Patents Represented by Attorney Robert M. Rodrick
  • Patent number: 5167530
    Abstract: A patch panel assembly includes a patch panel to which plural elongate jack clusters are mounted. The jack clusters are supported by the panel within openings therein. Each jack cluster has a front face adjacent a front surface of the panel and an opposed rear face adjacent a rear surface of the panel. Each jack cluster includes openings therein for receipt of plug type connectors from the front face thereof. In addition, each jack cluster includes a pair of mounting elements extending from the rear face thereof at opposed ends thereof. The pair of mounting elements are mutually transversely offset with respect to one another. The mounting elements support an elongate mass termination connector at an angularly offset relation with respect to the jack cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Wallgren, Julio F. Rodrigues
  • Patent number: 5167542
    Abstract: A keying arrangement for interconnectable components is disclosed. The keying arrangement is particularly useful for fiber optic connector assemblies having a receptacle connector with key projections integrally formed therewith in one of plural different key positions. These key positions may be dictated by an industry standard. A plug connector of the assembly includes a multi-positionable key element. The key element is positionable in plural different orientations to provide keyways which uniquely accommodate one of the plural different key positions of the receptacle connector. Rotative movement of the key element within the plug connector provides the plural different orientations and thereby the plural keyways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: Louis F. Haitmanek
  • Patent number: 5152699
    Abstract: The invention concerns a filtered plug connector comprising a housing and plug pins which are held therein. The filtering of high-frequency signals to ground is achieved by multi-layer ceramic capacitors electrically connected between the plug pins and a ground plate. For mechanically fixing same, the capacitors are resiliently clamped between the plug pins and bent, resilient portions which project from the ground plate adjacent openings in the ground plate through which the pins pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: Hans-Dieter Pfeifer
  • Patent number: 5141445
    Abstract: A shielded electrical connector for surface connection to a printed circuit board comprises an electrically insulative body supporting a plurality of electrical contacts. Each contact includes a first portion for making contact with a complementary contact of a mateable connector when in use, and a second portion adapted to be connected to a surface of a printed circuit board. The connector further includes electrically conductive shielding contact means mounted on the body for shielding or grounding the electrical contacts. The shielding contact means comprises a plurality of electrically connected shielding finger contacts that are adapted to be connected to the printed circuit board surface. As such, when the connector is mounted to the circuit board, the electrical contacts and the finger contacts may be simultaneously connected to conductive pads on the printed circuit board by conventional reflow soldering techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: Philip V. Little
  • Patent number: 5134182
    Abstract: A composition based upon a blend of lower alkyl or lower alkoxyalkyl polyacrylate ester elastomers with one or more materials selected from liquid butadiene acrylonitrile copolymers and halogenated fire-retardant plasticizers. Blends with the liquid butadiene acrylonitrile copolymers include from about 5 to about 50% by weight of the copolymer and from about 50 to about 95% by weight of the polyacrylate ester elastomer. Blends with the halogenated fire-retardant plasticizer include from about 5 to about 100 parts by weight of the halogenated fire-retardant plasticizer per 100 parts of the polyacrylate ester elastomer. Hydrocarbon-resistant sealant compositions further contain effective amounts of one or more plasticizers in amounts effective to plasticize the blend together with one or more reinforcing materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: Kwang-Ho Chu
  • Patent number: 5112233
    Abstract: A right-angle electrical connector comprises an insulator supporting a plurality of electrical contacts therein. The insulator includes a locator plate having a plurality of open faced slots with parallel, straight sidewalls for retentive receipt of the contacts therein. Each contact has a mating portion that is received in an aperture in the insulator, a retention portion received in the insulator slots and a terminal portion serving as a solder post for subsequent soldering to circuits on a printed circuit board. Each retention portion is of solid cross-section and preferably comprises a trapezoidal cross-section with its non-parallel edges defining relatively sharp barbs. During insertion the barbs engage the respective sidewalls in interference fit, deforming the sidewalls in a manner to retain the contact therein and to resist movement thereof in both the horizontal and vertical directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: Brent B. Lybrand
  • Patent number: 5108306
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly for terminating flat multiconductor ribbon cable includes a socket connector and a mating header connector. The socket connector includes a base supporting plural insulation piercing contacts and a cover which is movably supported over the base to effect termination of the cable to the contacts. A pull-tab strain relief member is provided which is movably supported over the cover. The pull-tab strain relief member includes a containment bar for supporting a further transverse extent of the cable between the containment bar and the cover. The pull-tab strain relief member also includes a slot through which an end portion of the cable is inserted. The connector assembly permits daisy-chain connections to be made along the length of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: Wayne Wellinsky
  • Patent number: 5107072
    Abstract: Apparatus for use in providing an electrical connector having a plug receptacle with protection from intrusion therein of foreign matter comprises a resilient membrane adapted for disposition in contiguous overlying relation to the connector. The membrane has a flat undersurface and extends therefrom to a preselected maximum thickness and therewith defines at least one recess extending from the undersurface for receipt of the connector plug receptacle. The membrane defines a pad distal from the undersurface by the extent of the recess. The pad includes a portion of thickness greatly reduced from the membrane maximum thickness and positioned for registry with a prong of the plug and readily penetrable thereby to sealingly seat the prong in the receptacle. The membrane may include a further pad penetrable for sealed passage of a communication cable therethrough. The membrane is comprised of a material adapted to self-close the membrane portion upon withdrawal of the prong and communication cable therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: Paul W. Morgan
  • Patent number: 5101079
    Abstract: An enclosure for an electrical terminal block includes a housing having a back wall and projecting side walls extending thereabout to form a bounded chamber. One side wall includes an opening formed therethrough for permitting passage of an electrical cable into the bounded chamber. A barrier member is supported by the side wall adjacent the opening. The barrier member includes a barrier wall at least partially surrounding the opening about a periphery thereof. The barrier member includes a pair of elongate oppositely directed deflectable fingers projecting inwardly from the barrier wall. Distal ends of the oppositely directed fingers overlap to close-off the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventors: Julio F. Rodrigues, Adam Fischer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5100333
    Abstract: A socket comprises a housing member having a recess for receiving an electronic package therein, the housing member supporting a plurality of contact members for making contact with respective leads of the electronic package. A cover is pivotally mounted on the housing member for covering the electronic package received in the recess and for holding the electronic package therein under pressure. An adapter is provided for receipt in the housing member, the adapter having means for receiving and aligning the leads of the electronic package in a preferred pattern. The adapter has an opening therein arranged to communicate with the electronic package in assembly. The cover is made of aluminum or other good thermally conductive material and includes a recessed portion projecting inwardly through the adapter opening for making contact with the electronic package. As such, in assembly, heat generated by the electronic package is effectively released through the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: Masao Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5100335
    Abstract: A sealed electrical connector comprises a male housing and a female housing with a seal ring disposed in a cavity in the female housing. The seal ring comprises a rubber ring body having projecting ribs on an outer peripheral surface thereof and a plurality of projecting ribs on an inner peripheral surface thereof. Around the circumference of the ring body and projecting thereinto are a plurality of locking grooves. The locking grooves are positioned to correspond with a like plurality of latch projections extending upwardly from a bottom wall in the female cavity and in engagement with the seal ring grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5096427
    Abstract: A connector assembly for electrically connecting an electronic apparatus to a printed circuit board includes a matable socket connector and head connector. The socket connector includes a lower housing which supports the electronic apparatus and which is capable of containing an insulative curable potting compound. A plurality of electrical contacts is supported by the lower housing in electrical engagement with the electronic apparatus. A cover is supportable over the lower housing for enclosing the housing. The electronic apparatus is supported within the socket connector in position so that the curable potting compound may completely surround the electronic apparatus providing an environmental seal. The socket connector is insertable into the header connector supported on the printed circuit to establish electrical connection therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: Amir-Akbar Sadigh-Behzadi
  • Patent number: 5096437
    Abstract: A connector block for connecting drop wires to conductors of a multi-conductor cable is disclosed. The connector block includes a housing having plural apertures therethrough and individual terminal modules which are insertable into the housing. The terminal modules may be inserted into the housing in plural different orientations to permit insertion of the drop wire from different directions. Each individual terminal module establishes electrical connection between a drop wire pair and a pair of conductors of the multi-conductor cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: Sidney Levy
  • Patent number: 5094623
    Abstract: The controlled impedance, low cross-talk, high density, EMI shielded electrical connector assembly comprises a receptacle connector and a plug connector for interconnecting circuits on mother and daughter printed circuit boards arranged orthogonally or in other configurations. Each of the receptacle and plug connectors comprises in preferable form, four rows of electrical contacts arranged in two outer and two inner rows. One set of inner rows and outer rows is each supported in an insulator of dielectric material which surrounds each contact and extends between an outer and inner row in each set. The contacts in the outer rows of each set are staggered with respect to the contacts in the inner rows. A conductive housing extends along the outer rows of contacts and further comprises a portion disposed adjacent the inner rows of contacts, the housing serving as a ground plane when connected to the boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Scharf, Matthew J. Fadule, Robert Brush
  • Patent number: 5093774
    Abstract: An integrated series-connected network is achieved in two-terminal format by providing a multilayer ceramic capacitor in which one set of electrodes is connected directly to one terminal of the network while the second set of electrodes is joined to an end of a resistor or an inductor and the other end of the resistor or inductor is joined to the other terminal of the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas F. Cobb
  • Patent number: 5091610
    Abstract: An electrical cable assembly includes a plurality of electrical conductors supported within an insulative casing. The conductors are arranged in side-by-side transversely spaced position and the casing surrounds and electrically isolates each of the conductors. The casing includes a major planar surface permitting mass termination to a connector. One of the conductors includes a flat surface portion which faces an adjacent one of the side-by-side conductors and also includes a curved surface portion which faces the major planar surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: Richard F. Strauss
  • Patent number: 5090917
    Abstract: An electrical connector provides for repeatable sealed termination of electrical conductors. The connector includes an insulative connector housing supporting therein an insulation displacing contact. The contact permits insertable and removable insulation displacing engagement with an insulated conductor. A sealing material is disposed within the housing around the contact for sealing the engagement of the contact with the conductor. The sealing material is displaceable upon insertable engagement of the conductor with the contact. The connector further includes a plunger supported adjacent the contact. The plunger is compressible in response to the insertable engagement of the conductor with the contact and returnable to an uncompressed condition upon removal of the conductor for returning the displaced sealing material to its original position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Noorily, Sidney Levy
  • Patent number: 5080576
    Abstract: A die apparatus permits the formation of an internal recess in a molded part. The die apparatus includes first and second mold members which are movable between an open and closed position. A core pin assembly includes a first core pin element and a second core pin element supported between the movable mold members for relative movement therewith. A resiliently deformable element is positioned between the first and second core pin elements. The resiliently deformable element is deformably expandable to form an external projection upon relative movement of the mold members to a closed position, and is elastically returnable upon the relative movement of the mold members to an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Bethurum, Randy Anderson
  • Patent number: 5074797
    Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a housing having a first groove for receiving a heat seal film therein and a second groove for receiving therein a printed wiring board. A spring contact is supported by the housing for electrically connecting an electrode on the film received in the first groove and an electrode on the substrate received in the second groove. The first groove is preferably formed to have a wider opening at its entrance to permit the heat seal film to be wedged into engagement with the spring contact in the first groove. An actuator is slidably supported in the housing for bringing the spring contact into contact with the electrode on the substrate and for holding the substrate in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshio Yamada
  • Patent number: D328279
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventors: Luis R. Couto, Nicholas Pulitano