Patents Assigned to Thomas & Betts Corporation
  • Patent number: 5891591
    Abstract: The battery terminal comprises a housing, cavities provided in the housing at predetermined internals, and a plurality of contacts mounted in the cavities, respectively. A free and triangular contact portion is provided at one end of each of the contact. The contact portion is extended outward from a surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: Masao Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5884367
    Abstract: The cable tie strap, having elongate strap body and a locking head provides for receipt of the cable tie strap in the head in either direction. The cable tie strap includes a hollow locking head and an elongate strap having toothing on each side of the strap. A locking bar is positioned within the hollow head. The strap body may be inserted into the hollow head in either direction. The locking bar is lockingly engagable with the toothing on either side of the strap upon insertion of the strap into the head in either direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventors: Vladimiro Teagno, Peter M. Wells, Jr., Wasim Khokhar
  • Patent number: 5865979
    Abstract: The entire outer surface of a ground rod, including its pointed end portion, has a continuous and uniform electroplated coating. The rod has a blunt end portion shaped to minimize mushrooming when it is hammered for driving the rod into the ground. Jets of plating solution directed against the rod produce swirling motion of plating solution around the rod while it moves longitudinally through a plating bath. Uniformity of the plated coating may be enhanced by rotating the rod during longitudinal movement through the plating bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventors: Albert Lee Collins, Jr., Rick Alan Boyd, Herbert Lester Bradshaw II, Alvin Jerome Huber, Charles Thomas Wessner, Dennis Bowman Ruch
  • Patent number: 5865643
    Abstract: The present device provides a terminal mounted on the surface of a printed circuit board and, more particularly, to a terminal used for reliably contacting the electrodes of a battery. In a terminal comprising a housing and a plurality of spring contacts mounted in the housing, the curved parts of the spring sections of the spring contacts extend externally from one surface of the housing in different arrangement. Since the positions of the curved parts are different, the spring actions of the contacts against the contact target members are not localized. Even if the shape of the contact target members varies largely, these members can be held reliably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: Masao Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5862751
    Abstract: Apparatus for use in providing printed wire markers, comprises a spool of unprinted wire markers, a casing for the spool, the casing bearing sensible indicia defining information related to the encased wire markers, a sensor for sensing the indicia and providing output signals indicative of the information and a wire marker printer for receiving the spooled, unprinted wire markers from the casing and printing thereon accordingly with the information. An elongate wire marker holder device for supporting a wire marker for imprinting thereon, comprises an elongate one-piece body defining an elongate opening and first and second elongate body portions cantilever-supported by the body in the opening and having respective free ends spacedly juxtaposed at a location distal from locations of contiguity of the elongate body portions with the body to define a slot therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventors: George C. Triantopoulos, Edward A. Fischer, Thomas H. Christensen
  • Patent number: 5863140
    Abstract: A self-adjusting printing assembly for accommodating generally planar media of differing thickness comprising a printing head for placement of indicia on said media, a guide assembly positioned adjacent said printing head for guiding said media to said printing head. The guide assembly includes a planar platen for continuously supporting one surface of said planar media and a planar shield member fixedly supported with respect to said platen for continuously supporting said surface of said planar media. The assembly also includes means for movably mounting said platen with respect to said shield for movement in a direction toward and away from said planar shield while maintaining said planar platen generally parallel to said shield for accommodating said media of differing thickness, and a drive means for urging said media through said guide assembly and towards said printing head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: Michael E. DeMarchi
  • Patent number: 5860831
    Abstract: The flat/round connecting device provides connection between conductors of a flat-ribbon, flat-conductor cable having at least two flat conductors and the round conductors of a round cable having at least two round conductors. The device comprises a plurality of individual connectors, each having two portions extending along a straight line or disposed at an angle of 90.degree. relative to each other. One of the portions has a flat conductor crimping zone with crimping tongues arranged at a mutual spacing for crimping to the flat conductors and the other portion has a round-conductor crimping zone with crimping tongues arranged at a mutual spacing for crimping to the round conductors and to the insulation of the round conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventors: Jurgen Roder, Manfred Lange
  • Patent number: 5833110
    Abstract: An electrical outlet box which is mounted to a wall stud and having a support leg to prevent deflection of the box by abutment against a wall board attached to the stud. The electrical outlet box includes a back wall which is perimeterically bounded by an outer wall extending outwardly therefrom. The box includes a box interior for accommodating an electrical receptacle or similar component. The support leg is frangibly connected to the outlet box. The outlet box includes a slot adapted to receive the support leg upon frangible removal of the support leg from the outlet box. The support leg once installed in the slot provides a brace which prevents rotational movement of the outlet box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventors: Craig Chandler, James Rice
  • Patent number: 5830015
    Abstract: A shielded electrical data connector terminates a shielded multiconductor cable. The data connector includes an insulative housing having a conductive housing shield therein. A contact holding member is accommodated in the connector housing and supports a row of plural spaced electrical contacts thereon. A contact shield is supported by the contact holding member. The contact shield has a shield extension extending between at least two of the contacts so as to reduce cross-talk as between the two contacts. The contact shield is electrically commoned with the housing shield to maintain continuous electrical shielding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventors: Julio F. Rodrigues, Richard Podgalsky, Richard Marowsky
  • Patent number: 5831212
    Abstract: An electrical junction box is positionable within a poured concrete floor. An upper extent of the junction box extends above the concrete floor and may be cut off so that the junction box becomes flush with the floor surface. The junction box includes a housing having a bottom surface and an upwardly extending side wall bounding the bottom surface. An anchor element is formed on the side wall adjacent the upper extent thereof. The anchor element defines a partially bounded exteriorally communicating region for accommodating therein the poured concrete so as to maintain the side wall in contact with the concrete floor, preventing inward deformation of the side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventors: James H. Whitehead, Donald E. Smith
  • Patent number: 5831213
    Abstract: An electrical junction box assembly for accommodating an electrical cable inserted therein. The assembly includes a junction box and a cable clamp. The junction box includes a back wall and a side wall which perimetrically extends from the back wall to define an open end opposite the back wall. The junction box further includes a cable entry opening in the side wall for permitting insertion of the cable thereinto. The back wall further includes a cable clamp mount positioned adjacent the cable entry opening. The cable clamp mount has a clamp insertion surface positioned substantially orthogonal to the cable entry opening. The clamp insertion surface defines a cable clamp insertion aperture into which the cable clamp is manually removably insertable. The cable clamp includes a deflectable cable engagement arm spaced adjacent from the cable entry opening of the side wall of the junction box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald Dean Wright, Claude J. Bauer, Oral F. Leep, Michael A. Swiney
  • Patent number: 5824952
    Abstract: An improved electrical ceiling box including a top portion bounded by a peripheral side portion, with a pair of diametrically opposed ear lugs rigidly secured to the side portion. Each ear lug has a pair of ears integrally formed therewith extending inwardly into the interior cavity of the box. A first ear fits within a recess formed in the bottom edge of the box, while a second ear extends through a slot formed in the side portion of the box. The second ear has a mounting hole formed therein adapted for threaded engagement with a self-tapping screw, while the first ear has a receiving hole formed therethrough for supporting the distal end of the screw. In a preferred embodiment, the box has a substantially hexagonal configuration. In an alternative embodiment, the box has a circular configuration and is shallower, thereby eliminating the need for a pair of slots for receiving the first ears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Bordwell, James D. McCutcheon
  • Patent number: 5823799
    Abstract: A single-sided, straddle mount printed circuit board edge connector positively mechanically locks the connector to the circuit board using a plurality of gripper arm assemblies spaced along the connector housing. The gripper arm assemblies each include an upper and lower gripper arm defining therebetween a printed circuit board receiving space. The gripper arm assemblies positively mechanically lock the printed circuit board to the connector without the use of through holes and screws. The connector overcomes the disadvantages of connector tilt problems, manufacturability and provides for simplicity in assembling the connector and printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventors: Peng-Seng Tor, Joey Ng Kiat-Hup, Nai-Hock Lwee
  • Patent number: 5817979
    Abstract: A bond bar assembly spans an electrical cable splice. The bond bar assembly includes a conductive bond bar having opposed ends and a longitudinal central extent which spans the cable splice. Each end of the bond bar has a generally planar surface for engagement with the cable. A radially contractable clamping member is securable about the cable and about the planar surface of each bond bar end for securing the bond bar ends to the cable. The planar surface of each bond bar end includes a deflectable jacket skiving member which is deflectably movable from a first position in non-skiving engagement with the jacket of the cable to a second position in skiving engagement with the cable jacket upon the radial contraction of the clamping member. Such arrangement positionally confines and secures the bond bar with respect to the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew J. O'Neill
  • Patent number: 5815891
    Abstract: A cable tie includes an elongate generally planar strap and a head. The head of the cable tie includes an aperture therethrough for insertably accommodating the strap. The head of the cable tie also includes a barb embedding surface adjacent the aperture through the head. A metallic locking barb is embedded in the embedding surface in a direction substantially parallel to the aperture in the head. The metallic locking barb is bent to form an obtuse angle so that the metallic locking barb extends into the aperture in the head to permit movement of the strap in an insertion direction and to prevent substantial movement of the strap in a withdrawal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventors: John J. Students, Peter M. Wells, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5811735
    Abstract: A flat, fine pitch cable assembly includes an improved cable profile to assist in the alignment with an insulation displacement connector. The improved profile has enlarged ridges which encompass multiple conductors thereby providing a surface which is more pronounced and therefore more suitable for alignment with an insulation displacement connector and the contacts supported thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: David Quiroz
  • Patent number: 5802715
    Abstract: A method and apparatus provides for the sealing of an elongate splice of an electrical cable. A central extent of the splice is enclosed in a cylindrical enclosure tube so as to define exposed lateral splice extents on each side thereof. Sealing dams are constructed about the cable adjacent each end of the cable splice and adjacent each end of the tube. The exposed lateral splice extents are covered with a pair of elongate generally cylindrical splice enclosing shells each having open ends. The open ends of the shells are sealably attached to the sealing dams to sealably enclose the cable splice. The shells and the tube are filled with a curable encapsulant to fully encapsulate the cable splice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew J. O'Neill
  • Patent number: 5803590
    Abstract: A roadway luminaire is provided which includes a mast mount docking station securable to an end of a pole mast. The mast mount docking station includes a power plug electrically coupled to the power conductors. The luminaire includes a corresponding power plug which is electrically and mechanically coupled to the mast mount docking station via a twist-lock feature including mating keys and keyways in the docking station and luminaire, respectively. The luminaire includes several plug-in components such as a plug-in photoelectric cell, a plug-in starter and a capacitor press-fit into a molded cavity in the luminaire. The power plug of the luminaire is adaptable to be used with all international voltages. The twist-lock feature provides for a fool-proof mechanical and electrical connection to ensure that the correctly rated luminaire is connected to the supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Taylor Wedell, Edward Bernard Bilson, Thomas A. Zimmerman, Glenn A. Ellis, III
  • Patent number: 5794336
    Abstract: An electrical connector housing includes a deformable contact retention plate for accommodating the tails of electrical contacts. Contact tails are supported within slots in the retention plate both at a closed end of the slot as well as at an intermediate location therealong. The contact retention plate may be deformed about the contacts so as to captively retain the contact tails within the slots. Such deformation may be achieved by ultrasonically swaging the plastic forming the contact retention plate about the contact tails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventors: Mark G. Hopson, Scott C. Roland
  • Patent number: D407308
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: David Driscoll