Connector Housing for Securing an Optical Cable and Methods of Use and Manufacture Thereof

Abstract

Various connector housings for securing an optical cable, as well as methods of use and manufacture thereof are disclosed. A single-piece unitary connector housing body may include a first opening formed in a first end of the housing body, a second opening formed in a second end of the housing body, a bore through the housing body extending from the first opening to the second opening, and a back post surrounding the second opening. The first opening may be configured to receive a terminating optical cable and the second opening may be configured to receive a fiber optic cable. The back post may extend from the second opening in a longitudinal direction and may include a plurality of protrusions thereon. A length of the back post may have a concave shape.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A connector housing body comprising:
 a first opening formed in a first end of the housing body, wherein the first opening is configured to receive a terminating optical cable;   a second opening formed in a second end of the housing body, wherein the second opening is configured to receive a fiber optic cable;   a bore through the housing body extending from the first opening to the second opening; and   a back post surrounding the second opening, wherein the back post extends from the second opening in a longitudinal direction and comprises a plurality of protrusions thereon, and wherein a length of the back post has a concave shape,   wherein the connector housing is a single-piece unitary housing.   
     
     
         2 . The connector housing body of  claim 1 , wherein the connector housing body is comprised of a polymeric material. 
     
     
         3 . The connector housing body of  claim 1 , wherein the back post is configured to receive a crimp sleeve and at least one reinforcement fiber such that, when a crimping pressure is applied to the crimp sleeve, the crimp sleeve and the at least one reinforcement fiber are affixed to the back post. 
     
     
         4 . The connector housing body of  claim 3 , wherein the back post is configured to receive the crimp sleeve such that the crimp sleeve covers about ⅔ of the length of the back post. 
     
     
         5 . The connector housing body of  claim 3 , wherein the concave shape of the back post is configured to provide a crimping area for the crimp sleeve such that the crimp sleeve and the at least one reinforcement fiber are affixed to the back post without damaging the connector housing. 
     
     
         6 . The connector housing body of  claim 1 , wherein the concave shape of the back post causes a crimping sleeve, upon compression against the back post, to prevent removal of the fiber optic cable from the second opening. 
     
     
         7 . The connector housing body of  claim 1 , wherein the concave shape of the back post causes a crimping sleeve, upon compression against the back post, to increase a pulling strength on the fiber optic cable. 
     
     
         8 . The connector housing body of  claim 1 , wherein the first opening comprises a ferrule disposed within the first opening, wherein the ferrule is configured to securely receive the terminating optical cable. 
     
     
         9 . The connector housing body of  claim 8 , further comprising a spring that is configured to provide a forward biasing force on the ferrule. 
     
     
         10 . The connector housing body of  claim 8 , further comprising a flange disposed around the ferrule, wherein the flange is configured to provide a means for securing the terminating optical cable. 
     
     
         11 . The connector housing body of  claim 8 , further comprising a ferrule flange tube disposed in the bore, wherein the ferrule flange tube is configured to guide an optical fiber portion of the fiber optic cable to the ferrule. 
     
     
         12 . A method of forming a connector, the method comprising:
 providing a single-piece unitary housing body;   forming a first opening in a first end of the housing body;   forming a second opening in a second end of the housing body;   forming a bore through the housing body extending from the first opening to the second opening; and   forming a back post surrounding the second opening and extending in a longitudinal direction from the second opening such that a length of the back post comprises a concave shape and a plurality of protrusions thereon.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the housing body is comprised of a polymeric material. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising forming a ferrule disposed within the first opening. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising forming a flange on the ferrule, wherein the flange is configured to secure a terminating optical cable on the ferrule. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising providing a spring, wherein the spring is configured to provide a forward biasing force on the ferrule. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising providing a ferrule flange tube in the bore, wherein the ferrule flange tube is configured to guide an optical fiber from the back post to the ferrule. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein providing the single-piece unitary housing body comprises injection molding the single-piece unitary housing body or 3D printing the single-piece unitary housing body. 
     
     
         19 . A method of securing a terminating optical cable to a fiber optic cable, the method comprising:
 providing a connector housing body comprising a first opening formed in a first end of the housing body, a second opening formed in a second end of the housing body, a bore through the housing body extending from the first opening to the second opening, and a back post surrounding the second opening, wherein the back post extends from the second opening in a longitudinal direction and comprises a plurality of protrusions thereon, and wherein a length of the back post having a concave shape;   attaching a terminating optical cable to the first opening;   placing a fiber optic cable adjacent to the back post such that an optical fiber portion of the fiber optic cable is inserted in the second opening and a jacket portion of the fiber optic cable contacts an end portion of the back post;   placing at least one reinforcement fiber such that the reinforcement fiber extends over at least a portion of the jacket portion of the fiber optic cable and the back post;   placing a crimp sleeve around the reinforcement fiber, the jacket portion of the fiber optic cable, and the back post; and   applying a crimping pressure to the crimp sleeve such that the crimp sleeve and the reinforcement fiber are affixed to the back post and the fiber optic cable, thereby securing the fiber optic cable to the housing body,   wherein the concave shape of the back post prevents removal of the fiber optic cable from the housing body.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein applying the crimping pressure comprises applying crimping pressure in a central region of the back post to form a tapered shape crimping sleeve.