Thomas & Betts International, LLC Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150330549 | Conduit Sleeve with Detachable End Cap - The disclosed invention provides a conduit sleeve with detachable end cap that greatly reduces the complexity of the current system that requires a multiplicity of integral sleeve conduit bodies, styles, fixtures, fittings, connectors, rigid conduits with female threading, and other receiving structures. Now, one conduit sleeve with detachable end cap can be used to protect a threaded conduit end without the need for specialty receiving structures having an integral sleeve. This is accomplished by having a single object performing both roles as conduit sleeve and end cap. The end cap portion can simply be cut or twisted off from the conduit sleeve portion at a convenient time after installation onto a rigid conduit, tube, pipe, or similar structure. The remaining conduit sleeve that is left protects the area of the rigid conduit where conduit threads would have been left exposed since they are not fully threaded into the receiving structure. In addition, the conduit sleeve may be flexible in construction, which is desirable if the rigid conduit is bent, such as along a transition area of a wall. | 11-19-2015 |
20150314500 | CONDUIT BODY COVER SCREW RETENTION - An improved mechanism for retaining screws for a conduit body cover is disclosed. The screws are retained by a layer of PVC lining the inner surface of holes in the cover. | 11-05-2015 |
20150263438 | WIRE COMPRESSION CONNECTOR - An improved compression connector for connecting two electrical conductors and methods of using the same are disclosed. The compression connector is made of a single partially bifurcated connector body and then crimped. A partially bifurcated c-tap portion of the connector body allows for a crimping act on each side of the compression connector slot, resulting in a more reliable compression connection. The compression connector that results is much more resistant to failure compared to known C-shaped compression connectors. | 09-17-2015 |
20150236486 | FLOOR BOX COVER - An electrical floor box assembly and cover are provided. The floor box cover includes an access door that is designed to be repositioned. The access door is repositioned by lifting, sliding, or moving back and securing into one of at least two closed (flat) positions. When the access door is secured in a closed “not in service” position, the access door is watertight with a single gasket or seal. A second gasket or seal is provided below the cover for further watertightness. When the access door is secured in a closed “in service” position, one or more apertures for cords are revealed, thereby permitting cords plugged into an outlet within the floor box assembly to protrude through the apertures. | 08-20-2015 |
20150233410 | Cone Nut - An improved cone nut for a structural channel is provided. The cone nut does not require gluing of the cone to the channel nut as in conventional methods. The cone instead houses the channel nut by a friction fit locking mechanism, resulting in a secure attachment of the cone to the channel nut which prevents failure of the cone by separation from the channel nut which would, in turn, render the channel nut useless. | 08-20-2015 |
20150230354 | INFRARED SCANNING PORT - We disclose a method for securing an infrared transmissive polymer to integrated panels, deadfronts, or transition plates, thus providing a reinforced polymer window through which the thermographer can scan an energized unit without being directly exposed to contact with internal components or having to remove said panels, deadfronts, or transition plates. We also disclose a device for securing the polymer consisting of a retention frame with half shear retainers that keep the polymer locked in place. | 08-13-2015 |
20150118892 | Grounding Rod for Sacrificial Appendage - A grounding rod for a sacrificial appendage of an electrical cable connector, such as a splicing connector for joining two or more electrical cables, is provided. The sacrificial appendage is comprised of a feature for enabling personnel to ensure that the connector is de-energized, and once this is confirmed, the sacrificial appendage may be removed and replaced with a ground rod to which a grounding device can be connected to ground the system. | 04-30-2015 |
20150090488 | WIRE CONNECTOR - An improved wire connector is provided that allows for securing one, two, or more cables in an electrical box knockout hole. The wire connector body interior includes a central tab with a hinge for exerting pressure against at least a first/tab cable. The central tab also has a gripping portion for gripping the tab cable without cutting its sheathing. In preferred embodiments, the central tab further includes a multifunction tab member, such as a multifunction knob or multifunction bumpers, which provides inter alia a secondary spring function for applying added pressure on an inserted tab cable, especially when a second/wall cable is inserted. The wire connector body contains ribs on the inner wall facing the central tab gripping portion for gripping a wall cable without cutting its insulation. The wire connector body also contains a longitudinal slot for easy installation or removal from an electrical box. | 04-02-2015 |
20150087171 | Permanent Ground Point for Splicing Connectors - A permanent ground point for a splicing connector is provided. The ground point is comprised of a ground rod that is permanently attached to a port on the splicing connector. A grounding clamp may then be attached to the ground point after the system is de-energized in order to provide a safe connection to system ground. | 03-26-2015 |
20150071728 | Torque Controlling Break Screw - A torque controlling break screw is provided for securing a wire or cable within a connector. The break screw comprises a nut, a thin-walled, hollow screw and a torque limiting feature between the nut and the screw. | 03-12-2015 |
20140367233 | Lockout Device For Switchgear - A safety lockout device for switchgear includes a means for electrically disconnecting power to a motor and means for mechanically blocking the motor from operating. The safety lockout further includes a movable member operable by a hotstick to actuate the electrical disconnecting means and the mechanical blocking means. | 12-18-2014 |
20140353442 | Hanger Bar - A hanger bar is provided for suspending and securing an electrical box between ceiling joists. The hanger bar is comprised of a main tube section, a box support bracket, a box which attaches to the box support bracket and two end plates which are attached to the main tube section without the use of fasteners or welding. | 12-04-2014 |
20140329420 | GROUNDING AND BONDING BRACKET - An improved grounding and bonding bracket-type electrical connector is described with improved properties for directionally orienting grounding conductors. The electrical connector has a body with a first and a second clamp area. The second clamp area may be partially formed by a second body member. A frame substrate is connected in the first clamp area, while a grounding conductor is connected in the second clamp area. The grounding conductor may be connected such that the path of the conductor runs parallel, at 45 degrees, or perpendicular as compared to the mounting line of the frame substrate. | 11-06-2014 |
20140273560 | Hybrid Grounding Connector - A hybrid grounding connector is provided which combines the positive attributes of currently used connections. A recess is pre-milled, formed or extruded into the body of a compression connector and the recess is pre-filled with solder. After conductors are installed in the connector, an external heat source is applied to heat the solder until it flows into strands of the conductors and forms a solidified joint of the compression connector. | 09-18-2014 |
20140262437 | WIRE COMPRESSION CONNECTOR - A compression connector for connecting two wires is disclosed. The compression connector is made of either a single bifurcated connector body or two individual connector components that are slidably coupled and then crimped. As the compression connector is crimped, structural features on the connector components are pushed into a locked state in the two component embodiment. Bifurcated embodiments allow for more than one crimping act on the compression connectors resulting in a more reliable compression connection. The compression connector that results is much more resistant to failure compared to known C-shaped compression connectors. | 09-18-2014 |
20140202761 | CABLE RESTRAIN DEVICE WITH DUAL-MATERIAL DOUBLE WEDGE CHUCK - A chuck for a cable fitting includes multiple segments substantially forming a ring shape. Each segment of the multiple segments includes a first tapered surface on a distal end, wherein the first tapered surface slopes from the distal end away from a central axis of the ring, and a second tapered surface on a proximal end, wherein the second tapered surface slopes from the proximal end away from the central axis. The chuck also includes a flexible band to hold the multiple segments in the ring shape. Each segment of the multiple segments is configured to receive compressive forces on the first tapered surface and the second tapered surface to force each segment of the multiple segments inwardly toward the central axis. The multiple segments are configured to engage a cable to secure the cable within the ring shape. | 07-24-2014 |
20140182877 | While-In-Use Cover with Splash Guards - A while-in-use electrical box cover is provided which comprises at least one integral splash guard that covers at least one cord exit aperture for a power cord which is plugged into an electrical outlet on which the WIU electrical box cover is mounted when the WIU cover is in the closed position. | 07-03-2014 |
20140061396 | Cable Clip - A cable clip is provided for mounting cables onto solar modules. The cable clip is a one piece assembly that is comprised of two main sections: a first recess for clipping onto a solar module and a second recess for receiving a cable from a solar module. The cable clip may be designed in either a parallel or perpendicular configuration which gives installers of solar modules maximum flexibility when mounting cables onto modules. A multi-level clip is also described for cases when a multitude of cables are required to be mounted onto a solar module. | 03-06-2014 |