Patent ID: 8573858

Claim:
A fiber optic connector assembly comprising: a fiber optic connector having a first mating end and a second end; a first optical fiber terminated to the fiber optic connector, the first optical fiber defining a first end adjacent the mating end for optical connection to a second fiber optic connector, the first optical fiber defining a second end protruding out of the second end of the fiber optic connector; a polymeric carrier having a connector end engaged with the fiber optic connector and an oppositely disposed cable end, the polymeric carrier including a heat activated meltable portion adjacent the cable end; and an alignment structure disposed on the carrier, the alignment structure including a first end and a second end and a throughhole extending from the first end to the second end, the first end of the alignment structure configured to receive the second end of the first optical fiber and the second end of the alignment structure configured to receive an end of a second optical fiber entering the cable end of the carrier; wherein the heat activated portion of the polymeric carrier is configured to melt and assume a flowable condition when exposed to a predetermined amount of heat and resolidify when the heat is removed to bond the second optical fiber to the carrier; wherein the carrier defines a guide path adjacent the cable end for receiving the end of the second optical fiber entering the cable end, the heat activated meltable portion of the carrier including first and second parallel vertical walls surrounding the guide path.