US6997759B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connector including moveable cable seating indicators and associated methods
Assignee: ABB Installation Products International LLC
•
Filing: 2004-12-30
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Granted: 2006-02-14
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Expires: 2024-12-30
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector for electrical cables includes an electrically conductive body, an insulating cover, and moveable cable seating indicators aligned with seating indicator openings in the conductive body. The electrically conductive body may have spaced apart cable-receiving passageways for receiving respective electrical cable ends therein, and with each cable-receiving passageway may have a cable inlet opening and a cable end viewing opening opposite the cable inlet opening. The electrically conductive body may also have at least one respective fastener-receiving passageway intersecting each of the cable-receiving passageways. A respective fastener may be provided in each of the fastener-receiving passageways. The moveable cable seating indicators provide a cover and permit visual confirmation of proper placement of the electrical cable end within a corresponding one of the cable-receiving passageways.
Inventors
- 👤 James L. Zahnen
- 👤 Roy E. Jazowski
- 👤 Paul W. Lubinsky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 01:30
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R9/00; H01R9/22; H01R9/24; H01R13/00; H01R13/46; H01R13/52; H01R13/5213; H01R13/523; H01R4/00; H01R4/28; H01R4/30; H01R4/36; H01R4/70; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
An electrical connector for a plurality of electrical cables comprising: an electrically conductive body having a plurality of spaced apart cable-receiving passageways for receiving respective electrical cable ends therein, each cable-receiving passageway having a cable inlet opening and a cable end opening opposite the cable inlet opening; said electrically conductive body also having at least one respective fastener-receiving passageway intersecting each of the cable-receiving passageways; a respective fastener in each of the fastener-receiving passageways; a respective moveable, electrically insulating, cable seating indicator positioned adjacent each of the cable end openings to provide a cover and to permit visual confirmation of proper placement of the electrical cable end within a corresponding one of the cable-receiving passageways based upon movement relative to said electrically conductive body; and an insulating cover on said electrically conductive body and having respective seating indicator openings therein aligned with said moveable, electrically insulating, cable seating indicators.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
An electrical connector for a plurality of electrical cables comprising: an electrically conductive body having a plurality of spaced apart cable-receiving passageways for receiving respective electrical cable ends therein, each cable-receiving passageway having a cable inlet opening and a cable end opening opposite the cable inlet opening; said electrically conductive body also having at least one respective fastener-receiving passageway intersecting each of the cable-receiving passageways; a respective fastener in each of the fastener-receiving passageways; a respective moveable, electrically insulating, cable seating indicator positioned adjacent each of the cable end openings to provide a cover and to permit visual confirmation of proper placement of the electrical cable end within a corresponding one of the cable-receiving passageways based upon movement relative to said electrically conductive body; and an insulating cover on said electrically conductive body and having respective seating indicator openings therein aligned with said moveable, electrically insulating, cable seating indicators.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said insulating cover comprises a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) forming an integrally molded bond with adjacent portions of said moveable, electrically insulating, cable seating indicators.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein each of said moveable, electrically insulating, cable seating indicators comprises TPE.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said electrically conductive body has a generally rectangular shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein each of said moveable, electrically insulating, cable seating indicators comprises a mounting flange and a pop-out indicator extending outwardly therefrom with said mounting flange being overlapped by adjacent portions of said insulating cover.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electrical connector according to claim 5 wherein said mounting flange and said pop-out indicator are integrally formed as a monolithic unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said insulating cover further comprises an integrally molded respective tubular fastener inlet aligned with each of the fastener-receiving passageways.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electrical connector according to claim 7 further comprising a respective removable fastener inlet closure cap for each of said tubular fastener inlets.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
An electrical connector according to claim 8 further comprising a respective flexible tether connected between each of said tubular fastener inlets and a corresponding one of said removable fastener inlet closure caps.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said insulating cover comprises an integrally molded respective tubular cable inlet-aligned with each of the cable inlet openings.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electrical connector according to claim 10 further comprising a respective insulating boot received in each of said tubular cable inlets.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electrical connector according to claim 11 wherein each of said insulating boots comprises a tubular sidewall having a progressively increasing diameter to an outer open end thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electrical connector according to claim 12 further comprising a respective removable boot closure cap for the open outer end of each of said insulating boots.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
172 words
An electrical connector for a plurality of electrical cables comprising: an electrically conductive body having a plurality of spaced apart cable-receiving passageways for receiving respective electrical cable ends therein, each cable-receiving passageway having a cable inlet opening and a cable end opening opposite the cable inlet opening; said electrically conductive body also having at least one respective fastener-receiving passageway intersecting each of the cable-receiving passageways; a respective moveable, electrically insulating, cable seating indicator positioned adjacent each of the cable end openings to provide a cover and to permit visual confirmation of proper placement of the insulation-free electrical cable end within a corresponding one of the cable-receiving passageways; and an insulating cover on said electrically conductive body comprising a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and having respective seating indicator openings therein aligned with said moveable, electrically insulating, cable seating indicators, said insulating cover further comprising an integrally molded respective tubular cable inlet aligned with each of the cable inlet openings, and an integrally molded respective tubular fastener inlet aligned with each of the fastener-receiving passageways.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
172 words
An electrical connector for a plurality of electrical cables comprising: an electrically conductive body having a plurality of spaced apart cable-receiving passageways for receiving respective electrical cable ends therein, each cable-receiving passageway having a cable inlet opening and a cable end opening opposite the cable inlet opening; said electrically conductive body also having at least one respective fastener-receiving passageway intersecting each of the cable-receiving passageways; a respective moveable, electrically insulating, cable seating indicator positioned adjacent each of the cable end openings to provide a cover and to permit visual confirmation of proper placement of the insulation-free electrical cable end within a corresponding one of the cable-receiving passageways; and an insulating cover on said electrically conductive body comprising a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and having respective seating indicator openings therein aligned with said moveable, electrically insulating, cable seating indicators, said insulating cover further comprising an integrally molded respective tubular cable inlet aligned with each of the cable inlet openings, and an integrally molded respective tubular fastener inlet aligned with each of the fastener-receiving passageways.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
An electrical connector according to claim 14 wherein each of said pop-out indicators comprises TPE.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electrical connector according to claim 14 wherein said electrically conductive body has a generally rectangular shape.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
An electrical connector according to claim 14 wherein each of said moveable, electrically insulating, cable seating indicators comprises a mounting flange and a pop-out indicator extending outwardly therefrom with said mounting flange portion being overlapped by adjacent portions of said insulating cover.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electrical connector according to claim 17 wherein said mounting flange and said pop-out indicator are integrally formed as a monolithic unit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
172 words
An electrical connector for a plurality of electrical cables comprising: an electrically conductive body having a plurality of spaced apart cable-receiving passageways for receiving respective electrical cable ends therein, each cable-receiving passageway having a cable inlet opening and a cable end opening opposite the cable inlet opening; said electrically conductive body also having at least one respective fastener-receiving passageway intersecting each of the cable-receiving passageways; a respective moveable, electrically insulating, cable seating indicator positioned adjacent each of the cable end openings to provide a cover and to permit visual confirmation of proper placement of the electrical cable end within a corresponding one of the cable-receiving passageways based upon movement relative to said electrically conductive body; and an insulating cover on said electrically conductive body and having respective seating indicator openings therein aligned with said moveable, electrically insulating, cable seating indicators; each of said moveable, electrically insulating, cable seating indicators comprising a pop-out indicator and a mounting flange extending outwardly therefrom, said mounting flange being overlapped by adjacent portions of said insulating cover.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
172 words
An electrical connector for a plurality of electrical cables comprising: an electrically conductive body having a plurality of spaced apart cable-receiving passageways for receiving respective electrical cable ends therein, each cable-receiving passageway having a cable inlet opening and a cable end opening opposite the cable inlet opening; said electrically conductive body also having at least one respective fastener-receiving passageway intersecting each of the cable-receiving passageways; a respective moveable, electrically insulating, cable seating indicator positioned adjacent each of the cable end openings to provide a cover and to permit visual confirmation of proper placement of the electrical cable end within a corresponding one of the cable-receiving passageways based upon movement relative to said electrically conductive body; and an insulating cover on said electrically conductive body and having respective seating indicator openings therein aligned with said moveable, electrically insulating, cable seating indicators; each of said moveable, electrically insulating, cable seating indicators comprising a pop-out indicator and a mounting flange extending outwardly therefrom, said mounting flange being overlapped by adjacent portions of said insulating cover.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electrical connector according to claim 19 wherein said insulating cover and said pop-out indicators each comprises thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electrical connector according to claim 19 wherein said insulating cover comprises an integrally molded respective tubular cable inlet aligned with each of the cable inlet openings.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electrical connector according to claim 19 wherein said insulating cover further comprises an integrally molded respective tubular fastener inlet aligned with each of the fastener-receiving passageways.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electrical connector according to claim 19 wherein said electrically conductive body has a generally rectangular shape.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
145 words
A method for making an electrical connector for a plurality of electrical cables comprising: forming an electrically conductive body to have a plurality of spaced apart cable-receiving passageways for receiving respective electrical cable ends therein, each cable-receiving passageway having a cable inlet opening and a cable end opening opposite the cable inlet opening, and at least one respective fastener-receiving passageway intersecting each of the cable-receiving passageways; aligning a respective moveable, electrically insulating, cable seating indicator adjacent each of the cable end openings to provide a cover and to permit visual confirmation of proper placement of the electrical cable end within a corresponding one of the cable-receiving passageways based upon movement relative to said electrically conductive body; and overmolding an insulating cover on the electrically conductive body and having a respective seating indicator opening therein aligned with each of the moveable, electrically insulating, cable seating indicators.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
145 words
A method for making an electrical connector for a plurality of electrical cables comprising: forming an electrically conductive body to have a plurality of spaced apart cable-receiving passageways for receiving respective electrical cable ends therein, each cable-receiving passageway having a cable inlet opening and a cable end opening opposite the cable inlet opening, and at least one respective fastener-receiving passageway intersecting each of the cable-receiving passageways; aligning a respective moveable, electrically insulating, cable seating indicator adjacent each of the cable end openings to provide a cover and to permit visual confirmation of proper placement of the electrical cable end within a corresponding one of the cable-receiving passageways based upon movement relative to said electrically conductive body; and overmolding an insulating cover on the electrically conductive body and having a respective seating indicator opening therein aligned with each of the moveable, electrically insulating, cable seating indicators.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 24 wherein the insulating cover comprises a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) forming an integrally molded bond with adjacent portions of the moveable, electrically insulating, cable seating indicators.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 24 further comprises positioning a respective fastener in each of the fastener-receiving passageways.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 24 wherein each of the moveable, electrically insulating, cable seating indicators comprises a mounting flange and a pop-out indicator extending outwardly therefrom with the mounting flange being overlapped by the adjacent portions of the insulating cover.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 24 wherein the insulating cover and each of the moveable, electrically insulating, cable seating indicators comprises thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 24 wherein overmolding the insulating cover further comprises overmolding the insulating cover to include an integrally molded respective tubular cable inlet aligned with each of the cable inlet openings, and an integrally molded respective tubular fastener inlet aligned with each of the fastener-receiving passageways.
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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) | 2009-02-13 | 2009-08-15 | 2010-02-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-02-13 | 2013-08-15 | 2014-02-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-02-13 | 2017-08-15 | 2018-02-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |