Optic fiber connectors and coupling sleeve
View Patent ↗A connector is provided for coupling optic fibers. The connector has a mating end for mating to another connector and a cable end for connection to a fiber optic cable having a jacket. The connector comprises a mating end outer shell, a ferrule, a cable end outer shell, and a coupling sleeve. The mating end outer shell has a cavity for receiving an optic fiber of the cable, the cavity defining an axis through the connector. The ferrule is disposed in the cavity of the mating end outer shell. The cable end outer shell has a body portion and an extension member and is coupled to the mating end outer shell. The coupling sleeve is slidably mounted to the mating end outer shell. The coupling sleeve comprising a first piece and a second piece mechanically coupled together.
1. A connector for coupling optic fibers, the connector having a mating end and a cable end, the connector comprising:
a mating end outer shell having a cavity therethrough for receiving an optic fiber, the cavity defining an axis through the connector;
a ferrule disposed in the cavity of the mating end outer shell for securing the optic fiber to the ferrule;
a cable end outer shell coupled to the mating end outer shell, the cable end outer shell having a body portion, the body portion having a generally axial cavity therethrough for receiving the optic fiber; and
a coupling sleeve slidably mounted to the mating end outer shell, the coupling sleeve comprising a first piece and a second piece mechanically coupled together wherein the second piece of the coupling sleeve comprises:
a first section that comprises a body portion having a generally axial passage therethrough;
a second section that comprises a body portion having a generally axial passage therethrough; and
an arm connected between the first section and the second section, the arm extending generally axially along the connector.
2. The connector as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second piece of the coupling sleeve comprises a body portion having a generally axial passage therethrough that receives a portion of the first piece of the coupling sleeve.
3. The connector as recited in claim 2 , wherein the first piece comprises a body portion and a projection extending from the body portion of the first piece that secures the first piece and the second piece together.
4. The connector as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second section is substantially octagonally shaped.
5. The connector as recited in claim 1 , wherein the body portion of the second section comprises a first end and a second end and a portion of the first end is angled from a plane perpendicular to the axis of the connector.
6. The connector as recited in claim 1 , wherein the body portion of the second section comprises a ridged surface.
7. The connector as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first section comprises an aperture through the body portion.
8. The connector as recited in claim 7 , further comprising a bonding material disposed in the aperture, the bonding material bonding the first piece to the second piece.
9. A coupling sleeve for a connector that couples optic fibers, the coupling sleeve comprising:
a first piece; and
a second piece mechanically coupled to the first piece wherein the second piece of the coupling sleeve comprises:
a first section that comprises a body portion having a generally axial passage therethrough;
a second section that comprises a body portion having a generally axial passage therethrough; and
an arm connected between the first section and the second section, the arm extending generally axially along the connector.
10. The coupling sleeve as recited in claim 9 , wherein the second piece of the coupling sleeve comprises a body portion having a generally axial passage therethrough that receives a portion of the first piece of the coupling sleeve.
11. The coupling sleeve as recited in claim 10 , wherein the first piece comprises a body portion and a projection extending from the body portion of the first piece that secures the first piece and the second piece together.
12. The coupling sleeve as recited in claim 9 , wherein the second section is substantially octagonally shaped.
13. The coupling sleeve as recited in claim 9 , wherein the body portion of the second section comprises a first end and a second end and a portion of the first end is angled from a plane perpendicular to the axis of the connector.
14. The coupling sleeve as recited in claim 9 , wherein the body portion of the second section comprises a ridged surface.
15. The coupling sleeve as recited in claim 9 , wherein the first section comprises an aperture through the body portion.
16. The coupling sleeve as recited in claim 15 , further comprising a bonding material disposed in the aperture, the bonding material bonding the first piece to the second piece.
17. A connector for coupling optic fibers, the connector having a mating end and a cable end, the connector comprising:
a mating end outer shell having a cavity therethrough for receiving an optic fiber, the cavity defining an axis through the connector;
a ferrule disposed in the cavity of the mating end outer shell for securing the optic fiber to the ferrule;
a cable end outer shell coupled to the mating end outer shell, the cable end outer shell having a body portion, the body portion having a generally axial cavity therethrough for receiving the optic fiber; and
a coupling sleeve slidably mounted to the mating end outer shell, the coupling sleeve comprising a first piece and a second piece directly mechanically coupled together, wherein the coupling sleeve provides a push-pull connection.
18. The connector as recited in claim 17 , wherein the second piece of the coupling sleeve comprises a body portion having a generally axial passage therethrough that receives a portion of the first piece of the coupling sleeve.
19. The connector as recited in claim 17 , wherein the first piece comprises a body portion and a projection extending from the body portion of the first piece that secures the first piece and the second piece together.
20. The connector as recited in claim 17 , wherein the second piece of the coupling sleeve comprises:
a first section that comprises a body portion having a generally axial passage therethrough;
a second section that comprises a body portion having a generally axial passage therethrough; and
an arm connected between the first section and the second section, the arm extending generally axially along the connector.
21. The connector as recited in claim 20 , wherein the body portion of the second section comprises a first end and a second end and a portion of the first end is angled from a plane perpendicular to the axis of the connector.