Patent US4774366A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent EP0154781A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0154781A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical waveguide connector
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1982-03-03
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2002-03-03
Abstract
Abstract @ A connector for axially aligning a pair of optical waveguides (74) is disclosed comprising a receptacle (62), a pair of plug members (33, 34) for positioning in the receptacle bore (64) and a pair of retention sleeves (10) for positioning within respective plug members (33, 34). Each plug member (33, 34) is adapted to receive a respective optical waveguide cable (74) therein, and provides a forward alignment nose portion (38) having a profiled opening receiving a forward end (76) of the waveguide (74). The opening is defined by opposed V-grooves (52, 54), with the V-grooves being separated by a transverse slot (56) which extends through the alignment nose portion (38). The nose portion (38) further includes external protrusion means (58) for engaging the receptacle, and causing the opposed V-grooves (52, 54) to wedge against the waveguide (74) extending therebetween. Each retention sleeve (10) is secured onto the optical cable (74) and within the bore (46) of a respective plug member (33, 34), for inhibiting rearward withdrawal of the optical cable (74) from the plug member.
Inventors
- 👤 Terry Patrick Bowen
- 👤 Bernard George Caron
- 👤 Douglas Wade Glover
- 👤 John Carey Hoffer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:30
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/389; G02B6/3893; G02B6/3809; G02B6/381; G02B6/3826; G02B6/3831; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3834; G02B6/3838; G02B6/3873; G02B6/3874; G02B6/3878; G02B6/3879; G02B6/3887; G02B6/3888; G02B6/3897; G02B6/42; G02B6/4292
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
A connector plug member for coaxially locating an optical waveguide (74) of the type comprising a centre waveguide fibre (76) and an outer jacket layer (78) within a bore (64) of a receptacle member (62) the plug member (32) comprising an elongate plug body (36) for insertion within the bore (64), the body (36) having an axial passageway (48) for receiving the optical waveguide (74), a forward alignment nose portion (38) having an opening therethrough communicating with the passageway (48), and a rearward passageway portion (34) for passage of the waveguide (74) to the nose portion (38) characterised in that a retention sleeve (10) is provided for receiving and securing the waveguide (74) and for insertion and retention within the rear passageway portion (34), the retention member having tines for inhibiting rearward withdrawal of the optical waveguide (74) from the plug member (32), the opening (50) in the nose portion (38) being defined by opposed V-shaped notch surfaces (52-54) separated by a transverse slot (56) extending through the nose portion (38) whereby on insertion of the waveguide (74) and the retention sleeve (10) into the passageway (48) through the rearward passageway portion (34) a forward end portion (76) of the waveguide fibre is grippingly received between the opposed notch surfaces (53,54).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
A connector plug member for coaxially locating an optical waveguide (74) of the type comprising a centre waveguide fibre (76) and an outer jacket layer (78) within a bore (64) of a receptacle member (62) the plug member (32) comprising an elongate plug body (36) for insertion within the bore (64), the body (36) having an axial passageway (48) for receiving the optical waveguide (74), a forward alignment nose portion (38) having an opening therethrough communicating with the passageway (48), and a rearward passageway portion (34) for passage of the waveguide (74) to the nose portion (38) characterised in that a retention sleeve (10) is provided for receiving and securing the waveguide (74) and for insertion and retention within the rear passageway portion (34), the retention member having tines for inhibiting rearward withdrawal of the optical waveguide (74) from the plug member (32), the opening (50) in the nose portion (38) being defined by opposed V-shaped notch surfaces (52-54) separated by a transverse slot (56) extending through the nose portion (38) whereby on insertion of the waveguide (74) and the retention sleeve (10) into the passageway (48) through the rearward passageway portion (34) a forward end portion (76) of the waveguide fibre is grippingly received between the opposed notch surfaces (53,54).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
269 words
A connector plug member as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the retention member (10) having a first series of inwardly directed tines (18) angularly spaced around the sleeve (10) for engaging the optical waveguide and a second series of outwardly directed tines (16) extending rearwardly for engaging the rearward passageway portion and resisting withdrawal of the sleeve (10), and in that the tubular sleeve (10) is tubular prior to insertion of the waveguide (74) therein, in that the first series of inwardly directed tines (18) extend resiliently forwardly within the sleeve (10) prior to insertion of the waveguide (74) therein, in such a manner that upon insertion of the cable (2) forwardly into the sleeve (10) the said tines (18) resiliently engage the sheath (8) thereof to admit forward movement of the cable (2) into the sleeve (10) and upon exertion of a force axially rearwardly on the cable (2) the said tines (18) penetrate the sheath (8) thereby to secure the sleeve (10) to the cable, and in that the second series of outwardly directed tines (16) are arranged resiliently to engage the side wall of the bore (24) when the sleeve is inserted therein in such a manner that upon insertion of the sleeve (10) forwardly into passageway portion (34) the said tines (16) resiliently engage the side walls of the passageway (34) to admit forward movement and upon application of a rearward axial force on the waveguide (74) the said tines (16) plough into the side wall of passageway (34) to resist withdrawal and secure the tubular sleeve retention member (10) in the bore (24).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A connector plug member as set forth in claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that said nose portion (38) comprises external protrusion members (58,60) for engaging the receptacle bore (64,104,106,118) and radially influencing said V-profiled surfaces (52,54) inward into clamping engagement with the waveguide fibre (76).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A connector plug member as set forth in claim 3, characterised in that said plug body (36) has an external annular flange (44) axially spaced a distance rearwardly of said protrusion members (58,60).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A connector plug member as set forth in claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that said axial passageway (48) and said rearward passageway (46) of said plug member (32,33,84) are of larger internal dimension relative to said opening (50) through said alignment nose portion (38).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A connector plug member as set forth (in claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that said plug member rearward portion (34) comprises external contour members (40) for assisting manual grasp of said plug member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A connector plug member as set forth in claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that said plug body (36) comprises a retention flange (42,96) engageable by latching members (68,116) of flexible members (66,114) extending outwardly from a receptacle (62,100,108).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A connector plug member as set forth in claim 7, characterised in that said plug body (36) comprises a keying projection (98) for engagement with a keying slot (102) in said receptacle (100).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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