Patent US5096276A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5096276A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sheath connector for an optical cable
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
•
Filing: 1989-12-13
•
Granted: 1992-03-17
•
Expires: 2009-12-13
Abstract
Abstract A connector 1 for assembly with an optical cable 2 comprises, a shell 10 encircling a spring biased holder 13 for an optical fiber 3 of the cable 2, a sheath 16 to prevent leaking of adhesive 59 from the holder 13, and strength members 5 of the cable 2 anchored to the shell 10, whereby the holder 13 and the optical fiber 3 of the cable 2 are displaceable with respect to the strength members 5 of the cable 2.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffrey T. Gerace
- 👤 Alan E. Plotts
- 👤 Frederic H. Abendschein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 11:15
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/381; G02B6/3826; G02B6/3831; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3847; G02B6/3869; G02B6/3873; G02B6/3874; G02B6/3887; G02B6/38875; G02B6/3888; G02B6/3851; G02B6/3854
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A connector for an optical fiber cable, wherein the cable includes at least one optical fiber and a load bearing portion, and wherein the connector includes: a shell and at least one reciprocating holder in the shell for holding a corresponding optical fiber; and wherein the improvement comprises: the load bearing portion is anchored to the shell, the corresponding optical fiber is connected to the reciprocating holder, the corresponding optical fiber is slidable within the load bearing portion, the corresponding optical fiber, together with the reciprocating holder, is reciprocatable with respect to the shell and the load bearing portion, and a sheath for the corresponding optical fiber is on the reciprocating holder, and the corresponding optical fiber extends along the sheath.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A connector for an optical fiber cable, wherein the cable includes at least one optical fiber and a load bearing portion, and wherein the connector includes: a shell and at least one reciprocating holder in the shell for holding a corresponding optical fiber; and wherein the improvement comprises: the load bearing portion is anchored to the shell, the corresponding optical fiber is connected to the reciprocating holder, the corresponding optical fiber is slidable within the load bearing portion, the corresponding optical fiber, together with the reciprocating holder, is reciprocatable with respect to the shell and the load bearing portion, and a sheath for the corresponding optical fiber is on the reciprocating holder, and the corresponding optical fiber extends along the sheath.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the improvement further comprises; anchoring means connecting the shell and the load bearing portion for anchoring the load bearing portion to the shell.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the improvement further comprises; the sheath includes a rear end portion that projects from the shell before the corresponding optical fiber extends along the sheath, and the sheath is retractable along the shell after the rear end portion of the sheath is removed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A connector as recited in claim 3, wherein the improvement further comprises; anchoring means connecting the shell and the load bearing portion for anchoring the load bearing portion to the shell.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the improvement further comprises; a strain relief encircling at least a portion of the shell and encircling at least a portion of the cable projecting from the shell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A connector as recited in claim 3, wherein the improvement further comprises; a strain relief encircling at least a portion of the shell and encircling at least a portion of the cable projecting from the shell.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the improvement further comprises; a compressible biasing spring urged against the reciprocating holder and urged against the shell to retract the sheath along the shell.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A connector as recited in claim 3, wherein the improvement further comprises; a compressible biasing spring urged against the reciprocating holder and urged against the shell to retract the sheath along the shell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the improvement further comprises; means on the holder and the shell for preventing rotation of the holder relative to the shell.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A connector as recited in claim 3, wherein the improvement further comprises; means on the holder and the shell for preventing rotation of the holder relative to the shell.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
A connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the improvement further comprises; a coupling ring rotatably mounted on the shell, a sleeve secured to the coupling ring and reciprocatable and rotatable with the coupling ring during connection and disconnection of the coupling ring with respect to a complementary connector, and a cable strain relief secured to the sleeve and encircling the cable.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
A connector as recited in claim 3, wherein the improvement further comprises; a coupling ring rotatably mounted on the shell, a sleeve secured to the coupling ring and reciprocatable and rotatable with the coupling ring during connection and disconnection of the coupling ring with respect to a complementary connector, and a cable strain relief secured to the sleeve and encircling the cable.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
119 words
A connector for an optical fiber cable, wherein the cable includes at least one optical fiber and a load bearing portion, and wherein the connector includes: a shell and at least one reciprocating holder in the shell for holding a corresponding optical fiber; and wherein the improvement comprises: the load bearing portion is anchored to the shell, the corresponding optical fiber is connected to the reciprocating holder, the corresponding optical fiber is slidable within the load bearing portion, the corresponding optical fiber, together with the reciprocating holder, is reciprocatable with respect to the shell and the load bearing portion, and there are means on the holder and the shell for preventing rotation of the holder relative to the shell.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
119 words
A connector for an optical fiber cable, wherein the cable includes at least one optical fiber and a load bearing portion, and wherein the connector includes: a shell and at least one reciprocating holder in the shell for holding a corresponding optical fiber; and wherein the improvement comprises: the load bearing portion is anchored to the shell, the corresponding optical fiber is connected to the reciprocating holder, the corresponding optical fiber is slidable within the load bearing portion, the corresponding optical fiber, together with the reciprocating holder, is reciprocatable with respect to the shell and the load bearing portion, and there are means on the holder and the shell for preventing rotation of the holder relative to the shell.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
151 words
A connector for an optical fiber cable, wherein the cable includes at lest one optical fiber and a load bearing portion, and wherein the connector includes: a shell and at least one reciprocating holder in the shell for holding a corresponding optical fiber; and wherein the improvement comprises: the load bearing portion is anchored to the shell, the corresponding optical fiber is connected to the reciprocating holder, the corresponding optical fiber is slidable within the load bearing portion, the corresponding optical fiber, together with the reciprocating holder, is reciprocatable with respect to the shell and the load bearing portion, a coupling ring is rotatably mounted on the shell, a sleeve is secured to the coupling ring and reciprocatable and rotatable with the coupling ring during connection and disconnection of the coupling ring with respect to a complementary connector, and a cable strain relief is secured to the sleeve encircling the cable.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
151 words
A connector for an optical fiber cable, wherein the cable includes at lest one optical fiber and a load bearing portion, and wherein the connector includes: a shell and at least one reciprocating holder in the shell for holding a corresponding optical fiber; and wherein the improvement comprises: the load bearing portion is anchored to the shell, the corresponding optical fiber is connected to the reciprocating holder, the corresponding optical fiber is slidable within the load bearing portion, the corresponding optical fiber, together with the reciprocating holder, is reciprocatable with respect to the shell and the load bearing portion, a coupling ring is rotatably mounted on the shell, a sleeve is secured to the coupling ring and reciprocatable and rotatable with the coupling ring during connection and disconnection of the coupling ring with respect to a complementary connector, and a cable strain relief is secured to the sleeve encircling the cable.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
107 words
A connector for an optical fiber cable, wherein the cable includes; at least one optical fiber and a load bearing portion, and wherein the connector includes; at least one reciprocating holder for holding a corresponding optical fiber and a coupling ring for connection and disconnection with respect to a complementary connector; and wherein the improvement comprises; a shell connected to the load bearing portion, the coupling ring is reciprocatable and rotatable with respect to the shell and the holder, and a sleeve secured to the coupling ring, the sleeve is reciprocatable and rotatable with the coupling ring during connection and disconnection with respect to a complementary connector.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
107 words
A connector for an optical fiber cable, wherein the cable includes; at least one optical fiber and a load bearing portion, and wherein the connector includes; at least one reciprocating holder for holding a corresponding optical fiber and a coupling ring for connection and disconnection with respect to a complementary connector; and wherein the improvement comprises; a shell connected to the load bearing portion, the coupling ring is reciprocatable and rotatable with respect to the shell and the holder, and a sleeve secured to the coupling ring, the sleeve is reciprocatable and rotatable with the coupling ring during connection and disconnection with respect to a complementary connector.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for assembling a connector to an optical cable, wherein the cable includes: at least one optical fiber and a load bearing portion; and wherein the connector includes: a shell and at lest one reciprocating holder in the shell for holding a corresponding optical fiber; wherein the improvement includes the steps of; providing on the reciprocating holder a sheath for the corresponding optical fiber; depositing an adhesive in the holder remote from an open rear end portion of the sheath; inserting the corresponding optical fiber along the sheath; assembling the corresponding optical fiber in the reciprocating holder, the corresponding optical fiber being slidable within the load bearing portion; connecting together the load bearing portion and the shell; and maintaining the corresponding optical fiber reciprocatable together with the reciprocating holder, and reciprocatable with respect to the shell and the load bearing portion.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for assembling a connector to an optical cable, wherein the cable includes: at least one optical fiber and a load bearing portion; and wherein the connector includes: a shell and at lest one reciprocating holder in the shell for holding a corresponding optical fiber; wherein the improvement includes the steps of; providing on the reciprocating holder a sheath for the corresponding optical fiber; depositing an adhesive in the holder remote from an open rear end portion of the sheath; inserting the corresponding optical fiber along the sheath; assembling the corresponding optical fiber in the reciprocating holder, the corresponding optical fiber being slidable within the load bearing portion; connecting together the load bearing portion and the shell; and maintaining the corresponding optical fiber reciprocatable together with the reciprocating holder, and reciprocatable with respect to the shell and the load bearing portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the improvement further includes the step of; removing the rear end portion of the sheath prior to inserting the corresponding optical fiber along the sheath.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the improvement further includes the step of; retracting the sheath within the shell prior to connecting together the load bearing portion and the shell.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the improvement further includes the step of; retracting the sheath within the shell prior to connecting together the load bearing portion and the shell.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the improvement further includes the step of; assembling the reciprocating holder, the sheath and the shell prior to inserting the corresponding optical fiber along the sheath.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the improvement further includes the step of; assembling the reciprocating holder, the sheath and the shell prior to inserting the corresponding optical fiber along the sheath.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4204306A
Cited
US4362356A
Cited
US4440469A
Cited
US4447121A
Cited
US4648688A
Cited
US4634214A
Cited
US4679895A
Cited
US4645296A
Cited
EP0195432A2
Cited
US4687288A
Cited
US4705352A
Cited
US4795229A
Cited
US4812009A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-03-17 | 1995-09-16 | 1996-03-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-03-17 | 1999-09-16 | 2000-03-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-03-17 | 2003-09-16 | 2004-03-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |