Optical connector

An optical connector includes: a ferrule; a mechanical splice mechanically connecting an optical fiber to a shorter fiber; an optical fiber holder fixing the optical fiber in position; a joint member connecting the mechanical splice to the optical fiber holder; a housing accommodating the ferrule and the mechanical splice therein; a rear body accommodating at least a part of the optical fiber holder; and a coil spring urging the mechanical splice toward the front. The joint member is arranged in at least one of the housing and the rear body. The rear body has a guide wall to guide the optical fiber into the mechanical splice, and the guide wall is arranged between the mechanical splice and the optical fiber holder and has a tapered inner wall surface expanding from the mechanical splice toward the fiber holder.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an optical connector. The present application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-008636, filed on Jan. 20, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND ART

Patent Literature 1 discloses an example of the optical connector. The optical connector includes: a ferrule containing a shorter fiber; a mechanical splice mechanically fixing an optical fiber of an optical cable to the shorter fiber extending from the ferrule; an outer housing having a mechanical splice accommodating portion accommodating the mechanical splice; a jacket fixation portion accommodating a rear end portion of the outer housing and accommodating a jacket holder holding a cable jacket of the optical cable; a connection member connecting the mechanical splice to the jacket fixation portion; and a spring arranged on the outer side of the connection member and urging the mechanical splice toward the distal end via the connection member.

When assembling such an optical connector, in a state in which the mechanical splice is open, the optical fiber of the optical cable the cable jacket of which is held by the jacket holder is inserted into the mechanical splice from the rear of the connection member. When it is confirmed that the optical fiber has abutted the shorter fiber, the mechanical splice is placed in the closed state, and the shorter fiber and the fiber are mechanically fixed to each other.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: International publication WO 2006/019161

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

An optical connector according to the present disclosure comprising: a ferrule internally containing a shorter fiber; a mechanical splice arranged at a rear of the ferrule, integrated with the ferrule, and mechanically connecting an optical fiber to the shorter fiber; an optical fiber holder arranged at the rear of the mechanical splice and fixing the optical fiber in position; a joint member connecting the mechanical splice to the optical fiber holder; a housing accommodating the ferrule and the mechanical splice therein; a rear body connected to the housing such that the rear body is arranged at a rear of the housing, the rear body accommodating at least a part of the optical fiber holder therein; and a coil spring arranged inside at least one of the housing and the rear body, the coil spring urging the mechanical splice toward a front. The joint member is arranged inside at least one of the housing and the rear body. The rear body has a guide wall to guide the optical fiber into the mechanical splice, and the guide wall is arranged between the mechanical splice and the optical fiber holder, and has a tapered inner wall surface expanding from the mechanical splice toward the optical fiber holder.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Problem to Be Solved by the Present Disclosure

Taking into consideration the workability at the time of the assembly of the optical connector, it is desirable for the optical fiber to be capable of being smoothly inserted into the mechanical splice. In the optical connector of Patent Literature 1, the connection member is provided with the tapered portion expanding toward the rear (toward the jacket fixation portion), whereby the optical fiber can be easily inserted into the mechanical splice. In this case, however, the wall thickness of the portion of the connection member near the connection portion to the mechanical splice cannot but be rather large, resulting in an increase in the diameter of the connection member. As a result, a reduction in the size of the optical connector is prevented.

Advantageous Effect of Present Disclosure

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to smoothly insert the optical fiber into the mechanical splice while achieving a reduction in the size of the optical connector.

Description of Embodiments

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in order.

An optical connector according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a ferrule internally containing a shorter fiber; a mechanical splice arranged at the rear of the ferrule, integrated with the ferrule, and mechanically connecting an optical fiber to the shorter fiber; an optical fiber holder arranged at the rear of the mechanical splice and fixing the fiber in position; a joint member connecting the mechanical splice to the optical fiber holder; a housing accommodating the ferrule and the mechanical splice therein; a rear body connected to the housing such that the rear body is arranged at the rear of the housing, the rear body accommodating at least a part of the optical fiber holder therein; and a coil spring arranged inside at least one of the housing and the rear body, the coil spring urging the mechanical splice toward a front. The joint member is arranged inside at least one of the housing and the rear body. The rear body has a guide wall to guide the optical fiber into the mechanical splice, and the guide wall is arranged between the mechanical splice and the optical fiber holder, and has a tapered inner wall surface expanding from the mechanical splice toward the optical fiber holder.

When the optical fiber fixed to the optical fiber holder is connected to the shorter fiber in such an optical connector, the optical fiber is inserted into the mechanical splice from the guide wall of the rear body. The guide wall has the tapered inner wall surface expanding from the mechanical splice toward the optical fiber holder. According to this configuration, the optical fiber can be smoothly inserted into the mechanical splice. Further, the guide wall is provided on the rear body, so that there is no need to provide the joint member connecting the mechanical splice and the optical fiber holder with the guide wall having the tapered inner wall surface. Thus, it is possible to reduce the wall thickness of the portion of the joint member near the connecting portion to the mechanical splice, so that it is possible to reduce the external dimension of at least one of the housing and the rear body. Therefore, it is possible to achieve a reduction in the size of the optical connector.

The guide wall may be arranged on the inner of the joint member. The guide wall may be arranged such that the guide wall is spaced away from the rear end of the mechanical splice. The guide wall may or may not have the inner wall surface of a fixed inner diameter close to the mechanical splice.

The coil spring may be arranged on the inner of the joint member. In such a structure, as compared with the case where the coil spring is arranged on the outer of the joint member, it is possible to further reduce the external dimension of at least one of the housing and the rear body by the dimension of the coil spring. Thus, it is possible to achieve a further reduction in the size of the optical connector.

A recess or a protrusion may be provided at the rear portion of the mechanical splice, and there may be provided a protrusion fit-engaged with the recess of the mechanical splice or a recess fit-engaged with the protrusion of the mechanical splice at the front portion of the joint member. The joint member may have a pair of arms connected to the optical fiber holder, and a retaining portion provided so as to connect the pair of arms each other and retaining the mechanical splice by pinching the mechanical splice. At the front end portion of one of the pair of arms, there may be provided a protrusion fit-engaged with the recess or a recess fit-engaged with the protrusion. In such a structure, it is possible, for example, to easily connect the joint member to the rear portion of the mechanical splice, making it possible to easily assemble the optical connector. Further, due to the retaining portion, the protrusion, and recess, the joint member is firmly connected to the mechanical splice, so that the joint member is not easily detached from the mechanical splice. Thus, it is possible to improve the handling property of the mechanical splice and the joint member when assembling the optical connector.

At the rear end portion of the housing, there may be provided a cutout or a protrusion, and, at the front end portion of the other of the pair of arms, there may be provided a protrusion engaged with the cutout or a cutout engaged with the protrusion of the housing. In this structure, the protrusion is engaged with the cutout, whereby the joint member is set in position with respect to the housing.

At the rear portion of the pair of arms, there may be provided an opening or a protrusion, and the pair of arms may be connected to the optical fiber holder by the opening or the protrusion. Each of the pair of arms may have a first plate, a second plate located closer to the optical fiber holder than the first plate, and an inclined portion located between the first plate and the second plate. The inclined portion may have a shape outwardly inclined toward the optical fiber holder, with the distance between the second plates being larger than the distance between the first plates. The joint member may be set in position such that at least one of the inclined portion and the second plate is located outside of the tapered inner wall surface of the guide wall.

The joint member may be configured to be connected to the mechanical splice through the engagement of the retaining portion with a retaining groove provided at the rear portion of the mechanical splice. The retaining portion may be C-shaped.

The mechanical splice may have a base member having a fiber groove setting the optical fiber and the shorter fiber in position, and a pressing member pressing the optical fiber and the shorter fiber against the base member. The base member may be integrated with the ferrule, and a recess or a protrusion for connection with the joint member may be provided at the rear portion of the base member. In this structure, the recess or the protrusion is provided at the rear portion of the base member integrated with the ferrule, so that the state of connection between the mechanical splice and the joint member is stabilized.

Detailed Description of Embodiments of Invention

In the following, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to these examples. The present invention is indicated by the claims and is intended to include all changes within meanings and a scope equivalent to the claims. In the following description, the same components in the drawings are designated by the same reference numerals, and a redundant description will be left out.

FIG. 1is an external perspective view of an optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2is a sectional view of the optical connector shown inFIG. 1. InFIGS. 1 and 2, an optical connector1according to the present embodiment is of the type which is referred to as an LC connector. The optical connector1comprises a ferrule2, a mechanical splice3, an optical fiber holder4, a joint member5, a plug housing6, a rear body7, a cover housing8, and a coil spring9.

The ferrule2has a columnar shape. The front end surface of the ferrule2is an optical connection surface optically connected with another optical connector. A shorter fiber10is previously contained in the ferrule2internally. The shorter fiber10is fixed to the ferrule2by adhesive or the like. The shorter fiber10extends backwards (e.g., to the right inFIG. 2) from the rear end surface of the ferrule2.

The mechanical splice3is arranged at the rear of the ferrule2. The mechanical splice3is integrated with the ferrule2by adhesive or the like. The mechanical splice3is an optical connector which mechanically connects a fiber12of an optical cable11to the shorter fiber10internally contained in the ferrule2, and which can be opened and closed. The optical cable11has a structure in which the optical fiber12is covered with a cable jacket13.

The mechanical splice3has a base member15having a fiber groove14of a V-shaped sectional configuration setting the optical fiber12and the shorter fiber10in position, a pressing member16pressing the optical fiber12and the shorter fiber10accommodated in the fiber groove14against the base member15, and a plurality of clamp springs17of a U-shaped sectional configuration holding the base member15and the pressing member16between them. The base member15is integrated with the ferrule2. At the boundary portion of the mechanical splice3between the base member15and the pressing member16, there are formed a plurality of recesses18for wedge insertion. When a wedge (not shown) is inserted into a recess18, the base member15and the pressing member16are placed in an open state against the urging force of the clamp spring17.

As shown inFIG. 3, at the rear portion of the base member15, there is provided a recess19for connection. At the rear end portion of the base member15, there is provided a substantially half-cylindrical protrusion20. The protrusion20is provided with a half-ring-like retaining groove21. As shown inFIG. 4B, at the rear end portion of the pressing member16, there is provided a substantially half-cylindrical protrusion22so as to be opposite the protrusion20.

As shown also inFIG. 5, at the rear end portion of the mechanical splice3, there is provided a tapered inner wall surface23increased in diameter toward the rear of the mechanical splice3. It is easier to insert the optical fiber12into the mechanical splice3by this configuration.

The optical fiber holder4is arranged at the rear of the mechanical splice3, and fixes the optical cable11in position, thereby fixing the optical fiber12in position. As shown inFIG. 6, the optical fiber holder4has a holder main body24and a cap25.

The holder main body24has a base26, a tubular portion27protruding from the rear end (distal end) of the base26, and a grasping portion29consisting of a pair of arms28provided so as to extend rearwards from the rear end (distal end) of the tubular portion27. The base26is provided with a pair of protrusions30for connection. A male screw31is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tubular portion27. The grasping portion29grasps the cable jacket13of the optical cable11by the pair of arms28. The holder main body24is provided with a hole32which extends through the tubular portion27and the base26and into which the optical fiber12exposed through removal of the cable jacket13is inserted (SeeFIG. 2).

The cap25has a substantially cylindrical shape. In the inner peripheral surface of the front of the cap25, there is formed a female screw33to be threadedly engaged with the male screw31(SeeFIG. 2).

When fixing the optical cable11in position by the optical fiber holder4, in the state in which the optical cable11is inserted into the cap25, the exposed optical fiber12is inserted into the hole32of the holder main body24. When the end of the cable jacket13abuts the rear end surface of the tubular portion27, the cap25is screwed into the tubular portion27. Then, the arms28of the grasping portion29undergo elastic deformation so as to sandwich the cable jacket13. Thus, the cable jacket13is grasped by the grasping portion29.

The joint member5connects the mechanical splice3to the optical fiber holder4. As shown inFIG. 3, the joint member5has a pair of arms34connected to the optical fiber holder4, and a substantially C-shaped retaining portion35provided so as to connect the front portions of the pair of arms34and retaining the mechanical splice3by pinching the mechanical splice3.

The antis34have a plate-like shape. Each arm34is provided with an opening36for connection engaged with the protrusion30of the holder main body24. The protrusion30is caught by the opening36, whereby the joint member5and the optical fiber holder4are connected to each other. The opening for connection may be provided in the holder main body24, and the protrusion for connection may be provided on the arms34. Each arm34has a first plate34a, a second plate34blocated closer to the optical fiber holder4than the first plate34a, and an inclined portion34clocated between the first plate34aand the second plate34b. The inclined portion34chas a shape outwardly inclined toward the optical fiber holder4, and is configured so that the distance between the second plates34bis larger than the distance between the first plates34a. The openings36are provided, for example, in the second plates34b.

At the front end portion of one of the pair of arms34, there is provided a protrusion37for connection fit-engaged with the recess19of the base member15. The protrusion for connection may be provided at the rear portion of the base member15, and the recess for connection to be fit-engaged with the protrusion for connection may be provided at the front end portion of the arm34. At the front end portion of the other of the pair of arms34, there are provided a support protrusion38abutting the pressing member16and a protrusion39for positioning engaged with a cutout42(described below) of the plug housing6.

As shown inFIGS. 4A and 4B, the retaining portion35is engaged with the retaining groove21of the base member15. When the retaining portion35undergoes elastic deformation and is fit-engaged with the retaining groove21, the protrusion37is caught by the recess19, and the support protrusion38abuts the protrusion22of the pressing member16. The joint member5and the mechanical splice3are connected together in a state in which they are firmly fit-engaged with each other by this configuration.

The plug housing6accommodates the ferrule2and the mechanical splice3. The plug housing6has a rectangular shape in front view. The front end portion of the ferrule2protrudes from the front end of the plug housing6. At the position of the plug housing6corresponding to the recess18for wedge insertion of the mechanical splice3, there is provided a window40exposing the recess18. At the rear portion of the plug housing6, there are provided a pair of protrusions41for connection.

As shown also inFIG. 5, at the rear end portion of the plug housing6, there is provided a cutout42for performing positioning between the joint member5and the plug housing6. The protrusion39for positioning for the joint member5enters the cutout42, whereby the joint member5is set in position with respect to the plug housing6. The protrusion for positioning may be provided at the rear end portion of the plug housing6, and the cutout to be engaged with the protrusion for positioning may be provided at the front end portion of the arm34.

The rear body7is connected to the plug housing6such that the rear body7is arranged at the rear of the plug housing6. The rear body7accommodates the optical fiber holder4and the joint member5. The rear body7has a rectangular shape in front view.

At the front portion of the rear body7, there is provided a cutout43exposing one recess18for wedge insertion in cooperation with the window40of the plug housing6. At the front portion of the rear body7, there is provided a pair of openings44for connection engaged with the protrusion41of the plug housing6. Each protrusion41is caught by each opening44, whereby the plug housing6and the rear body7are connected to each other. The opening for connection may be provided at the rear portion of the plug housing6, and the protrusion for connection may be provided at the front portion of the rear body7. At the center of the rear body7, there protrude a pair of shaft portions7a. At the rear portion of the rear body7, there are provided a pair of protrusions45for locking.

In the front portion of the rear body7, there is arranged a front accommodation region46accommodating the mechanical splice3and the rear portion of the plug housing6along with the front portion of the joint member5. In the rear portion of the rear body7, there is arranged a rear accommodation region47accommodating the rear portion of the joint member5and the holder main body24of the optical fiber holder4.

Between the front accommodation region46and the rear accommodation region47of the rear body7, there is provided a guide wall48for guiding the exposed optical fiber12into the mechanical splice3. That is, the guide wall48is arranged between the mechanical splice3and the optical fiber holder4. The guide wall48is arranged such that the guide wall48is spaced away from the rear end of the mechanical splice3. The guide wall48is arranged on the inner side of the joint member5.

As shown also inFIG. 5, the guide wall48has a tapered inner wall surface49increased in diameter from the mechanical splice3toward the optical fiber holder4. The inner diameter of the inner wall surface49gradually increases from the mechanical splice3toward the optical fiber holder4. On the front end of the inner wall surface49of the guide wall48, there is provided an inner wall surface50of a fixed inner diameter. The guide wall48and the joint member5are set in position such that the inclined portion34cand the second plate34bof the arm34of the joint member5are located outside the tapered inner wall surface49of the guide wall48.

While in the above example the joint member5is arranged inside the rear body7, this should not be construed restrictively. The joint member5may be arranged inside the plug housing6, or may be arranged astride both interiors of the rear body7and of the plug housing6.

The cover housing8covers the holder main body24of the optical fiber holder4. The cover housing8is rotatably attached to the rear body7(so as to be capable of opening and closing) via the shaft portion7a. The cover housing8is provided with a pair of openings51for locking to be engaged with the respective protrusions45of the rear body7. When the cover housing8is closed, each protrusion45is caught by each opening51, whereby the cover housing8is locked to the rear body7. The protrusion for locking may be provided on the cover housing8, and the opening for locking may be provided in the rear body7.

As shown in alsoFIG. 5, the coil spring9is arranged inside the joint member5in the rear body7and outside the guide wall48. The inner of the joint member5corresponds to the axis of the ferrule2of the joint member5. Specifically, the coil spring9is arranged between the joint member5and the mechanical splice3and the guide wall48. The coil spring9urges the mechanical splice3toward the front. One end (front end) of the coil spring9abuts the support protrusion38of the joint member5, and the other end (rear end) of the coil spring9abuts the vertical wall surface of the guide wall48.

While in the above example the coil spring9is arranged inside the rear body7, this should not be construed restrictively. The coil spring9may be arranged inside the plug housing6, or astride the interiors of the rear body7and of the plug housing6.

A method of connecting the optical fiber12of the optical cable11fixed to the optical fiber holder4to the shorter fiber10internally contained in the ferrule2when assembling the optical connector1will be described. The wedge is inserted into the recess18for wedge insertion of the mechanical splice3, and the base member15and the pressing member16are opened against the urging force of the clamp spring17. In this open state, the optical fiber12is passed into the inner space of the inner wall surfaces49and50of the guide wall48and is inserted into the mechanical splice3. Then, the optical fiber12and the shorter fiber10are caused to abut each other, and then wedge is pulled out of the recess18, whereby the base member15and the pressing member16are closed by the urging force of the clamp spring17. Thus, the optical fiber12and the shorter fiber10are mechanically connected to each other by the mechanical splice3.

In the present embodiment described above, when connecting the optical fiber12to the shorter fiber10, the optical fiber12is inserted into the mechanical splice3from the guide wall48of the rear body7. The guide wall48has the tapered inner wall surface49increasing in diameter from the mechanical splice3toward the optical fiber holder4. Thus, it is possible to smoothly insert the optical fiber12into the mechanical splice3. Further, the guide wall48is provided on the rear body7, so that there is no need to provide a guide wall having a tapered inner wall surface on the joint member5connecting the mechanical splice3to the optical fiber holder4. Thus, it is possible to diminish the wall thickness of the portion of the joint member5near the connection portion for the connection with the mechanical splice3. That is, the outer wall surface of the guide wall48can also be a tapered surface increased in outer diameter from the mechanical splice3toward the optical fiber holder4. The joint member5is arranged outside the mechanical splice3, so that the influence of the wall thickness of the joint member5on the external dimension of the rear body7is great. On the other hand, the guide wall48is arranged at the rear of the mechanical splice3, so that there is scarcely any influence of the wall thickness of the guide wall48on the external dimension of the rear body7. Thus, as stated above, it is possible to diminish the wall thickness of the joint member5, so that it is possible to diminish the external dimension of the rear body7. Therefore, it is possible to achieve a reduction in the size of the optical connector1.

In the case where the joint member5is arranged inside the plug housing6, it is possible to diminish the external dimension of the plug housing6. When the joint member5is arranged astride the interiors of the rear body7and of the plug housing6, it is possible to diminish the external dimension of the rear body7and the plug housing6.

In the present embodiment, the coil spring9is arranged inside the joint member5and outside the guide wall48. As compared with the case where the coil spring9is arranged outside the joint member5, in this structure, it is possible to further diminish the external dimension of the rear body7by the dimension of the coil spring9. Thus, it is possible to achieve a further reduction in the size of the optical connector1.

When the coil spring9is arranged inside the plug housing6, it is possible to further diminish the external dimension of the plug housing6by the dimension of the coil spring9. When the coil spring9is arranged astride the interiors of the rear body7and of the plug housing6, it is possible to further diminish the external dimension of the rear body7and of the plug housing6by the dimension of the coil spring9.

In the present embodiment, at the rear portion of the mechanical splice3, there is provided the recess19for connection, and, at the front end portion of one arm34of the joint member5, there is provided the protrusion37for connection to be fit-engaged with the recess19. In this structure, it is possible to easily connect the joint member5to the rear portion of the mechanical splice3, making it possible to easily assemble the optical connector1. Further, due to the retaining portion35, the protrusion37, and the recess19, the joint member5is firmly connected to the mechanical splice3, so that the joint member5is not easily detached from the mechanical splice3. Thus, at the time of assembly of the optical connector1, it is possible to improve the handling property of the mechanical splice3and the joint member5.

When the protrusion for connection is provided at the rear portion of the mechanical splice3and the recess for connection is provided at the front end portion of the arm34, the joint member5is firmly connected to the mechanical splice3due to the retaining portion35, the protrusion for connection and the recess for connection, so that the joint member5is not easily detached from the mechanical splice3.

When the recess19is provided at the rear portion of the mechanical splice3and the protrusion37to be fit-engaged with the recess19is provided at the front end portion of one arm34of the joint member5, as compared with the configuration where the protrusion for connection is provided on the mechanical splice3and where the opening for connection to be engaged with the protrusion is provided in the joint member5, the wall thickness of the connection portion of the joint member5to be connected with the mechanical splice3is diminished, so that it is possible to further diminish the external dimension of the rear body7. Thus, it is possible to achieve a further reduction in the size of the optical connector1.

In the present embodiment, at the rear end portion of the plug housing6, there is provided the cutout42, and, at the front end portion of the other arm34of the joint member5, there is provided the protrusion39for positioning to be engaged with the cutout42. In this structure, the protrusion39is engaged with the cutout42, whereby the joint member5is set in position with respect to the plug housing6.

When the protrusion for positioning is provided at the rear end portion of the plug housing6and the cutout is provided at the front end portion of the arm34, the protrusion for positioning is engaged with the cutout, whereby the joint member5is to be set in position with respect to the plug housing6.

In the present embodiment, the recess19is provided at the rear portion of the base member15integrated with the ferrule2, so that the connection state between the mechanical splice3and the joint member5is stabilized. This also applies to the case where the protrusion for connection is provided at the rear portion of the base member15.

In the present embodiment, the support protrusion38solely abuts the mechanical splice3and is not connected thereto, so that the base member15and the pressing member16of the mechanical splice3can be easily opened.

In the present embodiment, the optical cable11in which the optical fiber12is covered with the cable jacket13is fixed in position by the fiber holder4. It is, however, also possible for the optical fiber holder4to fix, for example, the optical fiber12itself in position.

A modification of the optical connector1will be described with reference toFIG. 7.FIG. 7is a sectional view illustrating a modification of the optical connector shown inFIG. 2. InFIG. 7, like the optical connector1, an optical connector1A according to the present modification comprises the ferrule2, the mechanical splice3, the joint member5, the plug housing6, the rear body7, the cover housing8, and the coil spring9. On the other hand, the optical connector1A of the present modification is equipped with an optical fiber holder60instead of the optical fiber holder4. The optical fiber holder60is a dedicated cable holder for fixing the optical cable11in position.

As shown inFIGS. 8A and 8B, the optical fiber holder60includes a base61having a plurality of edges61a(rasp-cutters) engaged in the cable jacket13of the optical cable11, and a cover63formed integrally via the base61and a hinge62. The base61is provided with a protrusion64for locking. The cover63is provided with an opening65for locking engaged with the protrusion64. The protrusion64is caught by the opening65, whereby the cover63is locked to the base61. The cover63may be provided with the protrusion for locking, and the base61may be provided with the opening for locking.

The present invention is not restricted to the embodiment and modification described above. For example, while in the above embodiment the coil spring9is arranged inside the joint member5, this should not be construed restrictively. The coil spring9may be arranged outside the joint member5. In this case, it is possible to diminish the wall thickness of the joint member5, so that it is possible to achieve a reduction in the size of the optical connector1.

While in the above embodiment the recess19for connection is provided on the base member15of the mechanical splice3, this should not be construed restrictively. The recess19for connection may be provided on the pressing member16of the mechanical splice3.

While in the above embodiment the recess19is provided at the rear portion of the mechanical splice3, and the protrusion37to be fit-engaged with the recess19is provided at the front end portion of one arm34of the joint member5, this should not be construed restrictively. For example, it is only necessary for the joint member5and the mechanical splice3to be provided with a stopper portion preventing the joint member5from moving in the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction) with respect to the mechanical splice3. In this case, by fitting the plug housing6and the rear body7onto the mechanical splice3, it is possible to prevent the joint member5from rising, so that there is no fear of the joint member5being detached from the mechanical splice3after the assembly of the optical connector1.

While in the above embodiment an LC connector is described as the optical connector1by way of example, this should not be construed restrictively. The present invention is also applicable to other types of optical connectors.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST