Abstract: An optical fiber assembly includes a housing with a mating face, a ferrule having a plurality of optical fibers, and a beam expanding element generally aligned with each optical fiber. A cover is slidably mounted on the housing adjacent the mating face. One of the housing and the cover includes a retention member. Another of the housing and the cover includes a guide and retention member. The guide and retention member interacts with the retention member to retain the cover to the housing and permit sliding movement of the housing relative to the cover. An assembly of connectors, a method of mating and a tool for mating are also provided.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable assembly includes an optical fiber cable, an optical fiber connector and a strain relief member. The optical fiber connector has a housing supporting a plurality of optical fibers of the cable. The strain relief member has a flexible conduit, a first section and a second section spaced from the first section. The first section is connected to a rear end of the optical fiber connector and the second section is connected to a portion of the optical fiber cable.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable assembly includes an optical fiber cable, an optical fiber connector, and a strain relief member. The optical fiber connector has a housing with at least two ferrules supporting a plurality of optical fibers of the cable. Each ferrule has at least two ribbons of optical fibers therein. The strain relief member has a flexible corrugated conduit. A method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical fiber assembly includes a housing with a mating face, a ferrule having a plurality of optical fibers, and a beam expanding element generally aligned with each optical fiber. A cover is slidably mounted on the housing adjacent the mating face. One of the housing and the cover includes a retention member. Another of the housing and the cover includes a guide and retention member. The guide and retention member interacts with the retention member to retain the cover to the housing and permit sliding movement of the housing relative to the cover. An assembly of connectors, a method of mating and a tool for mating are also provided.

Abstract: A bend limiting system (strain relief (200)) that may be retrofit onto a cable connector (142). The bend limiting system includes a latching ring (102) configured to fit over the cable connector's mating face so that the bend limiting system may be placed into position after the connector is connected to another device. The bend limiter (200) includes three sections. These sections include a latching ring (202) in the front, an elongated cable guide (204) in the middle and a cable retainer (206) at the end. The latching ring portion (202) is of a generally circular shape to engage the mating face of a round complementary connector.

Abstract: A bend limiting system (strain relief (200)) that may be retrofit onto a cable connector (142). The bend limiting system includes a latching ring (102) configured to fit over the cable connector's mating face so that the bend limiting system may be placed into position after the connector is connected to another device. The bend limiter (200) includes three sections. These sections include a latching ring (202) in the front, an elongated cable guide (204) in the middle and a cable retainer (206) at the end. The latching ring portion (202) is of a generally circular shape to engage the mating face of a round complementary connector.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a connector assembly comprises a body member and a ferrule, disposed therein, and a low profile resilient member, configured to provide a reduced axial dimension when maintained in a compressed state, that biases the ferrule in a direction of a front opening of the body member. In another embodiment of the present invention, the connector assembly comprises a body member and a ferrule disposed therein, and additionally a guide pin holder comprising at least two open members disposed within the body member and in a cooperating relationship with the ferrule. In yet another embodiment, the connector assembly comprises a body member and a ferrule disposed therein, and additionally a boot comprising a first internal surface having a first radius and a second internal surface having a second radius greater than the first radius.

Abstract: An adapter assembly comprises a cable ferrule that terminates environmental and strength members of a high count fiber optic cable while allowing a plurality of optical fibers to pass therethrough. A flange on the cable ferrule mates with a corresponding groove of a breakout body. A breakout body cover is provided to enclose an open longitudinal channel of the breakout body. Flexible jacketing may be coupled to an end of the breakout body with a traversing plurality of optic fiber encased in the flexible jacketing. In another aspect of the present invention, a modular connector assembly is provided that may be configured in both a pulling configuration (for installation of the cable assembly) and a connector configuration (for termination of the optical fibers). In this manner, relatively inflexible high count fiber optic cables may be transitioned into more flexible configurations for subsequent termination in a relatively inexpensive manner.

Abstract: A fiber otic connector assembly includes a receptacle for receiving a fiber optic connector along an optic axis. A housing has an open end for receiving the fiber optic connector. A pair of shutter members are pivotally mounted on the housing at opposite sides of the open end for pivotal movement toward and away from each other to close and open the open end. One of the shutter members is shorter than the other shutter member so that the one shutter member closes before the other shutter member and, thereby, prevents binding therebetween. The receptacle has a bottom mating face, and the fiber optic connector has a plurality of alignment pins insertable into guide holes in the mating face. The fiber optic connector assembly include particular dimensional relationships to prevent the alignment pins from engaging the mating face rather than entering the guide holes.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector assembly includes a receptacle for receiving a fiber optic connector along an optic axis. A housing has an open end for receiving the fiber optic connector. A pair of shutter members are pivotally mounted on the housing at opposite sides of the open end for pivotal movement toward and away from each other to close and open the open end. One of the shutter members is shorter than the other shutter member so that the one shutter member closes before the other shutter member and, thereby, prevents binding therebetween. The receptacle has a bottom mating face, and the fiber optic connector has a plurality of alignment pins insertable into guide holes in the mating face. The fiber optic connector assembly include particular dimensional relationships to prevent the alignment pins from engaging the mating face rather than entering the guide holes.

Abstract: A cable management system is provided for a connector assembly. A housing has a plurality of passages for receiving the terminating ends of a plurality of cables. The passages open at a rear face of the housing. The cables have enlarged retention sections spaced from the terminating ends thereof. A backshell extends away from the rear face of the housing and includes an angled cavity within which the cables extend at an angle from the rear face of the housing. A plurality of retention recesses in the cavity capture the enlarged retention sections of the cables. The retention recesses are at varying locations in a direction longitudinally of the cables to accommodate the different locations of the passages from which the cables emanate.

Abstract: A cable management system is provided for a fiber optic connector assembly. The system includes a receptacle and a plurality of fiber optic connector modules received by the receptacle. The modules terminate a plurality of fiber optic cables with lengths of the cables extending away from the rear ends of the modules. A cable management member has an angled cavity within which the cables extend angularly from the rear ends of the modules. Latches are provided between the cable management member and each of the plurality of modules for holding the cable management member in position at the rear ends of the modules.

Abstract: A receptacle for receiving a fiber optic connector along an optic axis. The receptacle includes a housing having an open end for receiving the fiber optic connector inserted thereinto on the optic axis, along with an opening remote from the open end. A shutter member is fitted through the opening and is mounted for pivotal movement toward and away from the optic axis to close and open the open end of the housing.

Abstract: A system is provided for mounting a connecting device to a substrate with relative floating movement therebetween. The system includes a connector housing adapted for mounting on the substrate and including at least one elongated channel in a side of the housing. The channel extends generally perpendicular to the substrate and has an elongated restricted mouth opening at a side thereof. An elongated fastening post is snap-fit into the channel past the restricted mouth thereof to a preload position. A cross-dimension of the channel is larger than a cross-dimension of the fastening post so that the post can float relative to the housing. A fastener engages with the substrate and is operatively associated with the fastening post for tightening the post against the substrate, leaving the connector housing with floating movement relative to the substrate in a direction generally parallel to the substrate.

Abstract: A cable management system is provided for a fiber optic connector assembly. The system includes a receptacle and a plurality of fiber optic connector modules received by the receptacle. The modules terminate a plurality of fiber optic cables with lengths of the cables extending away from the rear ends of the modules. A cable management member has an angled cavity within which the cables extend angularly from the rear ends of the modules. Latches are provided between the cable management member and each of the plurality of modules for holding the cable management member in position at the rear ends of the modules.

Abstract: A receptacle is provided for receiving a fiber optic connector along an optic axis. The receptacle includes a housing having a forward open end for receiving the fiber optic connector inserted thereinto on the optic axis. An outside wall extends rearwardly from the open end of the housing. A shutter member is pivotally mounted on the housing adjacent the open end thereof and is pivotally movable to close and open the open end. The shutter member extends across the optic axis when the shutter member is closed. The shutter member is pivotable away from the optic axis to a position juxtaposed against the rearwardly extending outside wall.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector assembly includes a ferrule terminated to at least one optical fiber. A pusher member is spaced behind the ferrule. A spring is provided for biasing the ferrule forwardly. The spring is fixed to the pusher member to provide a self-contained subassembly comprising the spring and pusher member.

Abstract: A dual-function dust cover is provided for a fiber optic connector having a mating end. The dust includes a securing portion for facilitating securing the dust cover to the fiber optic connector to protecting at least a portion of the mating end thereof. The dust cover also includes a pulling portion for attachment thereto of a pulling device to facilitate pulling the connector through an appropriate structure.

Abstract: A connector assembly is mounted through an aperture in a panel, the aperture defining an axis. A first connecting device is mountable in the aperture in the panel. A second connecting device is insertable axially into the first connecting device. One of the connecting devices includes two portions relatively movable axially, with one portion being mateable with the other connecting device. A first latch is provided between the two portions of the one connecting device to prevent relative axial movement therebetween. A second latch is provided between the other connecting device and the one portion of the one connecting device when the other connecting device is mated therewith. A release is provided on the other connecting device for releasing the first latch between the two portions of the one connecting device to allow the mated other connecting device to float relative to the panel.

Abstract: An EMI gasket is provided for installing about a generally rectangular mating plug portion of a connector defined by opposite minor sides and opposite major sides. The gasket is generally rectangular to define opposite minor sides and opposite major sides thereof corresponding to the minor and major sides, respectively, of the mating plug portion. The EMI gasket, in an unstressed condition, has a generally bow-tie configuration with the major sides thereof bowed inwardly. Therefore, the major sides of the gasket are biased against the major sides of the plug portion when the gasket is installed on the plug portion.