Patents by Inventor Geoff Witt

Geoff Witt has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Buffer tube design for easy and reliable access in mid-span
    Patent number: 6707973
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel construction of buffer tubes for fiber optic cables which offers a way to access the optical fibers inside a buffer tube while reducing the risk of damaging the fibers, as sometimes occurs when cutting the outer layer of the buffer tube. A buffer tube for use in a fiber optic cable of the present invention comprises a tube having a tube wall, the wall having an inside and outside surface, wherein an inner portion of tube wall, nearest the inside surface, is made of a material having a higher notch-sensitivity than an outer portion of the tube wall nearest the outside surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Geoff Witt, Brian Risch
  • Buffer tube design for easy and reliable access in mid-span
    Publication number: 20030099446
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel construction of buffer tubes for fiber optic cables which offers a way to access the optical fibers inside a buffer tube while reducing the risk of damaging the fibers, as sometimes occurs when cutting the outer layer of the buffer tube. A buffer tube for use in a fiber optic cable of the present invention comprises a tube having a tube wall, the wall having an inside and outside surface, wherein an inner portion of tube wall, nearest the inside surface, is made of a material having a higher notch-sensitivity than an outer portion of the tube wall nearest the outside surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Applicant: ALCATEL
    Inventors: Geoff Witt, Brian Risch
  • Optical fiber cable for easy access to ripcords and having ripcord reliability
    Patent number: 6563991
    Abstract: An optical fiber cable includes ripcords that are oriented in particular locations with reference to radial strength members and any armor overlap included in a housing for optical fibers. The ripcords are spaced 180° from each other and preferably 90° from the armor overlap region. Color coded or marked ripcords are also placed adjacent to RSMs, with color coding or other marking on external surfaces of the housing to indicate a pull direction for respective ripcords. The ripcords may be extruded with the RSM into a jacket housing or disposed in a grooved section formed into the RSM. Pairs of RSMs may also be disposed on opposite sides of a ripcord to protect the ripcord from being accidentally severed by cutting instruments during servicing of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Geoff Witt, Steve Shen, Rick Robinson, J. Boyet Stevens