US 11,703,646 B2
Multiports and optical connectors with rotationally discrete locking and keying features
Thierry Luc Alain Dannoux, Avon (FR); Joel Christopher Rosson, Hickory, NC (US); and Felice Scotta, Savingny le Temple (FR)
Assigned to CORNING RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, Corning, NY (US)
Filed by Corning Research & Development Corporation, Corning, NY (US)
Filed on Oct. 16, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/72,545.
Application 17/072,545 is a continuation of application No. 16/516,551, filed on Jul. 19, 2019, granted, now 10,809,463.
Application 16/516,551 is a continuation of application No. 16/018,988, filed on Jun. 26, 2018, granted, now 10,359,577, issued on Jul. 23, 2019.
Application 16/018,988 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/US2017/064072, filed on Nov. 30, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/526,018, filed on Jun. 28, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/526,195, filed on Jun. 28, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/526,011, filed on Jun. 28, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0048584 A1, Feb. 18, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G02B 6/38 (2006.01); G02B 6/44 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/3831 (2013.01) [G02B 6/3825 (2013.01); G02B 6/3841 (2013.01); G02B 6/3843 (2013.01); G02B 6/3851 (2013.01); G02B 6/3869 (2013.01); G02B 6/3871 (2013.01); G02B 6/3879 (2013.01); G02B 6/3893 (2013.01); G02B 6/3895 (2013.01); G02B 6/3897 (2013.01); G02B 6/4471 (2013.01)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fiber optic connector, comprising:
a ferrule comprising an optical fiber bore; and
a connector housing comprising:
a rotationally discrete keying portion defined on an outer surface of the connector housing, wherein the rotationally discrete keying portion comprises a recessed portion of the connector housing with an unobstructed line of sight from the rotationally discrete keying portion to a leading edge plane of the connector housing along an advancing direction of the fiber optic connector;
a front portion of the connector housing comprising a rectangular cross-section having planar sides, and a rear portion of the connector housing comprising a curved outer surface;
and
a rotationally discrete locking portion defined on the outer surface of the connector housing and interrupts the nominal housing portion as a negative cut-out, the rotationally discrete locking portion comprising a port engagement face, wherein the port engagement face is rearwardly facing.