Patents Assigned to Clearfield, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11567270
    Abstract: A pre-terminated end of a fiber optic cable has a protective cap that protects the optical fiber and the ferrule assembly at the terminal end. The protective cap has an attachment feature enabling a pull cord to attach to the protective cap. The protective cap has a body including an exterior surface and a receptacle formed in the body and configured to receive a portion of the fiber optic cable, and the attachment feature. The attachment feature includes a cavity formed in a tip of the body and at least two openings formed in the exterior surface of the body and connected to the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Clearfield, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Hill, Daniel J. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11561355
    Abstract: A fiber distribution hub comprises a housing, a first side panel and a second side panel comprising one or more ports, and at least one cover disposed between the first side panel and the second side panel and forming an interior compartment. The interior compartment may include cable managers. A mounting structure aerially strand mounts the fiber distribution hub. Fiber distribution hubs comprising a first fiber distribution hub, a second fiber distribution hub configured to couple to the first fiber distribution hub, and a mounting structure configured to aerially strand mount the fiber distribution hub are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Clearfield, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Hill, Randy T. VanHorn
  • Patent number: 11513304
    Abstract: A connector box has a housing forming a space and a cover configured to provide access to the space, a plurality of connectors configured to enable selective connection of fiber optic cables within the enclosed space, and a drop cable entrance assembly configured to provide an opening for one or more drop cables to enter the space in the housing. The drop cable entrance assembly has a housing opening portion providing access to the space from an exterior of the housing and having a removable plate and a grommet, and a cable clamp portion configured to hold the one or more drop cables in place via contact pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Clearfield, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Hill, Joshua J. Povlitzki, Randy T. VanHorn, Timothy J. Kjolsing
  • Patent number: 11513303
    Abstract: Fiber distribution systems, terminals and tap boxes that provide a reconfigurable and expandable system of hardened connections. An aerial terminal may include at least one feeder port and a plurality of distribution ports, each of the at least one feeder port and the plurality of distribution ports being sealable ports configured to receive one of a duct and a connector, where the connector is configured to interface with a drop type cable. The terminal may include an expandable module configured to receive a splitter. The terminal may be configured to receive a fiber through the feeder port and to output a plurality of fibers through the plurality of distribution ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Clearfield, Inc.
    Inventors: John Paul Hill, William J. Cruzen
  • Patent number: 11435531
    Abstract: A connector pack for an optical fiber enclosure has a plurality of connector slots each for receiving a respective connector on a cable. The connector pack has a first set of connector slots on a first side of a connector pack body and a second set of connector slots on a second side of the connector pack body. The first set of connector slots and the second set of connector slots each include a latch opening for receiving a latch of a respective connector. The latch opening of the first set of connector slots is offset with respect to the latch opening of the second set of connectors. According to some embodiments, the latch opening of the first set of connector slots is inverted with respect to the latch opening of the second set of connector slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Clearfield, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Hill, Randy T. VanHorn
  • Patent number: 11435534
    Abstract: A flexible optical fiber connector comprises a first housing component configured to couple to a terminating connector, and a second housing component configured to receive an optical fiber for termination in the terminating connector. The first housing component and the second housing component are further configured to receive a pushable connector therethrough. A flexible optical fiber connector assembly comprises a flexible connector and a terminating connector coupled thereto. The flexible connector assembly is configured to couple to an adapter held by a holder coupled to a port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Clearfield, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Hill, Brian Larson, Jeffrey Gniadek, David J. Johnsen, James John Henschel, Matthew John Brigham
  • Patent number: 11422314
    Abstract: A dustcap comprises a body having a cylindrical portion configured to receive a ferrule of an optical fiber connector, and an end portion opposite the cylindrical portion. The end portion includes a receptacle. The dustcap has a built-in cleaner disposed within the receptacle. The dustcap further comprises a removable cover configured to couple to the end portion of the dustcap. In another embodiment, the end portion includes a flat surface, the cleaner is disposed on the flat surface of the end portion, and the cover is configured to receive the end portion of the dustcap. In another embodiment, the cover has a receptacle and the cleaner is disposed within the receptacle, whereas the body comprises an end portion configured to receive at least a portion of the cover with the built-in cleaner. Embodiments encompass cleaner assemblies and adapter dustcaps having built-in cleaners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Clearfield, Inc.
    Inventors: Cheryl Johnson Beranek, John P. Hill, William J. Cruzen, James John Henschel
  • Patent number: 11422326
    Abstract: An optical fiber enclosure has a housing having a mounting wall within a storage space. The enclosure also has a backplate attached to the mounting wall, the backplate having a mounting surface and a circumferential wall for receiving cable slack. The optical fiber enclosure also has a spindle attached to the mounting surface of the backplate, the spindle configured to connect to a cable spool configured to rotate relative to the spindle and the backplate to store optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Clearfield, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Hill, Joshua J. Povlitzki
  • Patent number: 11415767
    Abstract: An adjustable height optical fiber cable reel comprises a first piece having a first base plate and a first tab protruding from the first base plate, the first tab having a first opening and a second opening, a second piece having a second base plate and a second tab protruding from the second base plate, the second tab having a pin. The pin is configured to engage the first opening to lock the adjustable height reel at a first height, and to engage the second opening to lock the adjustable height reel at a second height. The adjustable height reel may also be coupled to a slack storage tray. Optical fiber enclosures may also be configured with adjustable height reels with optional slack storage trays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Clearfield, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Hill, Joshua J. Povlitzki, Dalen Defoe
  • Patent number: 11150429
    Abstract: A latchless adapter comprising an adapter frame, a ferrule positioning portion, and a spring clip located on an exterior of the adapter frame and configured to couple the latchless adapter to an external frame. The ferrule positioning portion may separate the interior of the latchless adapter into two compartments configured to receive respective connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Clearfield, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Hill, Randy T. VanHorn, Walter E. Power, II
  • Patent number: 11092754
    Abstract: A pre-terminated end of a fiber optic cable has a protective cap that protects the optical fiber and the ferrule assembly at the terminal end. The protective cap has an attachment feature enabling a pull cord to attach to the protective cap. The protective cap has a body including an exterior surface and a receptacle formed in the body and configured to receive a portion of the fiber optic cable, and the attachment feature. The attachment feature includes a cavity formed in a tip of the body and at least two openings formed in the exterior surface of the body and connected to the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Clearfield, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Hill, Daniel J. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10962730
    Abstract: A panel for storing a length of cable has a housing and a support assembly positioned in the housing and moveable with respect to the housing. The housing defines a housing space for storing the length of cable. The housing space is accessible through an opening. The support assembly is slidable through the opening between a stowed position inside of the housing space and a released position in which the support assembly is at least partially outside of the housing space. The support assembly has a pair of support rods that extend generally parallel to each other and are spaced by a distance, and a bracket connected to first ends of the support rods such that the support rods extend from the bracket and each have second ends that are free ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Clearfield, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Hill, Todd M. Bade, Brock A. Hill
  • Patent number: 10884209
    Abstract: An optical fiber distribution cabinet comprising a housing having a front opening for accessing an interior of the cabinet, a high density distribution field including a bulkhead having a plurality of faceplates configured to receive a plurality of high density adapters, and a staging area configured to receive a staging plate including a frame having a plurality of pins configured to couple to latchless adapters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Clearfield, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Hill, Randy T. VanHorn, Walter E. Power, II
  • Patent number: 10859781
    Abstract: Fiber distribution systems, terminals and tap boxes that provide a reconfigurable and expandable system of hardened connections. An aerial terminal may include at least one feeder port and a plurality of distribution ports, each of the at least one feeder port and the plurality of distribution ports being sealable ports configured to receive one of a duct and a connector, where the connector is configured to interface with a drop type cable. The terminal may include an expandable module configured to receive a splitter. The terminal may be configured to receive a fiber through the feeder port and to output a plurality of fibers through the plurality of distribution ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Clearfield, Inc.
    Inventors: John Paul Hill, William J. Cruzen
  • Patent number: 10852498
    Abstract: An aerial terminal for optical fiber communication comprises at least one feeder port and a plurality of distribution ports, each distribution port comprising a flexible port having a seal, a press-in element and a clip, the aerial terminal being configured to receive a fiber through the at least one feeder port and to output a plurality of fibers through the plurality of distribution ports. Embodiments may comprise stackable loose tube fiber splice chips having a plurality of lower slots and a plurality of upper slots stacked on the plurality of lower slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Clearfield, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Hill, William Cruzen
  • Patent number: 10816745
    Abstract: An optical fiber pedestal box comprises a pedestal having a rail and an optical fiber box configured to mount to the pedestal. The optical fiber box is restricted in movement by at least one cable and the pedestal is configured to slide relative to the optical fiber box to accommodate cables moving because of ground heaving during freezing and thawing. The optical fiber pedestal box may be configured to receive different sizes and types of optical fiber cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Clearfield, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Hill, Todd M. Bade, Walter E. Power, II
  • Patent number: 10606006
    Abstract: Fiber distribution systems, terminals and tap boxes that provide a reconfigurable and expandable system of hardened connections. A terminal may include at least one feeder port and a plurality of distribution ports, each of the at least one feeder port and the plurality of distribution ports being sealable ports configured to receive one of a duct and a connector, where the connector is configured to interface with a drop type cable. The terminal may include an expandable module configured to receive a splitter and a tap box having at least one sealable port configured to receive one of a duct or a connector. The tap box can include at least one fiber storage. The terminal may be configured to receive a fiber through the feeder port and to output a plurality of fibers through the plurality of distribution ports, at least one fiber of the plurality of fibers being received by a tap box mounted at a user location, through at least one sealed port, the tap box further comprising at least one slack fiber storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Clearfield, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Hill, Walter E. Power, II, Randy T. VanHorn
  • Patent number: 10495834
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes devices and systems for optical fiber management. One embodiment includes a device comprising an integrated separation surface separating an upper level of storage and a lower level of storage and an integrated adapter plate comprising a number of optical connectors and arranged at a first angle with respect to a floor of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Clearfield, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Hill, Randy T. VanHorn, Joshua J. Povlitzki, Walter E. Power, II
  • Patent number: 10444458
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes devices and systems for optical fiber management. One embodiment includes a device comprising an integrated separation surface separating an upper level of storage and a lower level of storage and an integrated adapter plate comprising a number of optical connectors and arranged at a first angle with respect to a floor of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Clearfield, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Hill, Randy T. VanHorn, Joshua J. Povlitzki, Walter E. Power, II
  • Patent number: 10371916
    Abstract: An optical fiber pathway duct comprises a first channel configured to receive a pulling mechanism, and a second channel configured to allow one of a pullable connector and a stub end coupled to an optical fiber cable to pass through the optical pathway duct. The optical fiber pathway duct further comprises a slot disposed between the first channel and the second channel and configured to allow a pulling eye of one of the pullable connector and the stub end coupled to the pulling mechanism to pass through the optical pathway duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Clearfield, Inc.
    Inventors: John Paul Hill, William J. Cruzen