IP Library › Granted Patent US 12699231

Granted Patent B2

US 12699231 · App. 18/140,941 · Granted Aug 4, 2026

Multiports and other devices having connection ports with securing features and methods of making the same

Inventors: Thierry Luc Alain Dannoux (Avon, FR); Robert Bruce Elkins, II (Hickory, NC); Joel Christopher Rosson (Hickory, NC); Dayne Wilcox (El Cerrito, CA); Michael Wimmer (Berlin, DE); Shane C. Woody (Mooresville, NC); Zhiye Zhang (Hickory, NC)

Assignee: CORNING RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

G02B6/3879 G02B6/3825 G02B6/3826 G02B6/3831 G02B6/3851 G02B6/3869 G02B6/387 G02B6/3873 G02B6/3885 G02B6/3897 G02B6/44515 G02B6/381 G02B6/3821 G02B6/3837 G02B6/3841 G02B6/3843 G02B6/3849 G02B6/3871 G02B6/3887 G02B6/3889 G02B6/389 G02B6/3893 G02B6/3895 G02B6/4262 G02B6/4401 G02B6/4446 G02B6/4471 G02B6/4472 G02B6/4477 G02B6/4479

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12699231
App. No.: 18/140,941
Granted: Aug 4, 2026
Kind: B2

External Links

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Abstract

Devices such as multiports comprising connection ports with associated securing features and methods for making the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the device comprises a shell, at least one connection port, at least one securing feature passageway, and at least one securing feature. The at least one connection port is disposed on the multiport with the at least one connection port comprising an optical connector opening extending from an outer surface of the multiport to a cavity of the multiport and defining a connection port passageway. The at least one securing feature is associated with the connection port passageway, and the at least one securing feature is disposed within a portion of the at least one securing feature passageway.

Claims (79)

1 . A multiport for making an optical connection, comprising:

a shell defining a cavity;

at least one connection port disposed on the multiport with the at least one connection port comprising an optical connector opening extending from an outer surface of the multiport toward the cavity of the multiport and defining a connection port passageway comprising a longitudinal axis;

at least one securing feature passageway formed as a portion of the shell; and

at least one securing feature associated with the connection port passageway, wherein the at least one securing feature is disposed within a portion of the at least one securing feature passageway and the at least one securing feature is capable of releasing a fiber optic connector when translating towards the longitudinal axis of the connection port passageway within a portion of the at least one securing feature passageway.

2 . A multiport for making an optical connection, comprising:

a shell defining a cavity;

at least one securing feature passageway formed as a portion of the shell;

at least one securing feature resilient member for biasing a portion of the at least one securing feature.

3 . The multiport of claim 2 , wherein the at least one securing feature comprises a locking member and an actuator.

4 . The multiport of claim 2 , wherein of the at least one securing feature is biased to a retain position.

5 . A multiport for making optical connections, comprising:

a shell defining a cavity;

at least one connection port comprising an optical connector opening extending from an outer surface of the multiport toward the cavity and defining a connection port passageway comprising a longitudinal axis;

at least one securing feature passageway formed as a portion of the shell; and

at least one securing feature associated with the at least one connection port passageway, wherein the at least one securing feature is disposed within a portion of the securing feature passageway, and the at least one securing feature is capable of translating within a portion of the at least one securing feature passageway, wherein the at least one securing feature is capable of releasing a fiber optic connector when translating towards the longitudinal axis of the connection port passageway within a portion of the at least one securing feature passageway.

6 . The multiport of claim 5 , wherein the at least one securing feature comprises a bore that is aligned with the at least one connection port passageway.

7 . A multiport for making optical connections, comprising:

a shell defining a cavity;

at least one securing feature passageway formed as a portion of the shell;

at least one securing feature associated with the at least one connection port passageway, and the at least one securing feature comprises a bore, wherein the at least one securing feature is disposed within a portion of the securing feature passageway, and the at least one securing feature is capable of translating within a portion of the at least one securing feature passageway, wherein the at least one securing feature is capable of releasing a fiber optic connector when translating towards the longitudinal axis of the connection port passageway within a portion of the at least one securing feature passageway.

8 . The multiport of claim 7 , wherein the at least one securing feature translates from a retain position to an open position as a suitable fiber optic connector is inserted into the at least one connection port.

9 . The multiport of claim 7 , wherein the at least one securing feature is capable of moving to a retain position automatically when a suitable fiber optic connector is fully-inserted into the at least one connector port passageway.

10 . The multiport of claim 7 , wherein the at least one securing feature comprise a locking feature.

11 . The multiport of claim 7 , wherein the securing feature comprises a locking member and an actuator.

12 . A multiport for making optical connections, comprising:

a shell defining a cavity;

a securing feature passageway formed as a portion of the shell; and

at least one securing feature associated with the at least one connection port passageway, and the at least one securing feature comprises a bore, wherein the at least one securing feature is disposed within a portion of the securing feature passageway, and the at least one securing feature is capable of translating within a portion of the at least one securing feature passageway wherein the at least one securing feature translates from a retain position to an open position as a suitable fiber optic connector is inserted into the at least one connection port, and the at least one securing feature is capable of releasing a fiber optic connector when translating towards the longitudinal axis of the connection port passageway within a portion of the at least one securing feature passageway.

13 . The multiport of claim 12 , wherein the bore is sized for receiving a suitable fiber optic connector therethrough.

14 . The multiport of claim 12 , wherein the bore comprises a locking feature.

15 . The multiport of claim 14 , wherein the locking feature comprises a ramp with a ledge.

16 . The multiport of claim 14 , wherein the locking feature comprises a retention surface.

17 . The multiport of claim 12 , further comprising at least one securing feature resilient member for biasing a portion of the at least one securing feature.

18 . A multiport for making optical connections, comprising:

a shell defining a cavity;

at least one connection port comprising an optical connector opening extending from an outer surface of the multiport toward the cavity and defining a connection port passageway;

a securing feature passageway; and

at least one securing feature associated with the at least one connection port passageway, and the at least one securing feature comprises a locking member and an actuator, wherein the at least one securing feature is disposed within a portion of the securing feature passageway, and the at least one securing feature is capable of translating within a portion of the at least one securing feature passageway wherein the at least one securing feature translates from a retain position to an open position as a suitable fiber optic connector is inserted into the at least one connection port.

19 . The multiport of claim 18 , wherein the locking member is a portion of a securing feature sub-assembly.

20 . The multiport of 20 , wherein the at least one connection port and the at least one securing feature passageway are a portion of the shell.

21 . The multiport of claim 20 , the shell comprises at least a first portion and a second portion.

22 . The multiport of claim 18 , wherein the at least one connection port and the at least one securing feature passageway are a portion of a connection port insert, the connection port insert being sized so that a portion of the connection port insert fits into a first opening of the shell.

23 . The multiport of claim 18 , at least one optical fiber routed from the at least one connection port toward an input connection port of the multiport.

24 . The multiport of claim 18 , further comprising at least one adapter aligned with the at least one connection port.

25 . The multiport of claim 18 , wherein the at least one securing feature translates from a retain position to an open position as a suitable fiber optic connector is inserted into the at least one connection port.

26 . The multiport of claim 18 , wherein the keying portion comprises a male key.

27 . The multiport claim 18 , further comprising a sealing feature disposed on the at least one securing feature.

28 . The multiport of claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the one securing feature passageway is arranged transversely to a longitudinal axis of the connector port passageway.

29 . The multiport of claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the one securing feature passageway is aligned with and offset from a longitudinal axis of the connector port passageway.

30 . The multiport of claim 18 , further comprising at least one adapter aligned with the at least one connector port passageway.

31 . The multiport of claim 18 , further comprising at least one adapter is capable of floating relative to the at least one connection ports passageway.

32 . The multiport of claim 18 , further comprising at least one adapter biased by a resilient member.

33 . The multiport claim 31 , further comprising a retainer for securing the at least one adapter to the shell.

34 . The multiport of claim 18 , further comprising at least one rear connector comprising a rear connector ferrule.

35 . The multiport of claim 34 , the at least one rear connector further comprising a resilient member for biasing the rear connector ferrule.

36 . The multiport of claim 18 , further comprising at least one rear connector further comprising a keying feature.

37 . The multiport of claim 18 , further comprising at least one rear connector having a SC footprint.

38 . The multiport of claim 18 , wherein the multiport is weatherproof.

39 . The multiport of claim 18 , further comprising an optical splitter disposed within the cavity.

40 . The multiport of claim 18 , further comprising at least one mounting feature for the multiport.

41 . The multiport claim 18 , the multiport comprising at least one pass-through port.

42 . The multiport of claim 18 , further comprising an input connection port configured as a single-fiber input connection or a multi-fiber input connection.

43 . The multiport of claim 18 , further comprising an input connection port configured as an input tether.

44 . The multiport of claim 43 , wherein the input tether further comprises a furcation body.

45 . The multiport of claim 43 , wherein the input tether is terminated with a fiber optic connector.

46 . The multiport of claim 18 , further comprising at least one fiber routing guide or support.

47 . The multiport of claim 18 , wherein the shell defines a volume of 800 cubic centimeters or less.

48 . The multiport of claim 18 , wherein the multiport has a port width density of at least one connection port per each 20 millimeters of width.

49 . The multiport of claim 18 , further comprising a sealing element.

50 . The multiport of claim 18 , further comprising a dust cap sized for cooperating with the at least one optical connector opening.

51 . The multiport of claim 18 , wherein the multiport comprises a marking indicia for the at least one connection port passageway.

52 . The multiport of claim 18 , wherein at least one connection port is suitable for retaining a suitable fiber optic connector when the fiber optic connector is fully-seated within the at least one connection port.

53 . The multiport of claim 18 , further comprising a cover.

54 . The multiport of claim 18 , further comprising a bracket for the cover.