Patents by Inventor Michael Harben

Michael Harben 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: 6248956
    Abstract: An annular guard (20) for mounting on a high voltage insulator extends laterally thereof for a sufficient distance so as to prevent small wildlife such as squirrels from forming a short circuit between the opposing ends of the insulator at high voltage and earth potential respectively. The guard (20) is formed in two planar parts (24, 26) that are pivoted together (28) so that they can be relatively rotated between an open condition for mounting onto a live insulator and a closed condition for being secured thereto. Overlapping regions of the two parts are secured together (30, 32, 34, 36, 38) in the closed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignees: Tyco Electronics U.K. Limited, Georgia Power Company
    Inventors: Michael Robert Cook, Donald Christopher Cowley Barrett, Matthew Spalding, Michael Harben
  • Patent number: 5682015
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shield which prevents squirrels or other animals from causing faults in power distribution substations. Switch and bus insulators are primary points of contact when a small animal crawls from a grounded, supporting structure across an insulator to an energized conductor. The present invention provides for a barrier on switch and bus insulators which prevents animals from coming into contact with a grounded structure and an energized conductor simultaneously, thus eliminating a ground path from the energized conductor through the animal to the grounded structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Georgia Power Company
    Inventor: Michael Harben
  • Patent number: 5679922
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shield which prevents squirrels or other animals from causing faults in power distribution substations. Switch and bus insulators are primary points of contact when a small animal crawls from a grounded, supporting structure across an insulator to an energized conductor. The present invention provides for a barrier on switch and bus insulators which prevents animals from coming into contact with a grounded structure and an energized conductor simultaneously, thus eliminating a ground path from the energized conductor through the animal to the grounded structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Georgia Power Company
    Inventor: Michael Harben