MXPA01002625A - Fiber connector and adapter - Google Patents

Abstract

Fiberoptic connector adapter assembly includes a fiberoptic connector received within an adapter. The connector (100) has a cover (166) on the connector housing (150). The cover (166) pivots between open and closed positions to expose or cover, respectively, an optical fiber contained within the connector (100). Longitudinal guides of the connector (100) are received cooperating with longitudinal guides of the adapter to direct the connector (100) into the adapter in a prescribed alignment. A cam pin is carried on the adapter to engage a cam pin receiving slot on the cover to urge the cover to the open position as the connector (100) is inserted into the adapter. A spring mechanism biases the cover (166) toward the closed position and open positions.

Description

CONNECTOR AND ADAPTER FOR FIBER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention pertains to connectors and adapters for optical fibers. More particularly, this invention pertains to connectors and adapters which include end caps for covering one end of the connector or adapter when the connector is not inserted into a matching adapter. 2. Description of the Previous Technique Fiber optic connectors historically present exposed ends. In addition, the adapters which receive such connectors have exposed interior elements. The exposed ends and the interior elements include the terminal ends of optical fibers. As a result, such terminal ends are liable to cause damage or the like. In addition, the light transmitted through the optical fiber can inadvertently be directed to the eye of a technician or other person observing the optical fiber or the adapter.

Ref: 127961 The prior art has developed end caps to cover optical fibers when a connector is not used. An example of such a device is shown in U.S. Patent Number 5,348,487 to Marazzi et al., Dated September 20, 1994. Figures 5 and 6 of the '487 patent illustrate two types of end cap which rotate to an open position as the end cap is placed inside an adapter. Figures 7 and 8 illustrate an embodiment wherein an end cap 6 is rotated to an open position and then slid back to expose a bushing 5. An adapter for the connector is shown in Figure 9. The adapter includes both an external housing 16 and an internal housing 15. The inner housing 15 includes a slot 30 which receives a bolt 29 of the end cap 6. The slot 30 causes the action of both rotation and sliding of the end cap 6 as the connector is placed inside the adapter. In addition, the adapter includes an internal door 32 (shown in FIG. 10) which covers the internal bushes 2 when a connector 1 is removed from the adapter. Upon placement of a connector 1 on the adapter, the end cap is rotated and slid to an open position and the door is rotated to an open position. Additional examples of such structures are found in U.S. Patents 5,420,951 and 5,363,460. These patents show fiber optic connectors that come together in adapters. Although not SC adapters, the adapters shown in these patents are sized to have a cross-sectional profile (ie, a footprint) equal to that of the so-called SC adapters. An SC adapter is shown in commonly assigned U.S. Patent No. 5,317,663. SC adapters are industry standard adapters that have a fixed external size and geometry. The structure of the '951,' 487 and '560 patents mentioned above provides end caps and internal doors for the purpose of blocking light or protecting the elements in the connectors. However, the manner in which such functions are obtained restricts the density of fiber optic connectors. Specifically, in these patents only unique pairs of connectors can be optically coupled within a single adapter. Within the industry, it is desirable to provide up to two pairs of connectors which are optically coupled in a single adapter. It is an object of the present invention to provide a protective cover and doors for connectors and adapters in a structure that allows two pairs of connectors to be coupled in an adapter having the same size as a standard size SC adapter.

II. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a fiber optic connector and an adapter assembly comprises a fiber optic connector with an optical fiber positioned within the connector housing. A cover is placed over the connector housing and rotates between an open and a closed position. In the closed position, the cover closes an opening in the connector housing. In an open position, the cover exposes the opening. The connector housing includes a longitudinal guide aligned with a longitudinal axis of the connector housing. The cover further includes a slot for receiving a cam bolt. A spring deflects the cover to the closed position. Preferably, the spring also deflects the cover to the open position when the connector is inserted into the adapter. The adapter includes an adapter housing sized to receive the connector housing. A fiber coupling mechanism is contained within the interior of the adapter to align with an optical fiber of an inserted connector. The adapter housing further includes a longitudinal guide which cooperates with the longitudinal connector guide to direct the connector in an axial alignment with the adapter fiber coupler mechanism.

The adapter housing further includes a cam bolt placed therein to be received within the cam bolt receiving slot for driving the cover from a closed position to an open position as the connector housing is inserted into the adapter housing. The cover deflected by a spring moves to a fully closed position when the adapter connector is removed.

III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a connector / adapter assembly including an SC adapter containing two pairs of optically coupled connectors; Figure 2 is an end elevation view of the connector / adapter assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a front, top and side perspective view of the connector used in the assembly of Figure 1 with an end cap shown in an open position; Figure 6 is a view of Figure 5 with the end cap shown in the closed position; Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the connector of Figure 5; Figure 8 is a front elevational view of the connector of Figure 6; Figure 9 is a view taken along line 9-9 of Figure 8; Fig. 10 is a view similar to that of Fig. 5 showing an alternative embodiment of a connector which contains a bushing; Figure 11 is the view of Figure 10 with an end cap in a closed position; Figure 12 is an end elevational view of the connector of Figure 11; Figure 13 is a view taken along line 13-13 of Figure 12; Figure 14 is an exploded perspective view of the connector of Figure 10; Fig. 15 is the view of Fig. 3 with a connector and adapter of an alternative embodiment; Figure 16 is a view taken along line 16-16 of Figure 15; Figure 17 is a perspective view of the adapter of the assembly of Figure 1; Figure 18 is an end elevation view of the adapter of Figure 17 with a door shown in a closed position; Figure 19 is a view taken along line 19-19 of Figure 18; Figure 20 is a view taken along line 20-20 of Figure 19; Figure 21 is the view of Figure 19 showing an adapter of an alternative embodiment; Figure 22 is a view taken along line 22-22 of Figure 21; Figure 23 is a side elevational view with internal elements shown in dashed lines of a connector of Figure 11 initially inserted into an adapter of Figure 21; Figure 24 is the view of Figure 23 showing the additional insertion of the connector to a point where the end cap is about to rotate toward an open position; Fig. 25 is the view of Fig. 24 further showing the insertion of the connector to a point where the internal door of the adapter is shown in the fully open position and the end cap is not yet in a fully open position; Figure 26 is the view of Figure 25 further showing the insert where the door has rotated in half; Figure 27 is the view of Figure 26 showing a further insertion of the connector in the adapter with both the adapter door and the connector end cap shown in fully open positions; Figure 28 is a cross-sectional side view of a further alternative embodiment of a connector according to the present invention and including a cover biased by a spring; Fig. 29 is a top view of the connector of Fig. 28; Figure 30 is a side view of the connector of Figure 28 with the cover in the closed position; Figure 31 is a side view of the connector of Figure 28 with the cover between the open position and the closed position; Figure 32 is a side view of the connector of Figure 28 with the cover in the open position; Figure 33 is an exploded perspective view of the connector of Figure 28 that does not show the ferrule; Figure 34 is a side view of the housing of the outer connector of the connector of Figure 28; Figure 35 is a top view of the outer connector housing of Figure 34; Figure 36 is an end view of the outer connector housing of Figure 34; Figure 37 is a side view of the cover of the connector of Figure 28; Figure 38 is a top view of the cover of Figure 37; Figure 39 is an end view of the cover of Figure 37; Figure 40 is a side view of the spring bolt of the connector of Figure 28; Figure 41 is a top view of the spring bolt of Figure 40; and Figure 42 is an end view of the spring bolt of Figure 40.

IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES With initial reference to Figures 1 to 4, there is shown a connector / adapter assembly 10 including four fiber optic connectors 12 (each of identical construction) contained within a single adapter 14. The external geometry of the adapter 14 is the same as that shown in U.S. Patent Number 5,317,663.

In other words, the cross-sectional area of the adapter 14 is identical to that of a standard SC adapter such as that shown in U.S. Patent No. 5,317,663 so that the adapter 14 can be inserted into pre-existing applications which receive the prior SC adapter from U.S. Patent Number 5,317,663. The adapter 14 is shown separately in figures 17 to 20, to which attention is now directed. The adapter 14 includes two halves 16, 16 'joined in a hinge 18. The hinge 18 can be placed inside a metal foil holder so that multiple adapters 14 can be placed in a side-by-side alignment on a metal foil panel . Preferably, when the halves 16, 16 'are joined, the dividing line between the halves 16, 16' is ultrasonically welded (or by epoxy resin) so that the halves 16, 16 'form an inseparable and solid adapter 14. Male and female rings, with close tolerances, can be provided in the split line to help prevent moisture from entering the coupling from the outside of the adapter. The upper and lower walls 20, 21 and the side walls 36 of the adapter define an adapter housing having a longitudinal axis X-X. The adapter 14 has a generally rectangular cross section, perpendicular to the X-X axis and which includes a transverse Y-Y major axis and an axis minor cross Z-Z. An interior wall 22 extends along the longitudinal axis X-X and perpendicular to the major transverse axis Y-Y. Wall 22 divides the interior of the adapter housing into first and second pairs of chambers 24, 24a and 24 ', 24a'. The connectors inserted into opposite chambers 24, 24a are optically coupled. Similarly, the connectors inserted in the opposite chambers 24 ', 24a' are optically coupled. The chambers 24, 24 'are separated from the chambers 24a, 24a' opposed by an inner wall segment 26 containing a fiber coupling mechanism 28, 28 '. In the embodiments of Figures 17 to 20, the fiber coupling mechanism 20, 28 'is a microcapillary sleeve 29, 29' contained within a cylindrical housing 31, 31 '. The microcapillary sleeves 29, 29 'have internal perforations 30, 30' for receiving an optical fiber. The microcapillary sleeves 29, 29 'align with their axes which are parallel to the longitudinal axis X-X and centrally positioned (in relation to the major transverse axis Y-Y) within the chambers 24, 24'. The microcapillary sleeve includes a reservoir 35, 35 'for receiving an index matched liquid to provide an index match between opposing optic fibers inserted in the perforations 30, 30'. An O ring 53, 53 'surrounds the outside of the cylindrical housing 31, 31' in the wall 26. The O-ring 53, 53 'is dimensioned with a outer diameter greater than the diameter of a front opening 58 (Figure 5) of the connector 12. The use of the sleeves 29, 29 'microcapillary contained within adapter 14 is for use with what are referred to as cap connectors such as those shown in Figures 1-4. It will be appreciated that the present invention is also applicable to connectors which contain ferrules. In such an embodiment, the fiber coupling mechanism 28 is not a microcapillary sleeve but will include a sleeve 29a, 29a 'divided to receive the sockets contained in the connectors. Such embodiment is illustrated in Figures 21 to 22. The doors 38 are pivotally secured to the upper wall 20 to rotate between an open position (shown on the right side of the adapter in Figure 19) and a closed position (which is shows on the left side of figure 19). The doors 38 are dimensioned so that in the closed position, the doors 38 block direct visual inspection through the open ends of the adapter 14 to the fiber coupling mechanisms 28. As a result, in case a fiber optic connector is connected to one side of the fiber coupling mechanism 28 (for example the right side of Figure 19), the door 38 closed on opposite sides prevents a technician from seeing directly the light on the opposite side of the mechanism 28 of fiber coupling. The doors 38 are spring loaded to the closed position shown in Figure 19 by springs 39. The stop posts 40 contained on opposite inner surfaces of the walls 36, 22 limit the movement of the doors 38 past the open position. The adapter 14 also includes longitudinal adapter guides 42, 42 'in the form of longitudinally extending rails which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis X-X in close proximity to the lower wall 21. At the open ends of the adapter 14, the upper wall 20 is provided with projections 44 extending internally for the purpose of immobilizing a connector in place, as will be described. In addition, the opposite inner surfaces of the walls 36, 22, include cam bolts 46 for the purpose to be described. The doors 38 include cut-out sides so that the door 38 rotates to the closed position, the door 38 is free to pass through both the bolts 46 as for the longitudinal adapter guides 42. With reference to Figures 5 to 9, the connector 12 includes an outer connector housing 50. The connector 50 has a longitudinal axis X'-X 'and a front end 52 having a major transverse axis Y' -Y1 and a minor transverse axis Z'-Z '(Figure 8). The major transverse axis Y 'Y' extends from a base wall 54 to an upper edge 56. The front end 52 includes a connector opening 58 through the which extends a terminal end of an optical fiber 60. The optical fiber 60 is an extension of an optical fiber carried in an optical cable 62 connected to the connector 12. Within the connector 12, the fiber 60 passes through a mandrel 51 and a waviness 57 to define two corrugation zones for corrugating the reinforced fiber of the cable (not shown) and an internal fiber 63 of 900 μm. A tension release transition fitting 65 surrounds the mandrel 51 and the cable 62. The interior of the housing 50 includes an internal cavity 67 (FIG. 9) to allow small amounts of displacement of FIG. 60 as opposed fibers to contact within the microcapillary sleeves 29 as opposed connectors 12 which are optically coupled. To increase the return loss, the fiber 60 is angularly separated. When opposing fibers 60 are matched in the index matching fluid within the microcapillary sleeves 29, 29 ', the angular matching surfaces may be slightly overlapped (eg, in several microns). The mechanical stress induced by the optical fibers in connection can be reduced by the elastic properties of the fiber 60 accommodated by the cavity 67. The hole 58 in the front end 52 is an entrance to a cylindrical chamber 69 (FIG. 9) dimensioned in tight tolerance with the outside diameter of the cylindrical housing 31 of the adapter. An O-ring 55 is contained within the chamber 69. The O-ring 55 is dimensioned with an outer diameter greater than the internal diameter of the chamber 69. The inner diameter of the O-ring 53 is smaller than the outer diameter of the O-ring. cylindrical housing 31. The outside diameter of the ring at 0 53 is larger than the diameter of the opening 58. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, when the connector 12 is fully inserted, the O-ring 53 is pressed into the opening 58. At the same time, ring 0 55 is pressed. The rings at 0 53, 55 prevent any moisture or water from penetrating the optical coupling. With reference to Figures 3 and 4, it will be appreciated that the rings at 0 53, 55 cooperate to provide circumferential and axial seals. The housing 50 is sized to be received within any of the chambers 24, 24a, 24 'and 24a' of the adapter 14. The connector 12 includes a longitudinal connector guide in the form of slots 64 extending longitudinally on opposite sides of the housing 50. connector The grooves 64 are parallel to the longitudinal axis X'-X 'and are spaced from the lower wall 54: The grooves 64 are positioned to receive the guide rails 42, 42' when the connector 12 is inserted into the adapter 14 with the base 54 in contact with the lower wall 21 and with the larger transversal axis Y '-Y' of the connector 12 in parallel alignment with the minor transverse axis ZZ of the adapter 14. A cover 66 is pivotally fixed to the connector housing 50 to rotate about an axis Z "-Z" which is parallel to the axis Z'-Z 'and is separated back from the front face 52. Figure 5 shows the cover 66 in an open position exposing the opening 58 and the fiber 60. Figure 6 shows the connector 12 with the cover 66 rotated to a closed position, which closes the opening 58 and covers the fiber 60. The cover 66 includes a cam bolt iving slot 68 positioned on the Z-axis "-Z". As will be described more fully, the slot 68 is positioned to ive the bolt 46 when the cover 66 is in the closed position as the connector 12 is inserted into the adapter 14. The bolt 46 rotates the cover 66 to the open position point at which the bolt 46 leaves the slot 68 when there is more insertion. The removal of the connector 12 from the adapter 14 reverses the action so that the bolt 46 causes the cover 66 to rotate to the closed position. As shown in Figure 7, the housing 50 includes two detents 70, 72. The cover 66 includes a bolt 74. The detents 70, 72 and the bolt 74 are mutually positioned so that the bolt 74 is ived within the retainer 72. when the cover 66 is in the closed position. Bolt 74 is ived within the retainer 70 when the cover 66 is in the open position. The positioning of the bolt 74 within the detents 70, 72 acts to maintain the cover 66 in a fixed position (i.e., either held in an open or closed position). The edge 56 includes a cam surface 77 projecting forward and a portion 78 cut away. The cam portion 76 is positioned to engage the cover 38 to the extent that the connector 12 is inserted into the adapter 14. The cutout 78 is dimensioned to ive the cover 66 pivoted when the connector 12 is fully inserted into the adapter 14. and cover 66 is in a fully open position. With connectors of the prior art, bolts have been provided to secure the connector to an adapter. However, such locks commonly include gaps in which the fiber can migrate and be retained or stuck. The present invention utilizes a connecting clasp 80 having a free end 82 and an end 84 secured to the housing 50. The free end 82 is positioned between the front end 52 and the end 84 so that the cantilever pin 80 points forward . The clasp 80 includes a ramp surface 86 at the free end 82 for engaging protrusions 44 protruding from the adapter 14 when it is fully inserted. The depression of the brooch 80 releases the ramp edge 86 of the shoulders 44 so that the connector 12 can be removed. The rails 42 are ived within the slots 64 to guide and di the connector 12 in the desired diion of travel along the X'-X axis ' The free end 82 includes a cutout to allow the free end 82 to pass the edge 56 in narrow tolerance (indicated by the gap 83 in Figure 9) so that the opposite surfaces of the edge 56 and the free end 82 are separated by a gap 83 smaller than the diameter of the cable 62. Accordingly, the cable 62 can not inadvertently migrate into the volume 85 (Figure 9) defined between the opposite surfaces of the connector housing 50 and the pin 80. With the construction that has just been describe, the two connectors 12 can be placed side by side on an adapter 14. As a result, the connectors 12 can be individually moved or inserted. From time to time, it may be desirable to couple adjacent connectors 12 so that they are inserted or removed simultaneously. A coupling pin 100 is provided (Figures 1 to 4). The clasp 100 includes a body portion 102 sized to coincide with a spacing between the adjacent connector housings 50 and configured to coincide with the opposing surfaces of the connector housings 50. The bolts 104 (FIG. 4) protrude from the body 102 and project into the holes 105 (figure 5) in the connector housings 50. The snap 100 further includes a cap 107 to encompass the top surfaces of the adjacent connectors 12. As a result, the separator 100 securely connects two connectors 12 so that they can be removed or inserted simultaneously. It will be appreciated that the spacer 100 is optional to allow the connectors 12 to be removed individually or simultaneously or to be replaced as desired by the technician. With the structure just described, two connectors 12 can be placed in an adapter 14 having the same imprint of an SC adapter of the prior art construction. In addition, both connectors 12 include rotating or pivoting end caps 66 to cover the fiber 60 contained within the connector. The adapter 14 includes a pivoting door 38 for covering the internal optical components and protecting such components from the eye of the technician. The above description pertains to a connector 12 without bushes and a matching adapter 14. The invention is also applicable to a connector 12 'containing ferrules and a matching adapter 14'. This is illustrated in Figures 10-21. The elements of this modality in common with the first described modality are not described separately and are numbered identically with the addition of an apostrophe to distinguish the modalities.

The connector 12 'is shown separately in Figures 10 to 14. The adapter 14' is shown in Figures 21 and 22. Figures 15 and 16 show a mounting of the connector 12 'and the adapter 14'. Unlike the connector 12, the connector 12 'contains a bushing 13' axially positioned in the chamber 69 'and protruding beyond the front end 52'. The bushing 13 'is contained within a hub 15' offset from a mandrel 51 'by a spring 17'. The fiber 60 'passes through the bushing 13'. The adapter 14 'contains a split sleeve 29a, 29a' for receiving bushes 13 'and aligning the opposed bushes 13' and the fibers 60, in axial alignment. In all other material aspects, the connector 12 and 12 'and the adapters 14 and 14' are identical. The sequence of operation of the devices is best illustrated in Figures 23 to 27. In the embodiment shown in Figures 23 to 27, a connector 12 'is shown which contains an internal bushing 13 (such as that shown in the figure). 13) inserted into an adapter 14 '. In Figure 23, the connector 12 'is first inserted into the adapter 14'. The cover 66 'is in the closed position and the door 38' has moved, to cause the door 38 'to rotate. Bolt 46 is not yet received in slot 68 '. Figure 24 shows a further insertion in which the bolt 46 has just been received in the groove 68 ', but not yet caused that the cover 66 'of the connector rotates. The cam 76 'is positioned to engage the door 38'. Upon further insertion, the view of Figure 25 is obtained where the cam edge 76 'engages the door 38' to cause the door to rotate to an open position so that the cover 66 'is free for pivotal movement . At this point, the bolt 46 'is urged against the groove surfaces 68' to cause the cover 66 'to rotate. As the cover 66 'rotates, the pin 74' moves out of the retainer -72 '. In Figure 26 a further insert is illustrated, wherein the cam edge 76 'retains the door 38' in the open position and where the cover 66 'is not yet in its fully open position but the bushing 13' is exposed and aligns with the coupling mechanism 28 '. At this point, the cover 66 'is halfway through the complete rotational movement, as illustrated by the pin 74' which is halfway between the detents 70 'and 72'. Figure 27 shows a further insertion where the cover 66 'has moved to its fully open position with the pin 74' received within the retainer 70 'and with the cover 66' received tightly within the retainer 78 '. The additional insertion of the connector 12 'at this point causes the bushing 13' to pass inside the fiber coupling mechanism 28 and for the ramp surface 86 ' snap to slide underneath and be retained by retaining edges 44 '. Upon the depression of the clasp 80 ', the connector 12' can be removed by inverting the sequence of operations and causing the bolt 46 'to rotate the cover 66' to the fully folded position. The spring 39 causes the door 38 'to rotate to a closed position. The above details of the description of the present invention illustrate the manner in which the novel combination of the novel connector and the adapter obtains the functions of a connector end cover and a door inside the adapter and at the same time allow a design which allows that two connectors be placed in a side-by-side relationship on a single SC adapter having the same cross-sectional area of the SC adapters of the prior art. Accordingly, the density is doubled over the density of the prior art connectors having shells such as those shown in U.S. Patent Number 5,363,460 mentioned above. Referring now to Figures 28-42, a further embodiment of a connector 100 according to the invention is provided with a shroud 166 spring-biased to ensure proper positioning of the shroud during use. The partially closed cover 166 can not be inserted into an adapter as the cam bolts will be misaligned with the cam bolt receiving slots in the cover. The connector 100 includes a connector housing 150 constructed generally in accordance with the connectors described above. The connector housing 150 includes two separate side supports 152 that include slots 154 and ridges 156 projecting inwardly. The slots 154 receive pivot pins 182 of a rotary pin 180 for mounting a spring 200, as will be described later. The flanges 156 allow pin 180 to snap into place. The side supports 152 further include bolts 158 projecting outwardly for pivotal mounting of the cover 166, as will be described in the following. The cover 166 further includes a recess 170 for receiving bolts 158 of the connector housing 150, thereby pivotally mounting the cover 166 to the housing 150 of the connector. The cover 166 includes a spring projection 172 and a spring recess 174 for maintaining one end 204 of the spring 200, as will be described later. The cover 166 further includes cam bolt receiving slots 168 constructed generally in accordance with the connectors indicated above. The pivotally mounted bolt 180 is mounted on an opposite end 202 of the spring 200 to the connector 100. The bolt 180 includes pivot pins 182 that define a pivot axis for the bolt 180. A central section 184 includes a projection 186 of spring extending transversely, surrounded by a recess 188 of spring. The spring 200 is a helical spring having a first end 202 and an opposite end 204. The spring end 202 is received by a spring projection 186 and the spring recess 188, as shown in FIG. 28. The opposite end 204 of the spring 200 is received by a spring projection 172 and spring recesses 174. the cover 166. The spring 200 is under compression and deflects the cover 166 to the closed position, as shown in Figure 28. The projecting cover 166 may be in a partially closed position, and the spring 200 will deflect the cover 166 toward the fully closed position, and therefore will move the cover to the fully closed position, as shown in Figure 28. In the fully closed position, the cover 166 is placed for alignment with the cam bolts of an adapter, so that open cover 166 during insertion. Such deviation of the cover 166 to the closed position is useful when the connector 100 is initially inserted into an adapter after assembly, or after the connector is removed from an adapter and reinserted. The spring 200 also preferably deflects the cover 166 to the open position, when the cover 166 moves away from the closed position an amount default, to the open position. The spring 200 is pivotally mounted to the connector housing 150 by a bolt 180 having a pivot axis defined by the pivot bolts 182 in the grooves 154 which deviate from the axis of rotation of the cover 166 defined by the bolts 158 of the housing 150 of connector, for example, see Figure 34. During rotation of the cover 166 between the closed and open positions, the direction of the normal spring force is crossed over the radius defined by the pins 158 and the contact point of the spring 200 on cover 166 in spring projection 172 and spring recess 174. This crossing of the normal force generates a spring deflection on the center to deflect the cover 166 to either the closed or open position, depending on the position of the cover 166 relative to the housing 150 at that time, the deflection cover 166 in the open position it is advantageous to the extent that the cover 166 is properly positioned to remove the connector 100 from an adapter so that the cover 166 moves properly from an open position to the closed position by the cam pins of the adapter. The connector 100 is advantageously configured so that the cover 166 is spring-biased toward the closed position so that the cover 166 is properly positioned for insertion into * an adapter. Optionally, the cover 166 also deviates by spring towards the open position when it is fully inserted in an adapter. Other springs are anticipated to divert the cover 166 to the desired position or positions. It is intended that the specification and illustrated embodiments be considered as exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of the invention is indicated by the following claims. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims (28)

CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property:

1. A fiber optic connector and an adapter assembly, characterized in that it comprises: a. a fiber optic connector having: an outer connector housing having a longitudinal connector shaft; an optical fiber positioned within the connector housing and having a terminal end exposed through an opening in a front end of the connector housing; a cover transported on the connector housing and pivotally connected thereto to rotate between an open cover and a closed cover position, the cover in the closed cover position covers the opening, the cover in the open cover position exposes the opening; a spring that deflects the cover towards the closed cover position; the connector housing includes a longitudinal connector guide aligned with the longitudinal connector shaft; the cover includes a cam pin that receives a slot; b. an adapter that has; an adapter housing having a longitudinal adapter shaft and having walls defining an inner and an open end, sized to receive the leading end with the longitudinal connecting shaft aligned with the longitudinal adapter shaft; a fiber coupling mechanism contained within the interior for coupling with an optical fiber when the connector housing is inserted within the adapter housing to a fully inserted position; a longitudinal adapter guide positioned to cooperate with the longitudinal connector guide to direct the connector aperture in axial alignment with the fiber coupler mechanism as the connector housing is inserted into the adapter housing to the fully inserted position; a cam bolt within the interior to be received within the cam bolt receiving slot and to propel the cover from the closed cover position to the open deck position according to the housing of the cam. Connector is inserted into the adapter housing to the fully inserted position.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring has a position on the center, where the spring deflects the cover towards the open deck position after the cover rotates by the cam bolt passing the position on the center as the connector housing is inserted into the adapter housing towards the fully inserted position.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring is pivotally mounted to the outer connector housing.

4. The assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the spring is a helical spring mounted under compression.

5. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the cam pin is further positioned to drive the cover from the open cover position to the closed cover position as Connector housing is removed from the adapter housing.

6. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: the adapter housing includes an internal door positioned within the interior and movable between the open door position and the closed door position, in the open door position the mechanism Fiber coupling is exposed through the open end of the adapter and the closed door position covers the fiber coupling mechanism door; a cam surface conveyed on a connector housing and positioned to drive the door from the closed door to the open door position as the connector housing is inserted into the adapter housing to the fully inserted position.

7. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: the adapter housing has a substantially rectangular cross section, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the adapter, the cross section includes a major transverse axis and a minor transverse axis; the adapter housing includes an inner wall extending parallel to the minor transverse axis and dividing the interior into a first and second connector receiving chambers, each dimensioned to receive the individual connector housings and each having a fiber coupling mechanism respective, the longitudinal adapter guide and the cam bolt.

8. The assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that: the connector housing has a transverse axis of connector perpendicular to both the longitudinal axis of the connector and the axis of pivoting or rotation of the cover; The connector guide and the cam bolt receiving slot are positioned to align with the adapter guide and the cam bolt, when the housing is inserted into one of the chambers with the transverse axis of the connector parallel to the minor transverse axis.

9. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: the connector housing includes a retaining clip transported thereon for releasably connecting the adapter housing; the retaining clip includes a movable end and a snap body having a fixed end secured to the connector housing, the snap body being separated from the connector housing to define a volume; the retaining clip is positioned so that the movable end is placed between the connector opening and the fixed end.

10. The assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that the movable end is separated from the opposite surfaces of the connector housing by a distance less than the thickness of an optical fiber cable secured to the connector housing.

11. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that both the adapter and the connector includes O-ring seals for sealing matching elements when the connector is inserted into the adapter.

12. A fiber optic connector to match an adapter having an adapter housing having a longitudinal adapter shaft and having walls defining an interior and an open end, a fiber coupling mechanism contained within the interior to be coupled with a aligned optical fiber, a longitudinal adapter guide aligned with the axis of the longitudinal adapter, a cam bolt positioned inside, the connector is characterized in that it comprises: an outer connector housing having a longitudinal connector shaft and sized for a front end of the housing connector to be received within the open end of the adapter and with a longitudinal connector shaft aligned with the longitudinal adapter shaft; an optical fiber positioned within the connector housing and having a terminal end exposed through a connector aperture and a front end of the connector housing, the fiber is positioned so that the terminal end engages with the fiber coupling mechanism when inserts the connector housing within the adapter housing to a fully inserted position; a cover transported on the connector housing and pivotally connected thereto to rotate between an open cover position and a closed cover position, the cover in the closed cover position covers the opening, the cover in the open cover position exposes the opening; a longitudinal connector guide positioned to cooperate with the longitudinal adapter guide to direct the the opening of the connector in axial alignment with the fiber coupling mechanism as the connector housing is inserted into an adapter housing into a fully inserted position; a cam bolt receiving slot on the cover and positioned to receive the cam bolt so that the cam bolt drives the cover from the closed deck position to the open deck position and the connector housing is inserted into the adapter housing a fully inserted position; and a spring that deflects the cover to the closed cover position.

13. The fiber optic connector according to claim 12, characterized in that the spring has a position on the center, wherein the spring deflects the cover towards the open cover position after the cover is rotated by a cam bolt passing the position on the center as the connector housing is inserted into the adapter housing towards the fully inserted position.

14. The fiber optic connector according to claim 12, characterized in that the spring is pivotally mounted to the outer connector housing.

15. The fiber optic connector according to claim 14, characterized in that the spring is a helical spring mounted under compression.

16. The fiber optic connector according to claim 12, characterized in that the adapter housing includes an internal door positioned within the interior and movable between an open door position and a closed door position, in the open door position the fiber coupling mechanism is exposed through an open end of the adapter, in the closed door position the door covers the fiber coupling mechanism, the fiber optic connector is characterized in that it further comprises: a cam surface that is located on the connector housing and positioned to drive the door from the closed door position to the open door position as the connector housing is inserted into the adapter housing to the fully inserted position.

17. The fiber optic connector according to claim 12, characterized in that: the connector housing includes a retaining clip which is therein for releasable connection with the adapter housing; the retaining clip includes a movable end and a snap body having an end secured to the connector housing, the snap body being separated from the connector housing to define a volume; the retaining clip is positioned so that the movable end is placed between the connector opening and the fixed end.

18. The fiber optic connector according to claim 17, characterized in that the movable end is separated from the opposite surfaces of the connector housing by a distance less than the thickness of an optical fiber cable secured to the connector housing.

19. The fiber optic connector according to claim 12, characterized in that the connector housing contains a sealing ring positioned to seal against opposite surfaces of the fiber coupling mechanism when the connector is inserted into the adapter.

20. The fiber optic connector according to claim 12, characterized in that the terminal end of the fiber is at an angle not orthogonal with respect to the longitudinal axis of the fiber.

21. The fiber optic connector according to claim 20, characterized in that the connector housing includes an internal cavity sized to accommodate the flexing of the fiber.

22. A fiber optic connector and adapter assembly, characterized in that it comprises: a. a fiber optic connector having: 1. an outer connector housing having a longitudinal connector shaft; 2. an optical fiber positioned within the connector housing and having a terminal end exposed through an opening in a front end of the connector housing; 3. a cover transported on the connector housing and pivotally connected thereto to rotate between an open cover position and a closed cover position, the cover in the closed cover position covers the opening, the cover in the position of the open cover exposes the opening, and the cover includes a cam bolt receiving slot; . a spring that deflects the cover towards the closed cover position; b. an adapter having: 1. an adapter housing having a longitudinal adapter shaft and having walls defining an inner end and 10 one open dimensioned to receive the front end with the longitudinal connector shaft aligned with the longitudinal adapter shaft; 2. the fiber coupling mechanism 15 contained within the interior for coupling the optical fiber when inserting the connector housing within the adapter housing to a fully inserted position; 20 3. a cam bolt placed inside the interior to be received within the cam bolt receiving slot and urging the cover from the closed deck position to the open position 25 of cover as the insert is inserted connector housing within the adapter housing to the fully inserted position.

23. An optical fiber connector and adapter assembly, according to claim 22, characterized in that the spring has a position on the center, wherein the spring deflects the cover toward the open cover position after the cover is rotated by the cam bolt passing the position over the center as the connector housing is inserted into the adapter housing towards the fully inserted position.

24. A fiber optic connector and adapter assembly, according to claim 22, characterized in that the spring is pivotally mounted to the outer connector housing.

25. A fiber optic connector and adapter assembly, according to claim 24, characterized in that the spring is a helical spring mounted under compression.

26. A fiber optic connector to match an adapter having an adapter housing having a longitudinal adapter shaft and having walls defining an interior and an open end, a fiber coupling mechanism contained within the interior for coupling and aligning an optical fiber, a longitudinal adapter guide aligned with the longitudinal adapter shaft, a first cam portion positioned on the adapter, the connector is characterized by comprises: an outer connector housing having a longitudinal connector shaft and sized to receive a front end of the connector housing within the open end of the adapter with the longitudinal connector shaft aligned with the longitudinal adapter shaft; an optical fiber positioned within the connector housing and having a terminal end exposed through a connector aperture and a front end of the connector housing, the fiber is positioned so that the terminal end engages with the fiber coupling mechanism when the connector housing is inserted into the adapter housing to a fully inserted position; a cover transported on the connector housing and pivotally connected thereto to rotate between an open cover position and a cover position closed, the cover in the closed cover position covers the opening, the cover in the open cover position exposes the opening; a longitudinal connector guide positioned to cooperate with the longitudinal adapter guide to direct the connector aperture to an axial alignment with the fiber coupling mechanism as the connector housing is inserted into the adapter housing to the fully inserted position; a second cam portion on the cover and which is positioned to engage the first cam portion so that the first cam portion urges the cover from the closed cover position to the open deck position as the connector housing is inserted into the housing adapter to the fully inserted position; and a spring that deflects the cover to the closed cover position, wherein the spring has a position over the center, wherein the spring deflects the cover toward the open deck position after the cover is rotated by the first portion. of cam moving the position over the center as the connector housing is inserted into the adapter housing towards the fully inserted position.

27. The fiber optic connector, according to claim 26, characterized in that the spring is pivotally mounted to the housing of the outer connector.

28. The fiber optic connector, according to claim 27, characterized in that the spring is a helical spring mounted under compression.