Mechanical splcie protective sleeve for securing a splice area formed by splicing a plural of optical fibers

Abstract

A fiber optic connector is spliced to an optical fiber provided by a sheathed optical fiber and an optical fiber pigtail. The connector houses a protective sleeve that secures the splice area from damage due to movement of optical fibers during connecter use. The protective sleeve retains the sheathed optical fiber at a first end and secures the protective sleeve to a distal end of a ferrule flange assembly at a second end.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective sleeve for protecting a fiber splice point, comprising:
 a main body portion having an open channel on one side of the protective sleeve along a longitudinal axis of the sleeve;   a first end of the protective sleeve with a retention collar configured to secure a first optical fiber;   a second end further comprising a retention flange having a locking tab; and wherein   the locking tab secures the protective sleeve to a ferrule flange retention stub.   
     
     
         2 . The protective sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the protective sleeve has a chamfered guide surface for aiding in the insertion of the protective sleeve within a circumferential guide opening configured to connect the protective sleeve with a ferrule assembly within a first connector. 
     
     
         3 . The protective sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the first end further comprises a retention collar sized to secure a sheathed optical fiber containing the first optical fiber. 
     
     
         4 . The protective sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein a pigtail fiber of a ferrule is spliced to the first optical fiber of a sheathed optic fiber. 
     
     
         5 . The protective sheath of  claim 1 , wherein the ferrule flange retention stub further comprises a recess that accepts the locking tab to secure the protective sleeve to the ferrule flange retention stub. 
     
     
         6 . The protective sleeve of  claim 5 , wherein the ferrule flange retention stub is at a distal of a ferrule locking flange forming a ferrule flange assembly that is secured within a connector housing using the ferrule locking flange. 
     
     
         7 . The protective sleeve of  claim 5 , wherein the protective sleeve may be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the protective sleeve. 
     
     
         8 . The protective sleeve of  claim 6 , wherein a bias spring is positioned about the protective sleeve on a distal side of the ferrule locking flange, and further wherein the spring biases the ferrule flange assembly forward during use. 
     
     
         9 . The protective sleeve of  claim 5 , wherein the second end further comprises an inner stop face that stops the travel of the protective sleeve onto the ferrule flange retention stub so the locking tab will mate with the ferrule flange retention stub recess. 
     
     
         10 . A ferrule flange assembly, comprising:
 a ferrule locking flange for securing the ferrule flange assembly within a fiber optic connector housing;   a ferrule at a proximal end of the ferrule locking flange,   the ferrule has at least one optical fiber pigtail protruding from a distal end of the ferrule flange assembly;   an inner flange and a flange retention stub concentric with each other and forming a circumferential opening therebetween at the distal end of the ferrule locking flange;   the circumferential guide opening accepts a second end of a protective sleeve; and wherein   the protective sleeve protects a fiber splice section formed by splicing the optical fiber pigtail and an optical fiber provided from a first end of the protective sleeve.   
     
     
         11 . The ferrule flange assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the splice is formed using selected from at least one of heat, fusion, mechanical, or chemical.