US5506922A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fiber optic component assembly with a movable protective shield
Assignee: Molex LLC
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Filing: 1994-08-01
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Granted: 1996-04-09
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Expires: 2014-08-01
Abstract
Abstract An adapter assembly is provided for mating an optical fiber along an optic axis with an associated fiber optic transmission device. The adapter assembly includes a body having an end face for mating with the associated fiber optic transmission device, the end face of the body traversing the optic axis. A movable protective shield is adapted for attachment to the body to cover the end face thereof and prevent ingress of contamination thereinto and to protect operator's eyes. The shield includes a diverting surface in alignment with the optic axis to prevent light energy transmitted by the optical fiber from being reflected back toward the fiber.
Inventors
- 👤 Igor Grois
- 👤 Yuriy Belenkiy
- 👤 Mark Margolin
- 👤 Ilya Makhlin
- 👤 Irina L. Gumin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 09:28
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/381; G02B6/3825; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3847; G02B6/3849; G02B6/42; G02B6/4296; G02B2006/4297; G02B6/389; G02B6/3893
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
In a fiber optic component assembly for mating an optical fiber along an optic axis with an associated fiber optic transmission means, the component assembly including a body having an end face for mating with the associated fiber optic transmission means, the end face of the body traversing said optic axis, and a movable protective shield adapted for attachment to said body to cover the end face thereof and prevent ingress of contamination thereinto and to protect operator's eyes from intensive laser beam, wherein the improvement comprises diversion means on said movable protective shield in alignment with the optic axis to prevent light energy transmitted by said optical fiber from being reflected back toward the fiber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
In a fiber optic component assembly for mating an optical fiber along an optic axis with an associated fiber optic transmission means, the component assembly including a body having an end face for mating with the associated fiber optic transmission means, the end face of the body traversing said optic axis, and a movable protective shield adapted for attachment to said body to cover the end face thereof and prevent ingress of contamination thereinto and to protect operator's eyes from intensive laser beam, wherein the improvement comprises diversion means on said movable protective shield in alignment with the optic axis to prevent light energy transmitted by said optical fiber from being reflected back toward the fiber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
In a component assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said diversion means comprises a deflecting surface on the movable protective shield extending at an oblique angle with said optic axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
In a component assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein said movable protective shield is attached to the body by a hinge with a hinge axis spaced from and generally perpendicular to said optic axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
In a component assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein said oblique angle diverges from the hinge axis away from the end face of the body so that the deflecting surface never is perpendicular to the optic axis as the movable protective shield pivots about the hinge to an open position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
116 words
An adapter assembly for mating an optical fiber along an optic axis with an associated fiber optic transmission means, comprising: a fiber optic connector having a housing terminating said optical fiber, an adapter having a receptacle at one end for receiving the fiber optic connector and an end face at an opposite end that mates with the associated fiber optic transmission means, the end face of the adapter traversing the optic axis; a protective shield movably attached to the adapter spaced from and generally perpendicular to the optic axis, the shield being adapted to cover the end face of the adapter and prevent ingress of contamination thereinto and to protect operator's eyes from intensive laser beam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
116 words
An adapter assembly for mating an optical fiber along an optic axis with an associated fiber optic transmission means, comprising: a fiber optic connector having a housing terminating said optical fiber, an adapter having a receptacle at one end for receiving the fiber optic connector and an end face at an opposite end that mates with the associated fiber optic transmission means, the end face of the adapter traversing the optic axis; a protective shield movably attached to the adapter spaced from and generally perpendicular to the optic axis, the shield being adapted to cover the end face of the adapter and prevent ingress of contamination thereinto and to protect operator's eyes from intensive laser beam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The adapter assembly of claim 5, wherein the shield includes diversion means in alignment with the optic axis to prevent light energy transmitted by said optical fiber from being reflected back toward the fiber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The adapter assembly of claim 6, wherein said diversion means comprises a deflecting surface on the shield extending at an oblique angle with said optic axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The adapter assembly of claim 7, wherein said shield is attached to the adapter by a hinge with a hinge axis spaced from and generally perpendicular to said optic axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
An adapter assembly of claim 8 wherein said oblique angle diverges from the hinge axis away from the end face of the adapter so that the deflecting surface never is perpendicular to the optic axis as the shield pivots about the hinge to an open position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
An adapter assembly of claim 9 wherein said fiber optic adapter comprises a first connector, and including a second fiber optic connector adapted to be coupled end-to-end with the first connector within the adapter when the shield is in an open position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
104 words
In an adapter assembly for mating an optical fiber along an optic axis with an associated fiber optic transmission means, the adapter assembly including a body for mating with the associated fiber optic transmission means, and a movable protective shield adapted for attachment to the body and extending across the body traversing said optic axis to prevent ingress of contamination into the body and to protect operator's eyes from intensive laser beam, wherein the improvement comprises diversion means on said protective shield in alignment with the optic axis to prevent light energy transmitted by said optical fiber from being reflected back toward the fiber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
104 words
In an adapter assembly for mating an optical fiber along an optic axis with an associated fiber optic transmission means, the adapter assembly including a body for mating with the associated fiber optic transmission means, and a movable protective shield adapted for attachment to the body and extending across the body traversing said optic axis to prevent ingress of contamination into the body and to protect operator's eyes from intensive laser beam, wherein the improvement comprises diversion means on said protective shield in alignment with the optic axis to prevent light energy transmitted by said optical fiber from being reflected back toward the fiber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
In an adapter assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein said diversion means comprise a deflecting surface on the movable protective shield extending at an oblique angle with the optic axis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-04-09 | 1999-10-09 | 2000-04-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-04-09 | 2003-10-09 | 2004-04-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-04-09 | 2007-10-09 | 2008-04-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |