Patents by Inventor Richard Weeks
Richard Weeks 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).
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Publication number: 20120188668Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective electrical wiring device that includes a circuit assembly that has a fault detection circuit coupled to the plurality of line terminals, the fault detection circuit being configured to detect perturbations corresponding to a fault condition or a simulated fault condition, the fault detection circuit being configured to provide a fault detection signal in response to detecting the perturbations corresponding to the fault condition or the simulated fault condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2012Publication date: July 26, 2012Applicant: PASS & SEYMOUR, INC.Inventors: Richard Weeks, Kent R. Morgan, Jeffrey C. Richards, David A. Finlay, SR., Patrick J. Murphy
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Patent number: 8194368Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a cover assembly is coupled to the housing. The cover assembly includes at least one set of receptacle openings disposed on either side of a central portion of the cover assembly in communication with a portion of the plurality of receptacle terminals. A fault detection circuit is configured to provide a fault detection output in response to detecting a fault condition. A circuit interrupter is coupled between the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals. A light assembly is coupled to the plurality of line terminals or the plurality of load terminals. The light assembly has a light transmission region disposed in the central portion and occupying a substantial portion of a width of the cover assembly. The light assembly is selectively driven from a deenergized state to a light emitting state in response to a predetermined stimulus.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2011Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.Inventors: Richard Weeks, Jeffrey C. Richards, Gary O. Wilson, Gerald R. Savicki, Jr., David A. Finlay, Sr.
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Patent number: 8120882Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes an illumination assembly coupled to at least one detection circuit and disposed in the housing portion. The illumination assembly includes at least one light emitting element, an illumination circuit, and at least one lens disposed in at least one lens cover opening in optical communication with at least one light emitting element. The illumination circuit is configured to selectively drive the at least one light emitting element between a deenergized state and a light emitting state in response to an ambient light condition, a miswire condition, an end-of-life condition, a reset state or a trip state. The at least one lens has a surface area such that light emitted by the at least one light emitting element is directed into a spatial volume proximate the electrical wiring device.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2009Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.Inventors: Dejan Radosavljevic, Kenneth D. Vought, Gerald R. Savicki, Jr., Richard Weeks, Gary O. Wilson
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Patent number: 8120883Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring protection device that includes a housing assembly having a plurality of line terminals and a plurality of load terminals. A fault detection circuit is coupled to at least one of the plurality of line terminals and configured to generate a fault detection signal in response to detecting at least one fault condition in the electrical distribution system. A circuit interrupter assembly is coupled to the fault detection circuit. The circuit interrupter assembly is configured to couple the plurality of line terminals to the plurality of load terminals to form a conductive electrical path in a reset state, and decouple the plurality of line terminals from the plurality of load terminals in response to a fault detection signal in a tripped state.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2011Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.Inventors: Kent R. Morgan, Richard Weeks, Gerald R. Savicki, Jr., Kenneth D. Vought
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Patent number: 8102226Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective electrical wiring device that includes a housing assembly having a plurality of receptacle terminals comprising hot user-accessible terminal structure and a neutral user-accessible terminal structure accessible via at least one user-accessible receptacle. A circuit interrupting assembly is coupled to a fault detection circuit. The circuit interrupting assembly is configured to establish electrical continuity between the plurality of line terminals, the plurality of load terminals and the plurality of receptacle terminals in a reset state and interrupt the electrical continuity in a tripped state. The circuit interrupting assembly includes at least one first circuit interrupter member and at least one second circuit interrupter member, the at least one first circuit interrupter member being configured to drive the at least one second circuit interrupter member into the reset state in response to a make force.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2011Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: Pass and Seymour, Inc.Inventors: Richard Weeks, Kent R. Morgan, Jeffrey C. Richards, David A. Finlay, Sr., Patrick J. Murphy
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Publication number: 20110261490Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective electrical wiring device that includes a housing assembly having a plurality of receptacle terminals comprising hot user-accessible terminal structure and a neutral user-accessible terminal structure accessible via at least one user-accessible receptacle. A circuit interrupting assembly is coupled to a fault detection circuit. The circuit interrupting assembly is configured to establish electrical continuity between the plurality of line terminals, the plurality of load terminals and the plurality of receptacle terminals in a reset state and interrupt the electrical continuity in a tripped state. The circuit interrupting assembly includes at least one first circuit interrupter member and at least one second circuit interrupter member, the at least one first circuit interrupter member being configured to drive the at least one second circuit interrupter member into the reset state in response to a make force.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2011Publication date: October 27, 2011Applicant: PASS & SEYMOUR, INC.Inventors: Richard Weeks, Kent R. Morgan, Jeffrey C. Richards, David A. Finlay, SR., Patrick J. Murphy
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Patent number: 8044299Abstract: The present invention is directed to a modular shutter assembly for use within various types of electrical wiring devices having differing amperage ratings. The modular shutter assembly includes a first shutter member having a first blade engagement structure. The first shutter member is configured to be disposed within an interior portion of the cover assembly and disposed between a set of receptacle openings and a set of receptacle contacts. A second shutter member includes a second blade engagement structure and is slidably disposed within the first shutter member. An interface is configured to connect a third shutter member to the modular shutter assembly and drive the third shutter into an open position only when the first shutter member and the second shutter member are simultaneously engaged by a set of plug blades.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2009Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.Inventor: Richard Weeks
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Publication number: 20110242711Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring protection device that includes a housing assembly having a plurality of line terminals and a plurality of load terminals. A fault detection circuit is coupled to at least one of the plurality of line terminals and configured to generate a fault detection signal in response to detecting at least one fault condition in the electrical distribution system. A circuit interrupter assembly is coupled to the fault detection circuit. The circuit interrupter assembly is configured to couple the plurality of line terminals to the plurality of load terminals to form a conductive electrical path in a reset state, and decouple the plurality of line terminals from the plurality of load terminals in response to a fault detection signal in a tripped state.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2011Publication date: October 6, 2011Applicant: Pass & Seymour, Inc.Inventors: Kent Morgan, Richard Weeks, Gerald R. Savicki, JR., Kenneth D. Vought
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Publication number: 20110222195Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring system for use in an AC electrical power distribution circuit including at least one first AC power conductor disposed between an upstream AC power element and a device box and at least one second AC power conductor disposed between the device box and a downstream AC power element. The at least one first AC power conductor and the at least one second AC power conductor are routed into an interior portion of the device box and accessible via a front open face of the device box. The system includes a connector device including a connector housing having a plurality of connector contacts disposed therein. The plurality of connector contacts are coupled to termination structures configured to couple the at least one first AC power conductor and the at least one second AC power conductor to corresponding contacts of the plurality of connector contacts. An electrical wiring device includes a device housing having a front portion and a rear portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2011Publication date: September 15, 2011Applicant: PASS & SEYMOUR, INC.Inventors: John Benoit, Richard Weeks, Gerald R. Savicki
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Publication number: 20110188160Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a housing having a front cover member having a front major surface. The front major surface includes at least one set of receptacle openings formed in at least one end thereof. The at least one set of receptacle openings is configured to accommodate at least one plug set including a ground prong, hot plug blade and neutral plug blade. The housing further comprises a front cover member, a back cover member, and an electrically isolating separator member disposed therebetween. The electrically isolating separator member includes at least one ground compartment configured to accommodate and electrically isolate the ground prong. A protective circuit assembly is at least partially disposed on a printed circuit board (PCB) that is positioned in the back cover member such that a lower spatial region is formed between the PCB and the at least one ground compartment.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2011Publication date: August 4, 2011Applicant: Pass & Seymour, Inc.Inventors: Richard Weeks, Kent R. Morgan, Jeffrey C. Richards, David A. Finlay, SR.
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Publication number: 20110156920Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a cover assembly is coupled to the housing. The cover assembly includes at least one set of receptacle openings disposed on either side of a central portion of the cover assembly in communication with a portion of the plurality of receptacle terminals. A fault detection circuit is configured to provide a fault detection output in response to detecting a fault condition. A circuit interrupter is coupled between the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals. A light assembly is coupled to the plurality of line terminals or the plurality of load terminals. The light assembly has a light transmission region disposed in the central portion and occupying a substantial portion of a width of the cover assembly. The light assembly is selectively driven from a deenergized state to a light emitting state in response to a predetermined stimulus.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2011Publication date: June 30, 2011Applicant: PASS & SEYMOUR, INC.Inventors: Richard Weeks, Jeffrey C. Richards, Gary O. Wilson, Gerald R. Savicki, JR.
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Patent number: 7965477Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring protection device that includes a housing assembly having a plurality of line terminals and a plurality of load terminals. A fault detection circuit is coupled to at least one of the plurality of line terminals and configured to generate a fault detection signal in response to detecting at least one fault condition in the electrical distribution system. A circuit interrupter is coupled to the fault detection circuit. The circuit interrupter is configured to couple the plurality of line terminals to the plurality of load terminals to form a conductive electrical path in a reset state, and decouple the plurality of line terminals from the plurality of load terminals in response to a fault detection signal in a tripped state. A voltage transient suppression circuit is coupled to at least one of the plurality of line terminals.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2010Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.Inventors: Kent R. Morgan, Richard Weeks, Gerald R. Savicki, Jr., Kenneth D. Vought
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Publication number: 20110115511Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes an actuator assembly that is responsive to the fault detection signal. The actuator assembly includes a breaker coil configured to generate an actuation force in response to being energized. A circuit interrupter includes four sets of movable contacts configured to be driven into a reset state in response to a reset stimulus, the four sets of movable contacts being configured to be driven into a tripped state in response to the actuation force. A self-test circuit is coupled to the plurality of line terminals or the at least one sensor. The self-test circuit is configured to automatically generate a test signal from time to time during a predetermined portion of an AC power line cycle. The self-test circuit is configured such that the test signal is sensed by the at least one sensor when the at least one sensor is operational, the sensor output signal being a function of the test signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2010Publication date: May 19, 2011Applicant: PASS & SEYMOUR, INC.Inventors: David A. Finlay, SR., Bruce F. Macbeth, Kent R. Morgan, Patrick J. Murphy, Thomas N. Packard, Jeffrey C. Richards, Gerald R. Savicki, JR., Richard Weeks
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Patent number: 7936238Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a housing assembly including a plurality of line terminals, a plurality of load terminals, and a plurality of receptacle load terminals. A circuit assembly includes at least one signal detection circuit and an interrupting contact assembly. The interrupting contact assembly includes four sets of interrupting contacts being at least partially disposed on four cantilevered members. The four cantilevered members include a first set of two cantilevered members and a second set of two cantilevered members. The first set of cantilevered members is configured to rotate around a first axis in a first direction and the second set of cantilevered members being configured to rotate around a second axis in a second direction opposite to the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2009Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.Inventors: Richard Weeks, Kent R. Morgan, Jeffrey C. Richards, David A. Finlay, Sr.
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Patent number: 7920365Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective device that includes a housing having a plurality of line terminals, a plurality of load terminals, and a plurality of user-accessible terminals accessible via apertures disposed in a front major surface of the housing. A fault detection assembly is coupled to the plurality of line terminals, the fault detection circuit being configured to provide a fault detection output in response to detecting a fault condition. A circuit interrupter is coupled to the fault detection assembly. The circuit interrupter includes a first set of interrupting contacts configured to provide electrical continuity between the plurality of line terminals, the plurality of load terminals, and the plurality of user-accessible terminals in a reset state.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2009Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.Inventors: Richard Weeks, Gerald R. Savicki, Jr.
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Patent number: 7898779Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a front cover member and a back cover member substantially in parallel with the front cover member. The housing further includes an electrically isolating member disposed between the front cover member and the back cover member such that a front interior region is formed and a rear interior region is formed. A protective electrical assembly includes a sensor assembly coupled to a plurality of line terminals and a solenoid assembly coupled to an interrupting contact assembly. The sensor assembly and the solenoid assembly are substantially disposed in a first rear interior region portion. The sensor assembly includes at least one toroidal transformer having a toroidal axis and the solenoid assembly including a solenoid coil having a solenoid coil axis. The toroidal axis and the solenoid coil axis are substantially parallel to one another.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2009Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.Inventors: Richard Weeks, Kent Morgan, Jeffrey C. Richards, David A. Finlay, Sr., Gerald R. Savicki, Jr., Bruce F. Macbeth
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Patent number: 7887363Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring system that includes a plug device having a plurality of wires configured to be connected to an electrical distribution circuit. An electrical wiring device includes an input receptacle and at least one electrical element. The input receptacle is configured to receive the plug device to thereby establish electrically a continuous path between the at least one electrical element and the plurality of wires when the plug device is inserted into the input receptacle, the electrical wiring device including no external terminal connection elements.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2010Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.Inventors: Richard Weeks, John Benoit
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Patent number: 7869171Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a cover assembly is coupled to the housing. The cover assembly includes at least one set of receptacle openings disposed on either side of a central portion of the cover assembly in communication with a portion of the plurality of receptacle terminals. A fault detection circuit is configured to provide a fault detection output in response to detecting a fault condition. A circuit interrupter is coupled between the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals. A light assembly is coupled to the plurality of line terminals or the plurality of load terminals. The light assembly has a light transmission region disposed in the central portion and occupying a substantial portion of a width of the cover assembly. The light assembly is selectively driven from a de-energizeci state to a light emitting state in response to a predetermined stimulus.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2007Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.Inventors: Richard Weeks, Jeffrey C. Richards, Gary O. Wilson, Gerald R. Savicki, Jr.
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Patent number: 7790982Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a housing having a plurality of line terminals and a plurality of load terminals. A cover assembly includes a first set of receptacle openings and a second set of receptacle openings. A plurality of receptacle terminals are disposed in the housing and coupled to the plurality of load terminals. A first protective shutter assembly is disposed in the cover assembly between the first set of receptacle openings and the first set of receptacle terminals and a second protective shutter assembly disposed in the cover assembly between the second set of receptacle openings and the second set of receptacle terminals. A light assembly is disposed in a central portion of the cover assembly between the first set of receptacle openings and the second set of receptacle openings. The light assembly has a light transmission region occupying a substantial portion of a width of the cover assembly.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2007Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.Inventors: Richard Weeks, Jeffrey C. Richards, Gary O. Wilson, Gerald R. Savicki, Jr.
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Patent number: 7780470Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring system for use in an AC electrical power distribution circuit including at least one first AC power conductor disposed between an upstream AC power element and a device box and at least one second AC power conductor disposed between the device box and a downstream AC power element. The at least one first AC power conductor and the at least one second AC power conductor are routed into an interior portion of the device box and accessible via a front open face of the device box. The system includes a connector device including a connector housing having a plurality of connector contacts disposed therein. The plurality of connector contacts are coupled to termination structures configured to couple the at least one first AC power conductor and the at least one second AC power conductor to corresponding contacts of the plurality of connector contacts. An electrical wiring device includes a device housing having a front portion and a rear portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2008Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.Inventors: John Benoit, Gerald R. Savicki, Jr., Richard Weeks