Patents Examined by Laramie E. Askin
  • Patent number: 4921443
    Abstract: A waterproofing assembly for use in a terminal area of an electric wire comprises a terminal fixedly secured to an apparatus body, and a cap made of a flexible elastic material for covering the terminal and a part of the electric wire connected therewith. The above-mentioned terminal is formed in the shape of a dish whose outer peripheral portion is inclined. The cap has an opening formed therein whose edge is formed in the shape of an "O" ring, and a bellows-shaped portion formed in the vicinity of the electric wire covering portion thereof. The edge of the opening of the above-mentioned cap is adapted to be fitted resiliently into a wedge-shaped space formed between the inclined portion of the terminal and the apparatus body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Sato
  • Patent number: 4919217
    Abstract: An optical fiber-containing insulator including an insulator body having a through hole provided in a central portion thereof, an optical fiber inserted into the through hole, a stepped portion formed in the through hole at at least one end of the insulator body, a sealing section consisting of a pair of holders provided at upper and lower ends of the stepped portion, an inorganic glass layer sandwiched between the holders, and a protective layer formed on the outer holder. A process for producing such an optical fiber-containing insulator is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Mima, Hideki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 4919292
    Abstract: A reinforced junction box assembly includes: a polygonal open housing body with a top surface on one side and a plurality of side walls vertically formed along the periphery of the top surface; at least one pair of holding flanges each with a guide opening in the middle separately provided along an edge of two opposing sides of the open housing body structure; and at least one pair of mounting members each with a reinforced ridge and two mounting sides respectively fixed on an interior surface of the two opposing side walls against the holding flange. In addition, each of the mounting members includes a threaded bore in the reinforced ridge, which is aligned with the guide opening of the respective holding flange, and a plurality of screw holes in the mounting sides, which are used to fix the mounting members on the opposing side walls. Thereby, safe connections can be ensured all the time between the mounting members and a suspension load through the guide openings and the threaded bores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Inventor: Tsui-Chen Hsu
  • Patent number: 4918261
    Abstract: A flat wire harness attaching unit for installing a flat wire harness onto a vehicle body. The flat wire harness is composed of a plurality of wires covered with synthetic resin insulation which wires are bundled and united into a flat integral structure by melting the synthetic resin insulation. The wire harness attaching unit has a clip section and an attaching section. The clip section is provided for association with a vehicle body side whereas the attaching section is made of a material capable of being made integral with the synthetic resin insulation through fusion to be secured with one of the surfaces of the flat wire harness. The clip section may be integral to or separate from the attaching section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Mineo Takahashi, Susmum Nakayama, Satoshi Suzuki, Akio Mori, Hiroyuki Seo, Minoru Imamura, Hiroshi Tanaka, Norihiro Yoneyama
  • Patent number: 4918573
    Abstract: A component spacer is disposed in an electrical circuit between a circuit component such as a resistor having two leads and a printed circuit board to which the resistor leads are connected to maintain a gap between them. The component spacer has a generally flat partition with vertically extending projections for contacting the printed circuit board. An elongated slot defined by a bifurcated section and a spaced aperture extend through the partition for receiving the resistor leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Dean J. Stavraka, John W. Swann
  • Patent number: 4914258
    Abstract: A cover for the access opening of utility poles is provided which has a shell dimensioned to overlie the opening. The shell has a flanged perimeter which conforms to the outside diameter of the pole. The shell is held in place by a bolt which extends through the shell and into the interior of the pole to engage a bar positioned within the pole, across the access opening. Preferably, the head of the bolt is seated within a recess in the shell to thwart unauthorized removal of the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Inventor: Burt B. Jackson
  • Patent number: 4910998
    Abstract: A fluid detection system includes a cable which is capable of being dried easily after coming into contact with the fluid being detected and displays a measurable change in characteristic impedance immediately upon contact with the fluid. The cable comprises an inner conductor and a cylindrical outer conductor disposed in a substantially parallel and coaxial relationship with each other with a dielectric detection layer coaxially disposed between the inner and outer conductors. The outer conductor is of an open braided construction which permits easy passage therethrough of the fluid to be detected. The detection layer comprises a pair of solid dielectric elements stranded around the inner conductor in a double helical configuration and defining an air gap between the two conductors which is adapted to retain the fluid so as to measurably change the characteristic impedance of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: Andrew Corporation
    Inventors: Frank R. Willis, Sitaram Rampalli, Vijay K. Chopra, Robert D. Perelman
  • Patent number: 4912287
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a grommet for supporting a bundle of electric wires which passes a fixing hole formed in a partition panel. The grommet comprises an elastic member and a rigid member to be assembled with the elastic member. The elastic member has a wire securing portion in which the bundle of the electrical wires is secured, a sealing lip to be in contact with the partition panel and a fitting portion having an outer periphery on which a concave portion is formed. The rigid member has a lock portion to be locked with the partition panel and a fitted portion to be fitted onto the fitting portion of the elastic member. The fitted portion has an inner periphery on which a convex portion to be engaged with the concave portion of the fitting portion of the elastic member when the elastic member is assembled with the rigid member is formed. The grommet can realize easy and stable composition of the elastic portion and the rigid portion with high sealability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Mamoru Ono, Ichiro Kudo, Toshio Okazaki, Ichiro Yasue
  • Patent number: 4912285
    Abstract: An anti-short bushing to be inserted between a metal sheath and an enclosed wire of a flexible armored cable of the kind whose sheath has a groove on its interior surface, has a generally tubular body, and a retainer attached to and movable relative to the body and configured so that, when the bushing is inserted, the wire bears against the retainer, and either the retainer is forced against the inner wall of the metal sheath, or the wire causes the retainer to seat in the groove. In another aspect, the invention features an anti-short bushing having a generally tubular body with a flange at one end and a ridge between the flange and the tubular body, configured so as to engage a cut edge of the cut end of the sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: Nortek, Inc.
    Inventor: James W. Falciglia
  • Patent number: 4910643
    Abstract: A thick film, multi-layer interconnected circuit board includes a substrate of an electrical insulating material which will withstand high temperatures, such as alumina, having over a surface thereof a plurality of stacked layers of a glass dielectric. Between each pair of dielectric layers is a thick film conductor layer. The dielectric layers have openings or vias therethrough which are filled with a conductive material which makes electrical contact with the adjacent conductive layers. A contact pad is over the topmost dielectric layer and is electrically connected to a via conductor material in the topmost dielectric layer. The contact pad is of a thick film conductive material which is a layer of glass having particles of a conductive material, such as a noble metal or mixture of noble metals, dispersed therein. A bonding layer is between the contact pad and the topmost dielectric layer and is bonded to both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Samuel L. Williams
  • Patent number: 4910362
    Abstract: A device for securing an electrical outlet cord to an appliance or other surface so that the plug of the cord can be kept snug to the appliance or other surface. The device has a body with a generally flat bottom which includes an adhesive surface. A channel passes through the body and includes a pair of inwardly directed ribs. The ribs are spaced apart sufficiently to permit insertion of the cord, and once the cord has been inserted, it is held by the inwardly directed ribs. The device can be adhered to an appliance at a position adjacent to where the plug is located after the cord has been wrapped around the appliance to easily hold the cord to the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Inventor: Janet L. Kinner
  • Patent number: 4910359
    Abstract: Cordage (17) which may be used for any of the commonly marketed lengths of etractile cords comprises an array of a plurality of conductors (11--11) each insulated with a suitable plastic material. The array of conductors is enclosed in inner and outer jackets (52, 54). The inner jacket comprises a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic material, for example, and has a thickness of about 0.015 inch. Covering the inner jacket is an outer jacket comprising a polyvinyl chloride plastic material having a thickness of about 0.005 inch and having a colorant constituent. The PVC composition of the inner jacket is such that it is a less expensive composition than that of the outer jacket. Enclosing the outer jacket is a layer (56) which comprises a top coating material. The top coating material provides the cordage with enhanced retractibility and prevents discoloration as well as plasticizer migration from the outer jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: American Telephone and Telegraph Company, AT&T Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy S. Dougherty, Robert E. Streich
  • Patent number: 4906801
    Abstract: A cover for application to a top surface and adjacent portion of the sidewall of a distribution transformer to prevent electrical shorting across the top surface and sidewall portion. The cover comprises an electrically non-conductive material which electrically insulates the transformer top surface and sidewall portion. An aperture is provided in the cover to accommodate a terminal of the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Inventor: Tania M. Beasley
  • Patent number: 4905968
    Abstract: An insulator for an electric fence comprising a separate clip part and a base support for connecting a woven wire electric conductor to a variety of fence posts. The clip part snap fits over a fiberglass fence post with the electric conductor retained therebetween. To connect the electric conductor to either a metal or wood fence post the base is first secured to the post either by bands or by nails. The clip part is then snap fitted over the base with the electric conductor retained therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Assignee: Boundaries Unlimited, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Eby, Wayne A. Stockman
  • Patent number: 4904827
    Abstract: A plastic plug for protecting an electric cord from damage during shipping when such cord is shipped within separated rigid tubular components of a handle, or the like, comprises two semi-cylindrical half portions of a plug which are pivotally united along axially extending side edges of the half portions. With its half portions pivoted together, the plug defines a channel for leading the electric cord out of, or into either end of its associated rigid tubular component without contact between the cord and the adjacent end edge surface of the rigid tubular component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignees: Harold Joseph Coleman, Elisha Lindsay Potter
    Inventors: Elisha L. Potter, Harold J. Coleman, Elisha L. Potter
  • Patent number: 4904826
    Abstract: An internal shield ground adapter uses spring contacts inside the kickpipe/stuffing tube to make a wideband, low impedance 360 degree contact between the shield of a cable passing through the kickpipe/stuffing tube and the kickpipe/stuffing tube itself. An environmental seal compresses the spring contacts against both the cable shield and kickpipe/stuffing tube while preventing degradation of the system by environmentally sealing the area between the cable and kickpipe/stuffing tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: David S. Dixon
  • Patent number: 4896527
    Abstract: A solvent leak detecting sensor is provided comprising: (a) a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor installed on an electrically insulating substrate in the form of a detection circuit network, the conductors being exposed and separated from each other, (b) the exposed portions of the first conductor and second conductor being covered by a layer of an electrically insulating material which is both water-repellent and which is dissolvable by the solvent that is to be detected, and (c) a top layer covering the layer in "b", this top layer being both porous and electrically conductive. The layer which is both water-repellent and which is dissolvable by the solvent that is to be detected is preferably polyvinylchloride, and the top layer is preferably conductive carbon powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignee: Junkosha Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Juji Akiba
  • Patent number: 4894491
    Abstract: A compact, fully adjustable, universally compatible cable cover assembly which permits a user to cover and retain cabling required for electrical connections of office equipment and, in particular, computer equipment such as a personal computer. The cover assembly is adjustable in width and height to provide universal application. The depth of the cover assembly sufficient to enclose large connectors as well as cabling. Flow ventilation is provided for use with heat sensitive devices. The cover assembly comprises a central support member for slidably engaging first and second end members. The central support member and end members are substantially L-shaped. The end members each includes an opening for accepting a bolt which engages a slot in the central support member for slidably adjusting the width of the cover assembly. Separate bracket members include vertical slots for accepting the same bolts to provide height adjustment of the cover assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: Kraft Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Gordon Glau
  • Patent number: 4892979
    Abstract: A hinged, two-piece molded plastic member foldable to form a bulkhead bushing for electrical conductors. A flexibly tapered, notched, multi-fingered inner end restrains the bushing to a junction box. In one embodiment, an inwardly projecting wedging member and a serrated wrap member and latch releasably restrain one or more electrical conductors to the bushing. In another embodiment, the wrap member and multiple mating latch arms secure the conductors and bushing halves to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Inventor: Leroy J. Rossow
  • Patent number: 4891473
    Abstract: The invention relates to high voltage suspension insulators of the single disc type and high voltage station post insulators consisting of unitary insulator sections. The insulator elements are designed so as to maximize the number of dry bands under adverse weather conditions thereby to maximize the total arc root resistance under arcing conditions so as to minimize the likelihood of flashover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Inventor: Olaf Nigol