1. A dust cap for use with an optical fiber connector, the optical fiber connector having a ferrule with an outer diameter, the dust cap comprising:
a sleeve having a central axis, the sleeve defining a cavity for receiving at least a portion of the ferrule, the cavity extending along the central axis of the sleeve and having an open end positioned opposite from a closed end, at least a portion of the cavity defining an internal diameter sized for receiving the outer diameter of the ferrule, the sleeve also including a textured light disbursing surface positioned within the cavity at the closed end of the cavity for disbursing light that is transmitted through the ferrule into the cavity of the dust cap;
wherein the textured light disbursing surface is set at an angle to the central axis of the sleeve; and
wherein the light is disbursed radially relative to the central axis of the sleeve and thereby illuminates at least a portion of an exterior of the dust cap facing radially away from the central axis.
2. The dust cap of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is made from a transparent material.
3. The dust cap of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is made from a translucent material.
4. The dust cap of claim 1, wherein the textured light disbursing surface includes a plurality of peaks and valleys.
5. The dust cap of claim 1, wherein the textured light disbursing surface includes a plurality of projections.
6. (canceled)
7. The dust cap of claim 1, wherein the angle is in a range of 15 to 80 degrees.
8. The dust cap of claim 1, wherein the textured light disbursing surface defines a first conical shape.
9. The dust cap of claim 8, wherein the first conical shape has a central axis that is aligned with the central axis of the sleeve.
10. The dust cap of claim 9, wherein the sleeve defines a second conical shape within the cavity, the second conical shape being positioned between the first conical shape and the open end of the cavity, the second conical shape defining a central axis that is aligned with the central axis of the first conical shape.
11. The dust cap of claim 1, further comprising a dopant provided in the sleeve for absorbing light of a selected frequency.
12-15. (canceled)
16. A dust plug for use with an optical fiber adapter, the dust plug comprising:
a flange;
a sleeve that projects outwardly from the flange in a first direction, the sleeve defining an interior cavity with a central axis;
a handle that projects outwardly from the flange in a second direction, the second direction being opposite from the first direction; and
a textured light disbursing surface positioned within the interior cavity of the sleeve for disbursing light that is transmitted through the optical fiber adapter into the interior cavity of the sleeve of the dust plug;
wherein the textured light disbursing surface is set at an angle to the central axis of the interior cavity; and
wherein the light is disbursed radially relative to the central axis of the interior cavity and thereby illuminates at least a portion of an exterior of the dust plug.
17. The dust plug of claim 16, wherein the sleeve includes an external surface defining at least one detent.
18. The dust plug of claim 16, wherein the sleeve is made from a translucent material.
19. The dust plug of claim 16, wherein the textured light disbursing surface includes a plurality of peaks and valleys.
20. The dust plug of claim 16, wherein the textured light disbursing surface includes a plurality of projections.
21. (canceled)
22. The dust plug of claim 16, wherein the angle is in a range of 15 to 80 degrees.
23. The dust plug of claim 16, wherein the textured light disbursing surface defines a first conical shape.
24. The dust plug of claim 23, wherein the first conical shape has a central axis that is aligned with the central axis of the sleeve.
25-27. (canceled)
28. A dust cap for use with an optical fiber connector, the optical fiber connector having a ferrule, the dust cap comprising:
a grip;
a sleeve that projects outwardly from the grip, the sleeve defining a cavity, and the sleeve being constructed of a material through which visible light can be transmitted, the cavity of the sleeve adapted for receiving at least a portion of the ferrule; and
a light refracting surface positioned within the cavity of the sleeve for angling light that is transmitted through the light refracting surface relative to a central axis of the sleeve, the light refracting surface being angled relative to the central axis of the sleeve, and the light refracting surface not being capable of focusing light.
29. The dust cap of claim 28, wherein the sleeve is made from a translucent material.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A preload and attachment bolt assembly comprising an external sleeve, a coil spring, and an internal sleeve;
said external sleeve having an external sleeve body that is a hollow cylinder having an inner end and an outer end, said external sleeve body having internal and external cylindrical surfaces having internal and external helical threads located thereon, respectively, said external threads adapted to threadably engage an attachment member, at least two expansion slots located in the inner end of said external sleeve body, said inner end of said external sleeve body having a thickened internal taper projection that projects into the hollow cylinder and tapers such that the hollow cylinder sleeve body is thickest at the innermost inner end, an external sleeve flange located on the outer end of said external sleeve body, and a spring stop member located within said external sleeve flange;
said internal sleeve having an internal sleeve body that is a hollow cylinder having an inner end and an outer end, said internal sleeve body having an external cylindrical surface having external helical threads located thereon adapted to mate with said internal helical threads of said external sleeve body, and an internal sleeve flange located on the outer end of said internal sleeve body;
said coil spring having an inner and outer end, said coil spring adapted to being positioned around said internal sleeve body with said inner end of said coil spring being in abutment with said spring stop member of said external sleeve and said outer end of said coil spring being in abutment with said internal sleeve flange;
said internal sleeve body adapted to be completely screwed into said external sleeve body to thereby cause the inner end of said internal sleeve body to engage said thickened internal taper of said external sleeve body and to cause said inner end of said external sleeve body to expand.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said coil spring has a compression resistance that prevents said internal sleeve from being completely screwed into said external sleeve until a prescribed torque load has been placed upon said attachment member.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said external sleeve body and said internal sleeve body each have a longitudinal axis, and said internal threads of said external sleeve body and said external threads of said internal sleeve body are oriented at a mating angle of between about 40 degrees and about 50 degrees to the longitudinal axis of their respective sleeve bodies.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said mating angle is about 45 degrees.
5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said internal threads of said external sleeve body and said external threads of said internal sleeve body are coarse.