Patent ID: 7270487

Claim:
An optical fiber connector comprising: an inner housing defining an interior passageway extending longitudinally between a forward end and a rearward end; a first connector subassembly inserted through the inner housing rearward end, the first connector subassembly comprising a ferrule containing an optical fiber stub disposed within a ferrule holder, the ferrule holder having a flange; a second connector subassembly coupled to the first connector subassembly, the second connector subassembly comprising a splice holder having a longitudinally extending cavity and first and second splice members disposed therein; a cam member mounted on the splice holder, wherein the cam member is movable between a first position wherein the cam member allows the splice members to move apart and a second position wherein the cam member urges the splice members relatively toward each other; a spring element slidably mounted on the ferrule holder; a spring element retainer slidably mounted on the ferrule holder rearward of the spring element; wherein the first connector subassembly further comprises a collar rigidly mounted on the ferrule holder so as to capture the spring element and the spring element retainer between the collar and the flange; and wherein the spring element retainer is secured within the inner housing by cooperative engaging elements, and the spring element and spring element retainer are arranged so as to urge the ferrule holder forward with a predetermined spring force between about 1 lb. and 1.5 lb.