Patents Examined by W. David Walkenhorst
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Patent number: 6483033Abstract: A cable management system for electronic patchboard and routing systems. Cables are fabricated in a uniform length with appropriate termination Functional sets of cables are bundled and enclosed in a distinctly identifiable bundling material. Bundles are wrapped around a reel which has features for removable attachment to a cabinet. Reels are removably mounted to the cabinet at locations chosen to facilitate neat cable dressing. Appropriate lengths of cable are unwound from the reel. Cables are connected to associated connection points while leaving excess cable lengths wrapped around the reel.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2000Date of Patent: November 19, 2002Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventors: Michael Simoes, John L. Moran, III, Stanley Ivas
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Patent number: 6479754Abstract: A strain relief attachment (10) is provided for coupling to the combination of an electrical connector (12) and a cable (14, 90, 92) extending from the rear of the connector, to provide strain relief for the cable. The attachment includes a housing (40) having a through passage (46) and having a front housing portion (42) that receives the electrical connector and a rear housing portion (44) that passes the cable. The rear housing portion has a slot (102) on one side to enable the fixing of the cable by pressing sidewardly through the slot to press the cable against an opposite side of the housing rear portion. For large cables, a simple tie (106) wrapped tightly around the housing rear portion presses directly against the cable. For smaller cables, an insert (120) that is molded as part of the housing, slides through the slot and presses the cable against the opposite side of the housing, with a tie pressing the insert against the cable.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2000Date of Patent: November 12, 2002Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.Inventor: Steven Zoltan Muzslay
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Patent number: 6479750Abstract: An adapter for connecting two wiring ducts on respective opposite sides of a suspended ceiling includes a back portion which has an opening at one end and upstream of the reference plane for inserting a first wiring duct. The other wiring duct can be butt-jointed to its other end. A cover portion at least partly covers the back portion, which has a reference plane which in use is level with the lower face of the suspended ceiling. Applications include conveying electrical cables or conductors through a suspended ceiling.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2000Date of Patent: November 12, 2002Assignee: Planet WattohmInventors: Dragos Popescu, Gary Bateson
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Patent number: 6476327Abstract: A raceway section forms part of a raceway system for routing, protecting and enclosing cabling, and includes a base member, which may be U-shaped, and two split covers independently removably attached to side walls of the base member, such as by a hook and buckle attachment system. The base member defines a cable receiving channel and a longitudinally extending top opening. The split covers each have a laterally extending cover portion, an outside edge portion, and an inside edge portion, wherein the split covers each cover a portion of the longitudinally extending top opening such that a substantial amount of the top opening is covered. The inside edge portions are juxtaposed to form a longitudinally extending slot sufficiently wide to allow the removal or insertion of a cable through the slot without removal of the split covers. For insertion or removal of larger cables or bundles, one or both split covers can be removed.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2000Date of Patent: November 5, 2002Assignee: Panduit Corp.Inventors: William A. Bernard, Nicolas Youssef
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Patent number: 6472614Abstract: In an umbilical, one or more steel rods, which provide strength and ballast, are wound helically within the umbilical along with the steel tubes and/or elongated active umbilical elements. These steel rods replace some or all of the thermoplastic filler elements that would otherwise be included within the umbilical. An umbilical according to an embodiment of the invention may include a plurality of steel tubes helically wound around a core, and at least one substantially solid steel rod helically wound around the core, the steel rod being arranged in a void between the steel tubes. Thus, the invention avoids the need to apply additional armoring layers to the outside of the umbilical for strength and ballast.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2000Date of Patent: October 29, 2002Assignee: CoflexipInventors: Wayne Dupont, Richard Rinehart, John McManus
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Patent number: 6472605Abstract: A frangible cover, generally made of a synthetic material, such as plastic, which fits over and grips the “hot” or energized bus bars in an electrical breaker box and fits under the insulating panel fingers in the breaker box. In this arrangement, the novel frangible cover is locked in place in the breaker box until the installer acts to remove all or part of the cover. The cover is scribed in a pattern so that it can be partially removed one or more breakers at time as intended by the breaker installer. The physical configuration of the present invention is mated to the physical configuration of the breaker box itself. The present frangible cover is designed to mate with the extending finger of the phase line bus bar and engage the tab of the insulating strip as if it were a breaker or plurality of breakers.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2000Date of Patent: October 29, 2002Inventor: Larry D. Griffith
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Patent number: 6465740Abstract: A grommet is provided that can be engaged in a through hole of the vehicle body panel by a single motion of pushing the grommet in only one direction. The grommet has a small diameter tubular part to tightly engage a wire harness inserted therein, an enlarged diameter part that continues from an end of the small diameter tubular part into the conical tubular shape, and a generally annular vehicle body engaging recess on the outer peripheral face of the enlarged diameter tubular part. The wall thickness of the enlarged diameter tubular part is approximately the same from the position of continuation with the small diameter tubular part to a bottom end of a first side wall of the vehicle body engaging recess.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2000Date of Patent: October 15, 2002Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Tatsuya Kondoh, Tsutomu Sakata, Yukimitsu Hattori
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Patent number: 6462279Abstract: A first flat circuitry is provided with a standard circuit for connecting a standard electric appliance to be mounted on a door trim and an electric appliance on a door panel via a wire harness connector. A second flat circuitry is separately provided with an optional circuit for connecting an optional electric appliance to be mounted on the door trim and the electric appliance on the door panel side via the connector. A casing of a main switch unit, one of the standard electric appliances is provided with a mounting section having a connector fitting part to be fitted with the connector, which exposed conductor parts of the plurality of the circuitries and terminals of the connector connected at the connector fitting part.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2000Date of Patent: October 8, 2002Assignee: Yazaki CorporationInventors: Yasuyoshi Serizawa, Kenji Iwasaki
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Patent number: 6455771Abstract: A conducting polymer composite including: (i) a phase I material consisting essentially of a polar copolymer of ethylene and an unsaturated ester having 4 to 20 carbon atoms, said copolymer having a crystallinity of 0 to about 30 percent as determined by differential scanning calorimetry analysis and having a melt viscosity &eegr;I; (ii) a phase II material having a crystallinity of 0 to about 30 percent as determined by differential scanning calorimetry analysis and having a melt viscosity &eegr;II, said phase II material consisting essentially of (A) a non-polar copolymer of ethylene, an alpha-olefin having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, and, optionally, a diene, or (B) a non-polar elastomer, either of which, when mixed with the phase I material, will not enter into a completely homogeneous state, but is compatible with the phase I material; and (iii) a conducting filler material dispersed in the phase I material and/or the phase II in an amount sufficient to be equal to or greater than the amount required to genType: GrantFiled: March 8, 2001Date of Patent: September 24, 2002Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology CorporationInventors: Suh Joon Han, Wei-Kuo Lee
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Patent number: 6455782Abstract: An improved apparatus for deconcentrating an electric field, surrounding a high voltage insulator. A clamp assembly centrally formed within a coronal ring permitting positive placement of the coronal ring about an insulator end fitting. The clamping assembly includes an integral clamp with a U-shaped opening for engaging a cylindrical portion of an insulator end fitting. Two keeper clamps are pivotally mounted superjacent to the integral clamp, each keeper clamp having a smaller U-shaped opening both of which engage a portion of the insulator end fitting and pivot toward each other between an insulator receiving position and an insulator securing position, securing the insulator between the integral clamp and the two keeper clamps. A captive fastener such as a bolt extends upwardly through the clamp and the keeper clamps to secure the keeper clamps in position against the insulator end fitting and the integral clamp to secure the corona ring in position relative the insulator end fitting.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2000Date of Patent: September 24, 2002Assignee: Bethea Power ProductsInventors: Wei-Chung Lin, William D. Caldwell
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Patent number: 6452095Abstract: A threaded cable hanger attached to a stud includes a reverse (protuberant) dimple that provides a seat for the end of the stud, and permits the bar to make up to a full final turn to permit the bar to be in a desired orientation. A stud top containing the reverse dimple may be disposed across the path of the stud. The stud stop may slowly bend from a configuration extending toward the stud to a configuration extending away from the stud, during bending absorbing energy and resisting excessive torquing. A pair of overlapping arms may be provided, one of which is internally threaded to receive the stud and guide it toward the reverse dimple and stud stop. When a large external force attempts to pull the bar off the stud, or when torquing is extreme, the arms unfold and create a binding action on the stud.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 1997Date of Patent: September 17, 2002Inventor: Raymond E. Perrault
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Patent number: 6444910Abstract: There is provided a structure for connecting a flat cable to bus bars. To this end, conductor strips are first exposed from the end portion of the flat cable. The inventive structure includes bus bars and conductor strips adhered to the bus bars, thereby forming a joint section including strip layers and strip gaps. The structure includes a first and a second insulator resin sheet respectively placed on a first and a second face of the joint section. At least the first insulator resin sheet is then configured such that it penetrates into the strip gaps and adheres to the second insulator resin sheet, so as to form insulating grooves. In this manner, narrow conductor strips of a flat cable and corresponding bus bars can be connected with sufficient mechanical strength, and their insulation is improved.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2000Date of Patent: September 3, 2002Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.Inventor: Hideki Goto
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Patent number: 6437243Abstract: The reenterable wireway system of the present invention includes a channel-shaped slotted duct, an integrally co-extruded U-shaped cover assembly and discrete latches. The duct has an elongate base and two substantially parallel duct walls extending generally perpendicularly from the base with each of the walls disposed adjacent respective longitudinal edges thereof. The duct walls include at least a pair of adjacent duct fingers which define a slot permitting selective routing of wires of the bundle. The cover assembly has an elongate planar center element with a plurality of hinges and a plurality of corner elements, which have a first component co-planar with the central element, and a second component depending normal to the first component disposed. The orientation of the first and second components may be changed when the cover is molded to be biased in a “remain-open” position.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 1999Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: Panduit Corp.Inventors: Charles F. VanderVelde, Donald C. Wiencek
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Patent number: 6437237Abstract: The present invention relates to a screening device having a base plate and at least one shaped strip which can be joined to a side edge of the base plate. In this case, a shaped strip can be designed as a contact shaped strip or as a spring shaped strip with a plugged-on contact socket connector, and can advantageously be joined respectively to opposite side edges of a base plate. The advantage of the screening device in accordance with the present invention is, in particular, the low height of the shaped strips and, resulting therefrom, the electromagnetic screening, extending virtually ideally in one plane, of the metal housing, in particular in the case of a plurality of screening devices arranged next to one another. With subracks, the screening device in accordance with the present invention can be used, for example, as a rear cover or as a front filler panel for unassigned module locations.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 1999Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: Siemens AGInventors: Siegfried Kurrer, Werner Körber, Ernst Billenstein, Kurt-Michael Schaffer
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Patent number: 6429379Abstract: An insulating support of a junction box, which enables the so-called cross wiring and secures an insulating performance without changing an external form of the insulating support so as to use a space for disposing the insulating support efficiently, is provided. The insulating support for wiring wires thereon of a junction box provided between a power supply and electric loads includes a pair of ribs 10 formed on the insulating support 11 for holding a first wire 17 and a second wire 16 therebetween, wherein the first wire 17 laid between tops 12 of a pair of the ribs 10 is held crossing over the second wire 16 disposed between a pair of the ribs 10.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2000Date of Patent: August 6, 2002Assignee: Yazaki CorporationInventor: Toshimasa Yoshigi
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Patent number: 6429375Abstract: A safety contact or switch hose having a plurality of electrically conductive projections which generate a switching pulse when coming into contact with one another.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2000Date of Patent: August 6, 2002Inventors: Karlheinz Beckhausen, Jurgen Menz
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Patent number: 6423901Abstract: A line guiding arrangement for supporting one or more energy lines or conduits, which includes two substantially parallel strands (2,3) of plastic. Each strand (2,3) is subdivided by transverse separations (5) to form the strand into flexibly interconnected segments (4). The transverse separations (5) extend transverse to the longitudinal direction of the strand (2,3), and they are formed at selected intervals between one another. The transverse separations (5) extend in a side wall portion (6) to the vicinity of a support wall portion (7). At selected intervals, the segments (4) are interconnected by crossbars (8,9), with the segments (4) and the crossbars (8,9) defining a guide channel (10) for running at least one energy line.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2001Date of Patent: July 23, 2002Assignee: Kabelschlepp GmbHInventor: Wolfgang Richter
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Patent number: 6410855Abstract: A cable manager for mounting to the front edge of a table to secure and organize electrical cables associated with electronic devices, such as computer equipment, resting on the table. One embodiment of the novel cable organizer includes a modesty panel which has an integral bead retention channel extending the length of the top edge and a bead retention channel extending the length of the bottom edge and mounting brackets engaged in the top bead retention. The modesty panel includes a slide lock assembly extending outwardly from the back side. A substantially U-shaped cable containment channel is slidingly engaged in the slide lock assembly and the bottom bead retention channel. Another embodiment includes a raceway having a bottom wall, a rear wall and opposed end walls, the end walls each have aligned and complementary openings for the introduction of electrical cables into the raceway.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2000Date of Patent: June 25, 2002Assignee: Berco Tableworks Ltd.Inventors: Rick Berkowitz, Elliott W. Baum, Lucian N. Chirea
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Patent number: 6410852Abstract: A conduit to house electrical wires is provided between two electrical service boxes. The conduit includes a length of continuously-threaded Schedule 80 PVC tubing which has a first end and a second end. The tubing is externally threaded from the first end to the second end. The conduit further includes a first lock nut and a first threaded bushing cooperatively threaded onto the conduit to secure the conduit to one of the electrical service boxes. The conduit can further include a second lock nut and a second threaded bushing cooperatively threaded on the conduit to secure the conduit to the other electrical service box. Alternatively, the tubing can include a collar to secure the conduit to the other electrical service box.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2000Date of Patent: June 25, 2002Inventor: Ronald Eugene Schimpf
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Patent number: 6407336Abstract: A device for carrying high currents at a low inductance, in particular for a power converter or the like, is provided with two flat electrical conductors which are arranged roughly parallel to each other and are spaced apart from each other. The space between the two conductors contains no transition from one of the two conductors to a solid-state insulator, and from there to the other of the two conductors. As a result, no aging phenomena can arise in the device according to the invention owing to partial discharges.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 1999Date of Patent: June 18, 2002Assignee: Alstom Power Conversion GmbHInventors: Roland Jakob, Andreas Pelz, Hans-Jürgen Ehler, David Rudniski