A cleaning tool includes: a head including: a pressing part that presses a cleaning element against an object to be cleaned in a pressing direction, and having a first dimension in a width direction orthogonal to the pressing direction; and a neck part having a second dimension smaller than the first dimension in the width direction; and a housing that houses the head such that the pressing part and the neck part protrude from the housing in the pressing direction. A length of the housing in the width direction is equal to or greater than a length of protrusion of the pressing part protruding from the housing in the pressing direction.

A connection system may include fiber optic connectors and an optical receptacle into which the connectors are plugged. The fiber optic connectors are constructed so that the width of the connectors is small. Eight fiber optic connectors can be received in an opening of a QSFP style transceiver.

A fiber alignment device is provided that includes a curable refractive index-matching gel that exhibits self-cleaning and self-healing characteristics upon multiple cycles of insertion and removal of an optical fiber.

An example method of filling epoxy in a fiber optic connector includes: applying the epoxy to a ferrule of a first connector at a first pressure for a first period of time; applying the epoxy to the first connector at a second pressure for a second period of time until the epoxy is sensed to exit a hole defined by the ferrule of the first connector; comparing the second period of time to a threshold; when the second period of time is greater than the threshold, increasing the first pressure, the first period of time, or the second pressure; and when the second period of time is less than the threshold, decreasing the first pressure, the first period of time, or the second pressure.

An optical connection system for use with a receptacle and an optical cable assembly includes an adapter and connector. The adapter has an adapter latch element, and the connector has a connector latch element. A delatch actuator with a delatch arm is disposed on the connector housing for movement from a locking position to an unlocking position. One of the adapter latch element and connector latch element is a bendable latch hook and the other is a locking channel. When the connector housing is mated with the adapter, the delatch arm allows the bendable latch hook to latch with the locking channel in the locking position and unlatches the bendable latch hook from the locking channel as it moves to the unlocking position. An actuator lock movably supports a blocking member on the connector for selectively blocking the delatch actuator from moving to the unlocking position.

A drop terminal mounting system includes a fiber drop terminal having a housing and a base attached to the housing. The housing includes an outer surface containing a plurality of receptacles and cooperatively defines an inner cavity with the base. The drop terminal mounting system further includes a bracket having a first fastening region and a second fastening region adapted to secure the drop terminal to the bracket.

Systems, assemblies and methods for deploying an optical fiber through a duct to a customer premises. A blowable section of the optical fiber is blown through the duct. A non-blowable section of the optical fiber is coupled to a trail end of the duct. The non-blowable section can be terminated with a hardened or ruggedized connector. The optical fiber, including both the blowable and non-blowable sections, can be wound around a spool for easy payout of the blowable section.

An optical fiber ferrule polishing holder for suppressing difference of protruded lengths of optical fiber ferrules protruded from the optical fiber ferrule polishing holder and difference of angles of the optical fiber ferrules. Even when force is applied to cables connected to the optical fiber ferrules, polishing performance of connectors is less affected. An optical fiber ferrule polishing holder for holding an optical fiber ferrule incorporated in a connector, including: a holder body having a plate shape; and an adapter fixed to the holder body so that the connector is locked to the adapter, wherein the holder body includes an insertion hole into which the optical fiber ferrule is inserted, and an upper surface of the holder body presses the optical fiber ferrule at a peripheral position of the insertion hole to contract a spring built in the connector when the connector is locked to the adapter.

An optical connection structure includes a MCF, a first ferrule, a plurality of optical fibers, and a second ferrule. The MCF includes first cores and a first cladding. The first ferrule has a first inner hole and a first ferrule end surface. Each optical fiber optically connected to the MCF includes a second core and a second cladding. The second ferrule has a second inner hole housing tip parts of the optical fibers, and a second ferrule end surface. The second ferrule fixes the tip parts of the optical fibers in the second inner hole by an adhesive. The adhesive is packed in the second inner hole such that a surface of the adhesive is recessed from the second ferrule end surface into the second inner hole. A refractive-index matching material is applied in a space sealed by the first ferrule end surface and the second ferrule end surface.

A cover for a fiber optic cable connection includes a cap portion having a first housing portion having a first housing wall, a second housing portion having a second housing wall, and a coupler portion that couples the first housing portion and the second housing portion in a closed position. The first housing wall and the second housing wall define a housing opening. A sealing assembly is received within the housing opening and has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface defines a sealing opening that receives a fiber optic cable. The outer surface contacts at least one of the first housing wall or the second housing wall when the sealing assembly is received within the housing opening. The sealing assembly creates an additional seal when the first housing wall and the second housing wall compress the sealing assembly onto a union portion.