Abstract: An article and process for cleaning relatively inaccessible and recessed surfaces, including a shaft having a first end opposite a second end with a cleaning head assembly, including a movable strip of buffing material, at the first end of the shaft. The article has an actuator at the second end of the shaft; and a connector coupling the cleaning head assembly to the actuator to move the movable strip during positional change of the actuator. Repeated positional change of the actuator produces reciprocatory movement in the movable strip of buffing material to produce a rubbing, cleaning action of the material against a recessed surface.

Abstract: A three dimensional optical circuit featuring an optical manifold for organizing, guiding and protecting individual optical fibers is shown. One aspect of the present invention is a three dimensional manifold which may be constructed using a rapid prototyping process such as, but not limited to, stereolithography (“SLA”), fused deposition modeling (“FDM”), selective laser sintering (“SLS”), and the like. The manifold has a number of input openings in a first ordered arrangement at one end connected by passageways to a number of output openings in a second ordered arrangement at the opposite end. A plurality of optical fibers may be directed through the passageways of the manifold to produce a three dimensional optical circuit such as a shuffle. Moreover, the optical manifold may be used in conjunction with a number of connections or terminations to form a various optical modules. These modules may be configured for rack mounting within enclosures for electrical components.

Abstract: A method of making a three dimensional optical circuit featuring an optical manifold for organizing, guiding and protecting individual optical fibers is provided. One aspect of the present invention is a three dimensional manifold which may be constructed using a rapid prototyping process such as, but not limited to, stereolithography (“SLA”), fused deposition modeling (“FDM”), selective laser sintering (“SLS”), and the like. The manifold has a number of input openings in a first ordered arrangement at one end connected by passageways to a number of output openings in a second ordered arrangement at the opposite end. A plurality of optical fibers may be directed through the passageways of the manifold to produce a three dimensional optical circuit such as a shuffle.

Abstract: A three dimensional optical circuit featuring an optical manifold for organizing, guiding and protecting individual optical fibers is shown. One aspect of the present invention is a three dimensional manifold which may be constructed using a rapid prototyping process such as, but not limited to, stereolithography (“SLA”), fused deposition modeling (“FDM”), selective laser sintering (“SLS”), and the like. The manifold has a number of input openings in a first ordered arrangement at one end connected by passageways to a number of output openings in a second ordered arrangement at the opposite end. A plurality of optical fibers may be directed through the passageways of the manifold to produce a three dimensional optical circuit such as a shuffle. Moreover, the optical manifold may be used in conjunction with a number of connections or terminations to form a various optical modules.

Abstract: A three dimensional optical circuit featuring an optical manifold for organizing, guiding and protecting individual optical fibers is shown. One aspect of the present invention is a three dimensional manifold which may be constructed using a rapid prototyping process such as, but not limited to, stereolithography (“SLA”), fused deposition modeling (“FDM”), selective laser sintering (“SLS”), and the like. The manifold has a number of input openings in a first ordered arrangement at one end connected by passageways to a number of output openings in a second ordered arrangement at the opposite end. A plurality of optical fibers may be directed through the passageways of the manifold to produce a three dimensional optical circuit such as a shuffle. Moreover, the optical manifold may be used in conjunction with a number of connections or terminations to form a various optical modules. These modules may be configured for rack mounting within enclosures for electrical components.

Abstract: A method of making a three dimensional optical circuit featuring an optical manifold for organizing, guiding and protecting individual optical fibers is provided. One aspect of the present invention is a three dimensional manifold which may be constructed using a rapid prototyping process such as, but not limited to, stereolithography (“SLA”), fused deposition modeling (“FDM”), selective laser sintering (“SLS”), and the like. The manifold has a number of input openings in a first ordered arrangement at one end connected by passageways to a number of output openings in a second ordered arrangement at the opposite end. A plurality of optical fibers may be directed through the passageways of the manifold to produce a three dimensional optical circuit such as a shuffle.

Abstract: A three dimensional optical circuit featuring an optical manifold for organizing, guiding and protecting individual optical fibers is shown. One aspect of the present invention is a three dimensional manifold which may be constructed using a rapid prototyping process such as, but not limited to, stereolithography (“SLA”), fused deposition modeling (“FDM”), selective laser sintering (“SLS”), and the like. The manifold has a number of input openings in a first ordered arrangement at one end connected by passageways to a number of output openings in a second ordered arrangement at the opposite end. A plurality of optical fibers may be directed through the passageways of the manifold to produce a three dimensional optical circuit such as a shuffle. Moreover, the optical manifold may be used in conjunction with a number of connections or terminations to form a various optical modules. These modules may be configured for rack mounting within enclosures for electrical components.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector system for connecting at least one optical fiber cable mounted near the edge of a planar substrate to a backplane, each optical fiber cable including a plurality of optical fibers and a terminating ferrule, the longitudinal orientation of the optical fibers within the terminating ferrule defining a longitudinal axis and a forward direction, the ferrule having a first longitudinal range of motion x1 and a ferrule spring element having a longitudinal ferrule spring force fn,. The optical connector system includes a substrate housing assembly and a backplane housing assembly. The substrate housing assembly is designed to be mounted on the planar substrate and includes at least one ferrule receiving cavity for receiving the optical fiber ferrule, and a substrate housing assembly spring.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector system for connecting at least one optical fiber cable mounted near the edge of a planar substrate to a backplane, each optical fiber cable including a plurality of optical fibers and a terminating ferrule, the longitudinal orientation of the optical fibers within the terminating ferrule defining a longitudinal axis and a forward direction, the ferrule having a first longitudinal range of motion x1 and a ferrule spring element having a longitudinal ferrule spring force fn,. The optical connector system includes a substrate housing assembly and a backplane housing assembly. The substrate housing assembly is designed to be mounted on the planar substrate and includes at least one ferrule receiving cavity for receiving the optical fiber ferrule, and a substrate housing assembly spring.

Abstract: A stack of pre-cut sheets and a dispenser for those sheets are disclosed. The sheets include different adhesion levels to afford individual dispensing of the sheets.

Abstract: A cable assembly includes a number of insulated wires removably attached to a tearable backing. This construction allows the simultaneous termination of the wires since they are held in position for mass termination equipment and permits the free flow of air around and between the wires, in addition to ease of routing the wires, once the backing has been removed after termination of the wires.

Abstract: A stack of pre-cut sheets and a dispenser for those sheets are disclosed. The sheets include different adhesion levels to afford individual dispensing of the sheets.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a male plug having preferably two tapered major surfaces and a female receptacle having walls corresponding in taper to the major surfaces of the male plug. The male plug is adapted to terminate a ribbon cable and may be formed by a tapered circuit board or a tapered form around which conductors of a ribbon cable are bent. The female receptacle is lined with a flexible circuit for contact to the male plug and connection to a circuit board.

Abstract: Ribbon cables have lower capacitance, higher impedance, and faster propagation velocities with microporous fibril thermoplastic dielectric insulation, because they have great amounts of air adjacent to the conductors and the improved electrical performance is due in part to the improved crush resistance. Crystallizable thermoplastic polymers having good fibril structure and crush resistance include polyolefins such as polypropylene and polymethylpentene. A layer of metal adhered to the dielectric insulation provides improved transmission line properties.

Abstract: A ribbon cable or discrete wires, having a layer of thermally stable, crush resistant, fibril microporous heat sealable thermoplastic crystallizable polymer dielectric surrounding said conductor. The thermoplastic dielectric having a void volume in excess of 70%, a propagation velocity of the insulated conductor greater than 85% the propagation velocity in air and the crush resistance being the recovery rate of the material after being under a 500 gram weight for 10 minutes greater than 92% of the initial thickness.

Abstract: A stack of individual pre-cut sheets and a dispenser for those sheets are disclosed. The dispenser affords reciprocating movement of the stack within the dispenser to afford individual dispensing of the sheets. Optionally, the dispenser may be mounted on the wrist of a user to afford convenient dispensing.

Abstract: A sheet including a layer of flexible polymeric material having a coating of repositionable pressure sensitive adhesive on a second end portion that is generally transparent when adhered to a substrate, while being free of adhesive along a visually distinctive first end portion. A pad of the sheets in a stack with adjacent ends of the sheets aligned and with the first and second ends of successive sheets adjacent can be disposed in a chamber partially defined by a top wall having a slot through which the first end portion of the uppermost sheet projects. Relative movement is afforded between the top wall and the uppermost sheet to afford, as the uppermost sheet is pulled through the slot, alignment of the slot with successive portions of the uppermost sheet toward its second end as those successive portions are peeled from the stack.

Abstract: A sheet including a layer of flexible polymeric material having a coating of repositionable pressure sensitive adhesive on a second end portion that is generally transparent when adhered to a substrate, while being free of adhesive along a visually distinctive first end portion. A pad of the sheets in a stack with adjacent ends of the sheets aligned and with the first and second ends of successive sheets adjacent can be disposed in a chamber partially defined by a top wall having a slot through which the first end portion of the uppermost sheet projects. Relative movement is afforded between the top wall and the uppermost sheet to afford, as the uppermost sheet is pulled through the slot, alignment of the slot with successive portions of the uppermost sheet toward its second end as those successive portions are peeled from the stack.

Abstract: A convenient dispensing package for a stack of adhesive-coated notepaper comprises a box for containing a stack of sheets with one end of the box formed with two flaps cut along parallel coincident edges and along a common third edge to define two mating indulated edges defining the dispensing opening.

Abstract: A convenient dispensing package for a stack of adhesive-coated notepaper comprises a box for containing a stack of sheets with a removable central portion on one end of the box and a band is wrapped about four sides of the stack of sheets with the ends of the band having interfering end portions defining the dispensing opening positioned centrally of the removable box portion.