Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Mullen, Jr.

Thomas M. Mullen, 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).

  • Patent number: 6585297
    Abstract: A liquid-tight connector is attached at one end to an aperture in a junction box, a panel box, a motor or the like. The opposite end of the connector is adapted to receive a free end of a length of flexible conduit. A cuff is positioned on the connector to conceal the free end of the conduit from view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Heyco, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Mullen, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20020033601
    Abstract: A liquid-tight connector is attached at one end to an aperture in a junction box, a panel box, a motor or the like. The opposite end of the connector is adapted to receive a free end of a length of flexible conduit. A cuff is positioned on the connector to conceal the free end of the conduit from view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Applicant: Heyco, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Mullen, JR.
  • Patent number: 6328594
    Abstract: A strain relief for an electrical cord has a body with an opening extending therethrough for accommodating an electrical cord therein. The strain relief replaces a UL knot and establishes a frictional interaction with the cord to prevent sliding relative to the cord. The cord threads through the strain relief with the strain relief forcing the cord to change directions at least once. In one embodiment, a movable bridging member extends from the body proximate to a central opening in the body. In its closed position, the bridging member provides the support around which the electrical cord is looped to change direction. A pair of opposed grippers hold the electrical cord at 90 degrees relative to the axis of the body opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Heyco Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Mullen, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6311935
    Abstract: A clamp for holding elongated objects having a generally U-shaped trough for receiving the object to be held and a pair of substantially flat tabs extending from opposite sides of the trough proximate to an upper end of each side thereof. At least one of the pair of tabs preferably has a hinge to render it bendable to bridge over the trough and underlay the other of the pair of tabs in substantially parallel relationship thereto, closing said U-shape to form a D-shape. Tab alignment structures are provided for establishing and maintaining the position of the one tab relative to the other when the one tab underlays the other. In a first embodiment, a ring on one tab is received in a mating receptacle in the other. In a second embodiment, a pin projects from a surface of one tab and extends through an opening provided in the other. The pin is received and retained in an opening in the mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Heyco Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Mullen, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6300569
    Abstract: A fitting for retaining an electric cord having a generally cylindrical conduit body with a central bore is threaded at first and second ends thereof. The first end of the body has a plurality of fingers extending in an axial direction therefrom, each of the fingers being spaced from adjacent fingers and terminating at a free end thereof in a wedge-shaped gripper extending normal to the axial direction. A flexible, generally cylindrical gland is disposed within a mating recess formed in the central bore of the body. The recess has a lower annular seat formed about the periphery of the central bore proximate the origin of the fingers, the lower annular seat tapering toward the second end as the seat extends radially outward. The recess is further defined by an upper annular seat formed on an inside surface of each of the wedge-shaped grippers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Heyco Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Mullen, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6290512
    Abstract: A premold for housing the electrical contacts of an electrical connector has a base with a plurality of channels extending from a front surface to a rear surface thereof, each of the channels accommodating therein an associated electrical contact. An intermediate wall extending transversely across each of the channels divides them into a front portion extending from the front surface to the intermediate wall and a rear portion extending from the intermediate wall to the rear surface. The front portion of each channel accommodates an engageable portion of the electrical contact and the rear portion accommodates a connector end of the electrical contact for connecting it to an electrical cord. The front portion and the rear portion of the channels shield the electrical contacts from inadvertent contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Hayco, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Mullen, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6186821
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a connecting device adapted for connecting an electrical cable, which includes wires, to a similar or identical electrical cable. The device includes a housing having a connecting end, which is adapted to be removably connected to a connecting end of an identical connecting device, and an opposite end, which includes a slot for receiving an electrical cable inserted into the housing. The housing also includes a receiving portion at the connecting end for receiving a plurality of connecting blades adapted to engage blades of an identical device and to receive wires of an electrical cable inserted into the housing through an open side thereof. A cover is provided for covering the open side of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Heyco Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Mullen, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6168443
    Abstract: A conductor bridge for holding a plurality of electrically conductive elements includes a monolithic body formed from an electrically non-conductive material. Retainer means are provided for retaining the electrically conductive elements in the body such that they are electrically insulated relative to each other. The retainer means has an open position, in which the conductor elements can be placed in the retainer means, and a closed position, in which the conductor elements can be held in place within the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Heyco Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Mullen, Jr., William J. Coyle, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5872335
    Abstract: A sealing nut adapted for use in connection with a liquid-tight connector, which is mountable on a housing of an electrical or mechanical device and which includes a grasping portion adjacent an end thereof projecting outwardly from the housing, is disclosed. More particularly, the sealing nut includes a base having a passageway extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis of the base and being sized and shaped to removably receive the grasping portion of the connector. The sealing nut also includes a cover pivotally connected to the base such that the cover is movable between an open position, in which the cover exposes the passageway of the base to an extent sufficient to allow a cable to be fed through the sealing nut in a substantially straight line running generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base, and a closed position, in which the cover overlies the passageway in the base such that the cover loosely guides the cable to form a bend therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Heyco Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Mullen, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5405172
    Abstract: A liquid tight connector for pass through cable, tubing or rods includes a body, a compression nut and a gland. There are fingers on the body with flats and triangular ends which cradle the gland and grasp cable, tubing or rods in a liquid tight manner tightly enough to provide strain relief. Spherical bumps with pawl like flats hold the compression nut free of the likelihood of loosening once engaged. The triangular configuration of the ends of the fingers enables improved strain relief and adapts to a large selection of cable, tubing or rod diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Heyco Molded Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Mullen, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4913385
    Abstract: A one piece molded plastic strain relief bushing includes a well and key. The portions of the bushing may be engaged, latched in the well. The latching within the well serves the double function of holding the bushing with a cable engaged and compactly providing such holding with a maximum of strength and a minimum of bulk. The bushing enables saving of cost in the insertion of the cable into the bushing and saving cost, inserting the bushing with the cable into an aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Heyco Molded Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Law, Thomas M. Mullen, Jr.