Patent ID: 6722789
Filing Date: 2004-04-20
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An optical fiber connector system that includes a first connector with a first terminus having a front portion forming a ferrulve and a rear portion forming a body, the terminus forming a fiber-holding terminus passage for holding an optical fiber, and the first connector having a first housing that has a terminus-holding housing passage with an axis and with a passage rear part forming a largely forwardly-facing housing passage shoulder, includinga releaseable first retainer lying in said housing passage around said terminus, said retainer including a sleeve member forming a largely rearwardly-facing spring-engaging shoulder and a largely forwardly-facing clip-engaging shoulder; said retainer also including a clip of resilient material with a rear end abutting said clip-engaging shoulder and a front portion forming at least one tine that extends forwardly and at a radially inward incline toward said axis; a first coil spring extending between said housing passage shoulder and said retainer spring-engaging shoulder and biasing said retainer forwardly; said terminus having a largely rearwardly-facing terminus shoulder; said tine of said clip has a front tip that abuts said rearwardly-facing terminus shoulder, said tine being radially outwardly deflectable to release said terminus.