Fiber optic connector backshell

Claim 1

A field repairable fiber optic connector backshell for surrounding and protecting one or more fiber optic pairs which are joined together by fiber optic couplers, said backshell comprising: a cylindrical body, a coupling ring on a first end of the cylindrical body having means for coupling said backshell to an adjacent member, a cable clamp on a second end of the cylindrical body for clamping and sealing the backshell to the outer jacket of a fiber optic cable, an integral frame joining the first end of the cylindrical body to the second end of the cylindrical body, a pair of opposed longitudinal struts comprising said frame, a pair of windows defined by the struts, wherein access to the fiber optic pairs and the fiber optic couplers is provided by said windows, a removable sleeve surrounding the frame portion and means for removably attaching the removable sleeve to the cylindrical body, seating surfaces on the cylindrical body on opposite ends of the windows, and sealing means on the first end and on the second end of the removable sleeve for mating with and sealing against said seating surfaces, whereby said removable sleeve surrounds and protects the fiber optic pairs and fiber optic couplers, and said sealing means and seating surfaces block moisture and other contaminants from said windows when said removable sleeve is attached to the cylindrical body, and whereby said fiber optic pairs and couplers are exposed when said removable sleeve and said sealing means are removed from said cylindrical body.