U.S. patent application number 12/059018 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-31 for optical connector.
Invention is credited to Atsuhiro Terakura.
Application Number | 20080181562 12/059018 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37015325 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080181562 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Terakura; Atsuhiro |
July 31, 2008 |
OPTICAL CONNECTOR
Abstract
To extend the service life of a latch of a plug housing and
facilitate assembly and aligning operations of an optical
connector. The optical connector includes a latch provided in a
cantilever form on an external surface of the optical connector and
deformable for attachment/detachment with respect to an adaptor,
and an excessive deformation preventing unit that prevents
excessive deformation of the latch. Furthermore, the optical
connector comprises: a ferrule including a flange having a largest
width portion having directionality in a circumferential direction
and a conical portion continuous to the front of the largest width
portion; and a housing including a cavity having a cylindrical
portion through which the largest width portion can pass freely, a
housing unit arranged in front of the cylindrical portion for
housing the largest width portion, and an inclined surface that is
arranged at a junction between the cylindrical portion and the
housing unit and inclines inward in the radial direction from the
cylindrical portion toward the housing unit, wherein the point of
the ferrule is protruded from the point of the housing by a
predetermined amount and held, in the state that the ferrule is
inserted into the housing from a rear end of the cylindrical
portion and the largest width portion of the flange is housed in
the housing unit.
Inventors: |
Terakura; Atsuhiro; (Hyogo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BLANK ROME LLP
600 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Family ID: |
37015325 |
Appl. No.: |
12/059018 |
Filed: |
March 31, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11387680 |
Mar 24, 2006 |
7377699 |
|
|
12059018 |
|
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|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
385/88 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B 6/3893 20130101;
G02B 6/3831 20130101; G02B 6/3871 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
385/88 |
International
Class: |
G02B 6/36 20060101
G02B006/36 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 24, 2005 |
JP |
P2005-086629 |
Claims
1. An optical connector comprising: a plug housing having a latch
provided in a cantilever form on an external surface of the plug
housing and deformable for attachment/detachment with respect to an
adaptor, the plug housing having an excessive deformation
preventing unit protruding from the external surface of the plug
housing, to which a free end of the latch approaches when the latch
deforms, that prevents excessive deformation of the latch.
2. An optical connector comprising: a ferrule including a flange
having a largest width portion having directionality in a
circumferential direction and a conical portion continuous to the
front of the largest width portion; and a housing including a
cavity having a cylindrical portion through which the largest width
portion can pass freely, a housing unit arranged in front of the
cylindrical portion for housing the largest width portion, and an
inclined surface that is arranged at a junction between the
cylindrical portion and the housing unit and inclines inward at a
non-parallel, non-perpendicular angle to the radial direction from
the cylindrical portion toward the housing unit, wherein the point
of the ferrule is protruded from the point of the housing by a
predetermined amount and held, in the state that the ferrule is
inserted into the housing from a rear end of the cylindrical
portion and the largest width portion of the flange is housed in
the housing unit.
3. An optical connector comprising: a ferrule including a flange
having a largest width portion having directionality in a
circumferential direction and a conical portion continuous to the
front of the largest width portion; a housing including a cavity
having a cylindrical portion through which the largest width
portion can pass freely, a housing unit arranged in front of the
cylindrical portion for housing the largest width portion, an
inclined surface that is arranged at a junction between the
cylindrical portion and the housing unit and inclines inward at a
non-parallel, non-perpendicular angle to the radial direction from
the cylindrical portion toward the housing unit, and a support
surface continuous to the housing unit and corresponding to the
conical portion; and a pressing member that presses the largest
width portion forward, when the ferrule is inserted into the
housing from a rear end of the cylindrical portion, wherein the
point of the ferrule is protruded from the point of the housing by
a predetermined amount and held, in the state that the largest
width portion of the flange is housed in the housing unit, and the
conical portion is pressed against the support surface
corresponding thereto by the pressing member.
4. The optical connector according to claim 3, further comprising:
a latch provided in a cantilever form on an external surface of the
housing and deformable for attachment/detachment with respect to an
adaptor; and an excessive deformation preventing unit that prevents
excessive deformation of the latch.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/387,680, filed Mar. 24, 2006, and is based
upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese
Patent Application No. 2005-086629, filed on Mar. 24, 2005; the
entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an optical connector fitted
to an end of an optical fiber and attached to or detached from an
adaptor.
[0003] Generally, the above type of optical connectors include one
which is fixed to the adaptor by a latch projected outward in a
cantilever form on an external surface of the connector.
[0004] A conventional optical connector 101 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2
includes a ferrule 110 formed of a ferrule body 111 and a flange
115, and a plug housing 120. The optical connector 101 includes a
latch 121 deformable for attachment/detachment with respect to the
adaptor, on the external surface of the plug housing 120 in the
cantilever form.
[0005] In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference sign 140 denotes a spring, 150
denotes a stop ring, 155 denotes a retention member, 160 denotes a
clip sleeve, 165 denotes a heat shrinkable tube, and 170 denotes a
hood.
[0006] The optical connector is disclosed in Japanese patent No.
3066322, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H9-113762,
Japanese patent No. 3103773, and Japanese Patent Application
Laid-Open No. H8-327855.
[0007] However, the conventional optical connector has the
following problems.
[0008] That is, when the connector is attached to and detached from
the adaptor repetitively about 500 times, the latch 121 of the plug
housing 120 is broken, and cannot maintain the function as the
connector.
[0009] When the connector is assembled, it is difficult to insert
the ferrule 110 in the plug housing 120.
[0010] Furthermore, in an aligning operation, such a state that the
ferrule 110 retracts and does not return to an original position
occurs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention has been achieved in order to solve
the above problems, and one object of the present invention is to
extend the service life of the latch of the plug housing, and
another object is to provide an optical connector that can
facilitate assembling and aligning operations of the connector.
[0012] To achieve the objects, according to one aspect of the
present invention, there is provided an optical connector that
includes a latch provided in a cantilever form on an external
surface of the optical connector and deformable for
attachment/detachment with respect to an adaptor, and an excessive
deformation preventing unit that prevents excessive deformation of
the latch.
[0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided an optical connector, wherein the excessive deformation
preventing unit is formed as a protrusion on the external surface
of the optical connector, to which a free end of the latch
approaches when the latch deforms.
[0014] According to a still another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided an optical connector, comprising: a
ferrule including a flange having a largest width portion having
directionality in a circumferential direction and a conical portion
continuous to the front of the largest width portion; and a housing
including a cavity having a cylindrical portion through which the
largest width portion can pass freely, a housing unit arranged in
front of the cylindrical portion for housing the largest width
portion, and an inclined surface that is arranged at a junction
between the cylindrical portion and the housing unit and inclines
inward in the radial direction from the cylindrical portion toward
the housing unit, wherein the point of the ferrule is protruded
from the point of the housing by a predetermined amount and held,
in the state that the ferrule is inserted into the housing from a
rear end of the cylindrical portion and the largest width portion
of the flange is housed in the housing unit.
[0015] According to a still another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided an optical connector, wherein the
largest width portion of the flange is formed in a polygonal shape
in cross section, and the housing unit of the housing is formed in
a polygonal shape corresponding to the largest width portion.
[0016] According to a still another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided an optical connector, wherein the
diameter of the cylindrical portion is formed equal to the diameter
of a circle circumscribing to the polygonal housing unit.
[0017] According to a still another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided an optical connector, comprising: a
ferrule including a flange having a largest width portion having
directionality in a circumferential direction and a conical portion
continuous to the front of the largest width portion; a housing
including a cavity having a cylindrical portion through which the
largest width portion can pass freely, a housing unit arranged in
front of the cylindrical portion for housing the largest width
portion, an inclined surface that is arranged at a junction between
the cylindrical portion and the housing unit and inclines inward in
the radial direction from the cylindrical portion toward the
housing unit, and a support surface continuous to the housing unit
and corresponding to the conical portion; and a pressing member
that presses the largest width portion forward, when the ferrule is
inserted into the housing from a rear end of the cylindrical
portion, wherein the point of the ferrule is protruded from the
point of the housing by a predetermined amount and held, in the
state that the largest width portion of the flange is housed in the
housing unit, and the conical portion is pressed against the
support surface corresponding thereto by the pressing member.
[0018] According to a still another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided an optical connector, wherein the
pressing member is arranged in a space between the circumference of
the flange at the back of the largest width portion and the
cylindrical portion.
[0019] According to a still another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided an optical connector, comprising: a
latch provided in a cantilever form on an external surface of the
housing and deformable for attachment/detachment with respect to an
adaptor; and an excessive deformation preventing unit that prevents
excessive deformation of the latch.
[0020] According to a still another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided an optical connector, wherein the
excessive deformation preventing unit is formed as a protrusion on
the external surface of the housing, to which a free end of the
latch approaches when the latch deforms.
[0021] According to a still another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided an optical connector, wherein the
largest width portion of the flange is formed in a polygonal shape
in cross section, and the housing unit of the housing is formed in
a polygonal shape corresponding to the largest width portion.
[0022] According to a still another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided an optical connector, wherein the
diameter of the cylindrical portion is formed equal to the diameter
of a circle circumscribing to the polygonal housing unit.
[0023] These and other features of the present invention can be
best understood from the following specification and drawings, the
following of which is a brief description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] These and other objects and the configuration of this
invention will become clearer from the following description of the
preferred embodiments, read in connection with the accompanying
drawings in which:
[0025] FIG. 1 is a front elevation of an example of a conventional
optical connector;
[0026] FIG. 2 is an elevational longitudinal section of FIG. 1;
[0027] FIG. 3 is a front elevation of an embodiment of an optical
connector according to the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 4 is an elevational longitudinal section of FIG. 3;
[0029] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a ferrule;
[0030] FIG. 6A is a plan view of a housing;
[0031] FIG. 6B is a front elevation of the housing;
[0032] FIG. 6C is an elevational longitudinal section of the
housing;
[0033] FIG. 7A is a point side end view of the housing;
[0034] FIG. 7B is a bottom side end view of the housing;
[0035] FIG. 8 is a longitudinal section of an adapter and a front
elevation of the optical connector;
[0036] FIG. 9 is a front view of the state of a latch in a process
of attaching the optical connector to the adaptor;
[0037] FIG. 10 is a plan view of the state of the latch when the
optical connector is attached to an adaptor;
[0038] FIG. 11 is a front elevation of FIG. 10;
[0039] FIGS. 12A and 12B are enlarged cross sections for comparing
a case of including an inclined face at a junction of a cylindrical
portion and a housing unit (FIG. 12A), and a case of not including
the inclined face (FIG. 12B); and
[0040] FIGS. 13A and 13B are cross sections of a normal state of
the optical connector (FIG. 13A) and a state when the ferrule is
pushed in at the time of an aligning operation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0041] Embodiments of the present invention will be described with
reference to the drawings.
[0042] FIG. 3 is a front elevation of an embodiment of an optical
connector according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an
elevational longitudinal section of FIG. 3. An optical connector 1
includes a ferrule 10 and a housing (plug housing) 20.
[0043] The ferrule 10 includes, as shown in FIG. 5, a ferrule body
11 and a flange 15.
[0044] In the ferrule body 11, an optical fiber is inserted into a
central hole and fixed thereto, and a point of the ferrule body 11
is grinded so as to suit to optical connection.
[0045] A base of the ferrule body 11 is mounted on the point of the
flange 15. The flange 15 includes a largest width portion 16 in a
hexagonal shape and a conical portion 17 continuous to the front of
the largest width portion 16. A notch 18 is formed at one position
on the circumference of the conical portion 17.
[0046] As shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 7A, and 7B, the plug housing
20 includes a latch 21 deformable for attachment/detachment with
respect to the adaptor on an external surface thereof in a
cantilever form. The plug housing 20 includes an excessive
deformation preventing unit 25 that prevents an excessive
deformation of the latch 21.
[0047] The excessive deformation preventing unit 25 is formed as a
protrusion on the external surface of the plug housing 20, to which
a free end of the latch 21 approaches when the latch 21
deforms.
[0048] In the plug housing 20, a cavity 30 that passes through the
opposite ends thereof is formed.
[0049] In the cavity 30 of the plug housing 20, there is formed a
cylindrical portion (cylindrical surface) 31, into which the
largest width portion 16 of the ferrule 10 can be freely inserted.
A hexagonal housing unit 33 that houses the largest width portion
16 is formed in front of the cylindrical portion 31. A support
surface 34 corresponding to the conical portion 17 of the flange 15
is formed in front of the housing unit 33, continuous to the
housing unit 33.
[0050] The diameter of the cylindrical portion 31 is formed equal
to the diameter of a circle circumscribing to the hexagonal housing
unit 33. Therefore, the largest width portion 16 of the ferrule 10
can be inserted into the cylindrical portion 31 of the cavity 30,
regardless of the angle of the largest width portion 16 with
respect to a central axis.
[0051] On the other hand, the largest width portion 16 of the
ferrule 10 cannot be inserted into the housing unit 33 of the
cavity 30, unless the angle is relatively adjusted so that the
hexagonal shape of the housing unit 33 agrees with the hexagonal
shape of the largest width portion 16.
[0052] When the largest width portion 16 of the ferrule 10 is
housed in the housing unit 33 of the cavity 30, the conical portion
17 continuous to the largest width portion 16 engages with and
abuts against the support surface 34 continuous to the housing unit
33.
[0053] An inclined surface 32 that inclines inward in the radial
direction from the cylindrical portion 31 toward the housing unit
33 is formed at a junction of the cylindrical portion 31 and the
housing unit 33 of the cavity 30.
[0054] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the optical connector 1 includes
a spring 40 as a pressing member arranged in a space between the
circumference of the flange 15 at the back of the largest width
portion 16 and the cylindrical portion 31 of the cavity 30, when
the ferrule 10 is inserted into the plug housing 20 from the
cylindrical portion 31 side.
[0055] Since the conical portion 17 is pressed on the support
surface 34 by the spring 40, in the state with the largest width
portion 16 being housed in the housing unit 33, the optical
connector 1 holds the ferrule 10 with the point thereof protruded
from the plug housing 20 by a predetermined amount.
[0056] A protective tube 19 is fitted to the flange 15 of the
ferrule 10, and the ferrule 10 is inserted into the plug housing 20
from the cylindrical portion 31 side. The spring 40 is then
positioned by arranging it at the back of the largest width portion
16 and by fitting a stop ring 50 to the plug housing 20.
[0057] The optical connector 1 is assembled and integrally formed
by mounting a clip ring 60 and a boot 70 on the circumference of
the stop ring 50, allowing a clip 80 including a trigger lever 81
to pass over the outer circumference of the junction of the stop
ring 50 and the boot 70, and fitting the clip 80 to the plug
housing 20.
[0058] FIGS. 8 to 11 show one example of an adaptor 90, and
indicating how the optical connector 1 is attached and detached
with respect to the adaptor 90. The adaptor 90 includes a ferrule
housing unit 91 that stores the ferrule 10 protruding from the
point of the plug housing 20 of the optical connector 1.
[0059] The adaptor 90 includes a projection 92 that presses a
protrusion 22 of the latch 21 downward in a process in which the
optical connector 1 is inserted and the ferrule 10 is housed in the
ferrule housing unit 91 to a predetermined depth. The projection 92
presses the protrusion 22 downward so that the latch 21 is
collapsed (deformed) once in a direction approaching to the plug
housing 20.
[0060] The projection 92 releases the downward pressing towards the
protrusion 22 of the latch 21 at a position immediately before the
ferrule 10 is housed in the ferrule housing unit 91 to the
predetermined depth. As a result, the latch rises toward the
original state due to a spring force of the latch 21 (the
deformation is restored to the original state).
[0061] The adaptor 90 includes an engaging unit 93, with which the
protrusion 22 engages, when the protrusion 22 passes the projection
92 and the latch 21 rises due to its own spring force (when the
deformation is restored). Since the protrusion 22 of the latch 21
engages with the engaging unit 93, the optical connector 1 is
attached to the adaptor 90.
[0062] When the optical connector 1 is detached from the adaptor
90, the trigger lever 81 is pressed down to bring the latch 21
down, thereby detaching the protrusion 22 from the engaging unit 93
of the adaptor 90. The protrusion 22 of the latch 21 is allowed to
pass below the projection 92, and the optical connector 1 is pulled
out, thereby detaching the optical connector 1 from the adaptor
90.
[0063] When the trigger lever 81 is pressed down, a free end of the
latch 21 abuts against the excessive deformation preventing unit 25
on the upper surface of the plug housing 20. As a result, the latch
21 is prevented from deforming largely.
[0064] In other words, the excessive deformation preventing unit 25
restricts the collapsed amount of the latch 21, so that the latch
21 is sufficiently brought down up to a height required for the
protrusion 22 to pass below the projection 92 of the adaptor 90,
but is not brought down more than necessary.
[0065] As a result, even when attachment and detachment of the
optical connector 1 with respect to the adaptor 90 is repeated, the
deformed amount of the latch 21 is kept to a required amount at all
times, and the latch 21 is not largely deformed more than
necessary. Accordingly, the service life of the latch 21 is
extended, and resistance against attachment/detachment of the
optical connector 1 can be greatly improved, as compared to a
conventional optical connector having no excessive deformation
preventing unit 25.
[0066] That is, in the case of the optical connector 101 shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2, when attachment/detachment of the optical connector
101 with respect to the adaptor is repeated 500 times, the latch
121 of the plug housing 120 is broken.
[0067] On the other hand, in the case of the optical connector 1,
when such an experiment is executed that attachment/detachment of
the optical connector 1 with respect to the adaptor 90 is repeated
until the latch 21 of the plug housing 20 is broken, the latch 21
was not broken, even when attachment/detachment operations are
repeated 3000 times.
[0068] When the optical connector 1 is to be assembled, the ferrule
10 is inserted into the plug housing 20 from the cylindrical
portion 31 side and the stop ring 50 is fitted to the plug housing
20, while pressing the ferrule 10 in a direction of the point
thereof by the spring 40.
[0069] At this time, it is necessary to insert the hexagonal
largest width portion 16 of the ferrule 10 into the hexagonal
housing unit 33 of the plug housing 20, while adjusting the angle
thereof.
[0070] A cylindrical portion 31 of a size circumscribing to the
hexagonal housing unit 33 is formed on this side of the housing
unit 33 of the plug housing 20, at the time of an assembly
operation.
[0071] In the conventional optical connector 101, as shown in FIG.
12B, the junction of a cylindrical portion 131 and a housing unit
133 of the plug housing 120 has been connected by a plane
orthogonal to the axial direction of the plug housing 120.
Therefore, at the time of assembling the optical connector 101,
when a hexagonal largest width portion 116 of the ferrule 110 is
inserted into a hexagonal housing unit 133 of the plug housing 120,
insertion is not possible unless the angles of these hexagonal
shapes match with each other.
[0072] On the other hand, in the optical connector 1 of the present
invention, as shown in FIG. 12A, the plug housing 20 includes the
inclined surface 32 that inclines inward in the radial direction
from the cylindrical portion 31 toward the housing unit 33 at the
junction of the cylindrical portion 31 and the housing unit 33. The
ferrule 10 also includes the conical portion 17 in front of the
hexagonal largest width portion 16 continuous thereto.
[0073] Therefore, when the hexagonal largest width portion 16 of
the ferrule 10 is inserted into the hexagonal housing unit 33 of
the plug housing 20, and it is tried to relatively adjust the angle
of the ferrule 10 and the plug housing 20, the conical portion 17
of the ferrule 10 can freely adjust the angle along the inclined
surface 32 of the plug housing 20.
[0074] Consequently, at the time of assembling the optical
connector 1, the optical connector 1 can be easily assembled, even
when there is some angular displacement between the hexagonal
largest width portion 16 of the ferrule 10 and the hexagonal
housing unit 33 of the plug housing 20.
[0075] In some cases, an aligning operation of the optical
connector 1 is performed for adjusting the center of the axis
between the optical fiber on the adaptor 90 side and the optical
fiber of the optical connector 1. In this case, after the ferrule
10 protruding from the point of the optical connector 1 is pushed
into the plug housing 20 once, the pushing force is released. Then,
the ferrule 10 returns to the original protruded state due to the
thrust of the spring 40.
[0076] FIG. 13A shows a normal state before the ferrule 10 is
pushed in the plug housing, and FIG. 13B shows a state when the
ferrule 10 is pushed therein.
[0077] When the ferrule 10 returns from the pushed state, the angle
can be adjusted by the conical portion 17 of the ferrule 10 along
the inclined surface 32 of the plug housing 20. Therefore, even
when there is some angular displacement at the time of pushing the
ferrule 10 in the plug housing 20, the ferrule 10 does not stay in
the pushed state, and movement to return to the normal position can
be facilitated.
[0078] According to the present invention, the shape of the largest
width portion 16 in the flange 15 of the ferrule 10 is not limited
to the hexagonal shape, as in the embodiment, and may be an
optional polygonal shape. In this case, the shape of the housing
unit 33 of the plug housing 20 that stores the largest width
portion 16 can be formed in an optional polygonal shape, matched
with the shape of the largest width portion 16.
[0079] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the shape
of the largest width portion 16 of the ferrule 10 can be formed,
for example, in a shape having directionality in a circumferential
direction by appropriate means. In this case, the shape of the
housing unit 33 of the plug housing 20 that stores the largest
width portion 16 is also formed in the shape having directionality
in a circumferential direction by the same means, matched with the
shape of the largest width portion 16.
[0080] The object of the present invention is not limited to
achieve compatibility between realization of extended service life
of the latch 21 and realization of easiness of assembly and the
aligning operation of the optical connector 1.
[0081] That is, if it is the only object to extend the service life
of the latch 21, the inclined surface 32 of the cavity 30 is not
necessary, and the excessive deformation preventing unit 25 that
prevents excessive deformation of the latch 21 needs only to be
provided. The present invention is realized only by this
configuration.
[0082] Furthermore, if it is the only object to facilitate assembly
and the aligning operation of the optical connector 1, the
excessive deformation preventing unit 25 of the plug housing 20 is
not necessary, and the inclined surface 32 that inclines inward in
the radial direction from the cylindrical portion 31 toward the
housing unit 33 needs only to be formed at the junction of the
cylindrical portion 31 and the housing unit 33 of the cavity 30.
The present invention is realized only by this configuration.
[0083] The configuration of the present invention includes the
latch deformable for attachment/detachment with respect to the
adaptor, provided in a cantilever form on the external surface of
the connector, and the excessive deformation preventing unit that
prevents excessive deformation of the latch. As a result, the
service life of the latch of the plug housing can be extended.
[0084] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the optical
connector comprises: the ferrule including the flange having the
largest width portion having directionality in a circumferential
direction and the conical portion continuous to the front of the
largest width portion; and the housing including the cavity having
the cylindrical portion through which the largest width portion can
pass freely, the housing unit arranged in front of the cylindrical
portion for housing the largest width portion, and the inclined
surface that is arranged at a junction between the cylindrical
portion and the housing unit and inclines inward in the radial
direction from the cylindrical portion toward the housing unit,
wherein the point of the ferrule is protruded from the point of the
housing by a predetermined amount and held, in the state that the
ferrule is inserted into the housing from a rear end of the
cylindrical portion and the largest width portion of the flange is
housed in the housing unit. Accordingly, the assembly and the
aligning operation of the connector can be facilitated.
[0085] While preferred embodiments of the present invention have
been described above, the foregoing description is in all aspects
illustrative. It is therefore understood that numerous
modifications can be devised without departing from the spirit or
scope of the appended claims of the invention.
[0086] Although an embodiment of this invention has been disclosed,
a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain
modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For
that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine
the true scope and content of this invention.
* * * * *