Patent ID: 6371660
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: B41J,C09D,G02B

Abstract:
A fiber optic cable connector for coupling to a mating fiber optic connector to align terminal ends of optical fibers of two fiber optic cables for transmitting light signals therebetween, the connector comprising:termini mounted to and including the terminal end portions of the optical fibers of the fiber optic cables, said termini having longitudinal axes and end portions which extend around the terminal ends of the optical fibers; a housing having an interior passage disposed therein for receiving a respective one of said termini, said housing having a shoulder disposed to extend into said interior passage, substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of said interior passage for retaining said respective one of said termini within said passage; a protuberance which extends inwardly within said interior passage, spaced apart from said shoulder and an end of said housing, said protuberance fitting around a respective one of said termini to gimbal said respective one of said termini within said interior passage, such that said terminal end of said respective one of said termini may angularly move transverse to said longitudinal axis, pivoting about said protuberance; an alignment sleeve of continuous cross-section having an interior bore which is of a slightly larger size than an exterior size of said end portion of said termini which fits within said interior bore of said alignment sleeve, providing a clearance fit between said alignment sleeve and said associated end portion of said termini over lengths which extend parallel to respective ones of said longitudinal axes of said termini; and wherein said end portions of mating ones of said termini fit within respective opposite ends of said alignment sleeve to align said mating-ones of said termini and to align the terminal ends of the optical fibers for transmitting light signals therebetween.