Optical receptacle and housing therefor

Claim 2

An optical receptacle comprising: a housing having a base end and a nose end, said housing comprising an individual inner part and an individual outer part having fixed therein said inner part; a first ferrule fitted to the base end of said housing; wherein said inner part is an integral molded article which comprises: a sleeve for fitting said first ferrule in alignment with a second ferrule fixed in an optical fiber connector plug adapted to be connected to the nose end of said housing; first hook portions for holding said first ferrule fitted to the base end of said housing; second hook portions for holding said optical fiber connector plug at a fitting position of said optical fiber connector plug; and wherein an opening in said outer part at the base end of said housing is sized to accommodate insertion of said inner part into said outer part.

Claim 3

The optical receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a fixing mechanism which fixes said inner part in position when said inner part is inlayed in said outer part.

Claim 4

The optical receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first ferrule comprises a flange having an octagonal prism portion coaxial with said first ferrule and a tetragonal prism portion coaxial with said first ferrule continuing to said octagonal prism portion.

Claim 5

The optical receptacle as claimed in claim 3, wherein said octagonal prism portion engages with said first hook portions.

Claim 6

The optical receptacle as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first hook portions have respective claws; wherein said octagonal prism has two parallel surfaces arranged along a longitudinal axis of said ferrule at a distance larger than a gap defined between inner surfaces of the claws of said first hook portions; and wherein said tetragonal prism portion has two parallel surfaces at a distance is smaller than the gap between the inner surfaces of the claws of said first hook portions and a diagonal line of said tetragonal prism portion has a length which is equal to or larger than the distance between the two parallel surfaces of said octagonal prism portion.

Claim 7

The optical receptacle as claimed in claim 5, wherein the diagonal line of said octagonal prism portion has a length such that said first ferrule is allowed to rotate in said inner part of said housing.

Claim 8

The optical receptacle as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first ferrule comprises a flange having an octagonal prism portion coaxial with said first ferrule and a tetragonal prism portion coaxial with said first ferrule continuing to said octagonal prism portion.

Claim 9

The optical receptacle as claimed in claim 7, wherein said octagonal prism portion engages with said first hook portions.

Claim 10

The optical receptacle as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first hook portions have respective claws; wherein said octagonal prism has two parallel surfaces arranged along a longitudinal axis of said ferrule at a distance larger than a gap defined between inner surfaces of the claws of said first hook portions; and wherein said tetragonal prism portion has two parallel surfaces at a distance is smaller than the gap between the inner surfaces of the claws of said first hook portions and a diagonal line of said tetragonal prism portion has a length which is equal to or larger than the distance between the two parallel surfaces of said octagonal prism portion.

Claim 11

The optical receptacle as claimed in claim 9, wherein the diagonal line of said octagonal prism portion has a length such that said first ferrule is allowed to rotate in said inner part of said housing.

Claim 12

A housing for an optical receptacle having a base end adapted for fitting a first ferrule and a nose end adapted for fitting an optical fiber connector plug, wherein said first ferrule comprises a flange having an octagonal prism portion coaxial with said first ferrule and a tetragonal prism coaxial with said first ferrule adjacent to said octagonal prism portion, said housing comprising: an individual inner part; and an individual outer part having fixed therein said inner part; wherein said inner part is an integral molded article which comprises: a sleeve for fitting said first ferrule in alignment with a second ferrule fixed in the optical fiber connector plug adapted to be connected to the nose end of said housing; first hook portions for holding said first ferrule fitted to the base end of said housing, said first hook portions engaging with said octagonal prism portion and having respective claws; second hook portions for holding said optical fiber connector plug at a fitting position of said optical fiber connector plug; wherein said octagonal prism has two parallel surfaces arranged along a longitudinal axis of said first ferrule at a distance larger than a gap defined between inner surfaces of the claws of said first hook portions; and wherein said tetragonal prism portion has two parallel surfaces at a distance smaller than the gap between the inner surfaces of the claws of said first hook portions and a diagonal line of said tetragonal prism portion has a length which is equal to or larger than the distance between the two parallel surfaces of said octagonal prism portion.

Claim 13

A housing for an optical receptacle having a base end adapted for fitting a first ferrule and a nose end adapted for fitting an optical fiber connector plug, wherein said first ferrule comprises a flange having an octagonal prism portion coaxial with said first ferrule and a tetragonal prism coaxial with said first ferrule adjacent to said octagonal prism portion, said housing comprising: an individual inner part; and an individual outer part having fixed therein said inner part; wherein said inner part is an integral molded article which comprises: a sleeve for fitting said first ferrule in alignment with a second ferrule fixed in the optical fiber connector plug adapted to be connected to the nose end of said housing; first hook portions for holding said first ferrule fitted to the base end of said housing, said first hook portions engaging with said octagonal prism portion and having respective claws; second hook portions for holding said optical fiber connector plug at a fitting position of said optical fiber connector plug; wherein said octagonal prism has two parallel surfaces arranged along a longitudinal axis of said first ferrule at a distance larger than a gap defined between inner surfaces of the claws of said first hook portions; and wherein said tetragonal prism portion has two parallel surfaces at a distance smaller than the gap between the inner surfaces of the claws of said first hook portions and a diagonal line of said tetragonal prism portion has a length which is equal to or larger than the distance between the two parallel surfaces of said octagonal prism portion.

Claim 14

The housing as claimed in claim 11, wherein said housing comprises a fixing mechanism which fixes said inner part in position when said inner part is inlayed in said outer part.

Claim 15

The housing as claimed in claim 11, wherein said housing comprises a fixing mechanism which fixes said inner part in position when said inner part is inlayed in said outer part from a side where said first ferrule is positioned.

Claim 16

The housing as claimed in claim 12, wherein said fixing mechanism fixes said inner part in position when said inner part is inlayed in said outer part from a side where said first ferrule is positioned.

Claim 17

An optical receptacle comprising a housing having a base end and a nose end, said housing comprising an individual inner part and an individual outer part having fixed therein said inner part; a first ferrule fitted to the base end of said housing; wherein said inner part is an integral molded article which comprises: a sleeve for fitting said first ferrule in alignment with a second ferrule fixed in an optical fiber connector plug adapted to be connected to the nose end of said housing; first hook portions for holding said first ferrule fitted to the base end of said housing; second hook portions for holding said optical fiber connector plug at a fitting position of said optical fiber connector plug; wherein said housing comprises a fixing mechanism which fixes said inner part in position as said inner part is inserted within said outer part, said fixing mechanism comprising: a first protrusion on each of upper and lower surfaces of said inner part; a second protrusion on an inner surface of said outer part defining a cavity with an inside diameter smaller than an outside diameter of a portion of said inner part where said first protrusion is located; and a step provided on an inner surface of said outer part against which said portion of said inner part abuts.

Claim 18

An optical receptacle comprising a housing having a base end and a nose end, said housing comprising an individual inner part and an individual outer part having fixed therein said inner part; a first ferrule fitted to the base end of said housing; wherein said inner part is an integral molded article which comprises: a sleeve for fitting said first ferrule in alignment with a second ferrule fixed in an optical fiber connector plug adapted to be connected to the nose end of said housing; first hook portions for holding said first ferrule fitted to the base end of said housing; second hook portions for holding said optical fiber connector plug at a fitting position of said optical fiber connector plug; wherein said housing comprises a fixing mechanism which fixes said inner part in position as said inner part is inserted within said outer part, said fixing mechanism comprising: a first protrusion on each of upper and lower surfaces of said inner part; a second protrusion on an inner surface of said outer part defining a cavity with an inside diameter smaller than an outside diameter of a portion of said inner part where said first protrusion is located; and a step provided on an inner surface of said outer part against which said portion of said inner part abuts.

Claim 19

The optical receptacle as claimed in claim 15, wherein said housing is asymmetrical along its length.

Claim 20

The optical receptacle as claimed in claim 16, wherein said first ferrule comprises a flange having an octagonal prism portion coaxial with said first ferrule and a tetragonal prism portion coaxial with said first ferrule continuing to said octagonal prism portion.

Claim 21

The optical receptacle as claimed in claim 17, wherein said octagonal prism portion engages with said first hook portions.

Claim 22

The optical receptacle as claimed in claim 18, wherein said first hook portions have respective claws; wherein said octagonal prism has two parallel surfaces arranged along a longitudinal axis of said ferrule at a distance larger than a gap defined between inner surfaces of the claws of said first hook portions; and wherein said tetragonal prism portion has two parallel surfaces at a distance is smaller than the gap between the inner surfaces of the claws of said first hook portions and a diagonal line of said tetragonal prism portion has a length which is equal to or larger than the distance between the two parallel surfaces of said octagonal prism portion.

Claim 23

The optical receptacle as claimed in claim 19, wherein the diagonal line of said octagonal prism portion has a length such that said first ferrule is allowed to rotate in said inner part of said housing.

Claim 24

The optical receptacle as claimed in claim 15, wherein an opening in said outer part at the base end of said housing is sized to receive said inner part as it is inserted into said outer part.

Claim 25

An optical receptacle comprising: a housing having a base end and a nose end, said housing comprising an individual inner part and an individual outer part having fixed therein said inner part; a first ferrule fitted to the base end of said housing, said first ferrule comprising a flange having an octagonal prism portion coaxial with said first ferrule and a tetragonal prism portion coaxial with said first ferrule adjacent to said octagonal prism portion; wherein said inner part is an integral molded article which comprises: a sleeve for fitting said first ferrule in alignment with a second ferrule fixed in an optical fiber connector plug adapted to be connected to the nose end of said housing; first hook portions for holding said first ferrule fitted to the base end of said housing, said first hook portions engaging with said octagonal prism portion and having respective claws; second hook portions for holding said optical fiber connector plug at a fitting position of said optical fiber connector plug; wherein said octagonal prism has two parallel surfaces arranged along a longitudinal axis of said first ferrule at a distance larger than a gap defined between inner surfaces of the claws of said first hook portions; and wherein said tetragonal prism portion has two parallel surfaces at a distance smaller than the gap between the inner surfaces of the claws of said first hook portions and a diagonal line of said tetragonal prism portion has a length which is equal to or larger than the distance between the two parallel surfaces of said octagonal prism portion.

Claim 26

An optical receptacle comprising: a housing having a base end and a nose end, said housing comprising an individual inner part and an individual outer part having fixed therein said inner part; a first ferrule fitted to the base end of said housing, said first ferrule comprising a flange having an octagonal prism portion coaxial with said first ferrule and a tetragonal prism portion coaxial with said first ferrule adjacent to said octagonal prism portion; wherein said inner part is an integral molded article which comprises: a sleeve for fitting said first ferrule in alignment with a second ferrule fixed in an optical fiber connector plug adapted to be connected to the nose end of said housing; first hook portions for holding said first ferrule fitted to the base end of said housing, said first hook portions engaging with said octagonal prism portion and having respective claws; second hook portions for holding said optical fiber connector plug at a fitting position of said optical fiber connector plug; wherein said octagonal prism has two parallel surfaces arranged along a longitudinal axis of said first ferrule at a distance larger than a gap defined between inner surfaces of the claws of said first hook portions; and wherein said tetragonal prism portion has two parallel surfaces at a distance smaller than the gap between the inner surfaces of the claws of said first hook portions and a diagonal line of said tetragonal prism portion has a length which is equal to or larger than the distance between the two parallel surfaces of said octagonal prism portion.

Claim 27

The optical receptacle as claimed in claim 22, wherein the diagonal line of said octagonal prism portion has a length such that said first ferrule is allowed to rotate in said inner part of said housing.

Claim 28

The optical receptacle as claimed in claim 22, wherein said housing comprises a fixing mechanism which fixes said inner part in position as said inner part is inserted within said outer part.

Claim 29

The optical receptacle as claimed in claim 24, wherein the diagonal line of said octagonal prism portion has a length such that said first ferrule is allowed to rotate in said inner part of said housing.

Claim 30

The optical receptacle as claimed in claim 22, wherein said housing comprises a fixing mechanism which fixes said inner part in position as said inner part is inserted into said outer part from the base end of said housing.

Claim 31

The optical receptacle as claimed in claim 26, wherein the diagonal line of said octagonal prism portion has a length such that said first ferrule is allowed to rotate in said inner part of said housing.