The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 16, 1980
Filed:
Dec. 04, 1978
Mark L Dakss, Sudbury, MA (US);
George J Meslener, Acton, MA (US);
Samuel M Stone, Lynnfield, MA (US);
GTE Laboratories Incorporated, Waltham, MA (US);
Abstract
One optical fiber is coupled to another by apparatus which includes a connector plug for each fiber, with the fibers supported within their respective plug. The plugs each have a main cylindrical surface, and a shoulder with a non-cylindrical configuration. Two sleeves are provided, each having a longitudinal eccentric hole therethrough large enough so that the main cylindrical surface of the respective plug can rotatably fit therethrough. A first means supports one sleeve for rotational movement about a first axis, while a second means supports the other sleeve for rotational movement about a second axis. The two axes are parallel to, but not colinear with, each other. Two female means are provided, associated with their respective support means, for receiving the respective shoulders and for preventing significant rotation of their respective connector plug. The two support means can include a common V-block, and a shim located on one-half of one side of the V-block. The non-cylindrical configuration of the shoulders can include a shape having a pair of flat, parallel surfaces separated by a fixed distance, and the female means can include respective slotted means, associated with respective support means, for receiving the flat surfaces of the respective plugs. Alternatively, the two sleeves can have different diameters, so that a single V-block can be used without a shim.