Patents by Inventor Kenneth J. Vidacovich

Kenneth J. Vidacovich 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: 5378164
    Abstract: The contacts of an electrical connector are joined by the biasing force of the contact elements and in practice are separated by a probe to interconnect therebetween an additional circuit member. A probe which has a terminal end with an oblique surface to cause the wiping of the contact elements against each other at the interface during insertion or removal will improve contact and extend the life of the contact elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Vidacovich, Philip M. Smith, Richard J. Scherer, William D. McKittrick
  • Patent number: 5247603
    Abstract: A fiber optic connection system having a housing which receives a plurality of novel splice trays which are adaptable for use in either interconnection or cross-connection of the fibers. Each splice tray is formed of an upper tray section (having a reel for storing excess fiber slack in the first group of fibers and a splice area with clips for retaining splice elements) and a lower tray section which is either an interconnect card or a cross-connect card. The interconnect card has another reel for storing excess fiber slack in the second group of fibers, while the cross-connect card has no such reel but rather has walls for guiding the group of second fibers to a common exit point on the cross-connect card. The lower tray section is removably attached to the upper tray section whereby an existing splice tray can be modified from an interconnection configuration to a cross-connection configuration and vice-versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Vidacovich, Sidney J. Berglund, Steven C. Bove