Fiber optic connector holder and method

Abstract

A fiber optic connector holder is sized to fit within an opening for mounting a fiber optic adapter. The fiber optic connector holder is configured to permit a fiber optic connector with a dust cap positioned about a ferrule and a polished end face of an optical fiber held by the ferrule to be inserted within and releasably held by the connector holder. A system for holding fiber optic connectors includes a fiber optic connector holder mounted within an opening in a bulkhead for mounting a fiber optic adapter. The fiber optic connector holder is configured to receive a fiber optic connector with a dust cap mounted about a ferrule and polished end face of an optical fiber held by the ferrule. An optical fiber connector may be held to a bulkhead when the fiber optic connector includes a dust cap mounted about a ferrule and a polished end face of an optical fiber held by the ferrule.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An optical plug holder comprising:
 a body defining an interior accessible through a single opening, the single opening being sized to receive only a single optical plug connector, the body being configured to hold the single optical plug connector while a dust cap is mounted over a ferrule of the single optical plug connector.   
     
     
         3 . The optical plug holder of  claim 2 , wherein the body is configured to snap-fit to a panel. 
     
     
         4 . The optical plug holder of  claim 3 , wherein the body carries oppositely facing latching springs to mount the body to the panel. 
     
     
         5 . The optical plug holder of  claim 2 , wherein the body includes internal latch arms that snap-fit around the single optical plug connector when the single optical plug connector is received at the body. 
     
     
         6 . The optical plug holder of  claim 2 , wherein the body is sized so that a portion of the dust cap protrudes outwardly from the body. 
     
     
         7 . The optical plug holder of  claim 6 , wherein the portion of the dust cap is the distal portion covering an end face of the ferrule. 
     
     
         8 . The optical plug holder of  claim 2 , wherein the body includes:
 a main housing including a top, a bottom, a pair of opposing sides, and an open end sized to receive the optical plug connector and the dust cap; and   an inner housing disposed within the main housing and including a dust cap opening sized to receive the dust cap when the optical plug connector is received in the open end of the main housing.   
     
     
         9 . The optical plug holder of  claim 8 , wherein the inner housing includes at least one retaining clip which releasably latches onto the optical plug connector and releasably holds the optical plug connector within the open end of the main housing. 
     
     
         10 . A fiber optic assembly comprising:
 a panel defining an opening; and   a fiber optic connector holder mounted within the opening, the fiber optic connector holder defining a single opening sized to receive only a single optical plug connector, wherein the fiber optic connector holder is configured to retain the single optical plug connector while a dust cap is mounted over an optical end face of the single optical plug connector.   
     
     
         11 . The fiber optic assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the fiber optic connector holder is one of a plurality of fiber optic connector holders, and wherein each of the fiber optic connector holders is independently mounted within the opening. 
     
     
         12 . The fiber optic assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the opening is one of a plurality of openings defined in the panel, wherein the fiber optic connector holder is one of a plurality of fiber optic connector holders, and wherein each of the fiber optic connector holders is independently mounted within a respective one of the openings. 
     
     
         13 . The fiber optic assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the fiber optic connector holder is configured to snap-fit to the panel at the opening. 
     
     
         14 . The fiber optic assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the fiber optic connector holder carries oppositely facing latching springs to mount the fiber optic connector holder to the panel. 
     
     
         15 . The fiber optic assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the fiber optic connector holder includes internal latch arms that snap-fit around the single optical plug connector when the single optical plug connector is received at the fiber optic connector holder. 
     
     
         16 . The fiber optic assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the fiber optic connector holder is sized so that a portion of the dust cap protrudes outwardly from the fiber optic connector holder. 
     
     
         17 . The fiber optic assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the portion of the dust cap is the distal portion covering an end face of the ferrule. 
     
     
         18 . The fiber optic assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the fiber optic connector holder includes:
 a main housing including a top, a bottom, a pair of opposing sides, and an open end sized to receive the optical plug connector and the dust cap; and   an inner housing disposed within the main housing and including a dust cap opening sized to receive the dust cap when the optical plug connector is received in the open end of the main housing.   
     
     
         19 . The fiber optic assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the inner housing includes at least one retaining clip which releasably latches onto the optical plug connector and releasably holds the optical plug connector within the open end of the main housing. 
     
     
         20 . A method of storing optical plug connectors comprising:
 inserting a dust cap covered optical end face of one optical plug connector into a cavity of a connector holder, wherein the connector holder is sized to receive no more than the one optical plug connector.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising inserting a dust cap covered optical end face of another optical plug connector into a separate connector holder.