Abstract:
A connector for connecting a fiber optic cable to a light source comprising a female adaptor having a receiving bore and a channel projecting into the receiving bore; a male ferrule, having a first portion insertable into at least part of the receiving bore, and a second portion defined at least partially by a tapered diameter region; and a compressible ring member disposed in the channel that engages the tapered portion when the male ferrule is inserted in the female adaptor in order to provide some resistance to removal of the male ferrule from the female adaptor.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Some embodiments of the invention pertain to the field of fiber optic illumination. For example, some embodiments of the invention relate to the transmission of light via fiber optic cables to provide illumination of a worksite such as a physician&#39;s surgical worksite. Further, some embodiments of the invention relate to connectors used to connect fiber optic cables to a light source. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Fiber optic light transmission is in wide use in industry. In some cases, the purpose of the light transmission is simply to provide visible illumination onto a work surface, such as a surgical area. In some cases, fiber optic transmission lines may be routed near retractors or attached to a retractor or instrument, or other surgical equipment in order to provide illumination of the part of the body being worked on, as well as the equipment in proximity of the area. Fiber optic cables for this purpose themselves are well known, and have a transmission end which shines the light onto the surface. The receiving end of such a cable is typically connected to a light source such as an incandescent or LED light disposed within an enclosure. Various types of light sources that may be employed could include halogen, xenon, or high intensity discharge lights such as metal halide, high-pressure sodium, low-pressure sodium, and mercury vapor. It may be desirable to releasably connect the input end of a fiber optic cable to the output junction of the light source box. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In light of the present need for fiber optic light connectors, a brief summary of various exemplary embodiments is presented. Some simplifications and omissions may be made in the following summary, which is intended to highlight and introduce some aspects of the various exemplary embodiments, but not to limit the scope of the invention. Detailed descriptions of a preferred exemplary embodiment adequate to allow those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the inventive concepts will follow in later sections. 
     In another aspect some embodiments comprise a light source, as well as connector for connecting a fiber optic cable to a light source, comprising: a female adaptor having a receiving bore and a channel projecting into the receiving bore; a male ferrule, having a first portion insertable into at least part of the receiving bore, and a second portion defined at least partially by a tapered portion; and a compressible ring member disposed in the channel that engages the tapered portion when the male ferrule is inserted in the female adaptor in order to provide resistance to removal of the male ferrule from the female adaptor. 
     Other aspects of some embodiments include a connector for connecting a fiber optic cable to a light source comprising: a female adaptor having a connecting portion adapted to attach to the light source and having a receiving bore and a channel projecting into the receiving bore; a male ferrule having a receiving portion adapted to attach to the fiber optic cable and having a first portion with a first diameter insertable into at least part of the receiving bore, and a second portion at least partially having a second diameter less than the first diameter; and a compressible ring member disposed in the channel that engages the second portion when the male ferrule is inserted in the female adaptor in order to provide some resistance to removal of the male ferrule from the female adaptor. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a light source box having a fiber optic cable disconnected. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 1  showing the fiber optic cable connected to the light source box. 
         FIG. 3  is a partially exploded perspective view of a connector assembly. 
         FIG. 4  is a side partially exploded view of the connector of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a more completely exploded side view of the connector of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the connector of  FIG. 3  in a connected condition. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken through lines  7 - 7  in  FIG. 6 , also showing the fiber optic cable. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken similar to  FIG. 7 , but showing only a male ferrule component of the connector. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 7 , but showing only a female adaptor portion of the assembly. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional detail view of the area labeled E in  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described as examples, with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate an embodiment of an entire light providing system  10 . System  10  includes a light source box  12 , which is a general housing having a light source (not shown) therein. The light source box  12 , however, can be considered as a single entire component which projects light out of a light outlet port  14 . The light outlet port  14  is associated with an illumination source such as an incandescent bulb or LED to provide light through an aperture in the center of the output port  14 . 
     A female adaptor  16  has a threaded portion so that it may be threadably engaged into a light output aperture of the light output port  14 . The female adaptor  16  has a bore through its center so that light is transmitted into and through the central bore (see  FIG. 9 ) of the female adaptor  16 . 
     A male ferrule  18  is affixed to the end of a fiber optic cable  20  and can be generally inserted into the bore  40  of the female adaptor  16 , as will be described in more detail below, and as shown in more detail in drawing  FIGS. 3-10 . 
       FIG. 2  shows the system  10  in an operative condition with the male ferrule  18  inserted into the female adaptor  16 , such that light from the light supply box  12  is provided into the fiber optic cable  20 . This light can be transmitted through the cable length to be outputted from a distal end of the fiber optic cable which is not shown. The distal end of the fiber optic cable  20  may be directed at a work area in order to illuminate the work area. 
       FIGS. 3-10  illustrate additional details of the connection of the female adaptor  16  with the male ferrule  18 .  FIG. 5  illustrates a spring  21  which is discussed in more detail below. The spring  21  is in general a ring shaped compressible element. In this preferred embodiment, the spring  21 , which is also known as a C-spring, is a toroidal coil spring that is thus deformable to some degree in the radial direction. The spring  21  may be made of many materials, but preferably will be a coiled metal such as steel. In other embodiments, a rubber or other elastomeric ring having the same or a similar overall ring shape may be used. However, in certain embodiments, a metallic material may be preferred for the spring  21 . The female adaptor  16  includes a main body portion  20  and a threaded portion. The threaded portion engages with corresponding threads at the light transmission opening of the light projecting housing  14 . The female adaptor may also have a smaller diameter projecting portion  24  which could fit into a complimentary bore in the light source housing  16 . Further, as can be seen in  FIGS. 7 ,  9  and  10 , the female adaptor  16  has a channel  26  disposed in the internal bore thereof. The channel  26  may be of any suitable shape adapted to receive the spring  21 , while permitting some deflection of the internal diameter of the spring  21 . In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the channel  26  is formed by two opposed double sections  28  which may be joined by a radius area  30 . In such a configuration, the angle C may preferably be approximately 135°, and the radius angle of area  30  may be selected as is convenient for manufacturing purposes. The female adaptor  16  also has an internal shoulder  32  which acts against a stop for the degree of insertion of the male ferrule  18 . 
     Returning to  FIGS. 4-9  and particularly to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the male ferrule  18  may have a knurled end  36 . Such a knurled end  36  is provided to facilitate grip of the male ferrule  18 . 
     The male ferrule  18  also has a projecting portion  38  which is sized to fit into a complimentary bore  40  in the female adaptor  16 . The male ferrule  18  also has a flange portion  42  leading to a tapered portion  44  and a shoulder  46 . As the male ferrule  18  is inserted into the female adaptor  16 , the extension  38  will pass through the open region defined by the spring  21  and will begin to slide into the bore  40 . The tapered portion  44  has at least partially a diameter that is less than the diameter of the flange  42 . As insertion is continued, the spring will ride over the flange  42 , being compressed in the process. Further insertion of the male ferrule  18  will cause the spring to ride over the tapered portion  44  thus expanding somewhat and providing a frictional interlock of the male ferrule  18  inside the female adaptor  16 . This configuration is shown in  FIG. 7 . It will be appreciated that the stop  32  of the female adaptor  16  is engaged with the stop surface  46  of the male ferrule thus limiting any further forward travel. On the other hand, a predetermined fictional force is required to remove the male ferrule  18 , by a force exerted between the slightly compressed spring  21  and its contact with the tapered portion  44 . In this way, a snug but releasable connection is provided, which in most embodiments will not leak any significant amount of light outside of the box  12 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a fiber optic cable  20  inserted into the larger diameter bore  50  of the male ferrule  18  as shown in  FIG. 8 . The fiber optic cable illustrated in  FIG. 7  can be any suitable well known or future developed fiber optic cable typically having a central core that is transmissive of light, and an outer sheath that may be opaque to light. The bore  50  that receives the fiber optic cable may lead to a tapered internal bore region  52  which may have an included angle B of approximately 60°. The tapered portion  52  leads to a smaller diameter bore  60  which is an open bore that simply receives light from the light emission source  12 . The tapered region  44  may have an included angle A of approximately 32.6° (as shown in  FIG. 5 ). 
     The female adaptor  16  and male ferrule  18  may be made of any suitable material. In some preferred embodiments they may be made of stainless steel. 
     Although the various exemplary embodiments have been described in detail with particular reference to certain exemplary aspects thereof, it should be understood that the invention is capable of other embodiments and its details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects. As is readily apparent to those skilled in the art, variations and modifications can be affected while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing disclosure, description, and figures are for illustrative purposes only and do not in any way limit the invention, which is defined only by the claims.