Patents Examined by Adolfo Nino
  • Patent number: 6888066
    Abstract: For use in switchgear equipment having channel bus bars joined together at a bus joint, there is provided a channel bus splice assembly and method. The channel bus splice assembly comprises switchgear or switchboard equipment having channel bus bars joined together at a bus joint, there is provided a channel bus splice assembly. The channel bus splice assembly comprises an inner splice plate defining a plurality of throughbores. A sliding clamp plate is configured to reciprocally move within the inner splice plate. The sliding clamp plate defines a plurality of access ports. A pair of nut plates is coupled to the sliding clamp plate and having threaded orifices corresponding to selected throughbores in the inner splice plate. An outer splice plate having a plurality of throughbores corresponding to the threaded orifices in the nut plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason P. Wiant, Harry W. Josten
  • Patent number: 6878881
    Abstract: A modular cable protector assembly has side ramps, tunnel members, and tunnel connectors that can be removably engaged to one another in a modular fashion to form a wide variety of configurations. Each tunnel member includes a tunnel extending along its length for passage of cables, and two sets of laterally-opposed connectors that removably engage corresponding connectors on the undersides of the side ramps. Each tunnel connector has two sets of connectors that removably engage the connectors on two tunnel members and thereby secure the tunnel members in a side-by-side relationship. The side ramps and the top surface of the tunnel connector combine to provide a relatively continuous surface over the cable protector assembly that is suitable for foot traffic or wheeled traffic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Inventor: Stephen K. Henry
  • Patent number: 6878882
    Abstract: A moisture barrier is molded and/or glued around an exposed section of a conductor where a surrounding insulation layer is removed. A gap between the conductor and a surrounding insulation layer consequently terminates at the moisture barrier and moisture is prevented from creeping any further. The moisture barrier is preferably integrated in a wick dam of a test cord utilized in a telephone line-testing device. A strain relief bridge may be crimped with two metal sleeves on the remaining insulation layer laterally on both sides of the moisture barrier to bridge eventual external forces across the moisture barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Inventor: Kevin B. Larkin
  • Patent number: 6875923
    Abstract: A conductive bus bar includes a first plate-shaped portion extending in a first direction and a second plate-shaped portion continued from the first portion and extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The second plate-shaped portion has a first main face which faces the first plate-shaped portion, a second main face opposite to the first main face, and side faces connecting the first main face and the second main face. A press-contact portion is formed in the second plate-shaped portion, to which an electric wire is press-fitted. An insulative mount includes a mount face, on which the first plate-shaped portion is disposed, and a wall member extending in the second direction to support the second main face of the second plate-shaped portion. A pair of rib members are extended from the wall member to support the side faces of the second plate-shaped portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Masatoshi Egawa, Tomohiro Sugiura, Yoshihiro Sugiyama, Yumi Sekine, Minoru Umezaki
  • Patent number: 6872892
    Abstract: A molded plastic fence insulator including a pair of spaced apart sidewalls connected by a connecting wall, aligned grooves defined across the connecting wall, and retention members associated with the aligned grooves and configured for receiving the wires underneath a portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Fi-Shock, Inc.
    Inventor: Brett R. Burdick
  • Patent number: 6871812
    Abstract: A multi-stages retractable coiling cord is disclosed. The coiling cord comprises a front cover, a spiral spring, a sliding disc, a retraction cord, a positioning bead and a rear cover. The cord is retracted and is positioned once when the sliding disc rotates once. A slight pull will allow the coiling cord to release from engaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Inventor: Wen-Han Chang
  • Patent number: 6872883
    Abstract: A mast lighting system of the type including at least one mast that is mountable onto a foundation. A portion of the mast is capable of supporting an electrical component. A distribution component subassembly is disposed within a power distribution assembly. An electrical cable disposed within the mast connects the electrical component to the distribution component subassembly of the power distribution assembly through a breakaway connector set. A remote power source is in communication with the distribution component subassembly. The mast defines an interior chamber therein of sufficient dimensions to receive the power distribution assembly. The power distribution assembly is disposed within the chamber and onto a generally planar surface of the foundation. In use, the power distribution assembly is protected from collision damage, but is accessible to the user through the opening in the mast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Inventor: Thomas A. Ginsburg
  • Patent number: 6870105
    Abstract: A high density of electrical interconnection together with well controlled electrical transmission characteristics, low emissivity from the cable and low susceptibility to external electromagnetic interference are obtained in a PET machine with an interconnection harness formed of a ribbon cable with an inner and outer shield. The inner shield together with alternate conductors of the ribbon cable provide a signal return and the outer shield provides an earth ground reducing the susceptibility of the conductors to external electrical noise and reducing emissions from the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Fyodor I. Maydanich, James Malaney
  • Patent number: 6870103
    Abstract: For use in switchgear equipment having bus bars joined together at a bus joint, there is provided a bus joint cover assembly and method. The bus joint cover assembly comprises a collar member having a snap slot. A cap member having a boss snap is configured to engage the snap slot. The cap member is configured to telescopically join with the collar member around the bus joint wherein the bus joint is contained within the bus joint cover assembly. The bus joint cover assembly can include a side cover member configured to position between the collar member and the cap member. The side cover member can be configured to provide a passage for bus bars and can be configured as a bus end cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason P. Wiant, Harry W. Josten
  • Patent number: 6867376
    Abstract: Rod assemblies for guiding, routing or feeding a wire and/or cable in a target space of an existing structure having a plurality of frame members and a target internal routing space for the cable or wire, include: (a) an elongate rod having opposing first and second end portions; and (b) an anchoring member attached to the rod first end portion. In position, the anchoring member resides against a surface of a structural frame member to hold the first end portion outside of the target internal routing space and allow the second end portion to extend into the target internal routing space, thereby allowing one end of the rod to remain in a fixed location without requiring a second installer. The elongate rod can be a glow rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Charlie Sawyer, Isaac D. White, James E. Dickens, Blake Urban, Kevin Forsberg
  • Patent number: 6867373
    Abstract: A sprinkler and drip resistant tap-off base for an electrical busway distribution system. The tap-off base includes an overmolded perimeter seal providing a liquid resistant seal between the busway housing and the tap-off base and between the tap-off base and a tap-off unit installed on the tap-off base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Rodney J. West, Glenn S. O'Nan
  • Patent number: 6866427
    Abstract: An LED coupled to a large core plastic optical fiber light guide with a tubular connector having a first bore into which the light guide is inserted, a second bore into which the LED and its attached wires are inserted and a third bore adjacent to the first bore, extending between the first and second bores and into which the LED is positioned so that when illuminated the LED transmits light into the guide with the first bore. The connector includes helical threads formed in the first bore into which the guide is threaded to securely retain the guide within the first bore and which form a seal to prevent contaminants from entering the region in the first bore adjacent the LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Lumenyte International Corporation
    Inventor: Paul E. Robbins
  • Patent number: 6864416
    Abstract: An electrostatic charge deionizing lighting conductor has two frameworks having different geometries and being electrically separated from one another, insulators which electrically separate the frameworks from one another and must support the frameworks in the insulators and being electrically insulated, each of the insulators being provided with a variable dielectric, so that each of the insulators, when it counter balances an energy within it, annuls a saturation of electrical charges in an atmosphere of a protected area which are responsible of thunderbolt formation, its scope being variable according to a geographic area to be protected and the values being of about 650 meter radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Inventors: Angel Rodriguez Montes, Antonio Claveria Canal
  • Patent number: 6864433
    Abstract: A circuit board clip apparatus having a base wherein the base includes a first end and a second. The clip apparatus also includes a bore that extends between the first and second ends of the base. The clip apparatus additionally includes a first leg coupled to the base. The first leg extends along the base and has an indent wherein the indent comprises a first finger portion and a second finger portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Barry A. Fetzer, Mark A. Negley
  • Patent number: 6855885
    Abstract: A housing for an electrical component includes an electrically conductive cup which includes a wall, a floor, and a cover having electrical terminals. The housing also includes an electrically insulating coating applied to an outside of the floor and adjoining regions of the wall, and an electrically insulating covering which covers the wall at least partially and which overlaps the electrically insulating coating. The electrically insulating covering is on the electrically insulating coating and does not coat the floor. A mounting plate is also included on which the floor is positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Epcos AG
    Inventor: Wilhelm Schweikert
  • Patent number: 6855892
    Abstract: An insulation sheet for use in producing a wiring substrate comprises, as via bole conductors, conductive paste filled in via holes formed through the insulation sheet, and a curing-starting temperature of the conductive paste is lower than a melting-starting temperature of the insulation sheet. A wiring substrate is produced by laminating such insulation sheets, that have conductive paste in via holes, and subjecting this laminate to thermo-compression bonding, wherein deformation of via holes and dislocation of the via holes, because of a molten insulation sheet, does not occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shingo Komatsu, Seiichi Nakatani, Yasuhiro Sugaya, Toshiyuki Asahi, Yoshiyuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6855890
    Abstract: A bracket (10) holds a wire (12) adjacent a magnetic surface (15). The bracket (10) includes a retaining member (14) with a magnetic attracting end (16) and a retaining end (18). The retaining member (14) is shaped to accept the wire (12) between the magnetic attracting end (16) and the retaining end (18) while holding the wire (12) adjacent the magnetic surface (15) when the retaining member (14) is held to the magnetic surface (15). The retaining member (14) is formed of a plastic material that is flexible to form a plurality of holding shapes and sturdy to retain one of the plurality of holding shapes to correspond to the magnetic surface (15) of a planar or non-planar configuration. The magnetic attracting end (16) and the retaining end (18) can each include a cavity (46) to receive and fit magnetic attractors (36, 38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Inventor: Richard Vasichek
  • Patent number: 6854977
    Abstract: Apparatus (10) includes a vehicle steering wheel (14), a device (220) mountable on the steering wheel, a rear cover (60) that at least partially covers the steering wheel, a rotary connector (100) including a housing (110) for providing an electrical connection with the device. A first electrical connector (210) includes a first connector piece (212) and a second connector piece (214). The first connector piece (212), housing (110) and rear cover (60) are molded as a single piece of plastic material. The second connector piece (214) is guided to interconnect with the first connector piece (212) when the device (220) is installed on the steering wheel (14). The first and second connector pieces (212 and 214) when interconnected provide, an electrical connection between the device (220) and a cable (150) of the rotary connector (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. DuRocher, Stephen J. Horner, Kevin P. Jokipii
  • Patent number: 6848962
    Abstract: A method for producing a durable electron-emitting device having a uniform electron emission characteristic, an electron source, and an image-forming apparatus having a uniform display characteristic for a long period are provided. The method for producing an electron-emitting device according to the present invention includes the steps of: disposing a cathode electrode on a surface of a substrate; providing an electrode opposite the cathode electrode; disposing plural pieces of fiber containing carbon as a main component on the cathode electrode; and applying potential higher than potential applied to the cathode electrode under depressurized condition to an electrode opposite the cathode electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shin Kitamura, Takeo Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 6844491
    Abstract: A grounding assembly includes a shaft bearing connected to an associated shaft. The bearing includes a cylindrical portion and an annular head portion. A structure having a first surface with an aperture defined therein receives the cylindrical portion of the shaft bearing. The annular head portion of the bearing has a shoulder for seating against the first surface of the structure. A grounding member includes an annular portion positioned between the first surface of the structure and the annular head portion of the shaft bearing. The grounding member further includes fingers positioned between the cylindrical portion of the shaft bearing and an inner cylindrical surface of the structure that defines a length of the aperture. At least one of the fingers includes (1) a first bend for allowing the at least one of the fingers to enter the aperture and (2) a second bend for allowing the at least one of the fingers to contact the cylindrical portion of the shaft bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Jon C. Malmberg