Multi-fiber connector for use with ribbon fiber optic cable

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a multi-fiber fiber optic connector having a connector body, a multi-fiber ferrule supported at a distal end of the connector body, a spring for biasing the multi-fiber ferrule in a distal direction and a spring push retaining the spring and the ferrule within the connector body. The spring push including oppositely positioned spring support shelves that provide spring seating and provide spring stability during side loading.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A multi-fiber optical connector comprising:
 a connector body having a first distal end and a first proximal end defining a longitudinal axis;   a ferrule assembly comprising:
 a multi-fiber ferrule disposed at least partially within the connector body and having an end face accessible at the first distal end of the connector body, the multi-fiber ferrule defining a plurality of fiber openings for supporting ends of optical fibers; 
 a spring biasing the multi-fiber ferrule in a distal direction relative to the connector body; and 
   a spring push coupled to the first proximal end of the connector body and capturing the ferrule assembly within the connector body, the spring push comprising:
 a second distal end and a second proximal end extending along the longitudinal axis; 
 a pair of latch arms at the second distal end having opposing inner surfaces; and 
 a spring seat axially supporting the spring, wherein the inner surfaces of the pair of latch arms and the spring seat at least partially define a spring pocket that at least partially receives the spring, and wherein the spring pocket has a width in a minor dimension, orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, that reduces in size in a tapered configuration as the pair of latch arms extend axially from the second distal end of the spring push towards the spring seat. 
   
     
     
         3 . The multi-fiber optical connector of  claim 2 , wherein the spring pocket has a length in a major dimension that reduces in size in a tapered configuration as the pair of latch arms extend axially from the second distal end of the spring push towards the spring seat. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-fiber optical connector of  claim 3 , wherein the opposing inner surfaces of the pair of latch arms define a taper angle that is greater than 8.4° relative to the length in the major dimension. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-fiber optical connector of  claim 2 , wherein a width dimension W 1  of the spring pocket adjacent the second distal end of the spring push is larger than a width dimension W 2  of the spring pocket adjacent the spring seat. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-fiber optical connector of  claim 2 , wherein the inner surfaces of the pair of latch arms are rounded. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-fiber optical connector of  claim 2 , wherein the inner surfaces of the pair of latch arms directly contact the spring proximate the spring seat. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-fiber optical connector of  claim 7 , wherein a proximal end of the spring at least partially secures to the spring push via a compression engagement. 
     
     
         9 . The multi-fiber optical connector of  claim 2 , wherein the spring push further includes a fiber passage that extends from the spring seat to the second proximal end of the spring push, the fiber passage having a necked portion at least partially defining the spring seat and an enlarged portion. 
     
     
         10 . The multi-fiber optical connector of  claim 9 , wherein a transition between the necked portion and the enlarged portion includes curved surfaces. 
     
     
         11 . The multi-fiber optical connector of  claim 9 , wherein the necked portion includes notched portions aligned with a major dimension of the fiber passage. 
     
     
         12 . A multi-fiber optical connector comprising:
 a connector body having a first distal end and a first proximal end defining a longitudinal axis;   a ferrule assembly comprising:
 a multi-fiber ferrule disposed at least partially within the connector body and having an end face accessible at the first distal end of the connector body, the multi-fiber ferrule defining a plurality of fiber openings for supporting ends of optical fibers; 
 a spring biasing the multi-fiber ferrule in a distal direction relative to the connector body; and 
   a spring push coupled to the first proximal end of the connector body and capturing the ferrule assembly within the connector body, the spring push comprising:
 a second distal end and a second proximal end extending along the longitudinal axis; 
 a pair of latch arms at the second distal end having outer latching tabs configured to secure the spring push to the connector body, the pair of latch arms also having opposing inner surfaces; and 
 a spring seat axially supporting the spring, wherein the inner surfaces of the pair of latch arms and the spring seat at least partially define a spring pocket that at least partially receives the spring, and wherein the spring pocket has a spring pocket transverse cross-sectional profile relative to the longitudinal axis with a major dimension P 1  oriented perpendicular relative to a minor dimension P 2 , the major dimension P 1  and the minor dimension P 2  being greater at the second distal end of the spring push than at the spring seat such that the spring pocket has a tapered configuration. 
   
     
     
         13 . The multi-fiber optical connector of  claim 12 , wherein the major dimension P 1  and the minor dimension P 2  have a consistent linear taper in a proximal direction of the spring push. 
     
     
         14 . The multi-fiber optical connector of  claim 12 , wherein the major dimension P 1  has a different taper angle than the minor dimension P 2 . 
     
     
         15 . The multi-fiber optical connector of  claim 12 , wherein the inner surfaces of the pair of latch arms are rounded. 
     
     
         16 . The multi-fiber optical connector of  claim 12 , wherein the spring seat defines a fiber passage, the fiber passage having notched portions in a minor dimension wall of the fiber passage. 
     
     
         17 . A multi-fiber optical connector comprising:
 a connector body having a distal end and a proximal end;   a multi-fiber ferrule having an end face accessible at the distal end of the connector body, the multi-fiber ferrule having a ferrule transverse cross-sectional profile having a major dimension F 1  oriented perpendicular relative to a minor dimension F 2 , the multi-fiber ferrule defining a row of fiber openings for supporting optical fibers, the row of fiber openings extending along the major dimension F 1 ;   a spring for biasing the multi-fiber ferrule in a distal direction relative to the connector body, the spring having a spring transverse cross-sectional profile having a major dimension S 1  parallel to the major dimension F 1  and a minor dimension S 2  parallel to the minor dimension F 2 , the spring transverse cross-sectional profile having rounded ends separated by the major dimension S 1 ;   a spring push for capturing the spring and the multi-fiber ferrule within the connector body, the spring push having a distal end and a proximal end, the spring push including latch arms at the distal end for securing the spring push at least partially within the proximal end of the connector body, the spring push defining a spring pocket between the latch arms for receiving a proximal end of the spring, the spring pocket having a pocket transverse cross-sectional profile having a major dimension P 1  parallel to the major dimension S 1  and a minor dimension P 2  parallel to the minor dimension S 2 , the pocket transverse cross-sectional profile having rounded ends separated by the major dimension P 1  that receive the rounded ends of the spring transverse cross-sectional profile, the spring push including a spring seat for supporting the proximal end of the spring, the major dimension P 1  and the minor dimension P 2  having a tapered configuration in a proximal direction from the distal end of the spring push towards the spring seat, the spring push defining a fiber passage extending from the spring seat to the proximal end of the spring push, the fiber passage having a passage transverse cross-sectional profile adjacent the proximal end of the spring seat which defines a major dimension parallel to the major dimension P 1  and a minor dimension parallel to the minor dimension P 2 ; and   a connector boot that mounts at the proximal end of the spring push.   
     
     
         18 . The multi-fiber optical connector of  claim 17 , wherein the major dimension P 1  of the spring pocket is greater at the distal end of the spring push than at the spring seat. 
     
     
         19 . The multi-fiber optical connector of  claim 17 , wherein the minor dimension P 2  of the spring pocket is greater at the distal end of the spring push than at the spring seat. 
     
     
         20 . The multi-fiber optical connector of  claim 17 , wherein the spring seat includes spring support shelves positioned adjacent the rounded ends of the pocket transverse cross-sectional profile. 
     
     
         21 . The multi-fiber optical connector of  claim 20 , wherein the spring support shelves define notches aligned along the major dimension P 1 .