Duplex clamp for fiber optic connectors

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates generally to fiber optic connectors and more specifically to duplex clip assemblies for LC type connectors.Background of the Invention

[0002] In fiber optic networks signals are often paired together, one for transmission and one for reception. As a result, it is often desirable to have an assembly that can keep the connectors paired together and arranged in the proper polarity. In addition, due to the high density of the equipment, it is also desirable to be able to remove connectors without having to reach the connector housings in order to depress the connector latches.

[0003] WO 2009 / 135787 A1 describes, according to its abstract, an optical plug connector having an improved unlocking mechanism. A locking arm, which protrudes toward the back in a slanted manner, is operatively connected to a collar by way of a bracket. By displacing the collar in an unlocking direction, the connector can be unlocked and removed from a sleeve.

[0004] US 2011 / 081113 A1 describes, according to its abstract, a fiber optic connector assembly which includes two connectors on fiber optic cables joined together by a clip having a trigger arm and a clip body. The trigger arm extends from the clip body at a shallow angle. The shallow angle of the trigger arm effectively reduces an amount of normal force required to activate latch mechanisms on the connectors. The clip is sandwiched between a connector housing and a boot, inhibiting the clip from axially translating relative to the connector assembly. The clip further includes an anti-rotation system to inhibit rotation of the connector assembly relative to the clip.Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application describes several embodiments of a duplex clip assembly as defined by claim 1 for use in aiding the insertion and removal of a pair of LC fiber optic connectors. In one embodiment, the assembly includes a clip body with a hood. The clip body has a central wall, upper tabs and lower tabs configured to loosely retain a pair of LC connectors such as to allow the clip body to move axially relative to the LC connectors. The hood is configured to engage a camming surface on the LC connector latches when the clip body is moved axially rearward relative to the LC connector.

[0006] In a second embodiment, the assembly includes a duplex housing and a housing cover. The duplex housing retains the LC connectors such as to allow them to rotate. The housing cover has a hood protruding from the top configured to engage a camming surface on the LC connector latches.Brief Description of Figures

[0007] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an LC duplex clip assembly. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the LC duplex clip assembly of Figure 1 with the boot detached from the clip body. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the clip body of the LC duplex clip assembly of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the boot of the LC duplex clip assembly of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the removal of an LC connector from the clip body of the LC duplex clip assembly of Figure 1. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the LC duplex clip assembly of Figure 1 inserted into a port with the LC connector latches engaged with the port. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the LC duplex clip assembly of Figure 1 with the LC connector latches disengaged due to the clip body and boot being moved axially rearward relative to the LC connectors and cables. Figure 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a LC duplex clip assembly. Figure 9 is a perspective view of the LC duplex clip assembly of Figure 8 with the cables disconnected from the LC connectors to better show the center stiffening member. Figure 10 is a side view of the LC duplex clip assembly of Figure 8. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the LC duplex clip assembly of Figure 8 taken along line Z-Z of Figure 10. Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the LC duplex clip assembly of Figure 8 taken along line Z-Z of Figure 10 with the side of the boot pressed in to disengage the engagement features of the boot from the engagement features of the clip body. Figure 13 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of an LC duplex clip assembly in which a portion of the hood forms a manual release lever. Figure 14 is an exploded perspective view of a fourth embodiment of an LC duplex clip assembly. Figure 15 is a bottom perspective view of the LC duplex clip assembly of Figure 14. Figure 16 is a side view of the LC duplex clip assembly of Figure 14. Figure 17 is a side view of the LC duplex clip assembly of Figure 14 with the LC connector latches depressed due to the housing cover being moved axially rearward relative to the LC connectors and duplex housing. Figure 18 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of an LC duplex clip assembly in which a portion of the hood forms a manual release lever. Figure 19 is a perspective view of the LC duplex clip assembly of Figure 18 with the manual release lever partially removed. Figure 20 is a side view of the LC duplex clip assembly of Figure 18. Figure 21 is a cross-sectional view of the LC duplex clip assembly of Figure 18. Figure 22 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of an LC duplex clip assembly. Figure 23 is a perspective view of a seventh embodiment of an LC duplex clip assembly. Figure 24 is a side view of the LC duplex clip assembly of Figure 23. Figure 25 is a perspective view of an eighth embodiment of an LC duplex clip assembly. Figure 26 is a bottom perspective view of the LC duplex clip assembly of Figure 25. Figure 27 is a side view of the LC duplex clip assembly of Figure 25. Figure 28 is a perspective view of the LC duplex clip assembly of Figure 25 with a lock-in release tool inserted. Figure 29 is an exploded perspective view of a ninth embodiment of an LC duplex clip assembly. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

[0008] Figures 1-7 show a first embodiment of an LC duplex clip assembly 100. The assembly includes a pair of LC connectors 101, a clip body 102, and a boot 103.

[0009] As best shown in Figure 3, the clip body 102 has a set of upper tabs 104 and a set of lower tabs 105 connected by a central wall 106. The set of upper tabs 104 is perpendicular to the central wall 106 and parallel to the set of lower tabs 105. The upper tabs 104 and lower tabs 105 are configured to loosely retain the LC connectors 101 on either side of the central wall 106 such as to allow the clip body 102 to move axially relative to the LC connectors 101. The clip body also has a hood 107. The hood 107 protrudes from the top of the clip body 102. The hood 107 is configured to engage a camming surface 109 on the LC connector latches 108 when the boot 103 and clip body 102 are moved in an axially rearward direction relative to the LC connectors 101.

[0010] The boot 103 attaches to the clip body 102 and is designed to loosely encircle the cables 110 such as to allow the boot 103 to move axially relative to the cables 110 and LC connectors 101. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1-7, the boot 103 connects to the clip body 102 via engagement features 111, 112 on the clip body 102 and boot 103. The boot 103 can be manufactured from an elastomeric material to allow bend radius control while also allowing for adequate rigidity for gripping during connector removal and insertion.

[0011] As best shown is Figures 6 and 7, moving the boot 103 and clip body 102 axially rearward relative to the LC connectors causes the hood 107 to engage the camming surfaces 109 of the LC connector latches 108 which in turn disengages the LC connector 101 from the port 120.

[0012] Figs. 8-12 show a second embodiment of an LC duplex clip assembly 200. This embodiment adds a center stiffening member 213 to the boot 203. The center stiffening member 213 can help prevent the inner walls of the boot 203 from collapsing on the cables 110 when a compressive force, such as from gripping the boot 203 too tightly, is applied to the boot 203. If the walls of the boot 203 were allowed to collapse onto the cable 110, the friction created between the boot 203 and the cables 110 could restrict the free axial motion of the clip body 202 and boot 203. The center stiffening member 213 can be located proximate the end of the boot 203 opposite where the boot 203 connects to the clip body 202 in order to allow the boot 203 to flex for bend radius control.

[0013] As shown in Figs. 8-12, the boot 203 can be connected to the clip body 102 via a second type of engagement features 211, 212 on the clip body 202 and boot 203. The engagement features 211, 212 shown in Figs. 8-12, allow the boot 203 to be disengaged from the clip body 202 by squeezing the sides of the boot 203 to disengage the engagement features 211, 212 and then pulling the boot away from the clip body 202 (see specifically Figs. 11 and 12). The simple removal process also allows the connectors 101 to be removed from the clip body 202 without a tool and switched from side-to-side in order to reverse the polarity of the duplex clip assembly 200, if necessary.

[0014] The boot 203 can also have raised grip surfaces 214 and an annular protrusion 215 to aid in gripping the boot 203.

[0015] Figure 13 shows another embodiment of an LC duplex clip assembly 300 with a hood 307 in which a portion of the hood can operate as a manual release lever 316, allowing a user to disengage the LC connector latches 108 from their respective ports by either moving the boot 203 and clip body 302 rearward relative to the connectors 101 or by depressing the manual release lever 316.

[0016] Figures 14-17 show a fourth embodiment of an LC duplex clip assembly 400. This embodiment can be used in instances where two fibers are contained in a single cable, such as dual core jacketed cables. The assembly 400 includes a duplex housing 451, a housing cover 452, a crimp sleeve 453, a boot 454 and a pair of LC connectors 101.

[0017] The duplex housing 451 can be formed of two halves 451a, 451b and can have a backbone 455 integral with the housing halves (as shown in Figure 14) or can be a separate piece trapped by the housing halves 451a, 451b. The duplex housing 451 is configured to retain the LC connectors 101 such as to allow them to rotate relative to the duplex housing 451. The optical fibers 456 of the cable 458 are terminated to the connectors 101 and the Kevlar fibers 457 of the cable 458 can be secured to the duplex housing 451 via the crimp sleeve 453.

[0018] The housing cover 452 has a hood 459 protruding from the top and is configured to loosely retain the duplex housing 451 and LC connectors 101 such as to allow the housing cover 452 to move axially relative to the LC connectors 101 and duplex housing 451. The housing cover 452 can also have an annular protrusion 464 to assist to aid in gripping the housing cover 452.

[0019] As shown best in Figures 16 and 17, moving the housing cover 452 axially rearward relative to the LC connectors 101 and duplex housing 451 causes the hood 459 of the housing cover 403 to engage a camming surface 109 on the LC connector latches 108, which in turn allows the LC connectors 101 to be disengaged from a port 120.

[0020] If necessary, the LC duplex assembly 400 can be easily reversed in the field by squeezing the sides of the housing cover 452 to disengage the bottom snap 460, retracting the housing cover 452 from the duplex housing 451 and LC connectors 101, rotating each of the LC connectors 101 180 degrees relative to the duplex housing 451, rotating the housing cover 452 180 degrees relative to the duplex housing 451, and pushing the housing cover 452 forward onto the duplex housing 451.

[0021] Figures 18-21 show a fifth embodiment of an LC duplex assembly 500. This embodiment is similar to the fourth embodiment except a portion of the hood 559 of the housing cover 552 can also be used as a manual release lever 561 in order to allow a user to disengage the LC connectors 101 from their respective ports by either moving the housing cover 552 rearward relative to the connectors or by depressing the manual release lever 561. In one embodiment, the manual release lever 561 can snap into place on the remaining portion of the hood 559.

[0022] Figure 22 shows a sixth embodiment of an LC duplex assembly 600. This embodiment has a housing cover 652 that does not have a hood and is not designed to move axially relative to the duplex housing and connectors. The housing cover 652, as in other embodiments, can be designed to provide side support and prevent the connectors 101 from rotating.

[0023] Figures 23-24 show a seventh embodiment of an LC duplex assembly 700. This embodiment is similar to the sixth embodiment, except it has a manual release lever 761 extending from the top of the housing cover 752.

[0024] Figures 25-28 show an eighth embodiment of an LC duplex assembly 800. This embodiment is also similar to the sixth embodiment except the housing cover 852 has locking assembly 870 similar to the one described in U.S. Patent No. 7,632,125, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0025] Fig. 29 shows a ninth embodiment of an LC duplex clip assembly 900. This embodiment is similar to the sixth embodiment except the duplex housing 951 does not allow the connectors 101 to rotate relative to the duplex housing 951.

[0026] This embodiment 900 can also be easily reversed in the field by retracting the housing cover 652 from the duplex housing 951, sliding each connector 101 out of the duplex housing 951, rotating each connector 101 180 degrees relative to the duplex housing 951, sliding the LC connectors 101 back into the duplex housing 951, rotating the housing cover 652 180 degrees relative to the duplex housing 951, and sliding the housing cover 652 back onto the duplex housing 951.

[0027] While particular embodiments and applications of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction and compositions disclosed herein and that various modifications, changes, and variations may be apparent within the scope of the independent claim 1.

Claims

1. A duplex clip assembly (100) for use in aiding the insertion and removal of a pair of LC fiber optic connectors (101), each having a latch (108), into a port (120) comprising: a clip body (102), the clip body having a central wall (106), a set of upper tabs (104), and a set of lower tabs (105), the upper tabs being perpendicular to the central wall and parallel to the lower tabs, the central wall, upper tabs, and lower tabs configured to loosely retain a pair of LC connectors on either side of the central wall, and loosely retain fiber optic cables (110) attached thereto such that the clip body can move axially relative to the LC connectors, wherein axially is defined as parallel to a direction of insertion of the pair of LC fiber optic connectors into the port; a hood (107) protruding from a top of the clip body, the hood configured to engage a camming surface (109) on the latches of the LC connectors such as to allow the LC fiber optic plug connectors to be disengaged from the port (120) when the clip body is moved in a rearward, axial direction relative to the LC connectors; and a boot (103) attached to the clip body (102), the boot configured to loosely encircle the fiber optic cables (110) attached to the LC connectors (101) such that the boot is able to move axially in conjunction with the clip body relative to the fiber optic cables and LC connectors, wherein the boot (203) has a first end, the first end being attached to the clip body (102), and a second end opposite the first end, the boot having a center stiffening member (213) proximate the second end.

2. The duplex clip assembly (200) of claim 1 wherein the second end of the boot (203) has an annular protrusion (215).

3. The duplex clip assembly (200) of any of claims 1 to 2 wherein the boot (203) further comprises raised grip surfaces (214).

4. The duplex clip assembly (300) of any preceding claim wherein at least a portion of the hood (307) also forms a manual release lever (316) that can simultaneously engage the latches (108) on the LC connectors (101) when depressed.