Patents Examined by Oscar Jimenez
  • Patent number: 10355419
    Abstract: Connector systems may include a connector receptacle and connector plug or insert. The connector receptacle may include a tongue. A first plurality of contacts may be formed on a top surface of the tongue. A first ground pad may be located on a top surface of tongue, and a shield may be formed around the tongue. The connector insert may include a housing and a conductive shield around the housing behind a leading edge of the connector insert. A front edge of the shield may be folded into an opening at the leading edge. In other examples, the receptacle shield may include one or more fingers. These fingers may contact the connector insert shield to form a ground path. One or more of these fingers may engage openings in the insert shield to provide a retention force between the connector insert and receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Zheng Gao, Mahmoud R. Amini, Nathan N Ng, Min Chul Kim, Colin Abraham
  • Patent number: 10243286
    Abstract: A disabling device includes an adhesive layer and/or a self-hardening material. The adhesive layer or self-hardening material contacts electrical contacts of an electrical interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Michael A. Brooks, Shadi F. Sakkab, Bryan D. Bolich
  • Patent number: 10234897
    Abstract: A dongle couples an electrophysiologic catheter and a navigational system, including a patient interface unit (PIU). The dongle permits hardware normally carried on catheter control handle to be relocated onto the dongle to render catheter “greener” and less costly to manufacture use. The dongle having a support portion with flexibility, shape memory and/or varying degrees of stiffness also advantageously allows a user more control over the placement, position and orientation of the dongle. The dongle has a body with a first electrical interface unit, and a support portion with a second electrical interface unit, the support portion having an outer flexible tubular member with shape memory. In one embodiment, the support portion comprises a gooseneck tubing. In another embodiment, the support portion comprises a coiled spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd.
    Inventor: Christopher J. Birchard
  • Patent number: 10230178
    Abstract: A connector, such as a cable connector, with terminal contacts including two parallel resilient contact beams and a third resilient beam. Tips of the two parallel resilient beams are forced apart by the third resilient beam. The third beam can also be a resilient contact beam, e.g., extending into a direction opposite to the direction of the other two contact beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Amphenol FCI Asia Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Gert Droesbeke, Gerard Marie Leon Pequignot
  • Patent number: 10218099
    Abstract: A board connector (10) includes a receptacle (20) fittable to a mating connector and fixing members (60) for fixing the receptacle (20) to a circuit board (90). The receptacle (20) is in the form of a rectangular tube and has a pair of side walls (21) facing each other in a width direction and a bottom wall (22) and a ceiling wall (23) facing each other in a height direction. At least either the side walls (21) or the bottom wall (22) include(s) mounting recesses (31) for mounting the fixing members (60) within a wall thickness between an inner side surface and an outer side surface of the receptacle (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Liping Kang, Kenji Okamura
  • Patent number: 10206430
    Abstract: A capsule for an aerosol-generating device is provided, including a shell including a base and at least one side wall extending from the base, the shell containing an aerosol-forming substrate; and a lid sealed on the at least one side wall for forming a sealed capsule, wherein the base includes a recess extending into said shell along the longitudinal axis for receiving a heater of an aerosol-generating device. An aerosol-generating device is also provided, including a power supply; at least one heater; a cavity for receiving the capsule containing the aerosol-forming substrate; and a mouthpiece including a piercing element for piercing the lid of the capsule, wherein the at least one heater is configured to be insertable into a recess of the capsule. An aerosol-generating system including the aerosol-generating device and the capsule is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Oleg Mironov, Michel Thorens, Rui Nuno Batista
  • Patent number: 10205253
    Abstract: A grounding terminal fitting (A) includes a base terminal fitting (10) having mounting holes (12, 13) and a base-side locking portion (14, 15), and a combined terminal fitting (20) separate from the base terminal fitting (10) and to be fixed while being overlapped on the base terminal fitting (10) by being locked to the base-side locking portion (14, 15). The combined terminal fitting (20) includes at least one wire connecting terminal fitting (21) formed with a through hole (23) to be aligned with the mounting hole (12, 13) for the passage of a bolt (35). A wire connecting portion (29) for connecting a grounding wire (32) and a combining locking portion (25, 26, 27, 28). When the combining locking portions (25, 26, 27, 28) are locked together, the wire connecting terminal fittings (21) are overlapped and fixed and the through holes (23) are aligned with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Kitagawa, Takashi Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 10205266
    Abstract: A wiring-harness includes a wire cable, a connector, and a dress cover. The connector is attached to a portion of the wire cable. The connector has a terminal-face and a wire-cable-face with a body between the terminal-face and the wire-cable-face. The dress cover is attached to a portion of the body. An extension of the dress-cover overlays the wire-cable-face. The extension is configured to guide the wire cable in a predetermined direction. The extension is further configured to be releasably retained by a robotic assembler. The dress cover is further configured to transmit an insertion-force from the robotic assembler to the connector when the terminal-face is inserted into a mating-connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited
    Inventors: David R. Peterson, Joseph Sudik, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10205262
    Abstract: A connecting device for detachably connecting electrical connections, for example between a rechargeable battery and an electrical power tool or a rechargeable battery and a charging device. The connecting device includes a carrier unit and at least one receptacle connectable to the carrier unit. A receptacle as part of and for connection to a connecting device. A carrier unit as part of a connecting device and for accommodating at least one receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rene Richter, Thomas Thanner, Juliane Froeschke, Johannes Stempfhuber
  • Patent number: 10199787
    Abstract: An arrangement for electrical lines is set forth which is mounted in a steering column switching module and/or in a steering wheel mounted on the module, equipped with its ends electrically conductively connected to one of the electrical components, which is fixedly mounted in the steering wheel switching module or in the steering wheel mounted thereon. At least two of the lines are connected with their other free ends to electrical contacts, which are arranged in at least one coupling body of insulation material in such a way that they are accessible on the plug-in side thereof. The coupling body is accessible from the outside connected with a plug-in side on or in the steering column switching module of the motor vehicle and, in the assembly position, an electrical line leading to the coupling body is connected through an electrical line leading to the onboard network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: NEXANS
    Inventors: Frank Schroer, Helmut Rebhan, Alexander Steinert, Markus Wall
  • Patent number: 10199783
    Abstract: A flexible, extendable power strip with multiple modular components linked together along a flexible wire which allows each modular unit of the power strip to be placed remote from the next to power multiple devices from the same wall power outlet. The cord may retract within the modular units when the units are connected together by any suitable means. Power outlets may be on one or more faces of each of the modular units, and additional outlets including USB outlets may also be included in each modular unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Valiant Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Michael F. Finn, Adam B. Clay
  • Patent number: 10199762
    Abstract: The invention relates to a waterproof electronic control device such that a connector unit is inserted into at least one wall face of a case, a control substrate is incorporated in a housing chamber formed of the case and connector unit, an aperture portion and an upper face of the connector unit are covered with a cover, and a waterproofing member is disposed on a contact surface of each of the case, connector unit, and cover. A structure is such that a first inclined portion is provided in a side wall of one portion of the case, a regulating wall is provided in a direction opposing an inclined face of the first inclined portion, a second inclined portion of the connector unit is provided in a position opposing the first inclined portion and comes into contact with an inner face of the regulating wall when inserted into the case, and the first inclined portion and the second inclined portion come into contact at a final insertion stage of the second inclined portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Kaneko, Tadayuki Fujimoto, Ryoji Saki, Kensuke Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 10193245
    Abstract: A conductor terminal includes at least one insulating-material housing, at least one contact insert arranged at least partially in the insulating-material housing that has at least one contact piece and at least one clamping spring. The contact piece with the clamping spring forms at least one conductor clamping point for an electrical conductor to be contacted by the conductor terminal, which electrical conductor can be acted upon by a spring force of the clamping spring. At least one actuating lever is pivotably supported in the insulating-material housing for actuating the clamping spring. The actuating lever can be pivoted from a closed position to an open position and vice versa in relation to the insulating-material housing and/or the contact piece. An electrical conductor inserted into the conductor terminal is not acted upon by the spring force of the clamping spring at the conductor clamping point at least in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: WAGO Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Markus Lorenschat, Rudolf Mastel, Maria Glammerer
  • Patent number: 10193264
    Abstract: A electrical outlet cover has prongs, a cover plate, and a grasping arm that is pivotable between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the arm is flush with the cover plate. In the open position, the grasping arm extends from the outlet cover and is used to pull the outlet cover out of the outlet. The grasping arm may be curved. To release one end of the grasping arm so that the arm can be pivoted to the open position, a user presses on the arm to straighten the curved arm. The straightening of the arm disengages a free end of the arm from the cover plate and permits pivoting. In embodiments where the pivotable attachment of the arm to the cover plate is spaced vertically higher or lower than the prongs, the cover plate may rotate slightly as the grasping arm is pulled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Elbee Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Andrew Marsden
  • Patent number: 10186796
    Abstract: A connector unit (30) is configured to be connectable to a mating connector (10). The connector unit (30) includes a plurality of sub-connectors (40, 50, 60) and a frame (32). Each of the sub-connectors (40, 50, 60) includes a connector housing (42, 52, 62) and male terminals (46, 56, 66) held by the connector housing with male terminal portions (47, 57, 67) projecting out from the connector housing. The frame (32) includes a uniting frame portion (34) for holding the plurality of sub-connectors in a united state with the male terminal portions of the plurality of sub-connectors facing in the same direction and a surrounding frame portion (36) for surrounding the male terminal portions of the plurality of sub-connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeto Kato
  • Patent number: 10177466
    Abstract: The present invention provides a piercing-through structure for a connector, comprising a hollow-core body, a lead, and a receptacle. Wherein a front connection portion is disposed at a front end of the hollow-core body; a plurality of wires extending forward is disposed at a front end of the lead disposed at a rear segment in the hollow-core body; and a plurality of metallic spikes is disposed at a front end of the connector of the receptacle and a connection sleeve movably fits around a front end of the body. So that connecting the hollow-core body and the receptacle together enables the connection sleeve of the receptacle to fit around the front connection portion of the hollow-core body, allowing the metallic spikes to pierce across surfaces of the wires such that, after piercing insulating sheaths of the wires, the metallic spikes come into contact with metallic cores of the wires, so as to achieve electrical connection of the connector of the receptacle and the wires of the hollow-core body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: OUTDOOR SOLUTIONS ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jui Chih Hung, Feng Ching Hsueh
  • Patent number: 10178790
    Abstract: A terminal block for an electronic device, which block can be attached to an electronics housing of the electronic device, includes at least one base strip comprising a plurality of connector sockets; and a plurality of connector modules that can be attached to the connector sockets of the at least one base strip in at least one insertion direction, are held on the connector sockets in an inserted position, and can be released from the connector sockets to be removed from the at least one base strip; and a locking device. The locking device includes: an actuating part that can be moved relative to the at least one base strip in an actuation direction; and a plurality of locking elements that are engaged in a locking manner in mating elements of the connector modules in a locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Eduard Unger, Frank Best, Joerg Soefker, Detlev Falk, Christian Funke
  • Patent number: 10170863
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulative housing, a number of conductive terminals affixed to the insulative housing, a shielding shell enclosing the insulative housing; and a sealer. The insulative housing includes a base portion and a tongue portion extending forwardly from the base portion. Each conductive terminal includes a contacting portion exposed to the tongue portion. The shielding shell includes a number of locking grooves penetrating rearward and a number of tubers and each sandwiched between two locking grooves. The sealer seals a rear end of the shielding shell. The sealer includes a number of tubers corresponded with the locking grooves of the shielding shell and a number of locking grooves receiving the tubers of the shielding shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: FOXCONN INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Jin-Guo Qiu, Gang Hu
  • Patent number: 10159277
    Abstract: A smoking article is provided, including a combustible heat source having opposed front and rear faces; an aerosol-forming substrate downstream of the rear face of the heat source; a first heat-conducting element including one or more radially inner layers of heat-conductive material overlying a rear portion of the combustible heat source; and a second heat-conducting element including one or more radially outer layers of heat-conductive material overlying at least a portion of the aerosol-forming substrate, such that the one or more radially outer layers of heat-conductive material do not overlie the one or more radially inner layers of heat-conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS S.A.
    Inventor: Samuel Bonnely
  • Patent number: 10164351
    Abstract: A bonding clip shell for protecting a bonding point between a bonding lead and a bonding strap. The bonding clip shell comprises a first part which comprises a first end, a second end, and an inner surface, the inner surface comprising a protrusion and a first seal, and a second part which comprises a first end, a second end and an inner surface, the inner surface comprising a cavity and a second seal. In the first ends of the first and second parts respectively, the first and second parts are joined through a hinge area. The cavity is configured to house and fix the protrusion providing a click system. When the protrusion is housed in the cavity, the first and second seals are configured to hermitically seal the inner surfaces of the bonding clip shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Airbus Operations S.L.
    Inventor: Adolfo Ávila Gutiérrez