Christopher A Roe

US Patent:

56088280, Mar 4, 1997

Filed:

Sep 12, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/527267

Inventors:

Bruce Coutts - Costa Mesa CA
Christopher A. Roe - Tustin CA

Assignee:

ITT Corporation - New York NY

International Classification:

G02B 638

US Classification:

385 59

Abstract:

A fiber optic connector is described which has an alignment sleeve (70, FIG. 3) for surrounding fiber-holding ferrules (44, 68), wherein the sleeve can deflect to receive a slightly misaligned mating ferrule and wherein the assembly can be readily removed for cleaning. The sleeve is expandable in diameter and is contained in a hood (80) that surrounds the sleeve and that forms front and rear shoulders (82, 84). The hood loosely surrounds the sleeve and the hood is loosely contained in a connector housing passage (34), to facilitate reception of a slightly misaligned mating ferrule. A hood alignment sleeve assembly includes a front body (50) and a rear retention sleeve, or body, with a spring (56) spanning them, the front body being attached to the hood, and the hood shifting forward and rearward with the sleeve. The hood includes a front hood piece (152) forming the front sleeve-abutting shoulder and a rear hood piece (154) forming the rear shoulder. The rear hood piece is threadably connected (at 156) to the front body, and the front hood piece is slidably mated to the rear hood piece.