Patent Application
20100003002
Fiber optic connectors are increasing as the use of fiber optic transmission members is being incorporated in data and other transmission systems. Typically, fiber optic connectors have four basic components: a ferrule, connector body, cable, and coupling device. The ferrule is a fiber alignment mechanism with a bore generally at the center having a diameter slightly larger than the fiber cladding. The connector body generally holds the ferrule such that the ferrule extends beyond the length of the connector body to slip into a coupling device. The connector body is generally attached to strengthening members or cable jackets via crimping or bonding. A strain relief boot is typically added at the cable and connector interface to provide extra protection for the cable only.
Despite efforts by the strain relief boot to provide extra protection at the cable and connector interface, many potential sources for damage still exist. One known source is the damage to the connector itself during the placement of the fiber optic connector to a faceplate. For example, care is taken not to violate the minimum bend radius of the cable and not to create tension on the connector itself by pulling on the fiber.
A method and corresponding connector cover of providing strain relief to the connector in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is provided. An example embodiment of the connector cover includes a housing member defining an aperture spanning transversely from a first end to a second end. The aperture may engage a connector therewithin. The cover further includes at least two prongs protruding from the first end in a direction opposite to the second end in an axial direction relative to the aperture; the at least two prongs may be inserted into a panel defining at least two openings to receive the at least two prongs. The at least two prongs in combination with the housing member provide strain relief to the connector in an angular direction relative to the at least two prongs.
The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particular description of example embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating embodiments of the present invention.
A description of example embodiments of the invention follows.
Typically, strain relief provides protection for a cable. Strain relieves typically include a series of ridges at a point where cabling meets a connector or plug to allow flexibility in the cable without putting stress on the cable at that point. In some applications, providing extra support for the connector itself may be useful.
In one embodiment, the connector cover 100 includes a connector/cable strain relief 102 that enables the fiber optic cable 115 to bend a connector/cable junction 122 with a radius of curvature greater than a minimum specified bend radius of the cable while simultaneously supporting the connector portion 125. Extending the connector cover 100 to support the connector/cable junction 122 also aids in relieving stress that would otherwise be imposed on the connector portion 125 and the fiber portion 120 as the fiber portion 120 exits the connector cover 100 by providing a zone where the fiber portion 120 can transition out of the connector cover 100. In other words, without the connector cover 100, the fiber optic cable 115 can bend at nearly a 90 degree angle at the connector/cable junction 122, which in most cases would exceed the minimum bend radius of the cable and damage optical fibers therein and likely the connector portion 120 itself.
A connector cover includes a housing member defining an aperture spanning transversely from a first end to a second end. The aperture may engage a connector therewithin. The cover further includes at least two prongs protruding from the first end in a direction opposite to the second end in an axial direction relative to the aperture. The at least two prongs may be inserted into a panel defining at least two openings to receive the at least two prongs. The at least two prongs in combination with the housing member provide strain relief to the connector in an angular direction relative to the at least two prongs. The at least two prongs may be shaped to self-secure the connector cover to the panel (e.g., a faceplate of a chassis). The at least two prongs may have a cross section that are substantially cylindrical, rectangular, or combination thereof.
The housing member maybe fixedly connected to the connector and may include a side wall extending transversely from a first end to a second end of the housing member. The side wall including at least one peg protruding from the side wall and extending away from the aperture with a length to be connected to at least one respective opening in a structural member positioned alongside the side wall. The at least one peg may secure the connector cover to the structural member to provide strain relief to the connector in an axial direction relative to the at least two prongs. The aperture of the connector cover has dimensions that are expandable and configurable to engage a simplex or duplex fiber optic connector. Moreover, the connector cover may receive within its aperture a Subscriber Connector (SC), Straight Tip (ST), Ferrule Connector (FC), Lucent® Connector (LC), Mechanical Transfer Registered Jack (MT-RJ), Enterprise Systems Connection (ESCON), Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), or Mechanical Transfer (MT) connector.
The connector cover may further include at least one locking element to self-attach to least two prongs on an opposite side of the panel from a side through which the least two prongs insert into at least two openings.
It should be understood that the connector cover 100 may be constructed from two or more pieces, such as in an attached clam shell design or independent snap fit design.
The aperture 110 of the connector cover 100 may engage different types of connectors, including a Subscriber Connector (SC), Straight Tip (ST) connector, Ferrule Connector (FC), Lucent® Connector (LC), Mechanical Transfer Registered Jack (MT-RJ), Enterprise Systems Connection (ESCON), Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), or Mechanical Transfer (MT) connector. These different types of connectors are used in various applications based upon their unique performance and overall characteristics. The aperture 110 of the connector cover may also have dimensions that are expandable to engage a simplex or duplex fiber optic connector.
The at least two prongs 250 may be shaped to self-secure the connector cover 200 to the panel 255. The connector cover 200 may include at least one locking element 262 to self-attach to the least two prongs 250 on an opposite side of the panel 255 from a side through which the least two prongs 250 insert into the at least two openings 260. The locking elements retain the connector cover 200 to the panel 255. The locking mechanism 262 may be press fit washers, as illustrated, or a substantially elongated bar (not shown) as part of the panel 255 that engages into a cut out of the free ends of the at least two prongs 250. In another example, the free ends of the at least two prongs 250 may have hooks (not shown) bent inwardly at a right angle as the hooks pass through the at least two openings 260 and which can be resiliently deformed by being deflected outwardly. The locking mechanism, e.g., elongated bar, hooked pegs, barbed pegs, pre-drilled holes in the pegs, etc., are intended for illustrative purposes only, these locking mechanism features may be substituted with any one of a number of functionally equivalent locking mechanism features known in the art or subsequently developed.
In another example, if the technician/operator pulls on the fiber portion 220 of the fiber optic cable 215 in an axial direction relative to the at least two prongs 250, the at least one peg 214 may provide strain relief to the connector cover 200 and secure the connector cover 200 to the structural member 218. The structural member 218 may be a bracket as further explained in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/154,227 entitled, “Network Terminal Cover,” filed May 21, 2008.
In order for the connector cover 200 to enclose the fiber optic cable 215, the aperture 210 of the connector cover 200 may have dimensions that are larger than the connector portion 225, thereby the connector portion 225 may easily be inserted into the aperture 210. In another embodiment, the connector cover 200 may split open along an inseam 265 similar to a clamp shell to receive the fiber optic cable 215.
The single one piece connector cover 200 can be made of a variety of material to provide strength, flexure, rigidity, and toughness. A single, one piece, connector cover 200 may have certain manufacturing and integration advantages over multi-piece designs because the one-piece design is especially economical to fabricate, minimizes finishing procedures, and can be easily installed.
In another embodiment, the connector cover may include a grommet (not shown), which lines a surface of the aperture 210. The grommet can evenly grip the connector portion 225. The grommet can be made of an elastomeric material and exert a cushioned gripping force against the connector portion 225.
Next, the technician may insert at least two prongs, protruding from a face of the connector cover, into respective openings defined by a panel (415). For example, the technician may snap the at least two prongs each with an outwardly directed peripheral rim-locking grooves to secure the connector cover to the panel. Therefore, if the technician pulls on the fiber optic cable, the connector cover in response may apply respective lateral retraction retention force to the least two prongs to provide strain relief to the connector in an angular direction relative to the at least two prongs (420). The technician may then engage at least one peg protruding from a side wall of the connector cover into an opening of structural member (425). Again, if the technician pulls on the fiber optic cable, the connector cover may also respond by applying lateral retraction retention force to the at least one peg (430) to secure the connector cover to the structural member (430). The flow diagram (400) then ends (435).
While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to example embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.
It should be understood that the flow diagrams of
It should be further understood that the connector cover can provide strain relief not only to a fiber optic connector, but also to a more conventional metal wire connector (e.g., copper) or other technology connectors, such as Radio Frequency (RF), RJ (Registered Jack) type jacks for receiving mating modular plugs (e.g., RJ-11 and RJ-45), and mechanical connectors.
This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/154,227 entitled, “Network Terminal Cover,” filed May 21, 2008. The entire teachings of the above application are incorporated herein by reference.
