Patent ID: 7409136

Claim:
A retention release auxiliary device for an optical connector, the optical connector including a plug to which an optical fiber is coupled and a receptacle into which the plug is inserted, wherein the plug is provided with a lever on a front side of a body of the plug, the lever being elastically deformable to approach the body of the plug by operating an end portion of the lever with fingers, an engaging portion formed in the lever engages with an engaging portion provided in the receptacle, leading to retention of the engaging portion of the lever and the engaging portion of the receptacle; the lever is caused to be deformed against an elastic force thereof by operating the end portion of the lever with fingers, so that the engagement between the engaging portions is released, enabling detachment of the plug from the receptacle, the retention release auxiliary device comprises a cover part that is provided movably with respect to the receptacle along an insertion/removal direction of the plug, and an inclined pressing part that is provided in the cover part and is touchable, from a lower side, to the end portion of the lever, and the inclined pressing part presses against the end portion of the lever and moves the lever by moving the cover part in a direction in which the plug is detached, enabling release of the engagement between the engaging portions.