Hardened fiber optic connection systems and related components

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to seal configurations having a base sleeve and one or more circumferential sealing projections that project outwardly from the sleeve. The seal configurations can be used to provide exterior sealing with respect to components adapted to slide within ports such as fiber optic connectors, fiber optic dust plugs (e.g., blank plugs) and actuator buttons.

Description

Attorney Docket No. 02316.8997WOU1HARDENED FIBER OPTIC CONNECTION SYSTEMS AND RELATED COMPONENTSCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 774,255, filed March 19, 2025, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to fiber optic connection systems. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to fiber optic connection systems that are hardened to be suitable for outside environmental use.BACKGROUND

[0003] Fiber optic communication systems are becoming prevalent in part because service providers want to deliver high bandwidth communication capabilities (e.g., data and voice) to customers. Fiber optic communication systems employ a network of fiber optic cables to transmit large volumes of data and voice signals over relatively long distances. Optical fiber connectors are an important part of most fiber optic communication systems. Fiber optic connectors allow two optical fibers to be quickly optically connected without requiring a splice. Fiber optic connectors can be used to optically interconnect two lengths of optical fiber. Fiber optic connectors can also be used to interconnect lengths of optical fiber to passive and active equipment.

[0004] A typical fiber optic connector includes a ferrule assembly supported at a distal end of a connector housing. A spring is used to bias the ferrule assembly in a distal direction relative to the connector housing. The ferrule functions to support an end portion of at least one optical fiber (in the case of a multi-fiber ferrule, the ends of multiple fibers are supported). The ferrule has a distal end face at which a polished end of the optical fiber is located. When two fiber optic connectors are interconnected, the distal end faces of the ferrules abut and the ferrules are forced proximally relative to their respective connector housings against the bias of their respective springs. Withthe fiber optic connectors connected, their respective optical fibers are coaxially aligned such that the end faces of the optical fibers directly oppose one another. In this way, an optical signal can be transmitted from optical fiber to optical fiber through the aligned end faces of the optical fibers. For many fiber optic connector styles, alignment between two fiber optic connectors is provided through the use of an intermediate fiber optic adapter.

[0005] Ruggedized (i.e., hardened) fiber optic connection systems include fiber optic connectors and fiber optic adapters suitable for outside environmental use. These types of systems are typically environmentally sealed and include robust fastening arrangements suitable for withstanding relatively large pull loading and side loading. Example ruggedized fiber optic connection systems are disclosed by US. Patent Nos. 7,467,896; 7,744,288; 8,556,520 and 9,442,257. Ruggedized connection systems including a splice-on connectors are disclosed by US 11,119,277 and US 9,442,257. Other systems are disclosed by PCT International Publication Nos.W02021 / 041305 and WO2020 / 236512; US Patent Nos. 11,822,142 and 11,921,329; and US Patent Publication No. US 2020 / 0057205.SUMMARY

[0006] Aspects of the present disclosure relate to seal configurations having a base sleeve and one or more circumferential sealing projections that project outwardly from the sleeve. The seal configurations can be used to provide exterior sealing with respect to components adapted to slide within ports such as fiber optic connectors, fiber optic dust plugs (e.g., blank plugs) and actuator buttons. In certain examples, the seal configurations can effectively maintain their mounting locations on their corresponding components during sliding of the components within ports without requiring lubricant.

[0007] A variety of additional inventive aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The inventive aspects can relate to individual features and to combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive concepts upon which the examples disclosed herein are based.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a telecommunication enclosure (e.g., terminal) that is part of a fiber optic optical connection system in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

[0009] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the telecommunication enclosure of FIG.1;

[0010] FIG. 3 is another cross-sectional view of the telecommunication enclosure of FIG. 1;

[0011] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the cross-sectional view of FIG.3;

[0012] FIG. 5 is a side view of an actuator button of the telecommunication enclosure of FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the actuator button of FIG. 5 with a seal in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure mounted on the actuator button;

[0014] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the seal of FIG. 6 shown in isolation from the actuator button;

[0015] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the actuator button and seal of FIG. 6;

[0016] FIG. 9 is a perspective view depicting a lanyard arrangement for tethering dust plugs to the telecommunication enclosure of FIG. 1, a seal in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure is shown mounted on one of the dust plugs;

[0017] FIG. 10 is a side view of one of the dust plugs of FIG. 9 with the seal in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure mounted thereon;

[0018] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of one of the dust plugs of FIG. 9 with the seal in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure omitted;

[0019] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the seal of FIG. 10 shown in isolation from the dust plug;

[0020] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing one of the dust plugs of FIG. 9 secured within a port of the telecommunication enclosure of FIG. 1;

[0021] FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of a portion of the cross-sectional view of FIG.13;

[0022] FIG. 15 is a schematic view of a break-out version of the telecommunication enclosure of FIG. 1;

[0023] FIG. 16 is a schematic view of a passive optical splitter version of the telecommunication enclosure of FIG. 1; and

[0024] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view depicting a fiber optic connector adapted for insertion into one of the ports of the telecommunication enclosure of FIG 1, the fiber optic connector is depicted including an exterior seal in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] FIGS. 1-4 depict an example telecommunication enclosure 20 (e.g., a terminal) that can be part of a fiber optic optical connection system in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. The telecommunication enclosure 20 includes a housing 22 that is preferably environmentally sealed such that the telecommunication enclosure 20 is rated for outdoor use. The housing 22 defines a plurality of connector ports 24 accessible from an exterior of the housing 22. The connector ports 24 can be configured to receive fiber optic connectors (e.g., hardened / ruggedized fiber optic connectors such as fiber optic connector 25 depicted at FIG. 17) that can be mounted on the end of cables such as drop cables. The fiber optic connectors are preferably sealed within the ports 24 when inserted therein. When inserted within the connector ports 24, the fiber optic connectors can optically connect to an optical fiber or optical fibers routed into the housing 22 by an input cable 26. In this way, optical fibers corresponding to fiber-optic cables terminated by the fiber optic connectors can be optically connected to the optical fiber or optical fibers of the input cable 26. When the connector ports 24 are vacant (e.g., not occupied by a fiber optic connector), the connector ports 24 can be closed and sealed by dust plugs 28 (see FIG. 9) inserted within the connector ports 24. The dust plugs 28 can be tethered to the housing 20 by a lanyard arrangement 30 (see FIG. 9).

[0026] In one example, the telecommunication enclosure 20 can be configured as a break-out terminal 20a as shown schematically at FIG. 15. For ease of depiction, the break-out terminal depicted at FIG. 15 is depicted as a four-port terminal, but could also have eight ports as shown at FIG. 1 or any other number of ports. In the break-out terminal 20a, the input cable 26 includes a plurality of optical fibers 32 that are fanned-out within the terminal 20a. Ends of the optical fiber 32 are terminated by fiber optic connectors 34 (e.g., non-hardened fiber optic connectors) that can be supported by fiberoptic adapters 36 within the terminal 20a in alignment with the connector ports 24. When hardened fiber optic connectors are inserted into the ports 24 from the exterior of the terminal 20a, the hardened fiber optic connectors optically connect to the fiber optic connectors 34 via the fiber-optic adapters 36.

[0027] In another example, the telecommunication enclosure 20 can be configured as a splitter terminal 20b as shown schematically at FIG. 16. For ease of depiction, the splitter terminal depicted at FIG. 16 is depicted as a four-port terminal, but could also have eight ports as shown at FIG. 1 or any other number of ports. In the splitter terminal 20b, the input cable 26 includes an optical fiber 132 that connects to an input of a passive optical power splitter 33 within the terminal 20b. Optical fibers 135 connect to splitter outputs of the passive optical splitter 33. Ends of the optical fibers 135 are terminated by fiber optic connectors 134 (e.g., non-hardened fiber optic connectors) that can be supported by fiber optic adapters 136 within the terminal 20b in alignment with the connector ports 24. When hardened fiber optic connectors are inserted into the ports 24 from the exterior of the terminal 20a, the hardened fiber optic connectors optically connect to the fiber optic connectors 134 via the fiber-optic adapters 136.

[0028] Further details of internal aspects of the telecommunication enclosure 20 are disclosed by US Patent Publication No. 2020 / 0057205 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Further details related to the construction of the body and internal components of the fiber-optic connector 25 are disclosed by US Patent No. 10,359,577. Other hardened connectors that could benefit by seals in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure are disclosed by US Patent Nos. 7,744,288; 9,304,262; and 7,568,844 that are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. As depicted, the fiber optic connector 25 is a single-fiber optical connector, but in alternative examples could be a multi-fiber optical connector.

[0029] The hardened fiber-optic connector 25 and each of the dust plugs 28 each include a plug body 200 adapted to be inserted into and sealed within the connector ports 24. The plug body 200 has a length L (see FIGS. 10 and 11) that extends along a plug axis 202 (see FIGS. 10 and 11). When the plug body 200 is inserted into one of the connector ports 24, the plug axis 202 is configured to coincide with an insertion axis 204 (see FIG. 14) defined by the connector port 24. The insertion axis 204 can also be referred to as a connector port axis. The connector ports 24 can be defined at least inpart by circumferential sealing surfaces 205 that surround the insertion axes 204. The plug body 200 includes an outer surface 206 and includes a securement catch 208 at the outer surface 206. When the plug body 200 is inserted into one of the connector ports 24, a slidable connector latch 210 (see FIGS. 2-4) corresponding to the connector port 24 engages the securement catch 208 to retain the plug body 200 within the connector port 24. The connector latch 210 is slidable in a transverse orientation relative to the insertion axis 204 between a connector latching position and a connector release position. The connector latch 210 is spring biased toward the connector latching position. As depicted at FIG. 2, the telecommunication enclosure 20 includes separate connector latches 210 corresponding to each of the connector ports 24. The connector latches 210 are each positioned at least partially within the housing 22. The connector latches 210 include engagement portions 211 adapted to interlock with the securement catches 208. The telecommunication enclosure 20 includes actuator buttons 215 that can be manually depressed to move the connector latches 210 from the connector latching position to the connector release position to allow the plug bodies 200 to be released from the connector ports 24.

[0030] The housing 22 of the telecommunication enclosure 20 includes a button port defining portion 218 that defines a plurality of button ports 220 for receiving the actuator buttons 215. The button ports 220 each surround a button port axis 222 (see FIG. 4) along which the actuator buttons 215 can slide within the button ports 220. Each of the button ports 220 is defined at least in part by a circumferential sealing surface 224 of the button port defining portion 218 of the housing 22. The circumferential sealing surface 224 of each button port 220 surrounds and faces radially toward the button port axis 222.

[0031] The actuator buttons 215 mount in the button ports 220 and can be manually pressed into the button ports 220 along a button port axis 222 to move the connector latches 210 from the connector latching positions to the connector release positions. The actuator buttons 215 define circumferential grooves 230 that surround the button port axes 222 and face radially outwardly toward the circumferential sealing surfaces 224 of the button ports 220. Seals 232 are supported on the actuator buttons 215 within the circumferential grooves 230. The seals 232 each have an elastomeric construction. Each seal 230 includes a base sleeve 234 that surrounds the actuator button 215 and the button port axis 222. Each base sleeve 234 defines a sleeve axiallength AL. Each seal 230 also includes at least one sealing projection 236 that projects radially outwardly from the base sleeve 234 and that circumferentially surrounds the base sleeve 234 and the button port axis 222. Each sealing projection 236 has a projection base 238 that is unitarily formed with the base sleeve 234. The sealing projection 236 is adapted to provide a radial seal with respect to the circumferential sealing surface 224 of the button port defining portion 218 of the housing 20. In one example, the at least one sealing projection 236 includes at least two sealing projections 236 that are axially spaced from one another along the sleeve axial length AL. In one example, the at least one sealing projection 236 includes at least three sealing projections 236 that are axially spaced from one another along the sleeve axial length AL.

[0032] In certain examples, the actuator button 215 have outer manual depression portions 240 that projects outwardly (e.g., upwardly) beyond an outer surface 241 defined by the button port defining portion 218 of the housing 22. In the depicted example, the outer manual depression portions 240 each have a convex shape (e.g., a dome shape).

[0033] In certain examples, the seals 232 can have a durometer less than or equal to 40 Shore A or in the range of 20-40 Shore A. In certain examples, the projection bases 238 of the sealing projections 236 can each have an axial dimension that is less than or equal to one-third, or one-fourth, or one-fifth, or one-sixth, or one-seventh, or one-eighth, or one nineth, or one tenth of the sleeve axial length AL.

[0034] It will be appreciated that seals in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure are also mounted on the plug bodies 200 of the dust plugs 28 and the hardened fiber optic connectors 25. For example, as shown at FIGS. 10, 13, 14 and 17, a seal 250 is supported on the plug body 200 at the outer surface 206 of the plug body 200. The seal 250 can mount in a circumferential groove 251 that surrounds and faces radially outwardly from the plug axis 202. The seal 250 preferably has an elastomeric construction and is positioned on the plug body 200 such that the seal 250 surrounds the plug axis 202. The seal 250 includes a base sleeve 253 that surrounds the plug axis 202. The seal 250 also including at least one sealing projection 254 that projects radially outwardly from the base sleeve 253 and that circumferentially surrounds the base sleeve 253 and the plug axis 202. The sealing projection 254 having a projection base 256 that is unitarily formed with the base sleeve 253. The base sleeve 253 has asleeve axial length AL measured along the plug axis 202. In one example, the sleeve axial length AL is at least 6 mm, and the sleeve axial length AL is at least 50 percent of an insertion depth ID (see FIG. 14) of the seal 250 into the connector port 24. The insertion depth ID is the distance that a leading end of the seal 250 is pushed into the connector port 24 during insertion of the plug body 200 into the connector port 24. The sealing projection 254 is adapted to provide a radial seal with respect to the circumferential sealing surface 205 of the corresponding connector port 24 when the plug body 200 is installed in the connector port 24.

[0035] In one example, the projection base 256 of the sealing projection 254 has an axial dimension AD that is less than or equal to one-third the sleeve axial length AL. In one example, the sealing projection 254 has 15-25 percent radial compression when forming the radial seal within the connector port. In one example, prior to insertion of the plug body 200 into the connector port 24, the sealing projection 254 has an outer diameter that is at least .2 millimeters larger than an inner diameter defined by the circumferential sealing surface 205 defining the connector port 24. In one example, the outer diameter of the sealing projection 254 is less than or equal to 15 millimeters, or less than or equal to 12.5 millimeters, or less than or equal to 10 millimeters. In one example, the sleeve axial length AL is in the range of 6-10 millimeters and the insertion depth ID of the seal into the port 24 is at least 10 millimeters or at least 12 millimeters, or in the range of 10-16 millimeters. In one example, the seal 250 is constructed of a material having durometer with a Shore A hardness less than 40 or a durometer with a Shore A hardness in the range of 20-40. In one example, the at least one sealing projection 254 includes at least two sealing projections 254 that are axially spaced from one another along the sleeve axial length AL.

[0036] In one example, the seal 250 provides port sealing in combination with another seal 260 (e.g., a secondary seal such as an o-ring seal as shown at FIG. 14) that is mounted on the plug body 200 at a location axially spaced from the seal 250. In one example, the secondary seal 260 has a shorter insertion depth than the seal 250.

[0037] In certain examples, seals in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure can be manufactured from example materials such as a silicone material or a thermoplastic elastomer material.

[0038] The various examples described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Thoseskilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made without following the examples and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A plug adapted to be inserted into and sealed with respect to a port of a telecommunication enclosure, the plug comprising:a plug body having a length that extends along a plug axis, the plug body defining an outer surface, the plug axis being configured to coincide with an insertion axis along which the plug body is moved when the plug body is inserted into the port; anda seal supported on the plug body at the outer surface of the plug body, the seal having an elastomeric construction, the seal being positioned on the plug body such that the seal surrounds the plug axis, the seal including a base sleeve that surrounds the plug axis, the seal also including at least one sealing projection that projects radially outwardly from the base sleeve and that circumferentially surrounds the base sleeve and the plug axis, sealing projection having a projection base that is unitarily formed with the base sleeve, the base sleeve having a sleeve axial length measured along the plug axis, the sleeve axial length being at least 6 mm, and the sleeve axial length being at least 50 percent of an insertion depth of the seal into the port.

2. The plug of claim 1, wherein the projection base of the sealing projection has an axial dimension that is less than or equal to one-third the sleeve axial length.

3. The plug of claim 1, wherein the sealing projection is adapted to provide a radial seal with respect to a circumferential sealing surface of the port when the plug body is installed in the port.

4. The plug of claim 3, wherein the sealing projection has 15-25 percent radial compression when forming the radial seal.

5. The plug of claim 3, wherein prior to insertion of the plug body into the port, the sealing projection has an outer diameter that is at least .2 millimeters larger than an inner diameter defined by the circumferential sealing surface.

6. The plug of claim 5, wherein the outer diameter of the sealing projection is less than or equal to 15 millimeters, or less than or equal to 12.5 millimeters, or less than or equal to 10 millimeters.

7. The plug of claim 1, wherein the sleeve axial length is in the range of 6-10 millimeters.

8. The plug of claim 1, wherein the insertion depth of the seal into the port is at least 10 millimeters, and wherein the insertion depth is the distance that a leading end of the seal is pushed into the port during insertion of the plug body into the port.

9. The plug of claim 1, wherein the insertion depth of the seal into the port is at least 12 millimeters, and wherein the insertion depth is the distance that a leading end of the seal is pushed into the port during insertion of the plug body into the port.

10. The plug of claim 1, wherein the insertion depth of the seal into the port is in the range of 10-16 millimeters, and wherein the insertion depth is the distance that a leading end of the seal is pushed into the port during insertion of the plug body into the port.

11. The plug of claim 1 , wherein the seal is constructed of a material having a Shore A hardness less than 40.

12. The plug of claim 1, wherein the seal is constructed of a material having a Shore A hardness in the range of 20-40.

13. The plug of any of claims 1-12, wherein the at least one sealing projection includes at least two sealing projections that are axially spaced from one another along the sleeve axial length.

14. A plug adapted to be inserted into and sealed with respect to a port of a telecommunication enclosure, the plug comprising:a plug body having a length that extends along a plug axis, the plug body defining an outer surface, the plug axis being configured to coincide with an insertion axis along which the plug body is moved when the plug body is inserted into the port; anda seal supported on the plug body at the outer surface of the plug body, the seal having an elastomeric construction, the seal being positioned on the plug body such that the seal surrounds the plug axis, the seal including a base sleeve that surrounds the plug axis, the seal also including at least one sealing projection that projects radially outwardly from the base sleeve and that circumferentially surrounds the base sleeve and the plug axis, sealing projection having a projection base that is unitarily formed with the base sleeve, the base sleeve having a sleeve axial length measured along the plug axis, the sleeve axial length being at least 6 mm, and the sleeve axial length being at least 10 percent of an insertion depth of the plug body into the port.

15. The plug of claim 14, wherein the sleeve axial length is 10-30 percent of an insertion depth of the plug body into the port.

16. The plug of claim 14, wherein the projection base of the sealing projection has an axial dimension that is less than or equal to one-third the sleeve axial length.

17. The plug of claim 14, wherein the sealing projection is adapted to provide a radial seal with respect to a circumferential sealing surface of the port when the plug body is installed in the port.

18. The plug of claim 17, wherein the sealing projection has 15-25 percent radial compression when forming the radial seal.

19. The plug of claim 17, wherein prior to insertion of the plug body into the port, the sealing projection has an outer diameter that is at least .2 millimeters larger than an inner diameter defined by the circumferential sealing surface.

20. The plug of claim 14, wherein the seal is constructed of a material having a Shore A hardness less than 40.

21. The plug of claim 14, wherein the seal is constructed of a material having a Shore A hardness in the range of 20-40.

22. The plug of any of claims 14-21, wherein the at least one sealing projection includes at least two sealing projections that are axially spaced from one another along the sleeve axial length.

23. A fiber optic optical connection system comprising:a telecommunication enclosure defining a port defined at least in part by an interior circumferential sealing surface;a plug body adapted to be inserted into and sealed within the port, the plug body having a length that extends along a plug axis, the plug body defining an outer surface, the plug axis being configured to coincide with an insertion axis along which the plug body is moved when the plug body is inserted into the port; anda seal supported on the plug body at the outer surface of the plug body, the seal having an elastomeric construction, the seal being positioned on the plug body such that the seal surrounds the plug axis, the seal including a base sleeve that surrounds the plug axis, the seal also including at least one sealing projection that projects radially outwardly from the base sleeve and that circumferentially surrounds the base sleeve and the plug axis, sealing projection having a projection base that is unitarily formed with the base sleeve, the base sleeve having a sleeve axial length measured along the plug axis, the sleeve axial length being at least 6 mm, and the sleeve axial length being at least 50 percent of an insertion depth of the seal into the port, wherein the sealing projection is adapted to provide a radial seal with respect to the circumferential sealing surface of the port when the plug body is installed in the port.

24. The fiber optic optical connection system of claim 23, wherein the projection base of the sealing projection has an axial dimension that is less than or equal to one-third the sleeve axial length.

25. The fiber optic optical connection system of claim 23, wherein the sealing projection has 15-25 percent radial compression when forming the radial seal.

26. The fiber optic optical connection system of claim 23, wherein the sleeve axial length is in the range of 6-10 millimeters.

27. The fiber optic optical connection system of claim 23, wherein the insertion depth of the seal into the port is in the range of 10-16 millimeters, and wherein the insertion depth is the distance that a leading end of the seal is pushed into the port during insertion of the plug body into the port.

28. The fiber optic optical connection system of claim 23, wherein the seal is constructed of a material having a Shore A hardness less than 40.

29. The fiber optic optical connection system of any of claims 23-28, wherein the at least one sealing projection includes at least two sealing projections that are axially spaced from one another along the sleeve axial length.

30. A fiber optic optical connection system comprising:a telecommunication enclosure defining a port defined at least in part by an interior circumferential sealing surface;a plug body adapted to be inserted into and sealed within the port, the plug body having a length that extends along a plug axis, the plug body defining an outer surface, the plug axis being configured to coincide with an insertion axis along which the plug body is moved when the plug body is inserted into the port; anda seal supported on the plug body at the outer surface of the plug body, the seal having an elastomeric construction, the seal being positioned on the plug body such that the seal surrounds the plug axis, the seal including a base sleeve that surrounds the plug axis, the seal also including at least one sealing projection that projects radially outwardly from the base sleeve and that circumferentially surrounds the base sleeve and the plug axis, sealing projection having a projection base that is unitarily formed with the base sleeve, the base sleeve having a sleeve axial length measured along the plug axis, the sleeve axial length being at least 6 mm, and the sleeve axial length being at least 10 percent of an insertion depth of the plug body into the port, wherein the sealingprojection is adapted to provide a radial seal with respect to the circumferential sealing surface of the port when the plug body is installed in the port.

31. The fiber optic optical connection system of claim 30, wherein the projection base of the sealing projection has an axial dimension that is less than or equal to one-third the sleeve axial length.

32. The fiber optic optical connection system of claim 30, wherein the sealing projection has 15-25 percent radial compression when forming the radial seal.

33. The fiber optic optical connection system of claim 30, wherein the sleeve axial length is in the range of 6-10 millimeters.

34. The fiber optic optical connection system of claim 30, wherein the insertion depth of the seal into the port is at least 10 millimeters, and wherein the insertion depth is the distance that a leading end of the seal is pushed into the port during insertion of the plug body into the port.

35. The fiber optic optical connection system of claim 30, wherein the seal is constructed of a material having a Shore A hardness less than 40.

36. The fiber optic optical connection system of any of claims 30-35, wherein the at least one sealing projection includes at least two sealing projections that are axially spaced from one another along the sleeve axial length.

37. A telecommunication enclosure comprising:an enclosure housing defining a connector port for receiving a fiber optic connector, the enclosure housing also defining a button port;a connector latch positioned at least partially within the enclosure housing for retaining the fiber optic connector within the connector port, the connector latch being slidable in a transverse orientation relative to an axis of the connector port between a connector latching position and a connector release position, the connector latch being spring biased toward the connector latching position; andan actuator button mounted in the button port that can be manually pressed into the button port to move the connector latch from the connector latching position to the connector release position, the actuator button having an outer manual depression portion that projects outwardly beyond an outer surface defined by a button port defining portion of the enclosure housing.

38. The telecommunication housing of claim 37, wherein the outer manual depression portion has a convex shape.

39. A telecommunication enclosure comprising:an enclosure housing defining a connector port for receiving a fiber optic connector, the connector port being defined about a connector port axis, the enclosure housing also including a button port defining portion that defines a button port about a button port axis, the button port being defined at least in part by a circumferential sealing surface of the button port defining portion of the enclosure housing;a connector latch positioned at least partially within the enclosure housing for retaining the fiber optic connector within the connector port, the connector latch being slidable in a transverse orientation relative to the connector port axis between a connector latching position and a connector release position, the connector latch being spring biased toward the connector latching position;an actuator button mounted in the button port that can be manually pressed into the button port along a button port axis to move the connector latch from the connector latching position to the connector release position, the actuator button defining a circumferential groove that surrounds the button port axis;a seal supported on the actuator button within the circumferential groove, the seal having an elastomeric construction, the seal including a base sleeve that surrounds the actuator button and the button port axis, the seal also including at least one sealing projection that projects radially outwardly from the base sleeve and that circumferentially surrounds the base sleeve and the button port axis, sealing projection having a projection base that is unitarily formed with the base sleeve, wherein the sealing projection is adapted to provide a radial seal with respect to the circumferential sealing surface of the button port defining portion of the enclosure housing.

40. The telecommunication enclosure of claim 39, wherein the at least one sealing projection includes at least two sealing projections that are axially spaced from one another along the sleeve axial length.

41. The telecommunication enclosure of claim 39, wherein the at least one sealing projection includes at least three sealing projections that are axially spaced from one another along the sleeve axial length.

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