Long push pull sleeve indicating orientation

An outer housing on a fiber optic connector allows for easier grasping to insert and remove a fiber optic connector, and in particular, in high density applications. The outer housing extends beyond a rear end of an inner housing. The outer housing also includes a way for a technician to see if the fiber optic connectors are installed correctly from a variety of positions relative to the installation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to fiber optic connectors that have an inner connector housing and an outer connector housing. In the MPO style of connectors, the inner connector housing is used to move latches in an adapter so that the fiber optic connector can be latched into the adapter. Thus, the technician should be using the inner connector housing to insert the fiber optic connector into the adapter. The outer connector housing is pulled to release the latches from the fiber optic connector, thereby allowing the fiber optic connector to be removed. In high density applications, it is difficult to reach the inner connector housing, so the technician may push on the fiber optic cable to insert the fiber optic connector instead. It may also be difficult to fully grasp the outer connector housing in those high density installations. Thus, a longer outer sleeve that is easier to grasp is needed.

The fiber optic connectors also have a polarity—meaning that the fiber optic connector needs to be inserted in certain way. Typically there is a marking on one side of the fiber optic connector. But that marking can only be seen from one side and it may be difficult to see at all in the higher density applications. Thus, a more visible marking on the fiber optic connector is needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a fiber optic connector having a fiber optic ferrule, the fiber optic connector that includes an inner housing for receiving a portion of the fiber optic ferrule therein, the outer housing having an exterior surface and an interior surface and extending between a front end and a rear end, a main opening extending between front and rear ends of the outer housing, the main opening at least partially defined by the interior surface and configured to receive at least a portion of the inner housing and fiber optic ferrule therein, a portion of the inner housing extending beyond the front end of the outer housing, and a least one identification opening extending between the exterior surface and the interior surface and in communication with the main opening adjacent the rear end thereof.

In some embodiments, the at least one identification opening extends through the top side and an adjacent side and into the main opening.

In some other embodiments, the at least one identification opening comprises two identification openings, a first identification opening extending through a top side and a first side and a second identification opening extending through the top side and a second side, the first side and second side disposed across the main opening from one another.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the invention is directed to an outer housing for a fiber optic connector, the fiber optic connector including an inner housing and a fiber optic ferrule, the outer housing includes a main body having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the main body extending between a front end and a rear end, a main opening extending through the main body between the front and rear ends, the main opening at least partially defined by the interior surface of the main body and configured to receive at least a portion of the inner housing and fiber optic ferrule therein and to allow a portion of the inner housing and ferrule to the extend beyond the front end, and at least one identification opening extending between the exterior surface and the interior surface and in communication with the main opening in the main body adjacent the rear end.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the invention is directed to a fiber optic connector having a fiber optic ferrule, the fiber optic connector that includes an inner housing for receiving a portion of the fiber optic ferrule therein, the outer housing having an exterior surface and an interior surface and extending between a front end and a rear end, a main opening extending between front and rear ends, the opening at least partially defined by the interior surface of the main body and configured to receive at least a portion of the inner housing and ferrule therein, a portion of the inner housing and ferrule extending beyond the front end of the outer housing and means for identifying an orientation of the fiber optic connector at the second end of the outer housing.

In some embodiments, the means for identifying is at least one identification opening.

In some embodiments, the means for identifying is at least one projection extending from the exterior surface radially outward away from the interior surface, the at least one projection extending across a portion of a top side and along a portion of a first side and adjacent to the rear end.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2illustrate a prior art version of a portion of a fiber optic connector10with a push-pull sleeve12(outer housing), an inner housing14, and a fiber optic ferrule16. The inner housing14is slidably disposed within the outer housing12. The rear end18of the inner housing14extends beyond the rear end20of the outer housing12. The amount of the inner housing14that is accessible for pushing the fiber optic connector10into an adapter being relatively small. Thus, the user may, rather than try to grab the small portion of inner housing that is accessible, just push on the strain relief boot (and/or the spring push or crimp band) to insert the fiber optic connector10into the adapter. The fiber optic connector10also has an indicia, such as a white dot22, on one side to indicate the orientation of the fiber optic connector10. SeeFIG. 2. However, the white dot22is only visible from one side and if there are additional fiber optic connectors10that are installed close to that side of the fiber optic connector10, the white dot22may not be easily or clearly visible to the user. Further, adding the white dot22to the fiber optic connector10is an extra manufacturing step that adds to the overall labor costs of making the fiber optic connector10.

Now referring toFIGS. 3-5 and 8, one embodiment of an outer housing100according to the present invention is illustrated. The outer housing100has a main body102, an exterior surface104, and an interior surface106. The outer housing100extends between a front end108and a rear end110.

Applicant notes that the term “front” or “forward” means that direction where the fiber optic connector would meet with another fiber-optic connector or device, while the term “rear” or “rearward” is used to mean the direction from which the optical fibers enter into the fiber-optic ferrule or fiber optic connector. Thus, “front” with respect to the outer housing illustrated inFIG. 3—as being where the end of the outer housing is at the top of the figure. The rear or rearward direction would be the opposite direction. For a fiber optic connector, front is the end where the optical fibers are terminated at a front face and the rear is where the optical fibers enter the fiber optic connector or fiber optic ferrule.

The outer housing100also includes a main opening112extending between front end108and rear end110of the outer housing100. The main opening112is at least partially defined by the interior surface106of the main body102and is configured to receive at least a portion of an inner housing114(seeFIGS. 4 & 5) and fiber optic ferrule116. As is typical with these connectors, a portion of the inner housing114extends beyond the front end108of the outer housing100. The outer housing100also has identification openings118extending between the exterior surface104and the interior surface106and is therefore in communication with the main opening112adjacent the rear end110thereof.

The identification openings118are illustrated inFIGS. 3-5as slot-like openings in the outer housing100, although the identification openings118could be other shapes as well. There are preferably two such identification openings118on opposite sides of the top side120of the outer housing100. The identification openings118could also be on an opposite side, the bottom side122of the outer housing100(depending on the orientation of the outer housing100). Each identification opening118also preferably continues around and down (or up if coming from the bottom side122) a portion of each side124of the outer housing100. The two sides124are on opposite sides of the main opening112and join the top side120with the bottom side122. Alternatively, the identification openings118may only be on the top side or mostly on a side124and smaller opening in the top side120.

Each of the identification openings118preferably extend completely through from the exterior surface104and through the interior surface106, making the identification openings118in communication with the main opening112. This configuration of the identification openings118allows even a casual observer to identify the orientation of the fiber optic connectors outfitted with the outer housing100.

As can be seen inFIGS. 4 and 5, a rear end130of the inner housing114is visible through the identification openings118. This means that the outer housing100(and the rear end110) extends beyond the rear end130of the inner housing114, unlike in the prior art connector10inFIGS. 1 and 2. For clarity, the rear end130of the inner housing114does not extend into the identification openings118. The actual placement of the identification openings118may also be located closer to the front end108. The identification openings118are disposed adjacent the rear end110of the outer housing100. By “adjacent,” Applicant means that the identification openings118are close to the end, but may be moved forward and still be adjacent, as long as there are no intervening structures that come between the rear end110and the identification openings118. However, as noted above, the identification openings118cannot be moved too far forward as they will not be easily discerned by an observer.

An alternative embodiment of an outer housing200to be used with a fiber optic connector is illustrated inFIG. 6. The outer housing200has a main body202, an exterior surface204and an interior surface (not visible but similar to interior surface106). The outer housing200extends between a front end208and a rear end210also includes a main opening (not visible inFIG. 6) extending between front end208and rear end210. The main opening is at least partially defined by the interior surface of the main body202and is configured to receive at least a portion of an inner housing114and fiber optic ferrule116.

The outer connector housing200has a different configuration for the identification openings218in this embodiment. Rather than extending between the exterior surface204and the main opening, the identification openings218extend into the main body202from the exterior surface204but do not penetrate into the main opening by going through the interior surface. Thus, the rear end130of the inner housing114is not visible. But as with the prior embodiment, the outer housing200still extends beyond the rear end130of the inner housing114. Again, the identification openings218could take on other configurations, lengths, widths, or even depths into the main body202as discussed above for the first embodiment.

Yet another embodiment of an outer connector housing300that can be used with a fiber optic connector is illustrated inFIG. 7. The outer housing300has a main body302, an exterior surface304and an interior surface (not visible but similar to interior surface106). The outer housing300also extends between a front end308and a rear end310also includes a main opening (not visible inFIG. 7) extending between front end308and rear end310. The main opening is at least partially defined by the interior surface of the main body302and is configured to receive at least a portion of an inner housing114and fiber optic ferrule116.

Instead of having openings in this embodiment, the outer housing300has identification elements318that extend upward and outwardly (radially) from the exterior surface304. These identification elements318preferably extend higher than other structures that are on the outer housing300so that they are easily visible to an observer. Because there is no opening in the top or sides of outer housing300, the rear end130of the inner housing114is not visible. But as with the prior embodiment, the outer housing300still extends beyond the rear end130of the inner housing114. Again, the identification elements318could take on other configurations, lengths, widths, or even heights from the main body302.

Applicant notes that the identification openings118, identification openings218, and the identification elements318are the means referred to in the claims. Thus, the outer housings could use holes, a series of holes separated by bridges made from the same material as the outer housing, depressions (of varying depths) and even projections (again of varying heights) to make the orientation clear. In this manner, each of these elements is used to identify the orientation of the outer housings and fiber optic connectors that are installed in adapters and particularly in high density applications. SeeFIG. 9where one of the fiber optic connectors has been installed upside down. The incorrectly oriented fiber optic connector inFIG. 9can easily identified from different viewing angles using the aspects of the present invention. Additionally, the added lengths of the outer housings make it easier to grasp and insert the fiber optic connectors in those adapters and high density applications.