Patent ID: 7264402

Claim:
A multi-fiber fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly, comprising: a fiber optic receptacle adapted to be mounted within an opening through a wall of a connection terminal, the receptacle defining a first alignment and keying feature; a fiber optic plug mounted upon an end of a fiber optic cable and defining a complimentary second alignment and keying feature for operatively engaging the first alignment and keying feature of the receptacle, the complimentary second alignment and keying feature ensuring that the plug is mated to the receptacle in a predetermined orientation; and an alignment sleeve disposed within the plug wherein the fiber optic receptacle further comprises a receptacle honsing defining an internal cavity, a multi-fiber receptacle ferrule disposed at least partially within the internal cavity, a ferrule boot, a spring centering cuff, a biasing spring and a ferrule retainer, and wherein the ferrule boot, the spring centering cuff and the biasing spring operatively enaage the receptacle ferrule to substantially center a spring biasing force generated by the biasing spring on an end face of the receptacle ferrule.