Connector assembly

Claim 2

A fiber optic connector assembly for mounting through an aperture in a panel, comprising: an adapter mountable in the aperture in the panel and including engagement means for restricting relative movement between the adapter and the panel; a fiber optic connector insertable into the adapter in an insertion direction; and release means on the fiber optic connector operatively associated with said engagement means to disengage the engagement means in response to inserting the connector into the adapter and, thereby, remove the restriction on said relative movement between the adapter and the panel.

Claim 3

The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said engagement means comprise at least one flexible latch arm on the adapter engageable with the panel at the aperture.

Claim 4

The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 2 wherein said release means comprises a detent on the fiber optic connector engageable with said flexible latch arm to move the latch arm out of latching engagement with the panel.

Claim 5

The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said adapter includes a housing larger than said aperture in the panel and engageable with one side of the panel, and said engagement means is engageable with an opposite side of the panel.

Claim 6

The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 4 wherein said engagement means comprise at least one flexible latch arm on the adapter engageable with the panel at the aperture.

Claim 7

The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 5 wherein said release means comprises a detent on the fiber optic connector engageable with said flexible latch arm to move the latch arm out of latching engagement with the opposite side of the panel.

Claim 8

The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 6 wherein said detent comprises an angled camming surface.

Claim 9

The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said adapter includes a first receptacle end adapted for receiving the fiber optic connector and a second receptacle end adapted for receiving an associated fiber optic transmission means.

Claim 10

The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said adapter includes a two-part housing containing at least one shutter member therewithin.

Claim 11

A fiber optic connector assembly for mounting through an aperture in a panel, comprising: an adapter including a first receptacle end adapted for receiving a fiber optic connector and a second receptacle end adapted for receiving an associated fiber optic transmission means, the adapter being mountable in the aperture in the panel and including a pair of flexible latch arms engageable with the panel at the aperture for restricting relative movement between the adapter and the panel; a fiber optic connector insertable into said first receptacle end of the adapter in an insertion direction; and a pair of detents on the fiber optic connector engageable with said flexible latch arms on the adapter to disengage the latch arms from the panel in response to inserting the connector into the adapter and, thereby, remove the restriction on said relative movement between the adapter and the panel.

Claim 12

A fiber optic connector assembly for mounting through an aperture in a panel, comprising: an adapter including a first receptacle end adapted for receiving a fiber optic connector and a second receptacle end adapted for receiving an associated fiber optic transmission means, the adapter being mountable in the aperture in the panel and including a pair of flexible latch arms engageable with the panel at the aperture for restricting relative movement between the adapter and the panel; a fiber optic connector insertable into said first receptacle end of the adapter in an insertion direction; and a pair of detents on the fiber optic connector engageable with said flexible latch arms on the adapter to disengage the latch arms from the panel in response to inserting the connector into the adapter and, thereby, remove the restriction on said relative movement between the adapter and the panel.

Claim 13

The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 10 wherein said detents comprise angled camming surfaces on the fiber optic connector.

Claim 14

The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 10 wherein said adapter includes a housing mounting at least one shutter member therewithin.

Claim 15

A connector assembly for mounting through an aperture in a panel, comprising: an adapter mountable in the aperture in the panel and including engagement means for restricting relative movement between the adapter and the panel; a connector insertable into the adapter in an insertion direction; and release means on the connector operatively associated with said engagement means to disengage the engagement means in response to inserting the connector into the adapter and, thereby, remove the restriction on said relative movement between the adapter and the panel.

Claim 16

A connector assembly for mounting through an aperture in a panel, comprising: an adapter mountable in the aperture in the panel and including engagement means for restricting relative movement between the adapter and the panel; a connector insertable into the adapter in an insertion direction; and release means on the connector operatively associated with said engagement means to disengage the engagement means in response to inserting the connector into the adapter and, thereby, remove the restriction on said relative movement between the adapter and the panel.

Claim 17

The connector assembly of claim 13 wherein said engagement means comprise at least one flexible latch arm on the adapter engageable with the panel at the aperture.

Claim 18

The connector assembly of claim 14 wherein said release means comprises a detent on the connector engageable with said flexible latch arm to move the latch arm out of latching engagement with the panel.

Claim 19

The connector assembly of claim 13 wherein said adapter includes a housing larger than said aperture in the panel and engageable with one side of the panel, and said engagement means is engageable with an opposite side of the panel.

Claim 20

The connector assembly of claim 16 wherein said engagement means comprise at least one flexible latch arm on the adapter engageable with the panel at the aperture.

Claim 21

The connector assembly of claim 17 wherein said release means comprises a detent on the connector engageable with said flexible latch arm to move the latch arm out of latching engagement with the opposite side of the panel.

Claim 22

The connector assembly of claim 18 wherein said detent comprises an angled camming surface.

Claim 23

The connector assembly of claim 13 wherein said adapter includes a first receptacle end adapted for receiving the fiber optic connector and a second receptacle end adapted for receiving an associated transmission means.