Patents by Inventor Shirley E. Ball

Shirley E. Ball 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: 9389370
    Abstract: An optical connector for terminating a jacketed optical fiber cable comprises a housing configured to mate with a receptacle. The connector also includes a collar body disposed in the housing, the collar body securing, at a first end, a ferrule. The collar body includes a gripping mechanism disposed in a second portion of the collar body. The collar body further includes a buffer clamp configured within a third portion of the collar body, the buffer clamp configured to clamp at least a portion of a buffer cladding of the optical fiber upon actuation. The optical connector also includes a backbone to retain the collar body within the housing. The backbone includes a mounting structure surrounding a central bore at one end of the backbone, the mounting structure having at least one pocket region configured to receive a slit portion of the cable jacket. A fiber connector termination and assembly tool is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jerome A. Pratt, Ronald P. Pepin, Joseph C. Sawicki, Shirley E. Ball, Wesley A. Raider, Donald K. Larson
  • Publication number: 20140286611
    Abstract: An optical connector for terminating a jacketed optical fiber cable comprises a housing configured to mate with a receptacle. The connector also includes a collar body disposed in the housing, the collar body securing, at a first end, a ferrule. The collar body includes a gripping mechanism disposed in a second portion of the collar body. The collar body further includes a buffer clamp configured within a third portion of the collar body, the buffer clamp configured to clamp at least a portion of a buffer cladding of the optical fiber upon actuation. The optical connector also includes a backbone to retain the collar body within the housing. The backbone includes a mounting structure surrounding a central bore at one end of the backbone, the mounting structure having at least one pocket region configured to receive a slit portion of the cable jacket. A fiber connector termination and assembly tool is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Jerome A. Pratt, Ronald P. Pepin, Joseph C. Sawicki, Shirley E. Ball, Wesley A. Raider, Donald K. Larson
  • Patent number: 7598457
    Abstract: An enclosure for use with a telecommunication cable includes a housing for retaining spliced telecommunication lines. At least one of a plurality of connection devices is connected to one of the spliced telecommunication lines within the housing. A primary entrance in the housing allowing simultaneous access to each of the plurality of connection devices in the housing. An adaptor integrally formed in a wall of the housing allows access and extraction of one of the plurality of connection devices through the wall of the housing from an exterior of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William G. Allen, Shirley E. Ball, Sidney J. Berglund, Laszlo Markos, Rutesh D. Parikh
  • Patent number: 7442884
    Abstract: A seal includes a body having an exterior surface configured for sealing engagement with an entry port of an enclosure. A plurality of passages extend from a first end of the body to a second end of the body. Each of the plurality of passages is configured to receive at least one component therein. A body slit extends from the first end to the second end, and passes through the body from the exterior surface to an interior point in the body. A plurality of passage slits extend from the first end to the second end. Each of the plurality of passage slits pass through the body from the interior point in the body to a corresponding one of the plurality of passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Shirley E. Ball, Sidney J. Berglund, Dean C. Krenz, Ronald J. Ricks
  • Patent number: 7256349
    Abstract: An enclosure for use with a telecommunication cable includes a housing for retaining spliced telecommunication lines. At least one of a plurality of connection devices is connected to one of the spliced telecommunication lines within the housing. A primary entrance in the housing allowing simultaneous access to each of the plurality of connection devices in the housing. An adaptor integrally formed in a wall of the housing allows access and extraction of one of the plurality of connection devices through the wall of the housing from an exterior of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William G. Allen, Shirley E. Ball, Sidney J. Berglund, Laszlo Markos, Rutesh D. Parikh
  • Publication number: 20040123998
    Abstract: A terminal for use with telecommunication cables has a splice closure and a terminal closure joined to the splice closure. The splice closure encloses opened areas of the cable, while the terminal closure encloses a connection device for establishing connection between telecommunication lines in the splice closure and a drop line. In various embodiments, a frame is mounted within the splice closure for retaining non-spliced lines of the telecommunication cable away from spliced lines; a storage member is located within the terminal closure for retaining excess lengths of the drop line; a drop line strain relief bracket is mounted within the terminal closure; and a memory device is incorporated into the terminal for storing information about the terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Sidney J. Berglund, Rutesh D. Parikh, Shirley E. Ball