Patents by Inventor Jerry A. Woodward

Jerry A. Woodward has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7850494
    Abstract: A cable connector having a one-piece body with a termination end for terminating an electrical cable and a clamping end for clamping to a terminal post is provided. The cable connector's clamping end may include a pair of spaced apart deformably movable clamping arms for supporting the terminal post therebetween. A lever attached to the movable arms may also be provided where the lever may be actuable between a first position urging the arms towards one another to clamp the clamping end to the terminal post and a second position urging the arms apart so as to unclamp the arms from the terminal post to permit removal of the connector body from the terminal post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: Joey D. Magno, Jr., Xueming Cai, Jerry Woodward
  • Patent number: 7637754
    Abstract: An electrical ground connector provides attachment to a grounded member. The ground connector includes an elongate bus bar having a first planar surface including a plurality of conductor insertion apertures for accommodating the ends of the electrical conductors therein. A second planar surface generally parallel to the first planar surface includes a plurality of set screw apertures in communication with the conductor insertion apertures for accommodation of the set screw to the ends of the conductors to the bus bar. The bus bar includes a third surface for engagement with the grounded member. The bus bar defines a pair of longitudinally extending spaced apart feet for placement in electrical contacting relationship with the grounded member. The grounded member may be either a cylindrical member or a planar grounded member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Inventors: Jesus Rodolfo Elizondo Yerena, Jerry Woodward
  • Patent number: 7607878
    Abstract: A retaining device for a split bolt connector which includes: a continuous wall that defines an aperture and at least one bendable tab extending upwardly from the wall or a member extending between opposing wall sections. The wall is adapted to accommodate the nut on a split bolt connector in the aperture and the at least one tab, or the member, is adapted to engage the slot in the split bolt after the nut is connected to the split bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Whipple, Cong Thanh Dinh, Jerry A. Woodward
  • Publication number: 20090124118
    Abstract: A cable connector having a one-piece body with a termination end for terminating an electrical cable and a clamping end for clamping to a terminal post is provided. The cable connector's clamping end may include a pair of spaced apart deformably movable clamping arms for supporting the terminal post therebetween. A lever attached to the movable arms may also be provided where the lever may be actuable between a first position urging the arms towards one another to clamp the clamping end to the terminal post and a second position urging the arms apart so as to unclamp the arms from the terminal post to permit removal of the connector body from the terminal post.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Joey D. Magno, JR., Xueming Cai, Jerry Woodward
  • Patent number: 7173187
    Abstract: A ground connector for providing quick and secure connection between a plurality of electrical conductors and a ground bus bar. The connector has a generally U-Shaped body of deformable conductive material with a pair of outwardly directed shoulders and a pair of legs at opposite ends of the body, including an open ended slot for receiving a bus bar to establish an electrical crimp connection. Each leg includes teeth extending into the slot for engagement with the bus bar. The lower end of the slot has a pair of outwardly angled cut outs to allow the legs of the body to deform for a secure crimp connection to the bus bar. The body further includes a pair of apertures spaced at apart locations opposite the legs, respectively, for receiving conductors therein. Each of the apertures has access openings extending through the lower surface of the body to provide an area of relief upon deformation of the body around the conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: George Triantopoulos, Jerry Woodward
  • Publication number: 20060021783
    Abstract: A ground connector for providing quick and secure connection between a plurality of electrical conductors and a ground bus bar. The connector has a generally U-Shaped body of deformable conductive material with a pair of outwardly directed shoulders and a pair of legs at opposite ends of the body, including an open ended slot for receiving a bus bar to establish an electrical crimp connection. Each leg includes teeth extending into the slot for engagement with the bus bar. The lower end of the slot has a pair of outwardly angled cut outs to allow the legs of the body to deform for a secure crimp connection to the bus bar. The body further includes a pair of apertures spaced at apart locations opposite the legs, respectively, for receiving conductors therein. Each of the apertures has access openings extending through the lower surface of the body to provide an area of relief upon deformation of the body around the conductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Inventors: George Triantopoulos, Jerry Woodward
  • Patent number: 6989491
    Abstract: A ground connector for providing quick and secure connection between a plurality of electrical conductors and a ground bus bar. The connector has a generally U-Shaped body of deformable conductive material with a pair of outwardly directed shoulders and a pair of legs at opposite ends of the body, including an open ended slot for receiving a bus bar to establish an electrical crimp connection. Each leg includes teeth extending into the slot for engagement with the bus bar. The lower end of the slot has a pair of outwardly angled cut outs to allow the legs of the body to deform for a secure crimp connection to the bus bar. The body further includes a pair of apertures spaced at apart locations opposite the legs, respectively, for receiving conductors therein. Each of the apertures has access openings extending through the lower surface of the body to provide an area of relief upon deformation of the body around the conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: George Triantopoulos, Jerry Woodward
  • Publication number: 20050249571
    Abstract: A retaining device for a split bolt connector which includes: a continuous wall that defines an aperture and at least one bendable tab extending upwardly from the wall or a member extending between opposing wall sections. The wall is adapted to accommodate the nut on a split bolt connector in the aperture and the at least one tab, or the member, is adapted to engage the slot in the split bolt after the nut is connected to the split bolt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Inventors: Charles Whipple, Cong Dinh, Jerry Woodward
  • Publication number: 20050191883
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly that includes a lug connector having a flat end with a flat end connector and a barreled end having a barrel connector and an angle connector that includes a body having a male pin and a compression fitting. The male pin is rotatably inserted into the barrel connector. After the orientation of the angle connector is selected, the barrel connector is compressed to mechanically and electrically engage the first male pin. The compression fittings of the angle connector can be sized to connect wires or cables from #8 AWG to 3000 kcmil in size. In preferred embodiments, the flat end and the barreled end of the lug connector are angularly disposed to each other and form an angle of between 60 and 150 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Inventor: Jerry Woodward
  • Publication number: 20050191895
    Abstract: A multi-tap electrical connector assembly that includes a plurality of connectors having a body with an aperture extending therethrough and either a male pin or a compression fitting and an elongated metal rod having a longitudinal axis. The metal rod is inserted through the apertures and electrically contacts the connectors to form an electrically conductive path from the metal rod to the male pins or the compression fittings. The connectors can rotate 360 degrees around the longitudinal axis of the metal rod while maintaining electrical conductivity between the rod and connectors and the male pins and compression fittings can be connected to wires or cables from #8 AWG to 3000 kcmil in size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Inventor: Jerry Woodward
  • Patent number: 6793003
    Abstract: A weld mold assembly which includes a crucible section for exothermically reacting weld material to form a molten metal, a weld mold having a weld chamber with an opening for receiving the molten metal and a plurality of guide holes for receiving ground rods and wires, and a cylindrical or tapered conversion plug sealably inserted into at least one of the guide holes to provide a weld assembly with a variety of different configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: George Triantopoulos, Jerry Woodward
  • Publication number: 20040058571
    Abstract: A ground connector for providing quick and secure connection between a plurality of electrical conductors and a ground bus bar. The connector has a generally U-Shaped body of deformable conductive material with a pair of outwardly directed shoulders and a pair of legs at opposite ends of the body, including an open ended slot for receiving a bus bar to establish an electrical crimp connection. Each leg includes teeth extending into the slot for engagement with the bus bar. The lower end of the slot has a pair of outwardly angled cut outs to allow the legs of the body to deform for a secure crimp connection to the bus bar. The body further includes a pair of apertures spaced at apart locations opposite the legs, respectively, for receiving conductors therein. Each of the apertures has access openings extending through the lower surface of the body to provide an area of relief upon deformation of the body around the conductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Applicant: Thomas & Betts International Inc.
    Inventors: George Triantopoulos, Jerry Woodward
  • Patent number: 6649840
    Abstract: A ground connector for providing quick and secure connection between a plurality of electrical conductors and a ground bus bar. The connector has a generally U-Shaped body of deformable conductive material with a pair of outwardly directed shoulders and a pair of legs at opposite ends of the body, including an open ended slot for receiving a bus bar to establish an electrical crimp connection. Each leg includes teeth extending into the slot for engagement with the bus bar. The lower end of the slot has a pair of outwardly angled cut outs to allow the legs of the body to deform for a secure crimp connection to the bus bar. The body further includes a pair of apertures spaced at apart locations opposite the legs, respectively, for receiving conductors therein. Each of the apertures has access openings extending through the lower surface of the body to provide an area of relief upon deformation of the body around the conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: George Triantopoulos, Jerry Woodward
  • Patent number: 6640873
    Abstract: An exothermic weld mold assembly for forming conductor to conductor welded connections. The exothermic weld mold assembly includes a crucible section having a U-shaped reaction chamber with exothermic material therein, and a mold section having a plurality of flat vertical exterior surfaces with holes drilled perpendicularly through the flat surfaces. A weld chamber is centrally located within the mold section, the weld chamber and the reaction chamber being communicably connected by a vertically extending tap hole. The holes are outfitted with guide sleeves projecting outwardly from the weld chamber. Conductors to be welded are inserted into the weld chamber through the guide sleeves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: George Triantopoulos, David Henderson, Jerry Woodward
  • Publication number: 20030178168
    Abstract: A weld mold assembly which includes a crucible section for exothermically reacting weld material to form a molten metal, a weld mold having a weld chamber with an opening for receiving the molten metal and a plurality of guide holes for receiving ground rods and wires, and a cylindrical or tapered conversion plug sealably inserted into at least one of the guide holes to provide a weld assembly with a variety of different configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: George Triantopoulos, Jerry Woodward
  • Publication number: 20020104953
    Abstract: An exothermic weld mold assembly for forming conductor to conductor welded connections. The exothermic weld mold assembly includes a crucible section having a U-shaped reaction chamber with exothermic material therein, and a mold section having a plurality of flat vertical exterior surfaces with holes drilled perpendicularly through the flat surfaces. A weld chamber is centrally located within the mold section, the weld chamber and the reaction chamber being communicably connected by a vertically extending tap hole. The holes are outfitted with guide sleeves projecting outwardly from the weld chamber. Conductors to be welded are inserted into the weld chamber through the guide sleeves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Applicant: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: George Triantopoulos, David Henderson, Jerry Woodward
  • Publication number: 20020098745
    Abstract: A ground connector for providing quick and secure connection between a plurality of electrical conductors and a ground bus bar. The connector has a generally U-Shaped body of deformable conductive material with a pair of outwardly directed shoulders and a pair of legs at opposite ends of the body, including an open ended slot for receiving a bus bar to establish an electrical crimp connection. Each leg includes teeth extending into the slot for engagement with the bus bar. The lower end of the slot has a pair of outwardly angled cut outs to allow the legs of the body to deform for a secure crimp connection to the bus bar. The body further includes a pair of apertures spaced at apart locations opposite the legs, respectively, for receiving conductors therein. Each of the apertures has access openings extending through the lower surface of the body to provide an area of relief upon deformation of the body around the conductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Applicant: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: George Triantopoulos, Jerry Woodward
  • Patent number: 6396010
    Abstract: A safety edge switch for a motorized door includes a longitudinally extending base, a resiliently deformable material, an electrode array of a plurality of spaced apart conductive segments, and an array of bridging members. The switch is normally in the closed configuration. Contact with an object in the path of the moving door causes one or more bridging members to break contact with the corresponding electrode segments, thereby forming an open circuit and sending a signal to the door control system to stop or reverse the movement of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Matamatic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry Woodward, Barry Kovac, Terry Kovac
  • Patent number: 5808536
    Abstract: A power transformer is provided with a housing having a plurality of apertures for receipt of a bushing well of a bushing assembly. Each bushing assembly includes a bushing well adapted to be secured in one aperture of the power transformer, and a bushing adapted to be connected to a terminal in the bushing well to permit the conducting of electric current between the bushing assembly and the transformer. The bushing assembly further includes a connector for connecting the bushing conductor to a terminal positioned in the bushing well. The power transformer may include a cap to cap the unused bushing wells. The cap is, preferably, a plate structure that attaches to the lip of the bushing well and uses the dielectric formed by the air enclosed by the cap and the bushing well to prevent sparking over to adjacent sites and corona discharge, to prevent accidental contact with the live terminal therein, and to guard against contamination of the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventors: Isaac J. Sandlin, Jr., Hyeong Jin Sim, Jerry Woodward
  • Patent number: D615497
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry Woodward, Rodolfo Elizondo