Patents by Inventor Thomas E. Bludau

Thomas E. Bludau 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: 8879883
    Abstract: An inlet device is described for inserting a cable containing optical fibers into a telecommunications enclosure. The inlet device includes a housing with a strength member securing section configured to fasten at least one strength member to the housing. The inlet device further includes a fiber guide device. The inlet device may be used in a single fiber optical cable assembly or multi-fiber optical cable assembly. A method for preparing a cable assembly is also described. A telecommunications enclosure including an inlet device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Rutesh D. Parikh, William G. Allen, Kenneth D. Rebers, Joseph M. Van Allen, George W. Parrett, Thomas E. Bludau
  • Patent number: 8184939
    Abstract: An inlet device is described for inserting a cable containing optical fibers into a telecommunications enclosure. The inlet device includes a housing and an optical device holder. The optical device holder may be configured to hold an optical fiber spice and/or an optical device such as an optical splitter, coupler or a dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Rutesh D. Parikh, William G. Allen, Thomas E. Bludau
  • Patent number: 7715678
    Abstract: A telecommunications enclosure includes a housing for retaining telecommunication lines therein, the housing including at least one of a splice closure and a terminal closure. At least one of the terminal closure and the splice closure includes a loopback testing station having at least one coupling mounted therein. The coupling is adapted to receive a first terminated end of a first telecommunication line and adapted to receive a second terminated end of a second telecommunication line. The testing station permits loss testing of installed distribution lines at a terminal from a central network facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas E. Bludau, James D. Erhardt, David Scarponi, George W. Lutgens
  • Patent number: 7697812
    Abstract: An enclosure includes a housing defining an internal splicing area and at least one port at least one port configured for passage of at least one telecommunications cable into the enclosure. The enclosure protects the optical fibers, optical fiber splices and optical devices contained therein. A support basket is disposed in the splicing area and extends longitudinally within the housing. The support basket is shaped to substantially conform to a portion of the circumferential shape of the splicing area. A repositionable, removable support platform is disposed on the support basket in a first orientation for storage and disposed in a second orientation for installation and maintenance of the fiber optic splices and optical devices housed in the enclosure. The optical fiber splices and optical devices are disposed in a splice tray which is adjacent to the support platform. Additionally, the support basket includes a multilayer slack storage compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Rutesh D. Parikh, William G. Allen, Thomas E. Bludau
  • Publication number: 20100086260
    Abstract: An inlet device is described for inserting a cable containing optical fibers into a telecommunications enclosure. The inlet device includes a housing with a strength member securing section configured to fasten at least one strength member to the housing. The inlet device further includes a fiber guide device. The inlet device may be used in a single fiber optical cable assembly or multi-fiber optical cable assembly. A method for preparing a cable assembly is also described. A telecommunications enclosure including an inlet device is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventors: Rutesh D. Parikh, William G. Allen, Kenneth D. Rebers, Joseph M. Van Allen, George W. Parrett, Thomas E. Bludau
  • Publication number: 20100027955
    Abstract: An inlet device is described for inserting a cable containing optical fibers into a telecommunications enclosure. The inlet device includes a housing and an optical device holder. The optical device holder may be configured to hold an optical fiber spice and/or an optical device such as an optical splitter, coupler or a dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Rutesh D. Parikh, William G. Allen, Thomas E. Bludau
  • Publication number: 20090185782
    Abstract: An enclosure includes a housing defining an internal splicing area and at least one port at least one port configured for passage of at least one telecommunications cable into the enclosure. The enclosure protects the optical fibers, optical fiber splices and optical devices contained therein. A support basket is disposed in the splicing area and extends longitudinally within the housing. The support basket is shaped to substantially conform to a portion of the circumferential shape of the splicing area. A repositionable, removable support platform is disposed on the support basket in a first orientation for storage and disposed in a second orientation for installation and maintenance of the fiber optic splices and optical devices housed in the enclosure. The optical fiber splices and optical devices are disposed in a splice tray which is adjacent to the support platform. Additionally, the support basket includes a multilayer slack storage compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Rutesh D. Parikh, William G. Allen, Thomas E. Bludau