Screw-thread Operated Securing Part Patents (Class 439/801)
  • Patent number: 6347959
    Abstract: A base member is attached to an interior wall member which covers an inner face of a vehicle body panel. A first power supply wire is arranged between the vehicle body panel and the interior wall member. A first terminal is provided on a leading end of the first power supply wire, and fixed on the base member so as to face inside of the vehicle. An insulative cover member is provided on the base member movably between an open position at which the first terminal is exposed and a close position at which the first terminal is covered. A bracket body is provided with an interior equipment of a vehicle, and engaged with the base member. A second power supply wire is led out from the interior equipment. A second terminal is provided on a leading end of the second power supply line, and fixed on the bracket body so as to oppose to the first terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Sawayanagi
  • Patent number: 6343962
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cable lug including a receiving section (12) for a cable and an attachment nut (16), wherein a defined contact area having a defined contact force exists between the cable lug (10) and a counter surface to be contacted. To this end, a contact section (14) is provided which is equipped with a bead which by means of the attachment nut (16) can be forced against a counter surface to be contacted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Harting Automotive GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventor: Jens Krause
  • Patent number: 6325667
    Abstract: Projections 9a, 9b are provided on a lower face of a circumferential area of a bore 14 in a connector 3. When a wire insertion tube 5 of a bracket 2 is fitted in the bore 14, the bracket 2 and the connector 3 can be tightly fitted due to elastic forces created when a peripheral part of the wire insertion tube 5 is deflected by action of the projections 9a, 9b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Sawayanagi
  • Publication number: 20010044242
    Abstract: A new elbow canister fuseholder is provided that includes an electrically insulated and shielded housing for placing a fuse in-line between a cable and an electrical apparatus for underground distribution application. An insulating tube is contained within the housing for easy sliding removal of the fuse through an end plug such that the elbow is reusable when a fuse is replaced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Applicant: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Stepniak, Anthony Reed
  • Patent number: 6319018
    Abstract: A system and method of establishing an electrical connection between first and second circuit boards includes the use of a multi-function fastener. The fastener is inserted between the circuit boards and serves to physically connect the circuit boards to each other and to a support or base. The fastener bears against conductive edge portions of the first and second circuit boards to also establish electrical conductivity between the circuit boards. Fasteners may be provided to communicate a grounding voltage, as well as, a power supply voltage. By providing a series of circuit boards and fasteners, it is possible to establish common ground and power supply voltage levels in multi-circuit board assemblies, without providing separate ground and power supply bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Avaya Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Bassel Hage Daoud
  • Patent number: 6305991
    Abstract: The invention is directed to connected metallic conductors which are flat and made from aluminum or aluminum-copper compounds. Oppositely-located contact surfaces (3) are provided with grooves (4), indentations or the like on the conductors. During assembly, the contact surfaces (3) are brought into direct contact, and the conductors are pressed together with such a strong force that a plastic deformation and, consequently, a metallic, electrically-conductive contact are effected at a plurality of locations at the contact surfaces. The plastic deformation effects a breaking open or splintering of oxide layers present at the contact surfaces, which exposes bare metal for producing the contact. The pressing force can be generated by tightening screws (in bores 2), which are led, for example, directly through the contact surfaces (3). A connection of line-bar segments with a plurality of parallel conductors is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Zurecon AG
    Inventor: Max Gerster
  • Patent number: 6293812
    Abstract: A contact member or bridge for an electrical connector includes a bridge strap with a base plate and an abutment member coupled to and extending from the bridge strap. The base plate extends substantially perpendicular to the bridge strap and has an internally threaded bore. An abutment member extends adjacent a side edge of the base plate, and has planar surface extending perpendicularly to and facing the base plate. A clamping plate overlies the base plate, has a substantially straight side edge adjacent the planar surface and has a through bore. A screw extends through the bore in the clamping plate and threadedly engages the threaded bore in the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen R. Ewer, Jerry M. Presson, Mark S. Bicks
  • Patent number: 6293830
    Abstract: A terminal connecting device includes a main body of a terminal block having diaphragms and supporting strips, a terminal plate positioned at the top of the supporting strips, movable terminals supported by a spring to attach or detach lead wire positioned on the terminal plate, a restraining structure, proximate to the movable terminals, which limits the movement of the lead wire, and a terminal screw coupled with the movable terminals after being penetrated through the through hole of the lead wire and fastened at a screw hole of the terminal plate. The restraining structure restricts the lead wire from diverting or dropping, thereby preventing safety accidents such as stopping the operation of facility or electric shock. The restraining structure also allows easy penetration of the terminal screw through the through hole of the lead wire in fixing the lead wire, thereby improving productivity due to ease of fastening the terminal screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Joong Park, Sung-Ki Seo, Ki-Dong Park, Sang-Cheul Lee, Hyoung-Bin Lee, Young-Min Kim, Ho-Keun Oh, Ki-Sung Kim
  • Patent number: 6290552
    Abstract: A battery connection plate a manufacturing method therefor is provided. A terminal and a busbar are insert-molded in the plate body. The terminal is screw-connected to an electrode of a battery with a nut. The terminal is provided with a hole portion and a projecting portion having an opening communicating with the hole portion, and the opening faces in the screwing direction of the nut. Otherwise, the plate body is provided with a pin portion and projections arranged on both sides of the pin portion, and the terminal is provided with a through hole for the pin portion. The projection are positioned adjacently to both sides of the terminal, and the terminal is secured to the plate body by melting the pin portion and the projections and by transforming them. The terminal body is formed integrally with the busbar with use of a metal sheet, and the busbar is formed by double-folding back the metal sheet, wherein the terminal body is connected to the busbar through a narrow portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Saito, Tomohiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 6280263
    Abstract: An eyelet terminal for use in a vehicle junction box or power center to connect a bus bar to an electrical wire or cable. The terminal assembly is formed as a flat metal blank with bendable portions defining a nut-trapping lock ring, an anti-rotation tab, and wire crimping tabs. One end of the terminal includes an eyelet portion having an aperture for a bolt or threaded stud, and a surface for rotatably supporting a flanged nut over the aperture. The lock ring is formed at the end of a leg or arm extending from the eyelet portion and adapted to be bent over a radius to a nut-trapping position over the nut flange and aligned with the eyelet portion. A bendable anti-rotation tab extending from the lock ring is bent from an initial flat position to a right-angled position in which it extends through a suitable aperture in the terminal when the lock ring is in the nut-trapping position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Yazaki North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Anthony Manor, Kazuhiro Shimizu, Takeshi Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20010012727
    Abstract: A bushing device being either a “bushing” comprising an external standard interface cone on one side and a conical shape at the opposite side, or a “bushing well” having a single hollow conical shape comprising an internal standard interface cone. The bushing device is to be hermetically mounted in a hole of an electrical equipment, insulated with oil fluid or gas, and is foreseen of a metallic fixing flange having a diameter larger than the diameter of this hole. The bushing device is adapted to interconnect an electrical distribution cable external to the equipment with a device internal to the equipment. The equipment is for instance a transformer, a switchgear, a capacitor or a motor. The bushing device is made of an elastomeric material containing an anti-migratory additive, whilst the metallic fixing flange is preferably made of stainless steel adapted to be welded to the wall of the equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 1999
    Publication date: August 9, 2001
    Inventors: ROBERTO MORLESIN, IVAN FLORENT DE SCHRIJVER
  • Publication number: 20010008817
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cable lug comprising a receiving section (12) for a cable and an attachment nut (16), wherein a defined contact area having a defined contact force exists between the cable lug (10) and a counter surface to be contacted. To this end, a contact section (14) is provided which is equipped with a bead which by means of the attachment nut (16) can be forced against a counter surface to be contacted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Publication date: July 19, 2001
    Inventor: Jens Krause
  • Patent number: 6257939
    Abstract: An insert for the binding of an electric connector terminal to a thin wall, and the methods for mounting and dismounting same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Societe Anonyme Dubuis
    Inventors: Alain Courtois, Jean-Pierre Huet
  • Publication number: 20010005658
    Abstract: An insulative circuit board receives a forged terminal and a simplified terminal plate, inserted through a through hole and guided by insertion slots, to form a complete terminal connector. The terminal plate firmly fixes to the insulative circuit board by locking into integrally formed locking steps. The terminal is retained by the snap-in terminal plate and preventive elements formed integrally with the circuit board. Preventive elements prevent unexpected disassembly when the terminal and the terminal plate loose threaded engagement and eliminates the need for after-integration processing. A guiding element, integral with the terminal, guides the terminal into threaded engagement with the terminal plate. The guiding element also prevents damage to a terminal plate screw hole and speeds assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Publication date: June 28, 2001
    Inventors: Takashi Matsuda, Nobuyuki Mano
  • Patent number: 6244517
    Abstract: System for attaching an electric terminal connector to an element, including a threaded rod being one of, integral with, or fixed to the element and a nut, provided with a clamping washer adapted to clamp a terminal connector on one of, the element, or an electrically conductive member attached to the element. The clamping washer has a surface thereon adapted to be positioned across a surface on a terminal connector. The surfaces across from a terminal connector and the clamping washer are rotatable relative to each other without unscrewing the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Dubuis, Societe Anonyme
    Inventors: Alain Courtois, Jean-Pierre Huet
  • Patent number: 6234850
    Abstract: A terminal apparatus for connecting an electrical conductor to electric equipment. A terminal is electrically coupled to the electric equipment and has a hole formed therethrough. A first securing member has a head and a shaft passing through the hole formed in the terminal. A first conductor receiving area is defined between the head and a first side of the terminal. A second securing member selectively engages the shaft on a side of the terminal opposite the head of the first securing member. A second conductor receiving area is defined between the second securing member and a second side of the terminal. A holder is coupled to the terminal and disposed on a side of the terminal corresponding to the second securing member. The holder retains the second securing member at a position in which the second securing member can be engaged with an end of the shaft when the shaft is inserted through the hole formed in the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anilkumar D. Pandit, M. Natarajan, A. Ramadevi, Rajesh Pandey
  • Patent number: 6231404
    Abstract: A connector for connecting a power cable with solid insulation to medium-voltage equipment comprising a connection device arranged in an angular housing. The connector comprises a screwable pin contact which is connected to the cable core. The device comprises a guide sleeve, fixed in the angular housing, with an extension made in the shape of a jaw, into which sleeve the cable core is inserted, and a clamping block, into which the pin contact is threaded. The inner end of the pin contact makes contact with the jaw such that, when tightening the pin contact, the cable core is squeezed between the clamping block and the jaw. The angular housing comprises an outer semiconducting layer, the end of which, connecting onto the cable, is capable of being folded up. The connector is removable fixed to the medium-voltage equipment with a clamping device which is arranged in one piece of resilient wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventor: Radim Lichy
  • Patent number: 6206737
    Abstract: An enhanced terminal screw for use in an electrical receptacle includes a shank, a head and a plurality of impeller wire gripping elements. The shank has opposite ends. The head is mounted to one of the opposite ends of the shank. The head has an underside surface defining a plurality of spaced apart grooves. The impeller wire gripping elements are defined by a plurality of lands formed between the spaced apart grooves on the underside surface of the head which grip a wire partially surrounding the shank and wrap the wire radially inwardly toward the shank as the screw is tightened relative to the wire. Each land has opposite edges providing a gripping surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Nelson Bonilla, Stephen R. Ewer
  • Patent number: 6206718
    Abstract: A connecting terminal and a circuit breaking device having the connecting terminal are provided. A plate-shaped second bus-bar 19 welded to a conductive thermit casing 26 through a low melting point metal 23. The bus-bar 19 has an orifice 20 formed to fix a wire with a terminal body by thread fastening and a thin part 51 formed between the orifice 20 and the metal 23 to have a plate thickness smaller than that of the other portion of the bus-bar 19. The thin part 51 is provided with wedge-shaped notches 53. When fastening a screw inserted into the orifice 20 in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, a stress resulting from the rotation is absorbed by the thin plate 51 and the notches 53 in pairs. Consequently, owing to the absorption, it is possible to restrict the stress from being transmitted to the welding part of the low melting point metal 23.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Takahashi, Noboru Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6193566
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electric terminal device as featured by providing at one side of a washer for supporting a terminal screw a washer guide section which is bent toward a terminal fixture as mated with the terminal screw and extends in a direction parallel with the axis of such terminal screw while providing a recovery spring between a housing and a midway portion in back of the washer guide section (at the opposite side to the terminal screw), wherein where no lead wires are implemented therein, it is possible to let the device be in the recovered state due to presence of the recovery-spring force thus enabling a lead wire to be directly inserted into a gap above the terminal fixture; conversely, where the wire is to be taken out of it, unlocking the terminal screw may permit automatic recovery at the recovered state due to application of the recovery spring force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Idec Izumi Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Isobe, Masatake Yamano
  • Patent number: 6174177
    Abstract: A strand clamp comprises a clamp assembly including first and second, substantially identical, clamp members. Grooves in the end portions of each clamp member form a pair of receptacles for receiving a ground wire and a strand. The shaft of a bolt extends through openings in the mid portion of each clamp member such that the bolt head and a nut mounted on the bolt shaft are positioned adjacent the outside surfaces of the clamp members. Torquing the nut clamps the ground wire and strand within the clamp assembly. A positioning tab extends inwardly from each end edge of each clamp member. The positioning tabs are laterally offset from each other to resist rotation of one clamp member relative to the other clamp member. The mid portion of each clamp member has an arcuate shape and is elastically compressible by the bolt and nut such that the mid portion imposes a spring force on the head of the bolt and the nut to resist loosening of the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Electric Motion Company, Inc.
    Inventor: William T. Auclair
  • Patent number: 6159057
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical connector of the blade and contact type in which the contact has a tuning fork shape. The tuning fork includes a first tine and a second tine which are spaced apart and are initially parallel to each other. The first and second tines form an elongated slot therebetween. An adjustable tensioner includes an elastic member mounted exterially of one of the tines and a set screw which extends through the elastic member and one of the tines and is engaged with the other of the tines. By adjusting the set screw, the second of the tines is biased in a direction towards the first of the tines and the spacing between the first and second tines is reduced. In this manner, the contact pressure and spacing can be adjusted so that when the blade is inserted into the slot formed by the tines, the frictional resistance can be adjusted. The blade can either be vertically or longitudinally inserted into the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Allen J. Bernardini
  • Patent number: 6142836
    Abstract: A terminal, in particular for electronic printed circuit boards, with which contact can be made with the printed circuit board in a materially connecting fashion. In order to obtain, in a terminal arrangement of this type, a more suitable, simpler and statically stable means of making contact, the terminal has at the bottom a planar, solderable bottom face as connecting face, and the printed circuit board has a corresponding, metallized area as solder face only on its upper side to which the terminal can be soldered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Hartmann & Braun GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Heinrich Deckmann, Hans-Georg Vogler, Alfred Wolf
  • Patent number: 6126493
    Abstract: An electrical fastener forms an electrical connection with an electrically conductive surface having a threaded peg. The inventive electrical fastener includes an electrically conductive body electrically connected to an electrical wire and a threadless sleeve for attachment to the threaded peg. In a first embodiment of this invention, the electrically conductive body consists of an eyelet terminal having a plurality of tabs for locking the sleeve to the eyelet terminal. In a second embodiment of this invention, the electrically conductive body and the sleeve are of a unitary piece, preferably with the sleeve extruded or cold stamped from the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Donald D. Price, Guy Faucher
  • Patent number: 6123573
    Abstract: A strain relief assembly is readily adaptable to clamp electrical cords of various sizes and/or shapes. The assembly is provided with differently configured clamping surfaces that may accommodate a variety of cords without compromising the ability of the clamp assembly to secure the various cords, and a user of the assembly may easily select a desired clamping surface. The assembly includes a base clamp member with a clamping surface, a securing member that may also include a clamping surface, and an insert that includes a clamping surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald R. Savicki, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6077096
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment of a stud employs a unique thread pattern. A further aspect of the present invention stud includes a body, head and reduced diameter neck configuration. In another aspect of the present invention, the stud is an electrically grounded weld stud. A protective cap is provided for deterring contamination of the threaded portion of a weld stud in still another aspect of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Emhart Inc.
    Inventors: Allen Dale Moring, Lawrence John Higgins, Mark H. Delcourt
  • Patent number: 6071154
    Abstract: A disconnectable power-cable connector with a bus-shaped connection blade, in which a solid connecting member is wider at one end, and a matching wedge-shaped contact housing is open along one side. The connection member is fastened to the wedge-shaped contact housing in vicinity of the blade. A cable has an end that extends into the connecting member which is insertable into the contact housing perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the contact housing. A bar extends across the top surface of a receptacle for the connecting member, and rests on top of the connecting member after having been into the contact housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Flohe GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Herbert Dung
  • Patent number: 6045414
    Abstract: The electrical connector includes a male element traveling within a female element, the male element having a cantilevered C-clamp arm opposing a C-clamp element formed on the female element. A spacer includes a planar surface with a passageway through which at least a portion of the male and female elements pass thereby slidably interlocking the male and female element to each other. The spacer further includes a wire spacer which travels between the clamp arms and separates the conductors to be clamped. Ledges are formed on the male and female elements to limit travel of the male element with respect to the female element and to limit travel of the spacer with respect to the male element. A bolt passing through the female element and threadably engaging the male element secures the male element to the female element so that the clamp arms clamp conductors as separated by the wire spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Maclean Power Systems
    Inventor: Robert DeFrance
  • Patent number: 6042431
    Abstract: A joint device is provided to increase the number of wires connectable with one bolt. The joint device includes an insulation casing 3 with a terminal insertion opening 9. A bolt 2 projects from a bottom wall of the casing 3 and a terminal table 11 is mounted around and over the bolt 2. A mount hole 4c of an LA terminal 4b is fitted down on a shaft 2a of the bolt 2; and a wire 4a extending from the terminal 4b is inserted into a wire insertion slot 8a in the casing. Next, a second LA terminal 5b is inserted in a manner similar to the above. A mount hole 5c of the LA terminal 5b is fitted down on the shaft 2a of the bolt 2; and a wire 5a is inserted into an adjacent wire insertion slot 8b. Further, a mount hole 6c of a third LA terminal 6b is fitted down on the shaft 2a of the bolt 2 and a wire 6a is inserted into the wire insertion slot 8a as the wire 4a corresponding to the first LA terminal 4b and been.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirohito Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 6033269
    Abstract: An electrical assembly including a connection box and a junction block. The connection box has an electrically conductive plate mounted on one wall which is connected to a source of electricity through an external supply section. The junction block has a plurality of electrical elements on one side and a power transmission section on the other. The latter is electrically conducted to the conductive plate by a transmission harness. Electrical power flows from the source, through the supply section, through the conductive plate, through the transmission harness, and to the electrical elements. The supply section is in the form of a single cable, as is the transmission harness. A generally rectangular attachment section is part of the supply section and receives the head of the fixing bolt and retains it therein. The head of the fixing bolt is inserted into a generally rectangular attachment section and a nut is screwed on the opposite end, thereby clamping the entire supply section together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihisa Sekido, Hideo Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 6027382
    Abstract: A fastening arrangement comprises a screw (14) to be used as a weld screw for the arrangement of at least one cable terminal (20) with a cable holder (21). The screw (14) has a base portion (15) which is polygonal in cross section with an outer rim (16), and with a plastic part (1) which cooperates with the screw (14) and of which the lower portion (2) has an aperture (3) with an inner rim (4) adapted to the outer rim (16) of the base portion (15) and of which the upper portion (5) has recesses (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f) limited by pegs (7a, 7b; 7b, 7c; 7c, 7d; 7d, 7e; 7e, 7f; 7f, 7a) with an orifice (8) for receiving the cable holder (21). At least one peg (7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, 7e, 7f) two adjacent pegs (7a, 7b; 7b, 7c; 7c, 7d; 7d, 7e; 7e, 7f; 7f, 7a) has at least one web (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e, 9f) which extends to the adjacent peg (7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, 7e, 7f) and partially limits the orifice (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Emhart Inc.
    Inventors: Johann Reindl, Joachim Schneider
  • Patent number: 6004166
    Abstract: An electrical connector has separable members for clamping plural conduits for separable circuits for electronic equipment. The members are clamped by a securement member extending through passages in the members and secured by a fastener. A plurality of prongs extend through openings in the members to engage electrical conductors to external circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Inventor: George F. Cardas
  • Patent number: 6004159
    Abstract: A fuse box and fuse holder assembly includes a fuse box, at least one pair of fuse holders mounted inside the fuse box for holding fuse means, the fuse box including a bottom shell and a top cover shell covered on the bottom shell, the bottom shell having at least one pair of shields which receive the at least one pair of fuse holders respectively, a plurality of bottom through holes respectively disposed inside the shields, a plurality of screws respectively mounted in the bottom through holes to secure the fuse holders inside the shields, pairs of locating plates respectively extended from the shields at two opposite sides for supporting the fuse holders in place, and a plurality of retaining holes symmetrically disposed at two opposite sides thereof, the top cover shell having a plurality of downwardly extended hooks respectively hooked in the retaining holes at the bottom shell, the shields each having a tool hole corresponding to the wire clamp of the respective fuse holder, the fuse holders each having
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Inventor: Shih-Tsung Liang
  • Patent number: 5997341
    Abstract: A terminal connecting-fixing construction for fixedly fastening at least two plate-like terminals to a mating connection portion having connection bolts corresponding respectively to the terminals, each of the terminals including a wire connection portion formed integrally with and extending from an electrical contact portion having a screw insertion hole, the terminal connecting-fixing construction comprises: a terminal retaining piece portion for positioning the terminal, formed on that edge of the electrical contact portion directed away from the wire connection portion; and a positioning member which includes positioning terminals for fitting respectively on the terminal retaining piece portions, and a mounting board fixedly holding the positioning terminals such that the positioning terminals correspond respectively to the connection bolts, wherein the terminals are fixedly fastened, together with the positioning member, to the mating connection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Keiji Ushiyama, Toshirou Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 5920456
    Abstract: A bonding screw is pre-assembled in a distribution panel in a non-bonding position that does not bond a neutral bar within the panel enclosure to the enclosure wall. This allows an installer of the panel to select between the option of maintaining the bonding screw in the pre-assembled non-bonding position and the option of positioning the bonding screw from non-bonding position to a bonding position. A basepan is disposed within the enclosure between the neutral bar and the enclosure's back wall. The non-bonding position is defined by the screw shank thread having a threaded engagement with a through-hole in a basepan, the head of the bonding screw being spaced from the neutral bar, and the shank of the bonding screw being spaced from the enclosure's back wall. The bonding position is defined by the head of the electrically conductive part being disposed against the neutral bar and the shank being threaded into an extruded hole in the enclosure's back wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Bozzone, William E. Rose
  • Patent number: 5906495
    Abstract: This invention is a secure and long-lasting ground connection, or isolation terminal, for, for example, fiber optic cable installations. The isolation terminal has a proximal end with a hole in a conductive element for receiving a stud extending out from the terminal box, and a nut placed on the stud, or for receiving a bolt placed in the hole for being received by the terminal box. Surrounding and enclosing the conductive element with the hole is a walled structure which is adapted on its lower end to fit and cooperate with the external wall of the terminal box, helping to create a tight seal between the terminal box and the isolation terminal. The inside of the walled structure creates a cavity which is closeable by means of a close-fitting cap, for example. After tightly attaching the isolation terminal to the terminal, the cavity is filled with an insulator, like a dielectric gel, for example, and then the cap is closed to securely cover the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Inventor: Robert Morgan
  • Patent number: 5876224
    Abstract: The invention resides in a connector having a body extending in a lengthwise direction along a central axis. The body has a first portion defining at least one conductor engaging surface and having a second portion with at least one tracking engaging member extending therefrom. The at least one tracking engaging member being rigidly, nonmovably connected to the body. The body further has means for locking it to a track by causing the at least one tracking gauging member to wedge against a corresponding surface associated with the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Framatome Connectors USA Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher G. Chadbourne
  • Patent number: 5842894
    Abstract: A fixing element has a screwthread for fixing to a main member. The fixing element includes a cable lug and a contact plate defined on the cable lug. The contact plate is completely rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the fixing element but is not removable from the fixing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Nedschroef Plettenberg GmbH
    Inventor: Reinhard Mehlberg
  • Patent number: 5791936
    Abstract: A protective cover for substantially completely enclosing a ground junction connector to inhibit contamination of the electrical contact surfaces of the ground junction connector when it is in use. The cover comprises a housing that fits over the ground junction connector and an end cap which matingly engages the housing to trap the ground junction connector in an enclosed position within the housing. The housing has a lower surface with a bolt hole formed therein and an upper surface with a larger access hole formed therein. The holes are in coaxial alignment with one another so that a bolt may be inserted through the access hole, into engagement with an eyelet attached to the ground junction connector, and out through the bolt hole to connect with the ground point. The end cap has a wire hole through which a wire harness attached to the ground junction connector extends. A lid is attached to the housing by a hinge and seals the access hole when in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: James Bradford Nicholson
  • Patent number: 5772479
    Abstract: The present invention provides a circuit breaker having a terminal nut retainer 10 for securely holding a nut 65 in a fixed position adjacent and below a circuit breaker terminal 60. The circuit breaker is placed in a circuit by securing a source electrical connector to a source terminal and/or a load electrical connector to a load terminal. A screw 61 is used to fasten the electrical connector 67 to its respective terminal 60. The nut 65 for the screw 61 is held in a fixed position by the terminal nut retainer 10. The terminal nut retainer 10 has a nut retaining cavity 14 defined by walls which hold the nut 65 and keep it from turning while the screw 61 is tightened to establish a tight electrical connection between the connector 67 and the terminal 60. The terminal nut retainer 10 is held in position by a sliding and locking engagement between projections 30 and 34, respectively, on the terminal nut retainer 10 and slots 52 and 54, respectively, in the circuit breaker casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Inventors: Dennis William Fleege, Donald Charles Francis, Jr., Randall Luther Siebels
  • Patent number: 5733153
    Abstract: A connector for connecting a cable including a socket housing having a terminals screw for connecting the cable, a substrate pin for electric connection with the terminal screw, and a pin header on which the socket housing can be mounted to cover the screw. With this connector, no dedicated tool or dedicated machine is required when connecting a cable to the socket housing, which insures improved workability as well as the safety of the connector and realizes size reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noboru Takahashi, Masanori Kachi
  • Patent number: 5713765
    Abstract: A conical contact of a male plug is biased by a coil spring which rides on a cylindrical tail. A bushing compresses the spring, but is held captive on the tail by a pin passing radially through the bushing and a slot through the tail. A female receptacle has a conical hole to receive the conical contact. A sleeve extends from the hole, providing two ramp shaped slots to engage the protruding ends of the pin on the male plug. When the connector is mated, the bushing is inserted into the sleeve and the ends of the pin engage the slots in the sleeve, causing the conical contact to enter the conical hole. Rotation of the bushing causes the ends of the pin to ride the ramp shaped slots inward, causing the conical contact to rotate as the spring compresses, forcing the conical contact into the conical hole. When fully mated, the ends of the pin fall into detent positions at the ends of the slots, locking the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Inventor: Steven F. Nugent
  • Patent number: 5711689
    Abstract: A terminal for terminating an insulated conductor comprised of a crimp barrel having a strain relief section for crimping to the conductor insulation and a conductor gripping section for crimping to the bared end of the central conductor and a lug for connecting the terminated conductor to an electrical device. The lug extends away from the conductor gripping section towards the strain relief section and ends in an attachment section at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the conductor. The lug arrangement permits connection to terminals without bending the lug or conductor, and if made of spring material can be used to control the portion of electrical contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Walter Newman, Paul Endres
  • Patent number: 5679033
    Abstract: A terminal capacitor cover assembly having a screw portion and a jacket portion for complementarily fitting a terminal for a capacitor. This assembly provides an easy retrofit for capacitor terminals to equip them with a aesthetically acceptable and functionally superior alternative material. The assembly can be constructed of material equivalent to the operatively connected electrical lead, thus reducing the anodization and cross metallic oxidation of the capacitor terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Yosemite Investment, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell E. Eavey, Michael D. Ward
  • Patent number: 5655936
    Abstract: A terminal assembly for a threaded stud or the like which can be tightened onto the stud in a one-handed operation and which promotes constant tightening force. The terminal assembly comprises a bowed washer-like terminal adapted to be connected to, for example, a battery cable and having an aperture therein which permits the terminal to be placed in surrounding relationship to the stud. A nut has an external, axially extending sleeve concentric with the central threaded aperture which extends through the aperture in the terminal and is flanged so as to be retained in loose relationship with the terminal. Tightening the nut on the stud tends to flatten the terminal against the reaction surface immediately around the base of the stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Mark C. Meredith
  • Patent number: 5645457
    Abstract: A screw tightening structure for a switch box wherein an embedded nut is provided for the switch box, there is a bilateral bolt providing screw portions for both sides thereof, one side of screw portions of a bilateral bolt is screwed to the embedded nut, a bus bar and a LA terminal of a connecting electric wire are fixed to the other screw portion of the bilateral bolt by tightening of the nut. Since the damaged bilateral bolt can easily be dismounted, even if the bilateral bolt is damaged, the matter thereof is can be settled by only the replace of the bilateral bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Hirayama, Hidetoshi Sato, Keiji Ushiyama, Koji Miyakoshi
  • Patent number: 5639268
    Abstract: Through the wall hot and ground type stud connectors are disclosed for use being positioned through truck and other heavy duty motor vehicle battery box side walls, engine firewalls, dashboards and the like. The stud connector includes a unitary conductive connector element with opposed first and second male connector ends and a radially enlarged central segment therebetween. In the hot type stud connector an overmold insulative member extends around part of the enlarged central segment and has a face that abuts a surface of a wall member and an annular flange that extends through a wall aperture to insulate the connector from the wall. An insulative nut member has a face for abutting an opposing surface of a wall member. A complementary cylindrical recess in the nut member slidingly receives the annular flange for fitting through various thicknesses of walls. The ground connector has a smaller overmold insulative member with a face for abutting one surface of a wall member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Julian Electric, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Julian, John Julian
  • Patent number: 5624287
    Abstract: A terminal for terminating an insulated conductor comprised of a crimp barrel having a strain relief section for crimping to the conductor insulation and a conductor gripping section for crimping to the bared end of the central conductor and a lug for connecting the terminated conductor to an electrical device. The lug extends away from the conductor gripping section towards the strain relief section and ends in an attachment section at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the conductor. The lug arrangement permits connection to terminals without bending the lug or conductor, and if made of spring material can be used to control the portion of electrical contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Walter Newman, Paul Endres
  • Patent number: 5616433
    Abstract: An electrical connector (20) for connecting a battery post (25) to a wire (30) is described. The electrical connector (20) comprises a U-shaped clamp (35) having (i) a concave portion (40) sized to hold the battery post (25); and (ii) opposing first and second legs (45), (50) extending from the concave portion. The first leg (45) has a first hole (55) therethrough, and the second leg (50) has a second hole (60) that is substantially aligned with the first hole. Unitary compression means extending through the first and second holes of the U-shaped clamp, is provided for (i) compressing a wire against the U-shaped clamp, and (ii) compression fitting the U-shaped clamp about the battery post. In a preferred configuration, the unitary compression means comprises a wire holding compression stud (65) extending through the first hole (55) and second hole (60), and fastening means for tightening the stud (65) on the U-shaped clamp (35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Asian International Trades Company
    Inventor: Pui K. Kau
  • Patent number: 5595510
    Abstract: A snap-on battery cable connector including an electrically conductive, elongated body formed with a pair of semi-circular jaws projecting from a central yoke and cooperating to form a battery terminal-receiving socket and formed distally with respective ears formed with first and second bores. An eccentric cam is received rotatably in the first bore and a connector pin in the second bore. A connector link connects between the pin and cam to cooperate with a crank handle mounted on cam to selectively draw the ears together to grip the terminal. A cable connector ring is carried from the yoke and is formed with a connector bore which receives a stud held therein by a cross pin and projecting therefrom to form an upstanding threaded shaft and further including a fastener for fastening the stud to the connector and a connector nut for receipt on such shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Inventor: Rizal A. Obligar