Patent ID: 8382382
Filing Date: 2013-02-26
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A fiber optic adapter for interconnecting two fiber connectors in coaxial alignment, each connector including a generally cylindrical ferrule holding an end of an optical fiber, the adapter comprising: a main body including an axial cavity defined by a top side-wall, a bottom side-wall, a right side-wall, and a left side-wall, the axial cavity extending between a first opening defined at a first end of the main body and a second opening defined at a second end of the main body, the first end configured to receive a first fiber optic connector through the first opening and the second end configured to receive a second fiber optic connector through the second opening for mating with the first fiber optic connector; a ferrule alignment structure located within the axial cavity, the ferrule alignment structure including a sleeve mount and a ferrule sleeve, the sleeve mount defining a first end, a second end, and a center portion, wherein the first end of the sleeve mount is positioned toward the first end of the main body and the second end of the sleeve mount is positioned toward the second end of the main body, the sleeve mount including an axial bore and at least one latching hook extending from the center portion of the sleeve mount toward the first end of the main body and at least one latching hook extending from the center portion of the sleeve mount toward the second end of the main body, the latching hooks configured to flex laterally toward and away from the axial bore for releasably latching the first and second fiber optic connectors to the fiber optic adapter, wherein the sleeve mount and the main body of the fiber optic adapter are unitarily molded as a single piece and wherein the ferrule sleeve is placed within the axial bore of the sleeve mount, the ferrule sleeve configured to receive and coaxially align the ferrules of the first and second fiber optic connectors when the connectors are inserted into the adapter, wherein the top side-wall defines an opening and the bottom side-wall defines an opening, the openings defined by the top and bottom sides being covered by cover panels after the main body and the sleeve mount have been unitarily molded.