Fiber optic receptacle and plug assemblies

Abstract

A fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly includes a receptacle adapted to be mounted within a wall of an enclosure and a plug mounted upon a fiber optic cable. The receptacle and the plug are provided with mating keys that permit the receptacle to receive only a plug of like ferrule configuration. The plug includes an adapter sleeve operable for receiving and optically connecting at least one plug ferrule and at least one receptacle ferrule when the plug is inserted into the receptacle. The receptacle is configured for use in a small volume enclosure requiring a minimal receptacle penetration depth. The receptacle is provided with a shoulder that engages the interior surface of the wall of the enclosure to provide strain relief against tensile pulling forces of up to about 600 lb/ft. The receptacle is provided with a dust cap and the plug is provided with a dust/pulling cap.

1 . A fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly, comprising: 
 a receptacle adapted to be mounted within a wall of an enclosure, the receptacle comprising a ferrule retainer and at least one receptacle ferrule; and    a plug mounted upon an end of a fiber optic cable, the plug comprising an adapter sleeve and at least one plug ferrule disposed within the adapter sleeve for mating with the receptacle ferrule when the plug is inserted into the receptacle;    wherein the receptacle and the plug are keyed to permit the receptacle ferrule and the plug ferrule to be mated in only one orientation.    
   
   
       2 . The fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one receptacle ferrule comprises a pair of single-fiber, small form factor ferrules and the at least one plug ferrule comprises a pair of single-fiber, small form factor ferrules of like configuration.  
   
   
       3 . The fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly of  claim 1 , wherein one of the receptacle and the plug comprises a key for radial alignment of the at least one receptacle ferrule relative to the at least one plug ferrule.  
   
   
       4 . The fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plug further comprises an inner housing for receiving and strain relieving a fiber optic cable having at least one optical fiber and an outer housing disposed about the inner housing.  
   
   
       5 . The fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle comprises a shoulder adapted to engage an interior surface of the wall of the enclosure to provide stain relief against tensile forces of up to about 600 lb/ft when the plug is secured to the receptacle.  
   
   
       6 . The fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle comprises a receptacle boot that permits the receptacle to be installed in a breathable enclosure.  
   
   
       7 . The fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plug further comprises an overmolded boot operable for sealing between the plug and a fiber optic cable.  
   
   
       8 . The fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plug is secured to the receptacle by one of a threaded coupling nut, a bayonet-style connection and a push-pull mechanism.  
   
   
       9 . The fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the fiber optic cable is one of a branch cable, a distribution cable, an extended distribution cable, a flat dielectric drop cable, a figure-eight drop cable and an armored drop cable.  
   
   
       10 . The fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one receptacle female and the at least one plug ferrule are selected from the group consisting of SC, LC, MTRJ, MTP, SC-DC connector type ferrules.  
   
   
       11 . A fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly, comprising: 
 a receptacle adapted to be mounted within a wall of an enclosure, the receptacle comprising at least one receptacle ferrule for engaging at least one plug ferrule of like configuration when a corresponding plug is inserted into the receptacle, the receptacle further comprising:    a receptacle housing defining an internal cavity opening through opposed first and second ends, the internal cavity operable for receiving the at least one plug ferrule through the first end of the receptacle housing and the at least one receptacle ferrule through the second end of the receptacle housing, the receptacle housing defining a radially extending shoulder for engaging an interior surface of the wall of the enclosure; and    a ferrule retainer for positioning the at least one receptacle ferrule within the opening in the second end of the receptacle housing.    
   
   
       12 . The fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the receptacle housing has a peripheral groove medially disposed between the first and second ends for receiving a seal.  
   
   
       13 . The fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the receptacle housing comprises a feature for cooperating with a corresponding feature provided on the ferrule retainer for securing the ferrule retainer to the receptacle housing in a predetermined orientation.  
   
   
       14 . The fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a biasing means disposed between the receptacle housing and the ferrule retainer such that the at least one receptacle ferrule is biased in the direction of the first end of the receptacle housing.  
   
   
       15 . The fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the shoulder is adapted to engage an interior surface of the wall of the enclosure to provide strain relief against tensile forces of up to about 600 lb/ft when the plug is secured to the receptacle.  
   
   
       16 . A fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly, comprising: 
 a plug adapted for optically connecting at least one plug ferrule mounted upon an optical fiber of a fiber optic cable to at least one receptacle ferrule of like configuration mounted upon an optical fiber disposed in a receptacle within an enclosure when the plug is inserted into the receptacle, the plug further comprising:    an outer housing defining an opening extending between first and second ends of the outer housing;    an inner housing disposed within the outer housing; and    an adapter sleeve for receiving the at least one plug ferrule disposed within the outer housing adjacent the inner housing.    
   
   
       17 . The fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising a coupling nut for securing the plug to the receptacle with the at least one plug ferrule in a predetermined orientation relative to the at least one receptacle ferrule.  
   
   
       18 . The fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the outer housing comprises a key for aligning the at least one plug ferrule in a predetermined orientation relative to the at least one receptacle ferrule.  
   
   
       19 . The fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the fiber optic cable is one of a branch cable, a distribution cable, an extended distribution cable, a flat dielectric drop cable, a figure-eight drop cable and an armored drop cable.  
   
   
       20 . The fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one receptacle ferrule and the at least one plug ferrule are selected from the group consisting of SC, LC, MTRJ, MTP, SC-DC connector type ferrules.