Patents by Inventor Patrick Drouard

Patrick Drouard 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: 9513451
    Abstract: Optical fiber distribution enclosure (1), comprising a housing base (40) and a housing cover (20), engageable with each other to form a housing of the enclosure (1), a slack fiber storage device (50), arranged within the housing when the housing base (40) and the housing cover (20) are engaged with each other, a tray holder (60), arranged within the housing when the housing base (40) and the housing cover (20) are engaged with each other, on which tray holder (60) one or more fiber-optic trays (70) can be mounted, characterized in that the housing base (40), the slack fiber storage device (50) and the tray holder (60) are integrally formed as one piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Christophe Corbille, Patrick Drouard, Jesús Estrada, Guy J. Barthes, Christophe Desard
  • Publication number: 20150253528
    Abstract: Optical fibre distribution enclosure (1), comprising a housing base (40) and a housing cover (20), engageable with each other to form a housing of the enclosure (1), a slack fibre storage device (50), arranged within the housing when the housing base (40) and the housing cover (20) are engaged with each other, a tray holder (60), arranged within the housing when the housing base (40) and the housing cover (20) are engaged with each other, on which tray holder (60) one or more fibre-optic trays (70) can be mounted, characterized in that the housing base (40), the slack fibre storage device (50) and the tray holder (60) are integrally formed as one piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Christophe Corbille, Patrick Drouard, Jesús Estrada, Guy J. Barthes, Christophe Desard
  • Patent number: 8648258
    Abstract: A port entry device (100) is described for inserting a telecommunication cable (60) containing optical fibers into a telecommunications enclosure (300). In particular, the port entry device (100) is an oval port sealing device. The port entry device includes a tubular housing (110), a split sleeve (130) and a pair of clamping nuts (120). The tubular housing has an interior passageway (113) between a first end (110a) of the housing and a second end (110b) of the housing. The interior passageway can include a first cable channel (111) and a second cable channel (112). The housing can have an elliptical cross section. The split sleeve (130) positions the telecommunication cable (60) within the port entry device (100) when the split sleeve (130) is inserted into the interior passageway (113) of the housing (110). The clamping nuts are attachable to the second end (110b) of the housing to secure the split sleeve (130) within the housing (110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Patrick Drouard, Yvonnick Marsac
  • Patent number: 8472775
    Abstract: An enclosure for receiving at least one telecommunication cable comprises a housing (1) at least one portion (7) of which is configured for the passage of a cable (25) into/out of the enclosure. The housing portion (7) is repositionable to change the direction of passage of the cable relative to the housing. A sealing assembly (40, 44, 46) is provided that is split lengthwise whereby it can be fitted to the cable (25) after the cable has been passed into/out of the housing. A removable organizer unit (100) is also provided, for use in the housing (1), which offers storage (102) for slack cable (150) and for splice trays (118). Following removal from the housing, the organizer unit (100) can be supported on the housing (1) in a “work bench” position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Christophe Corbille, Patrick Drouard
  • Patent number: 8313250
    Abstract: An inlet device is described herein for inserting a telecommunication cable into a telecommunications enclosure. An exemplary inlet device comprises a housing, and a compression member. The housing can include a compressible portion at the second end of the housing and a securing zone adjacent to the first end of the housing. The securing zone can include a plurality of deformable locking elements which protrude from opposite sides of the housing to lock the inlet device in a close fitting port of a telecommunication enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Patrick Drouard
  • Patent number: 8270799
    Abstract: An inlet device is described for inserting a telecommunication cable into a telecommunications enclosure. The inlet device includes a housing compressible portion and a strength member securing section configured to fasten at least one strength member of the cable to the housing. The cable is centered in the housing when a protective sleeve is applied over a compressible portion of the housing. A method for preparing a cable assembly is also described. A telecommunications enclosure including an inlet device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Patrick Drouard
  • Patent number: 8189983
    Abstract: A fiber management system (100) comprises a fiber circuit platform (110) and a splice tray (150) to hold a fiber splice, the splice tray (150) being rotatably coupled to the fiber circuit platform (110). The splice tray includes at least one latching mechanism (152) rotatably engageable with the fiber circuit platform (110) and disposed on an outer portion of the splice tray. The fiber management system (100), in particular, the fiber circuit platform (110) allows a user to provide straightforward fiber circuit management at a premise or location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Herve Brunet, Patrick Drouard, Rutesh D. Parikh
  • Publication number: 20110217017
    Abstract: An enclosure (100) comprises an organizer (200) disposed in the housing for managing individual cables from a main cable. A cover (160) encloses the organizer (200) within the housing, the cover (160) including one or more latches (161, 162, 161a, 162a) configured to engage one or more locking structures (135). A latch release mechanism (150, 150a) is slidably disposed on the housing, the latch release mechanism (150) including one or more dislodging cam structures (153a, 153b) formed thereon. The latch release mechanism (150, 150a) is configured to slide to a first position where the dislodging cam structures (153a, 153b) dislodge the one or more latches (161, 162, 161a, 162a) from engagement with the one or more locking structures (135). In addition, the latch release mechanism (150, 150a) is configured to slide to a second position where hooking clips (155a, 155b) formed thereon engage locking tabs (164) formed on the latches (161, 162, 161a, 162a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventors: Patrick Drouard, Herve Brunet
  • Publication number: 20110211326
    Abstract: A port entry device (100) is described for inserting a telecommunication cable (60) containing optical fibers into a telecommunications enclosure (300). In particular, the port entry device (100) is an oval port sealing device. The port entry device includes a tubular housing (110), a split sleeve (130) and a pair of clamping nuts (120). The tubular housing has an interior passageway (113) between a first end (110a) of the housing and a second end (110b) of the housing. The interior passageway can include a first cable channel (111) and a second cable channel (112). The housing can have an elliptical cross section. The split sleeve (130) positions the telecommunication cable (60) within the port entry device (100) when the split sleeve (130) is inserted into the interior passageway (113) of the housing (110). The clamping nuts are attachable to the second end (110b) of the housing to secure the split sleeve (130) within the housing (110).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Patrick Drouard, Yvonnick Marsac
  • Publication number: 20110164853
    Abstract: An enclosure for receiving at least one telecommunication cable comprises a housing (1) at least one portion (7) of which is configured for the passage of a cable (25) into/out of the enclosure. The housing portion (7) is repositionable to change the direction of passage of the cable relative to the housing. A sealing assembly (40, 44, 46) is provided that is split lengthwise whereby it can be fitted to the cable (25) after the cable has been passed into/out of the housing. A removable organizer unit (100) is also provided, for use in the housing (1), which offers storage (102) for slack cable (150) and for splice trays (118). Following removal from the housing, the organizer unit (100) can be supported on the housing (1) in a “work bench” position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Christophe Corbille, Patrick Drouard
  • Publication number: 20110033157
    Abstract: An inlet device is described herein for inserting a telecommunication cable into a telecommunications enclosure. An exemplary inlet device comprises a housing, and a compression member. The housing can include a compressible portion at the second end of the housing and a securing zone adjacent to the first end of the housing. The securing zone can include a plurality of deformable locking elements which protrude from opposite sides of the housing to lock the inlet device in a close fitting port of a telecommunication enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventor: Patrick Drouard
  • Publication number: 20100209057
    Abstract: An inlet device is described for inserting a telecommunication cable into a telecommunications enclosure. The inlet device includes a housing compressible portion and a strength member securing section configured to fasten at least one strength member of the cable to the housing. The cable is centered in the housing when a protective sleeve is applied over a compressible portion of the housing. A method for preparing a cable assembly is also described. A telecommunications enclosure including an inlet device is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventor: Patrick Drouard
  • Publication number: 20100183274
    Abstract: A fiber management system (100) comprises a fiber circuit platform (110) and a splice tray (150) to hold a fiber splice, the splice tray (150) being rotatably coupled to the fiber circuit platform (110). The splice tray includes at least one latching mechanism (152) rotatably engageable with the fiber circuit platform (110) and disposed on an outer portion of the splice tray. The fiber management system (100), in particular, the fiber circuit platform (110) allows a user to provide straightforward fiber circuit management at a premise or location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Herve Brunet, Patrick Drouard, Rutesh D. Parikh