Dust cap
A dust cap is particularly constructed for capping an adapter of the type that receives connectors terminating two optical fibers in respective ferrules. In one instance an optical connector may be received in one end of the adapter and the dust cap may be received in another end of the adapter, opposite the connector. The dust cap is at least partially translucent or transparent, and constructed so that light passing from one ferrule of the optical connector is preferentially directed toward a first location of the dust cap and light, and light passing from the other ferrule of the optical connector is preferentially directed toward a second location of the dust cap that is spaced from the first location.
1 . A dust cap for use in an adapter configured to receive and connect fiber optic connectors having two single fiber ferrules, the dust cap comprising:
an insertion body sized and shaped for being received in a port of the adapter so as to substantially fill the port at a location for blocking ingress of debris and dust into the port, the insertion body including a front portion having a receptacle sized and shaped to be simultaneously aligned with the two ferrules and a back portion including a top wall, a bottom wall a first side wall and a second side wall, a cavity in the insertion body extending rearward from the receptacle and constructed to preferentially direct light from a first one of the ferrules toward a first external surface of the dust cap and light from a second one of the ferrules toward a second external surface located away from the first external surface;
a pull tab connected to the back portion of the insertion body for use in pulling the insertion body from the adapter port.
2 . The dust cap as set forth in claim 1 wherein the top wall and the bottom wall have a width and the first and second side walls have a height that is greater than the width.
3 . The dust cap as set forth in claim 2 further comprising a key located one of the top wall and the bottom wall and positioned for engaging the adapter upon insertion of the insertion body into the adapter.
4 . The dust cap as set forth in claim 1 wherein the front portion of the insertion body has a recess located to receive a latch arm of the adapter for securing the dust cap in the adapter.
5 . The dust cap as set forth in claim 4 wherein the front portion of the insertion body has another recess located to receive a latch arm of the adapter for securing the dust cap in the adapter.
6 . The dust cap of claim 1 wherein the cavity has a rearwardmost end, the rearwardmost end being separated from an exterior surface of the dust cap by material that is 1 mm or less thick.
7 . The dust cap as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pull tab comprises a bendable portion and a grip portion.
8 . The dust cap as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cavity has a closed end that is skew to a longitudinal axis of the cavity.
9 . The dust cap as set forth in claim 8 wherein the back portion of the insertion body has a rear end extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the cavity.
10 . The dust cap as set forth in claim 9 wherein the closed end of the cavity and the rear end of the insertion body are parallel to each other.
11 . The dust cap as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cavity extends into the pull tab.
12 . The dust cap as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cavity comprises a first channel and a second channel separated from each other in the dust cap.
13 . The dust cap as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a slot in the insertion body.
14 . The dust cap as set forth in claim 13 wherein the slot is located in the back portion of the insertion body.
15 . The dust cap as set forth in claim 14 wherein the slot constitutes a first slot, the dust cap further comprising a second slot in the back portion of the insertion body.
16 . The dust cap as set forth in claim 15 wherein the cavity comprises a first channel and a second channel, the first channel having a closed end nearer to the first slot than the second slot and the second channel having a closed end nearer to the second slot than the first slot.
17 . The dust cap as set forth in claim 16 wherein first channel is shorter than the second channel.
18 . The dust cap as set forth in claim 15 wherein the first slot extends from the top wall into the insertion body at an angle, and the second slot extends from the bottom wall into the insertion body at an angle.
19 . The dust cap as set forth in claim 14 wherein the slot is entirely bounded by the back portion of the insertion body.
20 . The dust cap as set forth in claim 19 wherein the slot is V-shaped.