Patents by Inventor William T. Bigbee, JR.

William T. Bigbee, 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: 12322936
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus lubricating a wire or cable during manufacturing, wherein the wire is aligned with an entry to a spraying enclosure and passes through a first seal of the spraying enclosure. Lubricant is sprayed onto the wire inside of the spraying enclosure while the unapplied, but sprayed, lubricant is collected at the bottom of the spraying enclosure. The wire passes through a second seal of the spraying enclosure, is aligned, and exits from the spraying enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Bennett, William T. Bigbee, Jr., Ramon V. Hernandez
  • Patent number: 12322937
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus lubricating a wire or cable during manufacturing, wherein the wire is aligned with an entry to a spraying enclosure and passes through a first seal of the spraying enclosure. Lubricant is sprayed onto the wire inside of the spraying enclosure while the unapplied, but sprayed, lubricant is collected at the bottom of the spraying enclosure. The wire passes through a second seal of the spraying enclosure, is aligned, and exits from the spraying enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Bennett, William T. Bigbee, Jr., Ramon V. Hernandez
  • Patent number: 12300401
    Abstract: An electrical cable assembly comprising a first electrical circuit comprising at least two insulated conductors, a second electrical circuit, and a conductive metallic armor encasing the first and second electrical circuits, wherein the conductive metallic armor provides a return ground path. The second electrical circuit comprising at least two control insulated conductors, a jacket surrounding the control insulated conductors, and a wrap surrounding the jacket which is surrounding the control insulated conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Bigbee, Jr., Micah W. Latimer, John L. Rhoads, Andrew P. Hull, Troy D. Skidmore, Paul Abernathy, David W. Maxey
  • Patent number: 12300404
    Abstract: A composition and method for reducing the coefficient of friction and required pulling force of a wire or cable are provided. A composition of aqueous emulsion is provided that is environmentally friendly, halogen free and solvent free. The composition is compatible with various types of insulating materials and may be applied after the wire or cable is cooled and also by spraying or submerging the wire or cable in a bath. The composition contains lubricating agents that provide lower coefficient of friction for wire or cable installation and continuous wire or cable surface lubrication thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Bigbee, Jr., Sheri H. Dahlke, Ronald A. Raedeke, Jason Drew Gillen, Melvin Glenn Debord
  • Patent number: 12297004
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying a label to a spool or reel containing wire and a wire tail extending from the spool or reel, the apparatus comprising a wire tail sensor, wherein the wire tail sensor identifies the location of the wire tail protruding from the spool or reel and a label application mechanism, wherein the labeling mechanism applies a label to the spool or reel and wherein the label does not contact the wire tail protruding from the spool or reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Bigbee, Jr., Clifton S. Thompson
  • Patent number: 12202188
    Abstract: An apparatus for extruding a jacket and/or insulative material onto an extruded product with one or more longitudinal stripes incorporated onto the surface of said extruded product comprising a body, a primary feed conduit for conveying a primary extrusion material, a striping die, a secondary feed conduit for conveying a secondary extrusion material, a striping die adapter, a striping feed conduit extending through the striping die adapter for conveying striping extrusion material. The striping die adapter may also include a thermocouple for maintaining the viscosity of the striping extrusion material and a thermocouple for monitoring the temperature of said striping die adapter. The striping die includes one or more striping extrusion outlets for conveying striping extrusion material onto the extruded product. The striping die may also include a wishbone-shaped trough for delivering equal amounts of striping extrusion material to said extrusion outlets for extrusion onto the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Bigbee, Jr., Mark D. Bennett
  • Patent number: 12204963
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the printing on wire or cable. The apparatus including a processor, a bus connected to the processor, a user input connected to the bus, a display screen connected to the user input and the bus, a first storage system connected to the bus, data stored in the first storage system and displayable on the display screen, wherein the data includes manufacturing and print information, a printer connected to the bus, wherein the printer prints the data on the wire or cable, a communication device connected to the bus, and an identification device connected to the bus, wherein identification device receives information from a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Bigbee, Jr., Clifton S. Thompson, Ferrin E. Gomez, Tony Ornelas, III
  • Patent number: 12176688
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus lubricating a wire or cable during manufacturing, wherein the wire is aligned with an entry to a spraying enclosure and passes through a first seal of the spraying enclosure. Lubricant is sprayed onto the wire inside of the spraying enclosure while the unapplied, but sprayed, lubricant is collected at the bottom of the spraying enclosure. The wire passes through a second seal of the spraying enclosure, is aligned, and exits from the spraying enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Bennett, William T. Bigbee, Jr., Ramon V. Hernandez
  • Patent number: 12139367
    Abstract: An apparatus for the accumulation of wire or cable, the apparatus including a collapsible reel assembly, the collapsible reel assembly including a central hollow arbor, a fixed inner support structure axially centered on and rigidly attached to the central hollow arbor, wherein the fixed inner support has a first end and a second end, a fixed flange, axially centered on and attached to the first end of the fixed inner support structure, a removable flange, axially centered on and removably attached to the second end of the fixed inner support structure opposite the fixed flange and an inner drum assembly. The inner drum assembly including a plurality of moving inner support structures movably attached to the fixed inner support structure and a plurality of inwardly-collapsible drum segments. Wherein the inwardly-collapsible drum segments collapse inward after the removable flange is removed from the collapsible reel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Bigbee, Jr., John L. Rhoads, Andrew P. Hull, Benjamin L. Weatherford
  • Patent number: 12091207
    Abstract: A method for applying labels to a cable or conduit with a known circumference, the method including supplying at least one label, wherein the at least one label has a known label height, the label height is greater than the known circumference of the cable or conduit, and the label has a bottom, middle, and top portions, providing at least one tamping device, tamping the middle portion of the at least one label to the cable or conduit with the at least one tamping device, wherein the middle portion of the at least one label adheres to the cable or conduit, providing a guide shoe assembly, pressing the top portion of the at least one label against the cable or conduit with the guide shoe assembly, and pressing the bottom portion of the at least one label against the cable or conduit with the guide shoe assembly, wherein the top portion of the at least one label and the bottom portion of the at least one label overlap after pressed onto the cable or conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Bennett, William T. Bigbee, Jr., Stephen S. Griffin
  • Patent number: 12060243
    Abstract: A reel apparatus and method comprising an inner flange assembly, an outer flange assembly, and a bearing assembly coupled to the inner flange assemblies. The inner flange assembly is capable of freely rotating relative to the outer flange assembly. In another embodiment, wire is spooled from a reel assembly comprising an inner flange assembly and an outer flange assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Bigbee, Jr., John L. Rhoads
  • Patent number: 12015251
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus lubricating a wire or cable during manufacturing, wherein the wire is aligned with an entry to a spraying enclosure and passes through a first seal of the spraying enclosure. Lubricant is sprayed onto the wire inside of the spraying enclosure while the unapplied, but sprayed, lubricant is collected at the bottom of the spraying enclosure. The wire passes through a second seal of the spraying enclosure, is aligned, and exits from the spraying enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Bennett, William T. Bigbee, Jr., Ramon V. Hernandez
  • Patent number: 12002600
    Abstract: An electrical cable having a plurality of conductors including a grounding conductor and at least one power-carrying conductor. The plurality of conductors disposed approximately in parallel within an outer jacket such that the electrical cable has a substantially elongated horizontal cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: David K. Smith, William T. Bigbee, Jr., Jose D. Garza, Mark D. Bennett
  • Patent number: 11975884
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying a label to a spool or reel containing wire and a wire tail extending from the spool or reel, the apparatus comprising a wire tail sensor, wherein the wire tail sensor identifies the location of the wire tail protruding from the spool or reel and a label application mechanism, wherein the labeling mechanism applies a label to the spool or reel and wherein the label does not contact the wire tail protruding from the spool or reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Bigbee, Jr., Clifton S. Thompson
  • Patent number: 11929188
    Abstract: An electrical cable assembly, comprising a first electrical circuit further comprising a first plurality of insulated conductors longitudinally disposed to one another, wherein the first plurality of insulated conductors are cabled together in a bundle. The electrical cable assembly further comprises a second electrical circuit longitudinally disposed to the first electrical circuit, the second electrical circuit comprising a second plurality of insulated conductors longitudinally disposed to one another and cabled together in a bundle and a nonmetallic jacket surrounding the second plurality of insulated conductors and wherein the nonmetallic jacket isolating the first electrical circuit from the second electrical circuit. The electrical cable assembly further comprises a flexible interlocking metallic armor encasing the first and second electrical circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: Troy D. Skidmore, Paul Abernathy, David W. Maxey, William T. Bigbee, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11926086
    Abstract: An apparatus for extruding a jacket and/or insulative material onto an extruded product with one or more longitudinal stripes incorporated onto the surface of said extruded product comprising a body, a primary feed conduit for conveying a primary extrusion material, a striping die, a secondary feed conduit for conveying a secondary extrusion material, a striping die adapter, a striping feed conduit extending through the striping die adapter for conveying striping extrusion material. The striping die adapter may also include a thermocouple for maintaining the viscosity of the striping extrusion material and a thermocouple for monitoring the temperature of said striping die adapter. The striping die includes one or more striping extrusion outlets for conveying striping extrusion material onto the extruded product. The striping die may also include a wishbone-shaped trough for delivering equal amounts of striping extrusion material to said extrusion outlets for extrusion onto the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Bigbee, Jr., Mark D. Bennett
  • Patent number: 11912527
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispensing wire or cable from a reel assembly. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises an inner flange assembly and an outer flange assembly. The inner flange assembly is capable of freely rotating relative to the outer flange assembly for dispensing wire from any surface. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes an inner flange assembly, an outer flange assembly, and an external bay. The inner flange assembly is capable of freely rotating relative to the outer flange assembly and the external bay. The external bay is capable of freely rotation relative to the outer flange assembly and the inner flange assembly. In another embodiment, wire is dispensed from a reel assembly comprising an inner flange assembly and an outer flange assembly. In yet another embodiment, wire is dispensed from a reel assembly comprising an inner flange assembly, an outer flange assembly, and an external bay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Bigbee, Jr., John L. Rhoads
  • Patent number: 11915069
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the printing on wire or cable. The apparatus including a processor, a bus connected to the processor, a user input connected to the bus, a display screen connected to the user input and the bus, a first storage system connected to the bus, data stored in the first storage system and displayable on the display screen, wherein the data includes manufacturing and print information, a printer connected to the bus, wherein the printer prints the data on the wire or cable, a communication device connected to the bus, and an identification device connected to the bus, wherein identification device receives information from a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Bigbee, Jr., Clifton S. Thompson, Ferrin E. Gomez, Tony Ornelas, III
  • Patent number: 11881327
    Abstract: An electrical cable assembly comprising a first electrical circuit comprising at least two insulated conductors, a second electrical circuit, and a conductive metallic armor encasing the first and second electrical circuits, wherein the conductive metallic armor provides a return ground path. The second electrical circuit comprising at least two control insulated conductors, a jacket surrounding the control insulated conductors, and a wrap surrounding the jacket which is surrounding the control insulated conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Bigbee, Jr., Micah W. Latimer, John L. Rhoads, Andrew P. Hull, Troy D. Skidmore, Paul Abernathy, David W. Maxey
  • Patent number: 11851233
    Abstract: A system for applying labels to cable or conduit including at least one label and a label applicator. The label applicator including at least one guide roller, at least one tamping device comprising at least one tamping pad for applying at least one label onto the moving cable or conduit, and a guide shoe assembly. The guide shoe assembly comprises a guide shoe, the guide shoe comprises a rounding member, a plurality of springs for providing flexibility to the rounding member when the moving cable or conduit passes the at least one guide shoe, a support mount for supporting the at least one guide shoe, a plurality of pivots disposed between the rounding member and the rounding member support for adjusting the set of springs, and a fitted member for providing an anchor for the at least one guide shoe to connect with the support mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Bennett, William T. Bigbee, Jr., Stephen S. Griffin