US 11,988,879 B2
Stepped ferrule seating in an MTP inner housing
Jillcha F. Wakjira, Hickory, NC (US); and Darrell R. Childers, Hickory, NC (US)
Assigned to US Conec Ltd., Hickory, NC (US)
Filed by US Conec Ltd., Hickory, NC (US)
Filed on Sep. 4, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/460,654.
Application 18/460,654 is a continuation of application No. 17/402,472, filed on Aug. 13, 2021, granted, now 11,768,336.
Application 17/402,472 is a continuation of application No. 16/680,107, filed on Nov. 11, 2019, granted, now 11,092,757, issued on Aug. 17, 2021.
Application 16/680,107 is a continuation of application No. 15/811,653, filed on Nov. 13, 2017, granted, now 10,473,865, issued on Nov. 12, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/421,354, filed on Nov. 13, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2023/0408775 A1, Dec. 21, 2023
Int. Cl. G02B 6/38 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/3869 (2013.01) [G02B 6/381 (2013.01); G02B 6/3833 (2013.01); G02B 6/3873 (2013.01); G02B 6/3885 (2013.01); G02B 6/3897 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A multi-fiber fiber optic connector, comprising:
a housing having a front end and a rear end, and an opening between the front end and the rear end along a longitudinal axis, the opening surrounded by an interior surface of the housing,
wherein the housing has a shape defined by a pair of long sides joined by a pair of short sides to form the opening therewithin, and
wherein the interior surface includes a step extending respectively from each of the pair of long sides into the opening; and
a multi-fiber ferrule having at least one pair of oppositely placed shoulders on a rear portion and on a pair of long sides of the multi-fiber ferrule, the multi-fiber ferrule configured to receive a plurality of optical fibers terminated at an end face of the multi-fiber ferrule, the multi-fiber ferrule also having a pair of short sides joining the pair of long sides of the multi-fiber ferrule,
wherein the at least one pair of oppositely placed shoulders include a forward facing surface to engage the step on the each of the pair of long sides of the housing when the multi-fiber ferrule is inserted in the opening of the housing,
wherein there is a clearance between at least one of the pair of short sides of the multi-fiber ferrule and the interior surface of the housing in an unmated configuration of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector, the clearance extending between the front end and the rear end of the housing all along a length of the multi-fiber ferrule on the at least one of the pair of short sides of the multi-fiber ferrule and at least one of the short sides of the housing, the clearance lying within the opening.