Patent ID: 11860423
Assignee: COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Field: Optics (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 0:
1. A fiber optic connector comprising:
a plug body defining a distal plug end and an opposite proximal end;
an optical fiber defining a fiber axis, the optical fiber extending along the fiber axis at least partially through the plug body, the optical fiber including a free end portion that extends outwardly from the plug body distally beyond the distal plug end, the free end portion of the optical fiber not being supported by a ferrule;
a shutter pivotally connected to the plug body, the shutter being pivotally movable relative to the plug body between an open position and a closed position, the shutter including an inside wall with a planar center portion having an interior receptacle that contains gel used to protect and clean the free end portion of the optical fiber when the shutter is in the closed position, wherein the interior receptacle receives the free end portion of the optical fiber and causes the free end portion of the optical fiber to bend away from the fiber axis when the shutter is in the closed position; and
a reflective structure integrated with the inside wall of the shutter that reflects light away from the optical fiber.