Patent ID: 7744286

Claim:
An optical fiber connection system comprising: a first ruggedized fiber optic adapter including a first port with a first sealing surface within the first port; a ruggedized fiber optic connector including a first plug portion that is compatible with the first port of the first ruggedized fiber optic adapter, the first plug portion including a second sealing surface that seals with the first sealing surface of the first port when the first plug portion of the ruggedized fiber optic connector is fully inserted into the first port of the first ruggedized fiber optic adapter; a first converter for converting a second plug portion of a standard non-ruggedized fiber optic connector to be compatible with the first port of the first ruggedized fiber optic adapter; and a second converter including a second port with a third sealing surface within the second port, the first plug portion of the ruggedized fiber optic connector being compatible with the second port of the second converter, the second sealing surface of the first plug portion sealing with the third sealing surface of the second port when the ruggedized fiber optic connector is fully inserted into the second converter, the second converter including a third plug portion compatible with a third port of a second ruggedized fiber optic adapter.