Patents by Inventor Anthony Tufano

Anthony Tufano has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8333602
    Abstract: A socket assembly includes a rotor, a housing, and first and second conductors. The rotor includes a channel formed therein and defines an axis of rotation. The channel has a length about perpendicular to the axis of rotation and defines first and second ends. The housing receives the rotor such that the rotor is rotatable about its axis of rotation between first and second positions when secured therein. The housing includes a notch. The channel of the rotor aligns with the notch of the housing when in the first position such that first and second lamp pins can be received through the notch of the housing and into the channel of the rotor. The first conductor has first and second ends each disposed on opposite sides of the rotor. The first end of the conductor contacts the first lamp pin when the rotor is in the second position and the second end of the conductor contacts the second lamp pin when the rotor is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Galluccio, Anthony Tufano, Francisco Schapira, Carlos Salazar
  • Publication number: 20120307524
    Abstract: A lampholder assembly is provided which includes first and second lampholders. The first lampholder includes first and second electrical connectors for electrically connecting a first end of an LED lamp to a host voltage supply-line and neutral-line, respectively, and preventing improper coupling to the voltage supply-line. The second lampholder includes a first plunger component for coupling to a second end of the LED lamp and cooperating with a second plunger component provided on the second end of the LED lamp for biasing at least one of the first and second plunger components to generate a force for supporting the LED lamp in an installation position. The first lampholder engages the LED lamp only when the LED lamp is oriented in the installation position so that the first and second electrical connectors electrically connect the LED lamp to the voltage supply-line and neutral return-line, respectively, for operating the LED lamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Francisco Schapira, Gregory Galluccio, Anthony Tufano, Carlos Salazar, Ruel Sarino, Robert Quercia
  • Publication number: 20120178311
    Abstract: A socket assembly includes a rotor, a housing, and first and second conductors. The rotor includes a channel formed therein and defines an axis of rotation. The channel has a length about perpendicular to the axis of rotation and defines first and second ends. The housing receives the rotor such that the rotor is rotatable about its axis of rotation between first and second positions when secured therein. The housing includes a notch. The channel of the rotor aligns with the notch of the housing when in the first position such that first and second lamp pins can be received through the notch of the housing arid into the channel of the rotor. The first conductor has first and second ends each disposed on opposite sides of the rotor. The first end of the conductor contacts the first lamp pin when the rotor is in the second position and the second end of the conductor contacts the second lamp pin when the rotor is in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: LEVITON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Galluccio, Anthony Tufano, Francisco Schapira, Carlos Salazar
  • Patent number: 8123540
    Abstract: A socket assembly includes a rotor assembly, a housing, and at least one electrical contact. The rotor assembly has an axis of rotation and defines a channel. The rotor assembly is adapted to receive at least one lamp pin within the channel from an edge of the rotor assembly. The housing is adapted to receive the rotor assembly such that the rotor assembly is rotatable along its axis of rotation therein. The housing defines a notch adapted to receive each of the at least one lamp pin when each of the axis of each of the at least one pin is about parallel to the axis of rotation. A least one electrical contact is disposed within the housing and an electrical contact of the at least one electrical contact is adapted for operative engagement with a lamp pin of the at least one lamp pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Galluccio, Anthony Tufano, Francisco Schapira, Cesar Vasquez, Carlos Salazar
  • Patent number: 8096818
    Abstract: A wiring system includes a wiring module and a functional module. The wiring module in at least one embodiment includes elongated holes or openings which are configured to engage or lock with prongs on a functional module to create a lockable connection. The wiring module and the functional module form both a physical and an electrical connection. In another embodiment, there is an adapter which is configured to connect the wiring module and the functional module or unit together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfredo Arenas, Leslie Lindenstraus, Anthony Tufano, Dennis Oddsen, John Eder, Christopher Rafferty
  • Patent number: 8038458
    Abstract: A fluorescent lampholder with a top portion for supporting a fluorescent lamp and a base portion with a wire opening located on the bottom surface of the base that receives wires without exposing the wires to the exterior surface of a fixture. The lampholder is capable of supporting various types and/or sizes of fluorescent lamps such as “tall”, “medium” and “small” T-8 fluorescent lamps as well as other types and/or sizes of fluorescent lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Tufano, David B. Balaban
  • Publication number: 20110164414
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for supporting a fluorescent lamp. The apparatus may include a ballast and one or more lamp holders. The lamp holders may be in electrical communication with the ballast via a conductor. One or more lamp holders may be removably attachable to the ballast. When a lamp holder is attached to the ballast, it may be attached in a manner that places the lamp holder in electrical communication with the conductor. The apparatus may include a lamp holder module that may support one or more lamp holders. When a lamp holder is attached to the lamp holder module, it may be attached in a manner that places the lamp holder in electrical communication with a conductor that is configured to distribute power to lamp holders that are attached to the lamp holder module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Robert Quercia, Greg Galluccio, Anthony Tufano, Francisco Schapira, Ruel Sarino
  • Publication number: 20110124221
    Abstract: A socket assembly includes a rotor assembly, a housing, and at least one electrical contact. The rotor assembly has an axis of rotation and defines a channel having a length about perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The rotor assembly is adapted to receive at least one lamp pin within the channel from an edge of the rotor assembly. Each of the at least one lamp pin defines a longitudinal axis. Each of the axis of each of the at least lamp pin is about parallel to the axis of rotation when each of the at least one lamp pin is received from the edge of the rotor assembly to within the channel. The housing is adapted to receive the rotor assembly such that the rotor assembly is rotatable along its axis of rotation therein. The housing defines a notch adapted to receive each of the at least one lamp pin when each of the axis of each of the at least one pin is about parallel to the axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Galluccio, Anthony Tufano, Francisco Schapira, Cesar Vásquez, Carlos Salazar
  • Publication number: 20110104923
    Abstract: A fluorescent lampholder with a top portion for supporting a fluorescent lamp and a base portion with a wire opening located on the bottom surface of the base that receives wires without exposing the wires to the exterior surface of a fixture. The lampholder is capable of supporting various types and/or sizes of fluorescent lamps such as “tall”, “medium” and “small” T-8 fluorescent lamps as well as other types and/or sizes of fluorescent lamps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Tufano, David B. Balaban
  • Patent number: 7918680
    Abstract: A lamp holder device for holding a light, the device comprising a body and a plurality of contacts disposed in the body. There is at least one rotatable top rotatably coupled to the body. In addition, there is at least one spring clip disposed in and secured to the body. The spring clip is for selectively securing a light to the spring clip when the light is inserted into the body and further secures the light to the body when the at least one rotatable top is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Francisco Schapira, Anthony Tufano
  • Patent number: 7862357
    Abstract: A fluorescent lampholder with a top portion for supporting a fluorescent lamp and a base portion with a wire opening located on the bottom surface of the base that receives wires without exposing the wires to the exterior surface of a fixture. The lampholder is capable of supporting various types and/or sizes of fluorescent lamps such as “tall”, “medium” and “small” T-8 fluorescent lamps as well as other types and/or sizes of fluorescent lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Tufano, David B. Balaban
  • Patent number: 7732710
    Abstract: The instant invention overcomes the difficulties encountered with respect to mounting electrical wiring devices to a common box and then positioning the devices relative to each other prior to attaching a wall plate. Some of the difficulties encountered are positioning the wiring devices to be in alignment with each other, locating the wiring devices to be parallel to each other, adjusting the spacing between the different devices to be equal and uniform and fixing all of the devices to be flat against the wall. The alignment pins, when engaged by the close clearance locating openings, accurately positions the wiring devices to allow a wall plate to be placed around the wiring devices without requiring any initial or subsequent adjustment. Each set of alignment pins on the alignment plate can be located on a vertical axis which accurately defines the center for the wiring device. The opening in the wiring device receives and holds captive a set of alignment pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis A. Oddsen, Leslie Lindenstraus, Anthony Tufano, Steve Zacharevitz
  • Publication number: 20100120274
    Abstract: A wiring system includes a wiring module and a functional module. The wiring module in at least one embodiment includes elongated holes or openings which are configured to engage or lock with prongs on a functional module to create a lockable connection. The wiring module and the functional module form both a physical and an electrical connection. In another embodiment, there is an adapter which is configured to connect the wiring module and the functional module or unit together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2010
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: LEVITON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Alfredo ARENAS, Leslie LINDENSTRAUS, Anthony TUFANO, Dennis ODDSEN, John EDER, Christopher RAFFERTY
  • Patent number: 7712949
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a lampholder for receiving a non-incandescent lamp having a 2-pin base. A surface mountable member for receiving the lamp and which has no voltage transforming circuitry is disclosed. Each pin of the lamp has an enlarged cylindrical shaped end attached to a shaft of reduced diameter. The surface mountable member has two keyhole shaped apertures, each of which has a large circular end aperture and an arc shaped slot for receiving and securely holding the pins of the lamp to the surface mountable member. The circular aperture of each keyhole shaped aperture has a diameter which is slightly larger than the diameter of the enlarged cylindrical end of the lamp pin, and the arc shaped slot has a width that is both smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical end of the lamp pin and wider than the diameter of the shaft of the pin. The enlarged ends of the pins of the lamp, when located in the arc shaped slots, prevent the lamp from being pulled out of the surface mountable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Tufano, Marc Noest, Emma Levin, James Richter
  • Patent number: 7700888
    Abstract: There is disclosed structure which overcomes the deficiencies with respect to prior art devices by providing a wiring device such as a switch having a paddle that pivots about its upper end and is biased to assume the same at rest position when either in its on position or off position. Repeated pressing and releasing the lower portion of the face of the switch paddle alternately closes and opens a set of contacts within the switch to alternately connect and disconnect a load form a source of electricity each time the paddle is pressed. Thus, regardless of whether adjacent switches are on-off switches or 3-way switches, they will always be in alignment. An on-off indicator such as a small light is provided to indicate to a user when the contacts of the switch are opened or closed. The paddle of the switch has a length-width ratio dimension that is proportioned to provide a finger contact surface of increased area to allow a user to more easily and quickly identify and operate a particular switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen R. Kurek, Paul Endres, Anthony Tufano, Dennis A. Oddsen
  • Publication number: 20100081339
    Abstract: A socket assembly includes a rotor assembly, a housing, and at least one electrical contact. The rotor assembly has an axis of rotation and defines a channel having a length about perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The rotor assembly is adapted to receive at least one lamp pin within the channel from an edge of the rotor assembly. Each of the at least one lamp pin defines a longitudinal axis. Each of the axis of each of the at least lamp pin is about parallel to the axis of rotation when each of the at least one lamp pin is received from the edge of the rotor assembly to within the channel. The housing is adapted to receive the rotor assembly such that the rotor assembly is rotatable along its axis of rotation therein. The housing defines a notch adapted to receive each of the at least one lamp pin when each of the axis of each of the at least one pin is about parallel to the axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Galluccio, Anthony Tufano, Francisco Schapira, Cesar Vasquez, Carlos Salazar
  • Patent number: 7666010
    Abstract: A modular wiring system comprising a functional unit and a wiring unit. There is also a system for coupling the functional unit to the wiring unit in a rotational manner. This system can be formed from at least one locking prong comprised of electrically conductive material. When the functional unit is coupled to the wiring unit, the locking prong is both electrically and physically coupled to the functional unit at a first end and to the wiring unit at a second end. Alternatively, or in addition, the system for coupling the functional unit to the wiring unit in a rotational manner can include at least one flange coupled to the functional unit and at least one flange coupled to the wiring unit. These flanges operate such that when the functional unit and the wiring unit are coupled together, they are rotated to form a locking connection between the flange on the functional unit and the flange on the wiring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfredo Arenas, Leslie Lindenstraus, Anthony Tufano, Dennis Oddsen, John Eder, Christopher Rafferty
  • Patent number: D616831
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfredo Arenas, Leslie Lindenstraus, Anthony Tufano, Dennis Oddsen
  • Patent number: D618627
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfredo Arenas, Leslie Lindenstraus, Anthony Tufano, Dennis Oddsen
  • Patent number: RE43828
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a lampholder for receiving a non-incandescent lamp having a 2-pin base. A surface mountable member for receiving the lamp and which has no voltage transforming circuitry is disclosed. Each pin of the lamp has an enlarged cylindrical shaped end attached to a shaft of reduced diameter. The surface mountable member has two keyhole shaped apertures, each of which has a large circular end aperture and an arc shaped slot for receiving and securely holding the pins of the lamp to the surface mountable member. The circular aperture of each keyhole shaped aperture has a diameter which is slightly larger than the diameter of the enlarged cylindrical end of the lamp pin, and the arc shaped slot has a width that is both smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical end of the lamp pin and wider than the diameter of the shaft of the pin. The enlarged ends of the pins of the lamp, when located in the arc shaped slots, prevent the lamp from being pulled out of the surface mountable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Tufano, Marc Noest, Emma Levin, James Richter