Patents by Inventor William G. Allen
William G. Allen 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).
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Publication number: 20110030190Abstract: A system and method for providing a final drop in a living unit in a building. The system comprises a point-of-entry unit, such as a low profile base unit, disposed within the living unit at a location corresponding to an access position of horizontal cabling disposed in a hallway of the building that provides a first anchor point. The system also includes an adhesive-backed duct, having one or more communication lines disposed therein, mountable to a wall within the living unit. The system also includes a second anchor point, such as a wall receptacle, disposed within the living unit to receive a first communication line via the duct. The components of the system are also designed with very low impact profiles for better aesthetics within the living unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2010Publication date: February 10, 2011Inventors: Donald K. Larson, Linnea M. Wilkes, Victor J. Borer, Kurt H. Petersen, Wesley A. Raider, William V. Dower, Zachary M. Thompson, Daniel J. Treadwell, Rutesh D. Parikh, William G. Allen
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Publication number: 20110030832Abstract: A duct for distributing one or more communication lines comprises an elongated body having a length and a conduit portion with a lengthwise bore formed therein, the conduit portion containing one or more communication lines. The duct also includes a flange extending lengthwise adjacent the elongated body to mount the duct to a mounting surface. The duct also includes an adhesive layer disposed on a bottom surface of the flange. The duct may further include a strength member extending lengthwise with the flange. The strength member may be disposed between the bottom surface and the adhesive layer or within the conduit. The duct may include an open slot in the top to allow for insertion and removal of the communication line. The duct may also be configured such that the conduit portion is attached to the flange structure via a thin web of material having a thickness such that upon modest application of a peeling force, a segment of the conduit portion is detachable from the flange structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2010Publication date: February 10, 2011Inventors: Donald K. Larson, Linnea M. Wilkes, Victor J. Borer, Kurt H. Petersen, Wesley A. Raider, William V. Dower, Zachary M. Thompson, Daniel J. Treadwell, Rutesh D. Parikh, William G. Allen
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Publication number: 20100150517Abstract: In one aspect, the invention described herein provides an enclosure for containing telecommunication lines and/or telecommunication line splices therein. In one embodiment, the enclosure comprises a housing wherein the housing is removeably securable to the base. The base includes an edge wall extending from the bottom plate of the base. A sealing member is disposed on an outer surface of the edge wall. The housing includes an outer side wall and an inner lip spaced apart from the outer side wall. When the housing is secured to the base, the edge wall of the base is inserted between the outer side wall and the inner lip.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2009Publication date: June 17, 2010Inventors: William G. Allen, Rutesh D. Parikh
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Patent number: 7738759Abstract: 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 described. A telecommunications enclosure including an inlet device is also described.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2008Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Rutesh D. Parikh, William G. Allen
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Patent number: 7697812Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 11, 2008Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Rutesh D. Parikh, William G. Allen, Thomas E. Bludau
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Publication number: 20100086260Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2008Publication date: April 8, 2010Inventors: Rutesh D. Parikh, William G. Allen, Kenneth D. Rebers, Joseph M. Van Allen, George W. Parrett, Thomas E. Bludau
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Publication number: 20100027955Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2009Publication date: February 4, 2010Inventors: Rutesh D. Parikh, William G. Allen, Thomas E. Bludau
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Patent number: 7598457Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 17, 2007Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: William G. Allen, Shirley E. Ball, Sidney J. Berglund, Laszlo Markos, Rutesh D. Parikh
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Publication number: 20090185782Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2008Publication date: July 23, 2009Inventors: Rutesh D. Parikh, William G. Allen, Thomas E. Bludau
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Publication number: 20090060421Abstract: 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 described. A telecommunications enclosure including an inlet device is also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2008Publication date: March 5, 2009Inventors: Rutesh D. Parikh, William G. Allen
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Patent number: 7333706Abstract: An enclosure includes a closable housing defining an internal cavity, the housing having an open position and a closed position. A pivot tray is mounted within the internal cavity of the housing and is pivotable between a secured position and an unsecured position when the housing is in the open position. In the secured position, the tray defines a first compartment on a first side of the tray and a second compartment on a second side of the tray. Only the second compartment is accessible when the housing is in the open position and the pivot tray is in the secured position.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2005Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Rutesh D. Parikh, William G. Allen
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Patent number: 7268299Abstract: An adaptor for use with a telecommunications enclosure includes a body having a port extending therethrough from a first end of the body to a second end of the body. The first end of the body is configured for mounting within an opening of a telecommunications housing along a first axis. The port adjacent the second end of the adaptor is configured to receive a connection device receptacle therein along a second axis different from the first axis. A retention device is positioned adjacent the second end of the body and configured to retain a connection device receptacle within the port.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2004Date of Patent: September 11, 2007Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: William G. Allen, Rutesh D. Parikh
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Patent number: 7256349Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 11, 2004Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: William G. Allen, Shirley E. Ball, Sidney J. Berglund, Laszlo Markos, Rutesh D. Parikh
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Patent number: 7114418Abstract: A faucet-seat tool with a substantially straight elongated shaft having multiple hex-shaped or square-shaped steps on one end of the shaft and having a head on the other end of the shaft which is adapted to receive an external wrench or ratchet socket wrench into a hole having a biased detent inside the head.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2004Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Inventor: William G. Allen
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Patent number: 7045710Abstract: An enclosure includes a housing longitudinally extending from an open first end to a closed second end. The housing defines an internal cavity extending in the longitudinal direction, the internal cavity having a circumference in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction. A base member is configured for separable attachment to the open first end of the housing to provide an enclosed configuration. A support frame is secured to the base member and extends longitudinally within the internal cavity of the housing in the enclosed configuration. The support frame includes at least one portion that provides support about substantially the entire circumference of the internal cavity at a location between the first end and the second end of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2005Date of Patent: May 16, 2006Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: William G. Allen, Larry R. Cox, Rutesh D. Parikh
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Patent number: 6099392Abstract: A tool for preparing an optical fiber end-face includes a station having a base with a fiber bender and a scribe for cleaving a fiber. The base may include a polishing surface and a well that serves as a fiber shard collector. A cleaver door may be attached to the base to be rotatable between an open position and a closed position covering the shard collector and may include a mount for releasably attaching a fiber handling tool or puck. The puck includes a body, a latch attached by a hinge to the body, and a face comprising a plate pivotally attached to an end of the body and having a fiber port extending through the plate. The body of the puck includes a nest for receiving a fiber holder for securing a fiber with an end of the fiber extending through the port of the face. The nest includes a reference stop and a means for urging the fiber holder against the reference stop when the latch is rotated to a closed position covering the body.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 1997Date of Patent: August 8, 2000Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Gordon Wiegand, William G. Allen, Larry R. Cox, Charles M. Mansfield
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Patent number: 5553186Abstract: A fiber optic dome closure has a body with a closed end and an open end, a tubular base releasably secured to the open end, a strain relief member attached to the base, having cable ports therein, and several fiber optic storage trays supported in the body. The trays include a transition tray which receives excess fiber slack, and two or more splice trays hingedly attached at a common end to either the transition tray or to another splice tray. The transition and splice trays being generally flat and lying stacked in a storage position. The splice trays can be inclined without kinking the fibers routed around that end, and the hinges have features formed integrally therewith which releasably secure the tray in the inclined, access position. A split tube for routing fiber from the transition tray to either of the splice trays, or between the splice trays, has a releasable seal along a longitudinal seam to allow the fibers to the secured therein quickly, without threading.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1995Date of Patent: September 3, 1996Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventor: William G. Allen
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Patent number: 5337960Abstract: A lightweight, portable and collapsible support apparatus for pressurized water conveyance and overhead mist spraying nozzles (88). A single rear elongated leg (2) extends outwardly to the rear of the apparatus. Two front elongated legs (3R, 3L) extend forwardly and laterally outward in a substantially oblique direction, and are pivotally attached to the rear leg (2), such that the front legs (3R, 3L) can be folded up into a longitudinal bundle for easy carrying and stowing. A boom (30) is demountably attached to the upper end-portion of the rear leg (2), and extends forwardly upward in substantial alignment with the rear leg (2). A garden hose (39) supplies water to the boom (30), which delivers the water up to an overhead branch arm assembly (80), which is demountably and pivotally attached to the upper extremity of the boom (30). The branch arm assembly (80) comprises a plurality of branch arms (81) with mist spraying nozzles (88) attached thereto.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 1992Date of Patent: August 16, 1994Inventor: William G. Allen
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Patent number: 4773308Abstract: A one-piece flattened tubular member is formed into the shape of a U. The formed bottom of the U can be mounted over an automobile glass window and then the window is closed so as to retain the device mounted on an automobile. The ends of the flattened tubular member are slanted or tapered transversely to the width of the tubular member so that when the device is mounted in one direction on an automobile window, forward motion of the automobile will effect a vacuum along the outer edge of the tubular member and thus suck air from inside the automobile. When the device is mounted in the opposite direction on an automobile window, pressure created by movement of the vehicle along the outer edge of the tubular member creates air pressure within the automobile.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 1988Date of Patent: September 27, 1988Inventor: William G. Allen, Jr.