Patent US4747656A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4747656A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Optical fiber connector with locking mechanism

Assignee: Alps Alpine Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1986-05-09
•
Granted: 1988-05-31
•
Expires: 2006-05-09
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An optical connector composed of a plug lock member provided on the end of a light guide pass and a plug attachable to/detachable from the plug lock member, which is characterized by a lock member provided on either the plug lock member or plug to be pressed onto a member to be held, a push member movable in the direction intersecting the attaching/detaching direction of the plug, push portions provided on the push member for pushing the lock member onto the member to be held, and a click mechanism provided on the push member, wherein when the member to be held is pressed by the lock member the click mechanism operates to lock the push member, whereby its locked state is maintained stable and can not be released even subjected to continuous vibration or pulling force.

Inventors

  • 👤 Yoshinori Miyahara
  • 👤 Kazuo Hasegawa

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 23:42
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/389; G02B6/3893; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3855; G02B6/3869; G02B6/3887; G02B6/3888; G02B6/42; G02B6/4292

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 344 words
An optical connector comprising: a plug lock member for receiving an optical fiber end inserted along a center axis therein and having at least one engaging portion formed at a first angular position radially outwardly from said center axis; a plug which is concentrically attachable to and detachable from said plug lock member, said plug including a cylindrical outer push member having one end facing toward said plug lock member and another end opposite therefrom, said one end having at least one push portion formed concentrically and radially outwardly from said center axis, and said other end having at least one click cam formed concentrically and radially outwardly from said center axis; and a holding member having an inner holding portion for holding an optical fiber end along said central axis therein, at least one engagement portion formed at said first angular position radially outwardly from said center axis at one part of said holding member, and at least one cam portion formed at a second angular position radially outwardly from said center axis at another part of said holding member, wherein said engaging portion of said plug lock member and said engagement portion of said one part of said holding member, which are located at said first angular position relative to said central axis, become mated in axial locking relationship when said holding member holding said optical fiber end is inserted in said plug lock member, and wherein said plug is axially attachable on said plug lock member and said holding member inserted therein, and said push member thereof is angularly rotatable so as to rotate said push portion to said first angular position, wherein it presses said engaging portion of said plug lock member and said engagement portion of said holding member tightly in said locking relationship, and simultaneously with said angular rotation of said push member said click cam on the other end thereof is rotated to said second angular position so as to engage said cam portion on said other part of said holding member with a click locking action.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 344 words
An optical connector comprising: a plug lock member for receiving an optical fiber end inserted along a center axis therein and having at least one engaging portion formed at a first angular position radially outwardly from said center axis; a plug which is concentrically attachable to and detachable from said plug lock member, said plug including a cylindrical outer push member having one end facing toward said plug lock member and another end opposite therefrom, said one end having at least one push portion formed concentrically and radially outwardly from said center axis, and said other end having at least one click cam formed concentrically and radially outwardly from said center axis; and a holding member having an inner holding portion for holding an optical fiber end along said central axis therein, at least one engagement portion formed at said first angular position radially outwardly from said center axis at one part of said holding member, and at least one cam portion formed at a second angular position radially outwardly from said center axis at another part of said holding member, wherein said engaging portion of said plug lock member and said engagement portion of said one part of said holding member, which are located at said first angular position relative to said central axis, become mated in axial locking relationship when said holding member holding said optical fiber end is inserted in said plug lock member, and wherein said plug is axially attachable on said plug lock member and said holding member inserted therein, and said push member thereof is angularly rotatable so as to rotate said push portion to said first angular position, wherein it presses said engaging portion of said plug lock member and said engagement portion of said holding member tightly in said locking relationship, and simultaneously with said angular rotation of said push member said click cam on the other end thereof is rotated to said second angular position so as to engage said cam portion on said other part of said holding member with a click locking action.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 28 words
An optical connector according to claim 1, wherein said plug includes further fixing portions (12) and a fixing member (11) for fixing said plug on the optical fiber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 201 words
An optical connector according to claim 1, wherein said plug lock member has a plurality of stepped engaging portions arranged concentrically at spaced first angular positions, said holding member has a corresponding plurality of shoulder engagement portions arranged concentrically at said spaced first angular positions on a forward part thereof facing said plug locking member, which slide axially and lock onto said stepped engaging portions of said plug lock member, and a plurality of cam portions arranged concentrically at spaced second angular positions, which are the same as said spaced first angular positions, on a rearward part thereof, and said push member has a corresponding plurality of push portions, having respective push portion tops on which said shoulder engagement portions of said holding member abut and are pressed toward said engaging portions of said plug lock member at said first angular positions, and inclined faces leading to said push portion tops, formed at a forward end thereof facing said plug locking member, and a plurality of click cams, including respective stopper portions spaced therefrom, between which said cam portions of said holding member are snapped in said click locking action at said first angular positions, formed at a rearward end thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 201 words
An optical connector according to claim 1, wherein said plug lock member has a plurality of shoulder engaging portions arranged concentrically at spaced first angular positions, said holding member has a corresponding plurality of stepped engagement portions arranged concentrically at said spaced first angular positions on a forward part thereof facing said plug locking member, which said shoulder engaging portions of said plug lock member slide axially and lock onto, and a plurality of cam portions arranged concentrically at spaced second angular positions, which are the same as said spaced first angular positions, on a rearward part thereof, and said push member has a corresponding plurality of push portions, having respective push portion tops on which said shoulder engaging portions of said plug lock member abut and are pressed toward said engagement portions of said holding member at said first angular positions, and inclined faces leading to said push portions tops, formed at a forward end thereof facing said plug locking member, and a plurality of clicks cams, including respective stopper portions spaced therefrom, between which said cam portions of said holding member are snapped in said click locking action at said first angular positions, formed at a rearward end thereof.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4030809A Cited
US4435036A Cited
US4539476A Cited
US4398797A Cited
US4432602A Cited
US4684210A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-05-31 1991-11-30 1992-05-31 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-05-31 1995-11-30 1996-05-31 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-05-31 1999-11-30 2000-05-31 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag