Patents by Inventor Greg J. Scherer

Greg J. Scherer 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).

  • Patent number: 8678260
    Abstract: Methods, cleavers, and packagings for cleaving an optical fiber using an abrasive medium are disclosed. In one embodiment, a bladeless cleaver includes a body having an arcuate exterior surface, which may be provided in one embodiment by an exterior surface of a tool or toolkit, such as, but not limited to, a consumables kit or other packaging. A cleaver structure is disposed on the body such that a space between the arcuate exterior surface of the body and the cleaver structure is configured to receive a portion of the optical fiber to be cleaved. The cleaver structure comprises an abrasive medium carrier that is configured to be actuated to place the abrasive medium in contact with the portion of the optical fiber to create a flaw in the portion of the optical fiber. In another embodiment, the portion of the optical fiber may be positioned directly along the arcuate exterior surface of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Brandon A. Barnes, Joshua D. Raker, Greg J. Scherer, Scott E. Semmler
  • Patent number: 8676018
    Abstract: An optical fiber stripper that may cooperate with an optical fiber handler for stripping one or more coating from an optical fiber is disclosed. The stripper is used as a part of a termination system for preparing the optical fiber for an optical connection, thereby providing the craft with a simple, reliable, and easy termination of the optical fiber. By way of example, the stripper cooperates with an optical fiber handler having an optical fiber secured therein for preparing the end of the optical fiber for a mechanical splice in a fiber optic connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Brandon A. Barnes, Ashley W. Jones, Greg J. Scherer
  • Patent number: 8596884
    Abstract: An optical fiber mechanical splice connector system that couples with a field fiber includes a connector body comprising a ferrule receiving portion, a pellet receiving portion and a support portion between the ferrule receiving portion and pellet receiving portion. The pellet receiving portion includes one or more engagement fingers connected at a first end to the support portion and extending away from the ferrule receiving portion to a second, free end adjacent a pellet receiving opening of a pellet receiving cavity at the pellet receiving portion. A ferrule is connected to the connector body at the ferrule receiving portion. A stub fiber is captured within the ferrule. The stub fiber extends from the ferrule into a fiber receiving cavity provided within the connector body for connecting with the field fiber. A fiber carrying pellet carries the field fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Brandon A. Barnes, Michael de Jong, Greg J. Scherer
  • Patent number: 8459877
    Abstract: An optical fiber handler for optical connector termination systems and other devices are disclosed herein. The optical fiber handler attaches to the optical fiber or cable and cooperates with other components for preparing the optical fiber and/or making the optical connection, thereby providing a simple, reliable, and easy termination for the optical fiber. For instance, the handler may cooperate with one or more of the following a strip tool, strip/clean tool, cleave tool for preparing the end of the optical fiber(s), and/or a mechanical splice connector for making the optical connection. Additionally, after the optical fiber handler is attached to the mechanical splice connector it may be easily removed by the craft if necessary to reposition and reterminated the mechanical splice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Brandon A. Barnes, Kevin C. Beach, Ashley W. Jones, Greg J. Scherer
  • Patent number: 8417085
    Abstract: Disclosed are holders for preparing one or more optical fibers for termination and methods of using a holder when preparing and/or making a termination using a mechanical splice connector. In one embodiment, the optical fiber holder includes a body having a longitudinal passageway for receiving an optical fiber and a retainer. The retainer fits into a portion of an opening of the body and has a first side with a resilient member for securing one or more optical fibers to the holder. A front portion of the holder may be inserted into one or more assemblies for perform operations to prepare the at least one optical fiber for termination and/or making a termination using a mechanical splice connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Brandon A. Barnes, Greg J. Scherer
  • Patent number: 8408813
    Abstract: A fiber optic connector for making a mechanical splice with an optical fiber secured in an optical fiber handler is disclosed. The fiber optic connector provides the craft with a simple, fast and reliable way for terminating the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Brandon A. Barnes, Joshua D. Raker, Greg J. Scherer, Scott E. Semmler
  • Publication number: 20130004130
    Abstract: An optical fiber mechanical splice connector system that couples with a field fiber includes a connector body comprising a ferrule receiving portion, a pellet receiving portion and a support portion between the ferrule receiving portion and pellet receiving portion. The pellet receiving portion includes one or more engagement fingers connected at a first end to the support portion and extending away from the ferrule receiving portion to a second, free end adjacent a pellet receiving opening of a pellet receiving cavity at the pellet receiving portion. A ferrule is connected to the connector body at the ferrule receiving portion. A stub fiber is captured within the ferrule. The stub fiber extends from the ferrule into a fiber receiving cavity provided within the connector body for connecting with the field fiber. A fiber carrying pellet carries the field fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Brandon A. Barnes, Michael de Jong, Greg J. Scherer
  • Patent number: 8306382
    Abstract: Methods, cleavers, and packagings for cleaving an optical fiber using an abrasive medium are disclosed. The abrasive medium may be placed into contact with an optical fiber to induce a flaw in the optical fiber. The optical fiber is broken about the induced flaw to create an end face for fiber optic termination preparations. In one embodiment, a method for cleaving an optical fiber without employing a blade is provided. The method includes providing an optical fiber. A flaw is created in a portion of the optical fiber using a bladeless cleaver comprised of a body and a cleaver structure attached to the body. The cleaver structure is configured to actuate to place an abrasive medium in contact with the portion of the optical fiber to create a flaw in the optical fiber. The method further includes breaking the optical fiber at the flaw to create an end face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Joshua D. Raker, Greg J. Scherer
  • Publication number: 20110204116
    Abstract: Methods, cleavers, and packagings for cleaving an optical fiber using an abrasive medium are disclosed. In one embodiment, a bladeless cleaver includes a body having an arcuate exterior surface, which may be provided in one embodiment by an exterior surface of a tool or toolkit, such as, but not limited to, a consumables kit or other packaging. A cleaver structure is disposed on the body such that a space between the arcuate exterior surface of the body and the cleaver structure is configured to receive a portion of the optical fiber to be cleaved. The cleaver structure comprises an abrasive medium carrier that is configured to be actuated to place the abrasive medium in contact with the portion of the optical fiber to create a flaw in the portion of the optical fiber. In another embodiment, the portion of the optical fiber may be positioned directly along the arcuate exterior surface of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Brandon A. Barnes, Joshua D. Raker, Greg J. Scherer, Scott E. Semmler
  • Publication number: 20110188829
    Abstract: Methods, cleavers, and packagings for cleaving an optical fiber using an abrasive medium are disclosed. The abrasive medium may be placed into contact with an optical fiber to induce a flaw in the optical fiber. The optical fiber is broken about the induced flaw to create an end face for fiber optic termination preparations. In one embodiment, a method for cleaving an optical fiber without employing a blade is provided. The method includes providing an optical fiber. A flaw is created in a portion of the optical fiber using a bladeless cleaver comprised of a body and a cleaver structure attached to the body. The cleaver structure is configured to actuate to place an abrasive medium in contact with the portion of the optical fiber to create a flaw in the optical fiber. The method further includes breaking the optical fiber at the flaw to create an end face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Joshua D. Raker, Greg J. Scherer
  • Publication number: 20110176774
    Abstract: An optical fiber handler for optical connector termination systems and other devices are disclosed herein. The optical fiber handler attaches to the optical fiber or cable and cooperates with other components for preparing the optical fiber and/or making the optical connection, thereby providing a simple, reliable, and easy termination for the optical fiber. For instance, the handler may cooperate with one or more of the following a strip tool, strip/clean tool, cleave tool for preparing the end of the optical fiber(s), and/or a mechanical splice connector for making the optical connection. Additionally, after the optical fiber handler is attached to the mechanical splice connector it may be easily removed by the craft if necessary to reposition and reterminated the mechanical splice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventors: Brandon A. Barnes, Kevin C. Beach, Ashley W. Jones, Greg J. Scherer
  • Publication number: 20110176780
    Abstract: A fiber optic connector for making a mechanical splice with an optical fiber secured in an optical fiber handler is disclosed. The fiber optic connector provides the craft with a simple, fast and reliable way for terminating the optical fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventors: Brandon A. Barnes, Joshua D. Raker, Greg J. Scherer, Scott E. Semmler
  • Publication number: 20110173817
    Abstract: An optical fiber stripper that may cooperate with an optical fiber handler for stripping one or more coating from an optical fiber is disclosed. The stripper is used as a part of a termination system for preparing the optical fiber for an optical connection, thereby providing the craft with a simple, reliable, and easy termination of the optical fiber. By way of example, the stripper cooperates with an optical fiber handler having an optical fiber secured therein for preparing the end of the optical fiber for a mechanical splice in a fiber optic connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventors: Brandon A. Barnes, Ashley W. Jones, Greg J. Scherer
  • Publication number: 20110052134
    Abstract: Disclosed are holders for preparing one or more optical fibers for termination and methods of using a holder when preparing and/or making a termination using a mechanical splice connector. In one embodiment, the optical fiber holder includes a body having a longitudinal passageway for receving an optical fiber and a retainer. The retainer fits into a portion of an opening of the body and has a first side with a resilient member for securing one or more optical fibers to the holder. A front portion of the holder may be inserted into one or more assemblies for perform operations to prepare the at least one optical fiber for termination and/or making a termination using a mechanical splice connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Brandon A. Barnes, Greg J. Scherer