US 11,971,583 B2
Secure MT ferrule latching with MPO adapter
Hiep V. Nguyen, Fort Mill, SC (US); Darrell R. Childers, Hickory, NC (US); and Shelly Ann Buchter, Hickory, NC (US)
Assigned to US Conec Ltd., Hickory, NC (US)
Filed by US Conec, Ltd, Hickory, NC (US)
Filed on Jan. 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/582,463.
Application 17/582,463 is a continuation of application No. 16/721,795, filed on Dec. 19, 2019, granted, now 11,237,339.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/782,670, filed on Dec. 20, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0146757 A1, May 12, 2022
Int. Cl. G02B 6/38 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/3825 (2013.01) [G02B 6/3831 (2013.01); G02B 6/3882 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An adapter configured to secure a first multi-fiber ferrule in position to mate with a second multi-fiber ferrule in a fiber optic connector inserted into the adapter, the adapter comprising:
an adapter body configured to removably receive the first multi-fiber ferrule on a first side and the fiber-optic connector on a second side opposite the first side of the adapter body, the first side having a first opening sized for the first multi-fiber ferrule and the second side having a second opening sized for the fiber-optic connector and in communication with the first opening, the first side and the second side being on opposite sides of a mating plane lying within the adapter at which the first multi-fiber ferrule mates with the second multi-fiber ferrule of the fiber optic connector; and
a pair of latches connected to an outer surface of the adapter body adjacent two opposing edges of the first opening to engage and hold the first multi-fiber ferrule in the adapter at least partially between the pair of latches, the pair of latches extending in a direction away from the first opening and the second opening, each of the pair of latches having an exterior surface, each of the exterior surfaces facing away from one another and having at least two portions, each of the at least two portions not being in the same plane, and wherein the pair of latches are positioned along respective longer edges of the first opening.