Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Alfred N. Goodman
  • Patent number: 6193526
    Abstract: A wire connecting unit for an electrical connector includes a printed circuit board and four pairs of terminals. The printed circuit board has nose and termination areas, and a wire receiving passageway extending along an axis in the termination area. Contact connections are mounted in the nose area. Terminal connections are mounted in the termination area. Conductive paths on the circuit board electrically couple respective contact connections and terminal connections. Each of the terminals has a coupling portion mechanically and electrically coupled through one of the terminal connections, and has an insulation displacement contact portion. Each insulation displacement contact portion is adjacent the wire receiving passageway and extends in a plane oriented at an acute angle to the passageway axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: John J. Milner, Joseph E. Dupuis, Richard A. Fazio, Robert A. Aekins
  • Patent number: 6182848
    Abstract: A luminaire housing includes a frame having a securing member, a door panel movable between open and closed positions relative to the frame, and a hinge member. The hinge member pivotally connects the door panel and the securing member and includes a fixed end portion, a first angled ramp portion, a second angled ramp portion, and a centering portion. The fixed end portion is attached to the door panel and the first angled ramp portion extends from it. The fixed end portion includes an open hinge surface. The second angled ramp portion extends from the first angled portion and the centering end portion extends from the second angled ramp portion, forming a closed hinge surface between them. The open hinge surface of the first hinge member is in contact with the securing member of the frame when the door panel is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: James P. Wang
  • Patent number: 6172301
    Abstract: A faceplate cover includes a window to view circuit indicia. The window is transparent, and allows a user to view indicia which may be present on a receptacle or other device contained in an electrical box. The window is attached to the main panel of the faceplate cover. The faceplate cover and window may be injection molded separately and assembled, or formed utilizing a two shot process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: John P. Goodsell
  • Patent number: 6169491
    Abstract: A multi-port power monitor is provided which indicates whether power is being supplied to one or more of a plurality of ports connected to external devices. The multi-port power monitor comprises a plurality of serially connected indicators and a plurality of controllable switches which supply power to the individual indicators when one or more of the corresponding ports are active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: Thomas M. McDonald
  • Patent number: 6167183
    Abstract: A low profile communications outlet box is disclosed which can accommodate fiber optic cables in a compact housing without bending the fiber optic cables past their minimum bend radius. The outlet box has a base and a cover for forming a wiring space therebetween. A pair of winding rings or members are located between the base and cover to prevent the fiber optic cables from being bent beyond their minimum bend radius. The winding rings or members overlap each other to decrease the size of the outlet box. Moreover, the winding rings or members are offset from each other such that the upper winding member lies in a different plane from the lower winding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: Wilfred James Swain
  • Patent number: 6164475
    Abstract: An electrical box for mounting a ceiling fan or a light fixture in which the electrical box is the sole support for the fan or fixture. The electrical box has mounting holes on its sides for receiving fasteners for securing the electrical box directly to a joist, beam, or other structural support member. Preferably, the fasteners are nails to provide an easy installation. The electrical box has flanges with both fixture and fan mounting holes as well as holes for mounting a cover. A cover can be mounted directly to the electrical box. The cover can be the attaching element between the electrical box and the fan or fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert W. Jorgensen
  • Patent number: 6166640
    Abstract: A bicolor indicator is provided for a lighting control system which controllably switches one or more lkighting fixtures on or off in accordance with detected motion, ambient light level and a selected time out period. The indicator indicates when the lighting control system is operating in a bypass on or off mode (i.e., overriding controlled switching based on motion detection and ambient light level) or in an automatic time out mode. The indicator also indicates occurrences of motion detection and whether or not the ambient light level is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas S. Nishihira, David A. Blau
  • Patent number: 6161077
    Abstract: A pulse discharge site location (PDSL) system is provided which captures pulses on a conductor without requiring the triggering functions of an oscilloscope. The PDSL system comprises a pulse discharge measurement (PDM) system and is programmed to store the data captured by the PDM system in a reference buffer corresponding in size to the propagation time of a pulse along the length of the conductor. Samples of the captured pulses are scanned to locate the peaks of pulses above a selected noise level. These pulses are stored into a temporary working buffer, along with a selected number of samples, normalized and then added to the reference buffer. The reference buffer provides a statistical average of pulse activity. Primary pulses and their second and higher order reflections, as well as transient interference pulses and radio frequency interference, are indicated at the beginning and end of the reference buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: Timothy J. Fawcett
  • Patent number: 6133526
    Abstract: A circuit box includes a housing having a front panel defining one surface of a circuit receiving chamber within the housing. A shelf is rigidly coupled to the housing and extends perpendicularly and outwardly from the housing. A lip extends substantially perpendicularly from an outer end of the shelf remote from the front panel and is substantially parallel to the front panel to define a cable receiving channel with the shelf and front panel. Cable tie wrap retainers can be located on the shelf and within the cable receiving channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen K. Lebo, Norman S. Saah
  • Patent number: 6126478
    Abstract: An electrical wiring device having strain relief assemblies for gripping an electrical cord and the individual conductors extending from the end of the cord. The electrical wiring device has a set of gripping members for providing strain relief between the electrical conductors of the electrical cord and the terminals of the electrical device. The electrical wiring device also includes a pair of housing halves which support an additional set of gripping members for engaging the electrical cord upon installation therein. The housing halves also support the set of gripping members for the conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Jerry M. Presson, Willaim C. Boteler
  • Patent number: 6114623
    Abstract: A fire-rated, poke-through floor fitting preferably for use in a three inch diameter bore within a floor. The fitting has an electrical receptacle that is sized to fit within the three inch bore. The receptacle preferably has two pairs of electrical outlets coupled to the electrical receptacle along with four voice/data jacks. The fitting provides a high number of electrical outlets and voice/data jacks, while maintaining a relatively low profile and easy accessibility. Each pair of electrical outlets can be separately connected to different power sources or each pair can be connected to the same power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Nelson Bonilla, Rajiv D. Katwala
  • Patent number: 6107568
    Abstract: An electrical box and a holding device for use therewith is disclosed. The holding device can be a flexible plastic bag-like container having a first wall coupled to a second wall and forming a substantially enclosed inner receiving area. A mounting fastener such as fan or fixture mounting screws are temporarily secured within the receiving area of the container. A box mounting screw extends completely through the container and extends through a side of the electrical box to temporarily secure the container and the electrical box to a structure; such as a joist. The fan or fixture mounting screws are then accessible for removal from the container and can be used to further fix the electrical box and the fan or fixture to the joist. The electrical box also has a pair of slots for receiving the fan or fixture mounting screws. Each slot has two areas for receiving a screw with a knockout between the areas. The knockout can be removed if the screw must be positioned between the two areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Schnell, Gregory J. Kesler, Robert W. Jorgensen
  • Patent number: 6098945
    Abstract: A supporting structure, including a bracket brace and a bracket is disclosed. Preferably, the brace has an inside section and an outside section that move relative to each other. A portion of the inside section can be positioned completely within the outside section and each of the inside and outside sections have a pair of vertical portions. The brace also has a slot extending through the inside and outside sections. The bracket is coupled to the inside section of the brace and to each of the vertical portions of the outside sections of the brace. The bracket also has a coupling members in the form of threaded openings to secure a supported member; such as an electrical junction box, against the brace to prohibit relative movement between the brace and the bracket. The brace and bracket allow new, heavier lighting fixtures and ceiling fans to be safely supported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: Krzysztof Wojciech Korcz
  • Patent number: 6099345
    Abstract: An electrical connector has a connector body with a cable cavity at its cable connection end and a strain relief coupled to the connector body adjacent the cable connection end. The strain relief extends into the cable cavity. A wire spacer is mounted in the cable cavity adjacent to strain relief. This spacer has a central core and four radially outwardly projecting flanges. The flanges are angular spaced from one another by angles of substantially 90 degrees. The spacer maintains separation of twisted wired pairs in a cable which is secured to the connector by the strain relief to enhance the electrical performance of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: John J. Milner, Joseph E. Dupuis, Alan C. Miller, Karl E. Mortensen
  • Patent number: 6091208
    Abstract: An ignitor is provided to predictably and reliably start a conventional HID lamp, or to start or restart an HID lamp having a hot strike capability such as a high pressure xenon HPS lamp or similar lamp. The ignitor is configured to prevent the premature triggering of a semiconductor switch in a hot restrike circuit due to unwanted high voltage pulses generated by a conventional HID lamp starter circuit in the ignitor. An ignitor is provided that can be used with lag-type ballasts. Another ignitor is provided that can be used with a lead-type ballast which generates a DC bias across the ballast capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: Isaac L. Flory, IV
  • Patent number: 6086414
    Abstract: A multimedia outlet housing or module possessing a capacity for the connection and containment of a variety of electrical and electronic media. The modular multimedia outlet housing includes selectively installable connector brackets adapted to contain a plurality of fiber/UTP connections, and wherein the housing incorporates fiber storage facilities and plastic surface raceway compatibility for a multiplicity of the most diverse applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Regina L. Tipton, Priscilla L. Seagle
  • Patent number: 6080007
    Abstract: A connector for communication systems includes a housing, a plurality of insulation displacement contacts, and front and rear sleds. The housing has front and rear ends and an internal chamber opening on the rear end and defined by housing walls. A plurality of slots extend through one housing wall adjacent its front end. The insulation displacement contacts are mounted in the slots for movement between retracted positions spaced from the chamber and inserted positions extending into the chamber. The front sled is located in the internal chamber adjacent the front end, and has front sled walls defining axial passages through it. Lateral openings extend through one of the front sled walls into the axial passages and are aligned with the slots and the contacts in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph E. Dupuis, John J. Milner, Richard A. Fazio, Robert A. Aekins, Karl Mortensen
  • Patent number: 6057743
    Abstract: A connector for telecommunication systems has input terminals and output terminals arranged in ordered arrays and connected by a circuit having a plurality of conductive paths connecting the respective input and output terminals. The circuit cancels crosstalk induced across adjacent connected terminals by sets of sections. Two of the paths have one set of sections connected in series and spaced from each other between the input and output terminals. Another pair of paths have another set of sections connected in series and spaced from each other between the input and output terminals. Each section of the two sets forms a noise reduction circuit providing a reactive coupling between the respective paths which is greater than adjacent portions of the paths spacing the sections of the two sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporation
    Inventor: Robert A. Aekins
  • Patent number: 6049550
    Abstract: An integrated digital loop carrier (IDLC) system includes digital line feeders and signal processors to interface with the feeders and to ultimately provide data to subscriber instruments. The system can be employed as a central office terminal (COT) or remote digital terminal (RDT) with analog, T1 or SONET feeders and any conventional link medium. Data are put in DS1 format and multiplexed onto token ring optical loops for delivery to banks of channel units wherein the optical signals are translated to electrical signals for delivery to the CUs and subscribers. A method and apparatus is provided for mapping and demapping signals between virtual tributaries (VT) and digital signal formats in the RDT of an integrated digital loop carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Ertugrul Baydar, J. Bradley Boudreaux, Nicholas Carter, Chung Chen, Steven Klonsky, Michael Moran, Peter Renucci, Jeffrey Timbs, Thomas Tucker, Waleed Wardak
  • Patent number: 6042407
    Abstract: A safe operating load reducing tap plug for testing, grounding and isolating a connector from a high voltage system by utilizing a rated bushing insert is disclosed, wherein the connector has a bushing port and a plug port connected to a high-voltage cable, and wherein the bushing port is mountable to electric equipment. The plug includes a deadbreak interface having an interface contact assembly receivable in the bushing port, the interface contact assembly being connectable to the high-voltage cable and the equipment; a loadbreak interface having an aperture extending through to the deadbreak interface; and a bushing well interface having a well for receiving the rated bushing insert, the bushing well having a bar stud extending therefrom which is electrically connectable to the interface contact assembly. The connector is tested through the rated bushing insert to initially confirm that the high voltage cable is de-energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Douglas W. Scull, Robert T. Tintle