ADAPTER SHUTTER ASSEMBLY WITH SHUTTER RETENTION CAP

A fiber optic adapter assembly includes an adapter body, a spring clip and a retention cap attached to the adapter body enclosing each of the spring clip and two shutters. The adapter body has a main opening and a plurality of pivot arms extending away from the main opening and two latch arms, each of the latch arms disposed between a pair of the pivot arms causing gaps between the latch arms and the pivot arms, which are sealed by the retention cap. The spring clip has a plurality of fingers moveably contacting each of shutters, which pivot between a first and second position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The fiber optic connector industry utilizes adapters for mating fiber optic connectors to form an optical connection. Often, these adapters have shutters on each end for eye safety and/or dust and debris reduction. The shutters close off the mating space inside the adapter and can be opened (automatically or manually) when the connectors are being inserted. One such adapter with a shutter is presented in WIPO Publication No. WO 2020/057528 to Suncall Technologies (SZ) Co., Ltd. of Shenzhen, China.

Typical adapters with shutters, while capable of helping with dust and eye safety issues, are still prone to dust and are not dust proof in their true sense—for example, dust can still enter from the sides of the adapter. Further, many such adapters have challenges such as too many parts (increased cost), difficult assembly due to the size and relative placement of the parts, a need for internal coil springs that bias the shutters, legacy footprint sizes that make it impossible to accommodate small shutters for current technologies, and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect, the present invention is directed to a fiber optic adapter assembly that includes an adapter body having a main opening to receive at least one fiber optic connector, the main opening surrounded circumferentially by a top side, a bottom side, a first side surface and a second side surface between the top side and the bottom side, the first side surface being opposite the second side surface, the adapter body further includes a first pair of pivot arms adjacent the first side surface and extending longitudinally away from the main opening. a second pair of pivot arms adjacent the second side surface and extending longitudinally away from the main opening and a first latch arm between the first pair of pivot arms and a second latch arm between the second pair of pivot arms, wherein the first latch arm is separated from each pivot arm of the first pair of pivot arms by a first gap and the second latch arm is separated from each pivot arm of the second pair of pivot arms by a second gap, a first shutter positioned on one of the first pair of pivot arms and one of the second pair of pivot arms adjacent the top side, a second shutter positioned on the other of the first pair of pivot arms and the other of the second pair of pivot arms adjacent the bottom side, each of the first shutter and the second shutter moveable between an open position and a closed position, a spring clip positioned around a portion of the adapter body, the spring clip including a plurality of fingers moveably contacting each of the first shutter and the second shutter, and a retention cap attached to the adapter body enclosing each of the spring clip, the first shutter and the second shutter, wherein the first shutter and the second shutter pivot at least partially within the retention cap and at least partially at the respective pivot arms in the first and second pairs of pivot arms.

In some embodiments, the retention cap comprises a plurality of inserts to be received in each of the first gap and the second gap of the adapter body such that when assembled, each of the plurality of inserts fully closes the first gap and the second gap.

In some embodiments, the first and second shutters each have a groove to receive a fiber optic ferrule disposed within the at least one fiber optic connector when inserted through the retention cap.

In some embodiments, the retention cap has a key groove to accommodate a key feature on the fiber optic connector.

In yet another aspect, there is a fiber optic adapter assembly that includes an adapter body having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining at least in part a main opening between a first side and a second side, the second side receiving a first fiber optic connector, a retention cap attached to the first side of the adapter body and capable of receiving a second fiber optic connector, a spring clip disposed around at least a portion the adapter body and between an inside portion of the retention cap and the adapter body, and a first shutter and a second shutter movably engaging the spring clip, the adapter body and the retention cap.

In some embodiments, the first shutter has a protrusion at a free end thereof, and the second shutter has a recess at a free end thereof to receive the protrusion from the first shutter.

In some embodiments, the spring clip has a projection to be inserted into a corresponding cavity on the adapter body.

In yet another aspect, there is a fiber optic adapter assembly that includes an adapter body having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining at least in part a main opening between a first side and a second side, the second side receiving a first multi-fiber ferrule, a retention cap attached to the first side of the adapter body and capable of receiving a fiber optic connector with a second multi-fiber ferrule, a spring clip disposed around at least a portion the adapter body and between an inside portion of the retention cap and the adapter body, and a first shutter and a second shutter movably engaging the spring clip, the adapter body and the retention cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Illustrated inFIGS.1-3is one embodiment of a fiber optic adapter assembly100according to the present invention. This embodiment of the fiber optic adapter assembly100may be used with two fiber optic connectors50and52, one having a male configuration50and the other having a female configuration52. SeeFIG.3. The fiber optic connectors50,52can be inserted from either side of the fiber optic adapter assembly100. The fiber optic connectors50,52have an outer housing54, an inner housing56, a multi-fiber fiber optic ferrule58and, depending on the configuration of the fiber optic connector, guide pins60. As illustrated herein, the fiber optic adapter assembly100preferably includes an adapter body102, a spring element or spring clip104and a retention cap106. The fiber optic adapter assembly100also includes two shutters108,110that are disposed within the fiber optic adapter assembly100. SeeFIGS.2-4and8-10.

The adapter body102of the fiber optic adapter assembly100has a main opening120to receive at least one of the fiber optic connectors50,52from each side of the fiber optic adapter assembly100. The main opening120of the adapter body102is circumferentially surrounded by a top side122, a bottom side124, a first side surface126and a second side surface128. The first side surface126and the second side surface128function to separate the top side122from the bottom side124and are on opposing sides of the main opening120.

Applicant notes that the term “front” or “forward” means that direction where the fiber optic ferrule would be inserted into the fiber optic adapter assembly100in the perspective of using the adapter assembly102. Therefore, inFIGS.1-3, the front is to the left side of the fiber optic adapter assembly100as the right side is typically installed within a panel or other receptacle, and therefore being in the rear or behind the panel.

The adapter body102of the fiber optic adapter assembly100has two pair of pivot arms, a first pair of pivot arms130a,130bare adjacent the first side surface126and extend away from the main opening120and toward the front of the adapter body102of the fiber optic adapter assembly100. The second pair of pivot arms132a,132bare adjacent the second side surface128and also extend away from the main opening120and toward the front of the adapter body102of the fiber optic adapter assembly100. Disposed between each of the pair of pivot arms is a connector latch arm, a first latch arm134ais disposed between first pair of pivot arms130a,130band the second latch arm134bis disposed between the second pair of pivot arms132a,132b. The first latch arm134aand the first pair of pivot arms130a,130bextend away from the adapter body102and the main opening120via a common attachment member138athat extends from a front facing surface136of the adapter body102that surrounds the main opening120. See, e.g.,FIG.6. The second latch arm134band the second pair of pivot arms132a,132bextend away from the adapter body102and the main opening120via a common attachment member138bthat extends from the front facing surface136of the adapter body102that surrounds the main opening120. However, the two latch arms134a,134band the pivots arms130a,130b,132a,132bcould each extend directly from the front facing surface136independently of one another. SeeFIGS.2,3, and6. It should therefore be recognized that there is a gap between each of the latch arms and their respective pivot arms. SeeFIGS.4,6,8, and11. Specifically, there is a gap140abetween the first latch arm134aand one of first pair of pivot arms130a, and a second gap140bbetween the first latch arm134aand the second of the first pair of pivot arms130b. Likewise, gap142ais between the second latch arm134band one of second pair of pivot arms132a, and a second gap142bbetween the second latch arm134band the second of the second pair of pivot arms132b. As discussed below, the gaps140a,140b,142a,142bare sealed by structures that are within the retention cap106to prevent dust and debris from entering the main opening120. The gaps140a,140b,142a,142bextend behind the shutters108,110when in the fully closed position of the shutters108,110.

Each of the pivot arms130a,130b,132a,132bhave at a distal end thereof (that is at the free end of the pivot arm) a pivot end144a,144b,144c,144d, respectively. The pivot ends144a,144b,144c,144dare arcuate/curved/semi-circular in configuration. A portion of each of the shutters108,110are disposed within the pivot arms. This allows for rotation of the two shutters108,110within those pivot ends as discussed below. However, in an alternative embodiment, the pivot ends144a,144b,144c,144dmay be formed by two planar surfaces instead of the curved surface shown in the figures, for example, to form a V-shaped or L-shaped structure, which a portion of the shutters108,110engages or rests upon.

As best seen inFIGS.18,19, but also clearly visible inFIGS.3,4,8,16,19, and24, the two shutters108,110are generally planar and preferably have a central section150that is generally rectangular with at least one rounded edge152and two cylindrical projections154a,154bextending outward from the central section150at the rounded edge152in a direction coaxial with the rounded edge152and orthogonal to the central section150. Thus, the two cylindrical projections154a,154bcan be considered to be an extension of the at least one rounded edge152. The two cylindrical projections154a,154bare to be disposed on the pivot ends (e.g.144a,144b,144c,144d) at least partially. As illustrated inFIG.8, the two cylindrical projections154a,154bof shutter108are disposed on the pivot end144aof pivot arm130aand pivot end144cof pivot arm132a, while the two cylindrical projections154a,154bof shutter110are disposed on the pivot end144bof pivot arm130band pivot end144dof pivot arm132b. The shutters108,110are disposed within the pivot arms such that the shutters extend from the pivot arms back toward the main opening120of the adapter body102.

On at least one side the shutters108,110is a groove160that corresponds to the size and shape of a multi-fiber fiber optic ferrule58. See, e.g.,FIG.18. The groove160has a width that can accommodate differently positioned keys in different multi-fiber MPO connector types, e.g., from 8-16 fiber MPO connectors. For example, the key on the housing of a 16 fiber MPO connector is offset from a center of the housing, but the key for an 8 fiber MPO connector is centrally located on the housing (as is known in the art). Thus, the groove160could be in a different position of the shutters108,110for different fiber optic connectors. The shutters108,110may also have projections or outwardly extending bumps162that are positioned to engage the inner housing56as the fiber optic connector50is moved into the adapter assembly100. SeeFIGS.21and22. With the bumps162on both of the shutters108,110, they also assist in maintaining the fiber optic connector50within the center of the main opening120so that it can more easily mate with the other fiber optic connector52, as they are about to do inFIG.22. Further, the bumps162prevent scratching of the end face of the multi-fiber ferrule58, which does not contact the shutters108,110. At a front edge166of the shutters108,110are flat surfaces166athat configured to engage a corresponding surface of the other one of the shutters108,110when the fiber optic connector50is not inserted into the main opening120. The front edge166is the distal end of the shutters108,110. This engagement prevents the light from the fiber optic connector52from exiting out the front end of the adapter assembly100.

In an alternative embodiment of a shutters310, as illustrated inFIGS.19and20, there is an insert or protrusion364in the groove360toward the front edge366of the shutter310. The protrusion364may be on one of the other shutters as well. The protrusion364is configured to fit within the groove160of the other shutter308and assists in blocking the light from one of the fiber optic connectors50,52, as the shutters are opening or closing. There may be a recess (not shown) provided for the protrusion364to engage on the other shutter. The addition of the protrusion364provides better eye protection. As seen inFIG.20, the protrusion364extends to the front edge366of the shutter310. As an alternative, it may extend beyond or short of the front edge366. The shutter310may also include the projections or bumps362.

The fiber optic adapter assembly100also includes a spring element or spring clip104that at least partially surrounds the adapter body102at the front end thereof. The spring element or spring clip104is designed to fit around the four pivot arms130a,130b,132a,132badjacent the front facing surface136and therefore has a generally rectangular shape as well. See, e.g.,FIGS.5A-5C,8. The spring clip104preferably has two tabs170that extend rearwardly therefrom to engage the adapter body102. SeeFIGS.6,7,9, and15. The tabs170are inserted into a tab receptacle172in the adapter body102, preferably at the top side122and the bottom side124so as not to interfere with the latch arms134a,134band/or the pivot arms130a,130b,132a,132b. This engagement of the spring clip104with the adapter body102provides the leverage needed to bias the shutters108,110. There are also two sets174,176of two fingers174a,174band176a,176bextending in a direction opposite the two tabs170. The two sets fingers174,176each engage one of the shutters108,110, which bias the shutters toward a closed position. SeeFIGS.8,9, and10. There may be recesses178in the shutters108,110into which the two sets of fingers174,176are disposed. The recesses178in the shutters108,110would be on the opposite side of the shutters108,110from the projections or bumps162and the groove160. While the spring clip104is illustrated as one piece, it could be multiple pieces or may be a single piece with a discontinuity180(a break) to allow for easier installation on the adapter body102. SeeFIGS.4and8. The two sets of fingers174,176do move relative to the shutters108,110during the movement of the shutters108,110as the fiber optic connectors50,52are inserted into and removed from the fiber optic adapter assembly100. SeeFIGS.21and22.

The fiber optic adapter assembly100includes a retention cap106. SeeFIGS.12-17. The retention cap106attaches to the front end of the adapter body102. SeeFIGS.15and16. Thus, the retention cap106encloses the two shutters108,110and the spring clip104within the fiber optic adapter assembly100. In one way to connect the spring clip104to the fiber optic adapter assembly100, there are tabs182awith openings182btherein extending from two sides of the retention cap106to engage posts184on the top side122and the bottom side124of the adapter body102. SeeFIGS.12and14B. The posts184are preferably recessed into the top and bottom surfaces122,124although that is not a strict requirement. There may be more or fewer of the tabs and openings and posts, depending on the users' choices. As a result, the retention cap106is removably attached to the adapter body102. Other methods of connecting the retention cap106to the adapter body102could be used as well, even if the components are not removable. Typically, once assembled, the retention cap106and the adapter body102stay together, and are not easily disassembled without the use of special tools.

The retention cap106has an inside surface190that defines an opening192and an outside surface194. The fiber optic connector50is inserted into the fiber optic adapter assembly100through a cap opening196and is in communication with the opening192. The cap opening196may have a key groove198to ensure that the fiber optic connector50is inserted into the fiber optic adapter assembly100in the correct orientation (keyed entry). SeeFIGS.13and14A. The retention cap106may also include flanges200that extend outward from the outside surface194. SeeFIGS.1and14A. The flanges200are used to prevent the fiber optic adapter assembly100from being pushed through the openings in any panel into which the fiber optic adapter assembly100is inserted. The flanges200may also be smaller, shorter, or placed on a different side of the retention cap106. It should be noted that there are also integral flanges202on the adapter body102. The integral flanges202are not in communication with the main opening120. SeeFIGS.4,6, and8. These integral flanges202keep the fiber optic adapter assembly100from falling out the front a panel. As is known in the art, the fiber optic adapter assembly100is inserted into the opening of a panel with the adapter body102being inserted first. The fiber optic adapter assembly100is pushed into the panel until the flanges200engage the front of the panel. There is a space between the flanges200and the integral flanges202that corresponds to the thickness of the panel. The integral flanges202are discussed in detail in Applicant's pending application Ser. No. 17/669,758, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. While the integral flanges202are on the corners of the adapter body102, they may also be on only the top side122and the bottom side124. See, e.g.,FIG.25where another embodiment of a fiber optic adapter assembly400is illustrated. In this embodiment, the integral flanges420are completely on one side, rather than at the junction of two sides in the above embodiment.

Within the inside surface190are a number of features that are complementary to the features in the adapter body102. First, there are four cap inserts212that extend from the inside surface190into the opening192. As noted above, there are openings or gaps140a,140b,142a,142bbetween the latch arms134a,134band the pivot arms130a,130b,132a,132b. SeeFIGS.6and15. As illustrated inFIGS.12and14B, there are four cap inserts212a,212b,212c,212d, that occupy the space between the gaps140a,140b,142a,142band the latch arms134a,134bwhen the retention cap106is attached the adapter body102. As a result, when the retention cap106is fully assembled with the adapter body102, the gaps140a,140b,142a,142bare completely sealed and no dust and/or debris can enter the fiber optic adapter assembly100.

Between the cap inserts212on either side of the opening192are grooves214to accommodate the latch arms134a,134b. SeeFIGS.12and13. Toward the front of the opening192are receptacles or pivot receptacles216and218to receive at least a portion of the at least one rounded edge152and the two cylindrical projections154a,154bof the shutters108,110. SeeFIGS.12and15. When the retention cap106is attached to the adapter body102, the receptacles206and208and the pivot arms130a,130b,132a,132b(and the pivot ends144a,144b,144c,144din particular) retain the shutters within the fiber optic adapter assembly100and allow the shutters108,110to rotate as the fiber optic connector50is inserted or removed.

The retention cap106also has constraint features220that extend from the inside surface190. These constraint features220engage the inner housing56of the fiber optic connector50when it is inserted into the fiber optic adapter assembly100. The constraint features220keep the fiber optic connector50from moving horizontally (side-to-side) within the fiber optic adapter assembly100—just as the shutters108,110and spring clip104keep the fiber optic connector50from moving vertically within the fiber optic adapter assembly100as noted above.

In yet another alternative embodiment of a fiber optic adapter assembly500the adapter body502receives not a fiber optic connector52, but an MT ferrule on one side. As illustrated inFIG.24, the adapter body502is configured to receive only the MT ferrule (or other fiber optic ferrule) and not the whole connector on the side longitudinally opposite to where the shutters108,110are placed. The interior of the adapter body402has similar features as that of the adapter body102above: latch arms, pivot arms and pivot ends, etc. The retention cap106too is attached to the adapter body502in a similar manner as attached to the adapter body102. The side receiving the MT ferrule may have latches positioned to hold the MT ferrule securely, as described in Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 11,237,339, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

A process to assemble the fiber optic adapter assembly100and the fiber optic adapter assembly500will now be described with respect to the fiber optic adapter assembly100, and similar process is followed for the fiber optic adapter assembly500. The process includes attaching the shutters108,110into respective receptacles216,218of the retention cap106. In parallel, or at any time prior to attachment of the retention cap106to the adapter body102, the spring clip104is attached to the adapter body102. More specifically, the tabs170are inserted into the tab receptacle172of the adapter body102. The adapter body102is then brought toward the opening192. The two latch arms134a,134bare guided into the retention cap106by the grooves214until the four cap inserts212a,212b,212c,212d, fully seal the space between the gaps140a,140b,142a,142b, and the retention cap106engages the front facing surface136. At this time, part of the rounded edge152of the two shutters108,110is seated against the respective receptacles216,218and the remaining part is on the pivot ends144a,144b,144c,144d. Thus, the two shutters108,110are completely inside the assembly of the retention cap106and the adapter body102forming the fiber optic adapter assembly100.

According to the present invention there also is a fiber optic adapter assembly comprising an adapter body having a main opening to receive at least one fiber optic connector, the main opening surrounded circumferentially by a top side, a bottom side, a first side surface and a second side surface between the top side and the bottom side, the first side surface being opposite the second side surface, the adapter body further including a first pair of pivot arms adjacent the first side surface and extending longitudinally away from a forward facing surface around the main opening, a second pair of pivot arms adjacent the second side surface and extending longitudinally away from the forward facing surface around the main opening, and a first shutter positioned on one of the first pair of pivot arms and one of the second pair of pivot arms adjacent the top, a second shutter positioned on the other of the first pair of pivot arms and the other of the second pair of pivot arms adjacent the bottom side, each of the first shutter and the second shutter moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the fiber optic adapter further including a spring clip positioned around a portion of the adapter body, the spring clip including a plurality of fingers moveably contacting each of the first shutter and the second shutter.

The fiber optic adapter assembly may also have a retention cap attached to the adapter body enclosing the spring clip, the first shutter and the second shutter, wherein the first shutter and the second shutter pivot at least partially within the retention cap and at least partially at the respective pivot arms.

The retention cap may include a plurality of inserts to be received in each of the respective gaps of the adapter body such that when assembled, each of the plurality of inserts fully closes the respective gaps.

The adapter body of the fiber optic adapter assembly may have a first latch arm between the first pair of pivot arms and a second latch arm between the second pair of pivot arms, wherein the first latch arm is separated from each of the first pair of pivot arms by a gap and the second latch arm is separated from each of the second pair of pivot arms by a gap, wherein each of the respective gaps between the first latch arm and the first pair of the pivot arms and the second latch arm and the second pair of pivot arms extends behind each of the first shutter and the second shutter when in the closed position.

The spring clip of the fiber optic adapter assembly fits around the pivot arms rearward of the pivot ends of the pivot arms where the shutters are placed.

The spring clip of the fiber optic adapter assembly is bound by four L-shaped ledges at respective corners thereof that conform to a geometry of the pivot arms.

The shutters of the fiber optic adapter assembly have a pair of recesses in a rear portion thereof that accommodate a relative movement of the fingers of the spring clip as the shutters open and close.

The spring clip of the fiber optic adapter assembly has a skeletal structure with at least one tab at its rearmost part which fits inside a tab receptacle in a tap and/or bottom position of the adapter body.

The fingers of the spring clip of the fiber optic adapter assembly end in arcuate portions adapted to slide within respective recesses of the shutters.

The retention cap of the fiber optic adapter assembly wherein inside a retention cap opening, an inner surface thereof includes the plurality of retention cap inserts on each side to fit into cap insert recesses or gaps of the adapter body, the retention cap inserts start rearwardly from constraint features provided within the retention cap opening, and wherein the cap inserts, when fully inserted inside respective gaps between the pivot arms and the latch arms of the adapter body extend past the fully closed shutters in the direction toward a main opening of the adapter body.

The fiber optic adapter assembly has between the retention cap inserts on each side of an inner surface of the retention cap, a latch arm groove is provided to accommodate respective latch arms from the adapter body.

The fiber optic adapter assembly wherein the retention cap abuts a forward facing surface of the adapter body and is flush therewith all around the periphery of the adapter body.

The shutter of the fiber optic adapter assembly has a generally planar body with a groove along its length having a width that can accommodate differently positioned keys in different multi-fiber MPO connector types.

The pivot arms of the fiber optic adapter assembly are integral with the shutter.