Patent ID: 7458729

Claim:
An optical connecting method for optically connecting by abutting ends of a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber against each other, the first and the second optical fibers being secured to a first plug and a second plug, comprising the steps of: threading the first optical fiber through the first plug and threading the second optical fiber through the second plug to secure each optical fiber to each plug with a securing part; bending a part of at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber that is present ahead of the securing part; aligning the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber and fixing a relative position between the first and second plugs; and abutting the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber by releasing a flexure of at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber, due to the restoring force of said at least one of the first and second optical fibers, and wherein in said bending step, force is applied to at least one of said first and second optical fibers by a sliding member to bend the at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber, and in said abutting step, the flexure of the at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber is released by stopping the application of the force.