Abstract: A connector having two mutually engagable parts wherein a first part comprises a molded plastic housing having a pair of springy toothed prongs or clips between which a male contact extends and is supported against a finger of the body of the housing which projects between the clips. The other part comprises an elongate molded plastic housing having channel section which is arranged to hold a female contact between external walls. Notches complementary with toothed parts of the clips are provided such that the two parts of the connector mutually engage in interlocking relationship when mated. The finger serves as a closure for the channel section when the parts are mated.

Abstract: In a fiber optic connector element two or more fiber optic cables are each terminated in a ferrule whose end contains a beam expanding lens. The ferrules are tapered and each of them fits into a correspondingly tapered hole in an insert within the body of the connector element. The ends of the ferrules are substantially in the same plane and are adjacent to a transparent window which is mounted in a bezel surrounding the insert. When two such connector elements are mated, their windows are close to each other and parallel to each other, and each ferrule in one element is optically aligned with a ferrule in the other element. The casings and bodies of the connector elements may be constructed hermaphroditically.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector in which ferrules terminated to optical fibers are laterally aligned in a delta-shaped, longitudinally split spring sleeve.