Abstract: A inline push-in wire connector for forming an inline electrical connection or a side-by-side branch connection with either or all of the electrical connections formed therein may be waterproofed through a sealant that retains itself therein but yields to allow insertion of a wire into engagement with a bus strip in the presence of the sealant while the sealant is self healing to form an inline or branch wire connection.

Abstract: A inline push-in wire connector for forming an inline electrical connection or a side-by-side branch connection with either or all of the electrical connections formed therein may be waterproofed through a sealant that retains itself therein but yields to allow insertion of a wire into engagement with a bus strip in the presence of the sealant while the sealant is self healing to form an inline or branch wire connection.

Abstract: A twist-on wire connector containing a mass of a cohering gel in a gel state therein for forming a protective covering over a wire connection in the twist-on wire connector with the gel thereon removal from the twist-on wire connector and peelable from the wire connection to enable one to quickly form a further wire connection without having to wipe off the wire connection.

Abstract: A twist-on wire connector containing a mass of a cohering gel in a gel state therein for forming a protective covering over a wire connection in the twist-on wire connector with the gel thereon removal from the twist-on wire connector and peelable from the wire connection to enable one to quickly form a further wire connection without having to wipe off the wire connection.

Abstract: An open-face electrical wire connector for forming an electrical connection to a wire connector lug wherein the wire connector lug, which is free of any sealant can be brought into engagement with another portion of a housing, which carries a sealant, to cause the sealant to flow around the wire connector lug and the electrical connection therein for on-the-go formation of a sealant covered electrical connection.

Abstract: A junction box extension for creating additional space proximate an existing junction box without having to remove the existing junction box and a cover to provide a finished appearance as the junction box extension engages the junction box to provide additional useable space.

Abstract: A twist-on wire connector having a finger friendly unbiased cushioned cover that covers not only the normal hand gripping region but at least part or all of the normal non-hand gripping region of the twist-on wire connector so that regardless of the way the twist-on wire connector is grasped the user fingers engage the cushioned cover to inhibit finger and hand injury and fatigue from repeated securement of twist-on wire connectors to electrical leads and a method of making a twist-on wire connector with a cushioned cover by placing a soft to the touch material on the exterior surface of the twist-on wire connector.

Abstract: An open-face electrical wire connector for forming an electrical connection to a wire connector lug wherein the wire connector lug, which is free of any sealant can be brought into engagement with another portion of a housing, which carries a sealant, to cause the sealant to flow around the wire connector lug and the electrical connection therein for on-the-go formation of a sealant covered electrical connection.

Abstract: A twist-on wire connector containing a mass of a cohering gel in a gel state therein for forming a protective covering over a wire connection in the twist-on wire connector with the gel thereon removal from the twist-on wire connector and peelable from the wire connection to enable one to quickly form a further wire connection without having to wipe off the wire connection.

Abstract: A drain valve having a temperature responsive member that holds the drain valve in a water conserving mode when water is above freezing yet allows the drain valve to drain when the water is near freezing to prevent freeze damage to the irrigation system.

Abstract: An electrical connector for connecting wires including dissimilar electrical conductors such as copper and aluminum conductors with the electrical connector including failure inhibiting features that can include an oxidation inhibiting coating and a sealant. To ensure that a minimum pressure contact has been achieved at the interface between the electrical connector a shearable fastener can be used to secure an electrical conductor in the electrical connector.

Abstract: An on-the-go twist-on wire connector for enhancing the current carrying capacity of the electrical wires contained therein with the housing having a closed end and an open end with a wire engaging coil located in the closed end of the housing for bringing a plurality of wires into surface-to-surface contact to provide a direct surface-to-surface electrical path for flow of electrical energy therebetween. Located in the twist-on wire connector is a wire adhereable electrically conducting medium the adhereable electrical conducting medium is conformable around the plurality of wires as the plurality of wires are brought into surface-to-surface engagement with the conformable electrical conducting medium thereby forming an indirect current path between the ends of the plurality of wires while retaining the on-the-go ability of the twist-on wire connector to form the electrical connection solely through twisting action.

Abstract: An open-face electrical wire connector for forming an electrical connection to a wire connector lug wherein the wire connector lug, which is free of any sealant, is located in a portion of a housing that can be brought into engagement with another portion of a housing, which carries a sealant, to cause the sealant to flow around the wire connector lug and the electrical connection therein for on-the-go formation of a sealant covered electrical connection.

Abstract: A twist-on wire connector having a housing with a spiral tread for engaging and holding electrical wires in an electrical connection and a chamber for carrying a member having a wire passageway so that the electrical wires can be retained within the connector by a wire holder to inhibit strain therein and a method of making an electrical connection that inhibits strain of the wire by inserting a plurality of wires into a spiral thread of a twist-on wire connector, rotating the plurality of wires to bring the electrical wires into electrical connection with each other and squeezing a member around the plurality of wires to bring the member into frictional contact along a portion of the plurality of wires to axially restrain the plurality of wires and thereby inhibit strain on the plurality of wires held in the electrical connector.

Abstract: In an enhanced partial packet discard (PPD) methodology, if an end-of-packet cell is discarded for non-PPD reasons, all non-end-of-packet cells of the immediately following packet are discarded. When an end-of-packet cell may validly be discarded, a switch faced with an end-of-packet cell may discard that cell if the last cell admitted to the buffer was an end-of-packet cell. To reduce the likelihood of having to drop end-of-packet cells, a buffer is configured to include a partial packet discard threshold such that the buffer space between that threshold and the end of the buffer is reserved for use by end-of-packet cells.