Thomas & Betts International LLC

Robert H Osborn, Jr

Andrew C Cole

James Michael Baker

Mark R Drane

Roger D Pyron

An electrical contact terminal for an electrical connector generally includes a main contact body, a cantilevered portion extending upwardly from one end of the body and a stiffener extending the entire length of the main contact body for providing rigidity to the main contact body.

One-piece push-in electrical contact terminal

A contact terminal is useful as an electrical disconnect. The contact terminal is generally of one-piece construction having a main body and a portion thereof cantilevered from this main body. This cantilevered portion is configured with a wire receiving apparatus so as to receive the wire therein and allow the wire to make both mechanical and electrical engagement with the contact terminal. The contact terminal is also configured with an embossment or stiffener adjacent the junction of the main body and the cantilevered portion so as to provide rigidity to the cantilevered portion when this portion is subject to a wire withdrawal force.

Electrical connector components

Electrical female contact terminal

Electrical male contact terminal

A watertight modular system for floor-mounted electrical and/or data receptacles which includes a cover, a lid, a gasket and a base plate. The cover has a plurality of retaining walls extending downwardly from the lower surface and defining a plurality of enclosed regions and can also include a data port module which slidably engages a slot in the cover. The cover has at least one lid that includes a pivot mechanism at a first end for mounting the lid flush with the upper surface of the cover when in a closed position and for exposing the receptacle when in an open position and a snap-in mechanism at a second end for providing a positive hold in the closed position. When the base plate, gasket and cover are assembled, the top surface of the base plate is flush with the upper surface of the cover and the retaining walls and the continuous perimeter wall sealably contact the gasket.

Watertight flush poke-thru cover with snap-on lids

An electrical switch with connector interlock apparatus having a reusable clip-on anti-vibration retaining clip assembly used to retain the spring biased operating member in the 'on' position for high vibration application. In heavy high vibration environments, the clip assembly prevents the pushrod/operating member from vibrating out and tripping the circuit breaker. The clip assembly includes a clip preferably formed from 16 gauge pre-galvanized steel. One end of the clip is generally U-shaped to Fit into a groove formed in a bushing mounted in the wall. The opposite end of the clip extends over and engages the knob of the operating member thereby acting as the stop for the pushrod knob. With a plug inserted into the module, the pushrod must be pushed in to a second position in order to actuate the circuit breaker thereby compressing a pushrod spring. This results in stored energy in the spring. When vibration is introduced with an amplitude in the axial direction of the pushrod, the pushrod may work it way out with assistance from the compressed spring. The clip assembly prevents the pushrod from vibrating out under these conditions.

Anti-vibration retaining clip for an electrical switch with connector

A power outlet that has a moveable ground pin disposed in a receptacle and has a normal position with the pin extended and an inserted position. An actuator arm with a projection member is coupled to the ground pin and a rotational cam stop abuts the projection member. A pushrod is included that has a shaft, a lever member coupled to the shaft, and a notch for receiving at least part of the cam stop therein. A circuit breaker is disposed in the outlet and has a switch with an OFF position, and an ON position for activating the circuit breaker. The switch is coupled to the lever member. When the ground pin is actuated into the inserted position, the projection member slides away from the receptacle, rotating the cam stop such that it is clear of the notch and the pushrod thereby is enabled to throw the switch from the OFF position to the ON position. The actuator arm spring independently returns the ground pin to the normal position when the pin is removed from the receptacle and works in conjunction with the pushrod spring to throw the switch of the circuit breaker from the ON position to the OFF position if the pin is removed with the circuit breaker switch in the ON position such that the ground pin is returned to the normal position.

Growing community of inventors

Collierville, TN, United States of America

Robert H Osborn, Jr