Patents by Inventor Stephen J. Weinert

Stephen J. Weinert 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).

  • Publication number: 20080174769
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for testing a fiber optic component having two ends includes a device having a sensor, an alarm, and a connector assembly having different types of connectors each being operable to connect the device to either end of a corresponding type of fiber optic component. Upon a connector of the connector assembly connecting the device to the second end of the fiber optic component and upon a light signal being transmitted into the first end of the component for the component to conduct to the second end of the component, the sensor determines a power level of the light signal at the second end of the component and the alarm generates an alarm signal when the power level of the light signal at the second end of the component is greater than a given threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Weinert, Michael L. Yeilding, Mary A. Cerniglia
  • Patent number: 7379650
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a trough for routing jumpers along a surface of the trough. The apparatus further includes a spool assembly having a spool supported on a mount. The mount has an adhesive surface. The adhesive surface is attached to the trough surface to attach the spool to the trough such that the spool stores slack of jumpers routed along the trough surface upon the jumpers being wrapped around the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Weinert, Michael L. Yeilding
  • Patent number: 7302155
    Abstract: A spool assembly includes a spool supported on a mount. The mount has an adhesive covered by a cover capable of being peeled off from the adhesive. The adhesive is attached to a structure such as a trough or a panel in order to attach the spool to the structure such that the spool stores slack of jumpers adjacent to the structure upon the jumpers being wrapped around the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Weinert, Michael L. Yeilding
  • Patent number: 7248774
    Abstract: A router includes tubular segments interconnected to one another. Each tubular segment surrounds an interior which accommodates fiber optic jumpers within the tubular segment. A latch of a first one of the tubular segments connects to a connector hole of a second one of the tubular segments to interconnect the first and second tubular segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Weinert, Michael L. Yeilding, Douglas A. Florence, Jack B. Spencer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7231124
    Abstract: A frame includes a cabinet, a door, and a bracket. The cabinet has an opened front face. The door has a door frame and an inner door section. The door frame is connected to the cabinet for the door to open and close relative to the front face of the cabinet. The bracket connects the inner door section to the door frame such that the inner door section is offset from the front face of the cabinet by a separation distance and covers the front face of the cabinet from the separation distance when the door is closed. The bracket has a sufficient length such that the separation distance between the inner door section and the front face of the cabinet when the door is closed permits fiber optic components to extend through the front face of the cabinet without being compressed by the inner door section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventor: Stephen J. Weinert
  • Patent number: 7218387
    Abstract: A fiber optic component testing apparatus includes first and second transceiver devices respectively placed on proximal and distal ends of a fiber optic component. The first transceiver device transmits a visible light signal from an optical transmitter into the proximal end for the fiber optic component to conduct to the distal end. An optical reflector of the second transceiver device reflects the light signal at the distal end back towards the proximal end. A sensor of the first transceiver device monitors the light signal reflected by the optical reflector to determine whether a power level of the reflected light signal is greater than a given threshold. The sensor activates an indicator light to flash for a technician to view (and activates an indicator speaker for the technician to hear) when the power level of the reflected light signal is greater than the given threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Weinert, Michael L. Yeilding, Mary A. Cerniglia
  • Patent number: 7162135
    Abstract: A fiber distribution frame includes an enclosure having an exposed face. A door is connected to the enclosure for opening and closing with respect to the exposed face. A post is connected to the enclosure, a strap is connected at a first end to the post, and a latch is connected to the door. The latch has a receptacle for receiving a fastener, and a a conduit for receiving the strap. The receptacle and the conduit adjoin one another such that, when the door is closed and a second end of the strap is inserted through the conduit, a fastener fastened into the receptacle holds the strap in the conduit in order to connect the latch to the post and thereby lock the door closed. A diffuser component is attachable to the door for absorbing radiation from fiber optic components disposed within the enclosure when the door is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Weinert, Michael L. Yeilding
  • Patent number: 7146088
    Abstract: A fiber distribution frame includes a cabinet which houses fiber optic components. A door frame is connected to the cabinet for the door to close relative to a front face of the cabinet. The door frame surrounds an opened area which exposes the front face when the door is closed for the components to extend out from the cabinet. Brackets connect an inner door section to the door frame such that the door section is offset from the front face by a separation distance when the door is closed. The brackets have a sufficient length such that the separation distance permits the components to extend out of the cabinet and maintain a minimum bend radius without being compressed by the door section when the door is closed. A component router is connected to the cabinet and positioned within the separation distance for directing the components to outside of the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventor: Stephen J. Weinert
  • Patent number: 7136566
    Abstract: A system for routing fiber optic jumpers from a fiber optic jumper trough to network equipment includes fiber optic jumper enclosures. Each enclosure has a tubular segment surrounding an interior. The interior of each tubular segment accommodates the placement of fiber optic jumpers within the tubular segment. Some of the enclosures have connector holes in the tubular segments and some of the enclosures have latches connected to ends of the tubular segments. First, second, third, etc., enclosures interconnect with one another to form a router for routing fiber optic jumpers between a fiber optic jumper trough and the network equipment. A latch of the first enclosure connects to a connector hole of the second enclosure in order to interconnect the first and second enclosures to form the router. A post associated with one of the first and second enclosures mounts the router to the network equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Weinert, Michael L. Yeilding, Douglas A. Florence, Jack B. Spencer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7130520
    Abstract: A fiber distribution system includes a fiber distribution frame. A door is connected to the frame to open and close relative to the frame. A first actuator is associated with the door and a second actuator is associated with the frame. The actuators engage one another upon actuation to lock the door to the frame when the door is closed relative to the frame. A controller remotely controls actuation of the actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Weinert, Michael L. Yeilding, Jeffrey Lynn Langley
  • Patent number: 7102084
    Abstract: A routing conduit assembly for routing fiber optic jumpers from a raceway includes interconnected hood, curved neck, and vertical body conduits. The conduits have slits which are aligned with one another when the conduits form the assembly. A connector connects the vertical body conduit to a horizontally oriented raceway to mount the assembly to the raceway with the hood conduit positioned above the raceway. The connector includes a fulcrum component which enables the assembly to tilt relative to the raceway. A support stabilizer connects to the vertical body conduit for receiving tubular containers such that the tubular containers are aligned and secured with respect to the assembly. The conduit slits receive jumpers from the raceway for the assembly to enclose and route between the raceway and fiber optic equipment located below the raceway such that the jumpers transition between horizontal and vertical orientations while maintaining a minimum bend radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Weinert, Edward C. Granger, Michael L. Yeilding
  • Patent number: 7079745
    Abstract: A fiber optics system includes a relay rack having network equipment bays inserted therein. A raceway extends over the relay rack for routing fiber optic jumpers to the bays. A spool assembly for absorbing and storing slack or excess length of the jumpers is selectively incorporated in the system. The spool assembly includes a cylindrical spool supported on a mount having an adhesive surface. The adhesive surface attaches to the relay rack in order to attach the spool to the relay rack such that the spool is positioned adjacent to the bays in order to store the slack of jumpers connected between the raceway and the bays upon the jumpers being wrapped over or around the spool. The spool has a radius larger than a minimum bend radius of the jumpers such that the jumpers are not bent beyond the minimum bend radius when wrapped over or around the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Weinert, Michael L. Yeilding
  • Patent number: 7049525
    Abstract: A device for routing jumper cables includes a conduit connected to a raceway containing multiple jumper cables to form a routing conduit assembly. The conduit has a slit for receiving jumper cables. The conduit includes a hood conduit portion, a curved neck conduit portion, and a vertical body conduit portion. Each conduit portion has a slit portion for receiving jumper cables. The conduit slit portions receive jumpers from the raceway for the conduit to enclose and route between the raceway and fiber optic equipment located below the raceway such that the jumper cables transition between horizontal and vertical orientations while maintaining a minimum bend radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Weinert, Edward C. Granger, Michael L. Yeilding
  • Patent number: 7024089
    Abstract: A fiber distribution frame arrangement includes a fiber distribution frame. Fiber optic component panels are housed within the fiber distribution frame at respective positions. Doors are connected to the fiber distribution frame for the doors to open and close relative to the fiber distribution frame. Each door corresponds to one of the fiber optic component panels such that the door opens and closes relative to the corresponding fiber optic component panel when the door opens and closes relative to the fiber distribution frame. Actuators corresponding to the doors are positioned on the corresponding doors in order to lock the corresponding door to the fiber distribution frame upon actuation when the corresponding door is closed. A cable extends between each actuator for connecting the actuators together. A controller communicates with the actuators via the cable in order to control actuation of the actuators and monitor actuation status of the actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Weinert, Michael L. Yeilding, Jeffrey Lynn Langley
  • Patent number: 6990284
    Abstract: A fiber distribution frame includes a housing and a door which opens and closes with respect to an exposed face of the housing to provide and restrict access to optic components within the housing. The frame further includes a door locking device having a door latch mounted to the door, a strapping post mounted to a side surface of the housing, and a cable connected at a first end to the strapping post. The door latch has a fastener receptacle and a cable conduit which adjoin one another such that a fastener received by the receptacle holds the cable in the conduit when the conduit receives a second end of the cable and the door is closed thereby locking the door to the housing. A diffuser component is attached to the inner surface of the door to absorb optical radiation from the optic components when the door is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Weinert, Michael L. Yeilding
  • Patent number: 6951986
    Abstract: A routing conduit assembly for routing fiber optic jumpers from a raceway includes interconnected hood, curved neck, and vertical body conduits. The conduits have slits which are aligned with one another when the conduits form the assembly. A connector connects the vertical body conduit to a horizontally oriented raceway to mount the assembly to the raceway with the hood conduit positioned above the raceway. The connector includes a fulcrum component which enables the assembly to tilt relative to the raceway. A support stabilizer connects to the vertical body conduit for receiving tubular containers such that the tubular containers are aligned and secured with respect to the assembly. The conduit slits receive jumpers from the raceway for the assembly to enclose and route between the raceway and fiber optic equipment located below the raceway such that the jumpers transition between horizontal and vertical orientations while maintaining a minimum bend radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Weinert, Edward C. Granger, Michael L. Yeilding