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US4884864A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Pin and socket fiber optic connector

Assignee: Raychem Corp
•
Filing: 1987-12-14
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Granted: 1989-12-05
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Expires: 2007-12-14
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Abstract

Abstract A fiber optic connector which includes a connector body having at least one socket cavity therein and a socket contact inserted into the socket contact cavity. The socket contact has a retention area and a cable termination area at one end and a retractable contact portion at the other end. The connector further includes means on the retractable contact portion for limiting axial movement of the contact portion so that when the contact portion is unretracted, a tip of the contact portion is substantially flush with a surface of the connector body.

Inventors

  • 👤 Roger H. Ellis
  • 👤 A. Christian Walton
  • 👤 Akira Tomita

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 19:14
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/22; H01R13/24; H01R13/2407; H01R13/2421; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/381; G02B6/3818; G02B6/3821; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3847; G02B6/3873; G02B6/3874; G02B6/3877

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 103 words
A fiber optic connector, comprising: a connector body having at least one socket contact cavity therein; a socket contact inserted into said contact cavity, said socket contact having a retention area at one end and a retractable contact portion; and means for limiting axial movement of said contact portion so that when said contact portion is unretracted a tip of said contact portion is substantially flush with a front surface of the connector body so as to be within 3 mm thereof, said limiting means being constructed so as to align front ends of said retractable contact portion and a mating contact pin.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 103 words
A fiber optic connector, comprising: a connector body having at least one socket contact cavity therein; a socket contact inserted into said contact cavity, said socket contact having a retention area at one end and a retractable contact portion; and means for limiting axial movement of said contact portion so that when said contact portion is unretracted a tip of said contact portion is substantially flush with a front surface of the connector body so as to be within 3 mm thereof, said limiting means being constructed so as to align front ends of said retractable contact portion and a mating contact pin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
The connector of claim 1, said limiting means comprising a tubular sleeve snugly fitted onto said retractable contact portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 10 words
The connector of claim 2, said sleeve being axially split.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 29 words
The connector of claim 2, said limiting means including a first boss located on a rear of said sleeve and a second boss located rearwardly of said retention area.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 65 words
The connector of claim 4, said socket contact further comprising a socket contact barrel on which is formed said retention area, said barrel having a rear surface for engaging said second boss when said contact portion is unretracted such that said tip of said contact portion is substantially flush with the front surface of the connector body so as to be within 3 mm thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 31 words
The connector of claim 5, said socket contact further including second means connected to said barrel for limiting both forward and rearward movement of said tubular sleeve relative to said barrel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 16 words
The connector of claim 6, said second limiting means including at least one press fit ring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 16 words
The connector of claim 7, said second limiting means further including a second press fit ring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 45 words
The connector of claim 7, said second limiting means further including a front section of the barrel which has been rolled such that said first boss is captivated between said ring and the rolled barrel so as to allow a small amount of movement therebetween.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 34 words
The connector of claim 1, said limiting means comprising a tubular sleeve snugly fitted onto said retractable contact portion, said limiting means having a boss on its periphery at both ends of said sleeve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 60 words
The connector of claim 1, said sleeve being axially split, said limiting means including a first boss on its rear periphery, said retractable contact portion having first and second adjacent different sized diameter sections and a boss therebetween, the retractable contact portion boss being engageable with the first boss upon removal of the socket contact from the connector body rearwardly.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 71 words
The connector of claim 11, said sleeve being tubular and being snugly fitted onto a front diameter section of the retractable contact portion, and said limiting means further including a casing which has formed thereon the first boss and second and third bosses, said second and third bosses being at opposite ends of said casing for limiting axial movement of the limiting means in both a forward and a rearward direction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 23 words
The connector of claim 1, a tip of said contact Portion being within 2 mm of a front surface of the connector body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 23 words
The connector of claim 1, a tip of said contact portion being within 1 mm of a front surface of the connector body.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 22 words
The connector of claim 1, the limiting means being located on the retractable contact portion in an area behind the retention area.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 24 words
The connector of claim 1, the limiting means being located on the retractable contact portion in an area in front of the retention area.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4205898A Cited
US4178068A Cited
US4255016A Cited
GB2136595A Cited
US4726647A Cited
US4737009A Cited
US4735480A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-12-04 1993-06-05 1993-12-05 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-12-04 1997-06-05 1997-12-05 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-12-04 2001-06-05 2001-12-05 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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