Patents by Inventor James A. Brownlee

James A. Brownlee 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: 6560822
    Abstract: A low profile cable tie, preferably a two-piece cable tie, has a low profile locking head with a lateral strap accepting channel and a strap preferably molded with a right angle bend that is retained in this state during non-use. The cable tie has a clean exterior appearance, including a top surface free of openings and a smooth lateral opening. With this cable tie, a strap accepting channel is provided in the locking head that is substantially parallel to a strap attachment axis. The strap accepting channel divides the locking head into a first part, which is secured to the strap, and a second part which contains a locking device. By providing the locking device on the second part, the first part can be made thinner, allowing the strap accepting channel to be closer to the cable bundle being tied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Jack E. Caveney, Robert J. Krisel, James A. Brownlee
  • Patent number: 6530126
    Abstract: A two piece cable tie is provided having an improved metal locking device anchoring system. The cable tie includes a strap including a first end and a free end and a locking head secured to the first end of the strap that defines a strap accepting channel in the head having a strap entry end and a strap exit end. The locking head further includes a metal locking device receiving cavity adjacent to and open toward the strap exit end of the locking head and a mounting slot having an inner support wall, an outer support wall and a support slot communicating the mounting slot with the receiving cavity. A metal locking device is mounted through the metal locking device receiving cavity into the mounting slot. The metal locking device has a free end positioned within the strap accepting channel and a fixed end having at least one bent tang protruding outwardly from a surface of the metal locking device. The fixed end having the at least one bent tang is insertable through the support slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Jack E. Caveney, Robert J. Krisel, James A. Brownlee, Joseph P. Leszczewicz
  • Patent number: 6526628
    Abstract: A two piece cable tie is provided having an improved locking device support. The cable tie includes a strap with a first end and a free end, a locking head having a strap accepting channel, and a metal locking device mounted within an anchoring housing region of the head to form a cantilever beam having a mounted end fixed to a support of the locking head and a free end positioned within the strap accepting channel. The strap includes a central inwardly projecting groove of a predefined width that defines a thinned portion extending along a longitudinal axis of the strap to the free end of the strap. The strap accepting channel has a channel width W1 defined between an end wall and the inner wall The strap accepting channel also includes a support guide projecting from the inner wall of the locking head into the strap accepting channel to restrict the width of the channel accepting channel to a width W2, which is less than W1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Jack E. Caveney, Robert J. Krisel, James A. Brownlee
  • Patent number: 6484367
    Abstract: A two-piece cable tie is provided that can be more readily assembled and achieves a low insertion force while maintaining desired strap retention force. The cable tie includes a metal locking device that is bent at a predetermined bend angle and then precisely located within a locking device receiving cavity. The cable tie includes a strap including a first end and a free end and a locking head secured to the first end of the strap along a strap attachment axis. The locking head includes a strap accepting channel in the head that has a strap entry end and a strap exit end on opposite ends of a strap accepting channel axis. The strap accepting channel divides the locking head into a first part and a second part, with the first part being secured to the first end of the strap and the second part including metal locking device receiving cavity adjacent to and open toward the strap exit end of the locking head and an extending wall located between the receiving cavity and the strap accepting channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Jack E. Caveney, Robert J. Krisel, James A. Brownlee
  • Publication number: 20020170152
    Abstract: A low profile cable tie, preferably a two-piece cable tie, has a low profile locking head with a lateral strap accepting channel and a strap preferably molded with a right angle bend that is retained in this state during non-use. The cable tie has a clean exterior appearance, including a top surface free of openings and a smooth lateral opening. With this cable tie, a strap accepting channel is provided in the locking head that is substantially parallel to a strap attachment axis. The strap accepting channel divides the locking head into a first part, which is secured to the strap, and a second part which contains a locking device. By providing the locking device on the second part, the first part can be made thinner, allowing the strap accepting channel to be closer to the cable bundle being tied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventors: Jack E. Caveney, Robert J. Krisel, James A. Brownlee
  • Publication number: 20020170154
    Abstract: A two-piece cable tie is provided that can be more readily assembled and achieves a low insertion force while maintaining desired strap retention force. The cable tie includes a metal locking device that is bent at a predetermined bend angle and then precisely located within a locking device receiving cavity. The cable tie includes a strap including a first end and a free end and a locking head secured to the first end of the strap along a strap attachment axis. The locking head includes a strap accepting channel in the head that has a strap entry end and a strap exit end on opposite ends of a strap accepting channel axis. The strap accepting channel divides the locking head into a first part and a second part, with the first part being secured to the first end of the strap and the second part including metal locking device receiving cavity adjacent to and open toward the strap exit end of the locking head and an extending wall located between the receiving cavity and the strap accepting channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventors: Jack E. Caveney, Robert J. Krisel, James A. Brownlee
  • Publication number: 20020170153
    Abstract: A cable tie is provided that includes an integral cable tie head and strap. The strap includes a first end forming a neck section, a free end opposite the first end, and an intermediate section between the first end and the free end, the intermediate section having a predetermined width B1 and thickness T1 defining a predetermined cross-sectional area. The cable tie head is secured to the neck area of the strap at the first end of the strap, the cable tie head having a width E that is wider than strap width B and including a strap accepting channel containing a locking device. The strap accepting channel is sized to receive the free end of the strap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventors: James A. Brownlee, Robert J. Krisel
  • Publication number: 20020170150
    Abstract: A cable tie is provided having a lowered cable strap insertion force. The cable tie includes a strap with a first end and a free end, a locking head having a strap accepting channel, and a metal locking device mounted within a metal locking device receiving cavity of the head having a fixed end mounted to a support of the locking head and a free end positioned within the strap accepting channel. The locking head includes a recessed pocket provided between the fixed end and the strap accepting channel that defines a reduced thickness support membrane that allows controlled deflection of the fixed end to achieve lower strap insertion force. By making the recessed pocket open into the metal locking device receiving cavity, molding and aesthetic advantages can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventors: Jack E. Caveney, James A. Brownlee
  • Publication number: 20020170151
    Abstract: A two piece cable tie is provided having an improved metal locking device anchoring system. The cable tie includes a strap including a first end and a free end and a locking head secured to the first end of the strap that defines a strap accepting channel in the head having a strap entry end and a strap exit end. The locking head further includes a metal locking device receiving cavity adjacent to and open toward the strap exit end of the locking head and a mounting slot having an inner support wall, an outer support wall and a support slot communicating the mounting slot with the receiving cavity. A metal locking device is mounted through the metal locking device receiving cavity into the mounting slot. The metal locking device has a free end positioned within the strap accepting channel and a fixed end having at least one bent tang protruding outwardly from a surface of the metal locking device. The fixed end having the at least one bent tang is insertable through the support slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventors: Jack E. Caveney, Robert J. Krisel, James A. Brownlee, Joseph P. Leszczewicz
  • Patent number: 6473942
    Abstract: A cable tie is provided having a lowered cable strap insertion force. The cable tie includes a strap with a first end and a free end, a locking head having a strap accepting channel, and a metal locking device mounted within a metal locking device receiving cavity of the head having a fixed end mounted to a support of the locking head and a free end positioned within the strap accepting channel. The locking head includes a recessed pocket provided between the fixed end and the strap accepting channel that defines a reduced thickness support membrane that allows controlled deflection of the fixed end to achieve lower strap insertion force. By making the recessed pocket open into the metal locking device receiving cavity, molding and aesthetic advantages can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Jack E. Caveney, James A. Brownlee
  • Patent number: 5598994
    Abstract: A device for engagement with a threaded post or stud, including a housing having a generally cylindrical axial bore with a top side and a bottom side for engagement with the stud from either the top or bottom sides. The stud engaging member includes a plurality of flexible tangs and can further include an integrally formed cable tie for securing a bundle of wires to the threaded stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Stephen Olewinski, James A. Brownlee
  • Patent number: 5517727
    Abstract: A low thread force two piece cable tie includes a strap, a locking head forming a strap accepting channel, a metal barb positioned within the channel and mounted to the locking head, and a cored out pocket disposed adjacent the metal barb at the entrance to the strap accepting channel. The cored out pocket allows for a slight rotation of the metal barb during insertion of the tip of the strap which enhances the threadability of the cable tie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: William A. Bernard, James A. Brownlee
  • Patent number: 5146654
    Abstract: A stretched cable tie has a head connected to a strap having teeth on both sides of the strap. A moveable pawl is positioned on a ledge inside the head and urges the strap into engagement with a fixed tooth within the head so that teeth on both sides of the strap are engaged by the pawl and fixed tooth respectively. A sharp corner is provided more than a multiple of the spacing between the strap teeth below the fixed tooth so as to allow the corner to penetrate the strap and engage the adjacent tooth to aid in providing a withdrawal force. A portion of the wall of the head behind the fixed tooth is removed to facilitate cooling and eliminate shrinkage in the area of the fixed tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Jack E. Caveney, James A. Brownlee, Jeffery S. Kuzmuk
  • Patent number: D459206
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Jack E. Caveney, James Brownlee, Jason O'Young
  • Patent number: D471435
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Robert J. Krisel, James A. Brownlee