Patent ID: 6814499
Filing Date: 2004-11-09
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An optical fiber connector that can be inserted in a forward longitudinal direction into a bulkhead casing that has a pair of latch-receiving slots forming largely forwardly-facing bulkhead shoulder and be latched thereto, and which can be unlatched from said bulkhead shell and pulled rearwardly therefrom, wherein the connector includes an outer shell and a terminus receiver that lies in said outer shell and that has at least one terminus-receiving passage and at least one optical fiber terminus lying in said passage, wherein:said outer shell has an axis and has a top and bottom on opposite sides of said axis, said outer shell having a shell main part with a pair of longitudinally-extending shell slots at said opposite sides and said outer shell having a pair of beams each lying in one of said shell slots, each of said beams having a beam rear end merging with said shell main part, a free beam front end, and a beam middle; said terminus receiver has a pair of grooves that each lies inward of a corresponding one of said beam middles, and therefore each groove lies closer to said axis than the corresponding beam middle; each of said beam middles has a latch dog with a largely rearwardly-facing latch dog shoulder for engaging one of said bulkhead shoulders, each said beam middle being deflectable inwardly into one of said grooves to move the corresponding latch dog shoulder inward so it lies out of line with the corresponding bulkhead shoulder; said terminus receiver has supporting walls at the front ends of said grooves, that slideably support said beam front ends against inward deflection when they slide rearward as said beam middles deflect into said grooves.