3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Other

USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Larry R Cox

Harry A Loder

Edward B Lurie

William Jeffrey Clatanoff

Sidney J Berglund

Jerome A Pratt

William George Allen

Rutesh D Parikh

Armond D Cosman

Mark D Matthies

Nicholas A Lee

Curtis L Shoemaker

Gordon Wiegand

Charles M Mansfield

David S Hardcastle

James G Vana, Jr

Jesse M Jones

Eric M Morgan

Lizhang Yang

Ronald K Bender

Dean C Krenz

Clovis Hicks

An in-line splice connector comprises a connector body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end and having a generally elongated cavity region formed between the first and second ends to house at least a first insulation displacement connector (IDC) element. The in-line splice connector also includes a first cap and a second cap, each cap including a wire guide to receive and guide a wire to the IDC element. The first cap is pivotally mounted at the first end of the connector body to receive a first wire and the second cap is pivotally mounted at the second end of the connector body to receive a second wire. A closing of the first and second caps actuates a splice of the first and second wires.

In-line splice connector

An apparatus for providing multiple vaccinations of poultry simultaneously is described. A neck injection, breast injection, two wing injections, and an eye mist or drop may be performed in one operation. The apparatus holds the bird in position for precise location of injections, thereby reducing wasted vaccine. The risk of injury to the bird during the process is minimized by greatly reducing the manual handling of the bird during vaccination. Vaccination costs are also reduced by the reduction of labor otherwise required in this process.

Poultry vaccination apparatus and method

An electrical connector assembly for terminating first and second electrical wires, the electrical connector assembly comprising a housing including a compartment for receiving first and second IDC elements and a cap movably mounted to the housing to cover the compartment. The cap is movable between an open position and a closed position. The cap includes a general body portion, a wire retention portion, and a latching mechanism. The wire retention portion includes first and second wire holders to retain and align the respective electrical wires within the housing for engagement with a gripping portion of the respective IDC element when the cap is placed in a closed position. The gripping force of the wire holders is less than a gripping force of the IDC elements. The latching mechanism can releasably fasten the cap to the housing when the cap is placed in a closed position. When the cap is returned to an open position after the cap was placed in the closed position, the first and second wires are retained by the first and second IDC elements and the first and second wire holders disengage the first and second wires from the cap.

Cap for telecommunications cross connect block

A load adapter and method for terminating an optical fiber in a small form factor connector having a ferrule portion and a barrel portion that include a pre-loaded thermoplastic adhesive material, and a housing. The load adapter includes a thermally conductive body having a base section and a connector mounting section extending axially therefrom. The base section is adapted to be inserted/placed in an oven port of a portable heat source. The connector mounting section has a substantially cylindrical shape adapted to surround a substantial portion of the small form factor connector housing and includes at least one slot. The connector mounting section includes a mount adapted to receive the small form factor connector. The mount includes a stem having a substantially cylindrical structure adapted to slidably receive the ferrule portion of the small form factor connector, where an end of a received ferrule portion of the small form factor connector extends beyond an edge of an inner wall of the stem. An optical fiber is inserted through the connector housing and ferrule portion such that an end of the optical fiber extends beyond the end of the ferrule portion. The load adapter can then be removed from the heat source, cooled, and the end of the optical fiber can be polished. The load adapter and method can thus provide for practical field termination of an optical fiber in a small form factor fiber connector.

Field termination apparatus and method for small form factor optical connectors with thermoplastic adhesive

A sealing member includes an elastomeric interior portion and a rigid exterior portion. At least one passage extends through the elastomeric interior portion from a first end to a second end of the sealing member. The passage is configured to receive at least one longitudinal member therein. The elastomeric interior portion is configured for sealing engagement with the longitudinal member extending therethrough, and the rigid exterior portion is configured for sealing engagement with an entry port of an enclosure.

Sealing member for an entry port

A device is provided for manipulating a load adapter for terminating an optical fiber in a connector having a ferrule portion and a barrel portion that can include a pre-loaded thermoplastic or thermoset adhesive material. The device comprises a body having a handle, a first arm extending from the handle, and a second arm extending from the handle. The first arm includes a first gripping portion adapted to grip a portion of the load adapter. The second arm includes a second gripping portion that is adapted to grip a portion of an optical fiber cable and that is axially displaced from the first gripping portion by a predetermined distance. At least one of the first and second arms is movable relative to the other arm. A method of terminating an optical fiber in a connector having a ferrule portion and a barrel portion that include a pre-loaded thermoplastic adhesive material is also provided. The moveable second gripping portion can provide fiber cable retention and axial strain relief for various diameters of optical fiber cable during the field termination process. Further, the movable arm(s) allow(s) for unobstructed insertion of the optical fiber into the connector.

Device for holding field termination load adapter for optical connectors

This invention relates to a ferrule for use in a fiber optic connector. The ferrule has front and rear faces and comprises (a) a passage being disposed inside the ferrule and having first and second ends, the passage having dimensions defined by the following formulas:()&#x2266;&#x2266;( where 'W' is the passage width, 'H' is the passage height, &#x201c;X&#x201d; is the measured with of a fiber optic ribbon, &#x201c;n&#x201d; is the number of fiber optic ribbons and n&#x3e;1, &#x201c;a&#x201d; is the fiber optic ribbon thickness and &#x201c;b&#x201d; is the fiber pitch on a (b) a plurality of tapered channels disposed between the second end of the passage to said front face of the ferrule.

Ferrule for use in fiber optic connectors

An anchored fiber optic cable and housing assembly. The assembly comprises: a fiber optic cable comprising a strength member and a jacket around the strength member, an anchor mounted on the cable, wherein the strength member includes a first end extending from the end of the cable and structurally engaged with the anchor; and a housing comprising an anchor cavity and a cable inlet, the anchor cavity comprising a shoulder for engaging with the anchor, wherein the anchor is mounted in the housing cavity and the cable extends through the cable inlet, and wherein the anchor cavity shoulder is engaged with the anchor to prevent the anchor from exiting the housing through the cable inlet. An anchored cable is also described, as are methods for mounting the anchor on the cable and mounting the cable in a housing. The cable may include a plurality of optical fibers in the jacket.

Anchor for fiber optic cable

An enclosure includes a housing longitudinally extending from an open first end to a closed second end. The housing defines an internal cavity extending in the longitudinal direction, the internal cavity having a circumference in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction. A base member is configured for separable attachment to the open first end of the housing to provide an enclosed configuration. A support frame is secured to the base member and extends longitudinally within the internal cavity of the housing in the enclosed configuration. The support frame includes at least one portion that provides support about substantially the entire circumference of the internal cavity at a location between the first end and the second end of the housing.

Enclosure for telecommunication lines and splices

The present invention relates to a fiber optic cable assembly including a connector subassembly having a fiber optic cable terminated in a connector, the fiber optic cable having a minimum bend radius; and a strain relief boot attached to the connector subassembly, the strain relief boot having a core portion, a flexible extension with a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end extending from the core portion. The flexible extension retains at least a portion of the fiber optic cable.

Strain relief boot with flexible extension for guiding fiber optic cable

A connector alignment system includes a base for mounting on a first substrate, and a housing movably engaged with the base. The housing secures an opto-electronic termination. The housing has longitudinal, lateral, transverse and angular ranges of motion with respect to the base. When the housing is in an unmated position, various combinations of the lateral, transverse and angular ranges of motion are less than the respective ranges of motion when the housing is in a mated position.

Optical and opto-electronic interconnect alignment system

An anchored fiber optic cable and housing assembly. The fiber optic cable includes a strength member and a jacket around the strength member. The anchor is mounted on the cable. The anchor includes an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve. The strength member extends from the end of the cable and is structurally engaged with the anchor. The housing includes an anchor cavity and a cable inlet. The anchor cavity includes a first shoulder for engaging with the anchor. The anchor is mounted in the housing cavity and the cable extends through the cable inlet. The anchor cavity shoulder is engaged with the anchor to prevent the anchor from exiting the housing through the cable inlet. An anchored cable is also described, as are methods for anchoring the cable and for mounting the anchored cable in the housing. The fiber optic cable may include an optical fiber.

An anchored fiber optic cable assembly. The assembly comprises: a plurality of fiber optic cables and an anchor. Each of the cables comprises a strength member, and a jacket around the strength member. The cable includes a first end and a second end. The anchor includes a first end and a second end, and a plurality of passages extending through the anchor from the first end to the second end. Each of said cables is mounted in a respective one of the passages such that the strength member is bonded to the anchor. An anchored cable assembly mounted in a housing is also described, as are methods of anchoring the cables and methods of mounting the anchored cables in a housing. Each of the cables may include an optical fiber in the jacket.

The present invention relates to a connectible termination having a terminated fiber optic connector and a means for actuating the connector from a coupling. The terminated fiber optic connector comprises a ferrule housing having first and second portions and at least one optical fibers mounted in a ferrule and disposed in the first portion of the ferrule housing, a body comprising a front and back portions, the second portion of the ferrule housing disposed on the front portion of the body, and a latch disposed on the back portion of the body and comprising a pair of ears. One means for disengaging the connector is a collar disposed on the latch and enclosing the pair of ears.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Larry R Cox