Optic fiber interconnection system

Claim 1

An optic fiber interconnection system comprising: a housing defining openings for receiving the ends of optic fibers; a plurality of composite fiber elements extending through said openings and having mounting portions within said housing, each of said fiber element mounting portions comprising an optic fiber portion, a flexible jacket covering said optic fiber portion, and a rigid protective shield means disposed between said optic fiber portion and said jacket; a plurality of holder members each retaining a different one of said fiber element mounting portions and shaped and arranged to retain said mounting element portion by clamping said jacket thereof to said shield means, each of said holder members comprising an annular portion encircling one of said fiber element portions and a transversely extending lateral portion and ends of said optic fiber portions extending beyond said holder members and adapted for connection to other optic fiber portions; and base support means secured within said housing and retaining said fiber element portions in a parallel array, said base support means comprising a stamping defining a plurality of slots each receiving and engaging said lateral portion on a different one of said holder members so as to prevent axial movement thereof, said stamping further defining a plurality of pairs of spaced apart ears each pair bent into engagement with a different one of said holder members so as to prevent transverse movement thereof, and wherein said pairs of ears are spaced apart in directions both axial and transverse to said parallel fiber element portions.