Abstract:
A connector and adapter arrangement that includes a connector housing having a main body with a plurality of sides and each of the plurality of sides has a corresponding slot extending in an axial direction. An adapter housing having an interior that includes a plurality of inner walls and each of the inner walls has a corresponding rib extending in the axial direction. The corresponding ribs are arranged centrally on the inside wall of the adapter housing and each of the slots is configured to mate with the ribs. Both the interior has an alteration and the main body has an alteration and the alterations are configured to mate.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application claims the benefit of the date of the earlier filed provisional application, having U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/485,614, filed on Jul. 7, 2003, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates generally to adapters and in particular to a keyed adapter and connecter.  
         [0003]     Optical fibers are used in an increasing number and variety of applications, such as a wide variety of telecommunications and data transmission applications. As a result, fiber optic networks must include an ever increasing number of enclosures in which one or more of the optical fibers are interconnected or otherwise terminated. Thus, with the increased number and variety of applications, it is important to ensure that the proper cable is connected to the proper adapter. In addition, when connecting the various fiber optic cables, it is important that the optical fibers being connected are properly aligned in both the axial and transverse directions so that there is minimal loss of light resulting from the connection.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     A connector and adapter arrangement that includes a connector housing having a main body with a plurality of sides and each of the plurality of sides has a corresponding slot extending in an axial direction. An adapter housing having an interior with a plurality of inner walls and each of the inner walls has a corresponding rib extending in the axial direction. The corresponding ribs are arranged centrally on each of the inside walls of the adapter housing and each of the slots is configured to mate with the ribs. The interior has an alteration and the main body has an alteration and the alterations are configured to mate.  
         [0005]     A method of preventing a non-MT-RJ connector housing from mating with an MT-RJ adapter housing, the method includes forming a plurality of ribs along inside walls of the MT-RJ adapter housing and extending a length of at least one rib in an axial direction along at least one inside wall of the MT-RJ adapter housing, so as to form at least one elongated rib. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0006]     Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several Figures:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connector housing.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an adapter housing.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a connector housing in an alternate embodiment.  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an adapter housing in the alternate embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]      FIGS. 1-4  illustrate two embodiments of a connector housing  10  and  50  and an adapter housing  12  and  52 . It is understood that both the connector housing  10  and  50  and the adapter housing  12  and  52  will be fitted with additional components to establish the fiber-to-fiber connection as is known in the art.  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connector housing  10 . In an exemplary embodiment, connector housing  10  is a MT-RJ connector housing. The connector housing  10  has a main body  14  and a rear plate  16 . Main body  14  includes an opening  18  at a front face  20 . Opening  18  is surrounded by a plurality of sides  22 , which in this embodiment is four. Each side  22  has a slot  24 . One of the sides  22 , which in this embodiment is the top side, includes an extension  26  with a nub  28 .  
         [0013]     In an exemplary embodiment, at least one of the slots  24  has an elongated length as compared to a standard slot size for a MT-RJ connector. The elongated length is accomplished by extending slot  24  towards rear plate  16 . Additional slots  24  may extend closer to rear plate  16 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an adapter housing  12 . In an exemplary embodiment, adapter housing  12  is a MT-RJ adapter housing. The adapter housing  12  has a main body  32  that includes an opening  34  at front face  36 . Opening  34  is surrounded by a plurality of sides  38 , which in this embodiment are four. Each side  38  has an inside wall  40  that has a rib  42 , which is centrally located on each inside wall  40  and is aligned on two orthogonal axes as is found in standard MT-RJ adapters. Each rib  42  extends in an axial direction along inside wall  40  of main body  32 . In addition, main body  32  has an opening  44  that receives nub  28  so as to secure connector  10  to adapter  12 .  
         [0015]     In an exemplary embodiment, at least one of the ribs  42  has an elongated length as compared a standard rib size for a MT-RJ adapter housing. The elongated rib  42  is accomplished by extending the rib  42  closer to front face  36 . In addition, additional ribs  42  may extend closer to front face  36 .  
         [0016]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , connector housing  10  mates with adapter housing  12 . Front face  20  is inserted into opening  34  so that main body  14  slides in the axial direction within opening  34  of main body  32 . Each slot  24  receives each rib  42  and the longer slot(s)  24  receives the longer rib(s)  42 . By having at least one longer slot  24  and rib  42 , there is no inadvertent mating of an inappropriate connector with the adapter housing.  
         [0017]     In one embodiment, the keying is achieved by extending the alignment ribs  42  of adapter housing  12  by 0.100 inches individually to achieve four keying options. Alternatively, extending the alignment ribs  42  by 0.050 inches for multiple keys allows for additional keying options. The keying prevents inadvertent mating of non-compatible or standard connectors with adapter  12  that has at least one elongated rib  42 . Elongated rib  42  will bottom out in a non-elongated slot of a standard MT-RJ connector or a non MT-RJ connector, thereby preventing mating of the connector housing with the adapter housing. Connector  10  with an elongated slot  24  will be able to properly mate with adapter  12 .  
         [0018]     Moreover, by varying which slot  24  and rib  42  are elongated and also varying the number of slots  24  and ribs  42  that are elongated and the amount they are elongated, there are a number of different embodiments for connector  10  and adapter  12 , which increases the number of options as to restricting the connectors that can mate with the adapters. There can be increased security in that only the persons with the proper connector can connect to the specific adapter. A person that does not have the correct connector would not be able to connect to the adapter. In particular, the elongated rib would prevent a connector that does not have the elongated slot from mating with the adapter. Thus, connector housing  10  and adapter housing  12  accomplishes both unauthorized access and inadvertent mating.  
         [0019]     The connector housing  10  and the adapter housing  12  may be color coded to identify which keyed connector mates with which keyed adapter. Alternatively, color-coded icons may be used to identify mating connectors/adapters.  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a connector housing  50  in an alternate embodiment.  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an adapter housing  52  in the alternate embodiment. In an exemplary embodiment, connector housing  50  and adapter housing  52  are a MT-RJ connector housing and a MT-RJ adapter housing, respectively. The connector housing  50  is similar to connector housing  10 , except that instead of having slot(s)  24  be elongated, connector housing  50  has all slots  54  of a same size. In addition, at least one side and/or corner  56  (hereinafter referred to as side  56 , in which side  56  means side and/or corner) has been altered, such as chamfered or beveled. The altered side(s)  56  extends from the front face  20  along the axial length of main body  14  of connector housing  50 . Multiple variations can also occur with the altered side  56  in that individual sides may be altered or a plurality of sides may be altered. The size of the alteration may also create additional variations.  FIG. 3  illustrates two sides  56  being altered.  
         [0021]     Adapter housing  52  is similar to adapter housing  12 , except that instead of having rib(s)  42  be elongated, adapter housing  42  has all ribs  58  of a same size. The adapter housing  52  has a front face  36  having a generally rectangular opening  34 . One or more sides and/or corners  60  (hereinafter referred to as side  60 , in which side  60  means side and/or corner) of opening  34  are chamfered. The altered side(s)  60  extends from front face  36  along the axial length of opening  34  within main body  32  of adapter housing  52 . Side  60  correspond to the side  56  on connector housing  50 . By altering one or more sides  56  and sides  60 , the connector housing  50  and adapter housing  52  are keyed to prevent inadvertent mating. The keying is accomplished by the altered sides and/or corners  56  and  60 . In addition, the altered sides and/or corners  56  and  60  may also be combined with the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  (elongated ribs and slots) to create addition variations for the keyed connectors and adapters.  
         [0022]     As with connector housing  10  and adapter housing  12 , connector housing  50  and adapter housing  52  may also be color coded to identify which keyed connector mates with which keyed adapter. Alternatively, color-coded icons may be used to identify mating connectors/adapters.  
         [0023]     A benefit of the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-4  is that the ribs  42  and  58  are aligned on orthogonal axes, equally positioned around a central ferrule (not shown) to provide optimal alignment. Existing keyed MT-RJ connectors and adapters shift the lateral position of the ribs and slots thereby compromising alignment. By having the ribs centralized on each inside wall, the alignment of the optical fibers is optimized. Thus, the optical fibers being connected are properly aligned in both the axial and transverse directions so that there is minimal loss of light resulting from the connection. In addition, the connector and adapter are keyed with minimal disruption to the alignment advantages of the connector/adapter design.  
         [0024]     While this invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention.