Patent ID: 7717623
Filing Date: 2010-05-18
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. An optical connector for butt-connecting a first coated optical fiber in a first fiber cable which is exposed by removing an armor of said first fiber cable to a second coated optical fiber in a second fiber cable which is exposed by removing an armor of said second fiber cable, said optical connector comprising: a first fiber connecting member holding said first coated optical fiber, said first fiber connecting member including: a first housing which has a first cable fixing portion to which said first fiber cable is fixed; a first fiber holding portion which is jointed to said first housing and includes a first fiber inserting hole having a diameter substantially identical with an outer diameter of said first coated optical fiber; and a first accommodating space, provided in an interior of said first housing while being positioned between said first fiber holding portion and said cable fixing portion, for allowing deflection of said first coated optical fiber when said first coated optical fiber and said second coated optical fiber are butted; a second fiber connecting member holding said second coated optical fiber, said second fiber connecting member including: a second housing which has a second cable fixing portion to which said second fiber cable is fixed; a second fiber holding portion which is jointed to said second housing, which includes a second fiber inserting hole having a diameter substantially identical with an outer diameter of said second coated optical fiber, and which is butt-connected with respect to said first fiber holding portion; and a second accommodating space, provided in an interior of said second housing while being positioned between said second fiber holding portion and said second cable fixing portion, for allowing deflection of said second coated optical fiber when said first coated optical fiber and said second coated optical fiber are butted; and a fixing structure for detachably fixing said first fiber connecting member and said second fiber connecting member, wherein at least one of an opening edge of said first fiber inserting hole in said first fiber holding portion and an opening edge of said second fiber inserting hole in said second fiber holding portion is chamfered such that a diameter of an opening of the at least one of said first and second fiber inserting holes becomes greater than that of the at least one of said first and second fiber inserting holes other than the opening, wherein said first housing has a first depressed portion, and said first fiber holding portion arranged between said first depressed portion and said first cable fixing portion has a protruded portion for alignment entirely accommodated in said first depressed portion, said protruded portion for alignment being projected from a bottom surface of said first depressed portion and having a through hole constituting a part of said first fiber inserting hole, and wherein said second fiber holding portion has a second depressed portion for alignment to be engaged with said protruded portion for alignment, said second depressed portion for alignment having an opening to receive said protruded portion for alignment, an inner surface of the opening contacting an outer surface of said protruded portion for alignment when the second depressed portion for alignment and said protruded portion for alignment are engaged.