US 12,147,081 B2
Fiber optic connector with epoxy tube with axial float
Steven Conrad Zimmel, Minneapolis, MN (US); and Gregory J. Schaible, Lakeville, MN (US)
Assigned to CommScope Technologies LLC, Hickory, NC (US)
Appl. No. 17/627,549
Filed by COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC, Hickory, NC (US)
PCT Filed Jul. 15, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/042135
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 14, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/011651, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 21, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/875,342, filed on Jul. 17, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0260788 A1, Aug. 18, 2022
Int. Cl. G02B 6/38 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/38875 (2021.05) [G02B 6/3871 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fiber optic connector assembly, comprising:
a ferrule assembly including a ferrule and a hub, the ferrule having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end of the ferrule being mounted to a front end of the hub, the ferrule defining a fiber passage that is concentric with a central axis of the ferrule, the fiber passage extending through the ferrule from the proximal end to the distal end; and
a tube having a first end and a second end, the tube defining a tube axis that is linear, the tube axis aligning with the central axis of the ferrule, the first end of the tube mounted by a snap-fit connection externally to a rear end of the hub to define an interface, wherein the interface includes an enlarged front portion of the tube that includes an arm which engages over tabs defined by the hub to couple the tube to the hub;
wherein, once the tube is mounted on the hub, the interface between the tube and the hub allows the tube to be non-rigidly attached to the hub and allows the tube to be configured with a float such that the tube is configured to move about an arc of rotational circular motion, the arc of rotational circular motion moving through an angle of at least 5 degrees relative to the central axis while allowing the tube axis of the tube to remain linear from the first end of the tube to the second end of the tube, wherein the interface between the tube and the hub includes a connection that defines an air gap between the tube and the hub to allow the tube to move about the arc of rotational circular motion.