Abstract:
Provided is an optical connector including: a ferrule housing; a coupling, wherein the housing is insertable into the coupling; a coupling engagement member provided at a rear of the housing; and a boot formed to accommodate ant optical fiber therethrough and extending rearward from the coupling engagement member. The optical connector is moveable into a first position by pressing the boot in a forward direction, thus exerting a forward pressure on the coupling engagement member and into a second position by pulling the boot in a rearward direction, thus exerting a rearward pressure on the coupling engagement member. In the first position, the coupling engagement member abuts the housing, such that the forward pressure on the coupling engagement member is exerted on the housing. In the second position, the coupling engagement member engages the coupling such that the rearward pressure on the coupling engagement member is exerted on the coupling.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an optical connector, and a method of inserting and removing the optical connector into/from a connector housing (optical connector adapter or the like). 
         [0003]    Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-198969, filed Sep. 6, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Conventionally, a multi-core optical connector (for example, an MPO type optical connector: F13 type optical connector established in JIS C5982) which engages a connector housing (optical connector adapter or the like) by a push-on method is used (for example, refer to United States Patent Application Publication No. 2009/285534). 
         [0006]    Since adjacent connector housings are close to each other in an optical wiring board or the like in which the connector housings are arranged with a high density, it becomes difficult to insert fingers between optical connectors, and it becomes difficult to perform an insertion and removal operation of an optical connector (for example, the operation of gripping and moving rearward a coupling to remove an optical connector). 
         [0007]    For this reason, an optical connector is proposed, in which an engagement member engageable with the coupling is provided and this engagement member is provided with an operating stick which extends rearward. 
         [0008]      FIG. 7  shows an example of the optical connector provided with the operating stick. The optical connector  110  shown in the figure includes a connector main body  1  which has a ferrule  12  attached to a tip of the optical fiber  11 , a coupling  2 , an engagement member  103  engageable with the coupling  2 , a boot  104 , and an operating stick  105  which extends rearward from the engagement member  103 . 
         [0009]    An extending end of the operating stick  105  is formed with a head portion  105   a  for operation. The operating stick  105  is formed at a position deviated from the central axis of the optical connector  110  in order to avoid interfering with an optical fiber  11 . Reference numeral  7  designates an optical connector adapter into/from which the optical connector  110  is inserted and removed. 
         [0010]    In the optical connector  110 , when the operating stick  105  is pulled rearward, the coupling  2  moves rearward along with the engagement member  103 . Therefore, the latches  72  of the optical connector adapter  7  are released, and the optical connector  110  is removed from the optical connector adapter  7 . 
         [0011]    When the operating stick  105  is pushed forward, the engagement member  103  moves the connector main body  1  forward to insert the connector main body  1  into the optical connector adapter  7 , and the latches  72  engage engagement recesses  15   b  of the connector main body  1 . 
         [0012]    However, in the optical connector  110 , the head portion  105   a  of the operating stick  105  is formed at the position deviated from the central axis of the optical connector  110 . Therefore, when the operating stick  105  is operated, there is a concern that a force in a direction which inclines with respect to the axial direction is applied to the optical connector  110 . 
         [0013]    Additionally, since the operating stick  105  is at the position deviated from the central axis of the optical connector  110 , it is hard for an operator to recognize the tip position of the optical connector  110 , and particularly, it is hard to perform the operation of inserting the optical connector  110  into the optical connector adapter  7 . 
         [0014]    The invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and the object thereof is to provide an optical connector and an insertion and removal method of the optical connector in which an excessive force is not applied to the optical connector, and the workability of an insertion and removal operation is improved when an optical connector is inserted into or removed from a connector housing. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    An optical connector according to an aspect of the present invention is insertable into and removable from a connector housing, the optical connector including: a housing which houses a ferrule; a coupling, wherein the housing is insertable into the coupling; a coupling engagement member provided at a rear of the housing, the coupling engagement member being movable with respect to the housing; and a boot formed to accommodate an optical fiber therethrough and extending rearward from the coupling engagement member; wherein the optical connector is moveable into a first position by pressing the boot in a forward direction, thus exerting a forward pressure on the coupling engagement member and into a second position by pulling the boot in a rearward direction, thus exerting a rearward pressure on the coupling engagement member, wherein: in the first position, the coupling engagement member abuts the housing, such that the forward pressure on the coupling engagement member is exerted on the housing, and in the second position, the coupling engagement member engages the coupling such that the rearward pressure on the coupling engagement member is exerted on the coupling. 
         [0016]    It may be arranged such that the coupling engagement member includes a main body and a pair of extending portions extending forward from the main body, wherein the pair of extending portions connect the coupling engagement member with the coupling. 
         [0017]    It may be arranged such that an engagement concave portion is provided on one of the coupling and the coupling engagement member, and an engagement convex portion is engageable with the engagement concave portion and is provided on the other of the coupling and the coupling engagement member, and a length of the engagement concave portion in a front-back direction is greater than a length of the engagement convex portion in a forward-backward direction, such that the engagement convex portion is moveable within the engagement concave portion. 
         [0018]    It may be arranged such that an operation portion is formed at a rear portion of the boot and extends outward from the rear portion of the boot. 
         [0019]    It may be arranged such that the boot is attached to the coupling engagement member via a connection member formed in a tubular shape. 
         [0020]    It may be arranged such that the connection member includes a semi-tubular first half body and a semi-tubular second half body which face each other. 
         [0021]    It may be arranged such that the connection member includes a fitting convex portion, and the coupling engagement member includes a fitting opening, and the connection member is attached to the coupling engagement member when the fitting convex portion fits into the fitting opening. 
         [0022]    An insertion and removal method of inserting and removing an optical connector into/from a connector housing according to another aspect of the present invention is an insertion and removal method of an optical connector including: a housing which houses a ferrule; a coupling which surrounds the housing; a coupling engagement member provided at a rear of the housing; and a boot extending rearward from the coupling engagement member, the method including: inserting the optical connector into the connector housing, the inserting including: pressing the coupling engagement member forward by pressing the boot forward, such that the coupling engagement member is made to abut the housing at a first position, and inserting the coupling engagement member into the connector housing; and removing the optical connector from the connector housing, the removing including: pulling the coupling engagement member rearward such that the coupling engagement member engages with the coupling at a second position behind the first position, and such that the coupling is pulled rearward and the optical connector is removed from the connector housing. 
         [0023]    An optical connector insertable into and removable from a connector housing according to another aspect of the present invention includes: a housing which houses a ferrule; a coupling, wherein the housing is insertable into the coupling; a coupling engagement member provided at a rear of the housing, the coupling engagement member being movable with respect to the housing; and a boot including an opening formed to accommodate an optical fiber therethrough and extending rearward from the coupling engagement member; wherein the boot includes a body which is substantially radially symmetric with respect to a central axis and an operation portion which extends outward from the rear of the body, and wherein the optical connector is moveable into a first position by pressing the boot in a forward direction, thus exerting a forward pressure on the coupling engagement member and into a second position by pulling the boot in a rearward direction, thus exerting a rearward pressure on the coupling engagement member. 
         [0024]    An apical connector insertable into and removable from a connector housing according to another aspect of the present invention includes: a housing which houses a ferrule; a coupling, wherein the housing is insertable into the coupling; and a coupling engagement member provided at a rear of the housing, wherein the coupling engagement member is engaged with the coupling via an engagement member, and wherein the coupling engagement member is moveable in forward and rearward directions with respect to the housing; wherein the optical connector is moveable into a first position by pressing the coupling engagement member in a forward direction and into a second position by pulling the coupling engagement member in a rearward direction, wherein: in the first position, the coupling engagement member abuts the housing, such that the forward pressure on the coupling engagement member is exerted on the housing, and in the second position, the coupling engagement member engages the coupling such that the rearward pressure on the coupling engagement member is exerted on the coupling. 
         [0025]    According to the above aspect of the present invention, the boot is attached to the coupling engagement member, the coupling engagement member is able to press the housing forward at the first position and is able to engage the coupling at the second position, thereby pulling the coupling rearward. Thus, the insertion and removal operation of the optical connector is made possible by operating the boot. 
         [0026]    Since the boot is a tubular member through which the optical fiber is inserted, the position where a force is applied to the connector main body and the coupling gets close to the central axis of the optical connector. For this reason, an excessive force (e.g., a force in a direction which inclines with respect to the central axis) is not applied to the optical connector. 
         [0027]    Additionally, since the boot is a tubular member through which the optical fiber is inserted, the boot is at a position near the central axis of the optical connector. For this reason, an operator may easily recognize the tip position of the optical connector, for example, during the operation of inserting the optical connector into the connector housing. 
         [0028]    Accordingly, the workability of an insertion and removal operation of the optical connector is improved even in an optical wiring board or the like where the connector housings are arranged with a high density. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is an overall perspective view showing an optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the configuration of the optical connector of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the optical connector of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  is an explanatory view illustrating the operation of the optical connector of FIG  1 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  is an explanatory view illustrating the operation of the optical connector of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  is an explanatory view illustrating the operation of the optical connector of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0035]      FIG. 7  is an overall perspective view showing an example of a conventional optical connector. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0036]    An optical connector embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 
         [0037]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an optical corrector  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the optical connector  10 .  FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the optical connector  10 . 
         [0038]    Hereinafter, the positional relationship of constituent members may be described with reference to the “front” and the “rear” in  FIGS. 1 to 3 . Additionally, the “axial direction” of a tubular member means the direction of the central axis of the member. In  FIG. 2 , C 1  is the central axis of a housing  15 , a coupling  2 , and a coupling engagement member  3 , and the direction of the central axis coincides with a front-back direction. 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the optical connector  10  includes a connector main body  1 , a coupling  2  movable back and forth with respect to the connector main body  1 , a coupling engagement member  3  provided at the rear of the connector main body  1 , a boot  4  extending rearward from the coupling engagement member  3 , and a connection member  5  which connects the boot  4  to the coupling engagement member  3 . 
         [0040]    In the optical connector  10 , the structure of an MPO (Multi-fiber Push On) type optical connector can be adopted (F13 type optical connector established in JIS C5982). 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the connector main body  1  includes a ferrule  12  (optical ferrule) attached to a tip of the optical fiber  11 , a spring  13  (for example, coil spring; refer to  FIG. 3 ) which elastically biases the ferrule  12  forward, an abutting member  14  (refer to PIG  3 ) which a rear end of the spring  13  abuts, and a tubular housing  15  which houses these members. 
         [0042]    The ferrule  12  is, for example, a multi-core connector, such as an MT type optical connector, and a front face thereof is used as a joint end face  12   a.  A spring receptacle  16  is provided on the rear side of the ferrule  12 . The ferrule  12  is formed with a guide pinhole  12   b  into which a guide pin (not shown in the figures) is inserted. 
         [0043]    A front end of the spring  13  abuts the spring receptacle  16 . The spring  13  can take the reaction force at a receptacle portion  14   a  of the abutting member  14 , and bias the ferrule  12  forward via the spring receptacle  16 . 
         [0044]    The abutting member  14  has a main body  14   a  which is fitted into the housing  15  from the rear end, and an extending portion  14   b  extending rearward from the main body  14   a.  Reference numeral  14   c  of  FIG. 3  designates a crimping ring which crimps and fixes a tensile strength fiber to the extending portion  14   b,  when the tensile strength fiber is used for the optical fiber  11 . 
         [0045]    An outside surface of the housing  15  is formed with engagement protrusions  15   a , and an engagement recess  15   b  is provided to rearward of each engagement protrusion  15   a , the engagement recess  15   b  engageable with a latch protrusion  72   a  of a latch  72  of an optical connector adapter  7  which will be described later. 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the coupling  2  has a pair of flat plate portions  21  (substrate portions) which is made into a tubular shape surrounding the housing  15  and is parallel to each other, and lateral plate portions  22  which are provided at both lateral edges of the flat plate portions  21  thereof. The lateral plate portions  22  and  22  are formed so as to face each other. 
         [0047]    Each lateral plate portion  22  is made into a shape which is curved substantially in the shape of a circular arc in cross-section, and an outer surface thereof is formed with a grooved guide portion  23  along the front-back direction. 
         [0048]    The guide portions  23  are formed at both of the side plate portions  22 , and an engagement convex portion  24  which constitutes an engagement structure  6 , which will be described later, is formed at the bottom of each guide portion  23 . The engagement convex portion  24  is a protrusion having a rectangular shape in plan view. 
         [0049]    The coupling  2  is slidingly movable back and forth with respect to the housing  15 , and glidingly moves rearward with respect to the housing  15 , thereby enabling the engagement of the latch  72  (refer to  FIGS. 4 to 6 ) of the optical connector adapter  7  with the housing  15  to be released. 
         [0050]    A mechanism (so-called push-on mechanism) which switches engagement retention and engagement release with respect to the optical connector adapter by the sliding movement of the coupling  2  will be described later. 
         [0051]    The coupling  2  is biased forward with respect to the housing  15  by the spring  25 . 
         [0052]    The spring  25  takes the reaction force at a stepped portion  15   c  formed at the outer surface of the housing  15 , and biases an abutting protrusion  2   a  formed at the inner surface of the coupling  2  (refer to  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0053]    The coupling engagement member  3  includes a tubular main body  31  and a pair of extending portions  32  which extends forward. from the main body  31 , and is movable back and forth with respect to the connector main body  1  and the coupling  2 . 
         [0054]    It is preferable that the coupling engagement member  3  have sufficient rigidity by being formed from hard resin, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, or the like. 
         [0055]    The main body  31  has a pair of flat plate portions  33  (substrate portions) which are parallel to each other, and lateral plate portions  34  which are provided at both lateral edges of the flat plate portions  33 . 
         [0056]    The lateral plate portions  34  are curved substantially in the shape of a circular arc in crass-section, and are formed a little more thickly than the flat plate portions  33 . 
         [0057]    The lateral plate portions  34  and  34  are formed so as to face each other. 
         [0058]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , a front end (an abutting portion  34   b  which is an inner circumferential portion of an end face of a front end  34   a  of each lateral plate portion  34  in the illustrated example) of the main body  31  is capable of abutting a rear end portion of the housing  15 . In addition, in the main body  31 , a front end of each flat plate portion  33  may be capable of abutting the rear end portion of the housing  15 . 
         [0059]    A rear portion of each lateral plate portion  34  is formed with a fitting opening  35  into which a fitting convex portion  54  of the connection member  5 , which will be described later, fits. 
         [0060]    Each extending portion  32  extends forward from front ends  34   a  of each of the pair of lateral plate portions  34 , and is formed in the shape of a plate having substantially a circular-arc cross-section. The extending portion  32  is thinner than each lateral plate portion  34 , and the outer surface thereof is formed along the outer surface of the lateral plate portion  34 . 
         [0061]    The extending portion  32  is arranged so as to be movable in the front-back direction within the guide portion  23  of the coupling  2 . 
         [0062]    The extending portion  32  is movable in the front-back direction in a state where the movement thereof in an up-and-down direction (width direction of the extending portion  32 ) is restricted by the guide portion  23 . The pair of extending portions  32  are formed with engagement openings  36  (engagement concave portions). 
         [0063]    The length of each engagement opening  36  in the front-back-direction is greater than the length of each engagement convex portion  24  in the front-back direction, and thereby, the coupling engagement member  3  is movable back and forth relative to the coupling  2  in a state where the engagement convex portion  24  has entered the engagement opening  36 . 
         [0064]    The length of the engagement opening  36  in the up-and-down direction can be made almost equal to or a little greater than that of the engagement convex portion  24  of the coupling  2 . 
         [0065]    The engagement opening  36 , and the engagement convex portion  24  of the coupling  2  constitute the engagement structure  6  in which the portions are engageable with each other. The engagement structures  6  are respectively provided at both lateral portions of the coupling  2  and the coupling engagement member  3 . 
         [0066]    In addition, the engagement structure between the coupling and the coupling engagement member is not limited to this, and may be a structure including an engagement concave portion formed at the coupling and an engagement convex portion formed at the coupling engagement member. Even in this case, the length of the engagement concave portion in the front-back direction is greater than the length of the engagement convex portion in the front-back direction, and the engagement convex portion is relatively movable in a state where the engagement convex portion has entered the engagement concave portion. 
         [0067]    The boot  4  is a tubular member through which the optical fiber  11  connected to the ferrule  12  is inserted, and can be formed from, for example, rubber, polyethylene, or the like. It is preferable that the boot  4  has flexibility to such a degree that bending deformation is permitted. 
         [0068]    The boot  4  has a front end protrusion  41 , a tapered tubular portion  42  of which the diameter becomes gradually smaller rearward from the front end protrusion  41 , and an operation portion  43  which is formed at a rear end portion of the tapered tubular portion  42 . 
         [0069]    The front end protrusion  41  has a tubular smaller diameter portion  44  which protrudes from a front end of the tapered tubular portion  42 , and a larger diameter portion  45  which is provided at a front end of a neck  44 . The smaller diameter portion  44  is made smaller than a front end portion of the tapered tubular portion  42 . 
         [0070]    The operation portion  43  makes it easy to apply a pressing force to the boot  4  when an operator presses the boot  4  in the front-back direction for insertion and removal operation of the optical connector  10 , and is made into a shape which overhangs outward, i.e., of which the width or height is greater than that the tapered tubular portion  42 . In the illustrated example, the operation portion  43  has an enlarged diameter portion  43   a  of which width and height become gradually larger rearward from the rear end of the tapered tubular portion  42 , and a constant diameter portion  43   b  with a constant external diameter formed behind the enlarged diameter portion  43   a.    
         [0071]    The connection member  5  is a tubular member through which the optical fiber  11  is inserted and has a tubular main body  51 , and an insertion tubular portion  52  which extends forward from a front end  51   a  of the tubular main body  51 . It is preferable that the connection member  5  have sufficient rigidity by being formed from hard resin, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, or the like. 
         [0072]    An inner surface of a rear end portion of the main body  51  is formed with a locking protrusion  53  which protrudes inward. The locking protrusion  53  is arranged at the rear of the larger diameter portion  45  of the boot  4 , and is locked to the rear face of the larger diameter portion  45 , thereby restricting rearward movement of the boot  4 . The locking protrusion  53  also has the function of restricting forward movement of the boot  4  by abutting a front end face of the tapered tubular portion  42 . 
         [0073]    A fitting convex portion  54  capable of fitting into each fitting opening  35  of the coupling engagement member  3  is formed on an outer surface of the insertion tubular portion  52  so as to protrude outward. 
         [0074]    The insertion tubular portion  52  is inserted into the main body  31  of the coupling engagement member  3  from the rear. The insertion tubular portion  52  is attached to the coupling engagement member  3  by fitting the fitting convex portion  54  into the fitting opening  35 . 
         [0075]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the connection member  5  can be configured such that substantially a semi-tubular first half body  55 A and substantially a semi-tubular second half body  55 B obtained by splitting the connection member  5  into two along the axial direction are combined together so as to face each other. 
         [0076]    By forming a fitting hole  56   a  and a fitting projection  56   b  in the first half body  55 A and by forming the second half body  55 B with a fitting projection (not shown in the figures) to fit into the fitting hole  56   a  and a fitting hole (not shown in the figures) into which the fitting projection  56   b  fits, the positioning of the first half body  55 A and the second half body  55 B can be facilitated. 
         [0077]    Although the optical fiber  11  is not particularly limited, multi-core optical fibers of optical fiber tape care wires, such as four cores, eight cores, and twelve cores, can be employed. The optical fiber  11  in the illustrated example includes a plurality of stacked optical fiber tape core wires. 
         [0078]    Next, the operation of inserting and removing the optical connector  10  into/from the optical connector adapter  7  (connector housing) will be described referring to  FIGS. 4 to 6 . 
         [0079]    In the respective drawings, a pair of latches  72  is formed in the main body  71  of the optical connector adapter  7 , the main body  71  having an insertion opening  73 . 
         [0080]    First, the insertion operation of the optical connector  10  will be described. 
         [0081]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the connector main body  1  is brought close to the optical connector adapter  7 , and is inserted into the insertion opening  73 . 
         [0082]    This insertion operation can be performed by gripping the boot  4 . The grip position can be the operation portion  43  of the rear end of the boot  4 . 
         [0083]    When the boot  4  is pressed forward, the pressing force is transmitted to the coupling engagement member  3 , and the front end (abutting portions  34   b  of the lateral plate portions  34  in the illustrated example) of the main body  31  applies a forward force to a rear end  15   d  of the housing  15 , whereby the connector main body  1  moves forward. 
         [0084]    Hereinafter, the position (position where the abutting portions  34   b  of the lateral plate portions  34  abut the housing  15 ) of the coupling engagement member  3  shown in  FIG. 4  is referred to as a first position P 1 . 
         [0085]    In the state shown in  FIG. 4 , the engagement convex portions  24  of the coupling  2  are at a position separated from front edges  36   a  (that is, the coupling engagement member  3  and coupling  2  are in a non-engagement state) within the engagement openings  36 . In this state, the coupling  2  and the coupling engagement member  3  are freely movable back and forth relative to each other within a range where the engagement convex portions  24  can move in the engagement openings  36 . 
         [0086]    By the forward movement of the connector main body  1 , the engagement protrusions  15   a  of the housing  15  displace the latches  72  outward (a direction in which the distance between the latches  72  increases). The displaced latches  72  restrict the advance of the coupling  2 . 
         [0087]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , while the advance of the coupling  2  is restricted, the housing  15  moves forward. Therefore, the engagement recesses  15   b  are exposed, the latches  72  are displaced inward, and the latch protrusions  72   a  engage the engagement recesses  15   b.    
         [0088]    Since the advance restriction of the coupling  2  is released by the inward displacement of the latches  72 , the coupling  2  is moved forward by the elastic forces of the springs  25 . 
         [0089]      FIG. 5  shows a state where the insertion of the optical connector  10  into the optical connector adapter  7  is completed. 
         [0090]    Next, the removal operation of the optical connector  10  will be described. 
         [0091]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the removal operation can be performed by gripping the boot  4 . The grip position can be the operation portion  43  of the rear end of the boot  4 . 
         [0092]    When the boot  4  is pulled rearward, the pulling force is transmitted to the coupling engagement member  3 , and the front edges  36   a  of the engagement openings  36  formed at the extending portions  32  apply a rearward force to the engagement convex portions  24  of coupling  2 , whereby the coupling  2  moves rearward. 
         [0093]    By the rearward movement of the coupling  2 , the engagement recesses  15   b  of housing  15  are exposed, and the latches  72  are brought into a state where the latches are capable of being displaced outward. 
         [0094]    When the coupling  2  is further moved rearward, a rearward force is applied to the connector main body  1  by the springs  25 , the connector main body  1  also begins to move rearward, the engagement protrusions  15   a  displace the latches  72  outward, and the engagement of the latch protrusions  72   a  with the engagement recesses  15   b  is released. 
         [0095]    When the boot  4  is further pulled rearward, the coupling engagement member  3  is separated from the optical connector adapter  7 , and the whole optical connector  10  is removed from the optical connector adapter  7 . 
         [0096]    The position (the position of the coupling engagement member  3  relative to the connector main body  1 ) of the coupling engagement member  3  shown in  FIG. 6  is referred to as a second position P 2 . 
         [0097]    The second position P 2  is behind the first position P 1 . At this second position, the front edges  36   a  of the engagement openings  36  abut the engagement convex portions  24  of the coupling  2  (that is, the coupling engagement member  3  engages the coupling  2  by the engagement structure  6 ). Thus, the rearward force can be applied to the engagement convex portions  24 . 
         [0098]    In the optical connector  10 , the boot  4  is attached to the coupling engagement member  3 , the coupling engagement member  3  is able to press the housing  15  forward at the first position P 1  (refer to  FIG. 4 ), and is able to engage the coupling  2  at the second position P 2  thereby pulling the coupling rearward (refer to  FIG. 6 ). Thus, the insertion and removal operation of the optical connector  10  is made possible by operating the boot  4 . 
         [0099]    Since the boot  4  is a tubular member through which the optical fiber  11  is inserted, the position where a force is applied to the corrector main body  1  and the coupling  2  becomes close to the central axis of the optical connector  10 . For this reason, an excessive force (for example, a force in a direction which inclines with respect to the central axis) is not applied to the optical connector  10 . 
         [0100]    Additionally, since the boot  4  is a tubular member through which the optical fiber  11  is inserted, the boot is at a position near the central axis of the optical connector  10 . For this reason, an operator may easily recognize the tip position of the optical connector  10 , for example, at the operation of gripping the boot  4  and inserting the optical connector  10  into the optical connector adapter  7 . 
         [0101]    Accordingly, the workability of insertion and removal operation of the optical connector  10  is improved even in an optical wiring board or the like where the optical connector adapter  7  is arranged with a high density. 
         [0102]    The present invention can also be broadly applied to optical connectors for multi cores or a single core other than the MPO type optical connectors. Additionally, a connector housing serving as a connection target of an optical connector is not limited to the optical connector adapter, and may be an optical connector receptacle. Although a multi-core optical fiber, such as an optical fiber tape core wire, has been exemplified as the optical fiber, a single-core optical fiber core wire or the like can be employed. 
         [0103]    While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated above and it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions, omissions and substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as being limited by the foregoing description, and is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.