Patents by Inventor Thomas H. Nugent, Jr.

Thomas H. Nugent, Jr. 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).

  • Publication number: 20240072496
    Abstract: Automatic ejection assemblies for an electric vehicle plug and methods for controlling the same. An automatic ejection assembly includes a mounting assembly for mounting the automatic ejection assembly to an electric vehicle plug and a first automatic ejection mechanism configured to cause the electric vehicle plug to eject from an electric vehicle. A method includes detecting a disconnect trig per by an automatic ejection control system, where the disconnect trigger indicated that an automatic-eject plug should be ejected from an electric vehicle. The method includes, in response to detecting the disconnect trigger, controlling an ejection assembly connected to the automatic-eject plug to cause the automatic-eject plug to eject from the electric vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas H. Nugent, JR., Paul Lamattina, Philip Sgroi, Dale Tompkins, Elton Muñoz
  • Publication number: 20220153160
    Abstract: An electrical delivery apparatus. The apparatus includes a plug assembly configured to be inserted into a receptacle apparatus of a vehicle to deliver electrical power to the vehicle. The apparatus includes a control means configured to, upon activation, deliver electrical power to the vehicle via an electrical line and the plug assembly, and, upon detection of at least one predetermined condition, automatically disconnect the electrical power from the electrical line and the plug assembly. The predetermined condition includes disconnection of the plug assembly from the receptacle apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas H. Nugent, JR., Caleb T. Hatfield, John K. George, Kristopher Cody Johnson, Philip Sgroi, Dale Tomkins
  • Patent number: 10454212
    Abstract: A power line disconnect apparatus includes a housing; an electrical connector that projects from a surface of a connector plate coupled to the housing, the electrical connector configured to receive a plug of a power cable; an ejector pin configured to project through a first aperture in the connector plate and eject the plug from the electrical connector; a microswitch configured to activate and deactivate a power circuit associated with the power cable; and a sensor pin configured to project through a second aperture in the connector plate, the sensor pin having a sensor pin extension, the sensor pin extension configured to control the microswitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Kussmaul Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas H. Nugent, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20180323542
    Abstract: A power line disconnect apparatus includes a housing; an electrical connector that projects from a surface of a connector plate coupled to the housing, the electrical connector configured to receive a plug of a power cable; an ejector pin configured to project through a first aperture in the connector plate and eject the plug from the electrical connector; a microswitch configured to activate and deactivate a power circuit associated with the power cable; and a sensor pin configured to project through a second aperture in the connector plate, the sensor pin having a sensor pin extension, the sensor pin extension configured to control the microswitch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventor: Thomas H. Nugent, JR.
  • Patent number: 10020615
    Abstract: A power line disconnect apparatus includes a housing; an electrical connector that projects from a surface of a connector plate coupled to the housing, the electrical connector configured to receive a plug of a power cable; an ejector pin configured to project through a first aperture in the connector plate and eject the plug from the electrical connector; a microswitch configured to activate and deactivate a power circuit associated with the power cable; and a sensor pin configured to project through a second aperture in the connector plate, the sensor pin having a sensor pin extension, the sensor pin extension configured to control the microswitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Kussmaul Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas H. Nugent, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20170271816
    Abstract: A power line disconnect apparatus includes a housing; an electrical connector that projects from a surface of a connector plate coupled to the housing, the electrical connector configured to receive a plug of a power cable; an ejector pin configured to project through a first aperture in the connector plate and eject the plug from the electrical connector; a microswitch configured to activate and deactivate a power circuit associated with the power cable; and a sensor pin configured to project through a second aperture in the connector plate, the sensor pin having a sensor pin extension, the sensor pin extension configured to control the microswitch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventor: Thomas H. Nugent, JR.
  • Patent number: 9685734
    Abstract: A power line disconnect apparatus includes a housing; an electrical connector that projects from a surface of a connector plate coupled to the housing, the electrical connector configured to receive a plug of a power cable; an ejector pin configured to project through a first aperture in the connector plate and eject the plug from the electrical connector; a microswitch configured to activate and deactivate a power circuit associated with the power cable; and a sensor pin configured to project through a second aperture in the connector plate, the sensor pin having a sensor pin extension, the sensor pin extension configured to control the microswitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Kussmaul Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas H. Nugent, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9625528
    Abstract: A battery charger is configured to perform a battery charging method. The method includes determining a magnitude of a parasitic load on a battery. The method also includes adjusting an absorption stage of a multi-step charging process for the battery based on the determined magnitude of the parasitic load. The method further includes charging the battery using the multi-step charging process with the adjusted absorption stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Kussmaul Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas H. Nugent, Jr., Paul Lamattina
  • Publication number: 20160156209
    Abstract: A battery charger is configured to perform a battery charging method. The method includes determining a magnitude of a parasitic load on a battery. The method also includes adjusting an absorption stage of a multi-step charging process for the battery based on the determined magnitude of the parasitic load. The method further includes charging the battery using the multi-step charging process with the adjusted absorption stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas H. Nugent, JR., Paul Lamattina
  • Patent number: 7431601
    Abstract: An automatic power line disconnect apparatus has a sensor pin for signaling the separation of the plug from the disconnect apparatus. The operative movement of the sensor pin is shorter than the length of the male electrical connectors on the apparatus, thereby insuring that the apparatus is disconnected from the power line before the electrical connectors' contact is broken to reduce electrical connector erosion from arcing. A motor driving a rack and pinion gear combination responds to an engine starter signal by driving the rack in a direction that disconnects the power line plug from the automatic disconnect apparatus. Further circuits are provided to lock out low voltage starter signals, photoelectric detectors to control movement of the rack, and timer circuits to limit the duration of the motor operation and to lock out starter signals when the disconnect apparatus is being separated from the power line plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas H. Nugent, Jr., Ernest A. Kussmaul
  • Patent number: 5645439
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a connector which, in use, is connected to a shore cable. The shore cable provides power to a vehicle. A connection in the apparatus to the vehicle's starting circuit actuates an ejector mechanism when the vehicle's engine is started. The ejector mechanism ejects the shore cable from the apparatus and a switch interrupts the current prior to the completion of the ejection action, thereby preventing arcing at the connector and assuring long contact life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Kussmaul Electronics Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas H. Nugent, Jr., Ernest A. Kussmaul