Removable optical adapter and receptor

(54) REMOVABLE OPTICAL ADAPTER AND RECEPTOR

(75) Inventors: John Carberry, Talbott, TN (US);

Michael L. Smith, Jefferson City, TN
(US); Richard Racinskas, Coppell, TX
(US)

(73) Assignee: Neptec Optical Solutions, Inc.,

Jefferson City, TN (US)

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 95 days.

(21) Appl. No.: 09/685,116

(22) Filed: Oct. 10, 2000

(51) Int. CI. G02B 6/38

(52) U.S. CI 385/56; 385/70

(58) Field of Search 385/53-94

(56) References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

An apparatus, comprising a removable optical adapter and receptor, which does not require the opening of a box to which the receptor is secured in order to remove the adapter. The adapter has a flange extending outwardly from the adapter body. The receptor is a mounting plate with a first aperture, which is slightly larger than the adapter flange, and a second aperture disposed parallel to the front surface. The receptor is fastened to a box, which contains at least one fiber optic connector. The adapter flange is inserted into the first aperture until it seats on a lip or shoulder adjacent to the second aperture. When the adapter is rotated, the adapter flange engages the second aperture. The receptor has a front and back surface which can be parallel, in which case the adapter, when inserted into the receptor, is perpendicular to the box face, or it can have a front and back surface which form the shape of a wedge, in which case the adapter forms an angle defined by the long axis of the adapter body and the plane of the box face. The removable adapter can be removed from the receptor, which is fastened to a box, without opening the box, and the adapter can be positioned such that the cable exits the adapter in the general direction of the cable routing.