US 12,326,597 B2
Dust plug for adapter pre-populated with MPO housing
Jason Higley, Hickory, NC (US); Mitchell Cloud, 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 Dec. 20, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/390,746.
Application 18/390,746 is a continuation of application No. 17/231,829, filed on Apr. 15, 2021, granted, now 11,860,426.
Application 17/231,829 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/227,750, filed on Apr. 12, 2021, granted, now 11,474,307.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/075,335, filed on Sep. 8, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/010,216, filed on Apr. 15, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0118499 A1, Apr. 11, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G02B 6/00 (2006.01); G02B 6/38 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/3849 (2013.01) [G02B 6/3825 (2013.01); G02B 6/3831 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An adapter panel for managing interconnections, the adapter panel including a plurality of adapters, each of the plurality of adapters comprising:
a first side with a first opening to receive an MPO fiber optic connector or an MPO dust plug when the MPO fiber optic connector is not present on the first side; and
a second side with a connector housing attached thereto and pre-installed into a respective adapter of the plurality of adapters, the connector housing having an inner surface, wherein the first side and the second side are on opposite sides of the adapter panel,
wherein the second side includes a dust plug attached to the connector housing and having a main body with a top wall, a bottom wall, two opposing side walls disposed between the top wall and bottom wall, and at least one pair of latches in a front portion of the main body to engage the inner surface of the connector housing when the dust plug is inserted into the connector housing, and wherein the connector housing has a slidable sleeve that remains attached to the adapter but is movable longitudinally.