Snap lock connector for optical fiber systems

Abstract

A snap lock connector particularly well suited to optical fiber systems, is composed generally of a receptacle body having a socket and a plug body having a number of collet fingers. A first fiber optic cable is connected to a first ceramic terminus having a first face inside the socket. A second fiber optic cable is connected to a second ceramic terminus having a second face inside the collet fingers. The first ceramic terminus is fixedly connected to the receptacle body in axial alignment therewith; and the second ceramic terminus is resiliently biased with respect to the plug body in axial alignment therewith. The exterior of the receptacle body has a circumscribed groove for engaging the tips of the collet fingers. The plug body has a locking sleeve slidably mounted thereon for being selectively slid over the collet fingers. In operation, a user presses together the receptacle and plug bodies until the first and second faces abut and the collet fingers resiliently return to their relaxed state as the tips thereof enter into the groove. At this point, the tips of the collet fingers are tending to exit the groove due to the resilient biasing of the fiber optic cables which is tending to separate the plug and receptacle bodies from each other. The user slides the locking sleeve toward its forward position, whereupon the collet fingers are compressed toward each other so as to retain the tips in the groove. This sliding movement of the locking sleeve over the collet fingers is of a highly frictional nature, resulting in an audible snapping sound.