JP2007233291A - Connector anchor unit, optical equipment, and optical closure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector anchor unit, optical equipment, and an optical closure which can attain anchoring of optical connector with space-saving, moreover, which allows the optical connector to be attached/detached to/from the connector anchor plate in a short time, and which can secure attachment and detachment workability. <P>SOLUTION: The connector anchor unit 1 is provided which anchors the optical connector 3 so as to be attachable/detachable to/from the connector anchor plate 2, by inserting a latch 52 provided projectingly on the side of the optical connector 3 into a slot 21a of the connector anchor plate, and by engaging the latch 52 with a latching part 24 on the back side of the connector anchor plate 2, and the optical equipment and the optical closure provided with this connector anchor unit are provided. Two or more optical connectors 3 can be anchored at high density by an optical connector 2, provided with two or more connector holding parts 1B constituted of a slot 21a and the latching part 24. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector retaining unit for retaining an optical connector in a predetermined position, an optical device provided with the connector retaining unit, and an optical closure.

In an optical communication network, connector connection is frequently used to connect optical fibers. As the connector connection, a plug-adapter-plug system for connecting optical connectors (optical connector plugs) attached to the tip of an optical fiber such as an optical fiber cord in an optical connector adapter, assembled at the tip of the optical fiber. A receptacle-plug system in which an optical connector (optical connector plug) is inserted into and connected to an optical connector receptacle is generally used (for example, Patent Document 1).
In a PDS (Passive Double Star) optical communication network that connects multiple lines on the user side (terminal side) to a transmission device that transmits optical signals, for example, for branching optical fiber cables or connecting optical fiber cables to each other In optical devices such as optical wiring boards and optical junction boxes used, connector connection between optical fibers is widely adopted.
An example of the optical junction box is an optical closure (Patent Document 2).
JP 2000-329945 A JP-A-9-127384

By the way, in an optical device used for an optical communication network, for example, an optical fiber for extension (optical fiber with a connector) is accommodated to cope with an increase in the number of subscribers, a line connection is switched, a line is moved, An optical fiber (connector-attached optical fiber) in which the connector connection is released may be generated due to the removal of the line, etc., and a storage space for storing an optical fiber not connected anywhere (hereinafter referred to as an unconnected optical fiber) is secured. There is a case. In this case, in order to protect the optical connector attached to the tip of the unconnected optical fiber, a holding board that attaches and holds the optical connector detachably may be employed.
With a large optical device such as an optical distribution board, it is easy to secure a storage space for an unconnected optical fiber. For example, as illustrated in Patent Document 1, light attached to the tip of an unconnected optical fiber There has also been proposed a configuration including a retaining board provided with a large number of connector holding holes into which connectors are detachably fitted.
However, optical connection boxes such as optical closures are generally smaller than optical distribution boards, and it is not easy to secure storage space for unconnected optical fibers and optical connectors at the ends thereof. In reality, there is no suitable device (connector retaining structure) that can achieve connector retention in a space-saving manner.
For example, the reservation board of Patent Document 1 can arrange and hold a large number of optical connectors. However, since the optical connector is held in a direction perpendicular to the reservation board, the optical connector is retained on the reservation board. However, the storage board protrudes, and only a narrow storage space can be secured inside, which is not suitable for application to an optical closure or the like.

  In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a connector retaining unit, an optical connector that can realize the retention of an optical connector in a space-saving manner, can easily attach and detach the optical connector to and from the connector retaining plate in a short time, and can secure the detachability. The purpose is to provide equipment and optical closures.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following configuration.
The invention according to claim 1 includes a connector retaining plate attached to a device and an optical connector attached to and detached from the connector retaining plate, and the optical connector protrudes from a side surface of the optical connector and is a side surface of the optical connector. And a latch that is an elastic piece that extends in the front-rear direction of the optical connector and that can sandwich the connector retaining plate between the optical connector and the side surface of the optical connector. A slot in which the latch on the side of the connector is detachably inserted, and is provided on one end of the slot, opposite to the surface side on which the side surface of the optical connector of the connector retaining plate abuts A locking part that is releasably engaged with a protruding claw protruding from the back side to the tip of the latch, and the latch of the optical connector is moved from the surface side of the connector retaining plate to the slot. Through the connection Insert the back surface side of the motor anchor plate, said 突爪 By engaging with the locking portion, to provide a connector anchor unit, wherein the optical connector is detained in the connector anchor plate.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the connector retaining plate, an elongated hole having a narrower width than the elongated hole is formed so as to extend from one end portion of the elongated hole. A projection for steadying that can be inserted into and removed from the elongated hole protrudes from a front end of the latch to a position opposite to a protruding base end portion of the latch from the optical connector; The latch is inserted into the back surface side of the connector retaining plate through the elongated hole, and the steadying projection is inserted into the elongated hole, whereby the latch is guided by the inner surface of the elongated hole, and the steadying The connector pulling unit according to claim 1, wherein the projection is guided by the inner surface of the elongated hole and is movable along the elongated hole and the elongated hole.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the latch includes a projecting rising portion protruding from a side surface of the housing of the optical connector, and a connection end of the optical connector from the front end of the rising portion along the side surface of the housing. A latch main body portion extending to the front end side, which is a part side, and a disengagement lever that is a protruding piece extending from the latch main body portion to the rear end side of the optical connector than the rising portion, A latch is inserted from the front surface side of the connector retaining plate into the back surface side of the connector retaining plate through the elongated hole, the projecting claw is engaged with the locking portion, and the optical connector is retained on the connector retaining plate. In this state, the latch main body is moved toward the engagement release lever by bringing the engagement release lever provided between the optical connector housing and the housing through a clearance. Rotate around the leading end of the rising part integrally with the housing to separate the optical connector from the housing, and release the engagement of the protruding claws engaged with the locking part with respect to the locking part The connector pulling unit according to claim 1, wherein the connector pulling unit can be provided.
The invention according to claim 4 includes a connector retaining plate attached to a device and an optical connector attached to and detached from the connector retaining plate, and the optical connector includes a ferrule and a housing for housing the ferrule. The housing is formed with an insertion piece which is a protruding piece extending to the rear end side opposite to the connection end of the optical connector, and the connector retaining plate is in contact with the housing of the optical connector. A main body plate portion having a connector mounting surface, and protruding from the connector mounting surface of the main body plate portion so that the insertion piece of the optical connector is removably inserted so that the optical connector is inserted into the housing. An insertion piece support portion for supporting the side surface of the main body plate portion in contact with the connector mounting surface, and extending the main body plate portion from the main body plate portion. It is formed in the shape of an extended tongue piece, and is detachably engaged with an engaging portion provided on a side surface of the housing of the optical connector that is inserted into the insertion piece and supported by the insertion piece support portion. And a latch that is an elastic claw for restricting the movement of the optical connector in the direction in which the insertion piece is pulled out from the insertion piece support portion, and the insertion piece by sliding movement along the connector mounting surface of the optical connector. By inserting the connector into the insertion piece support portion, a latch can be engaged with the engagement portion of the optical connector.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the connector retaining unit according to the fourth aspect, wherein the latch is formed by forming a part of a plate material constituting the connector retaining plate in a tongue shape.
The invention according to claim 6 is an optical connector adapter or an optical connector receptacle capable of connecting the connector retaining unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and the optical connector removed from the connector retaining plate of the connector retaining unit. Provided is an optical device comprising a receiving side optical connector.
The invention according to claim 7 is an optical closure, wherein the connector pulling unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is housed in a closure sleeve into which the optical fiber cable is drawn, and is pulled out from the optical fiber cable. The optical fiber is terminated so as to be connectable to another optical fiber by the optical connector of the connector retaining unit.
The invention according to claim 8 is an optical drop cable in which the another optical fiber is drawn into the closure sleeve, and an optical connector adapter for connecting the optical connector and an optical connector attached to the optical drop cable. The optical closure according to claim 7, wherein the optical closure is housed in a closure sleeve.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the closure sleeve, a connector tensioning unit comprising a connector tensioning plate and an optical connector removably attached to a connector holding portion provided on the connector tensioning plate is housed, and the optical fiber The optical fiber drawn out from the cable is terminated to be connectable to another optical fiber by the optical connector of the connector drawing unit, and the optical connector is connected to the connector drawing plate. Provided is an optical closure characterized in that it is detachably attached in a direction along the connector retaining plate by engagement or fitting into a holding portion.

In the present invention, a connector retaining unit having a structure in which the optical connector is retained on the connector retaining plate in a direction along the connector retaining plate is employed. With this connector retaining unit, when an optical connector is mounted vertically on a connector retaining plate (for example, an optical connector is inserted into and connected to an optical connector adapter type or optical connector receptacle type housing attached to the panel, the panel Compared with the case where the optical connector is held in a direction perpendicular to the optical connector), the projection dimension of the optical connector from the connector retaining plate is small, and the optical connector can be retained in a small space.
In addition, since the optical fiber pigtail extending from the rear end of the optical connector is wired in a direction along the connector retaining plate, for example, compared with the case where the optical connector is attached to the connector retaining plate vertically. It is easy to secure a wiring space (storage space) for the optical fiber pigtail in the device.
By securing a plurality of optical connectors by arranging them side by side on the connector retaining plate, it is possible to realize high-density retaining (high-density mounting on the connector retaining plate) in a limited space.
In the connector retaining unit according to claims 1 and 4, the optical connector side or the connector retaining plate side can be easily switched between the retaining and releasing of the optical connector by the operation of the latch on the optical connector side or the connector retaining plate side. There is an advantage that the connector can be easily attached and detached in a short time.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, the connector retaining unit 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2, reference numeral 2 is a connector retaining plate, and 3 is an optical connector.
The connector retaining unit 1 includes a connector retaining plate 2 and an optical connector 3 that is attached to and detached from the connector retaining plate 2.
1A and 1B are views showing a state in which the optical connector 3 is fastened to the connector retaining plate 2, wherein FIG. 1A is a plan view and FIG. 1B is a front sectional view.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the connector retaining plate 2.

1A and 1B, the optical connector 3 includes a ferrule 4 and a housing 5 that houses the ferrule 4.
As for the optical connector 3, the ferrule 4 side of the joining end face 41, that is, the left side in FIGS. 1A and 1B is “front”, and the opposite side, that is, the right side in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Will be described as “after”.
A stop ring 6 is assembled to the rear end portion of the housing 5.
The stop ring 6 has a sleeve shape, and an optical fiber 7 is passed inside.
The ferrule 4 is attached to the tip of the optical fiber 7.
The optical fiber 7 extends from the rear end of the stop ring 6.

The housing 5 is configured to include a sleeve-like housing main body 51 that houses the ferrule 4, and a latch 52 and an anti-swaying projection 53 that project from the side surface of the housing main body 51.
The latch 52 and the steady-state projection 53 are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction at the projecting position in the housing body 51. The steadying projection 53 is provided on the housing main body 51 on the front side (front end side) of the latch 52 so as not to contact the latch 52.
The housing 5 is a single piece made of plastic as a whole.
However, the housing 5 is not necessarily limited to a configuration in which the whole is formed as a single piece, and one or both of the latch 52 and the steadying projection 53 are separate members from the housing main body 51. It may be fixed to the housing body 51.

The latch 52 functions to detachably engage the optical connector 3 with the connector retaining plate 2 by being detachably engaged with the connector retaining plate 2.
Specifically, the latch 52 extends from the tip of the raised portion 52a to the front side in the front-rear direction (front end side) of the optical connector 3 protruding from the side surface of the housing main body 51. A latch main body portion 52b extending along the side surface of the housing main body portion 51, and a disengagement lever that is a projecting piece extending from the rising portion 52a to the rear side in the front-rear direction of the optical connector 52c.
The latch main body 52b is an elastic claw in which a protruding claw 52d for engaging with the connector retaining plate 2 protrudes from a protruding tip (front end) from the rising portion 52a. The protrusion 52d is a small protrusion that protrudes from the side surface of the front end portion of the latch body 52b on the housing body 51 side.

The connector retaining plate 2 is a metal or resin panel.
Note that the connector retaining plate 2 is attached to a component such as an optical device (device) such as an optical wiring board or an optical closure, or a device such as a building component (device).
The connector retaining plate 2 is formed with a retaining elongated hole 21 that is a through hole into which the latch 52 of the optical connector 3 is inserted and removed.
As shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 2, the elongated slot 21 for retention includes a slot 21a (hereinafter also referred to as a main slot) into which the latch 52 is inserted and removed, and a narrower width than the main slot 21a. And is formed of an elongated hole 21b extending from one end of the main elongated hole 21a (left side in FIGS. 1A and 1B, left side in FIG. 2).

The latch main body 52b of the latch 52 of the optical connector 3 can be passed through the main long hole 21a. However, the width dimension W1 of the main elongated hole 21a (the vertical dimension in FIGS. 1A and 2) is the width dimension W2 of the housing body 51 of the optical connector 3 (the vertical dimension in FIG. 1A). The housing body 51 of the optical connector 3 cannot be inserted into the main slot 21a.
The latch 52 has a width dimension W3 (vertical dimension in FIG. 1A) slightly smaller than the width dimension W1 of the main elongated hole 21a, and the front-rear dimension L2 (the rising portion of the latch main body 52b). The length from the projecting tip from 52a (the front end of latch 52) to the projecting tip (the rear end of latch 52) from rising portion 52a of disengaging lever 52c is longer than length L1 of main slot 21a. Also short. For this reason, the entire latch 52 including the rising portion 52a can be inserted into the main long hole 21a.

The latch 52 protrudes from the center of the housing main body 51 in the width direction (vertical direction in FIG. 1A). When the latch 52 is inserted into the main elongated hole 21 a, the portion of the housing main body 51 that protrudes from the latch 52 to both sides in the width direction of the latch 52 comes into contact with the connector retaining plate 2.
In the illustrated optical connector 3, the configuration in which the latch 52 having the constant width dimension W <b> 3 is provided over the entire front-rear direction is illustrated. It is sufficient that there is no portion, and it is not always necessary that the width dimension is constant throughout the front-rear direction.

The width dimension W4 (the dimension in the vertical direction in FIGS. 1A and 2) of the elongated hole 21b of the elongated slot 21 is smaller than the width dimension W3 of the latch 52. For this reason, the latch 52 cannot be inserted into the elongated hole 21b.
Further, the steady-state projection 53 of the housing 5 is formed as a small projection of a size that can be removably inserted into the elongated hole 21b from the surface 22 side (the lower side in FIG. 1B) of the connector retaining plate 2. . The width dimension W5 of the steady-state projection 53 is slightly smaller than the width dimension W4 of the elongated hole 21b of the elongated slot 21. When the steady-state projection 53 is inserted into the elongated hole 21b, the connector retention The optical connector 3 with respect to the plate 2 can function as a guide projection for guiding the slide movement along the longitudinal direction of the elongated slot 21 for retention.

One side (here, the surface 22) of the connector retaining plate 2 is a contact surface with which the housing main body 51 of the optical connector 3 to be secured to the connector retaining plate 2 is abutted.
On the back surface 23 opposite to the front surface 22 of the connector retaining plate 2, a locking projection 24 is provided so that the protruding claw 52 d at the tip of the latch main body 52 b is detachably engaged.
The locking projection 24 functions as a locking portion according to the present invention.
In the connector retaining plate 2 illustrated in FIGS. 1B and 2, the locking protrusions 24 are provided at both ends of the elongated hole 21 b in the width direction of the main elongated hole 21 a on the connector retaining plate 2. Is provided.
Further, in the connector retaining plate 2 illustrated in FIGS. 1B and 2, the locking protrusion 24 protrudes at a position slightly separated from one end of the main elongated hole 21 a. The projecting position of 24 may be, for example, a boundary position between the main slot 21a and the elongated slot 21b.

In order to fasten the optical connector 3 to the connector retaining plate 2, from the surface 22 side of the connector retaining plate 2, the latch 52 is inserted into the main elongated hole 21a, and the steadying projection 53 is inserted into the elongated hole 21b. A latching protrusion 24 (locking) is provided so that a protruding claw 52d at the tip of the latch body 52b inserted into the rear surface 23 side of the connector retaining plate 2 through the hole 21a is projected on the rear surface 23 side of the connector retaining plate 2. Part).
The optical connector 3 is slid along the longitudinal direction of the retaining slot 21 with respect to the connector retaining plate 2 after the entire length in the front-rear direction of the latch 52 is inserted into the main elongated hole 21a. This slide movement of the optical connector 3 is a movement in a direction in which the rising portion 52a of the latch 52 is brought close to one end of the main elongated hole 21a. Due to this sliding movement, the protruding claw 52d having a shape in which the protruding dimension from the latch main body portion 52b increases as it goes from the distal end side to the proximal end side (the rising portion 52a side) of the latch main body portion 52b becomes the locking projection 24. After getting on, it gets over the locking projection 24. When the protruding claw 52d gets over the locking projection 24, when the protruding claw 52d rides on the locking projection 24, the protruding claw is caused by the elasticity of the latch main body 52b that is elastically deformed in a direction slightly away from the housing main body 52b. 52 d enters the side of the locking projection 24 opposite to the main elongated hole 21 a and engages with the locking projection 24.

  The rear end of the projecting claw 52d is a step that stands vertically (or substantially perpendicular) to the latch body 52b, and the side surface of the locking projection 24 opposite to the main slot 21a is a connector. The level difference is vertical (or almost vertical) with respect to the tension plate 2. For this reason, if the protruding claw 52d over the locking projection 24 enters the side of the locking projection 24 opposite to the main long hole 21a, the engagement between the protruding claw 52d and the locking projection 24 (in other words, The latch 2 (specifically, engagement of the latch main body 52b) with the connector retaining plate 2 causes the rising portion 52a of the latch 52 to move away from one end of the main elongated hole 21a. Movement is restricted. In this state, the optical connector 3 cannot be detached from the connector retaining plate 2 unless the protrusion 52d is engaged with the locking protrusion 24, and the optical connector 3 is retained from the connector retaining plate 2.

The sliding movement of the optical connector 3 with respect to the connector retaining plate 2 in the direction in which the rising portion 52a of the latch 52 is brought close to one end of the main elongated hole 21a is the steady-state protrusion inserted into the elongated hole 21b. 53 is moved along the longitudinal direction of the elongated hole 21b while being guided by inner surfaces on both sides in the width direction of the elongated hole 21b, and the main elongated hole is guided while being guided by inner surfaces on both sides in the width direction of the main elongated hole 21a. By moving along the longitudinal direction of 21a, the state in which the front-rear direction of the optical connector 3 is aligned with the longitudinal direction of the elongated slot 21 is maintained, and the latch 52 (details) with respect to the locking projection 24 (locking portion) The latch body 52b) can be reliably engaged.
Further, the sliding movement of the optical connector 3 with respect to the connector retaining plate 2 becomes a limit when the steady-state projection 53 reaches the end of the elongated hole 21b opposite to the main elongated hole 21a. The optical connector 3 cannot be moved in a direction in which the upright portion 52a approaches the one end portion of the main slot 21a. Thereby, the inconvenience that the rising portion 52a of the latch 52 is pressed against the step of the connector retaining plate 2 located at the boundary between the one end portion of the main elongated hole 21a and the elongated hole 21b can be avoided. .

When the engagement of the latch 52 (specifically, the latch main body portion 52b) with the locking protrusion 24 (locking portion) is completed, the latch main body portion 52b and the housing are made elastic by the latch 52 (specifically, the latch main body portion 52b). Since the connector retaining plate 2 is sandwiched between the main body 51 and the main body 51, the latch main body 52b is forcibly separated from the connector retaining plate 2 by operating an engagement release lever 52c (described later). The optical connector 3 cannot be detached from the connector retaining plate 2 unless the protrusion 52d is disengaged from the locking protrusion 24 by being displaced.
As a result, the optical connector 3 is securely held with respect to the connector retaining plate 2 so as not to be inadvertently dropped.
Further, the mounting direction of the optical connector 3 with respect to the connector retaining plate 2 is determined by the portion accommodated in the main elongated hole 21a of the latch 52 and the steady-state protrusion 53 inserted in the elongated hole 21b. This prevents the inconvenience that the optical connector 3 is inadvertently swung by an external force such as vibration, so that the attachment state of the optical connector 3 to the connector retaining plate 2 is stably maintained. Stabilization of the mounting state of the optical connector 3 is advantageous in terms of maintaining the optical characteristics of the optical connector 3 and the like.

In order to detach the optical connector 3 held on the connector retaining plate 2 from the connector retaining plate 2, first, the disengagement lever 52c is operated, and the locking portion (the locking protrusion 24) of the connector retaining plate 2 is operated. The engagement of the latch 52 (specifically, the latch main body 52b) is released.
The disengaging lever 52c is gradually separated from the housing main body 51 as it goes from the base end extending from the rising portion 52a of the latch 52 to the front end (rear end). It is the elastic piece provided inclining with respect to.
When the disengagement lever 52c is operated so as to approach the housing main body 51, the latch main body 52b extending forward from the disengagement lever 52c continuously to the disengagement lever 52c. However, it rotates so that it may separate from the housing main-body part 51 centering | focusing on the front-end | tip of the raising part 52a.
Therefore, if the lever 52c for releasing the engagement of the optical connector 3 fastened to the connector retaining plate 2 is operated so as to approach the housing main body 51, the latch main body 52b is rotated around the leading end 52a. Thus, the connector retaining plate 2 can be separated from the back surface 23 side, and the engagement of the protruding claws 52d with respect to the locking portion (locking protrusion 24) can be released.
When the latch 52 (specifically, the latch main body 52b) is disengaged from the locking portion (locking protrusion 24) of the connector retaining plate 2, the optical connector 3 is connected to the main elongated hole 21a. The latch 52 and the steady-state protrusion 53 are extracted from the elongated slot 21 for movement. Thereby, the optical connector 3 can be detached from the connector retaining plate 2.

Another aspect of the connector retaining unit of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
This connector retaining unit 1A employs a connector retaining plate denoted by reference numeral 2A shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in place of the connector retaining plate 2 of the connector retaining unit 1 illustrated in FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the connector retaining plate 2 </ b> A is different from the connector retaining plate 24 in that an engagement hole 25 is formed instead of providing the locking protrusion 24. Except this point, it is the same as the connector retaining plate 24.
The engaging hole 25 is a portion where the elongated hole 21b is expanded (widened) on both sides in the width direction at a position shifted from one longitudinal end portion of the main elongated hole 21a toward one longitudinal end portion side of the retaining elongated hole 21. is there.
The engaging claw 52d at the end of the latch main body 52b of the optical connector 3 is inserted into the engaging hole 25 so that it can be inserted and removed, and one end of the main elongated hole 21a in the longitudinal direction and the engaging hole in the connector retaining plate 2A. 25 is engaged with a portion (locking portion 26) located between the two and detachably.

  In this connector retaining unit 1A, in order to retain the optical connector 3 on the connector retaining plate 2A, first, similarly to the connector retaining unit 1, the latch 52 is inserted into the main slot 21a from the surface 22 side of the connector retaining plate 2A. At the same time, the steady-state projection 53 is inserted into the elongated hole 21b. Then, the protruding claw 52d at the tip of the latch body 52b inserted into the connector retaining plate 2A through the main elongated hole 21a is inserted into the engagement hole 25 from the rear surface 23 side of the connector retaining plate 2A. By engaging the latch main body 52b with the locking portion 26 of the connector retaining plate 2A, the optical connector 3 is retained by the connector retaining plate 2A.

When the engagement of the latch 52 (specifically, the latch main body portion 52b) with the locking portion 26 is completed, the elasticity of the latch 52 (specifically, the latch main body portion 52b) causes the latch main body portion 52b and the housing main body portion 51 to move. The locking portion 26 is sandwiched between them. As a result, the latch main body 52b is forcibly displaced so as to be separated from the connector retaining plate 2A by an operation of a disengagement lever 52c (described later), etc. Since the optical connector 3 cannot be detached from the connector retaining plate 2A unless it is released, the inconvenience that the optical connector 3 is inadvertently dropped from the connector retaining plate 2A is prevented, and the optical connector 3 is retained from the connector retaining plate 2A. Is maintained stably.
Further, in this connector retaining unit 1A, the optical connector 3 in which the latch main body 52b is inserted from the front surface 22 side to the rear surface 23 side of the connector retaining plate 2A via the retaining elongated hole 21 (specifically, the main elongated hole 21a). Is slid along the connector retaining plate 2A toward one end in the longitudinal direction of the elongated slot 21 for the latch, when the projecting claw 52d of the latch body 52b reaches the engaging hole 25, the latch The engagement hole 25 is inserted by the elasticity of the main body 52b. For this reason, the engagement work of the latch main body 52b with respect to the locking portion 26 can be performed easily and smoothly.

  Further, when the engagement release lever 52c is operated to release the engagement of the latch 52 (specifically, the latch main body portion 52b) with respect to the engaging portion 26 of the connector retaining plate 2A, the light retained on the connector retaining plate 2A. The connector 3 can be detached from the connector retaining plate 2A.

  According to the connector pulling unit 1 and 1A described above, the latch main body 52b of the optical connector 3 is moved from the front surface 22 side of the connector pulling plate 2 and 2A to the back surface 23 via the oblong slot 21 for the connector pulling plate 2 and 2A. The optical connector 3 can be easily retained on the connector retaining plates 2 and 2A simply by being inserted into the side and being engaged with the engaging portions of the connector retaining plates 2 and 2A.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, the connector retaining unit 11 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the optical connector 13 of the connector retaining unit 11.
6A and 6B are views showing the connector retaining plate 12 of the connector retaining unit 11, and FIG. 6A is a perspective view seen from the rear surface side (the rear surface 12b side of the main body plate portion 12A described later). FIG. 4B is a perspective view seen from the front surface side (the surface of the main body plate portion 12A described later (side of the connector mounting surface 12a)).
FIG. 7 is a partially broken front view showing a state in which the optical connector 13 is fastened to the connector retaining plate 12.
The connector retaining unit 11 includes a connector retaining plate 12 and an optical connector 13 that is attached to and detached from the connector retaining plate 12.

In FIG. 5, the optical connector 13 includes a ferrule 14 and a housing 15 that houses the ferrule 14.
The optical connector 13 will be described on the side of the joining end face 14a of the ferrule 14, that is, the left side in FIG. 7 is “front” and the opposite side, that is, the right side in FIG.
A stop ring 16 is assembled to the rear end portion of the housing 15.
The stop ring 16 has a sleeve shape, and the optical fiber 7 is passed through the inside thereof.
The ferrule 14 is attached to the tip of the optical fiber 7.
The optical fiber 7 extends from the rear end of the stop ring 16.

The housing 15 includes a sleeve-shaped housing main body 151 that houses the ferrule 4, and a plate-shaped insertion piece 152 that extends rearward from the housing main body 151.
As shown in FIG. 5, the housing body 151 is formed in a sleeve shape having a rectangular cross section. The insertion piece 152 has a shape in which one of the four side walls (the abutting wall 151 a) of the housing main body 151 is extended to the rear side of the housing main body 151.
A protrusion nail 123 protruding from the tip of a latch 122 (described later), which is an elastic nail protruding from the connector retaining plate 12, enters the contact wall 151a of the housing main body 151 so as to be detachable. An engaging recess 151b for releasably engaging is formed in a shape recessed from the outer surface of the corresponding wall 151a.
A portion of the housing 15 located on the rear side of the engagement recess 151b functions as an engagement portion with which the latch 122 (specifically, the protrusion 123) is detachably engaged.

  In the optical connector 13, the insertion piece 152 is inserted into an insertion piece support portion 121 projecting from a connector mounting surface 12 a (hereinafter also referred to as a surface 12 a) of the main body plate portion 12 A of the connector retaining plate 12, and the housing main body portion 151. The protrusions 123 of the latch 122 projecting from the connector retaining plate 12 are inserted into the engaging recesses 151 of this connector, and the latch 122 is engaged with the housing 15, so that the connector retaining plate 12 has a front surface. It is attached.

The connector retaining plate 12 is a panel made of metal or resin.
The connector retaining plate 12 is attached to a component such as an optical device (device) such as an optical wiring board or an optical closure, or a device such as a building component (device).
The connector retaining plate 12 includes a main body plate portion 12A and protrusions (a pair of L-shaped protrusions 121a in FIGS. 6A and 6B) that protrude from the surface 12a side of the main body plate portion 12A. The insertion piece support portion 121 is provided, and a latch 122 which is a tongue-like protrusion extending from the main body plate portion 12A so as to extend the main body plate portion 12A.

6 (a) and 6 (b), the insertion piece support portion 121 is configured in a substantially gate shape by a pair of L-shaped projections 121a that are provided on the surface 12a side of the main body plate portion 12A. The insertion piece support portion 121 supports the insertion piece 152 of the housing 15 of the optical connector 13 so as to be held from both sides by a pair of L-shaped projections 121a.
Each L-shaped protrusion 121a has a rising portion 121b raised from the main body plate portion 12A of the connector retaining plate 12 to the surface 12a side, and a main body plate portion 12A from the protruding tip of the rising portion 121b from the main body plate portion 12A. , And a pressing piece 121c that protrudes sideways.
The insertion piece 152 of the optical connector 13 is inserted into the inner space 121d surrounded by the pair of L-shaped protrusions 121a by sliding movement along the surface 12a of the main body plate portion 12A of the optical connector 13. The pair of L-shaped projections 121a supports the insertion piece 152 inserted into the inner space 121d so as to be sandwiched between the main body plate portion 12A of the connector retaining plate 12 by the pressing piece portion 121c.
Accordingly, the optical connector 13 is supported by the insertion piece support portion 121 in a state where the contact wall 151a of the housing 15 and the insertion piece 152 are in contact with the connector mounting surface 12a.

The latch 122 illustrated in FIGS. 6A, 6 </ b> B, and 7 is formed by forming a part of a plate material constituting the connector retaining plate 12 in a tongue shape, and the body plate portion of the connector retaining plate 12. A plate-like piece portion 124 extending from 12A, and a projecting claw 123 projecting from the projecting tip of the plate-like piece portion 124 from the main body plate portion 12A to the surface side of the connector retaining plate 12. ing.
The latch 122 extends along the central axis 121 e of the inner space 121 d of the insertion piece support portion 121 into which the insertion piece 152 of the optical connector 13 is inserted, and the protruding claw 123 at the tip of the latch 122 is the main body of the latch 122. It is located on the opposite side to the insertion piece support part 121 through the protruding base end part from the plate part 12A.

  When the insertion piece 152 of the optical connector 13 is inserted into the inner space 121d of the insertion piece support portion 121 by the sliding movement of the optical connector 13 along the surface 12a of the main body plate portion 12A of the connector retaining plate 12, the optical connector 13 When the side engaging recess 151b reaches the tip of the latch 122, the protrusion 123 at the tip of the latch 122 enters the engaging recess 151b, and the latch 122 engages with the housing 15 of the optical connector 13.

  The entire protrusion (or most part) of the protrusion 123 protrudes from the latch 122 to the surface side where the optical connector 13 of the connector retaining plate 12 is slid and moved. In the illustrated example, the plate-like piece portion 124 of the latch 122 forms a flat surface continuous from the surface 12a of the main body plate portion 12A. However, the latch 122 is inserted from the extension (virtual extension) of the surface 12a of the main body plate portion 12A so that the latch 122 can enter the engagement recess 151b on the side of the optical connector 13 and engage with the optical connector 13. The latch 122 may be projected from the surface side of the connector retaining plate 12, and the latch 122 may be displaced from a position where the plate-like piece portion 124 forms a continuous plane from the surface 12a of the main body plate portion 12A. You may incline with respect to 12 A of plate parts.

Further, the projecting claw 123 goes from the protruding front end side (left side in FIG. 7) of the latch 122 from the main body plate portion 12A to the proximal end side (right side in FIG. 7). The tapered shape is formed such that the dimension is gradually increased, and the inclined surface 125 is formed on the surface side of the connector retaining plate 12 by this tapered shape.
A vertical surface 126 that rises perpendicularly from the plate-like piece portion 124 is formed at the rear end of the protrusion 123, that is, the end portion of the latch 122 on the side close to the protruding base end portion from the main body plate portion 12A.
When the insertion piece 152 of the optical connector 13 is inserted into the insertion piece support portion 121, the protrusion 123 at the tip of the latch 122 is attached to the optical connector 13 that slides along the main body plate portion 12A of the connector retaining plate 12. At this time, the sliding of the optical connector 13 with respect to the latch 122 is smooth by the inclined surface 124 of the protrusion 123, and the latch 122 is not caught by the optical connector 13, so that the sliding movement of the optical connector 13 does not become an obstacle. .
When the projecting claw 123 enters the engaging recess 151b on the side of the optical connector 13, the insertion piece support portion 121 is engaged by the engagement between the vertical surface 126 of the projecting claw 123 and the inner surface of the engaging recess 151b of the optical connector 13. The optical connector 13 is restricted from moving in the direction in which the insertion piece 152 is pulled out from the cable.

As described above, when the latch 122 is engaged with the housing 15 of the optical connector 13, the movement of the optical connector 13 in the direction in which the insertion piece 152 is pulled out from the insertion piece support portion 121 is restricted. When the latch 122 is engaged with the housing 15 of the optical connector 13, the insertion of the insertion piece 152 into the insertion piece support portion 121 is completed, and the support of the optical connector 13 by the insertion piece support portion 121 is also realized. As a result, the optical connector 13 is fastened to the connector retaining plate 12.
That is, in the connector retaining unit 11, the insertion piece 152 of the optical connector 13 is simply inserted into the inner space 121 d of the insertion piece support portion 121 by sliding movement along the surface 12 a of the main body plate portion 12 A of the optical connector 13. The engagement of the latch 122 with the optical connector 13 is also automatically achieved, so that the optical connector 13 can be fastened to the connector retaining plate 12.

In FIG. 7, as indicated by an arrow B, the latch 122 engaged with the optical connector 13 (specifically, the housing 15) is elastically deformed to the back side opposite to the surface of the connector retaining plate 12, The engagement with the optical connector 13 can be released by extracting the protruding claw 123 at the tip of the latch 122 from the engagement recess 151 b on the side of the optical connector 13.
As a result, the insertion piece 152 can be extracted from the insertion piece support portion 121 by the sliding movement of the optical connector 13 along the connector holding plate 12, so that the optical connector 13 can be detached from the connector holding plate 12.
The latch 122 may be provided with a handle for facilitating the engagement release operation.

  In FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 7, the body plate portion 12A, the protrusion (L-shaped protrusion 121a) that constitutes the insertion piece support portion 121, and the latch 122 are formed as a single component. Although the connector retaining plate 12 is illustrated as an example, the present invention is not limited to this, and one or both of the protrusion and the latch 122 constituting the insertion piece support portion 121 are configured as separate parts fixed to the main body plate portion 12A. Can also be adopted.

According to this connector retaining unit 11, the optical connector 13 is slid along the main body plate portion 12A, and the insertion piece 152 of the optical connector 13 is simply inserted into the insertion piece support portion 121 of the connector retention plate 12. The latch 122 automatically engages with the engagement recess 151 b on the side of the housing 15 of the optical connector 13, so that the optical connector 13 can be easily fastened to the connector retaining plate 12.
Further, the optical connector 13 can be easily detached from the connector retaining plate 12 simply by operating the latch 122 to release the engagement with the optical connector 13.
Further, in this connector retaining unit 11, the optical connector 13 can be firmly secured to the connector retaining plate 12 in a predetermined direction by the insertion piece support portion 121 and the latch 122 so as not to be loose. . For this reason, there is also an advantage that optical characteristics can be stably maintained without worrying about characteristic deterioration due to looseness.

By the way, according to the connector retaining units 1, 11 described above, the optical connectors 3, 13 are retained by the connector retaining plates 2, 2 </ b> A, 12 in a direction along the connector retaining plates 2, 2 </ b> A, 12. That is, the optical connectors 3 and 13 are arranged such that the central axes C3 and C13 of the optical connectors 3 and 13 (in other words, the central axes of the sleeve-shaped housings 5 and 15) are oriented along the connector retaining plate. Attached to the connector retaining plate.
For this reason, in contrast to the case where a plurality of optical connectors are fastened to the connector retaining plate, when the optical connector is vertically mounted on the connector retaining plate (for example, an optical connector adapter type or optical connector receptacle type in which the optical connector is attached to the panel). The size of the projection of the optical connector from the connector retaining plate is small compared to the case where the optical connector is inserted and connected to the panel and held in a direction perpendicular to the panel. There are advantages.

  In the connector retaining unit according to the present invention, for example, by arranging a plurality of optical connectors side by side on the connector retaining plate and retaining them (for example, see FIG. 8), high-density mounting of the optical connector on the connector retaining plate can be easily realized. it can. In addition, it is possible to ensure good workability when the optical connector secured to the connector retaining plate is detached from the connector retaining plate by the operation of the latch on the optical connector side or the connector retaining plate side.

In the connector retaining plate 2 of the connector retaining unit 1, 1 </ b> A of the first embodiment, the portion of the connector retaining plate 2 in which the retaining elongated hole 21 is formed, that is, the elongated hole 21 and the locking portions 24, 26. The portion where the is formed functions as a connector holding portion 1B for holding the optical connector in a detachable manner.
In the connector retaining unit 11 of the second embodiment, in the connector retaining plate 12, the pair of the insertion piece support portion 121 and the latch 122 functions as a connector retaining portion 11A for detachably retaining the optical connector.
When a plurality of optical connectors are arranged side by side on the connector drawing plate and are fastened, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, a connector holding plate in which a plurality of connector holding portions are provided side by side is employed.
As the connector holding portion 102A of the connector drawing plate 106 shown in FIG. 8, for example, the connector holding unit 1 of the first embodiment, the connector holding portion 1B of 1A, and the connector holding portion of the connector drawing unit 11 of the second embodiment. 11A or the like can be adopted.

  Further, if the optical connector is structured to be fastened to the connector retaining plate in the direction along the connector retaining plate, the rear end of the optical fiber 7 (in the optical connectors 3 and 13 of the first and second embodiments). The optical fiber pigtail 71, which is a portion extending from the rear ends of the stop rings 6 and 16, can also be wired in the direction along the connector tension plate. For this reason, as compared with the case where the optical connector is vertically attached to the connector retaining plate, it is possible to easily secure the wiring space (storage space) of the optical fiber pigtail 71 and save the space.

(Light closure)
Next, the optical closure 100 according to the present invention will be described.
The optical closure 100 also functions as an optical device according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 8, the optical closure 100 has a structure in which a connector retaining unit 102, an optical connector adapter 103, and a connecting unit 104 according to the present invention are housed in a closure sleeve 101.
Here, the connector retaining unit 102 is the connector retaining unit 1 of the first embodiment described above or the connector retaining unit 11 of the second embodiment.

The connecting unit 104 is provided with gripping parts 104b for gripping and fixing the optical fiber cable 105 drawn into the closure sleeve 101 at both ends of an elongated connecting rod 104a.
The connector retaining plate 106 of the connector retaining unit 102 is fixed to the connecting unit 104 (specifically, here, the connecting rod 104a).
The optical connector adapter 103 (receiving optical connector) is also fixed to the connecting unit 104 (specifically, the connecting rod 104a here).
When the closure sleeve 101 is disassembled and removed, the connector retaining plate 106 and the optical connector adapter 103 attached to the connection unit 104 can be exposed together with the connection unit 104.

The connector retaining unit 102 includes the connector retaining plate 106 and an optical connector 107 that can be attached to and detached from the connector retaining plate 106.
The optical connector 107 is attached to the tip of an optical fiber 105a (for example, an optical fiber core wire) drawn from the optical fiber cable 105, and terminates the optical fiber 105a so that the connector can be connected.
The optical connector 107 can be removed from the connector retaining plate 106 and connected to the optical connector adapter 103. The optical connector 107 can be inserted into and removed from the optical connector adapter 103, and can be selectively attached to the optical connector adapter 103 and the connector retaining plate 106.

The optical connector adapter 103 includes an optical connector 109 (optical connector plug) attached to the tip of an optical drop cable 108 (drawing line) drawn into the closure sleeve 101, and a tip of the optical fiber 105a on the optical fiber cable 105 side. It functions as a connection housing (receiving optical connector) for connecting the optical connector 107 attached to the connector.
By connecting the optical connector 107 on the optical fiber cable 105 side and the optical connector 109 on the optical drop cable side 108 with the optical connector adapter 103, the optical fiber 105 a on the optical fiber cable 105 side and the optical drop cable 108 side The optical fiber 108a (for example, an optical fiber strand) is optically connected.
The optical drop cable 108 is an optical fiber cable for dropping from the optical fiber cable 105 to the subscriber's house, and is an optical fiber cable having a smaller number of cores (for example, single core) than the optical fiber cable 105. The optical closure 100 has a function of accommodating a connection portion (here, the optical connector adapter 103 and the optical connectors 107 and 109) between the optical fiber cable 105 and the optical drop cable 108.

As described above, the connector retaining unit according to the present invention is suitable for housing the optical closure 100 in the closure sleeve 101 since it can be used to save a plurality of optical connectors in a space-saving manner.
Further, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the connector retaining unit 102 is configured so that the optical connector 107 is retained by the connector retaining plate 106 in a direction in which the central axis C107 of the optical connector 107 is parallel to the connecting rod 104a of the connecting unit 104. It is preferable to make it.
Thus, in the vicinity of the connector retaining plate 106, the optical fiber pigtail 71 extending from the rear end of the optical connector 107 is wired along the connecting rod 104a of the connecting unit 104. Therefore, the optical fiber cable inside the closure sleeve 101 is used. This is advantageous in terms of avoiding interference with the stored items extending in the direction along the connecting rod 104a of the connecting unit 14 such as 105. Further, when the elongated closure sleeve 101 along the connecting rod 104a of the connecting unit 104 is employed, it is advantageous in terms of effective utilization of the inner space of the closure sleeve 101.

(Another aspect of connector retaining unit for optical closure)
Next, another aspect of the connector retaining unit for the optical closure 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 (a), 9 (b), 10, and 11.
A connector retaining unit 201 shown in FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 10 includes a connector retaining plate 202 that is attached to a device, and an optical connector 203 that is attached to and detached from the connector retaining plate 202.

A plurality of pins 204 for holding the optical connector 203 project from one side of the connector retaining plate 202 (connector mounting surface 202a).
In FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 10, the housing 203a of the optical connector 203 is detachably fitted between the two pins 204 so that the optical connector 203 is held by the connector retaining plate 202. The structure which is kept in is illustrated. However, the group of pins 204 (connector holding portion 204A) that holds one optical connector 203 is not limited to two, and may be three or more.

In this connector retaining unit 201, the connector holding portion that holds one optical connector 203 has a structure in which the housing 203a of the optical connector 203 is sandwiched from both sides by a plurality of pins 204 and is detachably held.
The plurality of pins 204 constituting the connector holding portion 204A are arranged on both sides of the connector installation space 204S in which the optical connector 203 held by the connector holding portion 204A is provided.
The width dimension W6 of the connector installation space 204S determined by the distance between the pins 204 on both sides of the connector installation space 204S is slightly narrower than the width dimension of the optical connector 203 to be held.
Each pin 204 is elastically deformable, and is slightly elastically deformed when the optical connector 203 having a size (width dimension) slightly larger than the width dimension W6 of the connector installation space 204S is pushed into the connector installation space 204S. Thus, the optical connector 203 is allowed to be pushed into the connector installation space 204S, and the optical connector 203 pushed into the connector installation space 204S is held by being elastically sandwiched from both sides.

  The optical connector 203 held by the connector holding portion 204A can be brought into contact with the connector mounting surface 202a of the connector retaining plate 202, thereby suppressing the protrusion of the optical connector 203 from the connector retaining plate 202, and saving. Space can be achieved.

As shown in FIG. 11, specifically, the pin 204 has a split structure.
A plurality (two in the illustrated example) of the pins 204 constituting a connector holding portion for holding one optical connector 203 is one of a pair of half halves 204a and 204b (here, a pin 204a). The half body) is provided on the side of the connector installation space 204S, and the other pin half body 204b is provided on the side opposite to the connector installation space 204S via the one pin half body 204a.
A slit 204c exists between the pair of pin halves 204a and 204b.
The pin halves 204a and 204b of the pin 204 are made of metal or resin and can be elastically deformed.
As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, when the optical connector 3 is pushed into the connector installation space 204S, the pin half 204a near the connector installation space 204S is elastic toward the outside of the connector installation space 204S. The optical connector 203 is held between the pin halves 204a of the pins 204 on both sides of the connector installation space 204S.
When the elastically deformed pin half 204a comes into contact with the pin half 204b, the pressing force from the optical connector 203 is borne by the pair of pin halves 204a and 204b. Accordingly, further deformation of the pin half 204a on the side close to the connector installation space 204S can be suppressed, and the inconvenience that the pin half 204a is damaged by excessive bending can be prevented, and the life of the pin 204 can be extended. be able to.

Also in this connector retaining unit 201, the optical connector 203 is oriented along the connector retaining plate 202, that is, the center axis C203 of the optical connector 203 (specifically, the central axis of the sleeve-like housing 203a) is oriented along the connector retaining plate 202. Then, it is attached to the connector retaining plate 202 and fastened.
A plurality of optical connectors 203 can be secured to one connector retaining plate 202 in a side-by-side arrangement to realize high-density mounting, as in the connector retaining unit illustrated in the other embodiments.

  In the connector retaining unit 201 described above, the configuration in which the connector holding portion 204A is installed only on one surface of the connector retaining plate 202 is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the connector retaining portion 204A is disposed on both surfaces of the connector retaining plate 202. Such a configuration can also be adopted.

The connector retaining unit 201 illustrated here can be applied as the connector retaining unit 102 for the optical closure 100 illustrated in FIG. 8, but is also applicable to various optical devices such as an optical wiring board and an optical termination box. It goes without saying that it is possible.
However, the optical device applicable here includes a receiving side optical connector such as an optical connector adapter and an optical connector receptacle to which an optical connector detached from the connector retaining plate can be connected.

In the above-described embodiment, the optical closure is exemplified as the optical device provided with the connector retaining unit according to the present invention. However, the optical device according to the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, an optical wiring board, an optical component, etc. Various optical devices such as end boxes can be used as installation targets.
Further, the optical device to be installed includes a receiving side optical connector such as an optical connector adapter or an optical connector receptacle, to which an optical connector detached from the connector retaining plate can be connected.
However, the present invention is excellent in terms of the mounting density of the optical connector on the connector retaining plate and the detachability workability, and does not pursue the “number” of optical connectors that are attached to the connector retaining plate and fastened. For example, it is particularly effective for retaining several to fifty optical connectors. For this reason, for example, it is suitable for application to an optical device such as an optical closure.

In the connector drawing unit of 1st Embodiment of this invention, it is a figure which shows the state which fastened the optical connector to the connector drawing board, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front sectional view. It is a top view which shows the connector retention board of the connector retention unit of FIG. It is a figure which shows another aspect of the connector retention unit of 1st Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (a) is a top view which shows the state which fastened the optical connector to the connector retention plate, (b) is the same sectional drawing. . FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a connector retaining plate of the connector retaining unit of FIG. 3. It is a perspective view which shows the optical connector of the connector retention unit of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 6A and 6B are views showing a connector drawing plate of the connector drawing unit of FIG. 5, wherein FIG. 6A is a perspective view seen from the back side, and FIG. 6B is a perspective view seen from the front side. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a connector retaining plate of the connector retaining unit of FIG. 5, and is a partially broken front view showing a state in which the optical connector is fastened to the connector retaining plate. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of the optical closure which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows another aspect of the connector retention unit for optical closures which concerns on this invention, Comprising: (a) is a side view which shows the state from which the optical connector was removed from the connector retention plate, (b) is the front end side of an optical connector It is the figure seen from. FIG. 10 is a front view showing a state where the optical connector is fastened to the connector drawing plate, showing the connector drawing unit of FIG. 9. It is an enlarged view which shows the pin which comprises the connector holding part in the connector retention unit of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,1A ... Connector retaining unit, 1B ... Connector holding part 2, 2A ... Connector retaining plate, 21 ... Elongation hole, 21a ... Elongate hole (main elongated hole), 21b ... Elongated hole, 22 ... Surface (connector attachment) Surface), 23 ... back surface, 24 ... locking portion (locking projection), 26 ... locking portion, 3 ... optical connector, 5 ... housing, 52 ... latch, 52a ... rise-up portion, 52b ... latch main body portion, 52c ... engagement release lever, 52d ... projection claw, 53 ... stabilization projection,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Connector retaining unit, 11A ... Connector holding part, 12 ... Connector retaining plate, 12A ... Main body plate part, 12a ... Connector mounting surface (front surface), 12b ... Back surface, 121 ... Insertion piece support part, 122 ... Latch, 13 ... Optical connector, 14 ... ferrule, 15 ... housing, 151b ... engagement part (engagement recess), 152 ... insertion piece,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Optical closure, 101 ... Closure sleeve, 102 ... Connector retaining unit, 102A ... Connector holding part, 103 ... Optical connector adapter, 104 ... Connection unit, 105 ... Optical fiber cable, 105a ... Optical fiber, 106 ... Connector retaining plate, 107: optical connector, 108: another optical fiber (optical drop cable), 109: optical connector,
201 ... Connector drawing unit, 202 ... Connector drawing plate, 203 ... Optical connector, 204A ... Connector holding part.

Claims (9)

A connector retaining plate (2, 2A) attached to the device (100, 104) and an optical connector (3) attached to and detached from the connector retaining plate;
The optical connector protrudes from the side surface of the optical connector and extends in the front-rear direction of the optical connector along the side surface of the optical connector, and the connector retaining plate can be sandwiched between the optical connector and the side surface of the optical connector. Comprising a latch (52) which is an elastic piece;
The connector retaining plate is provided on an elongated hole (21a) into which the latch on the side portion of the optical connector is removably inserted, and on one end portion side of the elongated hole. A locking portion (24) in which a projecting claw (52d) protruding from the back surface (23) side opposite to the front surface (22) side with which the side surface abuts is detachably engaged. 26)
By inserting the latch of the optical connector from the front surface side of the connector retaining plate into the back surface side of the connector retaining plate through the elongated hole, and engaging the protrusion with the locking portion, the optical connector is A connector retaining unit (1, 1A) which is secured to the connector retaining plate. In the connector retaining plate, a narrow slot (21b) narrower than the slot is formed so as to extend from one end of the slot,
On the side of the optical connector, a steady-state projection (53) that can be inserted into and removed from the elongated hole is spaced from the leading end of the latch to the side opposite to the protruding base end from the optical connector. Protruding at the position
In the optical connector, the latch is guided by the inner surface of the elongated hole by inserting the latch into the back surface side of the connector retaining plate through the elongated hole and inserting the steady-state projection into the elongated hole. 2. The connector pulling unit according to claim 1, wherein the steady-state projection is guided by the inner surface of the elongated hole and can move along the elongated hole and the elongated hole. The latch includes a projecting raised portion (52a) projecting on the side surface of the housing (5) of the optical connector, and a connecting end portion side of the optical connector along the side surface of the housing from the tip of the raised portion. A latch main body portion (52b) extending toward the front end side, and a disengagement lever (52c) that is a protruding piece extending from the latch main body portion toward the rear end side of the optical connector than the rising portion. Equipped,
The latch is inserted from the front surface side of the connector retaining plate into the back surface side of the connector retaining plate through the elongated hole, and the protrusion is engaged with the locking portion, so that the optical connector is attached to the connector retaining plate. In the state of being held, the latch release lever provided close to the housing of the optical connector via a clearance approaches the housing so that the latch main body is integrated with the engagement release lever. It is possible to release the engagement of the protruding claw engaged with the engaging portion with respect to the engaging portion by rotating around the tip of the rising portion so as to be separated from the housing of the optical connector. The connector retaining unit according to claim 1 or 2. A connector retaining plate (12) attached to the device (100, 104) and an optical connector (13) attached to and detached from the connector retaining plate;
The optical connector includes a ferrule (14) and a housing that houses the ferrule, and the housing is a plug that is a protruding piece that extends to the rear end side opposite to the connection end of the optical connector. A piece (152) is formed,
The connector retaining plate is
A body plate portion (12A) having a connector mounting surface (12a) against which the housing (15) of the optical connector is brought into contact;
The optical connector is protruded from the connector mounting surface of the main body plate portion, and the insertion piece of the optical connector is removably inserted so that the side surface of the housing is in contact with the connector mounting surface. An insertion piece support part (121) for supporting the state;
It is formed in the shape of a tongue piece extending so as to extend the main body plate portion from the main body plate portion, and is provided on the side surface of the housing of the optical connector in which the insertion piece is inserted and supported by the insertion piece support portion. A latch (122) that is an elastic claw that restricts the movement of the optical connector in a direction in which the insertion piece is pulled out from the insertion piece support portion by being detachably engaged with the engagement portion (151b); And
The latch can be engaged with the engagement portion of the optical connector by inserting the insertion piece into the insertion piece support portion by sliding movement along the connector mounting surface of the optical connector. Connector retaining unit (11).   5. The connector retaining unit according to claim 4, wherein the latch is formed by forming a part of a plate material constituting the connector retaining plate into a tongue shape.   An optical connector adapter (103) capable of connecting the connector retaining unit (102) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and the optical connector (107) removed from the connector retaining plate (106) of the connector retaining unit. An optical device (100) comprising a receiving side optical connector which is an optical connector receptacle. A light closure,
The connector pulling unit (102) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is housed in a closure sleeve (101) into which an optical fiber cable (105) has been drawn, and an optical fiber drawn from the optical fiber cable ( The optical closure (100) is characterized in that 105a) is terminated to be connectable to another optical fiber (108) by the optical connector (107) of the connector retaining unit. An optical drop cable (108) in which the further optical fiber is drawn into the closure sleeve;
The optical connector adapter (103) for connecting the optical connector and the optical connector (109) attached to the optical drop cable is housed in a closure sleeve. closure. A connector retaining plate (2, 2A, 12, 106, 202) and a connector holding portion (1B, 11A, 102A, 204A) provided on the connector retaining plate are detachably mounted in the closure sleeve (101). A connector retaining unit (1, 1A, 11, 102, 201) composed of optical connectors (3, 13, 107, 203) is housed.
The optical fiber (105a) drawn out from the optical fiber cable is terminated so as to be connectable to another optical fiber (108) by the optical connector of the connector drawing unit.
An optical closure (100), wherein the optical connector is detachably attached to the connector retaining plate in an orientation along the connector retaining plate by engagement or fitting into the connector holding portion. ).

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