Patent ID: 6357929
Filing Date: 2002-03-19
Classification: B41J,C09D,G02B

Abstract:
A fiber optic cable connector for coupling to a mating fiber optic connector to align terminal ends of optical fibers of two fiber optic cables for transmitting light signals therebetween, the terminal ends of the optical fibers included within termini, and the connector comprising:termini mounted to and including the terminal end portions of the optical fibers of the fiber optic cables, said termini having longitudinal axes and respective shoulders which extend transverse to said axes; a housing having an interior passage disposed therein for receiving a respective one of said termini; said housing having a shoulder disposed to extend into said passage, substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of said passage for retaining said respective one of said termini within said passage; a protuberance which extends inwardly within said interior passage, spaced apart from said shoulder and an end of said insert body, said protuberance fitting around a respective one of said termini to gimbal the respective one of said termini within said interior passage, such that said terminal end of said respective one of said termini may angularly move transverse to said longitudinal axis, pivoting about said protuberance; an alignment member having an interior bore which receives an associated end portion of said respective one of said termini over a length which extends parallel to said respective one of said longitudinal axes of said termini, wherein mating ones of said termini fit within opposite ends of said interior bore to align said terminal ends of said mating ones of said termini for transmitting light signals therebetween a floating collar extending around said respective one of said termini with a clearance fit between said floating collar and said respective one of said termini such that said floating collar is free to move parallel to a respective one of said longitudinal axes corresponding to said respective termini; a first seal surface defined on said floating collar, and extending exteriorly of said floating collar, such that a first seal gland is defined between said first seal surface and a surface of said interior passage, and said floating collar further having a seal face which extends transverse to said longitudinal axis of said respective termini, spaced apart from said respective shoulder of said termini to define a second seal gland therebetween; a first seal element disposed within said first seal gland, and sealingly engaging between said respective termini and said surface of said interior passage of said housing; and a second seal element disposed in said second seal gland, extending around said longitudinal axis of said respective one of said termini, and sealingly engaging between said seal face and said respective shoulder of said termini, when said termini are angularly displaced about said protuberance.