Patent ID: 6732426
Filing Date: 2004-05-11
Classification: B25B,G02B,Y10T

Abstract:
An optical fiber extraction tool for removing an optical fiber terminus rearwardly from a passage of an optical fiber connector, the terminus having an axis and including a body, the body having a body front portion forming a rearwardly-facing body shoulder and the body having a smaller diameter body rear portion that extends rearward of the body shoulder, wherein the connector includes a retainer clip with tines that extend at radially inward inclines toward the terminus axis and that have ends that abut the body shoulder to prevent rearward terminus removal until the tine ends are deflected radially outward, wherein the extraction tool includes an outer tube having a front portion with an outside diameter to radially outwardly deflect the tine front ends out of line with the body shoulder so the terminus can move rearwardly out of the connector passage, wherein:said extraction tool includes an inner tube that lies within said outer tube said inner tube having a front portion that is radially deflectable, and said inner tube has means for gripping said body rear portion; said outer tube is slideable between front and rear outer tube positions around said inner tube; said outer tube front portion has an inside surface that lies adjacent to said inner tube front portion when said outer tube slides forward from said rear outer tube position to said front outer tube position, to limit radially outward deflection of said inner tube front portion and thereby allow said inner tube to grip said body to pull out said terminus.