Patents Assigned to Pass & Seymour, Inc
  • Patent number: 10678286
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a housing assembly having a plurality of terminals at least partially disposed therein, the plurality of terminals being configured to be coupled to an AC power source and at least one electrical load, the plurality of terminals being configured to provide the electrical wiring device with regulated AC power in a device energized state. At least one variable control mechanism is coupled to the housing assembly, the at least one variable control mechanism being configured to regulate power to the at least one electrical load by way of a control knob being user settable between a first adjustment stop and a second adjustment stop. A user accessible calibration button is included. At least one series pass element coupled to the at least one variable control mechanism, the at least one series pass element being configured to provide load power to the at least one electrical load in accordance with a user setting of the control knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony M. Testani, Brian Mueller
  • Publication number: 20200161841
    Abstract: A color change kit for an electrical wiring device, the color change kit including: a frame having: a top surface, a second surface, a width, a length and a height; a bezel extending above the top surface of the frame and having a width, a length and a height, an interior surface and a top perimeter surface, and an opening formed therethrough; and an elongated recessed separator having a top surface and a bottom surface and being positioned within the opening and below the top perimeter surface, extending along an axis parallel to the length of the bezel, wherein the elongated recessed separator is configured to split a portion the opening into a first aperture and a second aperture; a toggle switch cover positioned through and actuatable within the first aperture, and a dimmer slider positioned and actuatable within the second aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick J. Murphy, Alec J. Brindisi
  • Publication number: 20200127452
    Abstract: An arc fault protective wiring device disposed in an electrical distribution system is disclosed, the device including a pulse frequency digitizer, the pulse frequency digitizer being configured to receive a plurality of pulses, each pulse being representative of an instance that the derivative of the current through a neutral conductor exceeds a first predetermined threshold, the pulse frequency digitizer further being configured to produce a digital signal, the digital signal being representative of the instances at which a frequency of the plurality of pulses exceeds a predetermined threshold; and at least one processor configured to trigger a trip mechanism to electrically decouple a line terminal from a load terminal based, at least in part, on the digital signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua P. Haines, Thomas N. Packard, Anthony M. Testani, Michael F. McMahon
  • Publication number: 20200083008
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for operating a three-way switch. The system includes a user input. The system further includes a relay electrically coupled to a first traveler wire, a second traveler wire, and a LINE conductor, wherein the relay has a first position and a second position. The relay may be initially set to the first position. The system further includes a toroid having an aperture, wherein a sensing conductor passes through the aperture to generate a sensing voltage. The system further includes a controller configured to toggle the relay from the first position to the second position when (1) the user input is in the on-setting and the sensing voltage is less than a threshold value or (2) the user input is in the off-setting and the sensing voltage is greater than the threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony M. Testani
  • Publication number: 20200035436
    Abstract: A protective device for use in an electrical voltage distribution system providing voltage from a power source to a load, the device including: a housing having a user accessible surface; a plurality of line terminals configured to electrically connect to the power source and a plurality of load terminals configured to electrically connect to the load; a circuit interrupter including a solenoid and a set of interrupting contacts that connect at least one line terminal and at least one load terminal in a reset state and disconnect the at least one line terminal and the at least one load terminal in a tripped state, the solenoid driving the interrupting contacts from the reset state to the tripped state when activated by a switching device; a voltage detection element configured to detect voltage across the plurality of line terminals and generate a line voltage rejection signal when greater than a predetermined overvoltage; a reset assembly including a reset button available via the user accessible surface and
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Applicant: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas N. Packard
  • Publication number: 20200014201
    Abstract: An electrical wiring device having a solid-state switch element positioned between the fault detection switch element and the solenoid coil to prevent the solenoid coil from being energized when the circuit interrupter is in the tripped state. The solid-state switch element may have a gate that receives a gate signal that turns the solid-state switch element on when the circuit interrupter is in the reset state and does not receive the gate signal so that the second switch element is turned off when the circuit interrupter is in the tripped state. The gate may be connected to the line terminals and to ground by a mechanical switch responsive to the circuit interrupter state or by another solid-state switch driven by a processor that is programmed to detect whether the circuit interrupter is in the reset state or the tripped state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Applicant: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua P. Haines, Michael F. McMahon
  • Publication number: 20190386479
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to protective wiring devices, and more particularly, to a protective wiring device that meets the prevailing electrical codes and is convenient for a homeowner to reset after it has tripped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas N. Packard
  • Patent number: 10483736
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to switch device disposed in a housing with a back body portion, the device includes a switch actuator having a user-accessible surface, the user accessible surface includes an indicator element and an interior channel optically coupled to the indicator element. A light emitting portion is disposed within the interior channel and optically coupled to the indicator element so that the interior channel moves relative to the light emitting portion when the switch actuator moves between the first actuator position and the second actuator position. The light emitting portion is optically coupled to the indicator element when the interior channel moves relative to the lighting portion. A modular lighting assembly is removably coupled to the back body portion at a fixed position so that a light emitting portion of the modular lighting assembly is disposed within the interior channel and optically coupled to the indicator element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Lorenzo Trolese, Richard M. Rohmer, Gerald R. Savicki, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10476254
    Abstract: An electrical wiring device including: a housing, a plurality of terminals electrically connected to a contact structure including a conductive member having at least one contact, wherein in response to a make-force each contact structure is configured to perform a first movement to electrically connect each of the contacts on each contact structure to one of the contacts on a different one of the fixed contact structures in the reset state, thereby electrically connecting the terminals in the reset state; a circuit interrupting assembly being configured to perform a first linear movement in response to a break-force in order to cause each contact structure to perform a second movement in a direction opposite the first movement to decouple each of the contacts on each contact structure from one of the contacts on a different one of the fixed contact structures thereby decoupling the terminals to effect a tripped state; a protective electrical assembly, and a latching element configured to restrain the circuit
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Weeks, Kent R. Morgan, Jeffrey C. Richards, Gerald R. Savicki, Jr., Bruce F. Macbeth
  • Patent number: 10476368
    Abstract: An electrical wiring device including a housing assembly including a plurality of terminals; a sensor element configured to provide a sensor signal for monitoring at least one load power parameter of at least one electrical load; at least one variable control mechanism, the at least one variable control mechanism configured to adjustably select a user adjustable load setting; a series pass element configured to regulate output power to the at least one electrical load in accordance with the user load setting; an interface circuit coupled between the AC power, the interface circuit including at least one half wave rectifier coupled to a voltage divider configured to provide a half wave rectified signal; and a signal processing assembly including a time shifting element configured to substantially time shift the half wave rectified signal to provide a zero cross detection signal timed to occur at zero crossings in the AC power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Testani
  • Publication number: 20190341779
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an intelligent dimmer that is capable of “learning” the type of load it is controlling, and adjusts its operating parameters accordingly. The present invention can adaptively drive electrical loads over a wide range of wattages. The intelligent dimmer of the present invention is configured to automatically calibrate itself based on the load current demands of a particular electrical load. The intelligent dimmer of the present invention can also adaptively limit in-rush currents to extend the life expectancy of the solid state switching components used therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Testani
  • Publication number: 20190312453
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring assembly that includes a plurality of line terminals configured to be coupled to a source of AC power. A circuit assembly is coupled to the plurality of line terminals. The circuit assembly includes a control circuit coupled to at least one electro-magnetic coil, the control circuit being configured to provide an electrical drive signal to the at least one electro-magnetic coil in accordance with a predetermined wireless charging regimen. The at least one electro-magnetic coil is configured to propagate a magnetic field in accordance with the electrical drive signal. A wall plate assembly is configured to accommodate the circuit assembly therewithin, the wall plate assembly including a charging interface region configured to accommodate a portable electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard M. Rohmer, Brian Mueller, Thomas F. Roy
  • Publication number: 20190252873
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to electrical wiring device that includes: a housing including a cover and a back body, the housing further including a plurality of line terminals and a plurality of feed-through load terminals, a plurality of receptacle load terminals substantially aligned with a plurality of receptacle openings; a fault protection circuit disposed inside the housing, having sensing components mounted to one side of a first PCB, the fault protection circuit being configured to provide a fault detection signal in response to detecting at least one type of predetermined fault condition; a circuit interrupter disposed inside the housing, the circuit interrupter being configured to couple the plurality respective terminals in response to a reset stimulus being applied to a reset button, the circuit interrupter being configured to decouple the respective plurality of terminals in a second state when the latching element and a reset pin are decoupled in response to the fault detection signal; and
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Weeks
  • Patent number: 10340692
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an intelligent dimmer that is capable of “learning” the type of load it is controlling, and adjusts its operating parameters accordingly. The present invention can adaptively drive electrical loads over a wide range of wattages. The intelligent dimmer of the present invention is configured to automatically calibrate itself based on the load current demands of a particular electrical load. The intelligent dimmer of the present invention can also adaptively limit in-rush currents to extend the life expectancy of the solid state switching components used therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Testani
  • Patent number: 10340722
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring assembly that includes a plurality of line terminals configured to be coupled to a source of AC power. A circuit assembly is coupled to the plurality of line terminals. The circuit assembly includes a control circuit coupled to at least one electro-magnetic coil, the control circuit being configured to provide an electrical drive signal to the at least one electro-magnetic coil in accordance with a predetermined wireless charging regimen. The at least one electro-magnetic coil is configured to propagate a magnetic field in accordance with the electrical drive signal. A wall plate assembly is configured to accommodate the circuit assembly therewithin, the wall plate assembly including a charging interface region configured to accommodate a portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard M. Rohmer, Brian Mueller, Thomas F. Roy
  • Publication number: 20190195932
    Abstract: A protective wiring device disposed in an electrical distribution system, the device comprising: a plurality of line terminals comprising a line-side phase terminal and a line-side neutral terminal; a plurality of load terminals comprising a load-side phase terminal and a load-side neutral terminal; a line conductor electrically coupling the line-side phase terminal to the load-side phase terminal; a neutral conductor electrically coupling the line-side neutral terminal to the load-side neutral terminal; a controller configured to transmit wirelessly data derived from signals present on at least one of the line conductor or the neutral conductor and to receive wirelessly receive at least one command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony M. Testani, Joshua P. Haines, Thomas Cunningham
  • Patent number: 10333242
    Abstract: An electrical device includes a shutter support structure having a return position, at least one blocking position and an open position. A first shutter element is configured to rotate about a first dimensional axis within a predetermined angular range while being translated in two-dimensions between the return position to the open position, each of the two dimensions being orthogonal to the first dimensional axis. A second shutter assembly includes a second shutter element coupled to the first shutter element, the first shutter element allowing the second shutter portion to move in a first direction parallel to the first dimensional axis when the first shutter element is in the open position, the first shutter element being configured to drive the second shutter element in a second direction parallel to the first dimensional axis when the first shutter element is being translated into the return position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald R. Savicki, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10297995
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device including a housing assembly with a cover assembly, a back body member, and a plurality of line terminals, feed-through load terminals, and receptacle load terminals; a fault protection circuit disposed in the back body and substantially disposed on at least one printed circuit board, and being configured to provide a fault detection stimulus in response to detecting at least one type of predetermined fault condition, the fault detection stimulus decoupling a reset pin from a latching element, the reset pin being coupled to the latching element in response to a reset stimulus; and a circuit interrupter disposed inside the housing including a latch block assembly with an upper latch block and being moveable between a first state in response to the reset stimulus and a second state in response to the fault detection stimulus, wherein the reset pin is positioned through the upper latch block, and the upper latch block is configured to drive the cir
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Weeks, Richard Rohmer
  • Patent number: 10291014
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to electrical wiring device that includes: a housing assembly including a cover assembly and a back body member, the cover assembly including a front cover having a plurality of receptacle openings, the housing assembly further including a plurality of line terminals and a plurality of feed-through load terminals, a plurality of receptacle load terminals substantially aligned with the plurality of receptacle openings; a separator portion disposed between the back body member and the cover assembly, the separator portion including a reset pin aperture accessible via a first major surface facing the front cover and a reset pin guide portion disposed on an opposite second major surface facing the back body member both being configured to accommodate a reset pin; and a latch block assembly including a central latch block portion configured to accommodate the reset pin and a latching element, the central latch block portion including an open side configured to accommodate the rese
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Weeks
  • Patent number: 10270235
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring system having a frame assembly that includes a frame opening at a central portion thereof. The frame opening provides access to the interior of the device wall box. At least one electrical wiring device is configured to snap into the frame opening such that the interior of the device wall box is completely enclosed by the frame assembly and the at least one electrical wiring device such that access to wiring disposed within the device wall box is substantially prevented. The at least one electrical wiring device includes at least one user-interface. An aesthetic overlay may be coupled to the frame assembly. The aesthetic overlay includes an overlay opening configured to accommodate the at least one user-interface such that the at least one user-interface is accessible to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard M. Rohmer, Francois Bardot, Jean-Luc Chaumeny, Anthony Lochet