Fiber optic connector with fiber end protection

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a fiber optic connector including a connector body having a front end and a rear end. A shutter is mounted at the front end of the connector body. The shutter is moveable relative to the connector body between an open position and a closed position. The fiber optic connector includes an optical fiber having an end face that is accessible at the front end of the connector body when the shutter is in the open position. The fiber optic connector also includes a cleaning material provided at an inner side of the shutter that covers the end face of the optical fiber when the shutter is in the closed position.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A fiber optic connector comprising:
 an optical fiber having an end face;   a plug connector extending between first and second ends, the plug connector being ferrule-less, the first end of the plug connector receiving the optical fiber, and the second end of the plug connector providing access to the end face of the optical fiber;   a cover mounted at the plug connector, the cover extending across the second end of the plug connector to cover the end face of the optical fiber, the cover defining an inner surface facing the end face of the optical fiber when the cover extends across the second end of the plug connector; and   a cleaning material disposed at the inner surface of the cover such that the end face of the optical fiber is embedded in the cleaning material when the cover extends across the second end of the plug connector.   
     
     
         3 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 2 , wherein the cleaning material provides infrared protection by inhibiting light emerging from the end face of the optical fiber from passing through the cover. 
     
     
         4 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 2 , wherein the cleaning material is a gel material. 
     
     
         5 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 4 , wherein the gel has an adhesive force of at least 500N. 
     
     
         6 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 4 , wherein the gel has a tack time of less than 0.5 seconds. 
     
     
         7 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 4 , wherein a compressive load remains on the optical fiber when the end face of the optical fiber is embedded within the gel. 
     
     
         8 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 4 , wherein the gel includes fumed silica nanoparticles. 
     
     
         9 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 4 , wherein the gel has non-stick adhesive properties. 
     
     
         10 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 4 , wherein the cleaning material also includes a fiber scaffold overlaying the gel. 
     
     
         11 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 10 , wherein the fiber scaffold includes electrospun fibers. 
     
     
         12 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 2 , wherein a compressive load remains on the optical fiber when the end face of the optical fiber is embedded within the cleaning material. 
     
     
         13 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 2 , wherein the cleaning material is recoverable. 
     
     
         14 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 2 , wherein the plug connector defines a buckling region in which a portion of the optical fiber buckles when the end face is embedded in the cleaning material. 
     
     
         15 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 2 , wherein the cover is movable relative to the plug connector between a first position and a second position, the cover extending across the second end of the plug connector when in the first position, and the cover unblocking the second end of the plug connector when in the second position. 
     
     
         16 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 15 , wherein the cover is pivotable relative to the second end of the plug connector between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         17 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 15 , wherein the cover includes a lever portion by which the cover is moved from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         18 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 2 , wherein the cover is a shutter. 
     
     
         19 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 2 , wherein the plug connector includes a latch configured to hold the plug connector at an adapter in which at least a portion of the plug connector is inserted. 
     
     
         20 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 2 , wherein the latch is a resilient, cantilever style latch. 
     
     
         21 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 2 , wherein the cover defines a receptacle at the inner surface, the cleaning material being contained within the receptacle.