Optical fiber connector with changeable gender

1. A multi-fiber fiber optic connector interconvertible between a male connector and a female connector, the connector comprising:

a ferrule comprising:

a plurality of optical fibers supported therein and terminating at a first end of the ferrule for alignment with optical fibers of an additional device;

at least two spaced apart passages disposed along at least a portion of the ferrule and configured for receiving alignment pins therein;

a pin retainer configured for releasably retaining the alignment pins in the connector when the alignment pins are disposed in the passages; and

a housing disposed around the pin retainer and at least a portion of the ferrule;

wherein the pin retainer comprises a portion for engaging each alignment pin to retain the alignment pins in the connector for a male configuration, and the portion for engaging being selectively releasable from the alignment pins for removal of the alignment pins for a female configuration, the housing and pin retainer being configured for interconversion of the connector between the male configuration and the female configuration without disassembly of the housing from the connector.

2. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the housing and pin retainer are further configured for interconversion of the connector between the male configuration and the female configuration without disassembly of the pin retainer from the connector.

3. The connector of claim 1 , wherein:

the portion for engaging has a first position for engaging the alignment pin and a second position spaced from the alignment pin;

the portion for engaging is movable from the first position to the second position under a force applied to the portion for engaging; and

the portion for retaining is configured to be resiliently returnable from the second position to the first position upon removal of the applied force.

4. The connector of claim 3 , wherein the housing comprises a sidewall extending around the pin retainer and at least a portion of the ferrule, and the side wall comprises at least one opening therethrough to access the portion for engaging for application of the force to the portion for engaging to move the portion for engaging from the first position to the second position.

5. The connector of claim 4 , wherein:

the alignment pins comprise a first end for being inserted through the passage and into the pin retainer, and a notch disposed adjacent the first end; and

the portion for engaging comprises a portion for being disposed in the notch to retain the alignment pin with the pin retainer.

6. A pin retainer for a fiber optic connector, the pin retainer comprising:

a body portion for being disposed with a ferrule in the connector; and

at least one selectively displaceable locking member configured for locking an alignment pin with the body portion, wherein the selectively displaceable locking member has a first position for engaging an alignment pin to lock an alignment pin with the body portion, and a second position displaced from the first position for release of an alignment pin locked with the body portion, the retainer pin being further configured for interconversion of the connector between the male configuration and the female configuration without disassembly of a housing from the connector.

7. The pin retainer according to claim 6 , wherein the selectively displaceable locking member is movable from the first position to the second position under a force applied to the selectively displaceable locking member, and the selectively displaceable locking member is resiliently returnable from the second position to the first position upon removal of the applied force.

8. A method for interconversion of a fiber optic connector between a male configuration comprising at least one alignment pin, and a female configuration comprising at least one passage for receiving an alignment pin, the connector comprising at least one selectively displaceable locking member for locking at least one alignment pin therein, and the method comprising:

for converting a female configuration to a male configuration, slidably inserting at least one alignment pin into engagement with the selectively displaceable locking member to lock the alignment pin into the connector without disassembly of a housing from the connector; and

for converting a male configuration to a female configuration, releasing the selectively displaceable locking member from the alignment pin, and slidably removing the alignment pin from the connector without disassembly of a housing from the connector.