Fiber optic connectors, cable assemblies and methods for making the same
View Patent ↗Disclosed are fiber optic connectors including a holder for attaching a fiber optic cable to a fiber optic connector along with cable assemblies and methods for making the same. In one embodiment, the holder includes a first and a second cantilevered arm that are squeezed together when a sleeve is placed over the holder. Further, one or more of the cantilevered arm may include a plurality of teeth for “biting” into the cable jacket and providing a suitable fiber optic cable retention force. The fiber optic connectors, cable assemblies and methods disclosed herein are advantageous since they allow the craft to quickly, reliably, and easily attach a robust fiber optic cable to a connector, thereby providing a rugged solution for the craft.
1. A fiber optic connector, comprising:
a mechanical splice assembly that includes at least one ferrule and a stub optical fiber; and
a holder, the holder having a first end with a passageway for attaching to a collar disposed at a rear end of the mechanical splice assembly and a second end for securing to a portion of a fiber optic cable.
2. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the holder includes a first cantilevered arm and a second cantilevered arm.
3. The fiber optic connector of claim 2 , wherein the holder includes a first cantilevered arm having one or more gripping teeth and a second cantilevered arm has one or more gripping teeth.
4. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , further including a sleeve for securing the holder to the fiber optic cable.
5. The fiber optic connector of claim 4 , wherein the sleeve includes a stripping gauge thereon.
6. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the holder has one or more stops.
7. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the holder has a living hinge or a two-piece construction.
8. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , further including a sleeve, the sleeve having a passageway for sliding onto a portion of the holder, wherein the passageway has a tapered portion.
9. The fiber optic connector of claim 8 , wherein the holder and the sleeve have cooperating structure for inhibiting unintended disassembly.
10. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 being an angled fiber optic connector.
11. A fiber optic connector, comprising:
a mechanical splice assembly that includes at least one ferrule and a stub optical fiber;
a holder, the holder having a first end with a passageway for attaching to a collar disposed at a rear end of the mechanical splice assembly and a second end for clamping to a portion of a fiber optic cable, the second end having a first cantilevered arm and a second cantilevered arm; and
a sleeve, the sleeve having a passageway for sliding onto a portion of the holder.
12. The fiber optic connector of claim 11 , wherein the first cantilevered arm has one or more gripping teeth and the second cantilevered arm has one or more gripping teeth.
13. The fiber optic connector of claim 11 , wherein the sleeve has a tapered passageway for securing the holder to the fiber optic cable.
14. The fiber optic connector of claim 11 , wherein the holder has a stop.
15. The fiber optic connector of claim 11 , wherein the fiber optic connector includes a mechanical splice assembly.
16. The fiber optic connector of claim 11 , wherein the sleeve includes a stripping gauge thereon.
17. The fiber optic connector of claim 11 , wherein the holder and the sleeve have cooperating structure for inhibiting unintended disassembly.
18. The fiber optic connector of claim 11 being an angled fiber optic connector.
19. A fiber optic cable assembly, comprising:
a fiber optic cable having at least one optical fiber;
a fiber optic connector having at least one ferrule;
a holder, the holder having a first end for attaching to a portion of a fiber optic connector and a second end for securing to a portion of the fiber optic cable; and
an sleeve, the sleeve having a passageway for sliding onto the fiber optic connector and a portion of the holder, thereby securing the holder to the fiber optic cable, wherein the assembly provides a fiber optic cable retention force of at least 10 Newtons.
20. The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 19 , wherein the holder includes a first cantilevered arm and a second cantilevered arm for attachment to the fiber optic cable.
21. The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 19 , wherein the holder includes a first cantilevered arm having one or more gripping teeth and a second cantilevered arm has one or more gripping teeth.
22. The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 19 , wherein the sleeve has a tapered passageway for securing the holder to the fiber optic cable.
23. The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 19 , wherein the holder has a stop.
24. The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 19 , wherein the holder has a living hinge or a two-piece construction.
25. The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 19 , wherein the fiber optic connector is a mechanical splice connector.
26. The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 19 , wherein the connector is an angled connector.
27. A method for making a cable assembly, comprising the steps of:
providing a fiber optic cable;
providing a fiber optic connector;
placing the a holder about a portion of the fiber optic connector;
positioning a portion of the fiber optic cable within a portion of the holder; and
securing the holder to fiber optic cable, wherein the assembly provides a fiber optic cable retention force of at least 10 Newtons.
28. The method of claim 27 , the step of securing comprising sliding a sleeve onto a portion of the holder.
29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the step of sliding the sleeve squeezes at least one cantilevered arm of the holder for securing the fiber optic cable.
30. The method of claim 28 , wherein the step of sliding the sleeve squeezes a first cantilevered arm and a second cantilevered of the holder together for securing the fiber optic cable.
31. The method of claim 27 , wherein the holder includes one or more gripping teeth.
32. The method of claim 27 , the step of placing the holder about a portion of the fiber optic connector further including using an adhesive to secure the holder.
33. The method of claim 27 , wherein the step of providing a fiber optic connector comprises providing a mechanical splice fiber optic connector.
34. The method of claim 27 , wherein the holder includes a living hinge or has a two-piece construction.
35. The method of claim 27 , wherein the step of sliding the sleeve bends an optical fiber of the fiber optic cable.
36. The method of claim 27 , wherein the fiber optic connector is an angled connector.
37. A method for making a cable assembly, comprising the steps of:
providing a fiber optic cable;
providing a fiber optic connector;
placing the a holder about a portion of the fiber optic cable and a portion of the fiber optic connector, wherein the holder has at least one cantilevered arm; and
sliding an sleeve onto a portion of the holder, thereby squeezing the at least one cantilevered arm of the holder onto the fiber optic cable for securing the holder thereto, wherein the assembly provides a fiber optic cable retention force of at least 10 Newtons.
38. The method of claim 37 , wherein the step of sliding the sleeve squeezes a first cantilevered arm and a second cantilevered of the holder together for securing the fiber optic cable.
39. The method of claim 37 , wherein the holder includes one or more gripping teeth.
40. The method of claim 37 , further including the step of attaching the holder to the fiber optic connector using an adhesive.
41. The method of claim 37 , wherein the step of providing a fiber optic connector comprises providing a mechanical splice fiber optic connector.
42. The method of claim 37 , wherein the step of sliding the sleeve bends an optical fiber of the fiber optic cable.
43. The method of claim 37 , wherein the fiber optic connector is an angled connector.