Multi-fiber fiber optic connector

Abstract

A fiber optic cable assembly includes a fiber optic cable and a fiber optic connector. The cable includes a jacket having an elongated transverse cross-sectional profile that defines a major axis and a minor axis. Strength components of the cable are anchored to the connector. The fiber optic connector includes a multi-fiber ferrule defining a major axis that is generally perpendicular to the major axis of the jacket and a minor axis that is generally perpendicular to the minor axis of the jacket. Certain types of connectors include a connector body defining a side opening that extends along a length of the connector body; a multi-fiber ferrule configured for lateral insertion into the connector body through the side opening; and a cover that mounts over the side opening after the multi-fiber ferrule has been inserted into the connector body through the side opening.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A fiber optic connector comprising:
 a connector body having a length that extends along an axis of the connector body, the connector body including front and rear ends separated by the length of the connector body, the connector body also defining a side opening that extends along the length of the connector body;   a multi-fiber ferrule that mounts at the front end of the connector body, the side opening being arranged and configured for allowing the multi-fiber ferrule to be inserted laterally into the connector body through the side opening; and   a cover that mounts over the side opening after the multi-fiber ferrule has been inserted into the connector body through the side opening.   
     
     
         3 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 2 , wherein the fiber optic connector is part of a hardened, environmentally sealed fiber optic connector arrangement. 
     
     
         4 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 3 , wherein the fiber optic connector arrangement is configured to interface with a second fiber optic cable assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 4 , the fiber optic connector arrangement is configured to couple to a fiber optic adapter to enable connection to the fiber optic connector of the second fiber optic cable assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 2 , wherein the fiber optic connector is suitable for terminating a multi-fiber cable, wherein a fiber strain relief boot mounts at a back side of the multi-fiber ferrule, wherein connector body has a forward section and a rearward section, wherein the forward portion defines an interior in which a rear portion of the multi-fiber ferrule is disposed, wherein a spring also is disposed in the connector interior, and wherein the spring biases the multi-fiber ferrule in a forward direction through the first end of the connector body. 
     
     
         7 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 6 , wherein the rearward portion defines at least one strength component chamber and a fiber passage. 
     
     
         8 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 2 , wherein the side opening extends along the length of the connector body for at least  50  percent or at least  75  percent of the length of the connector body. 
     
     
         9 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 8 , wherein the lateral access is provided along the length of the connector body from directly behind a front end plate at the front end to the rear end of the connector body. 
     
     
         10 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 9 , wherein the multi-fiber ferrule extends through a through-opening in the front end plate of the connector body, wherein the through-opening has a generally rectangular shape having opposing major sides and opposing minor sides, wherein the ferrule defines rear shoulders that are sized and shaped to abut interior shoulders at the minor sides of the front plate to inhibit removal of the ferrule from the body, and wherein the ferrule is installed in the connector body by sliding the ferrule laterally through the side opening of the connector body and sliding the ferrule forwardly through the through-opening in the front plate. 
     
     
         11 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 3 , wherein the multi-fiber ferrule is a spring-biased ferrule, wherein a metal reinforcing sleeve mounts over a rear portion of the connector body, wherein the metal reinforcing sleeve includes a main sleeve body and a lip that projects radially outwardly from the main sleeve body, and wherein the lip has a rearwardly facing surface. 
     
     
         12 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 11 , wherein an outermost sleeve mounts over the metal reinforcing sleeve, wherein the outermost sleeve includes an internal shoulder having a forwardly facing surface that abuts the rearwardly facing surface of the lip to limit rearward movement of the reinforcing sleeve relative to the outermost sleeve, wherein the outermost sleeve defines keying features that mate with corresponding keying features of the connector body to ensure proper rotational alignment before the parts when the parts are assembled together, wherein the connector body and the outermost sleeve have a molded plastic construction, wherein an external seal mounts about the outermost sleeve, and wherein the seal provides protection against water, dust, or other contaminants when the hardened connector arrangement is mated with another component. 
     
     
         13 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 12 , further comprising a front end piece mounts at the front end of the connector body and connects to the outermost sleeve such that the outermost sleeve and the front end piece are secured in place relative to the connector body. 
     
     
         14 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 13 , wherein the connector body is captured between the front end piece and the outermost sleeve. 
     
     
         15 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 14 , wherein the front end piece snap-fits to the outermost sleeve. 
     
     
         16 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 14 , wherein keying features of the front end piece align with keying features of the outermost sleeve to ensure rotational alignment thereinbetween, and wherein the front end piece defines a through-opening through which a ferrule of the connector passes. 
     
     
         17 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 2 , wherein the multi-fiber ferrule has a width and a height, wherein the multi-fiber ferrule supports ends of a plurality of optical fiber portions in openings aligned along a line that extends along the width of the multi-fiber ferrule, and wherein the side opening in the connector body has a maximum cross-dimension CD that is smaller than a width W of the multi-fiber ferrule. 
     
     
         18 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 17 , wherein when assembled, the ferrule is oriented so that the width extends along a major axis of a front end piece of the fiber optic connector. 
     
     
         19 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 3 , further comprising a fastener that mounts over an outermost sleeve of the fiber optic connector for securing the fiber optic connector to another hardened fiber optic connector or to a hardened port of a fiber optic adapter.