Patent ID: 7476035

Claim:
A hermaphroditic connector for mounting to a cable having a plurality of optical fibers and connecting the fibers to mating optical fibers wherein the optical fibers and mating optical fibers have termini mounted to the respective ends thereof, and wherein the termini of at least one of the optical fibers and mating optical fibers are slidably mounted and biased to provide a predetermined amount of longitudinal travel during connection, the connector comprising: a plug insert for mounting the termini; a plug body for receiving the plug insert therein, the plug body including a mating end having a plurality of mating features configured to engage the corresponding mating features of a second connector to align the termini of the connector with the termini of a second connector in opposed relationship; a plurality of ears extending radially from the mating end of the plug body; a coupling nut including a generally cylindrical wall, the coupling nut having first and second ends and a groove for receiving the ears of the connector and the ears of a mating connector in opposed relationship therein, the groove extending around an inside surface of the cylindrical wall adjacent the first end of the coupling nut; and wherein the coupling nut is slidably mounted on the plug body between a rear position wherein the ears are forward of the coupling and a forward position wherein the groove is aligned with the ears and rotatable in the forward position to capture the ear of the connector and the ear of the mating connector in opposed relationship in the groove.