Patents by Inventor Roger H. Keith

Roger H. Keith 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: 5459808
    Abstract: A fiber optic housing has a low part count, with all major parts formed by cutting, stamping or bending sheet metal, and with very few fasteners, reducing cost and simplifying assembly of the housing. In spite of the simplified construction, the housing retains great flexibility in the installation of the fibers and associated connectors, primarily due to the provision of a unique chassis which is completely removable from the housing, as well as a backplane frame which is further removable from the chassis. A novel bulkhead plate, and method of attachment thereof to the frame, are also disclosed. The chassis may have a drop center floor to more efficiently utilize space and yet still provide curved surfaces for the smooth exiting of the fibers from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Roger H. Keith
  • Patent number: 5446822
    Abstract: A compact fiber optic housing has a tray divided into front and rear areas by a partition, the rear area receiving excess slack from optical fibers, and the front area having a bulkhead for receiving fiber optic connectors. The front and rear areas overlap to optimize the space within the tray; the tray may consist of a single base supporting the front and rear areas, or of two separate front and rear shelves which are removably attached to each other. The bulkhead includes clips which releasably secure the connectors to the tray, the clips being received in apertures in the base of the tray. A lower tier of the partition slightly overlies the apertures. Each clip is formed from a single piece of sheet metal, having a base for insertion into the apertures, and having a bulkhead riser extending perpendicularly from the base, the riser having a hole for receiving the connector coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Roger H. Keith
  • Patent number: 5408570
    Abstract: A fiber optic housing has a low part count, with all major parts formed by cutting, stamping or bending sheet metal, and with very few fasteners, reducing cost and simplifying assembly of the housing. In spite of the simplified construction, the housing retains great flexibility in the installation of the fibers and associated connectors, primarily due to the provision of a unique chassis which is completely removable from the housing, as well as a backplane frame which is further removable from the chassis. A novel bulkhead plate, and method of attachment thereof to the frame, are also disclosed. The chassis may have a drop center floor to more efficiently utilize space and yet still provide curved surfaces for the smooth exiting of the fibers from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: David D. Cook, Roger H. Keith
  • Patent number: 5363467
    Abstract: A compact fiber optic housing has a tray divided into front and rear areas by a partition, the rear area receiving excess slack from optical fibers, and the front area having a bulkhead for receiving fiber optic connectors. The front and rear areas overlap to optimize the space within the tray; the tray may consist of a single base supporting the front and rear areas, or of two separate front and rear shelves which are removably attached to each other. The bulkhead includes clips which releasably secure the connectors to the tray, the clips being received in apertures in the base of the tray. A lower tier of the partition slightly overlies the apertures. Each clip is formed from a single piece of sheet metal, having a base for insertion into the apertures, and having a bulkhead riser extending perpendicularly from the base, the riser having a hole for receiving the connector coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Roger H. Keith
  • Patent number: 5052775
    Abstract: An optical fiber termination module for use in terminating having an end wall and a splice magazine, a connector supported on said end wall, one plug of which has a short optical fiber extending therefrom straight to a splice supported in the magazine, and the support having a flucrum to afford tilting of the support intermediate its ends to afford movement of the end wall to a position away from the end wall of other modules to allow easy access to the connector for attaching a distribution plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Ronald G. Bossard, Roger H. Keith
  • Patent number: 4986762
    Abstract: A module for use in an array for modules for terminating transmission lines and making them readily accessible to connection to distribution lines, the modules comprising small rectangular bases having an end wall supporting a connector, and means affording the tilting movement of each module intermediate the ends of each base to move the end wall from a position aligned with the end walls of other modules to a position affording ready access to the connector of the tilted end wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Roger H. Keith
  • Patent number: 4946037
    Abstract: A package including containers having gabletops, wherein it is desired to maintain the containers in pairs, in separate areas, with support members to provide support for the gabletops from one side of the carton and identify the pairs of containers and separate them from other pairs of containers. The support members bridge the areas and are formed with panels adapted to engage the inclined roof panels of the gabletop containers and brace them from the wall of the carton to protect the ridge seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Roger H. Keith
  • Patent number: 4860888
    Abstract: A shipping carton for containers having gabletops, wherein it is desired to maintain the containers in pairs, is provided with areas which receive the containers in pairs and support members are provided to support the gable tops from one side of the carton and identify the pairs of containers and separate them from other pairs of containers. The support members bridge the areas and are doubly deeply grooved to engage the gabletop containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Roger H. Keith
  • Patent number: 4389440
    Abstract: An elastic cover for couplings or splices comprising a radially stretched and axially twisted elastic cover supported on a core of spirally wound polymeric material which is progressively removed from within the cover member as a continuous narrow strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1983
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Roger H. Keith
  • Patent number: 4190998
    Abstract: Welding backup comprising a flexible backing to which is adhered a train of rigid, heat-resistant tiles having knuckle joints wherein a protuberance of one tile fits into an indentation in the mating tile so that the train of tiles is conformable to both convex and concave surfaces without stretching or kinking the backing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1980
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Roger H. Keith
  • Patent number: 3982780
    Abstract: Body side molding for automotive vehicles comprising a plastic body formed with at least one broad channel which communicates with the bottom of the molding to enable its bottom surface to conform to curved surfaces without distorting the top of the molding. This permits the molding to be permanently adhered to the variety of contours presented by automotive vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1976
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Roger H. Keith
  • Patent number: 3972466
    Abstract: The tendency of molten weld metal to burn through a supported refractory welding backup material is greatly reduced by incorporating a woven carbon fiber cloth between the refractory and the support. A preferred product is a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape construction incorporating the carbon-fiber cloth in the backing; surprisingly, the carbon does not embrittle the weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1976
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Roger H. Keith
  • Patent number: D370891
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Roger H. Keith