Optical connector adapter having switching capability

An adapter for an optical fiber connector has a switch mounted therein and an actuation lever contained therein for actuating the switch to turn optical power on. The lever has an enlarged rear portion separated from a front portion by a flexible web. The adapter has an opening therein for receiving a connector plug which is masked by the enlarged portion of the lever when in the operative position. When a plug is to be inserted, the enlarged portion is bent up to unmask the opening. After the plug is inserted, the rear portion is aligned with the front portion of the lever and the lever slid forward to actuate the switch. In the forward position, the enlarged portion prevents access to the latching arm of the connector plug so that it cannot be removed while the power is on. The lever must be slid to the rear, turning off the power, before the connector can be removed. Latches maintain the lever in its forward, or Power On position, which can be overcome to permit sliding the lever to the rear, or Power Off position, before access to the connector plug latching arm can be had.

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What is claimed is:

1. An optical fiber coupling adapter assembly comprising: an adapter housing having first and second ends and having an open receptacle therein for receiving a connector plugat said first end; an actuation lever movably mounted in said adapter between said first and second ends having a first, Power Off, position when moved toward said first end and a second, Power On, position when moved toward said second end; a sensingmechanism at said second end responsive to said actuation lever in its Power On position for providing an indication of the Power On position of the lever; said lever, in its Power Off position, providing access to said receptacle for insertion of aconnector plug into said first end of said adapter housing; and said lever, in its Power On position, blocking the connector plug for preventing its removal from said housing.

2. A coupling adapter assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuation lever is slidably mounted in said adapter for movement between said first and second positions.

3. A coupling adapter assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said actuation lever has a first latching member thereon for affixing said lever in said Power On position.

4. A coupling adapter assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said actuating lever has a second latching member thereon for preventing its accidental withdrawal from said adapter.

5. A coupling adapter assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said actuation lever comprises a front portion and a rear portion, joined by a flexible web.

6. A coupling adapter assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein said actuation lever has a nose portion for actuating said sensing mechanism in the Power On position.

7. A coupling adapter assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein said sensing mechanism is a switch having a plunger adapted to actuate said switch when moved by said nose portion.

8. A coupling adapter assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein said rear portion of said actuation lever has an enlarged end adapted to mask the connector plug when said actuation lever is in the Power On position to prevent removal thereof.

9. A coupling adapter assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said adapter housing comprises a first, base, member and a second, cap, member insertable therein which, when joined together, form a split adapter, said cap member being adapted toreceive a connector plug therein and having first and second resilient latching arms for latching said cap member to said base member.

10. A coupling adapter assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein said resilient latching arms bear against a connector plug when it is inserted in said cap member to prevent said cap member from becoming unlatched from said base.

11. A coupling adapter assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein said cap member has a top portion containing a longitudinal slot therein in which said actuation lever is slidably contained.

12. A coupling adapter assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein said cap member has a top latching arm having a latching lug thereon for mating with a latching shoulder at a top portion of said base.

13. A coupling adapter assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein said actuation lever has a post extending therefrom which bears against an underside of said top latching arm to prevent its unlatching when said actuation lever is in the Power Onposition.

14. A method of forming an active optical fiber connection with a buildout coupling adapter wherein the adapter comprises a base member and a cap member, the base member having a connector plug receptacle and a sensing mechanism and the capmember having a connector plug receptacle and an actuation lever slidably mounted thereon, the actuation lever having a Power Off and a Power On position, said cap member further having latching members for latching the cap member to the base member,comprising the steps of inserting the cap member into the base member until it latches thereto; moving the actuation lever to its Power Off position; bending the actuation lever to where it clears the connector plug receptacle in the cap member; inserting a connector plug into the cap member receptacle; and sliding the actuation lever forward to its Power On position to actuate the sensing mechanism.

15. A method of disconnecting the buildout coupling adapter of claim 14 comprising the steps of sliding the actuation lever to its Power Off position; bending the end of the actuation lever upward; and removing the connector plug from the capmember.