Optical fiber connector and method of assembly

1. A method for assembling an optical fiber connector, comprising:

providing a one piece housing comprising a tailpiece and a body defining a forward first end, a rearward second end and a passage extending longitudinally therebetween;

inserting a spring element into the passage through the forward first end;

inserting a subassembly comprising a ferrule, a ferrule holder and a lead-in tube into the passage through the forward first end;

maintaining the spring within the passage between a shoulder defined by the one piece housing and a flange of the ferrule holder; and

inserting a subassembly retainer into the passage through the forward first end.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising attaching a trigger member about the tailpiece portion of the one piece housing.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising aligning the subassembly retainer relative to the one piece housing using an alignment element.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the alignment element comprises at least one of a keyway, a key and a lip.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the one piece housing comprises a latching arm.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the subassembly retainer comprises latch elements for securing the subassembly retainer within the one piece housing.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising slidably receiving a latching element provided on the subassembly retainer within the passage.

8. A method of assembling an optical fiber connector, comprising: providing a one piece housing comprising a forward first end, a rearward second, a housing passage through the housing, a shoulder within the passage, and a tailpiece;

inserting a spring element into the housing passage through the forward first end and into abutment with the shoulder;

assembling a subassembly by inserting a ferrule into a ferrule holder passage, inserting a lead-in tube into the ferrule holder passage, and pressing the lead-in tube into abutment with a shoulder in the ferrule holder passage;

inserting the subassembly into the housing passage through the forward first end such that the lead-in tube passes through a central region of the spring element and the tailpiece;

inserting a subassembly retainer into the housing passage through the forward first end.

9. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising orienting the subassembly retainer such that retainer latching elements slidably engage with channels in the housing passage.

10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising pushing the subassembly retainer rearward into the housing passage thereby causing a ferrule holder flange to compress the spring element until the retainer latching elements snap over ridges and engage with housing latch openings, thereby placing the subassembly in a floating relationship with the one piece housing.

11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising compressing the spring element between the housing shoulder and the ferrule holder flange, and biasing the ferrule holder against the retainer subassembly.

12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein a biasing force is greater than 1.0 lb.

13. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising attaching a trigger member over the tailpiece and to the rearward second end of the one piece housing.

14. An optical fiber connector assembled by providing a one piece housing comprising a tailpiece and a body defining a forward first end, a rearward second end and a passage extending longitudinally therebetween, inserting a spring element into the passage through the forward first end, inserting a subassembly comprising a ferrule, a ferrule holder and a lead-in tube into the passage through the forward first end, maintaining the spring within the passage between a shoulder defined by the one piece housing and a flange of the ferrule holder, and inserting a subassembly retainer into the passage through the forward first end.