Granted Patent B2

US 12,638,642 · App. 17/923,519 · Granted May 26, 2026

Inventors: Levi T. Merrick (Shakopee, MN); Yu Lu (Eden Prairie, MN); Steven Conrad Zimmel (Minneapolis, MN)

Assignee: COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC

G02B6/387G02B6/3821G02B6/3887G02B6/50

Abstract

Claims (53)

1 . An optical cable assembly, comprising:

an optical cable including a jacket surrounding an optical fiber; and

an elongate connector core terminating the optical cable, the elongate connector core having a maximum transverse cross-dimension of no more than 5 millimeters, the elongate connector core including:

a ferrule assembly including an optical ferrule that receives the optical fiber, the ferrule assembly also including a hub supporting the optical ferrule;

a spring mounted over the optical fiber; and

a protective arrangement including a core housing that surrounds the spring and at least a portion of the ferrule assembly, the protective arrangement extending between a first axial end and a second axial end that are opposite each other, the jacket of the optical cable being anchored at the second axial end, wherein the ferrule extends beyond the core housing.

2 . The optical cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the core housing comprises:

a rear housing to which the jacket of the cable is anchored; and

a front housing that couples to the rear housing to sandwich the ferrule assembly and the spring therebetween.

3 . The optical cable assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a plug body that mounts over the elongate connector core, the elongate connector core including a first part of a latching arrangement, the plug body defining an interior that includes a second part of the latching arrangement, the second part of the latching arrangement engaging the first part of the latching arrangement to retain the plug body on the elongate connector core,

wherein the core housing forms the first part of the latching arrangement.

4 . The optical cable assembly of claim 3 , wherein the core housing also includes an intermediate housing that couples the rear housing to the front housing, the intermediate housing forming the first part of the latching arrangement.

5 . The optical cable assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first part of the latching arrangement includes radially deflectable latch arms.

6 . The optical cable assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first part of the latching arrangement includes catch surfaces disposed at an exterior of the core housing.

7 . The optical cable assembly of claim 3 , wherein the protective arrangement also includes a sleeve that mounts over the core housing to surround at least part of an exterior of the core housing, the sleeve being axially movable relative to the core housing between a traveling position and an assembled position,

wherein the sleeve covers the first part of the latching arrangement when in the traveling position and wherein the sleeve provides access to the first part of the latching arrangement when in the assembled position.

8 . The optical cable assembly of claim 7 , wherein the core housing includes latching arms that deflect radially towards and away from the optical fiber, wherein the sleeve inhibits radial deflection of the latching arms when disposed in the traveling position and enables radial deflection of the latching arms when disposed in the assembled position.

9 . The optical cable assembly of claim 8 , wherein the sleeve has a circumferential wall that either:

defines apertures that align with the latching arms when the sleeve is disposed in the assembled position; or

is devoid of apertures.

10 . The optical cable assembly of claim 7 , wherein the interior of the plug body also includes a catch member that engages the sleeve to move the sleeve from the traveling position to the assembled position when the plug body is mounted over the housing.

11 . The optical cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the protective arrangement also includes a pushing cap that mounts over the ferrule to cover an end face of the ferrule, wherein the pushing cap is detachable from the ferrule while the core housing continues to surround the spring and the at least a portion of the ferrule assembly.

12 . The optical cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the elongate connector core also includes a boot mounted to the second axial end of the protective arrangement; and

wherein the cable jacket is anchored to the second axial end of the protective arrangement using a crimp sleeve.

13 . The optical cable assembly of claim 3 , wherein the plug body defines an SC interface.

14 . An optical connector kit, comprising:

a ferrule assembly including a ferrule hub supporting an optical ferrule defining an end face;

a spring sized to fit over a portion of the ferrule hub;

a core housing configured to surround the spring and the ferrule assembly, the core housing having a maximum transverse cross-dimension of no more than 5 millimeters; and

a plug body defining a passage extending between opposite first and second ends, the passage sized to accommodate the core housing therein,

wherein the plug body is configured to latch to the core housing;

wherein the core housing defines radially flexible latch arms; and

wherein the kit further includes a core sleeve that can be mounted over the core housing such that the core sleeve is movable relative to the core housing between a traveling position in which the core sleeve inhibits radial deflection of the latch arms and an assembled position in which the core sleeve allows radial deflection of the latch arms.

15 . An optical connector kit, comprising:

a ferrule assembly including a ferrule hub supporting an optical ferrule defining an end face;

a spring sized to fit over a portion of the ferrule hub; and

a core housing configured to surround the spring and the ferrule assembly, the core housing having a maximum transverse cross-dimension of no more than 5 millimeters,

wherein the core housing includes a rear housing and a front housing that can cooperate to enclose the ferrule hub and the spring;

wherein the core housing also includes an intermediate housing that can couple the rear housing to the front housing; and

wherein the kit further includes a pushing cap configured to mount over the ferrule of the ferrule assembly.

16 . A protective arrangement to be assembled over a ferrule assembly terminating an optical fiber, the protective arrangement extending between a first axial end and a second axial end, the protective arrangement comprising:

a core housing defining the second axial end of the protective arrangement, the core housing surrounding at least a portion of the ferrule assembly, and an exterior of the core housing having a maximum transverse cross-dimension of no more than 5 millimeters;

a pushing cap extending between a closed end and an open end, the closed end defining the first axial end of the protective arrangement, the pushing cap defining an interior sized to receive an end face of the ferrule assembly through the open end; and

a latching arrangement including engagement members disposed at the exterior of the core housing at an intermediate location between the first axial end and the second axial end,

wherein the pushing cap abuts the core housing, but does not attach to the core housing.

17 . The optical cable assembly of claim 1 ,

wherein the hub is mounted about a rear of the optical ferrule; and

wherein the core housing includes a rear housing and a front housing that cooperate to enclose the ferrule hub and the spring.

18 . An optical connector kit, comprising:

a ferrule assembly including a ferrule hub supporting an optical ferrule defining an end face;

a spring sized to fit over a portion of the ferrule hub; and

a core housing configured to surround the spring and the ferrule assembly, the core housing having a maximum transverse cross-dimension of no more than 5 millimeters,

wherein the core housing includes a rear housing and a front housing assembly that can cooperate to enclose the ferrule hub and the spring, the front housing assembly having a closed front end and an open rear end.

Assignments (6)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (279)