Patents by Inventor William Welch McCollough

William Welch McCollough 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: 11867961
    Abstract: Provided herein are embodiments of an aversive cable. The cable includes a cable core comprising a longitudinal axis, a cable jacket surrounding the cable core along the longitudinal axis, and at least one sacrificial lobe. The cable jacket has an outer surface, and each of the at least one sacrificial lobe extends longitudinally along at least a portion of cable jacket and radially outward from the outer surface of the cable jacket. The cable jacket and the at least one sacrificial lobe include an aversive material. In embodiments, the sacrificial lobes are included on a cable sheath instead of the cable jacket, and the cable sheath surrounds the cable jacket without being bonded to the cable jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: CORNING RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Scott M. Adams, William Welch McCollough
  • Publication number: 20230152544
    Abstract: An optical fiber cable that includes subunits is provided. The cable has an outer jacket having a thickness of at least 2.0 millimeters and that is made from a fire retardant polymer material having a PHRR value of 222 kw/m2 when tested in a cone calorimeter measured according to ASTM E1354 with a heat flux of 50 kW/m2. The cable meets the requirement of UL 1666 burn test for riser cables and the requirements of EN 50399 burn test for CPR class Cca cables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: George Cornelius Abernathy, Mark Hanson Bushnell, Harold Edward Hudson, II, William Carl Hurley, Toua Lo, William Welch McCollough
  • Publication number: 20220003951
    Abstract: Provided herein are embodiments of an aversive cable. The cable includes a cable core comprising a longitudinal axis, a cable jacket surrounding the cable core along the longitudinal axis, and at least one sacrificial lobe. The cable jacket has an outer surface, and each of the at least one sacrificial lobe extends longitudinally along at least a portion of cable jacket and radially outward from the outer surface of the cable jacket. The cable jacket and the at least one sacrificial lobe include an aversive material. In embodiments, the sacrificial lobes are included on a cable sheath instead of the cable jacket, and the cable sheath surrounds the cable jacket without being bonded to the cable jacket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Scott M. Adams, William Welch McCollough
  • Patent number: 11187862
    Abstract: A fiber optic cable includes a tube, a stack of fiber optic ribbons twisting along a lengthwise axis through the tube, a support, and water-blocking tape positioned at least partially around the stack, between the stack and the tube. The support and water-blocking tape provide an elevated portion of the water-blocking tape that is raised. As the stack twists along the lengthwise axis of the tube, corners of the stack interface with the elevated portion to provide intermittent frictional coupling between the stack and the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: CORNING OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS LLC
    Inventors: James Lee Baucom, Jason Clay Lail, William Welch McCollough, David Alan Seddon
  • Publication number: 20190285819
    Abstract: A fiber optic ribbon cable includes a jacket of the cable, the jacket having a cavity defined therein, an optical element including an optical fiber and extending within the cavity of the jacket, and a dry water-blocking element extending along the optical element within the cavity. The dry water-blocking element is wrapped around the optical element with at least a portion of the dry water-blocking element disposed between another portion of the dry water-blocking element and the optical element, thereby defining an overlapping portion of the dry water-blocking element. The optical element interfaces with the overlapping portion to provide direct or indirect coupling between the optical element and the jacket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: James Lee Baucom, William Welch McCollough, David Alan Seddon
  • Patent number: 10409019
    Abstract: An optical cable assembly is provided. The cable assembly includes a plurality of subunits surrounded by an outer cable jacket, a furcation unit and optical connectors coupled to the end of each of the subunits. Each of the subunits includes an inner jacket, a plurality of optical fibers; and a tensile strength element. The first tensile strength element and the inner jackets of each subunits are coupled to the furcation unit, and the optical fibers and tensile strength elements of each subunit extend through the furcation unit without being coupled to the furcation unit. The subunit tensile strength element and optical fibers of each subunit are balanced such that both experience axial loading applied to the assembly and, under various loading conditions, the compression of the subunits is controlled and/or the axial loading of the optical fibers is limited to allow proper function of the optical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC
    Inventors: William Eric Caldwell, Terry Lee Ellis, William Carl Hurley, William Welch McCollough, Mark Tracy Paap
  • Patent number: 10338331
    Abstract: A fiber optic ribbon cable includes a jacket of the cable, the jacket having a cavity defined therein, an optical element including an optical fiber and extending within the cavity of the jacket, and a dry water-blocking element extending along the optical element within the cavity. The dry water-blocking element is wrapped around the optical element with at least a portion of the dry water-blocking element disposed between another portion of the dry water-blocking element and the optical element, thereby defining an overlapping portion of the dry water-blocking element. The optical element interfaces with the overlapping portion to provide direct or indirect coupling between the optical element and the jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC
    Inventors: James Lee Baucom, William Welch McCollough, David Alan Seddon
  • Publication number: 20190121043
    Abstract: A fiber optic ribbon cable includes a jacket of the cable, the jacket having a cavity defined therein, an optical element including an optical fiber and extending within the cavity of the jacket, and a dry water-blocking element extending along the optical element within the cavity. The dry water-blocking element is wrapped around the optical element with at least a portion of the dry water-blocking element disposed between another portion of the dry water-blocking element and the optical element, thereby defining an overlapping portion of the dry water-blocking element. The optical element interfaces with the overlapping portion to provide direct or indirect coupling between the optical element and the jacket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: James Lee Baucom, William Welch McCollough, David Alan Seddon
  • Patent number: 10180552
    Abstract: A fiber optic ribbon cable includes a jacket of the cable, the jacket having a cavity defined therein, an optical element including an optical fiber and extending within the cavity of the jacket, and a dry water-blocking element extending along the optical element within the cavity. The dry water-blocking element is wrapped around the optical element with at least a portion of the dry water-blocking element disposed between another portion of the dry water-blocking element and the optical element, thereby defining an overlapping portion of the dry water-blocking element. The optical element interfaces with the overlapping portion to provide direct or indirect coupling between the optical element and the jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC
    Inventors: James Lee Baucom, William Welch McCollough, David Alan Seddon
  • Publication number: 20180252882
    Abstract: A fiber optic ribbon cable includes a jacket of the cable, the jacket having a cavity defined therein, an optical element including an optical fiber and extending within the cavity of the jacket, and a dry water-blocking element extending along the optical element within the cavity. The dry water-blocking element is wrapped around the optical element with at least a portion of the dry water-blocking element disposed between another portion of the dry water-blocking element and the optical element, thereby defining an overlapping portion of the dry water-blocking element. The optical element interfaces with the overlapping portion to provide direct or indirect coupling between the optical element and the jacket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: James Lee Baucom, William Welch McCollough, David Alan Seddon
  • Publication number: 20180129010
    Abstract: An optical cable assembly is provided. The cable assembly includes a plurality of subunits surrounded by an outer cable jacket, a furcation unit and optical connectors coupled to the end of each of the subunits. Each of the subunits includes an inner jacket, a plurality of optical fibers; and a tensile strength element. The first tensile strength element and the inner jackets of each subunits are coupled to the furcation unit, and the optical fibers and tensile strength elements of each subunit extend through the furcation unit without being coupled to the furcation unit. The subunit tensile strength element and optical fibers of each subunit are balanced such that both experience axial loading applied to the assembly and, under various loading conditions, the compression of the subunits is controlled and/or the axial loading of the optical fibers is limited to allow proper function of the optical connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: William Eric Caldwell, Terry Lee Ellis, William Carl Hurley, William Welch McCollough, Mark Tracy Paap
  • Patent number: 9964724
    Abstract: A fiber optic ribbon cable includes a jacket of the cable, the jacket having a cavity defined therein, an optical element including an optical fiber and extending within the cavity of the jacket, and a dry water-blocking element extending along the optical element within the cavity. The dry water-blocking element is wrapped around the optical element with at least a portion of the dry water-blocking element disposed between another portion of the dry water-blocking element and the optical element, thereby defining an overlapping portion of the dry water-blocking element. The optical element interfaces with the overlapping portion to provide direct or indirect coupling between the optical element and the jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC
    Inventors: James Lee Baucom, William Welch McCollough, David Alan Seddon
  • Patent number: 9690068
    Abstract: An optical cable assembly is provided. The cable assembly includes a plurality of subunits surrounded by an outer cable jacket, a furcation unit and optical connectors coupled to the end of each of the subunits. Each of the subunits includes an inner jacket, a plurality of optical fibers; and a tensile strength element. The first tensile strength element and the inner jackets of each subunits are coupled to the furcation unit, and the optical fibers and tensile strength elements of each subunit extend through the furcation unit without being coupled to the furcation unit. The subunit tensile strength element and optical fibers of each subunit are balanced such that both experience axial loading applied to the assembly and, under various loading conditions, the compression of the subunits is controlled and/or the axial loading of the optical fibers is limited to allow proper function of the optical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: CORNING OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS LLC
    Inventors: William Carl Hurley, William Welch McCollough, Mark Tracy Paap, Terry Lee Ellis, William Eric Caldwell, Rebecca Elizabeth Sistare
  • Publication number: 20170131497
    Abstract: A fiber optic ribbon cable includes a jacket of the cable, the jacket having a cavity defined therein, an optical element including an optical fiber and extending within the cavity of the jacket, and a dry water-blocking element extending along the optical element within the cavity. The dry water-blocking element is wrapped around the optical element with at least a portion of the dry water-blocking element disposed between another portion of the dry water-blocking element and the optical element, thereby defining an overlapping portion of the dry water-blocking element. The optical element interfaces with the overlapping portion to provide direct or indirect coupling between the optical element and the jacket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: James Lee Baucom, William Welch McCollough, David Alan Seddon
  • Patent number: 9594224
    Abstract: A fiber optic ribbon cable includes a jacket of the cable, the jacket having a cavity defined therein, an optical element including an optical fiber and extending within the cavity of the jacket, and a dry water-blocking element extending along the optical element within the cavity. The dry water-blocking element is wrapped around the optical element with at least a portion of the dry water-blocking element disposed between another portion of the dry water-blocking element and the optical element, thereby defining an overlapping portion of the dry water-blocking element. The optical element interfaces with the overlapping portion to provide direct or indirect coupling between the optical element and the jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: CORNING OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS LLC
    Inventors: James Lee Baucom, William Welch McCollough, David Alan Seddon
  • Patent number: 9581777
    Abstract: A fiber optic cable includes a tube, a stack of fiber optic ribbons twisting along a lengthwise axis through the tube, and water-blocking tape positioned at least partially around the stack, between the stack and the tube. The water-blocking tape is folded such that an elevated portion of the water-blocking tape is raised. As the stack twists along the lengthwise axis of the tube, corners of the stack interface with the elevated portion to provide intermittent frictional coupling between the stack and the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: CORNING OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS LLC
    Inventors: James Lee Baucom, Jason Clay Lail, William Welch McCollough, David Alan Seddon
  • Publication number: 20170003468
    Abstract: An optical cable assembly is provided. The cable assembly includes a plurality of subunits surrounded by an outer cable jacket, a furcation unit and optical connectors coupled to the end of each of the subunits. Each of the subunits includes an inner jacket, a plurality of optical fibers; and a tensile strength element. The first tensile strength element and the inner jackets of each subunits are coupled to the furcation unit, and the optical fibers and tensile strength elements of each subunit extend through the furcation unit without being coupled to the furcation unit. The subunit tensile strength element and optical fibers of each subunit are balanced such that both experience axial loading applied to the assembly and, under various loading conditions, the compression of the subunits is controlled and/or the axial loading of the optical fibers is limited to allow proper function of the optical connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: William Carl Hurley, William Welch McCollough, Mark Tracy Paap, Terry Lee Ellis, William Eric Caldwell, Rebecca Elizabeth Sistare
  • Publication number: 20160018613
    Abstract: A fiber optic ribbon cable includes a jacket of the cable, the jacket having a cavity defined therein, an optical element including an optical fiber and extending within the cavity of the jacket, and a dry water-blocking element extending along the optical element within the cavity. The dry water-blocking element is wrapped around the optical element with at least a portion of the dry water-blocking element disposed between another portion of the dry water-blocking element and the optical element, thereby defining an overlapping portion of the dry water-blocking element. The optical element interfaces with the overlapping portion to provide direct or indirect coupling between the optical element and the jacket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: James Lee Baucom, William Welch McCollough, David Alan Seddon
  • Patent number: 9170389
    Abstract: Hybrid fiber optic cables including one or more electrical coaxial subassembly allowing for fiber movement to reduce attenuation during bending are disclosed. Related connectorized cables and systems are also disclosed. The hybrid fiber optic cables include both one or more coaxial subassembly and optical fibers to provide both optical and electrical connectivity as part of a connectorized system. Use of one or more coaxial subassembly reduces impedance variations and lowers cost. Each coaxial sub-assembly also includes multiple electrical conductors to increase electrical connectivity capacity (e.g., power and signals) of the hybrid cable, as needed or desired. Further, the hybrid cable may include a channel with optical fiber(s) of the hybrid cable disposed therein, free of attachment to the channel. The channel allows the optical fibers to move relative to the cable jacket and control bend radius to reduce optical attenuation when the hybrid fiber optic cable is bent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: CORNING CABLE SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: James Arthur Register, III, William Welch McCollough
  • Patent number: 9170388
    Abstract: A fiber optic ribbon cable includes a jacket of the cable, the jacket having a cavity defined therein, an optical element including an optical fiber and extending within the cavity of the jacket, and a dry water-blocking element extending along the optical element within the cavity. The dry water-blocking element is wrapped around the optical element with at least a portion of the dry water-blocking element disposed between another portion of the dry water-blocking element and the optical element, thereby defining an overlapping portion of the dry water-blocking element. The optical element interfaces with the overlapping portion to provide direct or indirect coupling between the optical element and the jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: CORNING CABLE SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: James Lee Baucom, William Welch McCollough, David Alan Seddon