Patent ID: 9417400
Filing Date: 2016-08-16
CPC Classification: G02B

Claim Text:
1. An optical connector for cables containing a bend insensitive fiber, comprising: a connector housing having an axis, a front end, and a rear end; an elongated cable retention member having a front end and a rear end, the elongated cable retention member has an axial passage to receive a length of cable containing a bend insensitive fiber (BIF) having a minimum bend radius for termination, and the front end of the elongated cable retention member is joined to the rear end of the connector housing; a ferrule, a rear portion of which is inserted axially in the passage in the elongated cable retention member, and the ferrule has a passage for receiving the BIF and presenting an end face of the BIF at a front tip of the ferrule to couple the BIF with another optical fiber in a mating connector or socket; a spring associated with the ferrule for urging the ferrule in a direction toward the front end of the connector housing, and the spring is seated inside the elongated cable retention member; an elongated, straight cylindrical cable support having an axial passage that opens at a front end and at a back end of the straight cylindrical cable support for receiving the length of cable, and the front end of the straight cylindrical cable support is dimensioned and formed to receive the rear end of the elongated cable retention member so that the straight cylindrical cable support and the elongated cable retention member are joined axially with one another; the axial passage in the straight cylindrical cable support has a radially outward flare as the axial passage approaches the back end of the straight cylindrical cable support, and the radially outward flare is tapered to limit the degree to which the length of cable bends in the vicinity of the straight cylindrical cable support regardless of the direction the length of cable approaches the connector housing for termination, so that the BIF contained in the length of cable is not strained below the minimum bend radius of the BIF; wherein the radially outward flare of the axial passage in the straight cylindrical cable support has a radius of curvature of not less than 0.200 inches (5.08 mm); and the axial passage in the straight cylindrical cable support has an inside diameter sufficient to accommodate the length of cable having an outside diameter greater than 900 μm.