Patents by Inventor Eric E. Alston

Eric E. Alston 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).

  • Publication number: 20140193130
    Abstract: A fan-out subassembly includes furcation modules mounted to a furcation module holder, which is adapted to be connected to a main component. The furcation module holder includes a cable anchoring location. Each of the furcation modules has a furcation tube mounting insert and a plurality of furcation tubes. The furcation tubes are supported by the furcation tube mounting inserts and have free portions that extend outwardly from the furcation tube mounting inserts and from the furcation module holder. The furcation tubes can hold optical fibers of a cable that extends from the subassembly to a cable spool. The subassembly and the free portions of the furcation tubes can be packaged together until installation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: JULIAN S. MULLANEY, Eric E. Alston
  • Patent number: 8770861
    Abstract: A termination enclosure includes a base, a cover, and at least one optical component. An input member extends outwardly from the base. At least a portion of the input member extends along the bottom of the termination enclosure. The input member defines a sealed input passage that extends through the base. A sealing chamber is defined by the base and cover. A gasket disposed at the sealing chamber seals and/or retains drop cables routed into the enclosure even when the cover is moved relative to the base. The sealing chamber defines ports that are located on a common side of the enclosure as an end of the input member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignees: Tyco Electronics Corporation, ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Trevor D. Smith, David Braga, Eric E. Alston, Daniel B. Hangebrauck, Christopher Brian Barefoot
  • Publication number: 20140037255
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an optical fiber fan-out device having a furcation tube assembly. The furcation tube assembly includes a furcation tube mounting insert and an array of furcation tubes. The first end of the furcation tube mounting insert has a first end surface being a slant configuration at an oblique angle relative to the furcation tube axes. The slanted edge helps to insert optical fibers into the furcation tubes. The supported portions of the furcation tubes have fiber insertion ends that terminate at the first end surface. The furcation tubes also including free portions that extend from the second end of the furcation tube mounting insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Julian S. Mullaney, Eric E. Alston
  • Patent number: 8641984
    Abstract: The teachings herein provide a surgical instrument tray system comprising at least a stringer tray having an advantageous cradle configured to hold ring-handle instruments in a spaced-apart array. In particular, the cradle includes an array of compartments, with each compartment cradling and supporting the lower ring of a respective one of the ring-handle instruments loaded in the tray. Further, a removable, elongated locking member locks the lower rings within the cradle. These features allow the stringer tray to be used for neatly organizing and holding a potentially large quantity of ring-handle instruments, for presentation and use within an operating room environment, for stowage as part of a tracked tray system within a sterilization container, as well as to position and hold the ring-handle instruments in a fully open position for disinfecting and washing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Q-Case, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric E. Alston, David W. Belt
  • Publication number: 20130287358
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an access box including a pivotal mounting panel to which a fiber optic adapter is mounted. The access box also includes a removable faceplate and a cover panel pivotable relative to the faceplate such that when the cover panel is in a closed position, the cover panel is substantially parallel to the faceplate, and wherein when the cover panel is in an open position, the cover panel is at an angle to the faceplate. The access box further includes an access panel pivotably secured to the cover panel. The access panel is movable between a first access panel position where the access panel blocks access to the adapter, and a second access panel position where the access panel allows access to the adapter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Eric E. Alston, Julian S. Mullaney, William Alan Carrico, Thomas Hoch
  • Publication number: 20130114930
    Abstract: A termination enclosure includes a base, a cover, and at least one optical component. An input member extends outwardly from the base. At least a portion of the input member extends along the bottom of the termination enclosure. The input member defines a sealed input passage that extends through the base. A sealing chamber is defined by the base and cover. A gasket disposed at the sealing chamber seals and/or retains drop cables routed into the enclosure even when the cover is moved relative to the base. The sealing chamber defines ports that are located on a common side of the enclosure as an end of the input member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventors: Trevor D. Smith, David Braga, Eric E. Alston, Dan Hangebrauck, Christopher Brian Barefoot
  • Publication number: 20120237173
    Abstract: A component for a closure is disclosed herein. The component includes a collar extending around a central axis. The component also includes a first expansion housing positioned outside the collar in a radial direction relative to the central axis. The first expansion housing has an interior region in communication with an interior of the collar. The first expansion housing also includes a first adapter mounting wall defining a plurality of first adapter mounting openings in which a plurality of first fiber optic adapters are mounted. The first fiber optic adapters include first connector ports adapted for receiving connectors from outside the first expansion housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Eric E. Alston, Daniel B. Hangebrauck, Jack Smith
  • Publication number: 20110114522
    Abstract: The teachings herein provide a surgical instrument tray system comprising at least a stringer tray having an advantageous cradle configured to hold ring-handle instruments in a spaced-apart array. In particular, the cradle includes an array of compartments, with each compartment cradling and supporting the lower ring of a respective one of the ring-handle instruments loaded in the tray. Further, a removable, elongated locking member locks the lower rings within the cradle. These features allow the stringer tray to be used for neatly organizing and holding a potentially large quantity of ring-handle instruments, for presentation and use within an operating room environment, for stowage as part of a tracked tray system within a sterilization container, as well as to position and hold the ring-handle instruments in a fully open position for disinfecting and washing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Eric E. Alston, David W. Belt
  • Patent number: 5270089
    Abstract: This invention is an fluid absorbing means wherein an integral grid of inverted, semi-conical projections or fingers with rounded upper ends is provided. This grid can be walked on while preventing oil or other liquids which are dripped, spilled or otherwise deposited thereon from coming into contact with the soles of the user's shoes. Openings are provided at the juncture of the inverted, semi-conical fingers so that the contaminating fluid can pass therethrough onto an absorbing mat disposed thereto. This absorbing mat can be formed from cotton fiber, polymer material, polyethylene sponge, cellulose fiber or other suitable material or a combination thereof. A housing means completely surrounds the grid and its underlying absorbing material and includes an integral bottom to contain the contaminating fluids should the absorbing material become saturated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Inventors: Timothy E. Alston, Eric E. Alston