Patent ID: 12210196

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment(s) of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

Applicant notes that the term “front” or “forward” means that direction where the fiber optic connector and/or the ferrule would meet with another fiber optic connector or device, while the term “rear” or “rearward” is used to mean the direction from which the optical fibers enter into the fiber-optic ferrule, the fiber optic connector, or the ferrule push. Each of the components will therefore have a front and rear, and the two fronts or forward portions of the fiber optic ferrules would engage one another. Thus, inFIG.1, the “front” of the fiber optic assembly is on the left side ofFIG.1and “forward” is to the left and out of the page. “Rearward” or “rear” is that part of the fiber optic connector or cover that is on the right side of the page and “rearward” and “backward” is toward the right and into the page.

One embodiment of a fiber optic assembly that includes a cover10for a fiber optic ferrule and ferrule push is illustrated inFIGS.1-2,4-6, and8-9. The cover10has a sleeve12that extends lengthwise between a front end14and a rear end16. The sleeve12has a lengthwise-extending opening18that opens through the rear end16of the sleeve12for receiving at least a portion of a fiber optic ferrule and the ferrule push, described below. The combination of the cover10and the fiber optic ferrule and the ferrule push may be known as a fiber optic assembly20. The sleeve12has a top side24and an opposing bottom side26. Extending between the top side24and the opposing bottom side26are two side walls28,30. The side walls28,30extend along at least a portion of the sleeve12. While the side walls28,30are illustrated as being the same length, they could have different lengths, may not reach all of the way to the front end14or the rear end16. As illustrated there may be a cutout32in each of the two side walls28,30, the cutouts32preferably extending from the rear end16towards the front end14.

The lengthwise-extending opening18is formed and defined by the top side24, the opposing bottom side26, the two side walls28,30, and by internal surfaces36thereof. SeeFIG.6. The top side24has a receiver40to engage a portion of a ferrule push102. As illustrated inFIGS.1-2,4-6, and8, the receiver40is an opening through the top side24. However, in another embodiment, the receiver40′ may be a depression in the top side24′ from the lengthwise-extending opening118′. SeeFIG.10. The receiver40(and40′) has a forward facing surface42at a rearward end of the receiver. The forward facing surface42partially defines the receiver40(window). Likewise, the receiver40′ shown inFIG.10has a passageway, instead of a window, that is shaped to accommodate a portion of the ferrule push102.

The fiber optic ferrule104may be an MT ferrule, which is generally known in the art. It may also take a number of other configurations, such as illustrated inFIGS.2and3. However, the fiber optic ferrule104preferably has a main body110that includes a plurality of optical fiber support structures112(see alsoFIG.4), which may be a plurality of micro-holes, v-grooves, or the like. The optical fiber support structures112support and hold the optical fibers114inserted into the fiber optic ferrule104. The main body110extends between a front end120and a rear end122, the optical fibers114extending from a front face124of the front end120through a central opening in the main body110and exiting out the rear end122. The rear end122of the main body110also has a rear face128. The fiber optic ferrule104may also have guide pins130(seeFIG.2) and/or a guide pin clamp or spacer132disposed at the rear end122. There may also be more than one central opening through the fiber optic ferrule104. For example, there may be two or more rows of optical fibers114, optical fiber support structures112in the fiber optic ferrule104. SeeFIGS.2and3.

The fiber optic ferrule push102also has a main body150that extends between a front end152and a rear end154. The main body includes a central opening156that extends between the front end152and the rear end154. The central opening156also receives the optical fibers114that are disposed in the fiber optic ferrule104. The front end152of the main body150preferably has the same dimensions of the rear end122of the fiber optic ferrule104. However, those dimensions of the main body150may be different from the fiber optic ferrule104as well. Since the optical fibers114are already in a ribbonized form, a height of the central opening156through which the ribbonized optical fibers114pass is preferably less than a width of the ribbon (in a transverse direction), at least at the front end152, and possibly all throughout a length of the fiber optic ferrule push114. Such a height prevents the fiber optic ferrule push102from being rotated relative to the ribbonized optical fibers114and fiber optic ferrule104, for example, when inside a pulling grip, and even afterwards when the fiber optic ferrule104engages the fiber optic ferrule push104. Preferably, the fiber optic ferrule push102is generally longer than the fiber optic ferrule104(i.e., in a longitudinal direction parallel to the optical fibers114). Alternatively, the fiber optic ferrule push102may be of similar length as the fiber optic ferrule104. Regardless of the length thereof, the fiber optic ferrule push102has substantially the same footprint as the fiber optic ferrule104. The term “footprint” as used in this disclosure refers to only height, only width, or both height and width of the component in question (e.g., fiber optic ferrule104and/or the fiber optic ferrule push102) when viewed in a cross-sectional plane that is perpendicular to a longitudinal/lengthwise axis of the component. In some embodiments, the fiber optic ferrule push102(including a key160, projection(s)180, and a rear boss/flange on a side of the fiber optic ferrule push102) may protrude no further than or only slightly further than the footprint defined by the fiber optic ferrule104(specifically a flange/shoulder thereof). The footprint may, for example, be less than 10% larger than that defined by the fiber optic ferrule104.

The fiber optic ferrule push102includes a first alignment structure or projection160on a top surface162of the main body150. It may also be referred to as a “key” to one of ordinary skill in the art. The first alignment structure160is illustrated as a raised portion in the figures, but also take on other configurations. The key160may take any shape or location on the fiber optic ferrule push102. For example, the key160may also be on one of the side surfaces166, which are on opposing sides of the top surface162.

There may also be a window168extending through the top surface162and is in communication with the central opening156that forms a passageway for the optical fibers114. This window168allows for access and/or visual inspection by a user to the optical fibers114.

The fiber optic ferrule push102has at least one projection180or latch that extends from the main body150to engage a corresponding structure182in a housing106for the fiber optic ferrule104and the ferrule push102. Preferably, there are two such projections180, but only one may be necessary to retain the fiber optic ferrule push102within the housing. As illustrated in figures and perhaps best inFIG.7, the projections180take the form of cantilevered arms, that include a front chamfered surface184and a rear facing flat surface186to engage the housing.

As illustrated inFIGS.2and7, the ferrule push102has an alignment structure or key160. The key160has a rearward facing surface170. The cover10is made of a material that is somewhat flexible or bendable, at least at the rear end116. Accordingly, as the ferrule push102and the fiber optic ferrule104are inserted into the sleeve12, the key pushes against and bends the top side24and its internal surface36. Once the ferrule push102and the fiber optic ferrule104are disposed within the lengthwise-extending opening18, the key160will pop up and into the window40. The engagement of the rearward facing surface170with the forward facing surface42prevents the ferrule push102and the fiber optic ferrule102from exiting the cover10. If the ferrule push102is pulled on, those two surfaces will prevent the removal of the ferrule push102. The cover10is also configured so as to keep the ferrule push102and the fiber optic ferrule104in a constant spatial relationship as illustrated inFIG.7. That is, the ferrule push102will engage the rear end of the fiber optic ferrule104. As such, when the fiber optic assembly20is disposed within the pulling grip, the ferrule push102and the fiber optic ferrule102will stay connected with one another. Accordingly, the fiber optic ferrule102and the ferrule push104are held together inside the pulling grip by the cover10. See, e.g.,FIG.4. While the key160plays double duty as a key and as a projection that engages the receiver40, the key and the projection maybe two different elements and/or structures.

The lengthwise-extending opening18may be configured to match the structure of the ferrule push102and the fiber optic ferrule104. The front end120of the fiber optic ferrule may engage a corresponding structure in the lengthwise-extending opening18to provide a stop point for the ferrule push102and the fiber optic ferrule104. See again,FIG.4. The cover10may also have openings at the front end14to receive the guide pins130. These structures will be positioned within the sleeve so that the key160will be disposed within the receiver40(or40′) and its rearward facing surface170engages the forward facing surface42. To remove the ferrule push102and the fiber optic ferrule104, a lever or finger can pull up on the top side24to allow clearance of the sleeve12by the key160. The cover10may then be pulled forward and away from the ferrule push104and the fiber optic ferrule102outside the pulling sock. Subsequently, the cover10may be disposed or reused.

The cutouts32each receive one of the projections or latches180on the ferrule push102. The projections180extend outward of the sides of the ferrule push102. The cutouts32therefore allow for the sleeve10to be as narrow as possible and still not have to worry about the projections180engaging the sleeve10, thereby optimizing the space available inside the pulling sock for several such fiber optic assemblies20.

FIG.11illustrates another embodiment of a cover210for a fiber optic ferrule and ferrule push according to the present invention. The cover210is similar to the cover10and has the same general configuration and elements. One of the differences in cover210is that there are two receivers40and240to engage a portion of a ferrule push102, rather than just the one receiver40in the top side224. As illustrated inFIG.11, there is a receiver40in the top side224and a second receiver240in the opposing bottom side226. As explained above, the two receivers40and240may be a depression in the top side from the lengthwise-extending opening.

Each of the receivers40,240has a forward facing surface, elements42and242, respectively, at a rearward end of the receiver. The forward facing surfaces42,242partially define the receivers40,240.

FIGS.12and13illustrate yet another embodiment of a cover310for a fiber optic ferrule104and ferrule push102according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the cover310has a top side324and an opposing bottom side326. In this embodiment, the top side324and the bottom side326do not extend as far rearwardly as they do in the previous embodiments. Indeed, the top side324and the bottom side326stop prior to where the receivers were in those prior embodiments. In fact, there are no receivers in this embodiment, but rather cutouts as discussed below. The two side walls328,330extend between the top side324and the opposing bottom side326and rearwardly along at least a portion of the sleeve312and farther rearwardly than the top side324and the bottom side326. As illustrated, there is a cutout332in each of the two side walls328,330, the cutouts332preferably take the form of a hole or opening that has a rearward portion338to enclose the cutouts332. The cutouts are to receive the projection180or latch that extends from the main body150of the ferrule push102. In this case, it is the projection180engaging the cutout332that retains the fiber optic ferrule push102and the fiber optic ferrule104in the cover310.

FIGS.14-16illustrate another embodiment of a cover410for a fiber optic ferrule104and ferrule push102according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the cover410has a top side424and a shortened opposing bottom side426. In this embodiment, the bottom side426does not extend as far rearwardly as does the top side424or as it does in the previous embodiments (except for cover310). The bottom side426does extend far enough to prevent the end face of the fiber optic ferrule104from becoming contaminated, however. The two side walls428,430extend between the top side424and a least a portion of the bottom side426, but then the height of the side walls decreases the farther to rear of the cover410. The top side424does have a receiver440, which is illustrated as an opening through the top side424, or alternatively it may also be a depression such as receiver40′.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.