One-piece LC type optical fiber adapter
View Patent ↗A one-piece LC type optical fiber adapter is provided. The LC type adapter of the present invention has fewer parts than a conventional one. Therefore, it is simpler and easier to assemble the LC type adapter of the present invention. In addition, the main body of the LC type adapter is unitary thereby avoiding the prior art problem that the stresses cause the two halves of the adapter to separate from each other after time.
1. A fiber adapter for optically coupling at least two connectors with each other, each said connector having a generally rectangular housing, a ferrule and a spring latch, the housing having an opening from which the ferrule protrudes, the spring latch having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, the first end of the spring latch connecting to the outer surface of the housing, the second end of the spring latch movable in a direction, the spring latch having a pair of shoulders opposite to each other, the fiber adapter comprising:
an inner housing having a flange and a plurality of hollow cylinders through the flange;
a unitary main body having an axial cavity defined by a first side-wall, a second side-wall, a third side-wall and a fourth side-wall, the first side-wall facing the third side-wall and connecting with the second and fourth side-walls, the main body having two opposing axial openings, at least one compartment wall positioned in the axial cavity, the compartment wall parallel to the second and fourth side-walls and connecting with the first and third side-walls and dividing the axial cavity into a plurality of parts, the first side-wall having an access opening thereon, an indentation being formed on a top of the compartment wall, a pair of parallel ridges positioned on the inner surface of the third side-wall and dividing the compartment wall into two halves, the ridges defining a first groove, the second side-wall having a second groove on the inner surface thereof, the fourth side-wall having a third groove on the inner surface thereof, the first groove in communication with the second and third grooves, a plurality of protrusions located near the two axial openings on the inner surfaces of the second and fourth side-walls and on opposite sides of the compartment wall, respectively; and
a cover configured to cover the access opening on the first side-wall, wherein the cover has a protruding portion formed thereon and a protrusion formed on the protruding portion, the protruding portion is positioned corresponding to the indentation on the top of the compartment wall,
wherein the axial cavity of the main body is configured to receive the inner housing, the first, second and third grooves are configured to receive the flange of the inner housing, the access opening on the first side-wall is configured for the inner housing to place within the axial cavity of the main body, and the indentation on the top of the compartment wall is configured to receive the protruding portion and molten protrusion on the cover when the protrusion on the cover is melted and the cover is brought to cover the access opening.
2. The fiber adapter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the axial cavity of the main body is divided into two halves by the compartment wall.
3. The fiber adapter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fiber adapter has three compartment walls to divide the axial cavity of the main body into four parts.
4. The fiber adapter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cover further has a pair of ribs, a pair of tabs is disposed on the second and fourth side-walls, two indentations are formed on the joint of one tab with the second side-wall and on the joint of the other tab with the fourth side-wall respectively and are configured to receive the ribs.
5. The fiber adapter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the protruding portion on the cover is rectangular.
6. The fiber adapter as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the protrusion on the protruding portion has a rectangular bottom surface and a triangular cross-section.