Patent ID: 7234878

Claim:
An optical fiber connecting device for connecting uncoated fiber elements of a pair of optical fibers with each other in an abutment condition, comprising a body, a fiber-element securing member supported on said body to be operable between a closed position for securely holding an uncoated fiber element of an optical fiber and an opened position for releasing the uncoated fiber element, an actuating member supported on said body to operate said fiber-element securing member from said opened position to said closed position, and a sheath holding mechanism capable of holding a sheath portion of the optical fiber, in a fixed state relative to said body, with the uncoated fiber element thereof being securely held by said fiber-element securing member, wherein: said sheath holding mechanism includes an elastically deformable holding element provided in said actuating member; and said holding element defines in said body a passage for guiding an optical fiber, and is elastically deformed due to a motion of said actuating member on said body for operating said fiber-element securing member toward said closed position, to press and hold a sheath portion of the optical fiber in said passage by an elastic restoring force of the holding element.