Patents Assigned to Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8348447
    Abstract: A sign-type lighting fixture assembly is provided herein. The assembly includes an illuminating lighting fixture, a canopy, and a canopy lock. The lighting fixture has a housing with a perimetrical wall. The perimetrical wall includes a fixture opening therein. The canopy secures the lighting fixture to the canopy. The canopy has a canopy opening for passage of electrical wires. The canopy further includes a pair of inwardly deflectable fingers for insertion into the fixture opening for resilient securement to the perimetrical wall of the lighting fixture. The canopy lock is configured to be inserted into the canopy opening. The canopy lock is disposed between the pair of deflectable fingers of the canopy to prevent inward deflection of the fingers of the canopy to prevent removal from the lighting fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: Viorel Mirica, Kelley McAlpine
  • Patent number: 8344248
    Abstract: An electrical box may include a top side and a bottom side that are connected to one another by panels. Each of the top side and bottom side may include a front portion with a side edge, a front edge and a back edge, a back portion with a side edge, a front edge and a back edge, and an angled portion connecting the front portion to the back portion, the back portion being offset with respect to the front portion. The angled portion may include a transition edge that joins the back edge of the front portion to the back edge of the back portion. The transition edge may provide for space for maneuvering the electrical box aligned to a wall stud in a wall assembly out of the wall assembly through a hole in a drywall of the wall assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Lalancette, Marc-Antoine Veillette
  • Publication number: 20120329311
    Abstract: A cable connector for receiving a cable includes a substantially tubular connector body having a central bore extending therethrough, a forward end, and a cable receiving end. A gland nut is coupled to the cable receiving end of the connector body, wherein the gland nut is axially movable from a first position relative to the connector body to a second position relative to the connector body. A substantially tubular bushing element is secured between the gland nut and the connector body, wherein the bushing element comprises a tubular body for receiving the cable therethrough. The tubular body of the bushing element includes a flexible portion and a semi-rigid portion, wherein the flexible portion comprises a first hardness to seal the flexible portion to the cable and the semi-rigid portion comprises a second hardness to securely fix the cable relative to the bushing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: Guy Duval, Jean-Claude Goyette
  • Patent number: 8338706
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventor: Joey D. Magno, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20120318398
    Abstract: A conduit includes a multilayer wall including an outer layer having a first color; an intermediate layer having a second color; and an inner layer having a third color, wherein the intermediate layer is between the outer layer and the inner layer, and the first color, the second color, and the third color are different. Each of the first color, the second color, and the third color indicates a level of wear of the multilayer wall when one of the first color, the second color, or the third color is exposed due to wear or abrasion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Schuster, Martin Guller
  • Patent number: 8328573
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: Yves Boucher, Guy J. A. Duval, Daniel Lalancette
  • Patent number: 8309849
    Abstract: An integrally formed spacer may include an upper body having a flat surface. The upper body may include a fastening tongue perpendicular to the flat surface and dimensioned to fit into a first fastening hole in a wall of an electrical box. In addition, the integrally formed spacer may include a lower body with at least one leg having a notch to receive the wall of the electrical box via a second fastening hole in the wall. Further, the integrally formed spacer may include a neck portion having two ends in a lengthwise direction of the integrally formed spacer, one end of the neck portion connected to the upper body and another end connected to the lower body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventor: Cong Thanh Dinh
  • Publication number: 20120280487
    Abstract: An improved device for coupling rigid non-metallic conduits is disclosed. The claimed device is capable of allowing movement in an axial direction due to expansion and contraction and can also compensate for angular or parallel deflection of the conduits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Andy Ali Jaffari
  • Publication number: 20120264321
    Abstract: A device includes a sacrificial cap configured for mounting on a direct access port of an electrical connector. The sacrificial cap includes an insulated body and a sacrificial probe conductor projecting from the insulated body. The sacrificial probe conductor is configured to conductively couple with a conductor in the electrical connector via the direct access port when the sacrificial cap is installed on the direct access port. The sacrificial cap includes a portion configured to be physically severed to confirm that the electrical connector is de-energized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Larry N. Siebens, Dan Gardner, Geoffrey Reed, Jeffrey Gieger, Stanley Szyszko
  • Patent number: 8282410
    Abstract: A deadbreak-to-loadbreak adapter assembly may include a deadbreak-to-loadbreak bushing having a first end and a second end, and an annular shoulder portion located between the first end and the second end. The first end may include a loadbreak interface for connecting to a loadbreak device and the second end may include a deadbreak interface for connecting to a deadbreak bushing. A bailing element may be provided for securing the deadbreak-to-loadbreak adapter bushing to a housing in which the deadbreak bushing is installed via a securing force applied to the shoulder portion of the deadbreak-to-loadbreak adapter bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry N. Siebens, Alan D. Borgstrom
  • Publication number: 20120250205
    Abstract: A surge protective device is disclosed that may include a comparator to determine when a line voltage of a line is above a threshold. The device may include a switch to couple a clamping device to the line voltage when the comparator determines the line voltage is above a threshold, wherein the clamping device shunts current from the line. The switch may include a silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) or a thyristor and the clamping device may include a selenium surge suppression device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Hans-Erik Pfitzer, Martin William Guy
  • Patent number: 8278552
    Abstract: A while-in use weatherproof cover for an electrical box that includes a faceplate, a base plate and a perimetrical side wall. The base plate has an opening adapted to receive an electrical device and one or more apertures for securing the cover to the device and/or electrical box. The perimeter side wall is flexible and extends from the face plate to the base plate so that the faceplate, the base plate and the side wall define an interior. The faceplate has an opening fitted with a door that is operated by compressing the side wall. The door is movable between an open position, which allows access to the interior, and a closed position, which restricts access to the interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: Cong Thanh Dinh, Joey Magno, Jr., Mark R. Drane, Robert Kevin Jolly
  • Publication number: 20120245880
    Abstract: A method includes outputting a test initiation command over a power supply cable to a first load device, receiving, at the first load device, the test initiation command and testing the first load device. The method also includes generating first test data for the first load device, inserting the first test data into a data packet and forwarding the data packet to another load device. The method further includes repeating the inserting and forwarding for each of the load devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Edmund Siegfried Nabrotzky
  • Patent number: 8273998
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark R. Drane
  • Publication number: 20120222880
    Abstract: An electrical box may include a panel that is coupled to a top side of the electrical box. The panel may include a wall on one side of the panel, the wall surrounding a well, in the first panel, into a space in the electrical box. The panel may also include a cap to be placed over the wall and the well. The cap and the well may be configured to form a first bend and a second bend on a cable that extends from outside of the electrical box to an inside space of the electrical box. The first bend may include a locally lowest point on cable portions that are outside of an area under the cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Cong Thanh Dinh
  • Publication number: 20120217062
    Abstract: An automatic splice connector has an outer casing formed from a solid piece of conductive alloy. Thus, the automatic splice connector of the present invention generally includes a unitary casing having a longitudinal axis along which first and second ends of the casing taper conically toward the axis. The first end of the casing terminates at a first aperture and the second end of the casing terminates at a second aperture. The casing has an internal integral wall formed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis midway along the axial length of the casing, wherein the wall and the casing are contiguously formed as one piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Cawood, Edward Hielscher
  • Publication number: 20120214336
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly may include a connector body for receiving a power cable and having at least one T-end having a bore therein. An adapter is configured to be received within the bore in the at least one T-end, wherein the adapter comprises a conductive core coupled to the power cable. A sacrificial cap is configured to engage a portion of the adapter extending from the at least one T-end. The sacrificial cap comprises a sacrificial conductor that is coupled to the conductive core of the adapter and configured to be cut through to confirm that the electrical connector assembly has been de-energized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Larry N. Siebens
  • Publication number: 20120202392
    Abstract: A high voltage link apparatus may include a link assembly that includes an insulated bushing portion; a first feed thru junction bushing portion; and a second feed thru junction bushing portion. The insulated bushing portion is electrically isolated from the first feed thru junction bushing portion and the second feed thru junction bushing portion. The first feed thru junction bushing portion is conductively coupled to the second feed thru junction bushing portion. First, second, and third bushing interfaces are provided for conductively coupling to first, second, and third power cables, respectively. Each of the first, second, and third bushing interfaces include link receiving portions configured to receive the link assembly therein. The link assembly is installable in the first, second, and third bushing interfaces in first and second, reversible orientations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Larry N. Siebens
  • Publication number: 20120192399
    Abstract: A clamp includes an upper portion, lower portion, screw and nut. The upper portion may include first and second rectangular shaped members, a first projection extending from the first and second members, and a first central opening located between the first and second members. The lower portion may include third and fourth rectangular shaped members, a second projection extending from the third and fourth members, and a second central opening located between the third and fourth members. The screw may extend from the upper portion through the first and second central openings. The nut may be integrally connected to the lower portion and includes threads to receive corresponding threads from the screw. Lower surfaces of the first and second members and upper surfaces of the third and fourth members define an opening located adjacent the first and second projections in which a component to be clamped is placed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Cong Thanh Dinh
  • Publication number: 20120193325
    Abstract: An electrical switch includes a tubular housing that includes an interface positioned intermediate the conductor receiving end and the operating end. An operating rod extends through the housing. A fixed contact is electrically coupled to the operating end. A moveable contact is electrically coupled to the interface and the operating rod, wherein the moveable contact is moveable between a first position contacting the fixed contact and a second position separated from the fixed contact. A diaphragm is positioned in the tubular housing between the interface and the operating end and includes a first tubular portion and a second tubular portion. Movement of the operating rod from the first position to the second position causes the second tubular portion to move relative to the first tubular portion, thus deforming the shoulder portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Alan D. Borgstrom