Behind the wall optical connector with reduced components
A behind-the-wall optical connector having an outer housing configured to be inserted into an adapter with a corresponding inner surface, and a latch attached to one side of housing configured to lock the connecter into an adapter opening. The latch is further configured with a locking channel and guide to accept a pull tab with a catch at one end, the pull tab releases the connector from the adapter opening when the tab is pulled rearward or away from the adapter. The ferrule assembly is inserted into a first end of the housing and when latched to the adapter, the assembly is retained in the housing without any locking structure therein.
1. A pull tab comprising:
an extender arm having a forward end portion and a catch at the forward end portion of the extender arm;
the catch is configured to be secured to a release;
the release is integrated into a connector housing at a rear end portion of the release;
the release further comprising a locking groove, and
wherein the catch releasably snaps into the locking groove at a forward end portion of the release;
wherein the connector housing extends longitudinally in a forward direction from a rear end portion from which an optical fiber cable extends from the connector housing to a forward end portion configured to be received in an adapter, and wherein the release extends longitudinally in the forward direction from the rear end portion to the forward end portion of the release;
the extender arm comprising a slide portion rearward of the catch, the slide portion being configured to be slidably received in a guide adjacent the rear end portion of the connector housing when the catch is secured to the locking groove, the extender arm being bendable and configured to bend outward as it extends forward from the slide portion received in the guide to the catch snapped into the locking groove such that the extender arm curves outwardly as it extends from adjacent the guide toward the locking groove;
wherein the extender arm includes a continuous longitudinal slot configured to receive the release, the continuous longitudinal slot having a front end defined by the catch and an opposite rear end, the continuous longitudinal slot extend longitudinally along the slide portion between the front end and the opposite rear end such that the opposite rear end of the continuous longitudinal slot is configured to be spaced apart rearward of the guide when the catch is snapped into the locking groove, the release is received in the longitudinal slot, and the slide portion is slidably received in the guide.
2. The pull tab of claim 1 , wherein the release includes an inclined surface at the forward end portion, the inclined surface engages an adapter surface to provide essentially resistant free insertion of connector into the adapter.
3. The pull tab of claim 1 , wherein the release further comprises a guide to secure the catch and allow the catch to slidably move rearward and forward upon releasing a connector from an adapter.
4. The pull tab of claim 1 in combination with the release integrated into the connector housing, wherein the release comprises a front flange and a rear flange and the groove is defined between the front flange and the rear flange such that the front flange and the rear flange are configured to couple to the catch by snap fit connection.
5. The pull tab of claim 1 wherein the extender arm is formed of a single piece of material that bounds the entirety of the continuous longitudinal slot.