Abstract: A connector having a front and back orientation and comprising: (a) a cable having at least a jacket and an optical fiber; (b) a ferrule assembly comprising a rear portion for attachment to said jacket, and a ferrule defining a bore hole for containing said optical fiber; (c) a housing having a front portion configured for mating with a mating structure and a back portion configured for attachment to a boot; (d) a spring biasing said ferrule assembly forward in said housing; and (e) a boot secured to said back portion of said housing and extending rearward around said tight-jacketed cable, said boot having an internal channel large enough to allow axial movement of said ferrule assembly relative to said boot.

Abstract: A connector having a front and back orientation and comprising: (a) a cable having at least a jacket and an optical fiber; (b) a ferrule assembly comprising a rear portion for attachment to said jacket, and a ferrule defining a bore hole for containing said optical fiber; (c) a housing having a front portion configured for mating with a mating structure and a back portion configured for attachment to a boot; (d) a spring biasing said ferrule assembly forward in said housing; and (e) a boot secured to said back portion of said housing and extending rearward around said tight-jacketed cable, said boot having an internal channel large enough to allow axial movement of said ferrule assembly relative to said boot.

Abstract: A universal connector assembly for mounting one or more universal connectors within a pair of facing, spaced apart connector slots of a connector outlet. The connector assembly is made up of a mounting yoke and the one or more connectors. The mounting yoke contains a pair of flanges, connected by a crossbar, configured to interfit within the connector slots of the connector outlet. In addition, the mounting yoke contains bracing members and latching elements interengageable with latching elements of the connectors for fixed positioning the connectors in relation to the mounting yoke and locking the connectors in position against the bracing members. The connectors are positioned within the mounting yoke to form the connector assembly. The connector assembly is then positioned within the connector outlet to provide a secure connection location.

Abstract: A novel forward-facing, aft-attached cantilever beam is provided as a latch for securing a fiber optic connector to a receptacle. The beam has engagement structure on its free end which attaches to the receptacle. The connector includes a plug housing formed from a member having a forward end and a rearward end and an axial passageway therethrough through which at least one optical fiber provided in the fiber optic cable extends. The forward end is inserted into the receptacle with the rearward end extending from the receptacle. The cantilevered beam has an end fixed to a rearward portion of the member and its free end extends forwardly toward the forward end of the member. To engage the connector with the receptacle, the free end of the cantilevered beam is biased toward the member and the member is slid into the receptacle. Once fully inserted, the engagement structure on the cantilevered beam engages retention structure in the receptacle.

Abstract: A pin keeper for use in a transition between a multiple fiber ferrule holding at least two fibers and having a fiber to fiber spacing substantially equal to a first lateral dimension and a fiber optic body having a fiber to fiber spacing substantially equal to a second lateral dimension which is different from said first lateral dimension. The pin keeper is disposed between the ferrule and the fiber optic body. The fibers pass through the pin keeper, which splays the fibers from the first lateral dimension to the second lateral dimension.

Abstract: A receptacle for fiber optic cable connectors has a shutter which consists of an assembly of a plate and a spring adjacent one end of the plate, the assembly being positioned inside the receptacle's open end, the plate being inclined inwardly and deforming the spring so that it exerts an erecting force on the plate, and the assembly being too large for the plate to become fully erect.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector assembly for receiving an optical fiber and reducing transverse offset loss has a ferrule (15) having a plurality of tabs (19) disposed circumferentially thereabout. The ferrule (15) and a compression spring (20) are retainably received in a cable attachment body (25) in one of a plurality of possible rotational orientations to form an assembly (11). Apertures (44) and longitudinal cutouts (42) in the plug body (40) receive retention lugs (35) on the cable attachment body (25). In an FC connector, a plurality of latch beams (67) on the plug body (40) retainably engage an internal retention diameter (71) in an FC coupling nut. The ferrule assembly (11) together with the plug body (40) are assembled to the FC coupling nut (60) using axial motions.

Abstract: Optical fiber connector assemblies. The connectors comprise plug bodies having two cantilevered beams disposed in a rear interior portion of the plug body and a ferrule which houses an optical fiber that is front-loaded into the plug body and which is adapted to bias the two cantilevered beams when placed in the plug body such that the plug body snaps around the plug member to captivate the ferrule member in the optical fiber connector. The connector is further comprised of a spring placed axially in the plug body for spring-loading the ferrule member in the plug body, and a rear housing adapted to receive the rear portion of the ferrule member when the ferrule member is placed in the plug body. The optical fiber connectors which are described herein ensure precise optical alignment of optical waveguides in the connector and are simple to assemble.