US4445750A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Articulating fiber optic connectors with resilient mounting block
Assignee: Globe Motors Inc
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Filing: 1981-06-22
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Granted: 1984-05-01
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Expires: 2001-06-22
Abstract
Abstract A fiber optic connector includes a housing having a mating end for intermating with an array containing optical fibers, for example a second fiber optic connector. A fiber clamp for holding an optical fiber is mounted in a mounting block with the combination movable toward and away from the mating end of the housing. A resilient member forces the combination of the mounting block and the fiber clamp toward the mating end while allowing movement away from the mating end in response to an overriding opposite force. A rigid fiber encompassing member extends from the fiber clamp to the mating end of the connector for receiving and transmitting the force which overrides the force of the resilient member.
Inventors
- 👤 Igor Grois
- 👤 Mark Margolin
- 👤 Alan Berg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:27
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/381; G02B6/3826; G02B6/383; G02B6/3817; G02B6/3887; G02B6/38875; G02B6/3888; G02B6/389; G02B6/44; G02B6/4439; G02B6/444; G02B6/4441; G02B6/4446; G02B6/4447; G02B6/3823; G02B6/3869; G02B6/387
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
An optical fiber connector including a housing having a mating end, a mounting block in said housing movable relative to said housing toward and away from said mating end, at least one fiber clamp mounted on said block for gripping an optical fiber, and resilient means engaging said block and said housing for urging said block and fiber clamp toward said mating end and accomodating movement of said block and said fiber clamp away from said mating end against the force of said resilient means in response to an overriding opposing force.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
An optical fiber connector including a housing having a mating end, a mounting block in said housing movable relative to said housing toward and away from said mating end, at least one fiber clamp mounted on said block for gripping an optical fiber, and resilient means engaging said block and said housing for urging said block and fiber clamp toward said mating end and accomodating movement of said block and said fiber clamp away from said mating end against the force of said resilient means in response to an overriding opposing force.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
An optical fiber connector as in claim 1 including fiber receiving means extending from said fiber clamp toward said mating end for receiving and transmitting said opposing force.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An optical fiber connector as in claim 2 wherein said resilient means comprises a leaf spring, said leaf spring and said mounting block comprises an integral unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
An optical fiber connector as in claim 1 wherein said resilient means comprises a leaf spring, said leaf spring and said mounting block comprises an integral unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical fiber connector as in claim 1 wherein said connector comprises a plurality of fiber clamps mounted on said block.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
99 words
In an optical fiber connector including a housing having a mating end and at least one fiber clamp for holding an optical fiber in said connector, the improvement comprising a mounting block, means mounting said fiber clamp on said block, said housing defining a guideway receiving said block for movement of said block toward and away from said mating end of said housing; and resilient means for urging said block toward said mating end and accomodating movement of said block away from said mating end against the force of said resilient means in response to an overriding opposing force.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
99 words
In an optical fiber connector including a housing having a mating end and at least one fiber clamp for holding an optical fiber in said connector, the improvement comprising a mounting block, means mounting said fiber clamp on said block, said housing defining a guideway receiving said block for movement of said block toward and away from said mating end of said housing; and resilient means for urging said block toward said mating end and accomodating movement of said block away from said mating end against the force of said resilient means in response to an overriding opposing force.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
An optical fiber connector as in claim 6 wherein said resilient means comprises a leaf spring, and said leaf spring and said mounting block comprises an integral unit received in said guideway.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
An optical fiber connector as in claim 7 wherein said fiber clamp mounting means comprises an aperture in said block receiving a portion of said fiber clamp.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
An optical fiber connector as in claim 8 wherein said aperture includes a chamfered entryway and is positioned in a tapered entrance channel whereby insertion of said portion of said fiber clamp into said aperture is facilitated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
An optical fiber connector as in claim 9 wherein said mounting block and leaf spring are integrally formed from a plastic material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical fiber connector as in claim 6 wherein said connector comprises a plurality of fiber clamps mounted on said block.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
116 words
An optical fiber connector comprising a housing having a mating end, cable clamping means adjacent the other housing end for securing to said housing an optical cable entering the latter housing end, at least one fiber clamp in said housing between said clamping means and said mating end for gripping an optical fiber extending from such cable toward said mating end, means supporting said fiber clamp in said housing for movement toward and away from said mating end, and resilient means for urging said fiber clamp toward said mating end and accomodating movement of said fiber clamp away from said mating end against the force of said resilient means in response to an overriding opposing force.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
116 words
An optical fiber connector comprising a housing having a mating end, cable clamping means adjacent the other housing end for securing to said housing an optical cable entering the latter housing end, at least one fiber clamp in said housing between said clamping means and said mating end for gripping an optical fiber extending from such cable toward said mating end, means supporting said fiber clamp in said housing for movement toward and away from said mating end, and resilient means for urging said fiber clamp toward said mating end and accomodating movement of said fiber clamp away from said mating end against the force of said resilient means in response to an overriding opposing force.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
An optical fiber connector as in claim 12 including fiber receiving means extending from said fiber clamp toward said mating end for receiving and transmitting said opposing force.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
An optical fiber connector as in claim 13 wherein said fiber clamp supporting means comprises a mounting block mounted in said housing for movement toward and away from said mating end of said housing and means mounting said fiber clamp on said block, and resilient means engages said block and said housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
An optical fiber connector as in claim 12 wherein said fiber clamp supporting means comprises a mounting block mounted in said housing for movement toward and away from said mating end of said housing and means mounting said fiber clamp on said block, and said resilient means engages said block and said housing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical fiber connector as in claim 15 wherein said connector comprises a plurality of fiber clamps mounted on said block.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
An optical fiber connector as in claim 12 wherein said connector comprises a plurality of fiber clamps, and said fiber clamp supporting means comprises a common unitary supporting means for all of said clamps.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-05-01 | 1987-10-31 | 1988-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-05-01 | 1991-10-31 | 1992-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-05-01 | 1995-10-31 | 1996-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |