Fiber optic cable connectors providing strain relief

Claim 2

A fiber optic cable connector for securing a fiber optic cable to a structural member and passing in a strain relieved condition at least one optical fiber of said cable out of said connector for connection to componentry associated with said structural member, said connector comprising: a first connector body coaxially insertable over a stripped end portion of said cable such that a casing of said cable extends into said first connector body; a second connector body coaxially insertable over said stripped end portion of said cable such that said at least one optical fiber of said cable extends out of said second connector body, said second connector body being threadably engageable with said first connector body; attachment means for securing the connector to said structural member and allowing said at least one optical fiber to pass out of said connector to said componentry within a protective tube covering said at least one optical fiber and extending into said connector; first clamping means for securely clamping within said connector a strength component of said cable to thereby strain relieve said at least one optical fiber against stresses imparted to said cable; and second clamping means for securely clamping within said connector a strength component of said protective tube to strain relieve the at least one optical fiber extending therein from stresses imparted to said protective tube.

Claim 3

A fiber optic cable connector according to claim 1, wherein said second clamping means is actuated by progressive threaded engagement of said first and second connector bodies.

Claim 4

A fiber optic cable connector according to claim 2, further comprising a pin member insertable into an enlarged portion of an axial passageway extending through said second connector body, said second clamping means comprising an annular shoulder surface formed between said enlarged portion of said axial passageway and a smaller portion thereof, and an end surface of said pin member which abuts with said shoulder surface, whereby force generated by progressively threadably engaging said first and second connector bodies is transmitted from said first connector body to said pin member to create a clamping force between said annular shoulder surface and the end surface of said pin member.

Claim 5

A fiber optic cable connector according to claim 1, further comprising anti-rotation means for securing the casing of said cable to the connector to prevent rotation of the cable relative to the connector.

Claim 6

A fiber optic cable connector for securing a fiber optic cable to a structural member and passing in a strain relieved condition at least one optical fiber of said cable out of said connector for connection to componentry associated with said structural member, said connector comprising: a first connector body coaxially insertable over a stripped end portion of said cable such that a casing of said cable extends into said first connector body; a second connector body coaxially insertable over said stripped end portion of said cable such that said at least one optical fiber of said cable extends out of said second connector body, said second connector body being threadably engageable with said first connector body; attachment means for securing the connector to said structural member and allowing said at least one optical fiber to pass out of said connector to said componentry; and clamping means actuated by progressive threaded engagement of said first and second connector bodies for securely clamping within said connector a strength component of said cable to thereby strain relieve said at least one optical fiber, said clamping means comprising: first and second compression blocks coaxially insertable over said stripped end portion of said cable adjacent to each other and between said first and second connector bodies such that opposing surfaces of said first and second compression blocks from clamping surfaces for clamping therebetween said strength component of the cable, said first and second compression blocks being insertable into an axial cavity provided in one of said first and second connector bodies and being compressible within the axial cavity of said one connector body as the other connector body is progressively threadably engaged within said one connector body.

Claim 7

A fiber optic cable connector for securing a fiber optic cable to a structural member and passing in a strain relieved condition at least one optical fiber of said cable out of said connector for connection to componentry associated with said structural member, said connector comprising: a first connector body coaxially insertable over a stripped end portion of said cable such that a casing of said cable extends into said first connector body; a second connector body coaxially insertable over said stripped end portion of said cable such that said at least one optical fiber of said cable extends out of said second connector body, said second connector body being threadably engageable with said first connector body; attachment means for securing the connector to said structural member and allowing said at least one optical fiber to pass out of said connector to said componentry; and clamping means actuated by progressive threaded engagement of said first and second connector bodies for securely clamping within said connector a strength component of said cable to thereby strain relieve said at least one optical fiber, said clamping means comprising: first and second compression blocks coaxially insertable over said stripped end portion of said cable adjacent to each other and between said first and second connector bodies such that opposing surfaces of said first and second compression blocks from clamping surfaces for clamping therebetween said strength component of the cable, said first and second compression blocks being insertable into an axial cavity provided in one of said first and second connector bodies and being compressible within the axial cavity of said one connector body as the other connector body is progressively threadably engaged within said one connector body.

Claim 8

A fiber optic cable connector according to claim 5, wherein said attachment means comprises a threaded end portion of said second connector body for threadably engaging a threaded aperture provided in said structural member, said threaded end portion providing a passageway for said at least one optical fiber to pass through said structural member for connection to said componentry.

Claim 9

A fiber optic cable connector according to claim 5, further comprising additional clamping means for securely clamping within said connector a strength member of a protective tube extending into said second connector body and covering a stripped end portion of said at least one optical fiber.

Claim 10

A fiber optic cable connector according to claim 7, wherein said additional clamping means is actuated by said progressive threaded engagement of said first and second connector bodies.

Claim 11

A fiber optic cable connector according to claim 8, further comprising a pin member insertable into an enlarged portion of an axial passageway extending through said second connector body, said additional clamping means comprising an annular shoulder surface formed between said enlarged portion of said axial passageway and a smaller portion thereof, and an end surface of said pin member which abuts with said shoulder surface, whereby force generated by progressively threadably engaging said first and second connector bodies is transmitted from said first connector body to said pin member to create a clamping force between said annular shoulder surface and the end surface of the pin member.

Claim 12

A fiber optic cable connector according to claim 9, wherein a forwardmost side of a forwardmost one of said compression blocks contacts an end portion of the pin member when the first and second connector bodies are progressively threadably engaged, to thereby transmit said force from the first connector body to the pin member.

Claim 13

A fiber optic cable connector according to claim 5, further comprising anti-rotation means for securing the casing of said cable to the connector to prevent rotation of the cable relative to the connector.

Claim 14

A fiber optic cable connector according to claim 11, wherein said anti-rotation means comprises a split ring which is coaxially insertable onto said cable casing and into an axial bore of said first connector body, and a third connector body having an end portion which is threadably engageable with said first connector body such that progressive threaded engagement of said first and third connector bodies binds securely together the cable casing, split ring and first connector body, whereby said cable is secured against rotation relative to said connector.

Claim 15

A fiber optic cable connector according to claim 12, wherein said axial bore comprises a threaded cylindrical portion and non-threaded cylindrical portion, and said anti-rotation means further comprises a ring nut which is threadably engageable with said threaded cylindrical portion and advanceable therethrough into said non-threaded portion to retain the split ring.

Claim 16

A fiber optic cable connector according to claim 12, wherein said axial bore comprises a chamfered surface against which said split ring is forced by the progressive threaded engagement of said first and third connector bodies, whereby said split ring is caused to grip said casing.

Claim 17

A fiber optic cable connector for securing a fiber optic cable having a casing with at least one wire strengthening member extending along its length to a structural member and passing in a strain relieved condition at least one optical fiber of said cable out of said connector for connection to componentry associated with said structural member, said connector comprising: a first connector body coaxially insertable over a stripped end portion of said cable such that the casing of said cable extends into said first connector body; a second connector body coaxially insertable over said stripped end portion of said cable such that said at least one optical fiber of said cable extends out of said second connector body, said second connector body being threadably engageable with said first connector body; attachment means for securing the connector to said structural member and allowing said at least one optical fiber to pass out of said connector to said componentry; and locking means actuated by progressive threaded engagement of said first and second connector bodies for locking onto a terminal portion of said wire strengthening member a deformable ferrule and trapping said ferrule within said connector to thereby strain relieve said at least one optical fiber.

Claim 18

A fiber optic cable connector for securing a fiber optic cable having a casing with at least one wire strengthening member extending along its length to a structural member and passing in a strain relieved condition at least one optical fiber of said cable out of said connector for connection to componentry associated with said structural member, said connector comprising: a first connector body coaxially insertable over a stripped end portion of said cable such that the casing of said cable extends into said first connector body; a second connector body coaxially insertable over said stripped end portion of said cable such that said at least one optical fiber of said cable extends out of said second connector body, said second connector body being threadably engageable with said first connector body; attachment means for securing the connector to said structural member and allowing said at least one optical fiber to pass out of said connector to said componentry; and locking means actuated by progressive threaded engagement of said first and second connector bodies for locking onto a terminal portion of said wire strengthening member a deformable ferrule and trapping said ferrule within said connector to thereby strain relieve said at least one optical fiber.

Claim 19

A fiber optic cable connector according to claim 15, wherein said attachment means comprises a threaded end portion of said second connector body for threadably engaging a threaded aperture provided in said structural member, said threaded end portion providing a passageway for said at least one optical fiber to pass through said structural member for connection to said componentry.

Claim 20

A fiber optic cable connector according to claim 15, wherein said locking means comprises: a bore extending into a rear surface of the second connector body for accommodating therein said terminal portion of said wire strengthening member and a ferrule inserted over said terminal portion; and a compression plate mountable between said first and second connector bodies with said wire strengthening member extending therethrough, for transmitting to said ferrule compressive force generated by said progressive threaded engagement of said first and second connector bodies to thereby compress said ferrule into said bore to securely engage said ferrule with said wire strengthening member, and to compressively retain said ferrule and terminal portion of the wire strengthening member within said bore.

Claim 21

A fiber optic cable connector according to claim 15, wherein said locking means comprises: a pair of bores extending into a rear surface of the second connector body for accommodating respectively therein terminal portions of a pair of said wire strengthening members and a pair of ferrules inserted respectively over said terminal portions; a compression plate mountable between said first and second connector bodies with said pair of wire strengthening members extending therethrough, for transmitting to said ferrules compressive force generated by said progressive threaded engagement of said first and second connector bodies to thereby compress said ferrules into respective said bores to securely engage said ferrules with respective said wire strengthening members, and to compressively retain said ferrules and wire strengthening member end portions within said bores.

Claim 22

A fiber optic cable connector according to claim 15, further comprising clamping means for securely clamping within said connector a strength member of a protective tube extending into said second connector body and covering a stripped end portion of said at least one optical fiber.

Claim 23

A fiber optic cable connector according to claim 19, wherein said clamping means is actuated by progressive threaded engagement of said first and second connector bodies.

Claim 24

A fiber optic cable connector according to claim 20, further comprising a pin member insertable into an enlarged portion of an axial passageway extending through said second connector body, said clamping means comprising an annular shoulder surface formed between said enlarged portion of said axial passageway and a smaller portion thereof, and an end surface of said pin member which abuts with said shoulder surface, whereby force generated by progressively threadably engaging said first and second connector bodies is transmitted from said first connector body to said pin member to create a clamping force between said annular shoulder surface and the end surface of the pin member.

Claim 25

A fiber optic cable connector according to claim 16, further comprising clamping means for securely clamping within said connector a strength member of a protective tube extending into said second connector body and covering a stripped end portion of said at least one optical fiber.

Claim 26

A fiber optic cable connector according to claim 22, wherein said clamping means is actuated by progressive threaded engagement of said first and second connector bodies.

Claim 27

A fiber optic cable connector according to claim 23, further comprising a pin member insertable into an enlarged portion of an axial passageway extending through said second connector body, said clamping means comprising an annular shoulder surface formed between said enlarged portion of said axial passageway and a smaller portion thereof, and an end surface of said pin member which abuts with said shoulder surface, whereby force generated by progressively threadably engaging said first and second connector bodies is transmitted from said first connector body to said pin member to create a clamping force between said annular shoulder surface and the end surface of the pin member.

Claim 28

A fiber optic cable connector according to claim 24, wherein said compression plate contacts a front end of said first connector body on one side and an end portion of the pin member on the other side when the first and second connector bodies are progressively threadably engaged, to thereby effect said transmission of force from the first connector body to the pin member.