FIBER OPTIC CONNECTOR

Abstract

An optical fiber connector subassembly for an optical fiber connector includes a ferrule configured to hold an optical fiber therein, a ferrule holder configured to hold the ferrule, a retainer tube configured to hold the ferrule holder and receive an optical fiber cable, and a connector tube configured to rotatably engage with the ferrule holder and be slidably received by the retainer tube; the ferrule holder, retainer tube, and connector tube are configured to receive an optical fiber, and the retainer tube and connector tube are configured to cooperate with each other to prevent relative rotation between the ferrule holder and the retainer tube.

Description

FIBER OPTIC CONNECTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This description refers to a fiber optic connector, for example, an LC connector (Lucent connector). More specifically, the description refers to a fiber optic connector that prevents a fiber connected to the connector from rotating relative to the connector when pushed through a duct or conduit. The mechanical tolerances involved in terminating single-mode optical fiber are much tighter than those for multimode optical fiber. Therefore, while it is quite common for multimode optical fiber to be terminated at the point of use—for example, at a user's premises or in an external junction box—in most product applications, single-mode optical fiber is not terminated in the field. When single-mode fiber must be terminated in the field, it can take a skilled technician approximately 15 to 20 minutes to connect the fibers using a V-slot clamp or expensive fusion-soldering equipment. Therefore, single-mode fiber is often supplied in a variety of different lengths, pre-terminated at both ends with a connector configured to connect to an external housing after the pre-terminated end is installed in its desired location. The pre-terminated end and the housing are then ready to be plugged into a complementary receptacle. An example of such a connector is an LC connector. The LC connector and adapters were originally developed by Lucent Technologies. The LC connector is a miniature version of the fiber optic SC (Subscriber Connector), hence it is also known as a small form factor connector. The LC connector looks somewhat similar to the SC connector, but is approximately half the size with a 1.25 mm ferrule instead of a 2.5 mm ferrule. LC connectors typically consist of a plastic housing with an RJ45 push-pull style clip. Conventional fiber optic LC connectors comprise a rigid, pushable structure to allow limited movement of the connector parts as it is pushed down into sections of duct. However, conventional fiber optic LC connectors allow rotation between the fiber and the connector as the connector is pushed through the duct. Such rotation could damage the fiber, potentially resulting in signal degradation or loss. Therefore, it may be desirable to provide a fiber optic connector that RJ ) ) IP / 77IP7 / 3 / Y prevent fiber rotation with respect to the connector while being pushed through a duct or conduit. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to various embodiments of the description, a fiber optic connector subassembly for a fiber optic connector includes a ferrule configured to hold an optical fiber therein along the axis of the connector, a ferrule holder configured to hold the ferrule on a front portion of the connector, a retainer tube having a front end portion configured to hold the ferrule holder and a rear end portion configured to receive an optical fiber cable, and a connector tube configured to be received in the ferrule holder in a press-fit relationship such that the connector tube is rotatably coupled to the ferrule holder and the connector tube is configured to be slidably received by the retainer tube. The ferrule holder, retainer tube, and connector tube are configured to receive an optical fiber, and the ferrule is configured to terminate the optical fiber.The connecting tube includes a head portion having a flattened region, and the retaining tube includes an inner wall having a flattened inner region configured to align with the flattened region of the connecting tube to prevent relative rotation between the splint support and the retaining tube. According to various specifications, a fiber optic connector includes the aforementioned fiber optic connector subassembly and an external housing configured to mate with the fiber optic connector subassembly. The external housing is configured to provide push / pull LC-style coupling / uncoupling with a fiber optic connector socket. In some respects, the retaining tube includes a front end portion and a rear end portion; the front end portion and the rear end portion are separated inside the retaining tube by an internal ring flange. In several respects, the front end portion of the retainer tube includes a hole configured to slideably receive at least a portion of the cylindrical stem portion of the ferrule support, the rear end portion of the retainer tube includes a hole configured to slideably receive the connecting tube, and the connecting tube extends through a hole defined by the internal annular flange. According to some aspects, the head portion of the elongated cylindrical part of the connecting tube includes at least one additional flattened region, and the inner wall of the rear end portion of the retaining tube includes at least one additional flattened internal region configured to align with the at least one additional flattened region of the connecting tube. According to various embodiments of the description, a fiber optic connector subassembly for a fiber optic connector includes a ferrule configured to hold an optical fiber, a ferrule holder configured to hold the ferrule, a retainer tube having a front end portion configured to hold the ferrule holder and a rear end portion configured to receive an optical fiber cable, and a connector tube configured to rotatably engage the ferrule holder and slide into the retainer tube. The ferrule holder, retainer tube, and connector tube are configured to receive an optical fiber, and the connector tube includes a head portion having a flattened region.The retention tube includes an inner wall that has a flattened inner region configured to align with the flattened region of the connector tube to prevent relative rotation between the splint support and the retention tube. According to various specifications, a fiber optic connector includes the aforementioned fiber optic connector subassembly and an external housing configured to mate with the fiber optic connector subassembly. The external housing is configured to provide push / pull LC-style coupling / uncoupling with a connecting fiber optic socket. In some respects, the retaining tube includes a front end portion and a rear end portion; the front end portion and the rear end portion are separated inside the retaining tube by an internal ring flange. In several respects, the front end portion of the retainer tube includes a hole configured to slide into at least a portion of the cylindrical stem portion of the splint support, the rear end portion of the retainer tube includes a hole configured to slide into the connecting tube, and the connecting tube extends through a hole defined by the internal annular flange. According to some aspects, the head portion of the elongated cylindrical part of the connector tube includes at least one additional flattened region, and the inner wall of the rear end portion of the retainer tube includes at least one additional flattened internal region configured to align with the at least one additional flattened region of the connector tube. According to various embodiments of the description, a fiber optic connector subassembly for a fiber optic connector includes a ferrule configured to hold an optical fiber, a ferrule holder configured to hold the ferrule, a retainer tube configured to hold the ferrule holder and receive an optical fiber cable, and a connector tube configured to rotatably engage the ferrule holder and slide into the retainer tube. The ferrule holder, retainer tube, and connector tube are configured to receive an optical fiber, and the retainer tube and connector tube are configured to cooperate with each other to prevent relative rotation between the ferrule holder and the retainer tube. According to various specifications, a fiber optic connector includes the aforementioned fiber optic connector subassembly and an external housing configured to mate with the fiber optic connector subassembly. The external housing is configured to provide push / pull LC-style coupling / uncoupling with a connecting fiber optic socket. In some respects, the retaining tube includes a front end portion and a rear end portion; the front end portion and the rear end portion are separated inside the retaining tube by an internal ring flange. In several respects, the front end portion of the retainer tube includes a hole configured to slide into at least a portion of the cylindrical stem portion of the splint support, the rear end portion of the retainer tube includes a hole configured to slide into the connecting tube, and the connecting tube extends through a hole defined by the internal annular flange. According to some aspects, the connector tube includes an elongated cylindrical part that has a head portion at its rear end, the head portion includes a flattened region, and the rear end portion of the retainer tube includes an inner wall that has an internal flattened region configured to align with the flattened region of the connector tube. According to various aspects, the head portion of the elongated cylindrical part of the connector tube includes at least one additional flattened region, and the inner wall of the rear end portion of the retainer tube includes at least one additional flattened internal region configured to align with the at least one additional flattened region of the connector tube. In some respects, a portion of the front end of the connector tube is configured to be received in the splint holder in a press-fit relationship so that the connector tube can rotate with the splint holder. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The following are more detailed descriptions of embodiments of the invention, merely by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: Figure 1 is an enlarged perspective view of an example fiber optic connector, according to various aspects of the description; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the fiber optic connector subassembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-section perspective view of the connector subassembly of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the connector subassembly of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the fiber optic connector in Figure 1; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the fiber optic connector from Figure 1; Figure 7 is a perspective view of another example fiber optic connector, according to various aspects of the description; Figure 8 is a cross-section perspective view of the connector subassembly of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a cross-section perspective view of the connector subassembly of Figure 7; Figure 10 is an enlarged cross-section perspective view of the connector subassembly of Figure 7; Figure 11 is an enlarged cross-section perspective view of a portion of the connector subassembly of Figure 7; Figure 12 is a perspective view of another fiber optic connector subassembly from Figure 7; Figure 13 is a cross-section perspective view of the connector subassembly of Figure 12; and Figure 14 is a cross-section perspective view of a portion of the connector subassembly of Figure 12. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE MODALITIES Figures 1-6 illustrate an example fiber optic connector 100, e.g., an LC connector, according to various aspects of the description. The fiber optic connector 100 includes a connector subassembly 102 and an external housing 104. In some respects, the external housing 104 can be an LC housing configured to be received by a conventional complementary LC receptacle. That is, the external housing 104 can be configured to provide LC-style push / pull coupling / uncoupling with a connecting fiber optic jack (not shown). The 100 fiber optic connector is configured to mate with a 106 fiber optic cable. For example, one end of the 106 cable is configured to terminate with the 102 connector subassembly. The connector subassembly 102 includes an elongated cylindrical optical fiber ferrule 112 having a termination end 114 at one end. In this example, the ferrule 112 is made of a ceramic material, although other materials may be used, as known in the art. The ferrule 112 has a shaft 116 extending centrally through the optical fiber connector 100, and along its shaft 116 has a hollow core 118 that supports and aligns an optical fiber 108 of the cable 106, which will most often be a single-mode glass fiber. Those skilled in the art will recognize this as a conventional arrangement, in which the fiber 108 is terminated at the ferrule termination end 114, which is polished to minimize insertion loss when the connector is attached to a fiber optic socket (not shown). The connector subassembly 102 also includes a ferrule holder 120, a generally cylindrical retaining tube 130, and a connector tube 140. The ferrule holder 120 has a base portion 122 at its front end in which the ferrule 112 is positioned, a collar 123, and a cylindrical stem portion 124 extending axially outward from the collar 123 toward the ferrule 112. The collar 123 includes an external annular flange 126 and an internal annular flange 128. The base portion 122 is configured to receive the ferrule 112 in a press-fit relationship, with a rear face of the ferrule 122 abutting a front face 127a of the internal annular flange 128, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. The retaining tube 130 includes a front end portion 132 and a rear end portion 134. The front end portion 132 and the rear end portion 134 are separated inside the retaining tube 130 by an internal annular flange 136. The front end portion 132 includes an external flange portion 133 defining a rearward-facing surface. The front end portion 132 includes an opening 131 configured to slide upon at least a portion of the cylindrical stem portion 124 of the ferrule support 120. The rear end portion 134 includes an opening 135 configured to slide upon the connecting tube 140, which extends through a close-fitting opening 137 defined by the internal annular flange 136. The connecting tube 140 includes an elongated cylindrical portion 141 having a head portion 142 at its rear end. The head portion 142 has a larger cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the ferrule axis than the elongated cylindrical portion 141. The head portion 142 may generally be cylindrical, but includes a flattened region 143 forming, for example, a thread, such that the head portion 142 is D-shaped as viewed in the axial direction. A front end portion of the elongated cylindrical portion 41 is configured to be received in the cylindrical stem portion 124, for example, in a press-fit relationship, more particularly, a light press-fit connection. The press-fit relationship should be sufficient such that the connector tube 140 is rotatable with the cylindrical stem portion 124 about the ferrule axis 116 and is not rotatable with respect to the cylindrical stem portion 124 when the connector subassembly 102 is pushed through a duct or conduit. The front end face 144 on the front end portion of the elongated cylindrical portion 141 abuts a rear face 127b of the inner annular flange 128 of the collar 123. A front face 146 of the head portion 142 abuts a rear face 136a of the inner annular flange 136 of the retaining tube 130. The rear end portion 134 of the retainer tube 130 includes a small-internal diameter portion 150 adjacent to the internal annular flange 136 and a large-internal diameter portion 152 extending axially from the small-internal diameter portion 150 in a direction away from the internal annular flange 136. The large-internal diameter portion 152 has a larger inside diameter than the small-internal diameter portion 150. The retainer tube 130 may include a tapered or stepped transition between the small-internal diameter portion 150 and the large-internal diameter portion 152. The large inner diameter portion 152 is sized and configured to receive cable 106, including a sheath 107 that protects fiber 108. After receiving cable 106, including sheath 107, the large inner diameter portion 152 is crimped into the sheath 107 of cable 106, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The small inner diameter portion 150 has a smaller diameter than the outer diameter of sheath 107 and is therefore sized and configured to prevent sheath 107 from entering the small inner diameter portion 150. However, the small inner diameter portion 150 is sized and configured to receive fiber 108 and the buffer layers 109 that surround fiber 108 and are enclosed by sheath 107. Therefore, the transition between the small inner diameter portion 150 and The large internal diameter portion 152 provides a stop to limit axial insertion of the cable 106 into the retaining tube 130. The small-diameter portion 150 of the retainer tube 130 includes a deformed region 151 that projects radially inward from an inner wall 135a of the bore 135 of the small-diameter portion 150. The deformed region 151 may be formed by crimping, controlled shot peening, or similar means. The deformed region 151 forms a notch having a flattened inner region 151a configured to align with the flattened region 143 of the head portion 142 of the connector tube 140. When the head portion 142 of the connector tube 140 is received into the small-diameter portion 150 of the generally cylindrical bore of the retainer tube 130, the deformed region 151 cooperates with the flattened region 143 of the head portion 142 to prevent relative rotation between the connector tube 140 and the retainer tube 130. The connector subassembly 102 also includes a coil spring 160 arranged RJ ) ) IP / 77IP7 / 3 / Y between the connecting tube 140 and the retaining tube 130 in a radial direction and retained in an axial direction between a rear end face 125 of the cylindrical stem portion 124 and a front face 138 of the internal annular flange 136. The coil spring 160 is deflected forward from the ferrule support 120 with respect to the retaining tube 130, with the forward deflection limited by the boundary between the front face 146 of the head portion 142 and the rear face 136a of the internal annular flange 136 of the retaining tube 130. The coil spring 160 is compressible in the axial direction by axial sliding movement of the stem portion 124 with respect to the retaining tube 130. The axial range of displacement of the ferrule support 120 and the The connector tube 140 is determined by the axial length of the small internal diameter portion 150 of the retainer tube 130, as shown in Figure 4. The connector 100 may further include a removable protective cap 162 having an opening configured to receive the ferrule 112. The connector 100 may also include a tubular member 164 having a through-hole configured to receive the fiber 108 and the buffer layers 109 and to be inserted between the buffer layers 109 and the sheath 107 at the end of the sheath 107. The tubular member 164 may protect the fiber 108 during crimping of the large-diameter portion 152 of the retaining tube 130. The tubular member 164 includes an external flange 166 and a front end to limit the insertion of the tubular member 164 into the sheath 107 of the cable 106. The small-internal-diameter portion 150 is sized and configured to receive the external flange 166. The connector 100 may also include a sleeve 168 around the cable 106, which is configured to abut the rear end of the connector tube 130 and the rear end of the external housing 104.The 168 sleeve is configured to provide a strain reducer for the 106 cable and a weatherproof seal on the rear end of the 100 connector. The external housing 104 is configured in a substantially square shape with a release lever 108 projecting outward from an upper wall 174 of the external housing 104, for example, as is typical with conventional LC connectors. The external housing 104 includes a through-hole 170 configured to receive the connector subassembly 102 such that the ferrule 112 can be exposed at a front end 172 of the external housing 104. The internal surfaces of the upper wall 174 and a lower wall 176 of the external housing 104 include alignment lugs 178. The alignment lugs 178 are configured to receive, via axial alignment channels 129, 139 in the external walls of the ferrule holder 120 and the retaining tube 130, respectively. Alignment channels 129,139 are arranged on diametrically opposite upper and lower parts of the splint support 120 and the retaining tube 130, respectively.In some aspects, the outer wall of the 120 splint holder may include only a single alignment protrusion and the outer housing may include only a single alignment channel. The alignment lugs 178 taper from a first width (i.e., in a direction perpendicular to the splint axis) at a front end 180 to a second width at a rear end 182. The first width of the lugs 178 substantially coincides with a width of the alignment channels 129, 139. The tapered profile allows freedom of movement, and the rear end 182 of the lugs 178 acts as a rigid stop with respect to a rear end of the alignment channels 139 of the retaining tube 130. The outer housing 104 further includes side walls 184 having sturdy guides 185 that extend into the through hole 170. Each of the sturdy guides 185 can be cantilevered at its rear end 186 and the free front end 188 of each guide 185 is configured to engage with the forward-facing surface of the outer flange portion 133 of the front end portion 132 of the retainer tube 130 when the retainer tube 130 is inserted into the outer housing 104 to engage the housing 104 with the subassembly 102. With reference now to Figures 7-11, another example fiber optic connector 700, for example, an LC connector, is illustrated according to various aspects of the description. The example fiber optic connector 700 is similar to the fiber optic connector described above, except that the small-diameter portion 750 of the retainer tube 730 includes a cross-sectional profile 751 along its length that matches the D-shaped profile of the head portion 742 of the connector tube 740. When the head portion 742 of the connector tube 740 is received into the small-diameter portion 750 of the generally cylindrical bore of the retainer tube 730, the cross-sectional profile 751 cooperates with the D-shaped profile of the head portion 742 to prevent relative rotation between the connector tube 740 and the retainer tube 730. As shown in Figures 8-10, the outer walls of the ferrule support 720 and the retaining tube 730 can generally be cylindrical with flattened regions 729, 739 that are aligned with each other. The outer housing 704 can include a bore having an upper wall 774 with a flattened inner surface 778 configured to align with the flattened regions 729, 739 of the ferrule support 720 and the retaining tube 730, respectively, to prevent relative rotation between the outer housing 704 and the connecting subassembly 702. With reference now to Figures 12-14, another example fiber optic connector subassembly 1204 is illustrated in accordance with various aspects of the description. The example fiber optic connector subassembly is for use with the fiber optic connector 700 and is similar to the fiber optic connector subassemblies 102 and 702 described above, except that the head portion 1242 of the connector tube 1240 has a hexagonal profile and the small-diameter portion 1250 of the retainer tube 1230 includes a corresponding hexagonal profile 1251 along its length. When the head part 1242 of the connecting tube 1240 is received in the small diameter part 1250 of the generally cylindrical hole of the retaining tube 1230, the hexagonal cross-section profile 1251 cooperates with the hexagonal profile of the head part 1242 to prevent relative rotation between the connecting tube 1240 and the retaining tube 1230. It should be noted that, although the external housing 104 is illustrated as transparent to facilitate an understanding of the connector, the external housing is not typically transparent. It is worth noting that, although the specific example described above refers to LC type connectors, the fiber optic connector subassembly can be adapted for use with other types of fiber optic connector systems, for example, SC type connectors and ST type connectors. Additional modalities include any of the modalities described above, where one or more of its components, functionalities, or structures are exchanged, replaced, or augmented with one or more of the components, functionalities, or structures of a different modality described above. It should be understood that several changes and modifications to the embodiments described herein will be evident to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this description and without diminishing its desired advantages. Therefore, it is intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims. Although several embodiments of the description have been outlined in the preceding specification, those skilled in the art will understand that many modifications and other embodiments will become apparent within the subject matter of the description and will benefit from the principles set forth in the preceding description and the associated figures. It is therefore understood that the description is not limited to the specific embodiments described above and that various modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, while specific terms are used herein and in the claims that follow, they are used only in a generic and descriptive sense and not for the purpose of limiting the present description or the claims that follow.

Claims

1. - An optical fiber connector subassembly for an optical fiber connector comprising: a ferrule configured to hold an optical fiber therein along an axis of the connector; a ferrule holder configured to hold the ferrule on a front portion of the connector;a retaining tube having a front end portion configured to support the ferrule holder and a rear end portion configured to receive an optical fiber cable and a connector tube configured to be received in the ferrule holder in a press-fit relationship such that the connector tube is rotatably coupled to the ferrule holder and the connector tube is configured to be slidably received by the retaining tube, wherein the ferrule holder, the retaining tube, and the connector tube are configured to receive an optical fiber, wherein the ferrule is configured to terminate the optical fiber, and wherein the connector tube includes a head portion having a flattened region, and wherein the retaining tube includes an inner wall having a flattened inner region configured to align with the flattened region of the connector tube to prevent relative rotation between the ferrule holder and the retaining tube.

2. A connector comprising: the optical fiber connector subassembly of claim 1; and an external housing configured to mate with the optical fiber connector subassembly.

3. The connector of claim 2, wherein the external housing is configured to provide push / pull coupling / uncoupling of a Lucent (LC) connection with a fiber optic connection socket. 4 - The optical fiber connector subassembly of the preceding claims, wherein the retaining tube includes a front end portion and a rear end portion, the front end portion and the rear end portion being separated inside the retaining tube by an internal annular flange.

5. The optical fiber connector subassembly of claim 4, wherein the front end portion of the retainer tube includes an opening configured to slideably receive at least a portion of the cylindrical stem portion of the ferrule support, wherein the rear end portion of the retainer tube includes an opening configured to slideably receive the connector tube, and wherein the connector tube extends through an opening defined by the internal annular flange.

6. The optical fiber connector subassembly of any of the preceding claims, wherein the head portion of the elongated cylindrical portion of the connector tube includes at least one additional flattened region and wherein the inner wall of the rear end portion of the retaining tube includes at least one additional flattened internal region configured to align with the at least one additional flattened region of the connector tube.7.- An optical fiber connector subassembly for an optical fiber connector comprising: a ferrule configured to hold an optical fiber thereon; a ferrule holder configured to hold the ferrule;a retaining tube having a front end portion configured to support the ferrule holder and a rear end portion configured to receive an optical fiber cable and a connector tube configured to rotatably engage with the ferrule holder and be slidably received by the retaining tube, wherein the ferrule holder, retaining tube, and connector tube are configured to receive an optical fiber and wherein the connector tube includes a head portion having a flattened region and wherein the retaining tube includes an inner wall having a flattened inner region configured to align with the flattened region of the connector tube to prevent relative rotation between the ferrule holder and the retaining tube.

8. A connector comprising: the optical fiber connector subassembly of claim 7; and an external housing configured to mate with the optical fiber connector subassembly.

9. The connector of claim 8, wherein the external housing is configured to provide push / pull coupling / uncoupling of a Lucent (LC) connection with a fiber optic connection socket.

10. The optical fiber connector subassembly of any of claims 7-9, wherein the retaining tube includes a front end portion and a rear end portion, the front end portion and the rear end portion being separated inside the retaining tube by an internal annular flange.

11. The optical fiber connector subassembly of claim 10, wherein the front end portion of the retainer tube includes an opening configured to slideably receive at least a portion of the cylindrical stem portion of the ferrule support, wherein the rear end portion of the retainer tube includes an opening configured to slideably receive the connector tube, and wherein the connector tube extends through an opening defined by the internal annular flange.

12. The optical fiber connector subassembly of any of claims 7-11, wherein the head portion of the elongated cylindrical portion of the connector tube includes at least one additional flattened region and wherein the inner wall of the rear end portion of the retainer tube includes at least one additional flattened internal region configured to align with the at least one additional flattened region of the connector tube.

13. An optical fiber connector subassembly for an optical fiber connector comprising: a ferrule configured to hold an optical fiber thereon; a ferrule holder configured to hold the ferrule; a retainer tube configured to hold the ferrule holder and receive an optical fiber cable; and a connector tube configured to rotatably engage with the ferrule holder and be slidably received by the retainer tube, wherein the ferrule holder, the retainer tube, and the connector tube are configured to receive an optical fiber, and wherein the retainer tube and the connector tube are configured to cooperate with each other to prevent relative rotation between the ferrule holder and the retainer tube.

14. A connector comprising: the optical fiber connector subassembly of claim 13; and an external housing configured to mate with the optical fiber connector subassembly.

15. The connector of claim 14, wherein the external housing is configured to provide push / pull coupling / uncoupling of a Lucent (LC) connection with a fiber optic connection socket.

16. The optical fiber connector subassembly of any of claims 13-15, wherein the retaining tube includes a front end portion and a rear end portion, the front end portion and the rear end portion being separated inside the retaining tube by an internal annular flange.

17. The optical fiber connector subassembly of claim 16, wherein the front end portion of the retainer tube includes an opening configured to slideably receive at least a portion of the cylindrical stem portion of the ferrule support, wherein the rear end portion of the retainer tube includes an opening configured to slideably receive the connector tube, and wherein the connector tube extends through an opening defined by the internal annular flange.

18. The optical fiber connector subassembly of claim 16, wherein the connector tube includes an elongated cylindrical portion having a head portion at its rear end, the head portion including a flattened region, and wherein the rear end portion of the retaining tube includes at least one inner wall having a flattened inner region configured to align with the flattened region of the connector tube.

19. The optical fiber connector subassembly of claim 18, wherein the head portion of the elongated cylindrical portion of the connector tube includes at least one additional flattened region and wherein the inner wall of the rear end portion of the retaining tube includes at least one additional flattened internal region configured to align with the at least one additional flattened region of the connector tube.

20. The optical fiber connector subassembly of claim 16, wherein a portion of the front end of the connector tube is configured to be received in the ferrule holder in a press-fit relationship such that the connector tube can rotate with the ferrule holder.

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