Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates generally to fiber optic connectors and systems, and specifically to ultra-slender optical fiber adapters ingress protected from moisture and debris. The adapter further comprises an in-line adapter within its housing. The in-line adapter accepts a SC, SN, CS, LC or MPO fiber optic connector.

The reliability of communication infrastructure depends on secure connections between components, such as cable segments, network equipment, and communication devices. Such connections are continually exposed to dust, dirt, moisture, and/or other contaminants that may infiltrate the connections and degrade performance or even sever the connection between components. Conventional connection assemblies, such as typical fiber optic connectors, are generally not capable of providing an adequate seal to fully prevent the ingress of unwanted fluids (for instance, water) or solid contaminants. Fiber optic network segments are particularly vulnerable because fiber optic connections require extremely precise termination and alignment between connected components and cable segments that may be disrupted by the presence of fluid or solid contaminants. As such, fiber optic network segments connected using conventional technology are very susceptible to performance and/or availability degradation over time. <CIT> relates to a multipart to ingress protected outdoor rated adapter. Accordingly, telecommunication network providers would benefit from a connection assembly capable of maintaining a sealable and secure connection configured to prevent the ingress of unwanted materials into the connection assembly with an in-line adapter with reduced number of parts.

This disclosure is not limited to the particular systems, devices and methods described, as these may vary. The terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular versions or embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope.

As used in this document, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Nothing in this disclosure is to be construed as an admission that the embodiments described in this disclosure are not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention. As used in this document, the term "comprising" means "including, but not limited to.

The following terms shall have, for the purposes of this application, the respective meanings set forth below.

An adapter is a device with one or more openings configured to accept a connector. An adapter further comprises a housing, and one or more locking mechanism external or internal to the housing. An internal lock may secure a connector within an opening, and an external lock may secure adapter assembly, the latter including connectors, to a panel using a locking nut. A connector is inserted and secured at either end of adapter, for example, a ferrule connector (FC), a fiber distributed data interface (FDDI) connector, an LC connector, a mechanical transfer (MT) connector, a square connector (SC) connector, an SC duplex connector, or a straight tip (ST) connector. The connector may generally be defined by a connector housing body, an external latch or recess to secure said connector into adapter opening and one or more ferrules having optic fibers therein. In some embodiments, the housing body may incorporate any or all of the components described herein.

A "fiber optic cable" or an "optical cable" refers to a cable containing one or more optical fibers for conducting optical signals in beams of light. The optical fibers can be constructed from any suitable transparent material, including glass, fiberglass, and plastic. The cable can include a jacket or sheathing material surrounding the optical fibers. In addition, the cable can be connected to a connector on one end or on both ends of the cable.

<FIG> depicts a pair of outdoor rated, ingress protected adapters (100a, 100b) according to the present invention. Adapters (100a, 100b) further comprises a front portion for attaching to a female outdoor connector. Front portion (102a, 102b) has a bayonet type locking groove (402b) at a proximal end of one-piece adapter (100a, 100b) body (103a, 103b). One-piece adapter body (<NUM>) has a cable gland assembly (105a, 105b) at a second end of body (<NUM>). Cable gland assembly (<NUM>) has a cable gland nut (104a, 104b) with a treaded body portion (104c) at proximal end. The cable glade nut (<NUM>) threads into adapter body (<NUM>) at a distal end forming an environmental seal. Cable (<NUM>) with at least two optical fibers (<NUM>) (refer to <FIG>), surrounded by a cable jacket is compressed by cable gland assembly (<NUM>) (Refer to <FIG>), thereby securing cable against pull forces in direction of A' (<FIG>), and disconnecting optical fibers from adapter (<NUM>). One-piece adapter (100a, 100b) has a cable gland assembly (105a, 105b). Removable cable gland assembly (107A) may be a separate piece, as depicted in <FIG>, or is integrally molded (107B) to the distal end of the one-piece adapter body (<NUM>), as shown in <FIG>.

Comparing with <FIG>, <FIG> has a reduced number of components to assembly and provides a more compact adapter assembly over the <FIG> prior art device. <FIG> connector is found in Gniadek <CIT>. <FIG> is a prior art micro hybrid adapter with opposing receptacles configured to accept an outdoor connector (250a, 250b) as depicted in <FIG>, and disclosed in Takano <CIT>.

<FIG> depicts a prior art adapter with a proximal and distal bayonet type locking groove adapter (205a, 205b), and a fiber optic adapter (<NUM>) inserted within adapter housing formed in part by a coupling nut (<NUM>).

<FIG> depicts a prior art adapter (<NUM>) accepting a prior art outdoor connector (250a) at a proximal end of adapter (<NUM>) and a second outdoor connector (250b) at a distal end of adapter (<NUM>). Comparing <FIG> with <FIG>, the present invention is shorter and has less components with first or second outdoor connector eliminated. The improvement is a one-piece adapter with a cable gland assembly at a second end and a first end can accept and secure an outdoor connector (<NUM>). This eliminates the need for the second outdoor connector (250a or 250b), and further improves waterproofing or ingress protection when the cable gland assembly forms a water-tight, debris tight seal.

<FIG> depicts an assembled one-piece adapter (<NUM>). Adapter (<NUM>) has a body (<NUM>) molded as one-piece with a removable cable gland assembly (107A) (refer to <FIG> at cable gland (107B)). Cable gland nut (<NUM>) compress cable (<NUM>) and seals adapter (<NUM>) from environmental ingress at the distal end of adapter. A seal is formed between the cable gland nut threads (304c) and inner corresponding grooves/threads of the adapter body (<NUM>). Adapter front portion (<NUM>) has a locking groove (302b) that accepts a locking pin (252b) (refer to <FIG>), to secure outdoor connector (<NUM>) to adapter front portion (<NUM>).

<FIG> is an exploded view of outdoor connector (<NUM>) just prior to securing connector (<NUM>) to adapter (<NUM>) front portion (<NUM>). Outdoor connector (<NUM>) has at least one fiber optic connector (252a) that mates with adapter (<NUM>), and upon mating a communication path is formed between optical fiber (<NUM>) and fiber optic connector. Dashed lines show the interconnection between fiber optic connectors within outdoor connector and fiber optic adapter contained within adapter (<NUM>) body (<NUM>).

<FIG> depicts one-piece adapter body (<NUM>) and fiber optic adapter (<NUM>) in an exploded view just prior to inserting adapter (<NUM>) into body (<NUM>) in direction of arrow "I". Fiber optic adapter (<NUM>) accepts one or more fiber optic connectors, such as LC, SC or MPO connectors contained within an outdoor connector (<NUM>). Adapter (<NUM>) is secured with adapter body (<NUM>) by latch (409b) against receiving surface (403d). Locking groove (402b) accepts pin (252b) securing outdoor connector (<NUM>) to a proximal end of adapter (<NUM>). <FIG> depicts a number of prior art connectors that can be secured within outdoor connector, and the corresponding prior art adapters (FIG. 11B) that accept the prior art connectors.

<FIG> depicts a front view of one-piece adapter (<NUM>). A plural of locking grooves (402b) are formed on the adapter front portion. Adapter body (<NUM>) protects optical fibers and holds fiber optic adapter (<NUM>) selected from the prior art adapters of FIG. A plural of receiving surfaces (503d) align and secure adapter (<NUM>) within adapter body (<NUM>). <FIG> depicts a prior art fiber optic adapter (609a) for accepting a LC or SC connector within a first end (609d), cable/fiber stub (609e) to accept optical fibers at a second end, partitioned by groove (609c).

<FIG> depicts an assembled view of the one-piece adapter (<NUM>) along longitudinal line A-A'. One-piece adapter body (<NUM>) further comprises the integrated cable gland assembly (705B) at a distal end of body (<NUM>). Cable gland assembly (<NUM>) further comprises a cable gland locking nut (705a) and nut thread (705c) for forming an environmental seal with body (<NUM>), and a cable gland locking nut (705a), which secures cable there through by compressing around the cable and further forms an environmental seal.

<FIG> depicts a prior art outdoor connector (<NUM>') similar to connector (<NUM>). Cable (<NUM>') is secured with compression fitting (<NUM>') at a distal end of connector (<NUM>'). Locking collar (<NUM>') and coupling nut interface (<NUM>') secure compression fitting (<NUM>') via coupling nut (<NUM>') to connector body (<NUM>') which forms outdoor connector (<NUM>'). Outdoor connector (<NUM>') has one or more optical connectors (<NUM>') within body (<NUM>').

<FIG> depicts a cut-away view of one-piece adapter (<NUM>) along line A-A'. Protective sheathing (906a) about cable (<NUM>) holding optical fibers (<NUM>) provides additional environmental protection and helps ensure cable jacket is not puncture exposing optical fibers when cable gland nut (904b) is secured within body (<NUM>) via grooves (903a). Knurled back post (<NUM>) further secures cable (<NUM>) from being pulled out of distal end of adapter (<NUM>). Adapter (<NUM>) accepts fiber optic connectors (not shown) contained within an outdoor connector (<NUM>). Adapter front portion (<NUM>) has a locking groove (902b) that accepts a locking pin (252a) to secure outdoor connector (<NUM>) to the proximal end or front portion of adapter.

<FIG> depicts assembling the outdoor adapter (<NUM>) exploded with a LC/SC fiber optic adapter (909a) or a MPO fiber optic adapter (909b) secured within adapter body (<NUM>). Removable cable gland assembly (107A) is screwed into a distal end of one-piece adapter body (<NUM>). An environmental seal is formed with sealing ring (<NUM>) abutting inner wall of adapter body (<NUM>). Cable gland assembly (107A) has a threaded front end (107a) and a cable gland assembly (<NUM>) at a distal end. A sealing ring (<NUM>) is position on a face of the proximal end distal of the treads (107a).

<FIG> depicts standard fiber optic connectors used secured in connector (<NUM>) and accepted within by fiber optic adapter (909a) or fiber optic adapter (909b) secured with adapter body (<NUM>). A standard SC connector with optical fiber (<NUM>) or a standard duplex LC connector (<NUM>) are accepted by adapter (909a). A MPO connector (<NUM>) is accepted by adapter (909b). A CS® connector (<NUM>) is accepted by adapter (909a) and a SN™ connector (<NUM>) is accepted by adapter (909a). CS and SN are trademarks of the current assignee of this patent. The trademark names are for reference only.

11B depicts adapters used for fiber optic adapter (909a) or (909b). SC adapter (<NUM>) can accept SC connector (<NUM>). SC adapter (<NUM>) is secured within adapter (<NUM>) near its proximal end. LC adapter (<NUM>) can accept one or more LC connectors (<NUM>). LC adapter (<NUM>) is secured within adapter (<NUM>) near its proximal end. CS MPO adapter (<NUM>) can accept a MPO connector (<NUM>). MPO adapter (<NUM>) is secured within adapter (<NUM>) near its proximal end. CS adapter (<NUM>) can accept a CS connector (<NUM>). CS adapter (<NUM>) is secured within adapter (<NUM>) near its proximal end. SN adapter (<NUM>) can accept a SN connector <NUM>. SN adapter (<NUM>) is secured within adapter (<NUM>) near its proximal end.

<FIG> depicts an exploded view of the ingress protected adapter (<NUM>) according to <FIG>, without a cable gland <NUM> but instead heat shrink tubing (<NUM>, <NUM>). Tubing (<NUM>) seals a distal end of adapter (<NUM>) over tubing (<NUM>). Tubing (<NUM>) seals over cable jacket on to back post. Connector (<NUM>) connects to adapter (<NUM>).

<FIG> depicts cable gland assembly (<NUM>) with fiber optic cable (<NUM>) through a bore. Crimp ring (<NUM>) is inserted over cable jacket (<NUM>), which was peeled back and cut-off to expose strength members (<NUM>). The strength members are made of Kevlar®. Optical fibers (<NUM>) are passed through a bore in the knurled back post. The fibers are attached to the ferrule assembly. <FIG> depicts sliding back post (<NUM>) under the strength members in the direction of arrow "S". <FIG> depicts placing strength members (<NUM>) around a flange on back post (<NUM>). <FIG> depicts sliding crimp ring (<NUM>) over strength members and up against back post. <FIG> depicts final assembly of cable (<NUM>) secured with crimp ring (<NUM>) over strength member (<NUM>) and back post (<NUM>) abutting cable gland assembly (<NUM>).

In the above detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be used, and other changes may be made, without departing from the scope of the appended claims. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the Figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein.

The present disclosure is not to be limited in terms of the particular embodiments described in this application, which are intended as illustrations of various aspects. Many modifications and variations can be made without departing from its spirit and scope, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Functionally equivalent methods and apparatuses within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to those enumerated herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing descriptions. Such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. The present disclosure is to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to particular methods, reagents, compounds, compositions or biological systems, which can, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (for example, bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as "open" terms (for example, the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," et cetera). While various compositions, methods, and devices are described in terms of "comprising" various components or steps (interpreted as meaning "including, but not limited to"), the compositions, methods, and devices can also "consist essentially of" or "consist of" the various components and steps, and such terminology should be interpreted as defining essentially closed-member groups. It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (for example, "a" and/or "an" should be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (for example, the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, et cetera" is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (for example, "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, et cetera). In those instance were a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, et cetera" is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (for example, "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, et cetera). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms.

Claim 1:
Ingress protected outdoor rated adapter (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) comprising:
an one-piece adapter body (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) having an adapter front portion at a first end of the adapter body (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>), and a cable gland assembly (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) secured at a second end the adapter body (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>),
the one-piece adapter body (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) further comprises an internal thread at the second end, the thread accepts a cable gland nut (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) formed as part of the cable gland assembly (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>), the cable gland assembly (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) comprising external threads at a proximal end thereof to secure the cable gland assembly (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) at the second end of the one-piece adapter body (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>), wherein securing the cable gland assembly (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) to the one-piece adapter body (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) forms an environmental seal at the second end about a cable (<NUM>; <NUM>);
characterized in that the first end further comprises a fiber optic adapter positioned within the one-piece adapter body (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>), the fiber optic adapter is configured to accept a fiber optic connector at a first end, and to receive at least one
optical fiber from the cable (<NUM>; <NUM>) secured within the cable gland assembly (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) at the second end; and
the adapter front portion is configured to accept and secure an outdoor rated connector, the outdoor rated connector further comprising at least one fiber optic connector selected from one of the following a LC, SC, SN, CS or MPO type fiber optic connector for mating with the fiber optic adapter.