Patents Assigned to Thomas & Betts International, LLC
  • Publication number: 20150087171
    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: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: Larry N. Siebens, Carlos H. Hernandez
  • Patent number: 8986022
    Abstract: A pivoting face receptacle may include a receptacle module. The receptacle module may include a hinge and a receptacle attached to the hinge. The receptacle is configured to pivot, about the hinge, from a retracted position in which a face of the receptacle is parallel to a front of the receptacle module, to an extended position in which the face of the receptacle is substantially perpendicular to the front the receptacle module and protrudes from the face of the receptacle module. The pivoting face receptacle may also include a receptacle housing. The receptacle housing, having a front affixed to a rear of the receptacle module, may include a plurality of contacts on exterior faces of the receptacle housing. The receptacle housing may be configured to receive the receptacle into a space enclosed by the receptacle housing when the receptacle is in the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, LLC
    Inventors: Cong T. Dinh, Bobby N. Norwood, Mark R. Drane
  • Patent number: 8979590
    Abstract: A fitting, for terminating an electrical cable having two or more conductors, a central insulation portion, and a braided outer portion, includes a substantially tubular fitting body having a central bore extending therethrough, a forward end, and a cable receiving end. A tubular sleeve is positioned within the central bore of the fitting body and configured for insertion between the center insulation portion and the braided outer portion of an installed electrical cable. A clamping ring is positioned within the central bore of the fitting body about the tubular sleeve. Upon assembly of the fitting, the clamping ring is configured to clampingly engage the central bore of the fitting body and the tubular sleeve to secure the braided outer portion of the installed electrical cable to the fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, LLC
    Inventors: Joey Magno, Rasoul Shouri, Hubert J. Morgan, II
  • Publication number: 20150071728
    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: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Vallette, James Zahnen, William Longcor, IV, Stanley Szyszko, Matthew Cawood, Robert Fong
  • Publication number: 20150004843
    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: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Thomas & Betts International, LLC
    Inventors: Larry N. Siebens, Daniel L. Gardner, Carlos H. Hernandez, Kieran P. Higgins
  • Publication number: 20140367233
    Abstract: A safety lockout device for switchgear includes a means for electrically disconnecting power to a motor and means for mechanically blocking the motor from operating. The safety lockout further includes a movable member operable by a hotstick to actuate the electrical disconnecting means and the mechanical blocking means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: Thomas & Betts International, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Gieger, Charles Bindics
  • Publication number: 20140353442
    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: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventor: Zachary Ye
  • Patent number: 8899998
    Abstract: A grounding lug for an electrical conduit fitting includes a support ring sized to slide over a threaded portion of a conduit fitting body and a conductor securing portion having a channel to receive an externally-mounted conducting wire. The grounding lug also includes an extension arm configured to secure the support ring to the conductor securing portion, and a sealing ring, secured along an inside diameter of the support ring. The sealing ring is configured to form a seal between the support ring and the conduit fitting body. The grounding lug is configured to be freely rotated around the threaded portion of the conduit fitting body to position the conductor securing portion in a desired orientation after partial installation of the electrical conduit fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, LLC
    Inventor: Roger Pyron
  • Patent number: 8895877
    Abstract: A new bushing for strain reducing electrical fittings is disclosed. The bushing increases the pull-out performance of the fitting by including a textured area where the bushing comes into contact with the cable. The textured area may be created by affixing solid particles to the bushing so that the friction between the bushing and cable is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, LLC.
    Inventors: Marc Brodeur, Guy Duval
  • Patent number: 8882548
    Abstract: A connector may include a first member having a first bore therethrough. A second member having a second bore therethrough may be configured to align with the first bore in the first member. A cam clamp may be provided for securing the first member to the second member. The cam clamp may include a pin having a head and a shaft, wherein the shaft extends through the first bore and the second bore. A compression element may be positioned between the first bore and a head on the pin. A cam member may be rotatably mounted to an end of the shaft opposing the head and configured to move between a first position and a second position. The cam clamp may be configured to secure the second member to the first member when the cam member is rotated from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventor: Larry N. Siebens
  • Publication number: 20140329420
    Abstract: An improved grounding and bonding bracket-type electrical connector is described with improved properties for directionally orienting grounding conductors. The electrical connector has a body with a first and a second clamp area. The second clamp area may be partially formed by a second body member. A frame substrate is connected in the first clamp area, while a grounding conductor is connected in the second clamp area. The grounding conductor may be connected such that the path of the conductor runs parallel, at 45 degrees, or perpendicular as compared to the mounting line of the frame substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: Thomas & Betts International, LLC
    Inventor: Joey D. Magno
  • Patent number: 8853563
    Abstract: A cold shrink assembly includes a first member, a second member and insulating material disposed over the first and second members. The first member may include first and second portions that are coupled together and configured to be separable from each other, where the first and second portions forming a main body having curved portions extending from the main body. The second member may include third and fourth portions that are coupled together and configured to be separable from each other, where the third and fourth portions form a receiving portion located at a second end of the second member. The receiving portion may be configured to secure the curved portions of the first member to the receiving portion when the first and second members are in a first position, and release the curved portions from the receiving portion when the first and second members are in a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Verner, Stanley Szyszko
  • Patent number: 8845361
    Abstract: A fitting, for terminating an electrical cable having two or more conductors, includes a substantially tubular body having a central bore configured to receive the electrical cable therethrough. A substantially tubular sealing sleeve is configured to engage a forward end of the body during assembly of the fitting to receive the two or more conductors of the electrical cable passing through the body. After receiving the two or more conductors, the sealing sleeve is configured to receive a sealing compound therein, such that the sealing compound flows between the two or more conductors during filling of the sealing sleeve. The sealing sleeve is formed of a transparent material to enable visible confirmation of sealing compound distribution and a determination that the sealing compound is free of voids or air bubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventors: Joey D. Magno, Jr., Rasoul Shouri
  • Publication number: 20140262437
    Abstract: A compression connector for connecting two wires is disclosed. The compression connector is made of either a single bifurcated connector body or two individual connector components that are slidably coupled and then crimped. As the compression connector is crimped, structural features on the connector components are pushed into a locked state in the two component embodiment. Bifurcated embodiments allow for more than one crimping act on the compression connectors resulting in a more reliable compression connection. The compression connector that results is much more resistant to failure compared to known C-shaped compression connectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Thomas & Betts International, LLC
    Inventor: Cong Thanh Dinh
  • Publication number: 20140273560
    Abstract: A hybrid grounding connector is provided which combines the positive attributes of currently used connections. A recess is pre-milled, formed or extruded into the body of a compression connector and the recess is pre-filled with solder. After conductors are installed in the connector, an external heat source is applied to heat the solder until it flows into strands of the conductors and forms a solidified joint of the compression connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventor: Matthew D. Cawood
  • Publication number: 20140202761
    Abstract: A chuck for a cable fitting includes multiple segments substantially forming a ring shape. Each segment of the multiple segments includes a first tapered surface on a distal end, wherein the first tapered surface slopes from the distal end away from a central axis of the ring, and a second tapered surface on a proximal end, wherein the second tapered surface slopes from the proximal end away from the central axis. The chuck also includes a flexible band to hold the multiple segments in the ring shape. Each segment of the multiple segments is configured to receive compressive forces on the first tapered surface and the second tapered surface to force each segment of the multiple segments inwardly toward the central axis. The multiple segments are configured to engage a cable to secure the cable within the ring shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Thomas & Betts International, LLC
    Inventor: Jean-Michel Pelletier
  • Publication number: 20140182877
    Abstract: A while-in-use electrical box cover is provided which comprises at least one integral splash guard that covers at least one cord exit aperture for a power cord which is plugged into an electrical outlet on which the WIU electrical box cover is mounted when the WIU cover is in the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventor: Robert Kevin Jolly
  • Publication number: 20140061396
    Abstract: A cable clip is provided for mounting cables onto solar modules. The cable clip is a one piece assembly that is comprised of two main sections: a first recess for clipping onto a solar module and a second recess for receiving a cable from a solar module. The cable clip may be designed in either a parallel or perpendicular configuration which gives installers of solar modules maximum flexibility when mounting cables onto modules. A multi-level clip is also described for cases when a multitude of cables are required to be mounted onto a solar module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Thomas & Betts International, LLC
    Inventors: Joey D. Magno, Jr., Randy Dorn, Garrett Gauvain
  • Patent number: D721952
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventors: Suresh Kumar Parthibhan, Christine S. Reagan