Abstract:
A spring push for a fiber optic connector includes an engagement member having a slot to receive a handle that also engages a distal portion of the engagement number. The spring push, along with the handle, allows for fiber optic connectors to be installed and removed from adapters in high density applications. The spring push can be installed into a connector housing and, along with other components, be a fiber optic connector. The engagement member may also originate from other parts of the fiber optic connector.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED CASE 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 (e) to provisional application No. 62/117,490 filed on Feb. 18, 2015, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0002]    Fiber optic connectors, and the locations where they are installed, are becoming smaller and smaller. This is especially true in high density applications. The fiber optic connectors are now smaller than a person&#39;s finger and they are spaced such that a person can not easily grasp individual fiber optic connectors mounted in an adapter in the high density areas. Thus, it can be very difficult to install a fiber optic connector in, and uninstall from, its respective adapter. Adjacent fiber optic connectors are generally located too close to allow manual insertion and removal of a single fiber optic connector using the connector&#39;s outer housing as intended, particularly, when used in higher density applications. To facilitate these processes, a component was desired that possessed a smaller cross section that could be grasped to install and uninstall a fiber optic connector when in a high density application. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention is directed to a spring push for use with a fiber optic connector that includes a main body having a forward facing surface, a rearward facing surface, and at least one side portion, two generally parallel extensions extending from the forward facing surface of the main body away from the rearward facing surface; the two generally parallel extensions configured to engage an elastic member therebetween and each of the parallel extensions having a projection to engage a connector housing of the fiber optic connector, a crimp portion extending from the rearward facing surface of the main body and away from the forward facing surface, the crimp portion having a central opening to allow optical fibers to pass therethrough and between the two generally parallel extensions, and an engagement member having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion extending from the at least one side portion away from the main body and orthogonal to the central opening, the first portion having a slot, and the second portion extending from a distal end of the first portion and away from the rearward facing surface. 
         [0004]    In some embodiments, the second portion is substantially parallel to the two generally parallel extensions. 
         [0005]    In some embodiments, the spring push further includes a handle, the handle having an insert portion configured to be inserted into the slot of the engagement member. 
         [0006]    In other embodiments, the engagement member and one of the two generally parallel extensions form an opening therebetween, the opening configured for receiving a portion of a connector housing and a portion of a handle that can be inserted into the slot. 
         [0007]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is a fiber optic connector that includes a connector housing, the connector housing further comprising a ferrule holder and a spring push, the spring push inserted into an opening from a back end of the ferrule holder and the connector housing having a latch disposed on a side surface, a ferrule disposed within the opening of the connector housing, an engagement member having a first portion extending away from the connector housing, the first portion having a slot, and a second portion extending from the first portion in a direction away from the back end of the ferrule holder, and a handle, the handle having an insert portion configured to be inserted into the slot of the engagement member. 
         [0008]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present embodiments of the invention are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles and operations of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a prior art sleeve used to insert and remove fiber optic connectors in high density applications; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a spring push and handle according the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the spring push of  FIG. 2  from the opposite side; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a cross section view of the spring push of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the spring push of  FIG. 2  installed in a connector housing to make one embodiment of a fiber optic connector according to the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the fiber optic connector of  FIG. 5  with a handle inserted into the engagement member of the spring push; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the fiber optic connector of  FIG. 6  from the opposite side; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the fiber optic connector of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is an exploded view of the fiber optic connector of  FIG. 5  in cross-section; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the fiber optic connector of  FIG. 5  installed in an adapter; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the fiber optic connector of  FIG. 9  with the handle disposed within the spring push; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the fiber optic connector of  FIG. 9  with the handle being pulled rearwardly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment(s) of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art push-pull sleeve that also assists in inserting and removing fiber optic connectors. The illustrated sleeve is disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,559,781 and is assigned to the same applicant as the present application. The sleeve, having an integral handle, is disposed over the inner and outer connector housings of the fiber optic connector. As described in detail below, the present invention is more integral with a fiber optic connector. 
         [0023]    One embodiment of a spring push  100  according to the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4 . The spring push  100  can be used as a part of a fiber optic connector  200 , illustrated in the later figures. The spring push  100  has a main body  102 , the main body having a forward facing surface  104 , a rearward facing surface  106 , and side portions  108  (generally there are four side portions, but there could be more or fewer depending on the configuration of the connector housing). Extending from the forward facing surface  104  of the main body  102  are two generally parallel extensions  110 , 112 . The two generally parallel extensions  110 , 112  are spaced to allow for an elastic member, preferably a coil spring, to bias a fiber optic ferrule (see, e.g.,  FIG. 8 ) toward the front (away from the spring push  100 ) of the fiber optic connector  200 . Each of the two generally parallel extensions  110 , 112  have a front end  114 . A forward facing surface  116  is disposed on each of the two generally parallel extensions  110 , 112  to engage the elastic member disposed therebetween. See  FIGS. 3 &amp; 4 . The term “front” and/or “forward” as used herein means that direction where the fiber optic connector would mate with another fiber optic connector or device, while the term rear is used to mean the direction from which the optical fibers come. So turning to  FIGS. 2 &amp; 4 , front is the direction shown by the arrow and “back” or “rearward” is the opposite direction. 
         [0024]    Each of the two generally parallel extensions  110 , 112  also have a projection  118  on an outside surface  120  to engage a corresponding opening in the fiber optic connector  200  to engage recesses or openings  202  to retain the spring push  100  within the connector housing  204  of the fiber optic connector  200 . See  FIGS. 5, 8, and 10-11 . The projections  118  may also have a chamfered leading edge  122  that allows for the front end  114  of the two generally parallel extensions  110 , 112  to more easily enter into the central opening  206  of the connector housing  204 . 
         [0025]    Extending from the rearward facing surface  106  is a crimp portion  130 . The crimp portion  130  allows for the Kevlar cords and cable jacket (or other structural members) to be secured to the spring push  100  and the fiber optic connector  200  as is known in the art. As illustrated in the figures, the crimp portion  130  has an outer surface  132  that is preferably round and a round central opening  134 . However, the shape of the outer surface  132  and the central opening  134  may take other shapes, including oval, hexagonal, rectangular, etc. and still fall within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0026]    An engagement member  140  extends from one of the side portions  108  of the main body  102  of the spring push  100 . The engagement member  140  has a first portion  142  generally extends upward (or outward and away from the main body  102 ) between the crimp portion  130  and the two generally parallel extensions  110 , 112  to a distal portion  144 . See  FIG. 3 . The engagement member  140  also includes a second portion  146 , with a proximal portion  148  that extends from the distal portion  144  of the first portion  142  toward the front end  114  of the two generally parallel extensions  110 , 112 . 
         [0027]    The first portion  142  of engagement member  140  has a slot  150  that extends into the engagement member  140 . The slot  150  receives a handle  300 , which is described in more detail below, both in structure and function. The slot  150  preferably makes an opening on another side of the main body  102 —in this case about 90 degrees from side portion  108  from which the engagement member extends. See  FIG. 5 . For obvious reasons, the slot  150  can not come in from the bottom because of the main body  102 , and coming in from the top presents other issues, including the presence of the second portion  146  and its function, described in detail below. As would be obvious to one of skill in the art, the slot  150  could also come in from the side opposite to that shown in the figures. The slot  150  has a portion  152  with a generally rectangular configuration that begins at the edge of the first portion  142  and then transitions into a circular portion  154 , which corresponds to the configuration of the handle  300 . See  FIG. 2 . If the handle  300  had a different configuration, the portion  154  could have a corresponding configuration. 
         [0028]    The first portion  142  of engagement member  140  is illustrated as having a rear surface  156  that is flush with the rearward facing surface  106 . See, e.g.,  FIG. 9 . While this allows for the spring push  100  to be clean and streamlined, it is not necessary and there could be a step between the engagement member  140  and the rearward facing surface  106 , or even a smooth transition between the two. 
         [0029]    At the distal portion  144  of the first portion  142 , the engagement member makes a turn of about 90 degrees to begin the second portion  146 . The second portion extends forward, in the direction of the front ends  114  of the two generally parallel extensions  110 , 112 . Preferably the second portion  146  is parallel to the two generally parallel extensions  110 , 112 , but could be oriented somewhat differently if desired. The second portion  146  terminates at a distal end  160  and a terminal surface  162 , which faces downwards toward the the two generally parallel extensions  110 , 112 . See  FIGS. 8 and 10-12 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 5 &amp; 6 , there is a space  164  between the second portion  146  and the extension  112 . This space  164  is sufficient to accommodate the handle  300  and the connector housing  204 . 
         [0030]    The engagement member  140 , when the spring push  100  is inserted into the connector housing  204 , extends partially over the connector housing  204  and the terminal surface  162  is near the latch  208  on the connector housing  204 , reasons for which will be clear below. As is known in the art, the latch  208  secures the connector housing  204  into an adapter, such as the adapter  350  illustrated in  FIG. 10 , to keep the fiber optic connector  200  from being inadvertently removed from the adapter  350 . 
         [0031]    A handle  300  is illustrated in  FIGS. 2, 6-7, and 10-12 . A majority of the handle  300  lies along an axis A-A. A grasping portion  302  is at a first or proximal end  304 . The handle then has middle portion  306  that is substantially circular in cross section and has a expanded portion (or hub)  308  extending radially outward from the middle portion  306 . Between the expanded portion (or hub)  308  and the distal end  310  is an insert portion  312  that is configured to be inserted into the slot  150 . As illustrated, the insert portion  312  is circular in cross section and matches the configuration of the circular portion  154 . When the insert portion  312  is inserted into the slot  150  (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 6 &amp; 10-11 ), the expanded portion (or hub)  308  engages the rear surface  156  of first portion  142  of engagement member  140 . Thus, an operator can push on the handle  300  and the force is translated to the engagement member  140  and the fiber optic connector through the rear surface  156  of first portion  142 . 
         [0032]    The distal end  310  of the handle  300  extends upward (in the figures, but away from the two generally parallel extensions  110 , 112  and out of the axis A-A) so that it extends beyond the terminal surface  162  of the distal end  160  of second portion  146  and rests on the latch  208  when the handle  300  is disposed within the slot  150 . The top surface  320  of the distal end  310  engages or touches the terminal surface  162  of the distal end  160  of second portion  146  while a bottom surface  322  engages or touches the latch  208 . See  FIGS. 6-7 and 10-12 . When an operator wants to remove a fiber optic connector with the spring push  100  and handle  300 , the operator grasps the grasping portion  302  of the handle  300  at a first or proximal end  304  and pulls rearwardly (to the left in  FIG. 9 ), and the handle  300  moves slightly rearwardly relative to the spring push  100  and engagement number  140 . As a result, the top surface  320  engages the terminal surface  162  of the distal end  160  of second portion  146 , which forces the distal end  320  of the handle  300  to move downward toward the spring push  100  and simultaneously on the latch  208 . See  FIG. 12 . The movement of the latch  208  from the distal end  320  is sufficient to allow the fiber optic connector  200  to be removed from the adapter with the handle  300 . The distal end  310  is configured so that it cannot flex enough so that the top surface  320  disengages from the terminal surface  162  of the second portion  146 . Thus, the distal end  310  engages the second portion  146  with enough force to allow the operator to remove the fiber optic connector from the adapter. 
         [0033]    As referenced to above and illustrated in  FIGS. 5-6 &amp; 8-9 , one embodiment of a fiber optic connector  200  that can be used with the inventive spring push  100  includes the connector housing  204 , a ferrule  210 , a spring  212 , the spring push  100 , and a boot  214 . A crimp ring  216 , disposed between the crimp portion  130  and the boot  214  is also illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 10  for completeness. Additional fiber optic connector elements may also be included but are not illustrated herein, such as guide pins, a pin keeper, etc. These fiber optic connector elements may also have other configuration and still come within the scope of the present invention and the appended claims. For example, the spring could have a configuration other than the rectangular shape illustrated herein. 
         [0034]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.