Patents Assigned to Thomas & Betts International, LLC
  • Patent number: 9800032
    Abstract: A while-in-use cover assembly includes a hood and a base connected to the hood. The base includes a first side wall and a first back wall forming a first cavity with a first opening opposite the first back wall. The hood covers the first opening, the first side wall includes a first side wall edge and a second side wall edge opposite the first side wall edge. The first side wall edge is proximate to the first opening, and the second side wall edge is proximate to the first back wall. The first back wall includes a second opening to a second cavity. A second side wall defines the second cavity and extends from the first back wall from the first opening. The first cavity and the second cavity provide access through the first opening and the second opening to an electrical device coupled to the second side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventors: Robert Kevin Jolly, Peter J. Gallucci
  • Patent number: 9791117
    Abstract: A processing unit in a dual-mode lighting fixture receives, via a light pipe of the lighting fixture, a test command signal from a remote control and initiates, based on the test command signal, testing for emergency condition lighting of the lighting fixture. The processing unit receives, via the light pipe, a control command signal from the remote control and controls, based on the control command signal, normal condition lighting of the lighting fixture. The processing unit also monitors feedback loops from a battery, a charger, or a set of LED lamps in the lighting fixture and presents, via the light pipe, a status color indication based on the monitored feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventors: Radu C. Rapeanu, Zhi Gang Xing, Michel Lambert, Mohamed Elzayed, Chantal Dorval
  • Patent number: 9787004
    Abstract: An electrical grounding clamp is provided, wherein the clamp includes a U-bolt, an inner clamp part connected to the U-bolt to clamp a floor support between the inner clamp part and the U-bolt and an outer clamp part connected to the U-bolt to clamp a conductor between the inner clamp part and the outer clamp part, wherein at least one of the inner clamp part and the outer clamp part is pivotable about one leg of the U-bolt to releasably engage the other leg of the U-bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: Cong Thanh Dinh, George Braxton Robertson
  • Patent number: 9787045
    Abstract: A method for installing a wedge connector positioned between two conductive cables includes connecting a head coupler portion of a disconnect assembly to a wedge frame, wherein the head coupler portion includes an extension rod within a longitudinal bore; positioning the wedge frame and a first end of the extension rod against the wedge connector; connecting the head coupler portion to a tool coupler portion of the disconnect assembly, wherein the tool coupler portion is connected to a hydraulic drive tool that includes a ram; causing the hydraulic drive tool to apply force to a second end of the extension rod, wherein applying the force to the second end causes the first end to apply force to the wedge connector; and disconnecting the head coupler portion from the tool coupler portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Vallette, James L. Zahnen, Matthew D. Cawood
  • Patent number: 9776347
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Seidel, James Scritchfield
  • Patent number: 9704373
    Abstract: A device includes a device body that further includes a first attachment mechanism for attaching to another object, structure, or item of equipment. The device also includes wireless communication circuitry affixed to the device body, and one or more sensor components affixed to the device body, coupled to the wireless communication circuitry, and configured to sense environmental parameters associated with the device or with the object, structure or item of equipment. The device may further include powering circuitry, affixed to the device body, and configured to provide electrical power to the wireless communication circuitry and/or the one or more sensor components. The device may include a lug, connector or terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventors: Ian Rubin de la Borbolla, Mark R. Drane, Cong Thanh Dinh, Andrew J. Feudner, Brian Burke
  • Patent number: 9700827
    Abstract: A drain adaptor comprising a stem and drain body. The stem comprises a breather opening defined by a surface of the stem and a drain opening defined by a surface of the stem. The drain body comprises another breather opening defined by a surface of the drain body and another drain opening defined by a surface of the drain body, wherein the stem extends from the drain body, and wherein a breather passageway extends from the breather opening of the stem to the other breather opening of the drain body, and wherein a drain passageway extends from the drain opening of the stem to the other drain opening of the drain body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventor: Joey D. Magno, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9705298
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventor: Cong Thanh Dinh
  • Patent number: 9705310
    Abstract: A system includes a current measurement unit, an overload timer, and a processing unit. The current measuring unit measures current through a power transistor, and the overload timer measures an overload time associated with the measured current. The processing unit receives a user-specified overload time setting or a user-specified overload amperage setting associated with a protection device connected in series with a load, receives a temperature measurement of a component associated with the power transistor or a measurement of overload time associated with the current, wherein the power transistor supplies the current to the load and the protection device, and selectively turns off the power transistor based on the measured temperature, the measured current through the power transistor, and the user-specified overload amperage setting or based on the measured temperature, the measured overload time, and the user-specified overload time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventors: Hans-Erik Pfitzer, Justin Walraven
  • Patent number: 9692196
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a body having a bore and an interior surface. The bore is sized to receive a cable conductor of an electrical power cable. The body includes a groove disposed along a length of the interior surface. A wire brush insert is located within the groove and includes a plurality of bristles that extend into at least a portion of the bore. Rotating the cable wire brushing connector relative to the cable conductor cleans the cable conductor prior to securing the cable conductor within the cable wire brushing connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventor: Robert Fong
  • Publication number: 20170179694
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: Thomas & Betts International, LLC
    Inventor: Cong Thanh Dinh
  • Patent number: 9677690
    Abstract: A multi-purpose universal support is disclosed that can be configured to support multiple pipes, pipe junctions, vertical strut channels, horizontal strut channels, and thread rods. The disclosed support system allows for quicker installation, easy height adjustments, and a fewer supports than previously known supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Lalancette, Alain Michaud, Adrian Paunescu, Dominic England, William Smith
  • Patent number: 9673537
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, LLC
    Inventor: Cong Thanh Dinh
  • Patent number: 9671046
    Abstract: A cable hanger is disclosed. The cable hanger may include a first latch configured to suspend the cable hanger from a strut and a second latch configured to suspend the cable hanger from the strut. The cable hanger may also include a cable saddle to hold one or more cables. When the cable hanger is suspended by the first latch and not the second latch, a gap may be formed between the cable saddle and the strut such that the cable saddle is configured to receive the one or more cables through the gap. When the cable hanger is suspended by the second latch, the gap may be closed between the cable saddle and the strut to secure the one or more cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Whipple, Mark R. Drane, Andrew Cole, Joey Magno
  • Patent number: 9648767
    Abstract: A lighting equipment enclosure comprises a front plate assembly and a back plate assembly. The back plate assembly comprises a back plate including a partition that defines an area of the back plate, wherein the area includes a first access point and a second access point. The back plate assembly also comprises a snap electrical connector, a set of wires that extend from the snap electrical connector, and a partition cover that is attachable to the back plate, wherein when the partition cover is in a closed position, the partition cover covers a substantial portion of the area. The partition and the partition cover form a space in which electrical wires from independent power supplies may be attached to the sets of wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventors: Radu C. Rapeanu, Michel Lambert
  • Patent number: 9642227
    Abstract: A device may include a power source, two or more lamps for providing light, and a controller. The controller may be configured to periodically select a first combination of one or more of the lamps, provide power from the power source to the first combination of the lamps, select a second combination of one or more of the lamps, and switch the power from the first combination of the lamps to the second combination of the one or more of the lamps after a period of time has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventors: Serge Michaud, Radu-Cornel Rapeanu, Leanthang Sanga, Zhi Gang Xing
  • Patent number: 9640353
    Abstract: A contact assembly for use in a vacuum interrupter includes a contact disc of a first electrically conductive material, a coil, and a contact support. The coil is made from a second electrically conductive material and includes multiple helical sections that are oriented axially with respect to a common central axis. Each of the helical sections includes a proximal end and a distal end such that each of the helical sections is connected at the proximal end to a base made from the second electrically conductive material and is connected at the distal end to the contact disc. The contact support is centered axially within the coil and extends from the base to the contact disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventor: Bryce Franklin Sollazzi
  • Patent number: 9634421
    Abstract: A while-in-use electrical box, such as a deck box, for providing power to an electrical device includes a frame having a door pivotally mounted therein. The frame is adapted to be mounted in a hole formed in a floor or deck. The door includes a bottom surface on which a receptacle housing is coupled. The receptacle housing includes walls which define an opening to receive an electrical socket device, such as an outlet. When in the closed position, the walls of the receptacle housing enclose the electrical socket device and extend beyond a front face of the electrical socket device to protect the socket from the weather.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, LLC
    Inventor: Paul J. Bartholomew
  • Patent number: 9614359
    Abstract: A while-in-use electrical box including a housing having a front wall, a back wall, a top wall, a bottom wall and two opposed side walls. The housing has a longitudinal axis extending along the length of the box between the two side walls. The housing has a transverse axis extending from the back wall to the front wall. A device plate is disposed within the housing dividing the housing into a first section and a second section. The first section of the housing is enclosed and adapted to house an electrical device and the second section forms an electrical device access area. The device plate has a first panel forming a face plate for receiving a face of the electrical device. The second section is spaced from the first section along the longitudinal axis, and the face plate is in a non-parallel, non- perpendicular alignment with the housing transverse axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventors: Mark R. Drane, Henry Stefanov
  • Patent number: 9608415
    Abstract: A vented exhaust system for an electrical cabinet housing high voltage equipment. Very short-time explosions can occur within the electrical cabinet that are the result of a short circuit of the equipment housed within. The vented exhaust system provides for a way to safely release the pressure and hot gasses that can result from the short circuit so that the cabinet does not explode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Cardin, Yves Boucher, Jean-Marc Theoret, Bud Thompson, Yves Duchesne, Ferenc Kungl, Daniel Lalancette