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:
Mar. 19, 2002
Filed:
Nov. 14, 2000
Michael Roehrs, Dallas, TX (US);
Kerry W. Whitaker, Plano, TX (US);
Daniel Roehrs, McKinney, TX (US);
Fiber Systems International, Richardson, TX (US);
Abstract
A fiber optic cable connector ( ) is provided for connecting the terminal ends ( ) of optical fibers ( ) of fiber optic cables. The terminal ends ( ) of the optical fibers ( ) are mounted within termini ( ) which are aligned for transmitting light signals therebetween. The connector ( ) includes a housing ( ) having bores ( ) within which the termini ( ) are mounted in a gimbaled arrangement, with gimbal points ( ) being disposed distally from respective mating planes ( ) between opposing terminal ends ( ) of the termini ( ) such that the termini ( ) are pivotally moveable about the gimbal points ( ). Floating seal assemblies ( ) extend around respective ones of the termini ( ) between the mating planes ( ) and the gimbal points ( ), and seal between the respective ones of the termini ( ) and the bores ( ) of the connector housing ( ). The floating seal assemblies ( ) each include an annular-shaped, floating collar ( ) having an aperture ( ) through which a respective one of the termini ( ) extends. The termini ( ) are free to move within respective ones of the apertures ( ) of the floating collars ( ), transverse to the longitudinal axes ( ) of respective ones of the termini ( ). The floating collars ( ) each include a seal surface ( ), which is preferably cylindrical and faces exteriorly of the collar ( ), and a seal face ( ), which preferably extends transverse to the longitudinal axis ( ) of the respective termini ( ). First seal elements ( ) sealingly engage between the cylindrically-shaped seal surfaces ( ) of the floating collars ( ) and the bores ( ) of the housing ( ) of the connector ( ). Second seal elements ( ) seal between respective ones of the seal faces ( ) of the floating collars ( ) and shoulders ( ) of the respective termini ( ).