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US-20260126595-A1 - FIBER OPTIC CONNECTOR CLEANING DEVICES

US20260126595A1US 20260126595 A1US20260126595 A1US 20260126595A1US-20260126595-A1

Abstract

Cleaning devices for cleaning fiber optic connectors are disclosed. In one example, a cleaning device housing has a connector port to receive a fiber optic connector having a ferrule, and a gel holder with an insert is positioned within the device housing with cleaning gel supported on the insert to contact the ferrule. An adjustable activation member can activate the gel holder to enable the gel holder to move relative to the device housing to engage the cleaning gel with the ferrule of the fiber optic connector mated with the connector port for cleaning. Another cleaning device has a device housing with a plug portion insertable into one an adapter. The device housing has an internal gel seat that fits inside the adapter. A cleaning gel seated on the internal gel seat contacts a ferrule of a fiber optic connector inserted into an opposite end of the fiber optic adapter.

Inventors

  • Siu Kei Ma
  • Jimmy Chang
  • Yohei OMODAKA

Assignees

  • SENKO ADVANCED COMPONENTS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20251106

Claims (15)

  1. 1 . A cleaning device for cleaning fiber optic connectors, the cleaning device comprising: a device housing having a connector port configured to receive a fiber optic connector having a ferrule; a gel holder comprising an insert positioned within the device housing; a cleaning gel supported on the insert and configured to contact the ferrule; and an adjustable activation member configured to be adjusted to activate the gel holder to enable the gel holder to move relative to the device housing to engage the cleaning gel with the ferrule of the fiber optic connector mated with the connector port for cleaning.
  2. 2 . The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable activation member comprises an activation strip.
  3. 3 . The cleaning device of claim 2 , wherein the activation strip comprises a locking portion and a pull tab.
  4. 4 . The cleaning device of claim 3 , wherein the gel holder has an activation slot configured to receive the locking portion.
  5. 5 . The cleaning device of claim 4 , wherein the activation strip is configured to enable activation of the gel holder by pulling the pull tab to withdraw the locking portion from the activation slot.
  6. 6 . The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the gel holder comprises a head opposite the insert, the head being external to the device housing.
  7. 7 . The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the insert includes a latch protrusion and the device housing includes a retention groove located internally, the latch protrusion configured to slidably engage the retention groove and retain the gel holder on the device housing via engagement with the retention groove.
  8. 8 . The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable activation member comprises an activation button.
  9. 9 . The cleaning device of claim 8 , wherein the gel holder comprises a button arm supporting the activation button.
  10. 10 . The cleaning device of claim 9 , wherein the button arm is bendable.
  11. 11 . The cleaning device of claim 8 , wherein the device housing includes a button opening configured to receive the activation button to latch the gel holder in an inactive position relative to the device housing.
  12. 12 . The cleaning device of claim 11 , wherein the activation button is configured to be depressed transversely of the device housing to unlatch from the button opening and allow longitudinal movement of the gel holder relative to the device housing for cleaning.
  13. 13 . The cleaning device of claim 8 , further comprising a viewing window in the device housing.
  14. 14 . The cleaning device of claim 13 , further comprising a cleaning status indicator visible through the viewing window during cleaning.
  15. 15 - 20 . (canceled)

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 63/716,860 and 63/716,892, both filed Nov. 6, 2024, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. FIELD The present disclosure relates to fiber optic connector cleaning devices. BACKGROUND Fiber optic communication systems have become widespread in telecommunications networks due to their ability to transmit large volumes of data over long distances with minimal signal loss. These systems rely on precise optical connections between fiber optic connectors to maintain signal integrity and network performance. However, contamination of connector end faces by dust, dirt, oil, and other particles can significantly degrade optical transmission quality, leading to increased insertion loss, higher return loss, and potential network outages. Various cleaning methods have been developed to address connector contamination, including wet cleaning techniques using solvents and dry cleaning approaches utilizing specialized cleaning tools such as cassette cleaners and pen-type cleaners. While these cleaning solutions have improved connector maintenance practices, challenges remain in providing convenient, effective cleaning methods that can be easily deployed in field environments and manufacturing facilities where fiber optic connectors may be exposed to contaminants during handling, storage, and installation processes. SUMMARY This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. In one aspect, a cleaning device for cleaning fiber optic connectors comprises a device housing having a connector port configured to receive a fiber optic connector having a ferrule. A gel holder comprises an insert positioned within the device housing. A cleaning gel is supported on the insert and configured to contact the ferrule. An adjustable activation member is configured to be adjusted to activate the gel holder to enable the gel holder to move relative to the device housing to engage the cleaning gel with the ferrule of the fiber optic connector mated with the connector port for cleaning. In another aspect, a cleaning device for cleaning fiber optic connectors comprises a device housing having a plug portion configured to be inserted into one end of a fiber optic adapter. The device housing comprises an internal gel seat configured to be received inside the fiber optic adapter when the plug portion is inserted into the fiber optic adapter. A cleaning gel is positioned within the internal gel seat and configured to contact a ferrule of a fiber optic connector inserted into an opposite end of the fiber optic adapter when the plug portion is inserted into the fiber optic adapter. The foregoing general description of the illustrative embodiments and the following detailed description thereof are merely exemplary aspects of the teachings of this disclosure and are not restrictive. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES Non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples are described with reference to the following figures. FIG. 1 is a perspective of a cleaning device; FIG. 2 is a perspective of the cleaning device connected to a fiber optic connector; FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective of the assembly in FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a perspective of a gel holder of the cleaning device; FIG. 5 is a perspective of a device housing of the cleaning device; FIG. 6 is an elevation of the assembly in FIG. 2; FIG. 7 is a cross section taken in the plane of line 7-7 of FIG. 6; FIG. 8 is a perspective showing removal of an activation strip of the cleaning device; FIG. 9 is a perspective showing a head of the gel holder being pressed to clean the fiber optic connector connected to the cleaning device; FIG. 10 a perspective similar to FIG. 9 but showing the device housing in cross section to reveal internal components; FIG. 11 is a cross section of the scene in FIG. 9; FIG. 12 is a perspective showing disconnection of the fiber optic connector from the cleaning device after cleaning; FIG. 13 is a perspective of another embodiment of a cleaning device; FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective of the cleaning device of FIG. 13; FIG. 15 is a perspective of the cleaning device of FIG. 13 with a dust cap removed; FIG. 16 is a perspective of the cleaning device of FIG. 13 connected to the fiber optic connector; FIG. 17 is an enlarged perspective of the assembly in FIG. 16 showing a device housing in cross section to reveal internal components; FIG. 18 is a perspective of the cleaning device of FIG. 13 connected to the fiber optic connector, showing during an active cleaning stage. FIG. 19 is an enlarged perspective of the scene in FIG. 18 showing the device housing in cross section