Patents by Inventor Robert V. DeFrance

Robert V. DeFrance 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: 11509124
    Abstract: Conductor spacer assemblies are disclosed that can be easily and rapidly clamped to parallel electrical conductors suspended between supports, and that can be easily and rapidly secured together with an automatically actuated fastener assembly. The conductor spacer assembly includes an upper spacer body that is coupled to a lower spacer body and an automatically actuated fastener assembly that facilitates quick and safe installation of the conductor spacer assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: BURNDY, LLC
    Inventor: Robert V. DeFrance
  • Publication number: 20210104883
    Abstract: Conductor spacer assemblies are disclosed that can be easily and rapidly clamped to parallel electrical conductors suspended between supports, and that can be easily and rapidly secured together with an automatically actuated fastener assembly. The conductor spacer assembly includes an upper spacer body that is coupled to a lower spacer body and an automatically actuated fastener assembly that facilitates quick and safe installation of the conductor spacer assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventor: Robert V. DeFrance
  • Patent number: 10873180
    Abstract: Conductor spacer assemblies are disclosed that can be easily and rapidly clamped to parallel electrical conductors suspended between supports, and that can be easily and rapidly secured together with an automatically actuated fastener assembly. The conductor spacer assembly includes an upper spacer body that is coupled to a lower spacer body and an automatically actuated fastener assembly that facilitates quick and safe installation of the conductor spacer assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: BURNDY, LLC
    Inventor: Robert V. DeFrance
  • Publication number: 20190356123
    Abstract: Conductor spacer assemblies are disclosed that can be easily and rapidly clamped to parallel electrical conductors suspended between supports, and that can be easily and rapidly secured together with an automatically actuated fastener assembly. The conductor spacer assembly includes an upper spacer body that is coupled to a lower spacer body and an automatically actuated fastener assembly that facilitates quick and safe installation of the conductor spacer assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventor: Robert V. DeFrance
  • Patent number: 10374407
    Abstract: Conductor spacer assemblies are disclosed that can be easily and rapidly clamped to parallel electrical conductors suspended between supports, and that can be easily and rapidly secured together with an automatically actuated fastener assembly. The conductor spacer assembly includes an upper spacer body that is coupled to a lower spacer body and an automatically actuated fastener assembly that facilitates quick and safe installation of the conductor spacer assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: BURNDY, LLC
    Inventor: Robert V. DeFrance
  • Publication number: 20180301884
    Abstract: Conductor spacer assemblies are disclosed that can be easily and rapidly clamped to parallel electrical conductors suspended between supports, and that can be easily and rapidly secured together with an automatically actuated fastener assembly. The conductor spacer assembly includes an upper spacer body that is coupled to a lower spacer body and an automatically actuated fastener assembly that facilitates quick and safe installation of the conductor spacer assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventor: Robert V. DeFrance
  • Patent number: 9551437
    Abstract: A spacer clamp assembly includes a clamping body with a recess for receiving a cable and a bolt hole defining a passage. A resilient member on the clamping body has a bolt hole receiving a clamping bolt. The bolt is resiliently biased in the bolt hole of the resilient member to a clamping position. A keeper has a first end coupled to the first end of the clamping body and a second end with an open slot configured for mating with the clamping bolt in the clamping position. The keeper has a contact surface to contact the clamping bolt during closing of the keeper for guiding the bolt along the contact surface into the slot. The resilient member enables the clamping bolt to move when contacting the contact surface and bias the bolt into the slot to the clamping position in the closed clamping position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert V. Defrance
  • Publication number: 20160290532
    Abstract: A spacer clamp assembly includes a clamping body with a recess for receiving a cable and a bolt hole defining a passage. A resilient member on the clamping body has a bolt hole receiving a clamping bolt. The bolt is resiliently biased in the bolt hole of the resilient member to a clamping position. A keeper has a first end coupled to the first end of the clamping body and a second end with an open slot configured for mating with the clamping bolt in the clamping position. The keeper has a contact surface to contact the clamping bolt during closing of the keeper for guiding the bolt along the contact surface into the slot. The resilient member enables the clamping bolt to move when contacting the contact surface and bias the bolt into the slot to the clamping position in the closed clamping position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: HUBBELL INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Robert V. DEFRANCE
  • Patent number: 8383945
    Abstract: A dead end connector member including a shaft section and a clevis section. The shaft section includes a ridge section, wherein the ridge section is sized and shaped to have an outer sleeve compressed thereon to connect the outer sleeve to the shaft section. The clevis section has a front end connected to the shaft section. The clevis section includes two spaced legs forming an eyebolt receiving gap between the legs. Each leg comprises a pin hole adapted to receive a fastener to rotatably connected the dead end connector to an eyebolt of another member. The clevis section includes a tab at a rear end of the clevis section. The tab extends at least partially across the gap to form a rotation limiter adapted to contact one side of the eyebolt and limit rotation of the dead end connector member relative to the eyebolt in only one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert V. DeFrance
  • Patent number: 7858882
    Abstract: An electrical connector including an end member configured to connect the electrical connector to another member; and jaw segments. The jaw segments are configured to be arranged relative to one another to directly contact a core of a core and stranded (C-S) cable. Each of the jaw segments are configured to contact a different outer perimeter segment around the core to combine to substantially surround a portion of the core. The jaw segments are mounted directly with the end member at an interlocking connection of the jaw segments directly with the end member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Burndy Technology LLC
    Inventor: Robert V. DeFrance
  • Publication number: 20100263927
    Abstract: A dead end connector member including a shaft section and a clevis section. The shaft section includes a ridge section, wherein the ridge section is sized and shaped to have an outer sleeve compressed thereon to connect the outer sleeve to the shaft section. The clevis section has a front end connected to the shaft section. The clevis section includes two spaced legs forming an eyebolt receiving gap between the legs. Each leg comprises a pin hole adapted to receive a fastener to rotatably connected the dead end connector to an eyebolt of another member. The clevis section includes a tab at a rear end of the clevis section. The tab extends at least partially across the gap to form a rotation limiter adapted to contact one side of the eyebolt and limit rotation of the dead end connector member relative to the eyebolt in only one direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventor: Robert V. DeFrance
  • Publication number: 20100190389
    Abstract: An electrical connector including an end member configured to connect the electrical connector to another member; and jaw segments. The jaw segments are configured to be arranged relative to one another to directly contact a core of a core and stranded (C-S) cable. Each of the jaw segments are configured to contact a different outer perimeter segment around the core to combine to substantially surround a portion of the core. The jaw segments are mounted directly with the end member at an interlocking connection of the jaw segments directly with the end member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventor: Robert V. DeFrance
  • Patent number: 6206736
    Abstract: An electrical conductor splicing assembly includes a tubular shell, and a pair of tubular gripping members and a spring disposed within an interior chamber of the shell. The shell and gripping members are electrically conductive. Each gripping member defines a longitudinal passageway and a cavity within an inner portion in communication with the passageway. The shell and gripping members receive an end of an electrical conductor through each opposite end portion of the shell and within each gripping member. The spring is disposed between the gripping members and has a main portion, a pair of opposite end portions and a pair of reduced diameter portions interconnecting the main portion to the opposite end portions. The opposite end portions of the spring are captured within the cavities of the gripping members. The reduced diameter portions of the spring are disposed adjacent to and extend away from the cavities of the gripping members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert V. DeFrance, Carl B. Nordstrom
  • Patent number: 6076236
    Abstract: A cable connector for securing the end of a cable includes a body supporting opposed jaws for sliding motion for gripping a cable with a wedge action. A slot in the top wall of the body permits the cable to be loaded from the top of the body. T-shaped guide structures capture the jaws for controlled sliding movement. Separate springs directly and independently bias the jaws toward a closed position. A sturdy latch plate synchronizes the jaw motion and retains the jaws in a cocked, open position ready to receive a cable. The springs are enclosed at the sides of the jaws, and are of substantial length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: MacLean-Fogg Company
    Inventor: Robert V. DeFrance
  • Patent number: 5547404
    Abstract: A fixed spacer hot line tap has a body with a base and a run-conductor groove. An eyebolt passes through the base and has a tip disposed between the base and the run-conductor groove. The eyebolt has a tip, on which is attached an extender having at least one spline on an outer surface thereof and a tip. The extender is directed through a hole in a spacer, and is press-fit therein because of the at least one spline. The spacer has an open volume defined by the foot, a first leg and a second leg, and a main transfer component, across which electric current passes from a run conductor to a tap conductor. A pad is disposed within the open volume by attachment to the tip of the extender, which reaches there through the hole in the foot. In use, a tap conductor is disposed between the pad and the main transfer component, and is secured there by a tightening of the eyebolt. The tap conductor remains clamped there when the eyebolt is withdrawn because of the press-fit of the extender in the hole in the foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Fargo Mfg. Company Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Nellis, Jr., Robert V. DeFrance, Richard R. Matlock
  • Patent number: 5539961
    Abstract: A spring-loaded wedge dead end for use in electrical transmission lines has upper and lower jaws which close upon one another in a wedging action to grasp the dead end of such a line. The wedge dead end includes a U-shaped clevis for use in attaching it to a pole or the like, and upper and lower jaw guides which form a U-shaped channel in which the upper and lower jaws are disposed. The jaws are spring-biased toward a closed position, are coupled so as to move in a corresponding manner, and may be locked in a fully open position, from which an installer may release it when an electrical transmission line is correctly placed between the open jaws to simplify the dead-ending of the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Fargo Mfg. Company Inc.
    Inventor: Robert V. DeFrance
  • Patent number: D305860
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Assignee: Fargo Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert V. DeFrance