Patents Assigned to Thomas & Betts International, LLC
  • Publication number: 20170070042
    Abstract: A device for preventing the intrusion of water or other liquids into the interior of an automatic splice. The device may be constructed in a single-piece or two-piece design and includes a series of fingers that contact the cable stranding and wick water away from the cable and out of the connector. These fingers could be integrally molded into the cable cone or molded as a separate piece and inserted. They could also be constructed of any typical brush material such as metal, plastic, rubber, or fiber. The fingers could be arranged in a variety of configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Applicant: Thomas & Betts International, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew D. Cawood
  • Patent number: 9583926
    Abstract: A hanger bar is provided for suspending and securing an electrical box between ceiling joists. The hanger bar is comprised of a main tube section, a box support bracket, a box which attaches to the box support bracket and two end plates which are attached to the main tube section without the use of fasteners or welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventor: Zachary Ye
  • Patent number: 9564744
    Abstract: An adjustable bracket may include a first hermaphroditic piece and a second hermaphroditic piece, substantially identical to the first hermaphroditic piece and rotated 180 degrees with respect to the first hermaphroditic piece, wherein sliding the first hermaphroditic piece with respect to the second hermaphroditic piece adjusts a width of the adjustable bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventors: Andy A. Jaffari, Robert H. Osborn
  • Patent number: 9553433
    Abstract: A gangable electrical box includes a U-shaped box member having a generally rectangular back wall including opposed back wall ends. An end wall extends from each of the back wall ends. Each of the end walls has opposed longitudinal edges. The gangable box further includes a pair of generally rectangular side walls where each side wall has opposed side wall ends. The side wall ends are attachable to the U-shaped box member to define an open ended box interior. The longitudinal edges of the end walls and the opposite ends of the side walls include interfitting snap fit connection for toolless attachment of the side walls to the box member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Lalancette
  • Patent number: 9553436
    Abstract: A floor box cover includes a base plate that engages an electrical device and a cover plate connected to the base plate. The cover plate includes a first opening to expose the electrical device and a second opening to receive a lid. A connector is inserted into an aperture in the lid and engages the cover plate to secure the lid within the second opening, causing the lid to conceal the first opening. A connector gasket engages the connector to prevent the connector from being easily removed from the lid. The connector gasket may be compressed within the aperture to seal the aperture when the connector engages the cover plate. A compressible ring gasket may be friction fit within the second opening, and when the connector engages the cover plate, the lid may compress the ring gasket to seal the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventor: Zachary Ye
  • Patent number: 9546749
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventor: Andy Ali Jaffari
  • Patent number: 9537297
    Abstract: A device for preventing the intrusion of water or other liquids into the interior of an automatic splice. The device includes a series of fingers that contact the cable stranding and wick water away from the cable and out of the connector. These fingers could be integrally molded into the cable cone or molded as a separate piece and inserted. They could also be constructed of any typical brush material such as metal, plastic, rubber, or fiber. The fingers could be arranged in a variety of configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew D. Cawood
  • Patent number: 9537295
    Abstract: An electrical box includes a housing having a mounting plate and a housing body; and a cover rotatably mounted to the housing to cover a central opening in the mounting plate when the cover is in a closed configuration and to allow access to the central opening when the cover is in an open configuration. The housing body includes at least one chamber for receiving an electrical device mounted therein and for receiving a cable for connecting to the electrical device. The housing body is coupled to the mounting plate by a plurality of rib members to form a gap between the housing body and the mounting plate. The cover includes fluid directing elements that project downwardly from the cover and which are received within the gap between the housing body and the mounting plate when the cover is in the closed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventor: Cong Thanh Dinh
  • Patent number: 9512945
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventor: Andy Ali Jaffari
  • Patent number: 9472868
    Abstract: A permanent ground point for a splicing connector is provided. The ground point is comprised of a ground rod that is permanently attached to a port on the splicing connector. A grounding clamp may then be attached to the ground point after the system is de-energized in order to provide a safe connection to system ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventors: Larry N. Siebens, Carlos H. Hernandez
  • Patent number: 9445516
    Abstract: An electrical box may include a housing body, enclosing a cavity, which includes an access opening extending across a first plane of the housing body, and which includes a plurality of mounting outlets configured to enable electrical devices to be mounted to the housing body to face a plurality of different directions. The electrical box may further include one or more mounting brackets attached to the housing body and a cover plate shaped to match and cover the access opening of the housing body. The housing body may include a first side wall and second side wall aligned to form an inside corner of the housing body, wherein the inside corner of the housing body is configured to align with an outside corner of a building or a structure, and wherein the first side wall and the second side wall are perpendicular to the first plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventors: Cong Thanh Dinh, Peter J. Galluci
  • Patent number: 9443681
    Abstract: An electrical switch includes a tubular housing having a conductor receiving end and an operating end opposite the conductor receiving end. The tubular housing also includes a conductive interface positioned intermediate the conductor receiving end and the operating end. An operating rod extends through the operating end toward the conductor receiving end. The operating rod is moveable between a first position to engage the electrical switch and a second position to disengage the electrical switch. A gelatinous dielectric material is provided within a portion of the tubular housing, and around the operating rod, in the operating end to prevent voltage from the conductive interface from arcing to the operating end. The gelatinous dielectric material is configured to deform to maintain contact with the operating rod in the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventor: Larry N. Siebens
  • Patent number: 9444176
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly configured to couple a power cable and at least one other electrical component, includes a housing body that includes a outer jacket, an insert portion, and an insulative inner housing positioned between at least a portion of the outer jacket and the insert portion. The housing body forms at least one bore for receiving the power cable. The outer jacket comprises a cable receiving jacket portion and a main body jacket portion. At least a portion of the cable receiving jacket portion is configured to engage the power cable received into the housing body. The cable receiving jacket portion comprises a cold shrink material configured to securely engage the power cable upon and the main body jack portion comprises a non-cold shrink material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, LLC
    Inventors: Larry N. Siebens, Daniel L. Gardner, Carlos H. Hernandez, Kieran P. Higgins
  • Patent number: 9435473
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventor: Andy Ali Jaffari
  • Patent number: 9437374
    Abstract: A grounding device for switchgear includes a connector and a body. The body includes (1) a male interface portion including an electrically conductive bus with a first bore and a spade connector; (2) a conductive housing including a second bore that is axially aligned with the first bore, and a grounding terminal to receive a grounding wire; (3) a pin assembly including a non-conductive tip, and a conductive pin, wherein the pin assembly is configured to move axially within the first and second bores between a closed position that provides an electrical connection between the bus and the conductive housing and an open position that provides no electrical connection; (4) a communications receptacle to receive signals from a controller outside the device body; and (5) a motor configured to selectively drive the pin assembly between the open position and the closed position, based on a signal from the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventor: Larry N. Siebens
  • Patent number: 9422957
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventor: Cong Thanh Dinh
  • Patent number: 9366282
    Abstract: A torque controlling break screw is provided for securing a wire or cable within a connector. The break screw comprises a nut, a thin-walled, hollow screw and a torque limiting feature between the nut and the screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Vallette, James Zahnen, William Longcor, IV, Stanley Szyszko, Matthew Cawood, Robert Fong
  • Patent number: 9350362
    Abstract: A system includes a first phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit, a slew rate limiter and a second PLL. The first PLL is configured to receive an input signal, generate a first output identifying a frequency associated with the input signal, and generate a second output identifying phase information associated with the input signal. The slew rate limiter is configured to receive the first output from the first PLL, determine whether the frequency of the first output is changing at greater than a predetermined rate, and generate a first signal indicating whether the frequency is changing at greater than the predetermined rate. The second PLL is configured to receive the first signal from the slew rate limiter, receive the second output from the first PLL, and generate an output signal identifying an angle or phase information based on the first signal and the second output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, LLC
    Inventor: Justin Walraven
  • Patent number: 9350154
    Abstract: A fitting for terminating a conduit includes a substantially tubular fitting body having a central bore extending therethrough, a forward end, and a rearward end opposing the forward end. The fitting body includes a first liquid-proof coating that includes a rearward sealing rim. A gland nut is rotatably coupled to the rearward end of the fitting body. The gland nut includes a second liquid-proof coating that includes a forward sealing rim. A grounding ring is positioned between the gland nut and the fitting body and contacts the fitting body. Upon axial movement of the gland nut, the grounding ring engages the rearward sealing rim of the first liquid-proof coating on the fitting body and the forward sealing rim of the second liquid-proof coating on the gland nut to form a sealed relationship therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: Cong Thanh Dinh, Paul John Bartholomew
  • Patent number: D776063
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Cardin, Marie-Ève Bernard, Benoît Orban, Patrick Mainville, Daniel Lalancette