TWI461771B - Securing apparatus for optical fiber connector - Google Patents

Description

Fiber optic connector locking device

The present invention relates to a fiber optic connector, and more particularly to a fiber optic connector locking device.

Fiber optics has revolutionized communications. As the use of optical fibers increases, it is increasingly important to be able to repeatedly mate optical fibers. To connect two fibers together, use fiber optic connectors and fiber adapters, for example. Fiber optic connectors are typically placed at the ends of the fiber and can be inserted into the opening of the fiber optic adapter. The fiber optic adapter has two openings, one for each fiber optic connector.

However, when the fiber optic connector is inserted into the fiber optic adapter, the user can arbitrarily unplug the connector, often causing interruption of the communication network.

In view of this, there is a need to propose a solution to solve the above problems.

The invention provides a locking device for a fiber optic connector, which prevents the user from arbitrarily pulling out the fiber optic connector without authorization.

In one embodiment, the fiber optic connector locking device of the present invention includes a first plate member, a second plate member, a plurality of first protrusions, and a second protrusion. The second plate member is extended from the upper surface of the first plate member, the first protrusion is disposed on the upper surface of the first plate member, and the second protrusion is extended from the second plate member, wherein When the locking device is mounted on the fiber optic adapter, the first plate is fastened to a side wall of the housing, the first protrusion is located in the opening in the side wall, and the second protrusion is extended The axial cavity of the housing is within a distance from the side wall.

According to the locking device of the present invention, the first and second plate members are respectively formed with a first opening and a second opening, the first and second openings are connected, and the second opening is in the second The protrusion is intermediate the first plate member.

According to the locking device of the present invention, the second projection is wedge-shaped.

According to the locking device of the present invention, the first plate member is further formed with a plurality of third protrusions, and the first protrusions are respectively disposed on the third protrusions.

According to the locking device of the present invention, the width of the first protrusion is smaller than the width of the third protrusion.

According to the locking device of the present invention, the locking device is constructed of a plastic material.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the embodiments of the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, a conventional LC type fiber optic connector 100 has a substantially rectangular shape with a square cross section. The connector 100 includes a hollow and rectangular housing 110 having a top side wall 111, a bottom side wall 112, a right side wall 113 and a left side wall 114, wherein the right side wall 113 is opposite to the left side wall 114 and is top The side wall 111 and the bottom side wall 112 are connected. A resilient latch 120 is provided on the top side wall 111. The latch 120 is integral with the housing 110 of the connector 100 and has a movable pivot 125 at the bottom for allowing the tab 126 to be vertically connected to the connector. The central axis 150-150 moves up and down. The latch 120 has a pair of protrusions 121 on opposite sides of the lug 126. Additionally, a ferrule 140 is located within the housing 110 and extends from a circular opening 116 at the front end of the housing 110. A spring (not shown) is also disposed within the housing 110 to allow the sleeve 140 to move back and forth through the opening 116. In addition, on the right side wall 113 and the left side wall 114 of the housing 110, two opposite protrusions 160 are respectively disposed.

Referring to FIG. 2, a conventional LC-type fiber optic adapter 200, such as an LC duplex fiber optic adapter, includes a substantially rectangular housing 210 having a top sidewall 211, a bottom sidewall 212, and a right side. Wall 213 and a left side wall 214. The housing 210 has an axial cavity therein which is partitioned into two parts by a partition wall 215 which is parallel to the right side wall 213 and the left side wall 214 and which is connected to the top side wall 211 and the bottom side wall 212. Described by the top side wall 211, the bottom side wall 212, the partition wall 215 and the right side wall 213 is a right axial cavity having an opening 208 in the axial direction. Similarly, the left side axial cavity is defined by the top side wall 211, the bottom side wall 212, the partition wall 215 and the left side wall 214, and has an opening 208 in the axial direction. On the top side wall 211 near the opening 208, a plurality of openings 218 are opened. On the left side wall 214 and the partition wall 215, a recess 220 is provided to be paired with the protrusion 160 on the connector 100. Similarly, recessed portions 220 are also provided on the right side wall 213 and the partition wall 215, respectively. When the connector 100 of FIG. 1 is fully inserted into the adapter 200 from the opening 208, the protrusions 160 on the connector 100 are embedded in the recess 220. In the left and right axial cavities of the housing 210, an axial circular hollow cylinder 240 is provided for receiving the sleeve 140 of the connector 100. In addition, the adapter 200 also includes an interlocking mechanism 230 that mates with the latch 120 of the connector 100 such that when the connector 100 is fully inserted into the adapter 200, the latch 120 will lock onto the interactive locking mechanism 230.

Referring to FIG. 3, the optical fiber connector locking device 300 of the present invention can be made of a plastic material, and includes a first plate member 310 and a second plate member 320, wherein the second plate member 320 is composed of The edge of the upper surface 312 of the first plate member 310 extends vertically. A plurality of protrusions 314 are also formed on the upper surface 312 of the first plate member, and a smaller protrusion 316 is formed on each of the protrusions 314. On the edge of the surface of the second plate member 320, a wedge-shaped projection 324 having an upper narrow width is formed. In addition, openings 318 and 328 are formed on the first plate member 310 and the second plate member 320, respectively, wherein the opening 318 is connected to the 328 system, and the opening 328 is located between the wedge protrusion 324 and the first plate member 310. .

Referring to FIG. 4, when the locking device 300 of the present invention is to be used, the connector 100 is first inserted into the adapter 200 from one of the openings 208 of the housing 210, at which time the latch 120 of the connector 100 is locked to the adapter 200. The interlocking mechanism 230 is inserted into the sleeve 230 of the connector 200 (not shown).

After the connector 100 is inserted into the adapter 200, the locking device 300 of the present invention is then mounted on the adapter 200. The method of mounting is to push the wedge-shaped projection 324 of the locking device 300 into the opening 208 of the adapter 200 along the top side wall 11 of the connector 100. At this point, the protrusion 316 on the first plate member 310 will slide over the top side wall 211 of the adapter 200 and finally push into the opening 218, and the wedge-shaped protrusion 324 will be pushed into the latch 120 of the connector 100. Within the gap between the top side walls 111 of the housing 110, the latch 120 will extend from the openings 318, 328 in the first and second plates 310, 320.

According to the locking device 300 of the present invention, when the locking device 300 is mounted on the adapter 200, since the wedge-shaped projection 324 is tied under the latch 120 of the connector 100, the latch 120 cannot be pressed, so that the connection is made. The device 100 cannot be pulled out of the adapter 200. In addition, since the protrusion 316 on the first plate member 310 is trapped in the opening 218 on the top side wall 211 of the adapter 200, it is necessary to use a special tool, such as a slotted screwdriver, to lock the locking device 300 from The adapter 200 is removed, so that the user can be arbitrarily removed from the connector 100 without authorization.

It should be understood that the "first wall", "second wall", "third wall" and "fourth wall" defined in the scope of the present application can correspond to "top side wall 211" and "partition wall" respectively. 215", "bottom side wall 212" and "right side wall 213", or respectively correspond to "top side wall 211", "left side wall 214", "bottom side wall 212" and "partition wall 215". In addition, the "opening of the axial cavity" may correspond to the "opening 208 of the right axial cavity" or the opening 208 of the left axial cavity.

It should be noted that the locking device of the present invention is exemplified by a duplex, but those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains should understand that the locking device of the present invention can also be designed to be simplex or other. Work type.

The present invention has been disclosed in the foregoing embodiments, and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any of the ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains can be modified and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. . Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention is regarded as The scope defined in the appended patent application shall prevail.

100‧‧‧Fiber Optic Connectors

110‧‧‧shell

111‧‧‧ top side wall

112‧‧‧ bottom side wall

113‧‧‧ right wall

114‧‧‧Left wall

116‧‧‧ openings

120‧‧‧Latch

121‧‧‧Protrusion

125‧‧‧ hub

126‧‧‧ ears

140‧‧‧ casing

150‧‧‧ axis

160‧‧‧ Protrusion

200‧‧‧Fiber Adapter

208‧‧‧ openings

210‧‧‧Shell

211‧‧‧ top side wall

212‧‧‧ bottom side wall

213‧‧‧ right wall

214‧‧‧ left wall

215‧‧‧ partition wall

218‧‧‧ openings

220‧‧‧ recess

230‧‧‧Interlocking mechanism

240‧‧‧ hollow cylinder

300‧‧‧Locking device

310‧‧‧First plate

312‧‧‧ upper surface

314‧‧‧ Protrusion

316‧‧‧ Protrusion

318‧‧‧ openings

320‧‧‧Second plate

324‧‧‧ Protrusion

328‧‧‧ openings

Figure 1: A perspective view of a conventional LC type fiber optic connector.

Figure 2: A perspective view of a conventional LC duplex fiber optic adapter.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the locking device of the optical fiber connector of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the optical fiber connector locking device of the present invention mounted on the optical fiber adapter of Fig. 2, wherein the optical fiber connector of Fig. 1 has been inserted into the optical fiber adapter of Fig. 2.

300. . . Locking device

310. . . First plate

312. . . Upper surface

314. . . Protrusion

316. . . Protrusion

318. . . Opening

320. . . Second plate

324. . . Protrusion

328. . . Opening

Claims (7)

A fiber optic connector locking device is mounted on a fiber optic adapter, the fiber optic adapter includes a housing having an axial cavity, a first wall, a second wall, and a first The three walls are surrounded by a fourth wall, wherein the axial cavity has an opening, and the first wall is provided with a plurality of openings, the locking device comprises: a first plate member having an upper surface a second plate member extending from the upper surface of the first plate member; a plurality of first protrusions disposed on the upper surface of the first plate member; and a second protrusion by the second Extending the plate member; wherein when the locking device is mounted on the fiber optic adapter, the first plate member is fastened to the first wall, and the first protrusions are tied to the first wall The second protrusion projects into the axial cavity and is at a distance from the first wall. The locking device of claim 1, wherein the first and second plate members are respectively formed with a first opening and a second opening, and the first and second openings are connected, and the The second opening is positioned between the second protrusion and the first plate member. The locking device of claim 1, wherein the second protrusion is wedge-shaped. The locking device of claim 1, wherein the first plate member is further formed with a plurality of third protrusions, and the first protrusions are respectively disposed on the third protrusions. The locking device of claim 4, wherein the width of the first protrusion is smaller than the width of the third protrusion. The locking device of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic adapter is an LC type fiber optic adapter. The locking device of claim 1, wherein the locking device is made of a plastic material.