Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Roger H Keith

Ronald G Bossard

David D Cook

Fiber optic housing with removable chassis

A fiber optic housing has a low part count, with all major parts formed by cutting, stamping or bending sheet metal, and with very few fasteners, reducing cost and simplifying assembly of the housing. In spite of the simplified construction, the housing retains great flexibility in the installation of the fibers and associated connectors, primarily due to the provision of a unique chassis which is completely removable from the housing, as well as a backplane frame which is further removable from the chassis. A novel bulkhead plate, and method of attachment thereof to the frame, are also disclosed. The chassis may have a drop center floor to more efficiently utilize space and yet still provide curved surfaces for the smooth exiting of the fibers from the housing.

Fiber optic housing with removable chassis and method using same

A compact fiber optic housing has a tray divided into front and rear areas by a partition, the rear area receiving excess slack from optical fibers, and the front area having a bulkhead for receiving fiber optic connectors. The front and rear areas overlap to optimize the space within the tray; the tray may consist of a single base supporting the front and rear areas, or of two separate front and rear shelves which are removably attached to each other. The bulkhead includes clips which releasably secure the connectors to the tray, the clips being received in apertures in the base of the tray. A lower tier of the partition slightly overlies the apertures. Each clip is formed from a single piece of sheet metal, having a base for insertion into the apertures, and having a bulkhead riser extending perpendicularly from the base, the riser having a hole for receiving the connector coupling. The base of each clip has two tines extending under the lower tier of the partition, defining a slot which may be used for removing the clip. The riser is oriented with respect to the base whereby the hole defines an axis which is at an oblique angle with respect to the direction of insertion of the clips into the aperture. This orientation allows access to the slot for removal of the clip even when connectors are attached to the clip. The tines of the base of the clips may be bent downward slightly to provide a secure friction fit under the lower tier of the partition, and the lower surfaces of the tines are beveled to facilitate insertion of the tines under the lower tier.

Connector clip for fiber optic housing

Fiber optic housing with low part count

A compact fiber optic housing has a tray divided into front and rear areas by a partition, the rear area receiving excess slack from optical fibers, and the front area having a bulkhead for receiving fiber optic connectors. The front and rear areas overlap to optimize the space within the tray; the tray may consist of a single base supporting the front and rear areas, or of two separate front and rear shelves which are removably attached to each other. The bulkhead includes clips which releasably secure the connectors to the tray, the clips being received in apertures in the base of the tray. A lower tier of the partition slightly overlies the apertures. Each clip is formed from a single piece of sheet metal, having a base for insertion into the apertures, and having a bulkhead riser extending perpendicularly from the base, the riser having a hole for receiving the connector coupling. The base of each clip has two tines extending under the lower tier of the partition, defining a slot which may be used for removing the clip.

Compact fiber optic housing

An optical fiber termination module for use in terminating having an end wall and a splice magazine, a connector supported on said end wall, one plug of which has a short optical fiber extending therefrom straight to a splice supported in the magazine, and the support having a flucrum to afford tilting of the support intermediate its ends to afford movement of the end wall to a position away from the end wall of other modules to allow easy access to the connector for attaching a distribution plug.

Optical fiber module termination array and panel

A module for use in an array for modules for terminating transmission lines and making them readily accessible to connection to distribution lines, the modules comprising small rectangular bases having an end wall supporting a connector, and means affording the tilting movement of each module intermediate the ends of each base to move the end wall from a position aligned with the end walls of other modules to a position affording ready access to the connector of the tilted end wall.

Termination module for use in an array of modules

A package including containers having gabletops, wherein it is desired to maintain the containers in pairs, in separate areas, with support members to provide support for the gabletops from one side of the carton and identify the pairs of containers and separate them from other pairs of containers. The support members bridge the areas and are formed with panels adapted to engage the inclined roof panels of the gabletop containers and brace them from the wall of the carton to protect the ridge seal.

Package having supported gabletop containers for two part composition

A shipping carton for containers having gabletops, wherein it is desired to maintain the containers in pairs, is provided with areas which receive the containers in pairs and support members are provided to support the gable tops from one side of the carton and identify the pairs of containers and separate them from other pairs of containers. The support members bridge the areas and are doubly deeply grooved to engage the gabletop containers.

Shipping and handling container for two part composition

An elastic cover for couplings or splices comprising a radially stretched and axially twisted elastic cover supported on a core of spirally wound polymeric material which is progressively removed from within the cover member as a continuous narrow strip.

Torque preloaded elastic cover for torque coupling

Welding backup comprising a flexible backing to which is adhered a train of rigid, heat-resistant tiles having knuckle joints wherein a protuberance of one tile fits into an indentation in the mating tile so that the train of tiles is conformable to both convex and concave surfaces without stretching or kinking the backing.

Pivotably interlocking rigid heat-resistant tiles

Body side molding for automotive vehicles comprising a plastic body formed with at least one broad channel which communicates with the bottom of the molding to enable its bottom surface to conform to curved surfaces without distorting the top of the molding. This permits the molding to be permanently adhered to the variety of contours presented by automotive vehicles.

Conformable plastic body side molding

The tendency of molten weld metal to burn through a supported refractory welding backup material is greatly reduced by incorporating a woven carbon fiber cloth between the refractory and the support. A preferred product is a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape construction incorporating the carbon-fiber cloth in the backing; surprisingly, the carbon does not embrittle the weld.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Roger H Keith