Patents by Inventor Thomas D. Collins

Thomas D. Collins 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: 5854445
    Abstract: An electric power busway system comprises a bus bar support housing with the opposite side plates of the housing shaped with troughs to hold the bus bars in their relative positions, preventing the bus bars from moving towards or away from one another and providing the necessary short-circuit protection and bending resistance. The metal side plates are preferably fastened together without the use of fasteners or the need for welding, through the use of a punch and die tool set. A protective insulating sheet is sandwiched between the insulated bus bars and the housing to protect the bus bar insulation coating from ruptures or tears. Clamping blocks are provided outside the protective busway housing to apply friction on the bus bars within, keeping them from sliding out of the housing assembly. The integral busway housing and clamping serve as a ground conduction facility, with the clamping blocks providing a mechanism to connect the busway section to an adjoining section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric J. Graham, Louis A. Rosen, Ira Goldman, Jeffrey Scott Berliner, Thomas D. Collins, Clarence W. Walker
  • Patent number: 4591090
    Abstract: A carton divider formed of crossing partitions interlocked by interengaged slots extending partially through the partitions from the opposite edges thereof. The slots include continuous hook slots having communicating inner, outer, and intermediate portions, and arrow slots divided into inner and outer portions by cross bars. Each hook slot intermediate portion defines a laterally directed tab extending through the inner portions of an arrow slot. The cross bar of the arrow slot in turn extends through the inner portion of the hook slot and is retained therein by a shoulder defined by the hook slot immediately inward of the tab and overlying the inner portion of the hook slot. The inner portions of both slots include areas narrower than the width of the remainder of the respective slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1986
    Assignee: Sonoco Products Company
    Inventors: Thomas D. Collins, Glenn D. Ross
  • Patent number: 4492332
    Abstract: A carton divider incorporating planar partitions with internesting slots for a right angular interlocking of the partitions. One partition slot is of a constant width and includes a laterally arcing inner portion. The mating or nesting slot includes an enlarged inner portion with a tab flexibly attached to the inner end thereof, the tab having an elongated opening aligned with the slot and defining spaced side bars interconnected by a cross bar. Upon a nesting of the slots the tab is laterally deflected or cammed by the inner portion of the first slot and the side bars positioned laterally to each side of the other partition, a portion or portions of which are received between the side bars whereby relative rotation between the partitions is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1985
    Assignee: Sonoco Products Company
    Inventor: Thomas D. Collins