Pull rod and alignment key for a fiber optic connector and adapter

Abstract

An optical connector holding one or more LC-type optical ferrules is provided. The optical connector includes an outer housing, pin keep, and two pins. One pin acts as a push/pull mechanism to release the connector from the adapter. The pin keep has two side clips with one of two side clips having an alignment key on a top surface. The alignment key engages a corresponding surface in the adapter housing to aid in polarity setting of the connector with the adapter. The adapter has a panel mounting clip that contains one or more latches that engage and retain the connector in the adapter housing. The panel clips and surfaces of the connector are constructed to reduce the overall size of the connector and adapter. The adapter has a plural of internal ribs forming one or more channels.

1 . An adapter comprising:
 an outer housing;   an opening at one end or both ends of the housing;   the two openings forming a longitudinal path through the connector housing allowing for two opposing fiber optic connectors to transmit a signal from a first connector to a second connector when the connectors are opposing each other;   a plural of ribs along one side of inner surface of adapter housing and a corresponding rib along an opposing inner side of adapter housing, and wherein   a first rib and a second rib along an inner surface form a fist channel for accepting a fiber optic connector.