Hardened fiber optic connector compatible with hardened and non-hardened fiber optic adapters
A fiber optic connector and cable assembly includes a cable with one or more strength members secured to a connector that is connectable to both a hardened and a non-hardened fiber optic adapter. The cable can include multiple cable types with various shapes and strength member configurations. The connector includes a connector housing having a one-piece main body and a cover piece mounted thereon. The one-piece main body defines a plug portion compatible with the adapters. A ferrule assembly is mounted in the plug portion and biased outwardly by a spring. An insert within the connector housing includes a spring stop for holding the spring and a cable retention portion for securing the strength members of the cable. The spring stop and the cable retention portion can be included on a one-piece insert or they can separately be included on separate inserts. The cable retention portion of the insert and the cover piece can take various forms suited for a particular cable of a given fiber optic connector and cable assembly.
1. A ruggedized fiber optic connector that is compatible with a non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter and a ruggedized fiber optic adapter, the non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter including a pair of retention latches, the ruggedized fiber optic connector comprising:
a ferrule aligned along a central longitudinal axis;
a connector housing including a plug portion having an interface end sized to fit within the non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter and the ruggedized fiber optic adapter, the ferrule being positioned at the interface end of the plug portion, the plug portion having a first side and an opposite second side and further having a third side and an opposite fourth side, the third and fourth sides extending between the first and second sides, the central longitudinal axis being positioned between the first and second sides and being also positioned between the third and fourth sides, the plug portion including:
a first catch structure including first and second catches that engage the pair of retention latches of the non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter to retain the plug portion within the non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter, the first catch being provided at the first side of the plug portion, the second catch being provided at the second side of the plug portion; and
a second catch structure for engaging the ruggedized fiber optic adapter to retain the plug portion within the ruggedized fiber optic adapter, the second catch structure being provided at the third side.
2. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 1 , further comprising:
a ruggedized retention member mounted on the connector housing, the ruggedized retention member rotatable relative to the connector housing about the central longitudinal axis and configured to engage the ruggedized fiber optic adapter to retain the plug portion within the ruggedized fiber optic adapter.
3. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the plug portion has a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape.
4. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the first and second catches of the first catch structure are formed by recesses provided at the first and second side of the plug portion of the connector housing.
5. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 4 , wherein the recesses are defined at least in part by recessed latch engagement surfaces that engage the pair of retention latches of the non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter to retain the plug portion within the non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter, the recessed latch engagement surfaces being angled relative to the central longitudinal axis such that the recessed latch engagement surfaces extend radially outwardly relative to the central longitudinal axis as the recessed latch engagement surfaces extend in a direction of insertion of the ruggedized fiber optic connector.
6. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the second catch structure includes a projection provided at the third side of the plug portion of the connector housing.
7. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 6 , wherein the projection includes a protruding latch engagement surface that engages a retention latch of the ruggedized fiber optic adapter to retain the plug portion within the ruggedized fiber optic adapter, the protruding latch engagement surface being angled relative to the central longitudinal axis such that the protruding latch engagement surface extends radially outwardly relative to the central longitudinal axis as the protruding latch engagement surface extends in the direction of insertion of the ruggedized fiber optic connector.
8. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 7 , wherein the fourth side of the connector housing defines a connector alignment slot for rotationally aligning the plug portion within the ruggedized fiber optic adapter, the connector alignment slot extending in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis and including a tapered portion that widens as the connector alignment slot extends in the direction of insertion of the ruggedized fiber optic connector.
9. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the second catch structure is rotationally offset about ninety degrees about the central longitudinal axis relative to the first catch structure.
10. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein:
the first catch is formed by a first recess, the first recess defined at the first side and extending between the third side and the fourth side; and
the second catch is formed by a second recess, the second recess defined at the second side and extending between the third side and the fourth side, the second recess arranged on the second side oppositely and symmetrically to the first recess arranged on the first side.
11. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the second catch structure includes a third catch formed by a first protrusion and a second protrusion, both of the first protrusion and the second protrusion projecting outwardly from the third side and aligned along the central longitudinal axis.
12. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 11 , wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion are arranged on the third side adjacent the first catch and the second catch.
13. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 11 , wherein the third catch includes a third protrusion opposite to the first protrusion with the second protrusion therebetween on the third side along the central longitudinal axis.
14. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the first catch is formed by a first detent provided on the first side, and the second catch is formed by a second detent provided on the second side, each of the first and second detents including a declined surface at an angle relative to the central longitudinal axis such that hooks of a fiber optic adapter are forced into the first and second detents as cantilevered arms of the fiber optic adapter un-flex, the cantilevered arms of the fiber optic adapter configured to flex outwardly when the ruggedized fiber optic connector is inserted into the fiber optic adapter.
15. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the plug portion has a generally square cross-sectional shape.
16. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the ferrule is a single fiber ferrule.