Patents by Inventor Valere Buekers

Valere Buekers 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: 7393425
    Abstract: Methods for providing a cable closure enclosing a cable splice include wrapping a flexible wrap including a gel layer and a flexible support layer around the cable splice with the gel layer adjacent the cable splice. The gel layer may have an adhesion-reducing substance applied on at least part of a surface of the gel layer facing away from the flexible support layer and a removable cover layer may be applied to a surface of the gel layer facing away from the flexible support layer on which the adhesion-reducing substance is not applied. The wrap is gathered into overlapping wrinkles around at least one longitudinal end of the cable splice without applying heat, other external energy source or catalytic agent to allow the gel layer to seal the at least one longitudinal end of the cable splice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Raychem NV
    Inventors: Valere Buekers, Dirk Deroost, Thomas E. McNeal, Dirk Roosen, Els Timmermans, Filip Vandeputte
  • Publication number: 20060037687
    Abstract: Methods for providing a cable closure enclosing a cable splice include wrapping a flexible wrap including a gel layer and a flexible support layer around the cable splice with the gel layer adjacent the cable splice. The gel layer may have an adhesion-reducing substance applied on at least part of a surface of the gel layer facing away from the flexible support layer and a removable cover layer may be applied to a surface of the gel layer facing away from the flexible support layer on which the adhesion-reducing substance is not applied. The wrap is gathered into overlapping wrinkles around at least one longitudinal end of the cable splice without applying heat, other external energy source or catalytic agent to allow the gel layer to seal the at least one longitudinal end of the cable splice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Publication date: February 23, 2006
    Inventors: Valere Buekers, Dirk Deroost, Thomas McNeal, Dirk Roosen, Els Timmermans, Filip Vandeputte
  • Patent number: 6960380
    Abstract: A flexible wrap (10) for enclosing a cable splice (20) without external heating includes a gel layer (1) and a support layer (2). The wrap has sufficient flexibility to be manually gathered into wrinkles around the smaller parts of the cable-to-splice transition with the gel sealing the resulting enclosure. The support layer (2), which is preferably made of low density polyethylene, provides mechanical strength and facilitates the application of the wrap (10). A vapour barrier layer (3), preferably made of aluminium, may be applied on the support layer (2). A protective layer (4) may be applied on the vapour barrier layer (3). An adhesion-reducing substance (6) may be applied on at least part of the side of the gel layer (1) facing away from the support layer (2) to allow adjustment of the wrap (10) when applied on the cable splice (20). Elastic or rubber tape (11) maybe wound around the applied wrap (10) to compress the gel. A re-enterable closure having a long sealing length may be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Raychem NV
    Inventors: Valere Buekers, Dirk Deroost, Thomas E. McNeal, Dirk Roosen, Els Timmermans, Filip Vandeputte
  • Patent number: 6875926
    Abstract: A compression-expandable plug provides lateral expansion of an elastomeric gasket to seal around mini-tubes within an optical fiber duct, the mini-tubes containing optical fibers. The compression-expandable plug includes an elastomeric gasket having longitudinal passages configured to be positioned around optical-fiber-containing mini-tubes in an optical fiber duct and means for longitudinally compressing the gasket thereby laterally expanding it to exert sealing pressure around the mini-tubes and between the mini-tubes and the duct. A means for limiting the longitudinal compression applied to the gasket to limit the sealing pressure to a level selected to limit damage to the optical fibers may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Raychem NV
    Inventors: Valere Buekers, Jos Brants, Roger Alaerts, Fons Vranckx, Randy Wilkinson, James A. Croce, Chien-An Chen, David J. Hardie
  • Publication number: 20050069275
    Abstract: Apparatus (1) for sealing an optical fibre guide tube or duct (11) from which an optical fibre cable (10) emerges comprises a resilient sleeve (2) having in its unexpanded state an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the optical fibre guide tube (11), and a clamping member (3) for sealingly clamping part of the resilient sleeve (2) around the optical fibre cable (10). The resilient sleeve is preferably made of a thermoplastic elastomer. Resilient sealing material may be introduced into the sleeve while resisting introduction of the sealing material into the interior of the tube or duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Inventors: Jos Brants, Pieter De Coster, Lodewijk Van Noten, Valere Buekers
  • Publication number: 20040144555
    Abstract: A compression-expandable plug provides lateral expansion of an elastomeric gasket to seal around mini-tubes within an optical fibre duct, the mini-tubes containing optical fibres. The compression-expandable plug includes an elastomeric gasket having longitudinal passages configured to be positioned around optical-fibre-containing mini-tubes in an optical fibre duct and means for longitudinally compressing the gasket thereby laterally expanding it to exert sealing pressure around the mini-tubes and between the mini-tubes and the duct. A means for limiting the longitudinal compression applied to the gasket to limit the sealing pressure to a level selected to limit damage to the optical fibres may be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventors: Valere Buekers, Jos Brants, Roger Alaerts, Fons Vranckx, Randy Wilkinson, James A. Croce, Chien-An Chen, David J. Hardie
  • Publication number: 20030232166
    Abstract: A flexible wrap (10) for enclosing a cable splice (20) without external heating comprises a gel layer (1) and a support layer (2), the wrap having sufficient flexibility to be manually gathered into wrinkles around the smaller parts of the cable-to-splice transition with the gel sealing the resulting enclosure. The support layer (2), which is preferably made of low density polyethylene, provides mechanical strength and facilitates the application of the wrap (10). A vapour barrier layer (3), preferably made of aluminium, may be applied on the support layer (2). A protective layer (4) may be applied on the vapour barrier layer (3). An adhesion-reducing substance (6) may be applied on at least part of the side of the gel layer (1) facing away from the support layer (2) to allow adjustment of the wrap (10) when applied on the cable splice (20). Elastic or rubber tape (11) may be wound around the applied wrap (10) to compress the gel. A re-enterable closure having a long sealing length is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: Valere Buekers, Dirk Deroost, Thomas E. McNeal, Dirk Roosen, Els Timmermans, Filip Vandeputte
  • Patent number: 6561522
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement is provided including a first housing and a second housing and a sealing member positioned therebetween. In various embodiments, one housing includes a channel shaped portion and the other housing includes a tongue shaped portion movable in an axial direction into the channel shaped portion to compress the sealing member therebetween in a transverse direction relative to the axial direction. In further embodiments, both housings include a channel shaped portion and the sealing member extends into each channel shaped portion and is compressed within each channel shaped portion in a transverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Raychem N.V.
    Inventors: Christiaan Radelet, Valere Buekers, Dirk Deroost
  • Patent number: 6344615
    Abstract: A closure is provided including a casing part having at least one opening configured to receive an elongate object within the casing part. A sealing chamber defined by the casing part is positioned adjacent the opening so as to receive the elongate object in the sealing chamber and a sealant material is positioned in the sealing chamber. A relatively displaceable wall part of the casing part in provided in various embodiments which communicatively contacts the sealant material and is coupled to another part of the casing part by a flexible hinge part so as to allow movement of the relatively displaceable wall part relative to the other part of the casing. A compression means may be provided for applying a compressive force to the sealant material through the relatively displaceable wall part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Raychem N.V.
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Etienne Nolf, Johan Legrand, Valere Buekers, Dirk Deroost, David Arthur Wittmeier, Christiaan Radelet, Peter Bos
  • Patent number: 6275639
    Abstract: An optical fiber splice closure includes a casing for containing a plurality of optical fiber splices, and a support which is contained within the casing. The support carries a plurality of optical fiber splices. Sealant is contained within the casing and encapsulates at least part of the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Inventors: Sidney Joseph Bolt, Ian Ferris, Jean-Marie Etienne Nolf, Luk Macken, Valere Buekers, Daniel Daems
  • Patent number: 5922990
    Abstract: A device for forming a seal around an elongate member, such as a wire, is provided. A device includes a first housing part and a second housing part movably connected to the first part. Sealing material such as a gel is positioned in the first housing part and provides a surface onto which the elongate member may be placed. A first member is positioned in the second housing part so as to displace the elongate member substantially laterally into the sealing material on movement of the second housing part relative to the first housing part. A device for applying a force to the sealing material on relative movement of the housing parts is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: N.V. Raychem S.A.
    Inventors: Roger Alaerts, Valere Buekers, Roger Delvaux, Marc Vanonckelen
  • Patent number: 5907125
    Abstract: A device for environmental protection of an electrical component on a mount, e.g. a circuit board, includes: a first housing part; a second housing part which together with the first housing part provides a substantially closed housing; a mount (e.g. a circuit board) for an electrical component that may be movably secured with respect to the first housing part; and a sealing material positioned between the mount and a surface of the first housing part; such that the mount can be moved with respect to the first housing part to put the sealing material under compression. The device can also include a maintenance termination unit for a telecommunications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: N.V. Raychem S.A.
    Inventors: Valere Buekers, Roger Delvaux, Marc Demesmaeker
  • Patent number: 5816853
    Abstract: A cable connector housing (11) for surrounding and sealing a coaxial cable connection, the housing (11) comprising two elongate body portions (12) (13) that surround the cable (51) and connector (52). One end of the housing (11) has a smaller part or opening (14) for accommodating the cable and the other end of the housing has a larger opening (15) for accommodating a connector. The one end of the housing (11) is shaped preferably frusto-conically, to force sealing gel within the housing (11) towards the other end of the housing when the two body portions are assembled around the connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: N.V. Raychem S.A.
    Inventors: Valere Buekers, Etienne Laeremans, Luiz Neves Mendes, Marc Demesmaeker, Pieter De Coster
  • Patent number: 4761052
    Abstract: Two optical fibres are spliced together, and the splice and a loop of fibre organized in an organizer, for example by securing the splice in a projection (11) and accommodating the loop in a tray (12). The organizer also comprises an engagement means for example cylindrical extensions (13) into engagement with which a heat recoverable sleeve (not shown) surrounding the organizer and splice can be recovered to enclose the splice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1988
    Assignee: N. V. Raychem S.A.
    Inventors: Valere Buekers, Joris Franckx
  • Patent number: 4680065
    Abstract: A branch-off region at an end of a sleeve (2), enclosing for example a branch in a telecommunications cable, is sealed by a method which includes positioning at the end of the sleeve (2) some means for example a clip (1) or a filling piece that forms terminal conduits (3), positioning a heat-activatable adhesive (5) in the end, and activating the adhesive by a heating means such as an electrical heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1987
    Assignee: Raychem Corporation
    Inventors: Jan Vansant, Noel Overbergh, Valere Buekers, Amandus L. E. Pieck
  • Patent number: 4648168
    Abstract: A technique for protecting an optical fibre breakout particularly from a cable 1 comprising a core 2, a plurality of loose fibres 3 and a jacket 5. The jacket 5 and core 2 are stripped back and the fibres encased in protective tubes 7. This may be done one fibre at a time by removing a portion of cable jacket remote from the end and withdrawing each fibre from under the remaining end portion of jacket. The cable may be held in a holding tool and the fibres inserted into their protective tubes by means of an insertion tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: N.V. Raychem S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Marie E. Nolf, Hubert Genbrugge, Valere Buekers, Luiz N. Mendes, Jos Doucet, Jan Vansant
  • Patent number: 4641009
    Abstract: A branch-off region at an end of a sleeve (2), enclosing for example a branch in a telecommunications cable, is sealed by positioning at the end of the sleeve (2) a clip (1) or a filling piece that forms terminal conduits (3), positioning a heat-activatable adhesive (5) in the end, and activating the adhesive by a heater such as an electrical heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Assignee: N.V. Raychem S.A.
    Inventors: Jan Vansant, Noel Overbergh, Valere Buekers, Amandus L. E. Pieck
  • Patent number: 4498938
    Abstract: A cable splice, branchout or termination has a heat recovered member (30) around one or more cable portions (33) extending out of an end of the member (30). The cable portion (33) is protected from physical damage and heat by placing around it individually a metal foil member (1), preferably aluminium of thickness 150-250 microns. The metal foil member is preferably coated with a hot melt adhesive (2) and a mastic (5) at distinct locations. A pressure sensitive adhesive (4) may also be provided to help secure the foil member (1) around the cable portion (33) before recovery of the outer member (30). Apertures (44) may be provided in the foil member (1) to allow passage therethrough of hot melt adhesive provided on the inner surface of the recoverable member (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1985
    Assignee: N.V. Raychem S.A.
    Inventors: Marc Moisson, Lodewijk Van Noten, Noel Overbergh, Joris Franckx, Valere Buekers