Patents by Inventor Jerry L. Allen

Jerry L. Allen 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: 10581229
    Abstract: Space in a conduit having at least one cable therein which is surrounded by a duct is recovered by longitudinally cutting the duct and removing the duct from around the cable. The duct may be pulled out of the conduit and past a blade to affect the cutting, or a blade may be pulled through the conduit to cut the duct while still in the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: WESCO DISTRIBUTION INC.
    Inventor: Jerry L. Allen
  • Publication number: 20190378636
    Abstract: A fabric wrapped cable is formed by positioning adhesive on opposed layers of fabric. A cable is positioned between those layers and the layers are attached by attaching the adhesive of one layer to the adhesive of the other layer. In forming the wrapped cable in such a manner, the cable is provided with at least one wing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventor: Jerry L. Allen
  • Publication number: 20190379185
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a multi-compartment innerduct includes the steps of positioning a plurality of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, strips of adhesive on a longitudinally extending sheet of fabric material, connecting adjacent of the strips together to form compartments, and attaching the compartments together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventor: Jerry L. Allen
  • Publication number: 20190089137
    Abstract: A pliant tube is positioned in a duct thereby defining two compartments in the duct, one within the tube and the other between the tube and the duct. A pulling device, such as a pull tape or rope, is provided in each compartment and is adapted to be attached to a cable so that a cable can be pulled into each compartment of the duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventor: Jerry L. ALLEN
  • Patent number: 10234649
    Abstract: A device to be inserted into a conduit includes at least one tube intended to receive optic fibers or micro fiber optic cables therein. A jacket surrounds the tube. In an embodiment where there are a plurality of tubes, they are loosely aligned within the jacket. In another embodiment, opposed surfaces of the jacket are attached to each other to form compartments for each tube. In still another embodiment, the jacket holds the tubes generally in a bundle. The jacket of a tube may also be attached to one or more innerducts, each of which can receive a fiber optic cable. Alternatively, an innerduct may be attached to two jackets each of which carry a tube therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: WESCO Distribution, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry L. Allen
  • Patent number: 10177546
    Abstract: A communications cable (11) is provided with a pliant sleeve (12, 21, 31) to allow it to be more easily inserted into a conduit (50). One form of the sleeve (12) has hook (14) and loop (15) connected to each other so that the sleeve (12) can engage the cable (11). Another form of the sleeve (21) is spring-loaded to engage the cable (11). In a third form of the sleeve (31) has an adhesive (33) which attaches the sleeve (31) to the cable (11). Whatever form the sleeve cable takes, when in the conduit (50), the conduit (50) is divided for the ease of insertion of a second sleeved cable and it is not necessary to install a separate conduit divider into the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: WESCO Distribution, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry L. Allen
  • Publication number: 20190004271
    Abstract: A device to be inserted into a conduit includes at least one tube intended to receive optic fibers or micro fiber optic cables therein. A jacket surrounds the tube. In an embodiment where there are a plurality of tubes, they are loosely aligned within the jacket. In another embodiment, opposed surfaces of the jacket are attached to each other to form compartments for each tube. In still another embodiment, the jacket holds the tubes generally in a bundle. The jacket of a tube may also be attached to one or more innerducts, each of which can receive a fiber optic cable. Alternatively, an innerduct may be attached to two jackets each of which carry a tube therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventor: Jerry L. ALLEN
  • Publication number: 20170244228
    Abstract: A pliant tube is positioned in a duct thereby defining two compartments in the duct, one within the tube and the other between the tube and the duct. A pulling device, such as a pull tape or rope, is provided in each compartment and is adapted to be attached to a cable so that a cable can be pulled into each compartment of the duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventor: Jerry L. ALLEN
  • Publication number: 20160308337
    Abstract: Space in a conduit having at least one cable therein which is surrounded by a duct is recovered by longitudinally cutting the duct and removing the duct from around the cable. The duct may be pulled out of the conduit and past a blade to affect the cutting, or a blade may be pulled through the conduit to cut the duct while still in the conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventor: Jerry L. ALLEN
  • Patent number: 9391434
    Abstract: Space in a conduit having at least one cable therein which is surrounded by a duct is recovered by longitudinally cutting the duct and removing the duct from around the cable. The duct may be pulled out of the conduit and past a blade to affect the cutting, or a blade may be pulled through the conduit to cut the duct while still in the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: WESCO Distribution, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry L. Allen
  • Patent number: 9391433
    Abstract: Space in a conduit having at least one cable therein which is surrounded by a duct is recovered by longitudinally cutting the duct and removing the duct from around the cable. The duct may be pulled out of the conduit and past a blade to affect the cutting, or a blade may be pulled through the conduit to cut the duct while still in the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: WESCO Distribution, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry L. Allen
  • Publication number: 20160082487
    Abstract: A rodder assembly to be moved through an underground conduit includes a tube adapted to receive fluid under pressure. In some embodiments the rodder assembly includes at least one rigid rod, and a nozzle is attached to the tube to discharge fluid from the tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventor: Jerry L. ALLEN
  • Publication number: 20150263493
    Abstract: Space in a conduit having at least one cable therein which is surrounded by a duct is recovered by longitudinally cutting the duct and removing the duct from around the cable. The duct may be pulled out of the conduit and past a blade to affect the cutting, or a blade may be pulled through the conduit to cut the duct while still in the conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventor: Jerry L. ALLEN
  • Publication number: 20150244155
    Abstract: A communications cable (11) is provided with a pliant sleeve (12, 21, 31) to allow it to be more easily inserted into a conduit. One form of the sleeve (12) has hook (14) and loop (15) connected to each other so that the sleeve (12) can engage the cable (11). Another form of the sleeve (21) is spring-loaded to engage the cable (11). In a third form of the sleeve (31) has an adhesive (33) which attaches the sleeve (31) to the cable (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventor: Jerry L. ALLEN
  • Patent number: 9054507
    Abstract: A communications cable (11) is provided with a pliant sleeve (12, 21, 31) to allow it to be more easily inserted into a conduit. One form of the sleeve (12) has hook (14) and loop (15) connected to each other so that the sleeve (12) can engage the cable (11). Another form of the sleeve (21) is spring-loaded to engage the cable (11). In a third form of the sleeve (31) has an adhesive (33) which attaches the sleeve (31) to the cable (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: WESCO Distribution, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry L. Allen
  • Patent number: 8870162
    Abstract: A projectile is utilized to introduce an item into a conduit which already has a cable therein. The projectile includes a body member having a longitudinal opening therethrough. The body member is longitudinally split so that the cable may be received in the opening. The item is attached to the body member. When the projectile with a portion of the cable received therein is put into a conduit and air under pressure is introduced into the conduit, the projectile is pushed along the cable and if the cable is undulating in the conduit, it is straightened and positioned out of the way of the item being introduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: WESCO Distribution, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry L. Allen
  • Patent number: 8872029
    Abstract: An innerduct (10) for insertion into a conduit includes at least one cell (11) which forms a compartment (14). A self opening stiffener (15) includes branches (16) attached at their ends (17). When the innerduct (10) is on a roll, the branches (16) are positioned adjacent to each other. When the innerduct (10) is being inserted into the conduit, the branches (16) move away from each other to open the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: WESCO Distribution, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry L. Allen
  • Patent number: 8459611
    Abstract: A system (10) for simultaneously introducing a cable (11) and another item (21) into a conduit (12) includes a pushing machine (13) and an air blower (15) which introduces the cable (11) into the conduit (12). The conduit (12) is split near the pushing machine (13) so that the item (21) may be attached to the cable (11) by means of an attachment device (25) carried by a bullet head (23) at the leading end of the cable (11). Alternatively, a projectible (35) may be attached to the leading end of the cable (11) and the item (21) may be attached at the junction of the cable (11) and projectile (35). A block (18) then connects the split ends (16, 17) of the conduit (12), and the cable (11) and other item (21) may then be moved together through the conduit (12) by the pushing machine (13) and air blower (15) which moves air against the projectile (35) to assist such movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: WESCO Distribution, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry L. Allen
  • Publication number: 20130125720
    Abstract: Space in a conduit having at least one cable therein which is surrounded by a duct is recovered by longitudinally cutting the duct and removing the duct from around the cable. The duct may be pulled out of the conduit and past a blade to affect the cutting, or a blade may be pulled through the conduit to cut the duct while still in the conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventor: Jerry L. Allen
  • Publication number: 20130117993
    Abstract: A communications cable (11) is provided with a pliant sleeve (12, 21, 31) to allow it to be more easily inserted into a conduit (50). One form of the sleeve (12) has hook (14) and loop (15) connected to each other so that the sleeve (12) can engage the cable (11). Another form of the sleeve (21) is spring-loaded to engage the cable (11). In a third form of the sleeve (31) has an adhesive (33) which attaches the sleeve (31) to the cable (11). Whatever form the sleeve cable takes, when in the conduit (50), the conduit (50) is divided for the ease of insertion of a second sleeved cable and it is not necessary to install a separate conduit divider into the conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: WESCO Distribution, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry L. ALLEN