Patents by Inventor Douglas P. Hills

Douglas P. Hills 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: 7558459
    Abstract: A splice holder device includes a tray mountable in a telecommunications closure, the tray including a splice mounting mechanism configured to receive a splice device. The splice holder device also includes first and second fiber clamps disposed on the tray, wherein the first and second fiber clamps are each configured to releasably secure a buffered portion of an optical fiber. The tray can include a single splice device, such as a mechanical splice, mounted therein or can include a plurality of splice devices mounted therein. The splice holder device can be configured to be securedly mounted in a telecommunications enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: James B. Carpenter, Douglas P. Hills, Chansool Park, Donald K. Larson, Paul N. Winberg
  • Publication number: 20080212929
    Abstract: A splice holder device includes a tray mountable in a telecommunications closure, the tray including a splice mounting mechanism configured to receive a splice device. The splice holder device also includes first and second fiber clamps disposed on the tray, wherein the first and second fiber clamps are each configured to releasably secure a buffered portion of an optical fiber. The tray can include a single splice device, such as a mechanical splice, mounted therein or can include a plurality of splice devices mounted therein. The splice holder device can be configured to be securedly mounted in a telecommunications enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: James B. Carpenter, Douglas P. Hills, Chansool Park, Donald K. Larson, Paul N. Winberg
  • Patent number: 7333709
    Abstract: A splice holder device includes a tray mountable in a telecommunications closure, the tray including a splice mounting mechanism configured to receive a splice device. The splice holder device also includes first and second fiber clamps disposed on the tray, wherein the first and second fiber clamps are each configured to releasably secure a buffered portion of an optical fiber. The tray can include a single splice device, such as a mechanical splice, mounted therein or can include a plurality of splice devices mounted therein. The splice holder device can be configured to be securedly mounted in a telecommunications enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: James B. Carpenter, Douglas P. Hills, Chansool Park, Donald K. Larson, Paul N. Winberg
  • Patent number: 7303446
    Abstract: A frame assembly for mounting an insulation displacement connector block includes a base frame and a modular subframe attached to the base frame. The subframe is capable of being attached to the base frame in a first position or a second position, which are generally perpendicular to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Proprties Company
    Inventors: Douglas P. Hills, Jerome A. Pratt
  • Patent number: 6920711
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a photo display system having a decorative frame, an imaged transparency disposed on the decorative frame and a diffuser film disposed on the imaged transparency. The photo display system also has a base having a means for mounting the decorative frame and a means for attaching a diffuse reflector. The diffuse reflector is disposed behind the decorative frame as viewed from the imaged transparency side of the photo display system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Alan G. Miller, Douglas P. Hills
  • Publication number: 20040181990
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a photo display system having a decorative frame, an imaged transparency disposed on the decorative frame and a diffuser film disposed on the imaged transparency. The photo display system also has a base having a means for mounting the decorative frame and a means for attaching a diffuse reflector. The diffuse reflector is disposed behind the decorative frame as viewed from the imaged transparency side of the photo display system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: ALAN G. MILLER, DOUGLAS P. HILLS
  • Patent number: 5732173
    Abstract: An optical module for interconnecting two or more optical fibers has a microreplicated waveguide element which is integrally formed on the same substrate with a splice element. In one embodiment, the module has three plates, a bottom plate, a cover plate, and a top plate, all contained within a common housing. The bottom plate has fiber-receiving grooves and fiber alignment grooves at its ends, the fiber alignment grooves being aligned with waveguide channels formed on the central portion of the bottom plate. The cover plate is used when forming the cores of the waveguide channels, to force residual curable, waveguide material into flow channels adjacent the waveguide channels, and this material, when cured, adheres the bottom and cover plates together. The top plate is used to clamp fibers which are held in the fiber alignment grooves, with the center of the fibers aligned with the core of the waveguide channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James R. Bylander, James B. Carpenter, Donald G. Doss, Douglas P. Hills, Richard A. Patterson, Laura A. Weller-Brophy