Adapter for a fiber-optic plug

Inventors: Aurélien Julien Alexandre Macoin (Nantes, FR); Gordon Mueller-Schlomka (Berlin, DE)

Assignee: CORNING RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

G02B6/3825 G02B6/3831 G02B6/3893

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12687680
App. No.: 18/384,453
Granted: Jul 21, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

An adapter for a fiber-optic plug is disclosed, the adapter configured to be received in a port of a fiber-optic apparatus, the adapter comprising: a first opening proximate a first end of the adapter, the first opening configured to receive a multifiber fiber optic connector; a second opening proximate a second end of the adapter, the second opening configured to receive a hardened multifiber connector; an adapter body extending longitudinally between the first end of the adapter and the second end of the adapter and defining an internal cavity therethrough, the adapter body comprising: a first engagement mechanism at the first end of the adapter for engaging with the port of the fiber-optic apparatus; a second engagement mechanism between the first end of the adapter and the second end of the adapter for engaging with the multifiber fiber optic connector; a third engagement mechanism at the second end of the adapter for engaging with a hardened multifiber connector; a locating feature for locating the hardened multifiber connector in the adapter; and an alignment mechanism for aligning the adapter with the fiber-optic apparatus.

Claims (29)

1 . An adapter for a fiber-optic plug, the adapter configured to be received in a port of a fiber-optic apparatus, the adapter comprising:

a first opening proximate a first end of the adapter, the first opening configured to receive a multifiber fiber optic connector;

a second opening proximate a second end of the adapter, the second opening configured to receive a hardened multifiber connector;

an adapter body extending longitudinally between the first end of the adapter and the second end of the adapter and defining an internal cavity therethrough, the adapter body comprising:

a first engagement mechanism at the first end of the adapter for engaging with the port of the fiber-optic apparatus;

a second engagement mechanism between the first end of the adapter and the second end of the adapter for engaging with the multifiber fiber optic connector;

a third engagement mechanism at the second end of the adapter for engaging with a hardened multifiber connector;

a locating feature for locating the hardened multifiber connector in the adapter; and

an alignment mechanism for aligning the adapter with the fiber-optic apparatus,

wherein the alignment mechanism is a first alignment mechanism and the adapter further comprises a second alignment mechanism for aligning the multifiber fiber-optic connector with respect to the adapter,

wherein the second alignment mechanism is a slot in the adapter configured to receive a key on the multifiber fiber-optic connector,

wherein the adapter further comprises a third alignment mechanism for aligning the hardened multifiber connector with respect to the adapter,

wherein the adapter key is a first adapter key; and

wherein the third alignment mechanism is a second adapter key comprised by the adapter and configured to be received in a slot in the hardened multifiber connector.

2 . An adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the adapter is configured to be received in the port of the fiber-optic closure.

3 . An adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the adapter is configured to be received in a hexagonal port of a fiber-optic closure.

4 . An adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the adapter is configured to be received in a port of a BPEO closure.

5 . An adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the first engagement mechanism is a snap fit engagement mechanism.

6 . An adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the second engagement mechanism is a snap fit engagement mechanism.

7 . An adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the third engagement mechanism is a threaded engagement mechanism.

8 . An adapter according to claim 1 , further comprising a shroud that extends beyond the first opening.

9 . An adapter according to claim 8 , wherein the shroud has a shape configured to guide the multifiber fiber-optic connector into the first opening.

10 . An adapter according to claim 8 , wherein the shroud comprises at least one opening that extends longitudinally from at least a medial portion of the shroud to the first end of the adapter.

11 . An adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the alignment mechanism is an adapter key configured to be received in a slot in the port of the fiber-optic apparatus.

12 . An adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the locating feature of the adapter is a protrusion on the inner surface of the cavity of the adapter.

13 . An adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the adapter further comprises a first seal configured to seal between the adapter and the fiber-optic apparatus.

14 . An adapter according to claim 13 , wherein the first seal circumscribes the body of the adapter.

15 . An adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the adapter further comprises a second seal configured to seal between the adapter and the hardened multi-fiber connector.

16 . An adapter according to claim 15 , wherein the second seal is configured to be received in the second opening of the adapter.