US4470180A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for restraining an object or objects therein
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1981-05-26
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Granted: 1984-09-11
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Expires: 2001-05-26
Abstract
Abstract A simplified and low cost device for restraining an object or objects therein having a resiliently deformable housing including an interior passageway having wall portions adapted to receive and support the object, and wall portions which will be spaced from the object; which housing is deformed by the application of external compressive force at discrete locations causing the spaced wall portions to move toward the object, and resulting in the supporting wall portions moving away from the object, thereby affording the release of the object from the device.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack P. Blomgren
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:10
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3801; G02B6/3806; F; F16; F16B; F16B2/00; F16B2/20; F16B2/22; F16B21/00; F16B21/10; F16B21/20; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/15; Y10T24/153; Y10T24/155; Y10T24/44; Y10T24/44641; Y10T24/44769; Y10T24/44923
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A device for restraining an object or objects therein having a resiliently deformable housing including alternately positioned first and second interior wall portions defining an inner passageway therethrough, wherein said second wall portions define an essentially cylindrical perimeter having a predetermined radius with respect to a longitudinal axis of said housing and are disposed to be spaced from the object and wherein said first wall portions are chord-like interruptions of said cylindrical perimeter which connect adjacent second wall portions and are adapted and disposed to receive and support the object; said housing being deformable by the application of a compressive force at locations adjacent said second wall portions thereby forcing said second wall portions inwardly resulting in the outward movement of said first wall portions in response thereto, thus affording the release or entrance of the object from or within the device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
142 words
A device for restraining an object or objects therein having a resiliently deformable housing including alternately positioned first and second interior wall portions defining an inner passageway therethrough, wherein said second wall portions define an essentially cylindrical perimeter having a predetermined radius with respect to a longitudinal axis of said housing and are disposed to be spaced from the object and wherein said first wall portions are chord-like interruptions of said cylindrical perimeter which connect adjacent second wall portions and are adapted and disposed to receive and support the object; said housing being deformable by the application of a compressive force at locations adjacent said second wall portions thereby forcing said second wall portions inwardly resulting in the outward movement of said first wall portions in response thereto, thus affording the release or entrance of the object from or within the device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first wall portions interrupt said perimeter defined by said second wall portions at a regular interval of 120 degrees.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
146 words
A device for restraining an object or objects therein having a resiliently deformable housing including alternately positioned first and second interior wall portions defining an inner passageway therethrough, wherein said second wall portions define an essentially cylindrical perimeter having a predetermined radius with respect to a longitudinal axis of the housing and are disposed to be spaced from the object, and wherein said first wall portions comprise at least one inward projection from said housing having a generally radial orientation with respect to the housing and a distal end adapted to engage the object; said housing being deformable by the application of a compressive force at locations adjacent said second wall portions thereby forcing said second wall portions inwardly resulting in the outward movement of said first wall portions in response thereto, thus affording the release or entrance of the object from or within the device.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
146 words
A device for restraining an object or objects therein having a resiliently deformable housing including alternately positioned first and second interior wall portions defining an inner passageway therethrough, wherein said second wall portions define an essentially cylindrical perimeter having a predetermined radius with respect to a longitudinal axis of the housing and are disposed to be spaced from the object, and wherein said first wall portions comprise at least one inward projection from said housing having a generally radial orientation with respect to the housing and a distal end adapted to engage the object; said housing being deformable by the application of a compressive force at locations adjacent said second wall portions thereby forcing said second wall portions inwardly resulting in the outward movement of said first wall portions in response thereto, thus affording the release or entrance of the object from or within the device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said projections are radially spaced around said cylindrical perimeter at a regular interval.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
165 words
In an optical fiber connector, a device for restraining one or more optical fibers therein having a resiliently deformable housing including one or more first and second interior wall portions defining an inner passageway therethrough and an internal member within said passageway located proximate to said first wall portions and spaced from said second wall portions, wherein said second wall portions define an essentially cylindrical perimeter having a predetermined radius with respect to a longitudinal axis of the housing and are disposed to be spaced from the fiber, said first wall portions being adapted to support a fiber against said internal member, said housing being deformable as a result of applying a compressive force at locations adjacent said second wall portions thereby forcing said second wall portions inwardly toward said internal member, and resulting in the outward movement of said first wall portions away from said internal member in response thereto, thus affording the release or entrance of the fiber from or within the connector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
165 words
In an optical fiber connector, a device for restraining one or more optical fibers therein having a resiliently deformable housing including one or more first and second interior wall portions defining an inner passageway therethrough and an internal member within said passageway located proximate to said first wall portions and spaced from said second wall portions, wherein said second wall portions define an essentially cylindrical perimeter having a predetermined radius with respect to a longitudinal axis of the housing and are disposed to be spaced from the fiber, said first wall portions being adapted to support a fiber against said internal member, said housing being deformable as a result of applying a compressive force at locations adjacent said second wall portions thereby forcing said second wall portions inwardly toward said internal member, and resulting in the outward movement of said first wall portions away from said internal member in response thereto, thus affording the release or entrance of the fiber from or within the connector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The optical fiber connector according to claim 5 wherein said first wall portions and said second wall portions are alternately positioned around said passageway.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
The optical fiber connector according to claim 6 wherein said second wall portions define an essentially cylindrical perimeter having a predetermined radius with respect to a longitudinal axis of the housing, and wherein said first wall portions comprise at least one inward projection from said housing having a generally radial orientation with respect to the housing and a distal end adapted to engage the fiber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical fiber connector according to claim 7 wherein said projections are spaced around said cylindrical perimeter at a regular interval.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-09-11 | 1988-03-12 | 1988-09-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-09-11 | 1992-03-12 | 1992-09-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-09-11 | 1996-03-12 | 1996-09-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |