Patent US2003625A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4460999A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4936662A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical fiber connector
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1989-02-10
•
Granted: 1990-06-26
•
Expires: 2009-02-10
Abstract
Abstract An optical fiber connector can be assembled without an adhesive using a known combination of a grooved mount and a sleeve that can either grip or release a stripped end of an optical fiber. The mount-sleeve combination is positioned within a housing which is open at one end to receive one or more stripped optical fibers and is formed at its other end with a tiny orifice that is radially aligned with a groove of the mount. After inserting a stripped optical fiber through the mount-sleeve combination and the orifice, the sleeve is allowed to grip the fiber, thus restraining it against longitudinal movement. Because of this restraint, the protruding portion of the fiber can be cleaved or polished along with the adjacent portions of the end cap. The housing preferably is formed by a thermoplastic shroud and a ceramic end cap in which the orifice is formed. The shroud preferably has an external latch by which the connector can be disconnectably fastened to a receptacle in a single motion to make low-loss connections to other optical fibers.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael E. Griffin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 07:36
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/3873; G02B6/3885; G02B6/26; G02B6/32; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3834; G02B6/3838; G02B6/3839; G02B6/3865; G02B6/3869; G02B6/3887; G02B6/3888
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
Optical fiber connector comprising a housing that is open at one end and is formed with a tiny orifice at its opposite end, means for gripping a stripped end of an optical fiber that has been inserted into said open end of the housing to enter said orifice, and means for mechanically fastening the housing to a receptacle in a single motion and for releasing the housing from the receptacle in a single motion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
Optical fiber connector comprising a housing that is open at one end and is formed with a tiny orifice at its opposite end, means for gripping a stripped end of an optical fiber that has been inserted into said open end of the housing to enter said orifice, and means for mechanically fastening the housing to a receptacle in a single motion and for releasing the housing from the receptacle in a single motion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
132 words
Optical fiber connector comprising a housing that is open at one end and is formed with a tiny orifice at its opposite end, a combination of a grooved mount and a deformable sleeve positioned within the housing, a groove of which is aligned with said orifice, which sleeve when undeformed can grip a stripped end of an optical fiber against a groove in the mount and releases the stripped end when deformed, means for deforming the sleeve to permit a stripped end of an optical fiber that is inserted into said open end of the housing to enter a groove of the mount and said orifice, and means for mechanically fastening the housing to a receptacle in a single motion and for releasing the housing from the receptacle in a single motion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
132 words
Optical fiber connector comprising a housing that is open at one end and is formed with a tiny orifice at its opposite end, a combination of a grooved mount and a deformable sleeve positioned within the housing, a groove of which is aligned with said orifice, which sleeve when undeformed can grip a stripped end of an optical fiber against a groove in the mount and releases the stripped end when deformed, means for deforming the sleeve to permit a stripped end of an optical fiber that is inserted into said open end of the housing to enter a groove of the mount and said orifice, and means for mechanically fastening the housing to a receptacle in a single motion and for releasing the housing from the receptacle in a single motion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
Optical fiber connector as defined in claim 2 wherein the housing comprises a shroud that is formed with an opening to provide said open end of the housing and an end cap that is formed with said tiny orifice, and the shroud and end cap are formed with means for interconnecting the shroud and end cap.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
Optical fiber connector as defined in claim 3 wherein said tiny orifice extends through the exterior of the end cap so that said stripped end can protrude through the end cap.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
Optical fiber connector as defined in claim 3 and further comprising an optical lens mounted in the end cap to be optically aligned with said stripped end.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
Optical fiber connector as defined in claim 2, the mount of which has at least two V-grooves, each of which can receive a stripped optical fiber of a duplex cable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
Optical fiber connector as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for deforming the sleeve is carried by the end cap and is actuable with ones fingers when the shroud and end cap are disconnected.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
Optical fiber connector as defined in claim 7 where each of the shroud and the end cap has a pair of diametrically opposed alignment fingers which become interlocked when the shroud and the end cap are interconnected.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
Optical fiber connector as defined in claim 8 wherein each alignment finger of the end cap is formed with a diametric aperture, and said means for deforming the sleeve comprises an elastomeric plug retained in each aperture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
Optical fiber connector as defined in claim 9 and further comprising an O-ring to retain each elastomeric plug in each aperture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
Optical fiber connector as defined in claim 3 wherein said mechanical fastening means is a snap-fitting means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
Optical fiber connector as defined in claim 11 wherein said snap-fitting means comprises a latch protruding from the shroud, and the latch and shroud are a single piece of plastic.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
Optical fiber connector as defined in claim 12 wherein the end cap is ceramic.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-06-25 | 1993-12-25 | 1994-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-06-25 | 1997-12-25 | 1998-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-06-25 | 2001-12-25 | 2002-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |