Connector for optical fiber cables

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 1.
A connector for an optical fiber cable which comprises at least an optical fiber surrounded by a tension resisting member comprising at least one yarn, said connector comprising: a hollow cylindrical body having a first end and a second end; means for securing said body to another body; a lens support mounted in said hollow cylindrical body for sliding movement axially of the latter in the direction from said first end toward said second end of said body, said support having an axially extending bore for receiving said optical fiber and said lens support being securable to the outer surface of said optical fiber for causing axial movement of said lens support with axial movement of said optical fiber; a lens mounted in said bore at the end thereof nearer said first end of said body for receiving an end of said fiber in energy coupling relation; elastic means acting between said hollow cylindrical body and said lens support and urging said lens support toward said first end of said body; and means for securing said tension resisting member to said hollow cylindrical body; whereby with forces applied to said cable which tend to pull the optical fiber out of said hollow cylindrical body, said lens support moves axially against the force of said elastic means until slack in said tension resisting member is taken up at which time the pulling force is applied to the hollow cylindrical body by said tension resisting member.
2.
A connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said another body comprises: a further hollow cylindrical body axially alignable with the first-mentioned said hollow cylindrical body; a further lens support mounted in said further hollow cylindrical body for sliding movement axially of the latter, said further lens support having an axially extending bore for receiving an end of a further optical fiber in a further cable and surrounded by a further tension resisting member; a further lens mounted in said bore of said further lens support at the end thereof which faces said end of said bore of the first-mentioned said lens support for receiving an end of said further optical fiber in energy coupling relation; and further means for securing said further tension resisting member to said further hollow cylindrical body