole.
And attach the connector cover to the connector body.
In the state, the center locking projection, which is a through projection, is the center of the boot
The connector housing is provided with a connector cover attached to the connector body so that each of the locked recesses of the boot has a connector housing side. Each of the locking projections can be stopped and locked,
Boots can be easily installed, and between each locked recess
The so-called convex portion located at the position functions as a reinforcing rib, and has an advantage that a good coupling force can be exerted against a pulling force on the boot. Moreover, the central part on the boot side
The stop recess is a through hole, and the corresponding central locking projection is
Because it is a long penetrating projection that penetrates the locked concave part,
A stronger connection between the connector housing and the boot
The advantage is that the detachment of boots can be more reliably prevented.
is there.

The central locking projection on the connector body side
Has a split groove at the center in the front-rear direction,
Equipped with a pair of rear locking projections and front locking projections
The central locking projection on the corresponding connector cover side
A tongue piece is provided at the tip of the
When the connector cover is attached to the
The tongue is inserted into the split groove between the
If a force is applied to the boot in the direction of removal, it will be in a cantilevered state.
The free end side of the through projection protruded by the
Here, the penetrating projections are supported at both ends
It is said that the breakage of the through projection can be effectively prevented
There are advantages.

Further, a central locking projection on the connector cover side is provided.
The part is formed as a penetrating projection and has a tongue piece at its tip.
The corresponding central locking projection on the connector body side
In one part, the direction in which the boot comes off the connector housing
Even if it is a structure that is a locking projection that comes in contact from the side,
Similar to the above, when a force in the pull-out direction acts on the boot,
The free end side of the penetrating projection projected in the state is supported by the rear locking projection
Here, the penetrating projections are supported at both ends
And the breakage of the through projection can be effectively prevented.
There are advantages.

The boot is made of an elastomer,
The end opposite to the ferrule end
If the structure is formed of meat, the flexibility of the elastomer
The optical fiber can effectively prevent excessive bending of the optical fiber,
While protecting the optical fiber, the
A sharp bend in the optical fiber can be effectively prevented.
They also have the advantage that the optical fiber can be protected.

Further, if a structure is adopted in which a supporting projection is formed on the connector body side or the connector cover side facing the projecting end of the through projection, the supporting projection being in contact with the connector housing from the side in which the boot comes off. When the force is applied, the free end side of the penetrating projection projecting in a cantilever state is supported by the supporting projection, and the penetrating projection is supported at both ends thereof, so that breakage of the penetrating projection is effectively prevented. There is an advantage that it can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an assembled state of the optical connector.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a connector body.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a connector cover.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the boot.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the boot.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 5;

8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a connector body according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the connector cover.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a main part in the assembled state.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a main part in an assembled state according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical connector 2 Optical fiber 3 Ferrule 4 Spring 5 Connector body 6 Connector cover 7 Connector housing 8 Boot 8b Insertion locking part 11 Housing concave part 12 Front wall part 35a, 35b, 35c Concave part 36a, 36b, 36c Locking protrusion 36d Split Groove 36e Rear locking projection 36f Front locking projection 37a, 37b, 37c Locking projection 37d Tongue piece

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-8-122567 (JP, A) JP-A-6-59156 (JP, A) JP-A-5-21214 (JP, U) JP-A-61-259 56604 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G02B 6/24-6/43 H01R 13/40-13/533

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A storage recess which opens upward to receive a ferrule attached to an end of an optical fiber and a biasing means for biasing the ferrule in a tip direction thereof. An optical fiber, comprising: In a boot mounting structure for an optical connector in which a ferrule side end of a boot that is inserted into the connector housing is inserted into the connector housing and retained and locked, a plurality of the connector bodies and a connector cover are provided.
A locking projection is formed and the connector body or connector cover is
Bar or both connector body and connector cover
The central locking projection is longer than the locking projections on both sides
Is a projecting from the piercing protrusion, the insertion portion into the respective locking projection is retaining engagement of the boot
A plurality of locked recesses to be stopped are formed, and
The locked recess is a through hole, and when the connector cover is attached to the connector body,
The locking projection at the center, which is the through projection, is
A boot mounting structure for an optical connector, wherein the boot mounting structure is configured to penetrate a locking recess and abut on a corresponding locking projection . 2. A central locking projection on the connector body side.
Has a split groove at the center in the front-rear direction,
Equipped with a pair of rear locking projections and front locking projections
The corresponding central locking projection on the connector cover side is
When the connector cover is attached to the connector body , a tongue piece is provided at the distal end of the projection.
2. The boot mounting structure for an optical connector according to claim 1 , wherein a tongue piece is fitted into a split groove between the stop projection and the front locking projection . 3. A central locking projection on the connector cover side.
Is provided with a tongue piece at the tip of the through projection.
The corresponding central locking projection on the connector body side is
The tongue piece is provided with the boot with respect to the connector housing.
Boot mounting structure of the optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the formed by the Kokakaritome projections abut from the direction coming off tool. 4. The boot according to claim 1, wherein said boot is made of an elastomer.
The end of the boot opposite the ferrule end
Is formed in a thin wall.
4. The boot mounting structure for an optical connector according to any one of Items 3 to 3 . 5. A said through connector body side or connector cover side opposite the projecting end of the projection, claims, characterized in that the support projection is formed that abuts from the exit side of the boot relative to the connector housing 1
5. The boot mounting structure for an optical connector according to any one of items 4 to 4 .