Patent EP0949522A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
EP0949522A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Fiber optic connector receptacle assembly

Assignee: Molex LLC
•
Filing: 1999-04-03
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2019-04-03
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An receptacle (10) is provided for receiving a fiber optic connector (12) along an optic axis (69). The receptacle includes a housing having an open end (30) for receiving the fiber optic connector. A pair of shutter members (34) are pivotally mounted on the housing at opposite sides of the open end (30) of the housing for pivotal movement toward and away from each other to close and open the open end. The shutter members (34) extend across the optic axis (69) when the shutter members are closed, The shutter members (34) are pivotable away from the optic axis upon engagement by the inserted fiber optic connector (12). The shutter members (34) have inner ends which are overlapped (68) when the shutter members are closed to ensure against light leakage along the optic axis (69). The fiber optic connector (12) has a mating end which is transversely offset (80a,80b) for engaging one of the shutter members (34) before the other shutter member (34) upon insertion of the connector (12) into the open end (30) of the receptacle (10).

Inventors

  • 👤 Richard F. Roth

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 17:18
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/3869; G02B6/381; G02B6/3825; G02B6/3873; G02B6/3885; G02B6/42; G02B6/4296; G02B2006/4297; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3834; G02B6/3838; G02B6/3839; G02B6/3847; G02B6/3849; G02B6/389; G02B6/3893

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 178 words
An adapter assembly for mating an optical fiber of an associated fiber optic transmission means (12) along an optic axis (69), comprising: an adapter (10) having a first receptacle end (30) and a second receptacle end (32), the first receptacle end (30) being adapted for receiving the associated fiber optic transmission means (12) on said optic axis (62); and at least a pair of shutter members (34) pivotally mounted on the adapter at opposite sides of said first receptacle end (30) and pivotally movable toward and away from each other to close and open the first receptacle end, the shutter members (34) extending across the optic axis (69) to intersect any light beams and to prevent light energy from exiting the adapter when the shutter members are closed, the shutter members (34) being pivotable away from the optic axis (69) upon engagement by the associated fiber optic transmission means (12), and the shutter members (34) having inner ends which are overlapped (68) when the shutter members are closed to ensure against light leakage along the optic axis (69).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 35 words
The adapter assembly of claim 1, including spring means (66) operatively associated with the shutter members (34) for biasing the shutter members toward closed positions upon removal of the associated fiber optic transmission means (12).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
The adapter assembly of claim 2 wherein said spring means (66) comprise torsion springs operatively associated between the shutter members and the adapter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 36 words
The adapter assembly of claim 1 wherein said first receptacle end (30) is generally rectangular, and including a pair of said shutter members (34) of generally rectangular configuration for closing and opening the first receptacle end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
The adapter assembly of claim 1, including a shutter member (36) pivotally mounted on the adapter for closing and opening the second receptacle end (32).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 36 words
The adapter assembly of claim 1 wherein said adapter includes a main body (24) and an end receptacle body (26) latched to the main body, the shutter members (34) being mounted on the end receptacle body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 25 words
The adapter assembly of claim 6 wherein each shutter member (34) includes at least one pivot trunion (64) pivoted on the end receptacle body (26).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 58 words
The adapter assembly of claim 1, including an associated fiber optic transmission means (12) having a mating end insertable into the first receptacle end (30) and engageable with the shutter members (34), the mating end being transversely offset (80a,80b) for engaging one of the shutter members (34) before the other upon insertion into the first receptacle end (30).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 131 words
A receptacle (10) for receiving a fiber optic connector (12) along an optic axis (69), comprising: a housing (26) having an open end (30) for receiving the fiber optic connector (12) inserted thereinto on said optic axis (69); and at least a pair of shutter members (34) pivotally mounted on the housing at opposite sides of said open end (30) and pivotally movable toward and away from each other to close and open said open end, the shutter members (34) extending across the optic axis (69) when the shutter members are closed, the shutter members (34) being pivotable away from the optic axis (69) upon engagement by the inserted fiber optic connector (12), and the shutter members (34) having inner ends which are overlapped (68) when the shutter members are closed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 32 words
The receptacle of claim 9, including spring means (66) operatively associated with the shutter members (34) for biasing the shutter members toward closed positions upon removal of the fiber optic connector (12).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 22 words
The receptacle of claim 10 wherein said spring means (66) comprise torsion springs operatively associated between the shutter members and the housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 35 words
The receptacle of claim 9 wherein said open end (30) of the housing is generally rectangular, and said pair of shutter members (34) have generally rectangular configurations for closing and opening the rectangular open end.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 167 words
An adapter assembly for mating an optical fiber of an associated fiber optic transmission means (12) along an optic axis (69), comprising: an adapter (10) having a main body (24) and an end receptacle body (26) latched to the main body, the receptacle body defining a receptacle end (30) for receiving the associated fiber optic transmission means (12) on said optic axis (69); and at least a pair of shutter members (34) pivotally mounted on the adapter at opposite sides of said receptacle end (30) and pivotally movable toward and away from each other to close and open the receptacle end, the shutter members (34) extending across the optic axis (69) to intersect any light beams and to prevent light energy from exiting the adapter when the shutter members are closed, the shutter members (34) being pivotable away from the optic axis (69) upon engagement by the associated fiber optic transmission means (12), and the shutter members (34) being pivotally mounted on the end receptacle body (26).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 29 words
The adapter assembly of claim 13 wherein each shutter member (34) includes at least one pivot trunion (64) received in a pivot hole in the end receptacle body (26).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 162 words
A fiber optic connector assembly, comprising: an adapter (10) having an open end (30) for receiving a fiber optic connector (12) inserted thereinto along an optic axis (69); at least a pair of shutter members (34) pivotally mounted on the adapter at opposite sides of said open end (30) and pivotally movable toward and away from each other to close and open said open end, the shutter members (34) extending across the optic axis (69) when the shutter members are closed, and the shutter members (34) being pivotable away from the optic axis (69) upon engagement by the inserted fiber optic connector (12); and a fiber optic connector (12) having a mating end insertable into the open end (30) of the adapter (10) and engageable with the shutter members (34), the mating end being transversely offset (80a,80b) for engaging one of the shutter members (34) before the other shutter member (34) upon insertion of the connector (12) into said open end (30).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 35 words
The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 15, including spring means (66) operatively associated with the shutter members (34) for biasing the shutter members toward closed positions upon removal of the fiber optic connector (12).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 114 words
An adapter assembly (10) for mating an optical fiber of an associated fiber optic transmission means (12,14) along an optic axis (69) through an aperture (16) in a panel (18), comprising: a main body (24) including a portion projecting through the aperture in the panel from one side of the panel, the body further including at least one mounting post (58) for insertion into an appropriate mounting hole in the panel; and an end receptacle body (28) latched to the main body (24) from an opposite side of the panel and sandwiching the panel (18) between the main body and the end receptacle body, providing a redundant mounting means for said mounting post (58).

References Cited (Backward Citations)

No citation records indexed.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag