Patent ID: 7275874

Claim:
An optical connector to be connected to a plurality of optical fibers having axial end portions, comprising: a clamp member for holding said optical fibers; a first housing coupled to said clamp member, said first housing including an aligning portion for aligning said optical fibers in the vicinity of said axial end portions and a clamp holding portion holding said clamp member, said axial end portions of the optical fibers protruding outward from said aligning portion to have cantilevered protruded portions; a cover member combined with said first housing and cooperating with said first housing to cover portions of said optical fibers aligned by said aligning portion; a second housing coupled to the combined first housing and cover member even when said optical connector is not connected to a mating connector, said second housing having a cylindrical cover portion collectively surrounding said aligning portions; and a fiber protector member inserted in said cylindrical cover portion to protect the axial end portions of said optical fibers; said cylindrical cover portion having a top plate portion, a bottom plate portion parallel to said top plate portion, with a space left therebetween, and a pair of side plate portions disposed on opposite sides of said top and said bottom plate portions and connecting said top and said bottom plate portions to each other; and said cylindrical cover portion covering said axial end portions protruding from said aligning portion.