Abstract:
The invention prevents an LC type optical connector plug from seriously harming a body of a worker, particularly eyes of the worker in a work for fitting the LC type optical connector plug having various concavo-convex shapes. A connector housing ( 1 ) has in its inner side of a side wall a guide groove line ( 7   a,    7   b,    12 ) which inserts and guides LC type optical connector plugs (P 1 , P 2 ) from its fitting portion, and a recess portion ( 11   b ) which conforms to a swing motion of a shutter plate ( 11 ), and the guide groove line ( 7   a,    7   b,    12 ) is constructed by cutting a part of the guide groove line ( 7   a,    7   b,    12 ) so as to form the same planar shape by forming the recess portion ( 11   b ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an interconnecting adapter for LC type optical connectors, the adapter interconnecting a pair of opposed LC type optical connector plugs. 
     2. Description of the Conventional Art 
     Conventionally, as shown in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-26778 resulting in Japanese Patent No. 4768539 which are prior applications by the applicant of the subject case, there has been proposed an interconnecting adapter for LC type optical connectors which can achieve an improvement of a workability and a cost reduction on manufacturing, and can prevent a retaining capacity of an LC type optical connector plug from being lowered, by provision of a housing constructed by an integral structure which is open in both ends and can accept the LC type optical connector plug from both directions, for the purpose of interconnecting a pair of opposed LC type optical connector plugs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problem to be Solved by the Invention 
     In the meantime, the conventional adapter for the LC type optical connector is structured such that optical axes of the LC type optical connector plugs are aligned with each other, the LC type optical connector plugs being fitted into fitting ends in both ends of a housing. At this time, in a state in which the LC type optical connector plugs is not fitted into one fitting end, when an optical part which is associated with the LC type optical connector plug connected to the other fitting end is under an operating state, a harmful laser beam, for example, having a power of about 5 mW is conducted to the one fitting end, and there is a risk that the laser beam seriously harms a body of a worker, particularly, eyes of the worker in a work for fitting the LC type optical connector plug into the one fitting end. Further, there has been a problem that a foreign material or a dust enters into an inner portion from the fitting end, whereby there is a risk of generation of defective connection. 
     Accordingly, the present invention is made by taking into consideration the conventionally existing circumstances as mentioned above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an interconnecting adapter for LC type optical connectors which can prevent the LC type optical connector plug from seriously harming a body of a worker, particularly, eyes of the worker in a work for fitting the LC type optical connector plug having various concavoconvex shapes, and can securely prevent a foreign material from entering into an inner side of a fitting end and can securely prevent a defective connection caused by the foreign material intrusion. 
     Means for Solving the Problem 
     In order to achieve the object mentioned above, according to the present invention, there is provided an interconnecting adapter for LC type optical connectors, the adapter comprising: 
     fitting portions of LC type optical connector plugs respectively provided in both ends of a connector housing so that optical axes are aligned; 
     a sleeve holder installing and retaining each of leading end portions of the LC type optical connector plugs inserted from the fitting portions in both ends, the sleeve holder being arranged in an inner portion of the connector housing; 
     a shutter plate which is diagonally arranged and closing at least one fitting portion of the connector housing; 
     a leaf spring which energizes the shutter plate in a closing direction; 
     the shutter plate and the leaf spring being arranged in the fitting portion; and 
     the shutter plate being opened against a pressing force of the leaf spring by inserting the LC type optical connector plug from the fitting portion of the connector housing so as to fit into the sleeve holder, 
     wherein the connector housing has in its inner side of a side wall a guide groove line which inserts and guides the LC type optical connector plug from its fitting portion, and a recess portion which conforms to a swing motion of the shutter plate, and wherein the guide groove line is constructed by cutting a part of the guide groove line so as to form the same planar shape by forming the recess portion. 
     The recess portion is formed as a fan shape so that a side surface of a movable portion of the shutter plate engages between a diagonal arrangement which closes the fitting portion and a horizontal arrangement which opens the fitting portion so as to freely swing. 
     The shutter plate is structured such that the side surface of the movable portion is formed so as to be wider than the fitting portion to which the LC type optical connector plug is inserted. 
     An inner side of a side wall of the connector housing is provided with an abutting surface which locks the side surface of the movable portion of the shutter plate at the swinging time in the closing direction, by the guide groove line and the recess portion. 
     Effect of the Invention 
     According to the present invention, it is possible to construct a security system for the LC type optical connector plug which can prevent the LC type optical connector plug from seriously harming a body of a worker, particularly eyes of the worker in a work for fitting the LC type optical connector plug having various concavo-convex shapes, and can securely prevent a foreign material from entering into the inner side of the fitting end and prevent a defective connection caused by the intrusion of the foreign material. 
     Particularly, since the connector housing has in its inner side of the side wall the guide groove line which inserts and guides the LC type optical connector plug from its fitting portion, and the recess portion which conforms to the swing motion of the shutter plate, and the guide groove line is constructed by cutting a part of the guide groove line so as to form the same planar shape by forming the recess portion, the shutter plate can be swung in the opening and closing direction without hindrance against the inserting operation of the LC type optical connector plug to the fitting portion. 
     Since the recess portion is formed as the fan shape so that the side surface of the movable portion of the shutter plate engages between the diagonal arrangement which closes the fitting portion and the horizontal arrangement which opens the fitting portion so as to freely swing, it is possible to avoid a contact of a ferrule core portion of the inserted LC type optical connector plug with the shutter plate surface. As a result, it is possible to prevent the end surface of the LC type optical connector plug from being soiled so as to lower its performance. 
     Since the shutter plate is formed so that the side surface of the movable portion is wider than the fitting portion to which the LC type optical connector plug is inserted, for conforming to the side surface of the recess portion, a sealability if the inner wall side of the side portion of the fitting portion is further improved by the shutter plate at the swinging time in the closing direction. 
     Since the inner side of the side wall of the connector housing is provided with the abutting surface which locks the side surface of the movable portion of the shutter plate at the swinging time in the closing direction, by the notch of the guide groove line and the recess portion, it is possible to securely lock the shutter plate in the diagonal arrangement. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view showing an interconnecting adapter for LC type optical connectors with shutter according to the best mode for carrying out the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2(A) to 2(E)  show the interconnecting adapter for the LC type optical connectors with shutter, in which  FIG. 2(A)  is a front elevational view,  FIG. 2(B)  is a plan view,  FIG. 2(C)  is a side elevational view,  FIG. 2(D)  is a bottom elevational view, and  FIG. 2(E)  is a back elevational view; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view along a line A-A in  FIG. 2(B) ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a state in which the cross section along the line A-A in  FIG. 2(B)  is seen from a front surface side; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a state in which the cross section along the line A-A in  FIG. 2(B)  is seen from a back surface side; 
         FIG. 6  describes an inserting process of an optical connector into the interconnecting adapter for the LC type optical connectors with shutter, and is a center vertical cross sectional view of a state before the insertion; 
         FIG. 7  describes the inserting process of the LC type optical connector plug into the interconnecting adapter for the LC type optical connectors with shutter, and is a center vertical cross sectional view of a state in which a shutter plate is pressed and tilted by the insertion; 
         FIG. 8  describes the inserting process of the LC type optical connector plug into the interconnecting adapter for the LC type optical connectors with shutter, and is a center vertical cross sectional view of a state after the insertion; and 
         FIG. 9  is a vertical cross sectional view of a state in which the LC type optical connector plug is inserted from both directions of the interconnecting adapter for the LC type optical connectors. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A description will be in detail given below of an embodiment according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     In the present embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 5 , there is provided a connector housing  1  which constructs an interconnecting adapter for two-core LC type optical connectors for interconnecting a pair of opposed LC type optical connector plugs P 1  and P 2  (refer to  FIG. 9 ). 
     In the connector housing  1 , an upper side wall  1   a  and right and left side walls  1   b  are integrally formed as an approximately U-shaped frame form in a front view, and a bottom wall  1   c  is attached between the right and left side walls  1   b  so as to be opposed to the upper side wall  1   a , whereby the connector housing  1  is wholly formed as a rectangular tube body provided with fitting portions A and B in both ends. The fitting portions A and B can insert a pair of opposed LC type optical connector plugs P 1  and P 2  from both ends. Further, a rectangular tube shaped holder  8  for fixing the bottom wall  1   c  mentioned later to the right and left side walls  1   b  by attaching the bottom wall  1   c  to a bottom open side of the connector housing  1  is installed to the connector housing  1 . Further, fixing brackets  9   a  and  9   b  are installed and fixed to the right and left side walls  1   b  of the connector housing  1  on the basis of an engagement between locking projections  10   a  and locking holes  10   b . The fixing brackets  9   a  and  9   b  are formed by an approximately U-shaped metal frame piece and are provided with a plurality of locking springs for fixing panels. The locking projections  10   a  are provided in a side of the connector housing  1 , and the locking holes  10   b  are provided in a side of the fixing brackets  9   a  and  9   b.    
     A partition projection  6   b  is vertically provided in the center of the upper side wall  1   a  in an inner portion of the connector housing  1  as shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 . A fitting concave portion  6   a  is formed in the center of a lower end of the partition projection  6   b . Upper end portions of a pair of joint end wall members  3   a  and  3   b  constructing a sleeve holder  5  are attached to the fitting concave portion  6   a  in a state in which the upper end portions are aligned with each other. One cylinder  5   a  is provided in one joint end wall member  3   a  arranged in the center portion of the connector housing  1  so as to protrude toward the one fitting portion A, and the other cylinder  5   b  is provided in the other joint end wall member  3   b  so as to protrude toward the other fitting portion B. The sleeve holder  5  is formed by engaging and fixing fitting claws  4   a  and engagement portions  4   b  which are formed alternately in corner portions of the joint end wall members  3   a  and  3   b  so that center axes of both the cylinders  5   a  and  5   b  are aligned on an optical axis (refer to  FIG. 1 ). At this time, both the cylinders  5   a  and  5   b  are arranged so as to protrude in opposite directions in a state in which rear end surfaces of the cylinders  5   a  and  5   b  come into contact with each other via the joint end wall members  3   a  and  3   b . Accordingly, one split sleeve  6  is arranged in both the adjacent cylinders  5   a  and  5   b  in a state in which the split sleeve  6  is inward inserted. 
     Further, as shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , a concave groove portion  7   b  is formed in an upper side of right and left side walls  1   b  in an inner portion of the connector housing  1 . The concave groove portion  7   b  is provided with a guide protrusion  7   a  in a lower side for inserting and guiding the LC type optical connector plugs P 1  and P 2  along a longitudinal direction. The guide protrusion  7   a  and the concave groove portion  7   b  correspond to a concavo-convex outer shape of the LC type optical connector plugs P 1  and P 2 . Further, a key groove  12  is formed in the center of the upper side wall  1   a  in the one fitting portion A. The key groove  12  is formed as a linear groove line along a direction of an optical axis for guiding when the LC type optical connector plugs P 1  and P 2  are inserted. Each of the guide protrusion  7   a  and the concave groove portion  7   b  constructs a guide groove line described in each of claims. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 9 , an arc-shaped notch portion  1   d  is formed in an upper end of the one fitting portion A of the connector housing  1  which is employed in the embodiment mentioned above. Further, in place of the insertion of the LC type optical connector plug P 2  into the other fitting portion B, the other optical part, for example, the SC type optical connector plug or the other plug may be inserted. 
     A shutter plate  11  for closing the fitting portion A in a diagonal arrangement is arranged in the one fitting portion A of the connector housing  1  so that the shutter plate can be opened and closed in an inner side. In other words, the shutter plate  11  is structured such that a support shaft  15  is integrally provided in a protruding manner at a horizontal position of its lower end, and protruding portions  15   a  provided in symmetrical positions in both ends of the support shaft  15  are rotatably supported to a shaft hole  16  which is formed over the bottom wall  1   c  at the right and left opposed positions of the lower portion of the fitting end of the fitting portion A, and the right and left side walls  1   b.    
     Further, a rectangular opening portion  17  is formed approximately in the center of the lower end of the shutter plate  11  where the shutter plate  11  and the support shaft  15  are connected, a leaf spring  18  which is formed by being bent in an approximately L-shaped form and is made of a metal is outward fitted to the center of the support shaft  15  via the opening portion  17 , one end of the leaf spring  18  is brought into pressure contact with a rectangular concave portion  11   a  (having a magnitude and a thickness which correspond to a whole surface of the shutter plate  11 ) formed in an inner surface of the bottom wall  1   c , and the shutter plate  11  is energized in a closing direction by bringing the other end of the leaf spring  18  into pressure contact with the inner side of the shutter plate  11 . 
     Accordingly, as shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , a fan-type recess portion  11   b  using the shaft hole  16  as a so-called pivot of fan is formed in each of the right and left side walls  1   b  so that the shutter plate  11  can be swung so as to be opened and closed. At this time, the recess portion  11   b  is formed by cutting a part of the guide protrusion  7   a  and the concave groove portion  7   b  (the guide groove line described in each of claims). Further, the shutter plate  11  is formed wider than a transverse width of the fitting portion A (inlet) to which the LC type optical connector plug P 1  is inserted, and the shutter plate  11  itself can swing in an opening and closing direction, while a side surface of a movable portion of the shutter plate  11  engages into each of the right and left fan-shaped recess portions  11   b.    
     Further, in an inner wall surface of each of the right and left side walls  1   b  of the fitting portion A of the connector housing  1 , a stepped abutting surface  11   c  is formed over the guide protrusion  7   a  and the concave groove portion  7   b  (the guide groove line described in each of claims), in an upper end edge of the recess portion  11   b  (an end of closing movement of the shutter plate  11 ), and is structured such as to lock a side surface of a movable portion of the shutter plate  11  when the shutter plate  11  swings in the closing direction. 
     An upper end of the shutter plate  11  is structured such as to be locked approximately in a sealed manner to a key groove  12  which is provided in the upper side wall  1   a  of the connector housing  1 . Further, an opening portion  17  provided between a lower end of the shutter plate  11  and the support shaft  15  is in a state in which the opening portion  17  is always closed by an elastic force of the leaf spring  18 . Accordingly, any dust does not enter into the connector housing  1  from the opening portion  17 . Further, the leaf spring  18  is provided with a length by which one end of the leaf spring  18  is arranged so as to be extended to an optical axis when the shutter plate  11  is brought into pressure contact with the abutting surface  11   c  in the one fitting portion A of the connector housing  1 . 
     The shutter plate  11  is formed such that the shutter plate  11  is opened against a pressing force of the leaf spring  18  by fitting the LC type optical connector plug P 1  to the one fitting portion A of the connector housing  1 . 
     The LC type optical connector plug P 1  (P 2 ) is provided with a coupling sleeve  21  which is made of a plastic having a comparatively high strength, a tube  22  for ferrule and a ferrule frame  23  which are provided within the coupling sleeve  21 , a ferrule  24  which is installed to the ferrule frame  23 , a spring  25  which is installed to an outer periphery of a rear end portion of the ferrule frame  23 , a main body frame  26  which is fitted to a rear end portion of the ferrule frame  23  via the spring  25  and is made of a plastic, and a boot  27  which is installed to a rear portion of the main body frame  26 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIGS. 6 to 9 , in an outer peripheral surface of the coupling sleeve  21 , a release lever  28  is integrally provided in the coupling sleeve  21 . The release lever  28  has a pair of right and left engagement projections  28   a  which are inserted to the concave groove portions  7   b  arranged in the upper sides within the fitting portions A and B provided in both ends of the connector housing  1  while engaging, and is provided for carrying out an engagement with the key groove  12  and a release from the key groove  12 . The release lever  28  is extended in an inclined manner from a leading end portion of the coupling sleeve  21  toward a rear end portion thereof so as to be away from an outer surface of the coupling sleeve  21  little by little, and the rear end portion protrudes in an inclined manner to an opposite side to the coupling sleeve  21  so as to come into contact with a latch lever  29  which is formed in an outer peripheral surface of the main body frame  26 . 
     The ferrule  24  of the LC type optical connector plug P 1  installed from the one opening side (for example, the fitting portion A) of the connector housing  1  is fitted to the one side of the sleeve holder  5 , and the ferrule  24  of the LC type optical connector plug P 2  optically connected to the LC type optical connector plug P 1  is fitted to the other side of the sleeve holder  5 , whereby the LC type optical connector plugs are aligned in an axial direction while bringing the leading ends of both the ferrules  24  into contact with each other via the split sleeve  6  which is inward installed over both the cylinders  5   a  and  5   b.    
     In place of the structure of the adapter for interconnecting the LC type optical connectors by the two-core connector housing  1  mentioned above, an adapter for interconnecting the LC type optical connectors by the four-core connector housing  1  may be structured. 
     Next, a description will be given of an example of assembly, use and motion with regard to the best mode structured as mentioned above. 
     When assembling the adapter for the LC type optical connector, both the cylinders  5   a  and  5   b  are aligned their center axes on the optical axis and the joint end wall members  3   a  and  3   b  are engaged with and fixed to each other via the fitting claw  4   a  and the engagement portion  4   b , in a state in which the split sleeve  6  is installed between both the cylinders  5   a  and  5   b  which form the sleeve holder  5 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Further, the sleeve holder  5  is embedded in the fitting concave portion  6   a  of the partition projection  6   b  in the center of the upper side wall  1   a  of the housing  1 . 
     At the same time, the leaf spring  18  is outward fitted to the center of the support shaft  15  via the opening portion  17  of the shutter plate  11 , the protruding portions  15   a  in both ends of the support shaft  15  of the shutter plate  11  are thereafter mounted to the shaft hole  16  of the bottom wall  1   c , and a pair of side walls  1   b  arranged in the right and left sides of the upper side wall  1   a  which is formed approximately as the U-shaped form in the front view are respectively embedded on the bottom wall  1   c.    
     At this time, as shown in  FIG. 3 , one end of the leaf spring  18  is brought into pressure contact with the concave portion  11   a  of the bottom wall  1   c , and the other end is brought into pressure contact with the inner side surface of the shutter plate  11 , thereby energizing the shutter plate  11  approximately in the inclined state in the direction of closing the fitting end in the one fitting portion A. 
     Further, the rectangular tube shaped holder  8  is installed to the connector housing  1 , and the bottom wall  1   c  is fixed to the right and left side walls  1   b . At the same time, the fixing brackets  9   a  and  9   b  for fixing the panel are respectively installed to the right and left side walls  1   b  of the connector housing  1 . 
     Next, when using the adapter for the LC type optical connector, the shutter plate  11  closes the fitting end in the one fitting portion A on the basis of the elastic force in the expanding direction of the approximately L-shaped leaf spring  18 , before the LC type optical connector plug P 1  is fitted to the one fitting portion A of the connector housing  1 , first of all, as shown in  FIG. 6 . At this time, the side surface of the movable portion of the shutter plate  11  is locked by the abutting surface  11   c.    
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the shutter plate  11  under closing is pushed by the insertion of the LC type optical connector plug P 1  into the fitting portion A of the connector housing  1 , and the shutter plate  11  is tilted to the inner side of the fitting end against the elastic force of the leaf spring  18 . At this time, the side surface of the movable portion of the shutter plate  11  swings the shutter plate  11  itself in the opening direction (to the lower side) while engaging into the right and left fan-shaped recess portions  11   b.    
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , when the LC type optical connector plug P 1  is further pressed into the fitting portion A of the connector housing  1 , the shutter plate  11  is engaged and inserted into the concave portion  11   a  in the horizontal state. Further, when the LC type optical connector plug P 1  is completely pressed into the fitting portion A, the LC type optical connector plug P 1  is firmly pinched between the shutter plate  11  and the upper side wall  1   a  of the connector housing  1  on the basis of the elastic force of the leaf spring  18 , and the connecting work is finished. 
     As mentioned above, in the present embodiment, since the shutter plate  11  closes the fitting portion A according to the diagonal arrangement, it is possible to avoid the contact of the ferrule core portion of the inserted LC type optical connector plug P 1  with the surface of the shutter plate  11 . As a result, it is possible to prevent the end surface of the LC type optical connector plug P 1  from being soiled so as to lower the performance. 
     Further, since the shutter plate  11  integrally has the support shaft  15  in its lower end, and is structured such that the protruding portions  15   a  provided in both ends of the support shaft  15  are rotatably supported to the lower end of the fitting portion A of the connector housing  1 , it is possible to optimize the position of the support shaft  15  of the shutter plate  11  which is defined by the opening width covered by the shutter plate  11  and the avoidance of the obstacle, for example, the locking piece of the split sleeve  6 , existing on the opening and closing track of the shutter plate  11 . Accordingly, it is possible to optimize a whole length of the adapter for the LC type optical connector. Further, it is possible to achieve space saving of the adapter for the LC type optical connector, and an assembling performance is improved. 
     Further, since the leaf spring  18  is structured such that one end of the leaf spring  18  is arranged so as to be extended to the optical axis, when the shutter plate  11  is brought into pressure contact with the inner side of the fitting portion A of the connector housing  1 , it is possible to reflect the light to a different angle from the optical axis. Further, since the leaf spring  18  itself can be formed by using a metal as a material, the leaf spring can maintain durability even in the case that the leaf spring is heated by the light having strong energy.