US4312121A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Connection system for heater strips
Assignee: Raychem Corp
•
Filing: 1979-01-26
•
Granted: 1982-01-26
•
Expires: 1999-01-26
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for electrically connecting a heater strip is described. The apparatus is characterized in that a deformable grommet assembly is placed around the heater strip, so that the grommet assembly can be deformed by a pressure plate so that it fits tightly against the heater strip. The grommet assembly can hold the heater strip away from a support surface of the pipe on which the heater strip is mounted and can hold the heater strip oriented perpendicularly relative to the support surface. A grounding plate can be provided for pressing a grounding element of the heater strip against the pressure plate. An apparatus based on the same grommet assembly for electrically terminating a heater strip is also described.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald G. Tweed
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 01:50
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B3/00; H05B3/02; H05B3/06; F; F16; F16L; F16L53/00; F16L53/30; F16L53/35; F16L53/38; H02; H02G; H02G3/00; H02G3/02; H02G3/06; H02G3/0616; H02G3/08; H02G3/088; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49082; Y10T29/49083; Y10T29/49087
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
An apparatus for electrically terminating at least two heater strips located on a support surface comprising: (a) a deformable, electrically non-conductive grommet assembly for each heater strip, each grommet assembly being sized to fit circumferentially around one of the heater strips, each grommet assembly being oriented so as to hold an end of a heater strip away from the support surface; (b) chambers in a side by side relationship, one chamber for each grommet assembly, each chamber supporting and substantially completely surrounding a grommet assembly; and (c) means for deforming the grommet assemblies so each grommet assembly substantially completely fills its corresponding chamber and tightly seals against its corresponding heater strip.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
111 words
An apparatus for electrically terminating at least two heater strips located on a support surface comprising: (a) a deformable, electrically non-conductive grommet assembly for each heater strip, each grommet assembly being sized to fit circumferentially around one of the heater strips, each grommet assembly being oriented so as to hold an end of a heater strip away from the support surface; (b) chambers in a side by side relationship, one chamber for each grommet assembly, each chamber supporting and substantially completely surrounding a grommet assembly; and (c) means for deforming the grommet assemblies so each grommet assembly substantially completely fills its corresponding chamber and tightly seals against its corresponding heater strip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including means for limiting the amount each grommet assembly presses against its corresponding heater strip.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
112 words
An apparatus for electrically terminating at least two heater strips located on a support surface comprising: (a) a deformable, electrically non-conductive grommet assembly for each heater strip, each grommet assembly being sized to fit circumferentially around one of the heater strips, each grommet assembly being oriented so as to hold an end of a heater strip away from the support surface; (b) chambers in a side-by-side relationship, one chamber for each grommet assembly, each chamber supporting and substantially completely surrounding a grommet assembly; and (c) a single pressure plate for deforming the grommet assemblies so each grommet assembly substantially completely fills its corresponding chamber and tightly seals against its corresponding heater strip.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
112 words
An apparatus for electrically terminating at least two heater strips located on a support surface comprising: (a) a deformable, electrically non-conductive grommet assembly for each heater strip, each grommet assembly being sized to fit circumferentially around one of the heater strips, each grommet assembly being oriented so as to hold an end of a heater strip away from the support surface; (b) chambers in a side-by-side relationship, one chamber for each grommet assembly, each chamber supporting and substantially completely surrounding a grommet assembly; and (c) a single pressure plate for deforming the grommet assemblies so each grommet assembly substantially completely fills its corresponding chamber and tightly seals against its corresponding heater strip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which each grommet assembly is oval-shaped and at least one such grommet assembly is removably supported in its chamber so that different grommets assemblies having the same exterior dimensions but sized to fit heater strips of different exterior dimensions can be placed in the chamber for such removable grommet assembly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which each grommet assembly is oval-shaped.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which at least one grommet assembly comprises a single grommet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which at least one grommet assembly comprises at least two grommets, the grommets be vertically stacked, at least one of the grommets being formed of a material different from the material from which another grommet is formed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the support surface is a pipe.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
235 words
A housing for electrically connecting first and second heater strips on a pipe comprising: (a) a mounting bracket adapted to sit on the exterior surface of the pipe, the mounting bracket having at least two flanges extending axially along the exterior surface of the pipe for placement of clamping means on each flange and around the pipe for maintaining the mounting bracket in a selected position on the pipe, the mounting bracket having exit means for the heater strips, the exit means being oriented for maintaining the ends of the heater strips away from the surface of the pipe, the mounting bracket also having an entrance hole for each heater strip so that the heater strips can be inserted into the housing; (b) a first deformable, electrically non-conductive sealing means for placement around the first heater strip and a second deformable, electrically non-conductive sealing means for placement around the second heater strip, each sealing means having a hole therethrough aligned with the exit means through the mounting bracket, each hole through a sealing means corresponding to the size and shape of a heater strip; (c) elements defining a chamber for holding each of the sealing means in side-by-side relationship, the elements being supported by the mounting bracket; and (d) means for deforming each of the sealing means so that each sealing means substantially completely fills its chamber and tightly seals against its corresponding heater strip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
235 words
A housing for electrically connecting first and second heater strips on a pipe comprising: (a) a mounting bracket adapted to sit on the exterior surface of the pipe, the mounting bracket having at least two flanges extending axially along the exterior surface of the pipe for placement of clamping means on each flange and around the pipe for maintaining the mounting bracket in a selected position on the pipe, the mounting bracket having exit means for the heater strips, the exit means being oriented for maintaining the ends of the heater strips away from the surface of the pipe, the mounting bracket also having an entrance hole for each heater strip so that the heater strips can be inserted into the housing; (b) a first deformable, electrically non-conductive sealing means for placement around the first heater strip and a second deformable, electrically non-conductive sealing means for placement around the second heater strip, each sealing means having a hole therethrough aligned with the exit means through the mounting bracket, each hole through a sealing means corresponding to the size and shape of a heater strip; (c) elements defining a chamber for holding each of the sealing means in side-by-side relationship, the elements being supported by the mounting bracket; and (d) means for deforming each of the sealing means so that each sealing means substantially completely fills its chamber and tightly seals against its corresponding heater strip.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The housing of claim 9 including means limiting the amount that each sealing means presses against its corresponding heater strip.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The housing of claim 9 in which the sealing means is a grommet assembly having opposing flat faces oriented substantially parallel to the pipe.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
65 words
The housing of claim 11 in which the elements defining the chambers comprise a base plate having holes therethrough, each hole through a base plate being aligned with the exit means through the mounting bracket, the base plate being at least as thick as the grommet assemblies and supported by the mounting bracket, and a grommet support for each flat face of each grommet assembly.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The housing of claim 11 in which each grommet assembly is oval-shaped.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The housing of claim 11 in which at least one grommet assembly comprises a single grommet.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The housing of claim 11 in which at least one grommet assembly comprises at least two grommets, the grommets being vertically stacked, at least one of the grommets being formed of a material different from the material from which another grommet is formed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The housing of claim 9 wherein at least one heater strip comprises a grounding element, the housing including means for grounding the grounding element of a heater strip.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The housing of claim 16 in which the means for grounding comprises a grounding terminal on the mounting bracket.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
The housing of claim 16 in which the means for grounding comprises a grounding plate for compressing a grounding element against the deforming means, both the grounding plate and the deforming means being formed of electrically conductive material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The housing of claim 9 in which the entrance holes of the mounting brackets are oriented so that each heater strip can be brought into the housing in a direction generally parallel to the pipe.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
The housing of claim 19 in which the mounting bracket has an inner surface which is radiused so that each heater strip can be gently bent so that its end extends generally perpendicular to the pipe.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
301 words
A method for electrically connecting first and second substantially flat heater strips mounted on a support surface, each heater strip having at least one conductor, the method comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a housing comprising: (i) a mounting bracket adapted to sit on the exterior surface of the support surface, the mounting bracket having exit means for the heater strips, the exit means being oriented for maintaining the ends of the heater strips away from the support surface, the mounting bracket also having an entrance hole for each heater strip so that the heater strips can be inserted into the housing; (ii) a first deformable, electrically non-conductive sealing means for placement around the first heater strip and a second deformable, electrically non-conductive sealing means for placement around the second heater strip, each sealing means having a hole therethrough aligned with the exit means through the mounting bracket, each hole through a sealing means corresponding to the size and shape of a heater strip; (iii) elements defining a chamber for holding each of the sealing means in side-by-side relationship, the elements being supported by the mounting bracket; and (iv) means for deforming each of the sealing means so that each sealing means substantially completely fills its chamber and tightly seals against its corresponding heater strip; (b) bending each heater strip so that each extends substantially perpendicular to the support surface; (c) passing the bent heater strips through the exit means of the mounting bracket, through the chamber and through the sealing means of the housing; (d) placing the mounting bracket with the heater strips extending therethrough on the support surface; (e) deforming each sealing means so that each sealing means completely fills its chamber and seals tightly against the heater strip; and (f) electrically connecting each conductor of each heater strip.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
301 words
A method for electrically connecting first and second substantially flat heater strips mounted on a support surface, each heater strip having at least one conductor, the method comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a housing comprising: (i) a mounting bracket adapted to sit on the exterior surface of the support surface, the mounting bracket having exit means for the heater strips, the exit means being oriented for maintaining the ends of the heater strips away from the support surface, the mounting bracket also having an entrance hole for each heater strip so that the heater strips can be inserted into the housing; (ii) a first deformable, electrically non-conductive sealing means for placement around the first heater strip and a second deformable, electrically non-conductive sealing means for placement around the second heater strip, each sealing means having a hole therethrough aligned with the exit means through the mounting bracket, each hole through a sealing means corresponding to the size and shape of a heater strip; (iii) elements defining a chamber for holding each of the sealing means in side-by-side relationship, the elements being supported by the mounting bracket; and (iv) means for deforming each of the sealing means so that each sealing means substantially completely fills its chamber and tightly seals against its corresponding heater strip; (b) bending each heater strip so that each extends substantially perpendicular to the support surface; (c) passing the bent heater strips through the exit means of the mounting bracket, through the chamber and through the sealing means of the housing; (d) placing the mounting bracket with the heater strips extending therethrough on the support surface; (e) deforming each sealing means so that each sealing means completely fills its chamber and seals tightly against the heater strip; and (f) electrically connecting each conductor of each heater strip.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 21 in which the step of electrically connecting comprises connecting conductors of each power strip to a heater source.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 21 in which the step of electrically connecting comprises connecting conductors of one heater strip to conductors of another heater strip.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 21 in which each heater strip comprises a grounding element and including the step of grounding the grounding element of each heater strip between an electrically conductive grounding plate and the means used for deforming each sealing means, the deforming means also being electrically conductive.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-01-25 | 1985-07-27 | 1986-01-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-01-25 | 1989-07-27 | 1990-01-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-01-25 | 1993-07-27 | 1994-01-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |