Patents Examined by Mark Olds
  • Patent number: 6066807
    Abstract: An electrical wire and box connector (10) removably insertable into an opening of a standard electrical box functioning to hold electrical wire therein. The electrical wire and box connector (10) having a housing cylinder (12) which has a housing cylinder front (12F) connected to a housing cylinder rear (12R) by a housing cylinder middle (12M) having a housing cylinder middle front valley (12MF) and a housing cylinder middle center ridge (12MC) which is positioned adjacent to a rear of the housing cylinder middle front valley (12MF). The housing cylinder middle front valley (12MF) has a diameter similar to a diameter of the opening in the electrical box. The housing cylinder middle center ridge (12MC) has a diameter larger than to the diameter of the opening in the electrical box. The electrical wire and box connector (10) further has a wire holder (14) movably mounted within the housing cylinder (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Inventor: Thomas Alan Gudgeon
  • Patent number: 6064010
    Abstract: An end fitting having a bore that forms a sleeve for the shank of an electrical insulator of composite structure. The bore has a substantially frustoconical wall that flares away from the bore opening towards the end wall of the bore and has an annular swelling directed towards the inside of the bore. This complex shape for the wall of the bore contributes to reinforcing the strength of the fixing between the end fitting and the shank by interference due to heat shrinking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: GEC Alsthom T & D SA
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Bessede
  • Patent number: 6057508
    Abstract: The invention uses one or more scissor devices, or disks, or cogs such that the axial thermal expansion of a coupling member is amplified such that this amplified movement is used to automatically mitigate the sag of a suspended line; the same ambient temperature change that causes the line to sag concomitantly causes the coupling member to expand, so that sag mitigation is passive and automatic. The invention includes a device for automatically mitigating thermal expansion sag in suspended lines comprising a coupling member or actuator rod (140) that expands axially with increasing temperature and that is mounted between the proximal arms (110) of a reverse-scissor component (60), said reverse-scissor component having first arms (70) and second arms (80) and a hinge (90) and the arms having distal ends (100) longer than proximal ends (110). The distal arms are insulated by insulators (130). The reverse hinge acts such that when the proximal arms are moved apart, the distal arms are brought together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Inventor: Manuchehr Shirmohamadi
  • Patent number: 6051794
    Abstract: A waterproofing member for a wire harness connecting portion of a motor for driving a window regulator of a vehicle is constructed such that it includes an opening being provided at each axial direction end portion of the waterproofing member, a mounting portion provided at one of the axial direction end portions of the waterproofing member, and fixed to the wire harness connecting portion so as to seal the wire harness connecting portion; a press-fit portion provided at the other of the axial direction end portions of the waterproofing member, and press-fit against a peripheral wall of the through-hole of the door panel so as to seal the through-hole; and further includes an elastic portion which is formed at an axial direction intermediate portion between the mounting portion and the press-fit portion and is formed so as to be elastically deformable along an axial direction of the waterproofing member, which elastic portion being able to change relative positions of the mounting portion and the press-fit po
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Asmo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Katou, Tatsuya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6051782
    Abstract: A bus bar type conductor arrangement for a vehicle-type electrical junction box, used to electrically connect components such as relays and fuses with wire harnesses from vehicle electrical systems. Three dimensional bus bar conductors are mounted on a three-dimensional array of post-type mounting points formed in the junction box, such that the conductors can cross paths and connect components and terminals of varying height in the junction box. The conductor arms are preferably coated between the conductive contact ends with an electrically insulating material, and can include intermediate conductive regions adapted to be mounted to components or other bus bars in the same fashion as the conductive ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Brian L. Wagner
  • Patent number: 6051790
    Abstract: In a wire harness-mounting construction of the present invention, a generally L-shaped recess 2, formed in a continuous manner in a door side plate portion A2 and a door inner plate portion A2 of a door frame A, includes a deep groove portion 3 having a deep central bottoms, and a shallow groove portion 4 which is formed shallow around the deep groove portion 3, and receives a grommet cover 11. Amounting member 10 of a generally L-shape, received in the recess 2, includes the grommet cover 11 having an inner member 41 of a rigid material provided therein, and a projection 14 is formed integrally on an abutment surface of the grommet cover held against the door side plate portion A2, and extends generally along a peripheral edge of a frame portion formed on the abutment surface. A Lip-like projection 18 is formed on and extends along a peripheral edge of a peripheral portion 17, and a notch groove 19, communicating with the exterior, is formed in a lowermost portion of the peripheral portion 17.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Syunsaku Takeuchi, Hiroaki Yamada
  • Patent number: 6051789
    Abstract: In an automotive vehicle, a wire harness includes a wire bundle which is housed in and protected by a corrugated tube. The tube has two end regions circular in cross-section and a central region elliptical or race-track shaped in cross-section. Between the end regions and central region are transition regions of varying cross-sectional shape. When installed in a vehicle, the central region of the wire harness tube is installed along the vehicle floor such that the projection perpendicular to the floor by the central region of the tube is reduced. This results in the wire harness requiring less space in the vehicle. The tube includes a resilient expansion slit which allows a wire bundle to be inserted in or removed from the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Kato
  • Patent number: 6051796
    Abstract: An electric high-voltage insulator made from plastic comprises at least one glass fiber rod (1), at least one shield covering (2) made from silicone rubber which surrounds the glass fiber rod (1) and has concentric bulges (3) arranged along the longitudinal axis and bent in the shape of sheds in such a way that they form a convex top side and a concave or flat underside, as well as metal fittings (5) on both insulator ends. In this case, the bulges bent in the shape of sheds have at least one groove (4) on the underside preferably with a minimum depth of 1 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Ceramtec AG Innovative Ceramic Engineering
    Inventors: Martin Kuhl, Peter Besold, Rene Mainardis
  • Patent number: 6049040
    Abstract: The universal cable guide comprises a body of predetermined multi-dimensional shape, having a cable receiving channel formed in a major surface thereof and along its length. A primary cable guide fastening element is formed as an integral part of the body and located along an edge of the body to receive fasteners to secure the universal cable guide to a surface. A plurality of apertures are formed along the length of the body in a predetermined pattern to receive either fasteners to secure the universal cable guide to a surface or to receive fasteners to secure a mating cable protection element which can be placed on the top of the body. The mating cable protection element can be formed to cover the top surface of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Inventors: Scott Douglas Biles, William Henry Biles, III, Robert Gardner Kortum
  • Patent number: 6046404
    Abstract: A subsea control cable includes an outer sheath and cables, conduits etc. arranged inside the sheath, and also at least one weight element. The weight element includes at least one strength member extending continuously along the entire length of the control cable, to which strength member there is attached a weight element or elements. The weight of the weight element in relation to the diameter of the control cable varies along the length of the control cable, e.g., from a predetermined minimum weight/diameter ratio, where the weight element consists only of the strength element, to a predetermined maximum weight/diameter ratio, where the cross-section of the control cable is filled to the maximum with the weight member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Kvaerner Oilfield Products a.s.
    Inventors: Arild Figenschou, Ole A. Heggdal
  • Patent number: 6043435
    Abstract: The invention relates to a conductive portion device (300) having a plurality of independent conductive portions and attached to an attaching base member (360). The device includes a film (310) and a plurality of conductive materials (321, 322 and 323) to be attached to the film (310), which constitute the respective independent conductive portions, and the device further has holes (302a to 302d) corresponding to protrusions (362a to 362d) formed on the attaching base member (360).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Yamaguchi, Katsura Sugiura
  • Patent number: 6043433
    Abstract: A clamping mechanism for mounting a circuit conditioning monitoring device to electrical cables of various diameters includes a fixed sleeve and a movable sleeve positioned within the fixed sleeve. Both sleeves include gaps whereby an electrical cable may be pasted therethrough. The inner movable sleeve further includes a clamping means, preferably a tightening screw, whereby after a cable is passed through the gaps, the inner sleeve rotates within the outer sleeve to close the gap and further clamps onto the cable for secure mounting of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: E.O. Schweitzer Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Edmund O. Schweitzer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6034330
    Abstract: A load insulator having an elongated, load bearing, electrically insulating body extending between and coupled to opposite metal lugs, for coupling the load insulator in a loaded line, has an electrically insulating cover formed on the outside of the body and extending over and completely covering each of the pair of metal lugs at the opposite ends of the body. The insulating cover, which is of integral, one-piece construction, and may be made of polyurethane, is formed within a mold during construction of the load insulator by leaving a void within the mold around the opposite metal lugs and the body before introducing plastic into the mold, to form the insulating cover. Covering each of the opposite metal lugs as well as the body with the insulating cover forces high voltage-produced currents through the inside of the load insulator by preventing current creep around and flashing over the outside of the insulator body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Inventor: Hugh Michael Pratt
  • Patent number: 6031184
    Abstract: A wire harness includes a circuit unit having a plurality of electric wires with a predetermined path, a first soft sheet material formed into the shape as that of the predetermined path and a second soft sheet material adhesively joined to the first soft sheet material so that the circuit unit is interposed between the first and the second soft sheet materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ichikawa, Masashi Kitada
  • Patent number: 6013133
    Abstract: An electronic component holder has a recess portion opening outward in at least one of its edges and having dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of an electronic component chip to constitute an electronic component holding portion. At least one pair of inner side surfaces opposed to each other of the recess portion are each composed of an elastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Takashima, Norio Sakai
  • Patent number: 6013875
    Abstract: Transitional sleeving for use with coax cable being inserted into an opening to prevent bending or flexing of the cable too sharply, includes an elongated, hollow sleeve, having reverse bend segments with strengthening ribbing attached to one side of the reverse bend segments. The sleeving may be provided with a collar at the end adjacent the opening into which the coax cable is to be inserted to hold the sleeving in position in the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Inventors: Stephen J. Fridenberg, Mario B Hernandez
  • Patent number: 6011219
    Abstract: An aerial rat/rodent guard for residential/commercial utility wires and cables and the like. A barrier plate manufactured from lightweight, non-conductive, smooth surfaced materials molded into a tear drop shaped plate. The center slot is located above the center of gravity allowing the plate's upright position. Removable grommets in the center slot provides the size of the center slot to be adjusted to the size of the utility wire upon which it hangs. A slit opening from the center slot downward to the bottom of the plate provides easy installation. Weight molded into the bottom quarter of the barrier plate allows the barrier plate to return to an upright position if tampered with by a rat/rodent. With the slit closed, a tail clip is attached to the bottom of the barrier plate which locks the slit in a closed position. Once mounted on the wires or cables, without the necessity of tools, the aerial rat/rodent guard does not need to be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Inventor: Jacqueline M. Casmero
  • Patent number: 6005195
    Abstract: Shelves for removably receiving circuit board packages including telecommunications equipment are made according to existing design standards thus allowing interchangeability of various shelves among various housing structures, e.g., electrical equipment cabinets. Components of such shelves, consistent with the design standards, but providing certain improvements include two kinds of clips for rigidly but removably securing various cables to the shelves; a recessed handle for a cover plate of the shelves; and two types of brackets for improved and interchangeable mounting of various shelves in various supporting frame assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Lit-Yan Kam
  • Patent number: 6005196
    Abstract: The triggered wildlife guard is formed from first and second body sections hinged together to pivot between an open and a closed position. In the closed position, the first and second body sections latch together to form a hollow body open at a first end and having a top wall at a second end which defines a conductor opening. A spring assembly biases the first and second body sections toward the closed position, and a releasable trigger extends between the first and second body sections to hold them in the open position until the trigger is released. A wire stop formed on the first and second body sections bridges a gap therebetween in the open position to retain a bushing lead wire in the conductor opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Central Moloney, Inc.
    Inventor: Jim R. Spillyards
  • Patent number: 5994645
    Abstract: There is provided a guide frame 10 having a small width and a triangular or other shape. An insertion opening 10e and a withdrawal opening 10g for a wiring harness DW/H are formed in spaced-apart positions of the guide frame 10. The wiring harness DW/H is fixedly inserted through the insertion opening 10e of the guide frame 10 and withdrawn through the withdrawal opening 10g after being arranged in a roundabout manner inside the guide frame 10. The guide frame 10 is fixed to either one of a door D and a body C, and the leading end of the wiring harness DW/H withdrawn from the guide frame 10 through the withdrawal opening 10g is extended to the other of the door D and the body C, so that the wiring harness D.multidot.W/H comes from and returns into the guide frame 10 according to opening and closing movements of the door D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahisa Suzuki, Tetsuya Takimoto, Yasuhiro Ando, Tetuya Funaki, Shinichi Suehiro