Patent Description:
Patent Literature <NUM> discloses a cleaning tool for cleaning an optical connector. The cleaning tool disclosed in Patent Literature <NUM> includes a tool body and an extension part having a head. The cleaning tool is used to clean an end face of an optical connector with a cleaning element by relatively moving the tool body with respect to the extension part in a state where the cleaning element is pressed against the optical connector with the head. The cleaning element is supplied and collected by employing the relative movement between the tool body and the extension part.

Patent Literature <NUM> discloses a shutter-equipped optical connector.

Patent Literature <NUM> describes an optical connector cleaning tool. An insert portion inserted into an optical adapter and provided with a head member for pressing a tape projects on a tool body containing a cleaning tape. The position of the head member at the insert portion is so set as to press the cleaning tape against a joint end of an optical plug connected to the optical adapter by a portion of a tape pressing surface of the head member including an end on an upstream side in a tape sending direction.

At the time of cleaning a shutter-equipped optical connector with a cleaning tool, the shutter may get caught on the head of the cleaning tool, which may prevent the cleaning tool from being detached.

An objective of the present invention is to suppress the shutter from getting caught on the head.

A primary aspect of the invention for achieving the aforementioned objective relates to a cleaning tool comprising: a head including a pressing part configured to press a cleaning element against an object to be cleaned, a neck part having a dimension narrower than the pressing part in a width direction orthogonal to a pressing direction in which the cleaning element is to be pressed against the object to be cleaned, and a shoulder part protruding outward in the width direction with respect to the neck part, wherein the neck part is located between the pressing part and the shoulder part. The cleaning tool further comprises a housing configured to house the head so that the pressing part, the neck part, and the shoulder part protrude from the housing in the pressing direction in an exposed manner. A length of the housing in the width direction is equal to or greater than a protrusion length from the housing to the pressing part protruding therefrom.

Other features of the present invention will be disclosed in the present Description with reference to the drawings.

According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress a shutter from getting caught on a head.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a cleaning tool <NUM> according to the present embodiment. <FIG> is an exploded view of the cleaning tool <NUM> of the present embodiment with the cover removed. <FIG> is a side view of the cleaning tool <NUM> in a normal state. <FIG> is a side view of the cleaning tool <NUM> in a pushed state. <FIG> is an explanatory diagram of a cleaning operation.

In the following description, the various directions are defined as illustrated in <FIG>. That is, "front-rear direction" is the direction in which an extension part <NUM> (or front-side housing <NUM>) extends out from a tool body <NUM> (or body housing <NUM>), with "front" referring to the side of the extension part <NUM> as viewed from the tool body <NUM>, and "rear" referring to the opposite side. The "front-rear direction" also refers to the direction in which the tool body <NUM> and the extension part <NUM> move relatively to one another. Also, the "front-rear direction" is the pressing direction in which a cleaning element <NUM> is to be pressed against an object to be cleaned, and is also the direction in which a head <NUM> protrudes from the housing (more specifically, the front-side housing <NUM>). The "front-rear direction" may also be referred to as "pressing direction". The "front side" may also be referred to as "tip-end side" and the "rear side" may also be referred to as "base-end side". The width direction of the belt-shaped cleaning element <NUM> is referred to as "left-right direction" or "width direction", with "right" referring to the right-hand side when viewed from the rear side toward the front side, and "left" referring to the opposite side. The "width direction" is a direction orthogonal to the pressing direction in which the cleaning element <NUM> is to be pressed against an object to be cleaned. The direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction and the left-right direction is referred to as "up-down direction", with "up" referring to the side from which the cleaning element <NUM> is supplied at an end face (pressing face) of the head <NUM>, and "down" referring to the opposite side.

The cleaning tool <NUM> is a tool used for cleaning an optical connector <NUM>. Particularly, the cleaning tool <NUM> of the present embodiment is for cleaning a shutter-equipped optical connector <NUM> (described further below). Note, however, that the cleaning tool <NUM> can be used for cleaning an optical connector without a shutter. The cleaning tool <NUM> includes a tool body <NUM> and an extension part <NUM>.

The tool body <NUM> is a member constituting the body of the cleaning tool <NUM>. The tool body <NUM> includes a body housing <NUM> (first housing). The body housing <NUM> houses such components as a supply reel <NUM> for supplying a cleaning element <NUM>, and a take-up reel <NUM> (collection reel) for taking up the used cleaning element <NUM>. An opening is formed in the front side of the body housing <NUM>, and the extension part <NUM> extends out toward the front side from the opening. A portion (rear part) of the extension part <NUM> is housed inside the body housing <NUM>. The tool body <NUM> and the extension part <NUM> are coupled by a rack-and-pinion mechanism <NUM>, and the body housing <NUM> houses the rack-and-pinion mechanism <NUM>. The rack-and-pinion mechanism <NUM> is a mechanism for converting linear motion between the tool body <NUM> and the extension part <NUM> into rotary motion. The body housing <NUM> also houses a spring <NUM> arranged between the tool body <NUM> and the extension part <NUM>. The spring <NUM> is a member for biasing the extension part <NUM> toward the front side with respect to the tool body <NUM>.

The extension part <NUM> is a member that extends out from the tool body <NUM>. The extension part <NUM> includes a front-side housing <NUM> (second housing) and a head <NUM>.

The front-side housing <NUM> is a tubular member that houses the head <NUM>. The front-side housing <NUM> is a member that constitutes the housing of the cleaning tool <NUM> together with the body housing <NUM>. The front-side housing <NUM> has an abutment part 31A. The abutment part 31A is a section that butts against an optical connector <NUM> (more specifically, a connector housing <NUM>) at the time of cleaning. The head <NUM> is exposed from an opening in an end face 31B on the tip-end side of the front-side housing <NUM>.

The head <NUM> is a member for pressing the cleaning element <NUM> against an end face of an optical connector <NUM>. The head <NUM> is located at an end part (front-side end part) of the extension part <NUM>. The cleaning element <NUM> is wrapped around a pressing face 41A of the head <NUM>. The cleaning element <NUM> is exposed to the outside in a manner that the cleaning element <NUM> can be pressed against an optical connector <NUM>. A portion (front part) of the head <NUM> is exposed so as to protrude toward the front from the front-side housing <NUM>, whereas a portion (rear part) of the head <NUM> is arranged inside the front-side housing <NUM>. The head <NUM> is housed in the front-side housing <NUM> in a state biased toward the front in a retractable manner. A detailed configuration of the head <NUM> will be described further below.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the extension part <NUM> is movable in the front-rear direction with respect to the tool body <NUM>. In the pushed state illustrated in <FIG>, the extension part <NUM> is retracted into the tool body <NUM> compared to the normal state illustrated in <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, when cleaning an optical connector <NUM>, the cleaning element <NUM> of the head <NUM> is pressed against the optical connector <NUM> (more specifically, an end face of a ferrule of the optical connector <NUM>), and the optical connector <NUM> (more specifically, the connector housing <NUM>) is made to butt against the abutment part 31A of the extension part <NUM>. In this state, the tool body <NUM> is moved toward the front side (pushing operation). In this way, the cleaning tool <NUM> transitions from the normal state illustrated in <FIG> to the pushed state illustrated in <FIG>. After the pushing operation, when the cleaning tool <NUM> is withdrawn from the optical connector <NUM>, the tool body <NUM> is moved toward the rear side (pulling operation). In this way, the cleaning tool <NUM> transitions from the pushed state illustrated in <FIG> to the normal state illustrated in <FIG>.

In a single cleaning operation, a pushing operation and a pulling operation are performed. By the pushing operation and the pulling operation, the tool body <NUM> and the extension part <NUM> are moved relative to one another in the front-rear direction. The cleaning tool <NUM> converts the linear motion between the tool body <NUM> and the extension part <NUM> into rotary motion by the rack-and-pinion mechanism <NUM>, and by utilizing this rotary force, the cleaning element <NUM> is supplied and the used cleaning element <NUM> is taken-up (collected).

<FIG> are perspective views in the vicinity of the head <NUM> of the cleaning tool <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates a state in which the cleaning element <NUM> is wrapped around the pressing face 41A of the head <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates a state in which the cleaning element <NUM> has been removed. <FIG> is a top view in the vicinity of the head <NUM>. <FIG> is a side view in the vicinity of the head <NUM>. <FIG> is a front view in the vicinity of the head <NUM>.

The head <NUM> is a member for pressing the cleaning element <NUM> against an end face of an optical connector <NUM> (more specifically, an end face of a ferrule). The head <NUM> includes a pressing part <NUM>, a neck part <NUM>, and a guide part <NUM>. A portion (e.g., the pressing part <NUM>, the neck part <NUM>, and a later-described shoulder part 45A) of the head <NUM> protrudes toward the tip-end side from the front-side housing <NUM>, whereas a portion (e.g., an end part on the base-end side of the later-described guide part <NUM>) of the head <NUM> is arranged inside the front-side housing <NUM>.

The pressing part <NUM> is a section for pressing the cleaning element <NUM> against an object to be cleaned. The pressing part <NUM> is a section having a pressing face 41A and is a section (head part) arranged at the front-side end part of the head <NUM>. The pressing face 41A is a surface for pressing the cleaning element <NUM> against an optical connector <NUM>. The front-side end face of the pressing part <NUM> constitutes the pressing face 41A. The cleaning element <NUM> is wrapped around the pressing face 41A. Unused cleaning element <NUM> is supplied to the pressing face 41A from the upper side, and used cleaning element <NUM> is sent out from the pressing face 41A to the lower side. In the present embodiment, the cleaning element <NUM>, which has a belt-like shape, is wrapped around the pressing face 41A. As illustrated in <FIG>, the pressing part <NUM> protrudes more toward the tip-end side than the end face of the housing (more specifically, the front-side housing <NUM>), and is exposed from the housing. Thus, as illustrated in <FIG>, the cleaning element <NUM>, which is wrapped around the pressing face 41A, is exposed from the housing. The pressing part <NUM> is configured so as to have a wider width than the width of the belt-shaped cleaning element <NUM>. Stated differently, the pressing face 41A is configured so as to have a wider width than the width of the belt-shaped cleaning element <NUM>. A pair of recess parts 41B is formed respectively on the left and right sides of the pressing face 41A. The recess parts 41B are sections for avoiding interference with guide pins protruding from an optical connector <NUM> (ferrule) to be cleaned. Stated differently, at the time of cleaning an optical connector <NUM> having protruding guide pins, the guide pins are insertable through the respective recess parts 41B.

In the present embodiment, the pressing part <NUM> has ear parts <NUM>. The ear parts <NUM> will be described further below. Note, however, that the pressing part <NUM> does not have to include the ear parts <NUM>.

The neck part <NUM> is a section provided on the rear side of the pressing part <NUM> (see <FIG>). The neck part <NUM> is a section (i.e., a narrowed section) having a dimension narrower than the pressing part <NUM> in the width direction. The neck part <NUM> is arranged between the pressing part <NUM> and the guide part <NUM>. The neck part <NUM> is configured in an elastically deformable manner. Stated differently, the neck part <NUM> functions as a deforming part. By elastically deforming the neck part <NUM>, the pressing part <NUM> (pressing face 41A) can be tilted in accordance with the inclination of the end face of an optical connector <NUM>. More specifically, regardless of whether the end face of an optical connector <NUM> to be cleaned is perpendicular to the front-rear direction or is an inclined end surface, by elastically deforming the neck part <NUM>, the pressing face 41A can be tilted so as to conform to the end face of the optical connector <NUM>, and the cleaning element <NUM> can be pressed against the end face of the optical connector <NUM>.

The neck part <NUM> is made as a narrow-width section to make it elastically deformable. In the present embodiment, the dimension of the neck part <NUM> in the width direction (left-right direction) is shorter than the dimension of the pressing part <NUM> in the width direction (see <FIG>). Hence, when viewed from above, the pressing part <NUM> and the neck part <NUM> form a T-shape, and the pressing part <NUM> protrudes laterally in the width direction with respect to the neck part <NUM>. Further, the dimension of the neck part <NUM> in the width direction is shorter than the dimension of the guide part <NUM> in the width direction. Hence, as illustrated in <FIG>, the neck part <NUM> is shaped so as to be narrowed in the width direction with respect to the pressing part <NUM> and the guide part <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the neck part <NUM> protrudes more toward the tip-end side than the end face 31B of the housing (more specifically, the front-side housing <NUM>), and is exposed from the housing.

The guide part <NUM> is a section for guiding the cleaning element <NUM> in the front-rear direction and for guiding the head <NUM> in the front-rear direction with respect to the front-side housing <NUM>. The guide part <NUM> is a section that is long in the front-rear direction, and except for its front part, is housed inside the front-side housing <NUM>. The guide part <NUM> is housed in the front-side housing <NUM> in a state biased toward the front in a retractable manner. The upper and lower surfaces of the guide part <NUM> constitute guide faces for guiding the cleaning element <NUM> in the front-rear direction. The cleaning element <NUM> passes through a gap formed between the upper and lower surfaces of the guide part <NUM> and the upper and lower inner surfaces of the front-side housing <NUM>. The side surfaces of the guide part <NUM> constitute guide faces for guiding the head <NUM> in the front-rear direction with respect to the front-side housing <NUM>. The side surfaces of the guide part <NUM> are arranged so as to respectively oppose the inner side surfaces of the front-side housing <NUM>, and thus, the side surfaces of the guide part <NUM> can be made to slide in the front-rear direction with respect to the front-side housing <NUM>.

The guide part <NUM> is a section having a wider width than the neck part <NUM> (see <FIG>). Hence, a step-like section is formed between the guide part <NUM> and the neck part <NUM>. In the description below, this step-like section at the front edge of the guide part <NUM> (i.e., the section protruding more toward outside in the width direction than the neck part <NUM>) may be referred to as "shoulder part 45A". The shoulder part 45A is a section on the rear side of the neck part <NUM>, and is a section protruding more toward outside (i.e., outward in the width direction) than the neck part <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the shoulder part 45A is provided between the neck part <NUM> and the housing (more specifically, the front-side housing <NUM>). The shoulder part 45A protrudes more toward the tip-end side than the end face 31B of the housing, and is exposed from the housing.

<FIG> are explanatory diagrams illustrating a state in the vicinity of the head <NUM> and an optical connector <NUM> at the time of cleaning.

The optical connector <NUM> to be cleaned is a shutter-equipped optical connector <NUM>. The optical connector <NUM> includes a ferrule (not illustrated), a connector housing <NUM>, and a shutter <NUM>. The ferrule (not illustrated) is a member for retaining an end part of optical fiber. The end face of the ferrule is the object to be cleaned, and the cleaning element <NUM> is pressed against the end face of the ferrule. The connector housing <NUM> is a member (housing) for housing the ferrule. The connector housing <NUM> may be referred to as an adapter.

The shutter <NUM> is a member for shielding optical signals. The shutter <NUM> shields optical signals emitted from the ferrule (not illustrated) and prevents the optical signals from escaping outside. The shutter <NUM> also serves as a member for preventing the intrusion of dust into the connector housing <NUM>. The shutter <NUM> is arranged inside the tubular connector housing <NUM> and is openable and closable. As illustrated in <FIG>, in a normal state, the shutter <NUM> is in a closed state, and thereby optical signals emitted from the ferrule (not illustrated) are shielded. When a counterpart optical connector (not illustrated) is inserted into the optical connector <NUM>, the counterpart optical connector presses the shutter <NUM> open, and thereby, the respective ferrules of the optical connectors butt against one another and establish optical connection. The shutter <NUM> is configured so as not to contact the ferrule (not illustrated) inside the connector housing <NUM> when pushed open.

The shutter <NUM> opens and closes about an opening/closing mechanism 53A. In the present embodiment, the opening/closing mechanism 53A is constituted by a hinge, and the shutter <NUM> opens and closes about the rotation axis of the hinge. Note, however, that the opening/closing mechanism 53A is not limited to a hinge. For example, the shutter <NUM> may be made by bending a single metal plate, and the bent section may serve as an opening/closing mechanism 53A, so that the shutter <NUM> can be opened and closed by elastically deforming the bent section (deformed part).

In the present embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, the opening/closing mechanism 53A is provided on the right-side inner wall surface of the connector housing <NUM>. Note, however, that the opening/closing mechanism 53A of the shutter <NUM> may be provided on the left-side inner wall surface of the connector housing <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the opening/closing mechanism 53A is provided on one side of the connector housing <NUM>'s inner wall surface in the width direction, and a single shutter <NUM> is provided in a single-door fashion. Note, however, that the opening/closing mechanism 53A may be provided to each of the connector housing <NUM>'s inner wall surfaces on both sides in the width direction, and a pair of shutters <NUM> provided to the respective sides in the width direction may be provided in a double-door fashion.

As illustrated in <FIG>, before the head <NUM> is inserted into the optical connector <NUM> (more specifically, the connector housing <NUM>), the shutter <NUM> is in a closed state. As illustrated in <FIG>, when the head <NUM> is inserted into the optical connector <NUM> (more specifically, the connector housing <NUM>), the shutter <NUM> is pushed open by the head <NUM> (more specifically, the pressing part <NUM>, the shoulder part 45A, etc.) and the front-side housing <NUM>, and thereby the shutter <NUM> assumes an opened state. The extension part <NUM> (including the head <NUM>) will be inserted into the optical connector <NUM> (more specifically, the connector housing <NUM>) until the abutment part 31A of the front-side housing <NUM> butts against the edge of the opening of the connector housing <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. It should be noted that, by further moving the tool body <NUM> toward the front side (i.e., by performing the pushing operation) after the abutment part 31A of the front-side housing <NUM> has butted against the edge of the opening of the connector housing <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>, the tool body <NUM> moves toward the front side with respect to the extension part <NUM> and assumes a pushed state (see <FIG>).

As described above, the shutter <NUM> is formed so as not to contact the ferrule (not illustrated) when it is pushed open. Hence, the ferrule is located more toward the inner side of the connector housing <NUM> (i.e., toward the front side as viewed from the head <NUM>) than the shutter <NUM>'s end part 53B illustrated in <FIG>. So, at the time of cleaning the thus-arranged ferrule with the cleaning tool <NUM> (i.e., at the time of pressing the cleaning element <NUM> against the ferrule with the head <NUM>), the pressing part <NUM> of the head <NUM> will be located more toward the front side than the end part 53B of the shutter <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. In a state where the abutment part 31A of the front-side housing <NUM> is in abutment against the edge of the opening of the connector housing <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>, the pressing part <NUM> of the head <NUM> is located more toward the front side than the end part 53B of the shutter <NUM>.

<FIG> is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state where the cleaning tool <NUM> is being withdrawn from the optical connector <NUM>. As the cleaning tool <NUM> is being withdrawn from the optical connector <NUM> from the state where the abutment part 31A of the front-side housing <NUM> is in abutment against the edge of the opening of the connector housing <NUM> (see <FIG>), the pressing part <NUM> of the head <NUM> arrives at the position of the end part 53B of the shutter <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. At this time, the shutter <NUM> may get caught on the head <NUM> (particularly, the narrowed section between the pressing part <NUM> and the shoulder part 45A), and there is a possibility that the cleaning tool <NUM> cannot be detached.

<FIG> is an explanatory diagram of dimensions of various members. <FIG> is an explanatory diagram illustrating positional relationships between various members at the time of opening/closing of the shutter <NUM>.

The length of the shutter <NUM> is defined as "L", as illustrated on the left-hand side of <FIG>. The length L of the shutter <NUM> is the length of its protruding section inside the opening of the connector housing <NUM>, and is the length between the position where the front-side housing <NUM> comes into contact and the end part 53B. The inner dimension of the opening of the connector housing <NUM> (i.e., the distance between the inner wall surfaces of the connector housing <NUM> in the width direction) is defined as "H".

Further, the length (width) of the front-side housing <NUM> in the width direction is defined as "w", as illustrated on the right-hand side of <FIG>. The length w is the length (width), in the width direction, of the tip-end part of the front-side housing <NUM> (i.e., the end part located more toward the tip-end side than the abutment part 31A). The protrusion length of the head <NUM> protruding out from the end face 31B of the front-side housing <NUM> is defined as "h". The protrusion length h is the length, in the front-rear direction (pressing direction), between the end face 31B of the front-side housing <NUM> and the pressing face 41A of the pressing part <NUM> of the head <NUM>. The length of the pressing part <NUM> in the front-rear direction (pressing direction) is defined as "t". The length t is the length, in the front-rear direction (pressing direction), between the pressing face 41A of the pressing part <NUM> of the head <NUM> and the base-end-side end part of the pressing part <NUM>. As described further below, in cases where the pressing part <NUM> has an ear part <NUM>, the ear part <NUM>'s end part on the base-end side (i.e., the front-side housing <NUM> side) serves as the base-end-side end part of the pressing part <NUM>. The protrusion length from the end face 31B of the front-side housing <NUM> to the pressing part <NUM> protruding therefrom can be expressed as "h-t". The protrusion length h-t is the length, in the front-rear direction (pressing direction), between the end face 31B of the front-side housing <NUM> and the base-end-side end part of the pressing part <NUM>.

To make the shutter <NUM> prevent intrusion of dust into the connector housing <NUM>, there is a need to eliminate any gap between the end part 53B of the shutter <NUM> and the inner wall surface of the connector housing <NUM>. Hence, the length L of the shutter <NUM> is substantially equal to distance H (L≈H). Further, in order to suppress positional misalignment, in the width direction, of the cleaning tool <NUM> with respect to the connector housing <NUM>, H and w are set so as to be substantially equal (H≈w). As described above, L≈H and H≈w; hence, the length L of the shutter <NUM> is substantially equal to the length w (L≈w).

Further, the shutter <NUM> opens as a result of contact of the front-side housing <NUM> with the shutter <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>, whereas the shutter <NUM> closes as a result of disengagement of the front-side housing <NUM> from the shutter <NUM>. Hence, as illustrated in <FIG>, immediately after opening/closing of the shutter <NUM>, the end part 53B of the shutter <NUM> is located at a position separated from the end face 31B of the front-side housing <NUM> by the length L. Further, immediately after opening/closing of the shutter <NUM>, the base-end-side end part of the pressing part <NUM> is located at a position separated from the end face 31B of the front-side housing <NUM> by the length h-t.

To keep the end part 53B of the shutter <NUM> from getting caught on the pressing part <NUM>, it is preferable that the end part 53B of the shutter <NUM> is located at a position more toward the tip-end side than the rear-side end part of the pressing part <NUM> immediately after opening/closing of the shutter <NUM>. Stated differently, the condition for keeping the end part 53B of the shutter <NUM> from getting caught on the pressing part <NUM> can be expressed as L ≥ h-t. Here, as described above, L and w are substantially equal (L≈w), so the condition for keeping the end part 53B of the shutter <NUM> from getting caught on the pressing part <NUM> can be expressed as w ≥ h-t. Stated differently, the end part 53B of the shutter <NUM> can be suppressed from getting caught on the pressing part <NUM> by satisfying this conditional expression (w ≥ h-t), i.e., by making the length w of the front-side housing <NUM> in the width direction equal to or greater than the protrusion length h-t from the front-side housing <NUM> to the pressing part <NUM> protruding therefrom.

The conditional expression w ≥ h-t can be rewritten as t ≥ h-w. Stated differently, the end part 53B of the shutter <NUM> can be suppressed from getting caught on the pressing part <NUM> if the length t of the pressing part <NUM> in the front-rear direction (pressing direction) is equal to or greater than a value (h-w) found by subtracting the width w of the front-side housing <NUM> from the protrusion length h of the head <NUM> protruding from the end face 31B of the front-side housing <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the pressing part <NUM>'s dimension t in the front-rear direction can be elongated by providing ear parts <NUM> to the pressing part <NUM>, as described below. In this way, it is possible to achieve a structure capable of easily satisfying the conditional expression w ≥ h-t (or the conditional expression t ≥ h-w), thereby making it easy to suppress the shutter <NUM> from getting caught on the head <NUM>. In cases where an ear part <NUM> is provided to the pressing part <NUM>, the ear part <NUM>'s end part (rear end) on the base-end side (the front-side housing <NUM> side) serves as the base-end-side end part of the pressing part <NUM>. Stated differently, the protrusion length h-t is the length, in the front-rear direction (pressing direction), between the end face 31B of the front-side housing <NUM> and the ear part <NUM>'s end part on the base-end side (the front-side housing <NUM> side).

<FIG> is an explanatory diagram of the head <NUM> of the present embodiment. <FIG> is an explanatory diagram of a head <NUM> of a reference example. <FIG> is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state where the cleaning tool <NUM> of the present embodiment is being withdrawn from an optical connector <NUM>. <FIG> is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state where the cleaning tool <NUM> of the reference example is being withdrawn from an optical connector <NUM>. The pressing part <NUM> of the reference example does not have an ear part <NUM>.

The ear part <NUM> is a section for suppressing the end part 53B of the shutter <NUM> from getting caught on the pressing part <NUM>. The ear part <NUM> is a section protruding toward the rear side (the front-side housing <NUM> side) from the rear surface of the pressing part <NUM>. Each of the pressing part <NUM>'s left and right edges is provided with the ear part <NUM>. Since the ear part <NUM> is shaped so as to protrude toward the rear side from the rear surface of the pressing part <NUM>, the ear part <NUM> arrives at the position of the end part 53B of the shutter <NUM> before the pressing part <NUM> when the cleaning tool <NUM> is withdrawn from the optical connector <NUM>. Here, as illustrated in <FIG>, at the time of withdrawing the cleaning tool <NUM> from the optical connector <NUM>, the end part 53B of the shutter <NUM> engages with the ear part <NUM>, and the end part 53B of the shutter <NUM> moves onto the side surface of the pressing part <NUM> via the ear part <NUM>. In this way, in the present embodiment, the end part 53B of the shutter <NUM> can be suppressed from getting caught on the pressing part <NUM>.

The present embodiment includes a plurality of ear parts <NUM> provided respectively on the pressing part <NUM>' s opposite ends in the width direction (see <FIG>). The ear parts <NUM> are arranged so as to sandwich the front part of the neck part <NUM> from the width direction (left-right direction) (see <FIG>). By providing the pair of ear parts <NUM> so as to sandwich the front part of the neck part <NUM>, the end part 53B of the shutter <NUM> can be suppressed from getting caught on the pressing part <NUM> even when the cleaning tool <NUM> is used upside down.

In the present embodiment, a gap is formed between the neck part <NUM> and the ear part <NUM>. More specifically, a gap is formed between the neck part <NUM>' s side surface in the width direction and the inner surface of each of the ear parts <NUM>, which are provided on the respective sides in the width direction. This configuration allows elastic deformation of the neck part <NUM>. (If there is no gap between the ear part <NUM> and the neck part <NUM> and the ear part <NUM> and the neck part <NUM> are connected, it will be difficult for the neck part <NUM> to elastically deform.

In the present embodiment, there is no step in the side surface of the pressing part <NUM> (i.e., there is no step between the side surface of the ear part <NUM> and the side surface of the section of the pressing part <NUM> other than the ear part <NUM>), and the side surface of the section of the pressing part <NUM> other than the ear part <NUM> is continuous with the side surface of the ear part <NUM>. With this configuration, the end part 53B of the shutter <NUM> can smoothly move onto the side surface of the pressing part <NUM> via the ear part <NUM>, and the end part 53B of the shutter <NUM> can be suppressed from getting caught on the pressing part <NUM>. Note that, even if there is a step between the side surface of the ear part <NUM> and the side surface of the section of the pressing part <NUM> other than the ear part <NUM> and there is thus a step in the side surface of the pressing part <NUM>, such a step is smaller than the step between the neck part <NUM> and the rear surface of the pressing part <NUM> of the reference example (see <FIG>); thus, the end part 53B of the shutter <NUM> can be suppressed from getting caught on the pressing part <NUM> compared to the reference example. It is, however, preferable that there is no step in the side surface of the pressing part <NUM> as in the present embodiment.

The side surface of the ear part <NUM> is an inclined surface 42A. The inclined surface 42A of the ear part <NUM> is a surface which tapers inwardly toward the rear side. Stated differently, the normal line of the inclined surface 42A of the ear part <NUM> is along a direction toward outside in the width direction as well as in a direction toward the rear side (see <FIG>). Hence, the rear edge (rear-side end part) of the inclined surface 42A of the ear part <NUM> is located more inward in the width direction (left-right direction) than the front edge of the inclined surface 42A. The front edge of the inclined surface 42A of the ear part <NUM> is located at the rear edge of the side surface of the pressing part <NUM>, and thus, there is no step in the side surface of the pressing part <NUM> (i.e., there is no step between the side surface of the ear part <NUM> and the side surface of the section of the pressing part <NUM> other than the ear part <NUM>), and the side surface of the section of the pressing part <NUM> other than the ear part <NUM> is continuous with the side surface of the ear part <NUM>. Since the side surface of the ear part <NUM> is formed as an inclined surface 42A, the inclined surface 42A can guide the end part 53B of the shutter <NUM> onto the side surface of the pressing part <NUM>. Thus, the end part 53B of the shutter <NUM> can be suppressed from getting caught on the pressing part <NUM>.

The end part (rear edge) of the inclined surface 42A of the ear part <NUM> is located more inward than the shoulder part 45A in the width direction (left-right direction). With this configuration, the end part 53B of the shutter <NUM>, which has fallen inward of the shoulder part 45A, can be suppressed from getting caught on the pressing part <NUM> when the cleaning tool <NUM> is being withdrawn from the optical connector <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, each edge, in the width direction, of the pressing part <NUM> has two ear parts <NUM> on the upper and lower sides, respectively. Stated differently, in the present embodiment, each of the four corners on the rear surface of the pressing part <NUM> has a respective ear part <NUM>. A gap is formed between the two upper and lower ear parts <NUM>. Stated differently, the two ear parts <NUM> are arranged with a gap therebetween in the up-down direction, which is perpendicular to the front-rear direction (pressing direction) and the width direction. The gap between the two upper and lower ear parts <NUM> is in communication with a corresponding one of the recess parts 41B (see <FIG>) formed in the pressing face 41A. Hence, in cases where there is a guide pin protruding from the optical connector <NUM> (ferrule (not illustrated)) to be cleaned, the guide pin is inserted, at the time of cleaning, through the recess part 41B and is also inserted between the pair of ear parts <NUM> respectively arranged on the upper and lower sides. With this configuration, it is possible to avoid interference between the ear parts <NUM> and the respective guide pins protruding from the optical connector <NUM> (ferrule (not illustrated)) to be cleaned.

<FIG> is an explanatory diagram of ahead <NUM> of a modified example. <FIG> is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state where a cleaning tool <NUM> of the modified example is being withdrawn from an optical connector <NUM>.

Also in the modified example, the ear parts <NUM> are shaped so as to protrude toward the rear side from the rear surface of the pressing part <NUM>. Also in the modified example, as illustrated in <FIG>, at the time of withdrawing the cleaning tool <NUM> from the optical connector <NUM>, the end part 53B of the shutter <NUM> engages with the ear part <NUM>, and the end part 53B of the shutter <NUM> moves onto the side surface of the pressing part <NUM> via the ear part <NUM>. In this way, also in the modified example, the end part 53B of the shutter <NUM> can be suppressed from getting caught on the pressing part <NUM>.

In the modified example, the side surface of the ear part <NUM> is perpendicular to the left-right direction, and the side surface of the ear part <NUM> is formed in a planar shape that is flush with the side surface of the pressing part <NUM>. Stated differently, in the modified example, no inclined surface 42A is formed on the side surface of the ear part <NUM>. Even if the ear part <NUM> has no inclined surface 42A as in the modified example, the end part 53B of the shutter <NUM> can be suppressed from getting caught on the pressing part <NUM>. Note that, also in the modified example, there is no step in the side surface of the pressing part <NUM>, and the side surface of the section of the pressing part <NUM> other than the ear part <NUM> is continuous with the side surface of the ear part <NUM>. With the configuration of the modified example-wherein there is no step in the side surface of the pressing part <NUM>, and the side surface of the section of the pressing part <NUM> other than the ear part <NUM> is continuous with the side surface of the ear part <NUM>-the end part 53B of the shutter <NUM> can smoothly move onto the side surface of the pressing part <NUM> via the ear part <NUM>, and the end part 53B of the shutter <NUM> can be suppressed from getting caught on the pressing part <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A cleaning tool (<NUM>) comprising:
a head (<NUM>) including:
a pressing part (<NUM>) configured to press a cleaning element (<NUM>) against an object (<NUM>) to be cleaned;
a neck part (<NUM>) having a dimension narrower than the pressing part (<NUM>) in a width direction orthogonal to a pressing direction in which the cleaning element (<NUM>) is to be pressed against the object (<NUM>) to be cleaned; and
a shoulder part (45A) protruding outward in the width direction with respect to the neck part (<NUM>), wherein the neck part (<NUM>) is located between the pressing part (<NUM>) and the shoulder part (45A); and
a housing (<NUM>) configured to house the head so that the pressing part (<NUM>), the neck part (<NUM>), and the shoulder part (45A) protrude from the housing (<NUM>) in the pressing direction in an exposed manner,
wherein a length of the housing (<NUM>) in the width direction is equal to or greater than a protrusion length from the housing (<NUM>) to the pressing part (<NUM>) protruding therefrom.