US Patent 9645326 Optical connector with a movable cleaning element

Examples include an optical connector with a movable cleaning element that comprises a connector sleeve and an optical ferrule located at a rear of the connector sleeve. Some examples comprise a cleaning element located within the connector sleeve, said cleaning element comprising a wipe panel to clean an end of an optical ferrule of a male optical connector when mated with the female optical connector and a spring flap to couple the wipe panel to the connector sleeve. Some examples comprise channels, located in the connector sleeve, and protrusions, located in the wipe panel, that engage into the channels such that the wipe panel is movable along the channels between a cleaning position in which the wipe panel is positioned perpendicular to the optical ferrule of the male optical connector and a resting position in which the wipe panel allows connection of the ferrules of the male and female optical connectors.