Patent ID: 8186890

Claim:
A fiber optic connector and adapter assembly comprising: a fiber optic connector having: a connector housing having a longitudinal connector axis extending between a front end and an opposite rear end, the front end defining an opening; an optical fiber disposed within the connector housing, the fiber having a terminal end exposed through the opening in the front end of the connector housing; and a cover mounted to the connector housing, the cover having structure that defines a pivot axis, the cover pivoting rearward about the pivot axis from a cover closed position to a cover open position, the pivot axis of the cover being transverse and fixed relative to the longitudinal connector axis of the connector housing; the connector housing including a longitudinal connector guide aligned with the longitudinal connector axis, wherein a covering portion of the cover is located forward of the terminal end of the fiber when the cover is closed to cover the terminal end of the fiber exposed through the opening, and wherein the covering portion of the cover is located rearward of the terminal end of the fiber when the cover is opened to expose the terminal end of the fiber; and a connector cam surface carried on the connector housing; an adapter having: an adapter housing having a longitudinal adapter axis and having walls defining an exterior, an interior, and an open end sized to receive the front end of the fiber optic connector with the longitudinal connector axis aligned with the longitudinal adapter axis; a fiber coupling mechanism contained within the interior to couple with the optical fiber when the connector housing is inserted into the adapter housing to a fully inserted position; a longitudinal adapter guide disposed to cooperate with the longitudinal connector guide to direct the opening of the fiber optic connector into axial alignment with the fiber coupling mechanism as the connector housing is inserted into the adapter housing to the fully inserted position; the adapter housing includes an internal door disposed within the interior and movable between a door open position and a door closed position, in the door open position the fiber coupling mechanism exposed through the open end of the adapter, in the door closed position the door covering the fiber coupling mechanism; an adaptor cam surface carried on the adapter housing and positioned to urge the cover from the cover closed to the cover open position as the connector housing is inserted into the adapter housing to the fully inserted position; and the connector cam surface carried on the connector housing is positioned to urge the door from the door closed to the door open position as the connector housing is inserted into the adapter housing to the fully inserted position.