Patents by Inventor Larry R. Cox

Larry R. Cox 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: 5836031
    Abstract: A device for cleaning the tips of optical fibers which have been installed in a connector, such as a plug or a receptacle. The device includes a tool body having cleaning media therein, such as a strip of adhesive tape, and a latch for releasably attaching the connector to the tool body. The adhesive tape may be in the form of a roll on a supply spool. In the embodiment designed for a plug, the tool body has an appropriately shaped opening for receiving the plug, and push rods are provided with the tool body which contact the fibers and urge them towards a cleaning position. In the embodiment designed for a receptacle, the receptacle is modified by having a tilt arm which can move the fibers to the cleaning position, and the tool body includes features to actuate the tilt arm as the tool body is inserted into the receptacle. Alternate designs are presented in which the cleaning media is not located in the tool body, but is manually applied to the fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Larry R. Cox
  • Patent number: 5530357
    Abstract: A sonde for tracing an underground conduit has a separable casing which receives a removable inner shell, the transmitter electronics being located in the shell. The electronics may be permanently potted in the inner shell or removable therefrom. The interchangeability of the transmitter facilitates the use of different types of transmission signals without requiring the more expensive casing for each such transmitter. The shell also advantageously supports the battery, and further is free to rotate within the housing such that, as the cap is screwed onto the housing, the shell and battery are free to rotate, precluding damage to the battery leads which may be caused by twisting of the leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Armond D. Cosman, Larry R. Cox
  • Patent number: 5519795
    Abstract: An instrument for detecting optical signals in optical fibers of various diameters includes a piston adapted to urge a portion of an optical fiber against a light detector, the piston being movable between open and closed positions, and having at least two piston surfaces, one defining a first precision bend geometry adapted to urge a fiber of a first diameter against the detector, and another defining a second precision bend geometry adapted to urge a fiber of a second diameter against the detector. The piston is biased toward the detector by a spring mechanism which also applies a predetermined amount of pressure against the fiber. The piston includes a mandrel having the two piston surfaces, the mandrel further having a shaft such that it may be rotated about the shaft to present either one of the piston surfaces to the detector. Indicia may be provided on the mandrel shaft, or the body, to visually indicate which piston surfaces has been selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Ronald K. Bender, Larry R. Cox, Rutesh D. Parikh
  • Patent number: 5483610
    Abstract: A device for tapping an optical fiber is adapted to engage a fiber supporting structure, such as a tray, having an aperture therein and a fiber passing over the aperture, the fiber tray and the clip-on device having a 3-point, nested contact which essentially restricts all relative movement between the tray and the device in the contact plane, providing improved repeatability in the positioning of the optical fiber in the head of the device, and thus improving repeatability of the optical measurements. A similar 3-point, nested contact may be used to align a mandrel housing with a fiber guide in the head, prior to a mandrel engaging the optical fiber. The mandrel housing is slidably received in a cylinder, and may have an elliptical outer surface which fits in an elliptical inner surface of the cylinder, to prevent rotation of the mandrel housing within the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Larry R. Cox
  • Patent number: 5138690
    Abstract: A fiber identifer for detecting the presence or absence of an active data signal or a test signal in an optical fiber. The instrument includes a piston which positions a portion of the fiber under test against an optical detector, the piston being located within a housing, and the housing being attached to a drive rod. The rod is responsive to a levered actuation mechanism, but a damper controls the movement rate of the rod, and hence the piston, to slowly bend the fiber, minimizing disruption of any signal flowing through the fiber and preventing undue mechanical stress which could damage the fiber. A precision spring within the housing is used to limit the pressure applied by the piston against the optical fiber. The housing also includes a novel arrangement of electrical contacts to sense the position of the piston and, indirectly, the position of the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1992
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Larry R. Cox
  • Patent number: 5039970
    Abstract: An induction coil having two split-ring cores which are self-aligning. Each core is semi-circular, one core being fixed within a first jaw, and the other free to move within a second jaw. The jaws are pivotally attached and biased to form a closed loop in the relaxed state. A spring next to the free core urges the free core against the fixed core as the jaws are brought together. This action insures a proper contact between core ends which is necessary for optimum inductive coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Larry R. Cox
  • Patent number: 5038437
    Abstract: A pair of separable hinge assemblies mount a seat cushion on a vehicle for positioning between a rearwardly folded regular seating mode and a forwardly folded stored mode. The hinge assemblies each comprise a body-half hinge plate mounted to the vehicle body and a seat-half hinge plate mounted to the seat cushion hardened undersurface. The body-half plate has upstanding side webs each formed with open end mirror image slots adapted to releasably capture a pintle pin extending transversely between parallel ear portions of the seat-half hinge plate. Each ear portion includes mirror image first and second cam shoulders adapted to frictionally retain the hinge assemblies in their respective seating or folded modes. Upon placement of the seat cusion in an intermediate position both sets of cam shoulders of each seat-half hinge plate are spaced from their associated body-half plate camming surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald W. Russell, Larry R. Cox, Siavash J. Jowkar
  • Patent number: 4888854
    Abstract: A pair of separable hinge assemblies mount a seat cushion on a vehicle for positioning between a normal seating mode and a folded stored mode. The hinge assemblies each comprise a body-half hinge plate mounted to the vehicle body and a seat-half hinge plate mounted to the seat cushion hardened undersurface. The body-half plate has upstanding side webs each formed with open end mirror image slots adapted to releasably capture a pintle pin extending transversely between parallel ear portions of the seat-half hinge plate. Each ear portion includes mirror image first and second cam shoulders adapted to frictionally retain the hinge assemblies in their respective normal or folded modes. Upon pivoting the seat cushion to an intermediate position both sets of cam shoulders of each seat-half hinge plate are spaced from their associated body-half plate camming surfaces allowing the separation of the hinge assemblies and removal of the seat cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: Chrysler Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald W. Russell, Larry R. Cox
  • Patent number: 4761656
    Abstract: A passive marker device including a tuned circuit enclosed in a housing which includes a base member with an upstanding rim with a cover member bonded to the rim and to a central portion of the base member. An opening is provided that extends through the housing at the central portion of the housing. A boss extends from the central portion of the base member to the cover member. The boss is recessed on the side of the base member that is away from the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Armond D. Cosman, Larry R. Cox
  • Patent number: 4291932
    Abstract: A fluid tight, detachable underwater electrical connector assembly having a elf-locking capability for use in connecting underwater hydrophones. The connector assembly comprises a female plug or receptacle housing, at least one electrical conductor, and a "feed-thru" tube leading from the receptacle housing for isolating the electrical conductor from a fluid environment. The receptacle housing is clear or substantially transparent thereby allowing visual inspection for leaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1981
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Larry R. Cox