[54] FIBER OPTIC CONNECTOR RECEPTACLE ASSEMBLY
[75] Inventor: Richard F. Roth, Downers Grove, 111. [73] Assignee: Molex Incorporated, Lisle, 111.
[21] Appl. No.: 09/056,986 [22] Filed: Apr. 8, 1998
[51] Int. CI.7 G02B 6/38
[52] U.S. CI 385/76; 385/59; 385/63;
385/78; 385/139
[58] Field of Search 385/56, 59, 60,
385/63, 76, 78, 92, 139
[56] References Cited
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FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
0788002A1 6/1997 European Pat. Off. .
2300978A 3/1996 United Kingdom .
Primary Examiner—Hung N. Ngo
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—A. A. Tirva
[57] ABSTRACT
An receptacle is provided for receiving a fiber optic connector along an optic axis. The receptacle includes a housing having an open end for receiving the fiber optic connector. A pair of shutter members are pivotally mounted on the housing at opposite sides of the open end of the housing for pivotal movement toward and away from each other to close and open the open end. The shutter members extend across the optic axis when the shutter members are closed, The shutter members are pivotable away from the optic axis upon engagement by the inserted fiber optic connector. The shutter members have inner ends which are overlapped when the shutter members are closed to ensure against light leakage along the optic axis. The fiber optic connector has a mating end which is transversely offset for engaging one of the shutter members before the other shutter member upon insertion of the connector into the open end of the receptacle.
12 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets
