Patents Assigned to Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7871693
    Abstract: A plastic cable tie and a method of making a plastic cable tie that can be detected by X-ray and metal detection devices as well as sonar, optical or visual detection devices. The cable ties are formed from a composition that includes metal particles; a compound; and a plastic material. The metal particles are preferably metal flakes and can be ferrous or non-ferrous materials. The compound can include iodine or barium, and is preferably barium sulfate. The plastic material can include a polypropylene, a polycarbonate, a polyethylene, a polyterephthalate (PET) or a polyamide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Laporte, Robert DeWeez
  • Publication number: 20110005800
    Abstract: An assembly includes a mud ring and a detachable cover. The mud ring includes a planar surface including slots for mounting the mud ring to a utility box. The mud ring also includes a raised portion comprising side walls and end walls, the raised portion being elevated with respect to the planar surface. The detachable cover is connected to the raised portion by at least one hinged mechanism, the hinged mechanism being configured to be broken away from the mud ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Joey D. Magno, JR.
  • Publication number: 20110005799
    Abstract: An outlet box assembly for separating and insulating higher voltage power conductors from lower voltage data conductors. The assembly includes a housing, a housing divider and a bracket. The housing including at least one vertically extending side wall defining an interior space therein. The housing divider disposed within the housing and extending across the interior space forming a vertical barrier between a first housing compartment and a second housing compartment. The bracket capable of having secured thereto at least one of the higher voltage power conductors and at least one of the low voltage data conductors. The bracket including at least one partition separating conductor compartments therein, the at least one partition extending vertically and substantially perpendicular to the divider. A floor of each conductor compartment extends across at least a portion of both the first housing compartment and the second housing compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Mark R. Drane
  • Patent number: 7866006
    Abstract: A one-piece cable tie includes a tail which is configured with a plurality of slits or notches therein. These slits are in alignment with the recesses in the tail and extend no deeper than the depth of the recesses. Such slits are designed to aid the use in removing the excess tail from the cable tie once the tie has been tensioned around a bundle. The user first bends the tail so as to close the slits in one side of the tie and then twists the tie about its longitudinal axis so as to separate the excess tail from the tie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Laporte
  • Patent number: 7857275
    Abstract: An adjustable hanger bar assembly securable to a support structure including an elongate first member and an elongate second member. The first member is telescopically received within the second member. A securement section is supported on the second member. The securement member captures the first member within the second member and permits relative movement between the first and second members in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the first and second members, and restricts motion between the first and second members in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventor: Ian Rubin de la Borbolla
  • Publication number: 20100323542
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a first connector including a first housing having a contact and a second connector configured for connection with the first connector, wherein the second connector includes a second housing having a conductor. The first connector is configured for connection to the second connector in at least a first position and a second position. In the first position, the first connector is connected to the second connector, and the conductor of the second connector is not in electrical contact with the contact in the first connector. In the second position, the first connector is connected to the second connector, and the conductor of the second connector is in electrical contact with the contact in the first connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Yves Boucher, Guy J. A. Duval, Daniel Lalancette
  • 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: 7851703
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a sealing member for establishing a water resistant seal between two elements which includes a resilient gasket having opposed gasket surfaces for engagement between the two elements; and a water resistant coating applied to the gasket. The water resistant coating providing releasable adhesive sealing contact with at least one of the elements. The present invention is also directed to a method of making a gasket seal for an electrical box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark R. Drane
  • Patent number: 7847199
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention provides a poke-through assembly for installation in a hole in a floor structure. The floor structure defines a floor in a first working environment and a ceiling in a second working environment. The poke-through assembly includes at least one intumescent member, a base plate and an intumescent enclosure. The intumescent member is disposed at least partially between the floor of the first working environment and the ceiling of the second working environment. The base plate supports and is disposed below the intumescent member for limiting the expansion of the intumescent member toward or into the second working environment. The intumescent cover supports the intumescent member and circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the intumescent member, wherein expansion of the intumescent member is impeded by the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark R. Drane, Robert K. Jolly
  • Patent number: 7845952
    Abstract: A ground strap assembly couples two conductive components of a utility structure. The ground strap assembly includes an elongate electrically conductive ground strap having opposed ends. A pair of attachment members are mechanically and electrically coupled to each end of the strap. Each attachment member has a magnetic surface so that the ends of the strap may be placed in removable magnetic attachment to the two components to establish ground continuity across the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. Gall
  • Patent number: 7848702
    Abstract: An emergency system for providing an emergency function is described in which the system is required to provide an autonomous and self-diagnostic capability so the system can be tested when not in operation in an emergency situation. A plurality of emergency devices 14 are provided which have transmitters and receivers for producing a mesh network (FIG. 1). Each device 14 has a processor 60 for establishing a preferred wireless communication link of the mesh network to another device 14 for relaying signals and messages. The devices 14 are arranged in subnets 50 and the subnets are also grouped into groups of devices 14 which may cross various subnets 50 so that only one group of devices 14 can be tested at a particular time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: Dang Hai Ho, Drago Lavrencic, Michael Douglas Finch, Zoltan Kocsi
  • Publication number: 20100304184
    Abstract: A steel structure may include a steel member that is fabricating using a weathering steel chemistry. The weathering steel chemistry may include silicon. The steel member may also include a zinc coating that covers at least some of the outer surface of the steel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Gall, Jackie Gordon Milam
  • Patent number: 7832910
    Abstract: A lighting fixture stanchion arm generally includes a housing, a guard lever supported in the housing, a switch mechanism supported in the housing and a locking pin. The housing has an entry for receiving a radial finger of a fixture head and an aperture for receiving the locking pin. The guard lever is movable from a home position to an away position by the radial finger of the fixture head upon rotation of the fixture head with respect to the housing, wherein the guard lever blocks the locking pin aperture of the housing when in the home position. The locking pin is insertable in the locking pin aperture of the housing for actuating the switch mechanism when the lever guard is moved to the away position by the radial finger of the fixture head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventor: Rick W. Kauffman
  • Publication number: 20100285691
    Abstract: A modular nut assembly includes a substantially cylindrical body portion having a threaded interior surface and an exterior surface. The exterior surface includes a first portion configured for engagement by a mechanical tool and a second portion. A textured ring is configured for engagement by a hand of a user, wherein the second portion is configured to receive the textured ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Julio Rodrigues, Harold Watkins, Daniel Fitzwater, William T. Young
  • Publication number: 20100276395
    Abstract: A high voltage, preferably 35 kV, rubber molded fused vacuum interrupter assembly for protecting an electrical circuit from fault currents. The assembly includes one or more vacuum fault interrupters; one or more current limiting fuses; one or more sensing modules and a control module. Each of the vacuum fault interrupters is contained in a molded insulating structure and each of the current limiting fuses is encapsulated in a rubber molding. For each phase of the electrical circuit, a vacuum fault interrupter and a current limiting fuse are connected in series. The sensing modules measure the current in the lines. The vacuum fault interrupter interrupts low current faults and the fuse operates to protect against high current faults in a high voltage electrical power line. A three-phase electrical circuit would have three vacuum fault interrupters and three current limiting fuses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Daniel Lee Gardner
  • Patent number: 7824067
    Abstract: A reflector includes a first concave surface, a second concave surface and a third concave surface. The first concave surface has a first axis and a first opening to receive a first light source. The first concave surface is configured to reflect first light rays of the first light source from the first concave surface across the first axis and not to reflect second light rays of the first light source from the first concave surface. The second concave surface has a second axis and a second opening to receive a second light source. The second concave surface is configured to reflect first light rays of the second light source from the second concave surface across the second axis and not to reflect second light rays of the second light source from the second concave surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Martineau, Radu Cornel Rapeanu
  • Publication number: 20100255720
    Abstract: A coaxial cable connector and method that will direct the electromagnetic field carrying the electrical signal in a coaxial cable to the inner surface of a conductive layer of the foil of the cable, as opposed to the outer surface. With the electrical signals traveling on the inner surface of the foil conductive layer, the foil conductive layer serves as a contiguous gap-free shield to prevent the ingress and/or egress of RFI.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jack Radzik, Charles Thomas
  • Patent number: 7802480
    Abstract: A apparatus for detecting a high pressure condition within a high voltage vacuum device includes a microcircuit embedded within the vacuum containment that transmits a wireless signal upon detection of a high pressure condition and/or light generated by arcing between the electrical contacts of the high voltage device. The wireless signal can be transmitted via RF or optical means. The microcircuit is powered by energy sources produced within the vacuum device such as magnetic fields generated by current flow through the device, or light generated by arcing between the contacts. Alternatively, the microcircuit can be powered RF or optical signals transmitted to the microcircuit from outside the vacuum device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Thomas and Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: Roderick C. Mosely, Steven Jay Randazzo
  • Patent number: D625591
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian MacDonald, Daniel Lalancette, Mike Di Lillo
  • Patent number: D629364
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: William Smith, Daniel Cardin