US5157749A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High precision optical fiber connectors
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1992-03-27
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Granted: 1992-10-20
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Expires: 2012-03-27
Abstract
Abstract A connector for an optical fiber comprising, a body (86, 86') at least one ferrule (66, 66', 68, 68') encircling a corresponding optical fiber, a coil spring (337) compressible between a flange on the corresponding ferrule and a ridge (48) of the body (86, 86'), and the corresponding ferrule extends through a recess (52) in a second ridge (46) and is pivotally moveable in the recess (52).
Inventors
- 👤 Robert C. Briggs
- 👤 Lloyd R. Budd
- 👤 John C. Hoffer
- 👤 William J. Stape
- 👤 Donald W. Thompson
- 👤 Robert N. Weber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:30
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/389; G02B6/3893; G02B6/381; G02B6/3818; G02B6/3821; G02B6/3826; G02B6/3831; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3867; G02B6/3869; G02B6/387; G02B6/3873; G02B6/3874; G02B6/3875; G02B6/3877; G02B6/3878; G02B6/3879; H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/56; H01R13/562; G02B6/3854; G02B6/3887
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A connector for an optical fiber cable comprising: a body of the connector, at least one ferrule for encircling a corresponding optical fiber of the cable and for aligning the optical fiber along an interior of the body, coils of a compressible coil spring of the ferrule adapted for compression between a flange of the ferrule and a corresponding ridge of the body upon movement of the ferrule and the flange rearwardly of the body in response to pressure applied to a front of the ferrule, wherein the improvement comprises: said flange of each said ferrule has a periphery that is engageable with a lateral side of the cavity of said body and is slidable along said lateral side during movement of said ferrule rearwardly of said body, each said cavity extends between a corresponding ridge and a corresponding second ridge of said body, a corresponding spring is compressed against a corresponding ridge and a corresponding flange, and a forward end of each said ferrule extends through a recess in a corresponding second ridge and is pivotally moveable in said recess.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
A connector for an optical fiber cable comprising: a body of the connector, at least one ferrule for encircling a corresponding optical fiber of the cable and for aligning the optical fiber along an interior of the body, coils of a compressible coil spring of the ferrule adapted for compression between a flange of the ferrule and a corresponding ridge of the body upon movement of the ferrule and the flange rearwardly of the body in response to pressure applied to a front of the ferrule, wherein the improvement comprises: said flange of each said ferrule has a periphery that is engageable with a lateral side of the cavity of said body and is slidable along said lateral side during movement of said ferrule rearwardly of said body, each said cavity extends between a corresponding ridge and a corresponding second ridge of said body, a corresponding spring is compressed against a corresponding ridge and a corresponding flange, and a forward end of each said ferrule extends through a recess in a corresponding second ridge and is pivotally moveable in said recess.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the improvement further comprises; said lateral side of each said cavity extends uniformly straight along said body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A connector as recited in claim 2, wherein the improvement further comprises; said lateral side of each said cavity is straight, and said periphery of each said flange includes multiple intersecting sides.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A connector as recited in claim 2, wherein the improvement further comprises; each said cavity extends between a corresponding ridge and a second ridge of said body, and said flange of each said ferrule is within a corresponding cavity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the improvement further comprises; said lateral side of each said cavity is straight planar, and said periphery of each said flange includes multiple intersecting sides.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the improvement comprises; each said capacity extends between a corresponding ridge and a second ridge of said body, and said flange of each said ferrule is within a corresponding cavity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the improvement further comprises; each said flange has a noncircular periphery.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the improvement further comprises; each cavity has a noncircular transverse profile.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
142 words
A connector for an optical fiber cable comprising, a body of said connector, at least one ferrule for encircling a corresponding optical fiber of said cable and for aligning said optical fiber along an interior of said body, coils of a compressible coil spring of said ferrule adapted for compression between a corresponding first ridge of said body upon movement of said ferrule and said flange rearwardly of said connector shell in response to pressure applied to a front of said ferrule, wherein the improvement comprises; a corresponding cavity extends between each said first ridge and a corresponding second ridge of said body, each said coil spring is compressed between a corresponding first ridge and a corresponding flange, and a forward end of each said ferrule extends through a recess in a corresponding second ridge and is pivotally moveable in said recess.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
142 words
A connector for an optical fiber cable comprising, a body of said connector, at least one ferrule for encircling a corresponding optical fiber of said cable and for aligning said optical fiber along an interior of said body, coils of a compressible coil spring of said ferrule adapted for compression between a corresponding first ridge of said body upon movement of said ferrule and said flange rearwardly of said connector shell in response to pressure applied to a front of said ferrule, wherein the improvement comprises; a corresponding cavity extends between each said first ridge and a corresponding second ridge of said body, each said coil spring is compressed between a corresponding first ridge and a corresponding flange, and a forward end of each said ferrule extends through a recess in a corresponding second ridge and is pivotally moveable in said recess.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A connector as recited in claim 9, wherein the improvement further comprises; each said forward end has a frusto conical portion received in a corresponding said recess in a corresponding second ridge upon movement of said ferrule rearwardly.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
A connector as recited in claim 9, wherein the improvement further comprises; each said forward end has a portion of lesser transverse profile than that of a corresponding flange, and said portion is received in a corresponding said recess in a corresponding second ridge when said corresponding flange engages said corresponding second ridge.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
A connector as recited in claim 9, wherein the improvement further comprises; each said forward end has a second portion of lesser transverse profile than that of a said first recited portion, and said second portion is received in a corresponding said recess in a corresponding second ridge upon movement of said ferrule rearwardly.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
A connector as recited in claim 9, wherein the improvement further comprises; said forward end of said said ferrule is received with a loose fit in a corresponding said recess, and thereby is pivotally moveable in said recess while the corresponding flange is engaged on said corresponding second ridge.
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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) | 1995-10-20 | 1996-04-20 | 1996-10-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-10-20 | 2000-04-20 | 2000-10-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-10-20 | 2004-04-20 | 2004-10-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |