IP Library Granted Patent US 10,554,026
Granted Patent B2
US 10,554,026 · App. 16/011,170 · Granted Feb 4, 2020

Integrated systems facilitating wire and cable installations

Inventors: John R. Carlson (Newnan, GA); David Brian McCardel (Marietta, GA); David A. Cooper (Douglasville, GA); David Mercier (Carrollton, GA); Philip Sasse (Douglasville, GA); Allan W. Daniel (Woodland, AL); Timothy M. Andrea (Douglasville, GA); Juan Alberto Galindo Gonzalez (Powder Springs, GA); Timmothy R. Bardin (Carrollton, GA)
Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
H02G1/081H02G15/043
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,554,026
App. No.
16/011,170
Granted
Feb 4, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Pulling eyes are provided with integrated wiring systems suitable for installing conductors or cables. The pulling eyes may include body portions that define interior cavities that are sized to snugly engage outside portions of the conductors or cables. The body portions are sized to be deformably crimped onto the outside portions of the conductors or cables. The pulling eyes may also include head portions joined to the body portions, with the head portions defining apertures for receiving a strength member for installing the conductors or cables. These apertures place the interior cavities in communication with the exteriors of the pulling eyes.

Claims (34)

1. A method comprising:

causing a first indicia to be applied to a body portion of a pulling eye at a first position on the body portion, wherein the body portion of the pulling eye defines an interior cavity for receiving a conductor; and

causing a second indicia to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye at a second position on the body portion that is different from the first position on the body portion where the first indicia is caused to be applied, wherein the first indicia has a first configuration that is visually distinct from a second configuration of the second indicia, wherein the first indicia and the second indicia indicate a sequential order for applying a plurality of crimps to the body portion, wherein the first indicia indicates that a first crimp of the plurality of crimps be applied to the first position on the body portion before a second crimp of the plurality of crimps is applied to the second position on the body portion, and wherein the second indicia indicates that the second crimp of the plurality of crimps be applied to the second position on the body portion after the first crimp of the plurality of crimps is applied to the first position on the body portion.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing the first indicia to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye at the first position on the body portion comprises causing the first indicia to be applied such that the first indicia has a first rotational alignment on the body portion, wherein causing the second indicia to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye at the second position on the body portion comprises causing the second indicia to be applied such that the second indicia has a second rotational alignment on the body portion, and wherein the first rotational alignment of the first indicia on the body portion is different from the second rotational alignment of the second indicia on the body portion.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first rotational alignment on the body portion of the first indicia and the second rotational alignment on the body portion of the second indicia provide a guide for rotationally aligning a crimping tool at the first position on the body portion to apply the first crimp of the plurality of crimps to the body portion and for rotationally aligning the crimping tool at the second position on the body portion to apply the second crimp of the plurality of crimps to the body portion, respectively.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

causing, based on at least the first indicia, the first crimp to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye at the first position on the body portion prior to causing the second crimp to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye at the second position on the body portion; and

after causing the first crimp to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye, causing the second crimp to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye at the second position on the body portion.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein causing the first crimp to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye at the first position on the body portion further comprises applying, using the crimping tool, the first crimp to the body portion at the first position on the body portion at the first rotational alignment relative to the body portion as indicated by the first indicia and applying, using the crimping tool, the second crimp to the body portion at the second position on the body portion at the second rotational alignment relative to the body portion as indicated by the second indicia such that the first crimp and the second crimp have differing rotational alignment relative to one another.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first indicia further indicates a first rotational alignment relative to the body portion for positioning a crimping tool to perform the first crimp of the plurality of crimps and the second indicia further indicates a second rotational alignment relative to the body portion for positioning the crimping tool to perform the second crimp of the plurality of crimps, wherein the first rotational alignment indicated by the first indicia is different from the second rotational alignment indicated by the second indicia.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first indicia comprises a first element of a mnemonic device and the second indicia comprises a second element of the mnemonic device.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

causing, based on at least the first indicia, the first crimp to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye at the first position on the body portion prior to causing the second crimp to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye at the second position on the body portion; and

after causing the first crimp to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye, causing the second crimp to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye at the second position on the body portion.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein causing, based on at least the first indicia, the first crimp to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye at the first position on the body portion prior to causing the second crimp to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye at the second position on the body portion comprises applying, using a crimping tool, the first crimp to the body portion of the pulling eye at the first position on the body portion prior to applying, using the crimping tool, the second crimp to the body portion of the pulling eye at the second position on the body portion.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising causing, based on at least the first indicia, the first crimp to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye at the first position on the body portion, wherein the first crimp is positioned on at least a portion of the first indicia and wherein the first crimp extends around only a portion of a circumference of the body portion of the pulling eye.

11. A method comprising:

causing a first indicia to be applied to a body portion of a pulling eye at a first position on the body portion, wherein the first indicia indicates that a first crimp be applied to the body portion at the first position on the body portion, and wherein the body portion of the pulling eye defines an interior cavity for receiving a conductor; and

causing a second indicia to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye at a second position on the body portion that is different from the first position on the body portion where the first indicia is caused to be applied, wherein the first indicia has a first configuration that is visually distinct from a second configuration of the second indicia, wherein the second indicia indicates that a second crimp be applied to the body portion at the second position, and wherein the first indicia further indicates that the first crimp be applied to the first position on the body portion before the second crimp is applied to the second position on the body portion.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein causing the first indicia to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye at the first position on the body portion comprises causing the first indicia to be applied such that the first indicia has a first rotational alignment on the body portion, wherein causing the second indicia to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye at the second position on the body portion comprises causing the second indicia to be applied such that the second indicia has a second rotational alignment on the body portion, and wherein the first rotational alignment of the first indicia on the body portion is different from the second rotational alignment of the second indicia on the body portion.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first rotational alignment on the body portion of the first indicia and the second rotational alignment on the body portion of the second indicia provide a guide for rotationally aligning a crimping tool at the first position on the body portion to apply the first crimp to the body portion and for rotationally aligning the crimping tool at the second position on the body portion to apply the second crimp to the body portion, respectively.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

causing, based on at least the first indicia, the first crimp to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye at the first position on the body portion prior to causing the second crimp to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye at the second position on the body portion; and

after causing the first crimp to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye, causing the second crimp to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye at the second position on the body portion.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein causing the first crimp to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye at the first position on the body portion further comprises applying, using the crimping tool, the first crimp to the body portion at the first position on the body portion at the first rotational alignment relative to the body portion as indicated by the first indicia and applying, using the crimping tool, the second crimp to the body portion at the second position on the body portion at the second rotational alignment relative to the body portion as indicated by the second indicia such that the first crimp and the second crimp have differing rotational alignment relative to one another.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first indicia further indicates a first rotational alignment relative to the body portion for positioning a crimping tool to perform the first crimp and the second indicia further indicates a second rotational alignment relative to the body portion for positioning the crimping tool to perform the second crimp, wherein the first rotational alignment indicated by the first indicia is different from the second rotational alignment indicated by the second indicia.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first indicia comprises a first element of a mnemonic device and the second indicia comprises a second element of the mnemonic device.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

causing, based on at least the first indicia, the first crimp to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye at the first position on the body portion prior to causing the second crimp to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye at the second position on the body portion; and

after causing the first crimp to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye, causing, the second crimp to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye at the second position on the body portion.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein causing, based on at least the first indicia, the first crimp to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye at the first position on the body portion prior to causing the second crimp to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye at the second position on the body portion comprises applying, using a crimping tool, the first crimp to the body portion of the pulling eye at the first position on the body portion prior to applying, using the crimping tool, the second crimp to the body portion of the pulling eye at the second position on the body portion.

20. A method comprising:

causing a first indicia to be applied to a body portion of a pulling eye at a first position on the body portion, wherein the first indicia indicates that a first crimp be applied to the body portion at the first position on the body portion, and wherein causing the first indicia to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye at the first position on the body portion comprises causing the first indicia to be applied such that the first indicia has a first rotational alignment on the body portion; and

causing a second indicia to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye at a second position on the body portion, wherein the second indicia indicates that a second crimp be applied to the body portion at the second position, wherein the first indicia further indicates that the first crimp be applied to the first position on the body portion before the second crimp is applied to the second position on the body portion, wherein causing the second indicia to be applied to the body portion of the pulling eye at the second position on the body portion comprises causing the second indicia to be applied such that the second indicia has a second rotational alignment on the body portion, and wherein the first rotational alignment of the first indicia on the body portion is different from the second rotational alignment of the second indicia on the body portion.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2025
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC; COLEMAN CABLE, LLC; TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, LLC; SUMNER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC; MADISON ELECTRIC PRODUCTS, LLC; NOVINIUM, LLC; NOVINIUM HOLDINGS, INC.; WATTEREDGE, LLC; TAPPAN WIRE & CABLE, LLC; UNITED COPPER INDUSTRIES, LLC; TOPAZ LIGHTING COMPANY LLC; OBI PARTNERS, LLC; WIIP, INC.
Reel/Frame 072299/0141 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENTS Recorded Oct 23, 2024
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
To: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC; COLEMAN CABLE, LLC (F/K/A COLEMAN CABLE, INC.); TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, LLC (F/K/A TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH CORPORATION); SUMNER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC; MADISON ELECTRIC PRODUCTS, LLC; NOVINIUM, LLC; WATTEREDGE, LLC; TAPPAN WIRE & CABLE, LLC; UNITED COPPER INDUSTRIES, LLC; TOPAZ LIGHTING COMPANY LLC; OBI PARTNERS, LLC; WIIP, INC.
Reel/Frame 069235/0104 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 1, 2020
From: ANDREA, TIMOTHY M.
To: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY
Reel/Frame 054498/0077 →
CERTIFICATE OF CONVERSION Recorded Sep 1, 2020
From: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY
To: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 053663/0201 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 19, 2019
From: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC; SUMNER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC; COLEMAN CABLE, LLC; TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049522/0643 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 19, 2019
From: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC; COLEMAN CABLE, LLC; TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, LLC; SUMNER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK
Reel/Frame 049522/0836 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 19, 2018
From: CARLSON, JOHN R.; BARDIN, TIMMOTHY R.; COOPER, DAVID A.; DANIEL, ALLAN W.; GONZALEZ, JUAN ALBERTO GALINDO; MCCARDEL, DAVID BRIAN; MERCIER, DAVID; SASSE, PHILIP; ANDREA, TIMOTHY M.
To: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 046392/0872 →
Continuity (7)
Division 14456594 · Aug 11, 2014
Continuation In Part 12726992 · Mar 18, 2010
Provisional Application 61244919 · Sep 23, 2009
Provisional Application 61221216 · Jun 29, 2009
Provisional Application 61174210 · Apr 30, 2009
Provisional Application 61162589 · Mar 23, 2009
Related Publication 20180301879A1 · Oct 18, 2018