Optical connector for optical fiber cables

Claim 1

An optical connector for optically connecting respective ends of two optical fibers of two respective optical fiber cables, said optical connector comprising: a first ferrule molded of synthetic resin, this ferrule having two axially opposite ends and being constructed and arranged to receive an end portion of a first optical fiber so that the said respective end thereof is exposed at the axially inner said end of this ferrule and said end portion of the first optical fiber extends longitudinally within this ferrule; a second ferrule molded of synthetic resin, this ferrule having two axially opposite ends and being constructed and arranged to receive an end portion of a second optical fiber so that the said respective end thereof is exposed at the axially inner said end of this ferrule and said end portion of the second optical fiber extends longitudinally within this ferrule; and a tubular sleeve molded of synthetic resin, this sleeve being axially open at two opposite ends thereof and being constructed and arranged to have said first and second ferrules slid axially thereinto through respective ones of said opposite ends thereof until said respective ends of said two optical fibers, when said end portions are received in said ferrules as aforesaid are aligned in juxtaposition so that within said optical connector, each of said two optical fibers is positioned to effectively form an optical continuation of the other; each of said ferrules having external surface means defining a portion of full circumferential extent which is of uniform transverse cross-sectional shape along the length of each such portion; said sleeve having internal surface means defining a portion of full circumferential extent which is of uniform transverse cross-sectional shape along the length of such portion; one of said internal surface means portion and said external surface means portions being effectively grooved by at least one groove means formed along the full longitudinal extent of telescopic overlap of said portions when said ferrules are axially slid into said sleeve as aforesaid that air otherwise trapped between said ferrules as said ferrules are being slid into said sleeve escapes axially outwardly of said optical connector via said groove means; said internal surface means portion and external surface means portion being so sized and shaped relative to one another that frictional resistance to axial sliding of said ferrules into said sleeve as aforesaid is extremely small, so that said sleeve need not be distended as said ferrules are axially slid thereinto.