Abstract:
A duplex fiber optic connector plug includes at least one fiber optic connector, a first casing, a second casing and a release lever. The release lever is axially coupled to a surface of the first casing and has an end coupled to a release bracket of the fiber optic connector to form a seesaw design. During operation, the release lever is compressed by the force of the finger, so that an end of the release lever is elevated, and the other end compresses the release bracket downward to release from a fiber optic socket, so as to provide an intuitively convenient operation and improve the convenience of use.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part patent application of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/306,195 filed on Jun. 16, 2014, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference for which priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. §120. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to the technical field of fiber optic connectors, and more particularly to a duplex fiber optic connector plug operated by an upward pushing method. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Most traditional network communication technologies utilize copper wires as network jumping to connect different machine cabinets in a network engine room and a medium for transmitting data through an electric signal transmission method. As network technology advances and data volume becomes increasingly larger, the general electric signal transmission method no longer meets application requirements, so that data are transmitted by optical signals with a faster transmission rate, and such method is generally used for the connection in large engine rooms such as the connection between the telecommunication company&#39;s network and engine rooms of buildings in residential areas or office buildings. 
         [0006]    Since the data volume of applications used in the network is getting greater and most data flow in the network engine room and they are transmitted between engine cabinets, therefore the data transmission method of the present existing copper network jumping fails to comply with application requirements, and present engine rooms gradually switch to fiber optic jumping for data transmission. Compared with the conventional copper network jumping, the fiber optic jumping has the following advantages: The number of fiber optic cables is greater than the number of copper network cables within the same diameter of the cables, and most fiber optic connectors are smaller than the conventional network connectors, so that more fiber optic connectors cannot be accommodated in the same high density mounting circumstance. In addition, the fiber optic connector is improved from the past relatively larger ST TYPE and FC TYPE to the present common LC connectors, and thus reducing the occupying space and increasing the capacity of accommodating the connectors in the machine rooms significantly. 
         [0007]    For the same reasons, maintenance or construction technicians are unable to plug or unplug the fiber optic connectors by using fingers during construction and/or maintenance jobs. Sometimes, unplugging a fiber optical connector causes the unplugging of the adjacent ones, and it becomes an issue of unplugging the fiber optical connectors. 
         [0008]    To overcome the aforementioned problem, the following two methods are generally used at present. 1. A clamping method is used to clamp and unplug the connector. 2. A fiber optic connector with a specially designed structure is adopted to facilitate the unplugging of the fiber optic connector. For example, an “Optical connector plug” disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,588,373 comprises an upwardly and backwardly extended elastic bracket with a front side coupled to the rear side of a plug main body, and the middle section of the elastic bracket has a locking piece latched with a fiber optic adapter, and a flange is formed at a rear end of the elastic bracket, and a slider is coupled to a rear end of the plug, and a cam portion is formed at a front end of the slider and coupled to the flange. When the slider moves towards the rear end, the cam portion presses against the rear end of the elastic bracket to force the elastic bracket to move downwardly and approach the plug body, so that the locking piece in the middle section of the elastic bracket is separated from the fiber optic adapter, so as to unplug the fiber optic connector from the fiber optic adapter. In “Push-pull fiber optic connectors and methods for making the same” as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,152,384, a fiber optic connector plug comprises a plug main body coupled to a front end of the connector plug and upwardly and backwardly extended elastic bracket, and a locking piece is disposed in the middle section of the elastic bracket and latched with the fiber optic adapter. The fiber optic connector further comprises a sliding shroud on the plug main body, and the shroud has a decoupling member disposed on the shroud. When both of the shroud and the decoupling member slide backward simultaneously, the decoupling member forces the rear end of the elastic bracket to move downward, so that the locking piece in the middle section of the elastic bracket is separated from the fiber optic adapter, and the fiber optic connector is separated from the fiber optic adapter. Further, a “Plug connector having unlocking mechanism” disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,221,007 comprises a front end coupled to a plug main body and an upwardly and backwardly extended elastic bracket, and the middle section of the elastic bracket has a locking piece latched with a fiber optic adapter, and both sides at the rear end of the elastic bracket have slanted surfaces, and the fiber optic connector plug further comprises a displacement element capable of moving with respect to the plug main body, and an unlocking element is formed at the front end and contacted with a slanted surface on both sides of the rear end of the elastic bracket. After the displacement element is moved with respect to the plug main body, the unlocking element forces the elastic bracket to move downward, so that the locking piece of the elastic bracket is detached from the fiber optic adapter. In a “Latching connector with remote release” as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,465,317, the latching connector comprises a plug main body coupled to a front end of the latching connector, and an elastic bracket upwardly and backwardly extended from a front end of the plug main body, and a locking piece is disposed in a middle section of the elastic bracket and latched with a fiber optic adapter, and an unlock structure is formed at a rear end of the elastic bracket, and a pull string is coupled to the unlock structure and pulled to force the elastic bracket to move downward, so that the locking piece of the elastic bracket is separated from the fiber optic adapter. 
         [0009]    In the aforementioned conventional fiber optic connectors, modifications are made in the original designed fiber optic connector structure, so that these connectors cannot be used universally for the already installed fiber optic connectors, and it is necessary to change the connectors as required. Obviously, the conventional fiber optic connectors waste unnecessary labor to change the connectors, cause inconvenience in their use, and require further improvements. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    In view of the problems of the prior art, it is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a duplex fiber optic connector plug that combines a release lever with a first casing surface by an axial connection method to provide a seesaw design and releases the duplex fiber optic connector plug in an intuitively convenient manner, so as to improve the convenience of operation significantly. In addition, the release lever is combined with the first casing surface integrally or through a pivotal connection method to meet different application requirements. 
         [0011]    To achieve the aforementioned and other objectives, the present invention provides a duplex fiber optic connector plug that is coupled to a fiber optic socket for a signal connection, and the duplex fiber optic connector plug comprises: at least one fiber optic connector, having a release bracket installed onto a surface of the fiber optic connector and obliquely and upwardly extended from a front end to the rear end of the fiber optic connector, and a locking piece disposed in a middle section of the release bracket for combining with the fiber optic socket; a first casing, coupled to a rear end of the fiber optic connector; a second casing, covered onto a side of the first casing, so that the fiber optic connector is fixed into the second casing; a release lever, having a middle section axially coupled to the top side of the second casing, a first contact surface formed at the front end of the release lever and coupled to the release bracket, and a rear end tilted upwardly to form a second contact surface; so that when the duplex fiber optic connector plug is plugged into the fiber optic socket, the locking piece disposed on the release bracket is latched and fixed into the fiber optic socket, and the second contact surface is moved upwardly by an external force, the release lever uses the pivotal connecting position as a fulcrum to drive the first contact surface to move downward and separate the locking piece of the release bracket from the fiber optic socket to define a release status. 
         [0012]    In a preferred embodiment, the first casing is divided into a front section and a rear section to facilitate the operation of the fiber optic jumping, and the front and rear sections are connected by a flexural portion, and the front section is folded with respect to the rear section, and the front section has a slot, and the rear end of the fiber optic connector has a corresponding a latch portion for latching into the slot to define a fixation. Therefore, the fiber optic connectors can be switched without the need of separating the first casing and the second casing completely, so as to prevent missing the components after removal. 
         [0013]    To improve the labor saving effect, the ratio of the distance between the distal portion of the first contact surface of the release lever and the axial connection position to the distance between the axial connection position and the distal portion of the second contact surface falls within a range form 1:2 to 1:5. The distal portion of the first contact surface has an inverted hook portion extended downwardly, and the distal portion of the release bracket has an abutting portion extended upwardly, such that the inverted hook portion and the abutting portion are latched to one another to prevent their being loosened during use. 
         [0014]    In another preferred embodiment, the release lever may be integrated with the axial connection position of the first casing or the first casing has a first axial connection portion, and the release lever has a second axial connection portion, and a shaft is passed through the first axial connection portion and the second axial connection portion to define a movable axial connection status. Both of the aforementioned axial connection methods have the effects of improving the service life, lowering the manufacturing cost, providing different effects to meet the convenient application requirement, and enhancing the design flexibility significantly. In addition an elevated portion is formed at the bottom of the release lever and disposed between the axial connection position and the second contact surface for elevating the release lever to move the first contact surface downward. The first contact surface is a cambered surface which is concave downwards, so that the distal portion of the release bracket may be moved on the first contact surface to provide a smooth movement. 
         [0015]    Wherein, the second contact surface is tilted upwardly with an angle between 10 degrees and 35 degrees, and the gap so formed allows the operator to insert the finger and guide the movement along the second contact surface. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a first schematic view of an application of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a second schematic view of an application of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is an another exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a third schematic view of an application of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a forth schematic view of an application of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a fifth schematic view of an application of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    The technical content of the present invention will become apparent with the detailed description of preferred embodiments and the illustration of related drawings as follows. 
         [0026]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 to 5  for an exploded view, a perspective view, a cross-sectional view and schematic views of a duplex fiber optic connector plug  1  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention respectively, the duplex fiber optic connector plug  1  is provided for connecting a fiber optic socket  2  to complete a signal connection, and the duplex fiber optic connector plug  1  comprises a pair of fiber optic connectors  11 , a first casing  12 , a second casing  13  and a release lever  14 . 
         [0027]    Each fiber optic connector  11  has a release bracket  111  installed on a surface of the fiber optic connector  11  and obliquely extended upwardly from the front end to the rear end of the fiber optic connector  11 , and a locking piece  1111  disposed on both sides of the middle section of the release bracket  111  separately for coupling to the fiber optic socket. In addition, a latch portion  112  is disposed at a rear end of the fiber optic connector  11  and has a middle section in a necking H-shaped structure. 
         [0028]    The first casing  12  is divided into a front section  121  and a rear section  122 , and a flexural portion  123  is provided for connecting the front section  121  and the rear section  122 , so that the front section  121  can be folded with respect to the rear section  122 , and a slot  1211  is formed in the front section  121 , and the latch portion  112  of the fiber optic connector  11  is latched into the slot  1211  to define a fixation, so that the first casing  12  is coupled to the rear end of the fiber optic connector  11 . 
         [0029]    The second casing  13  is covered onto the top side of the first casing  12  to fix the two fiber optic connectors  11  between the first casing  12  and the second casing  13  as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , and a first axial connection portion  131  is disposed at the top the second casing  13 . 
         [0030]    A second axial connection portion  141  is disposed in the middle section of the release lever  14 , and a shaft  132  is passed through the first axial connection portion  131  and the second axial connection portion  141  to define a movable axial connection status. In addition, a first contact surface  142  is disposed at a front end of the release lever  14  and coupled to a distal portion of the release bracket  111 , and the rear end of the release lever  14  is tilted upwardly to form a second contact surface  143 . Experiments show that the best and most labor saving effect can be achieved without interfering other adjacent duplex fiber optic connector plugs  1 , if the ratio of the distance between the distal portion of the first contact surface  142  of the release lever  14  and the second axial connection portion  141  to the distance between the second axial connection portion  141  and a distal portion of the second contact surface  143  falls within a range from 1:2 to 1:5. In addition, an inverted hook portion  144  is extended downwardly from the distal portion of the first contact surface  142 , and an abutting portion  1112  is extended upwardly from the distal portion of the release bracket  111 , so that the inverted hook portion  144  and the abutting portion  1112  can be latched and contacted with each other without having any gap, so that the plug will not fall off easily during use. 
         [0031]    In addition, an elevated portion  145  is formed at the bottom side of the release lever  14 , and disposed between the axial connection position and the second contact surface  143  for elevating the release lever  14  in order to move the first contact surface  142  downward. Further, the first contact surface  142  is a cambered surface which is concave downwards, so that a distal portion of the release bracket  111  can be moved on the first contact surface  142 , and an upwardly tilted angle of the second contact surface  143  falls within a range from 10 degrees to 35 degrees to facilitate the operation by the technician&#39;s fingers and guide the movement along the second contact surface  143 . Further, the release lever  14  may be made by plastic injection molding and formed at the axial connection position of the first casing  12 . 
         [0032]    In  FIGS. 4 and 5 , when the duplex fiber optic connector plug  1  of the present invention is plugged into the fiber optic socket  2 , the resilience of the release bracket  11  is provided to fix the related components after the locking pieces  1111  are passed through the fiber optic socket  2 . When it is necessary to remove the duplex fiber optic connector plug  1 , the operation simply passes a finger into a gap between the second contact surface  143  and the wire, so that the second contact surface  143  is pushed and moved upward by the compression force of the finger, and the release lever  14  uses that pivotal connection position as a fulcrum to drive the first contact surface  142  to move upward, so as to press and separate the release bracket  11  from the fiber optic socket  2  to define a release status, and the duplex fiber optic connector plug  1  can be removed quickly after the wire and the duplex fiber optic connector plug  1  are pulled. 
         [0033]    Since the duplex fiber optic connector plug  1  of the present invention has two fiber optic connectors  11 , a fiber optic jumping operation can be achieved, or the two can be switched for the operation. In particular, the first casing  12  is divided into the front section  121  and the rear section  122 , and the flexural portion  123  is provided for connecting the front section  121  and the rear section  122 , and the flexural portion  123 . During operation, the front section  121  may be folded with respect to the rear section  122 , so that the rear section  122  maintains its condition of latching with the second casing  13 , and the two fiber optic connectors  11  can be switched for the operation without the need of separating the first casing  12  and the second casing  13  completely. The present invention not just provides a convenient operation, but also prevents the removed components from missing. 
         [0034]    Please refer to  FIGS. 6 and 7  for another embodiment of the resent invention. The duplex fiber optic connector plug  1  of the present invention is provided for connecting to a fiber optic socket  5 , and comprises a cable line  10 , a first casing  41 , a second casing  42 , and a pair of fiber optic connector  43 . 
         [0035]    In particular, the first casing  41  is divided into a first front section  411  and a first rear section  412 . Both sides of the first front section  411  have a positioning bump  414 , and both sides of the first rear section  412  are provided with a first latch hook  413  respectively. The first front section  411  is a sheet-like structure. The cable line  10  is installed at an end of the duplex fiber optic connector plug and can be a low friction cable line. When a user&#39; s finger is inserted between the release lever  14  and the cable line  10  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ), the finger is slipped in between the release lever  14  and the cable line  10  easily. 
         [0036]    The second casing  42  is also divided into a second front section  421  and a second rear section  422 . Both sides of the second rear section  422  are provided with a second latch slot  423  corresponding to the first latch hooks  413 . The first latch hooks  413  are latched and fixed in the second latch slots  423  so that the first rear section  412  and the second rear section  422  form a single body. The inside of the second front section  421  have a pair of positioning slots  424 . And a connecting segment  425  is provided between the second front section  421  and the second rear section  422 . Both sides of the second front section  421  are provided with a second latch hook  426 . And the second latch hooks  426  are covered and latch to the first rear section  411  to create fixture. It is worth mentioning that the connecting segment  425  is formed by injection molding onto the surface of the second casing  42  such that the longitudinal direction of the connecting segment is perpendicular to longitudinal direction of the fiber optic connector  43 . The thickness of the connecting segment  425  is 0.5-0.8 times of the second casing  42 . The thickness of the connecting segment is specially designed to prevent damage and breakage of the connecting segment, such that the bent angle of the connecting segment is 0-165 degrees. And a ratio between a distance from the connecting segment  425  to the second front section  421  and a distance from the connecting segment  425  to the second rear end  422  is 1:2-1:5. 
         [0037]    The surface of every fiber optic connector  43  has a positioning element  431  which can be latched to the positioning slot  424 . When each of the fiber optic connectors  43  is latched to the positioning slots  424  respectively, the positioning of the first casing  41  and the second casing  42  is achieved by latching the positioning bump  414  on both sides of a first front section  411  of the first casing  41  to the positioning slots  424  of the second casing  42 . And each of the of the fiber optic connectors  43  has a fiber optic line contained therein. 
         [0038]    Please refer to  FIGS. 7 and 8  for illustration of the maintenance operation of the present invention. First, unclip the second latch hooks  426  to separate the second front section  421  and the first front section  411 ; at this stage, the first rear section  412  and the second rear section  422  are still fixed to the first latch hooks  413  and the second latch slots  423 . And then the second front segment is bent downward, using the connecting segment  425  as an axis, such that the fiber optic connectors  43  are exposed for easy access and removal. Lastly, the optical fiber connectors  43  are removed, switched position and placed back to the positioning slot  424 . And then, the second front segment  421  is latched back to the first front segment  411  to finish maintenance operation. The present invention enables fast and easy cable line maintenance and is convenient for maintenance personnel to operate.