Fiber optic cable connector

Claim 1

A fiber optic cable connector (600) for a fiber optic cable (607) containing an optical fiber; character­ized by; two mating housing halves (601,604) each of which is provided with interlocking latch and lug means for interlocking with the other half to constitute a connector housing, said interlocked housing halves (601,604) having external portions at respective first ends thereof jointly to provide an external thread thereat and further cooperat­ing to provide an opening of said connector housing at a second and opposite end thereof; and by a strain relief (301,331) firmly attached to a first end of said fiber optic cable (607), said strain relief (301,331) having one end (311, 332) shaped and sized to be grasped by said interlocked housing halves (601,604) within said externally threaded portions thereof; an internally threaded nut (146) threaded onto said external portions of said interlocked housing halves (601 and 604) positively to retain said strain relief (301,331) therein; and a ferrule terminating said optical fiber and being shaped and sized to be grasped firmly inside said interlocked housing halves (601 and 604) such that the terminal end of said ferrule terminating the fiber within said interlocked housing halves (601 and 604) is directed forwardly and is positioned within said opening of said connector housing, said housing halves (601,602) each having a straight longitudinal groove (603,604) on an exterior surface thereof, said groove (603) having an open end at a rim of said opening of said connector housing, and said exterior surface of each of said housing halves (601,602) being reduced in dimensions on one side (605) of said groove (603) so as to be slightly smaller than the interior of the unreduced portion on the other side of said groove (603).