Patents by Inventor Thomas Breitenfeldt

Thomas Breitenfeldt 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: 10948330
    Abstract: A flood sensor apparatus configured to send a signal to a computing device causing the computing device to turn off a utility at a site experiencing a flood. The flood sensor apparatus may include a housing and a back cover which, when coupled together, form gaps along a perimeter of the flood sensor apparatus such that fluid (e.g., water) may quickly fill and drain an interior of the housing. These gaps may be large enough such that the fluid may quickly fill and drain the interior of the housing but small enough that debris may not clog the gap or enter the interior of the housing. The back cover may include a rib extending from an inner face of the back cover and that that runs along a perimeter of the inner face. The rib may prevent tampering of a flood sensor located in the interior of the housing by blocking any object that may be inserted into the gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Itron, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Breitenfeldt, Matt Jordison
  • Publication number: 20200209041
    Abstract: A flood sensor apparatus configured to send a signal to a computing device causing the computing device to turn off a utility at a site experiencing a flood. The flood sensor apparatus may include a housing and a back cover which, when coupled together, form gaps along a perimeter of the flood sensor apparatus such that fluid (e.g., water) may quickly fill and drain an interior of the housing. These gaps may be large enough such that the fluid may quickly fill and drain the interior of the housing but small enough that debris may not clog the gap or enter the interior of the housing. The back cover may include a rib extending from an inner face of the back cover and that that runs along a perimeter of the inner face. The rib may prevent tampering of a flood sensor located in the interior of the housing by blocking any object that may be inserted into the gaps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas Breitenfeldt, Matt Jordison
  • Patent number: 10107710
    Abstract: A sensor unit to detect fluid movement and/or leakage from a pipe may be attached to a mounting device that is attached to a pipe by a clamp. The mounting device may be configured to transmit vibrations from the pipe and clamp to the sensor. The sensor unit may be attached to the mount in a manner that may be performed rapidly and without tools, and which results in a connection that is not so tight as to damage the sensor, or so loose as to provide inadequate support. The sensor may be attached by connecting at least a portion of the sensor to at least a portion of the mount, using rotation of a key in a track and a latch to securely hold the sensor in the mounting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Itron, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn Showcatally, Thomas Breitenfeldt
  • Publication number: 20180080849
    Abstract: A sensor unit to detect fluid movement and/or leakage from a pipe may be attached to a mounting device that is attached to a pipe by a clamp. The mounting device may be configured to transmit vibrations from the pipe and clamp to the sensor. The sensor unit may be attached to the mount in a manner that may be performed rapidly and without tools, and which results in a connection that is not so tight as to damage the sensor, or so loose as to provide inadequate support. The sensor may be attached by connecting at least a portion of the sensor to at least a portion of the mount, using rotation of a key in a track and a latch to securely hold the sensor in the mounting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Shawn Showcatally, Thomas Breitenfeldt
  • Patent number: 9059538
    Abstract: An electrical conductor assembly includes a connector body with a plurality of grooves disposed on a periphery of the connector body and configured to guide corresponding flying leads of a cable along the connector body from one end (“proximal end”) of the connector body to another end (“distal end”). A mountable fastener may be positioned around the cable, coupled to the connector body, and mounted to an enclosure. In this configuration, the ends of the flying leads extend beyond the distal end of the connector body in fixed, spaced, relative location from each other so that they may be terminated within the enclosure and protected from environmental contaminants outside of the enclosure. The coupling of the mountable fastener to the connector body provides strain relief on the individual flying leads by clamping insulation of the flying leads between the mountable fastener and the connector body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Itron, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn Showcatally, Thomas Breitenfeldt
  • Publication number: 20140273619
    Abstract: An electrical conductor assembly includes a connector body with a plurality of grooves disposed on a periphery of the connector body and configured to guide corresponding flying leads of a cable along the connector body from one end (“proximal end”) of the connector body to another end (“distal end”). A mountable fastener may be positioned around the cable, coupled to the connector body, and mounted to an enclosure. In this configuration, the ends of the flying leads extend beyond the distal end of the connector body in fixed, spaced, relative location from each other so that they may be terminated within the enclosure and protected from environmental contaminants outside of the enclosure. The coupling of the mountable fastener to the connector body provides strain relief on the individual flying leads by clamping insulation of the flying leads between the mountable fastener and the connector body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: ITRON, INC.
    Inventors: Shawn Showcatally, Thomas Breitenfeldt