Patents Examined by P. Austin Bradley
  • Patent number: 7236429
    Abstract: A timepiece includes first, second, and third clockwise rotating central shafts, a rotary dial joined to the first central shaft, a minute hand joined to the second central shaft, a second hand positioned around the rotary dial and joined to the third central shaft, a second ring, and a time zone ring; the rotary dial has twelve hour graduations, which are marked with respective numerals arranged in counterclockwise order; the second ring having sixty graduations thereon; the time zone ring is positioned around the second ring, and divided into twenty-four subsections; each subsection of the time zone ring has an indicating point on a middle portion of an inward edge, and is printed with names of main cities and countries in a time zone; thus, people can find out current local time in the main cities and countries with the timepiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Inventor: Neng-Chang Yeh
  • Patent number: 7223126
    Abstract: A plug device for fitting into a country specific electrical wall socket comprises a base part and at least one country specific electrical plug adapter, able to be secured to the base part, for fitting into the country specific line socket. The at least one plug adapter may be locked without using tools in an assembled state with a locking means and released from the base part after unlocking the locking means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Helms-Man Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuk Hung Ng
  • Patent number: 7179130
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a device for electrically connecting an external device into a circuit running from an apparatus control switch, to an apparatus, thus allowing the interception and redirection of the control signal to the external device. It concerns a simple, completely enclosed, error-proof connector which allows for simultaneous operation of the apparatus and the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Inventors: Kerry J. Judge, Timo E. Rantikallio
  • Patent number: 7165984
    Abstract: An operating element having an end piece, which is arranged for connecting to a printed circuit board and a front plate. An operating lever is rotatably mounted on the end piece. The operating lever has at least one grip section and one on and/or off lever piece, which are at least partly made from a wear-resistant material. Such a design has the particular advantage that part of the operating element which performs an on and/or off lever action, the on and/or off lever piece, opposite the section of the operating element to manipulate, the handle, is at least partly made from a wear-resistant material. The complete unit is thus rendered significantly more robust without sacrificing ergonomics of the grip piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Rittal RES Electronic Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ralf Behrens, Werner Körber, Siegfried Kurrer, Kurt-Michael Schaffer
  • Patent number: 7164224
    Abstract: A display device includes a backlight having a discharge tube and a reflector. A heat conduction member is attached to the reflector in contact with the discharge tube, so that a part of the discharge tube is locally cooled by the heat conduction member. Liquid mercury is collected at a first position in the discharge tube, and the backlight is assembled so that the heat conduction member or other cooling device is located at the first position. Also, the display device includes an optical sheet having a diffusion portion having projections containing scattering material particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiji Hayashi, Tetsuya Kobayashi, Tetsuya Hamada, Toshihiro Suzuki, Mari Sugawara
  • Patent number: 7121863
    Abstract: A chip connector to be electrically connected to a chip. The chip connector includes an inner seat, terminals and an outer seat. The inner seat is formed with a plurality of terminal slots and a placement area in which the chip is placed. The terminals are respectively disposed in the terminal slots. Each terminal has an elastic arm, which has a connection point to be electrically connected to the chip. The outer seat has a bottom surface, a circumferential wall for enclosing the inner seat, a front end formed with a stationary pressing board for pressing a front end of the chip longitudinally, and two elastic arm portions extending backwards and formed at two sides of the outer seat. The elastic arm portions press the chip longitudinally and are elastically moved laterally to part from the chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Inventor: Chou Hsuan Tsai
  • Patent number: 7114994
    Abstract: A modular computer system includes at least one information processing module removably received at a first face of a housing, at least one computer support module removably received at a second face of the housing, at least one power supply module removably received at the second face of the housing, and a connections member. The connections member includes at least one connector at a first face of the member arranged to connect to a connector of the at least one information processing module. The connections member further includes at least one connector at a second face of the member arranged to connect to a connector of the at least one computer support module. The connections member also includes at least one connector at the second face of the member arranged to connect to a connector of the at least one power supply module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J Garnett, Peter Heffernan
  • Patent number: 7112100
    Abstract: A modular jack and a modular jack connector which are suitable for use in twisted pair wiring system and suppress coupling in and out of a modular jack are provided. A modular jack, comprising, a hollow housing of which one end is opened, and eight conductor pins which are arranged with predetermined intervals to right and left directions inside said housing, each of said conductor pins has bending portion projecting toward said opening portion (this direction is defined by “forward”), lower part of said each conductor pin corresponds to a conductor pin leg which passes through bottom of said housing, when numbers from No. 1 to No. 8 are given respectively to said each conductor pin starting from right, each set of conductor pins of No. 1 and No. 2, No. 3 and No. 6, No. 4 and No. 5, and No. 7 and No. 8 is used respectively as conductor pair, bending portions of said No. 3 and No. 6 conductor pins are positioned more forward than bending portions of other conductor pins, and conductor pin legs of said No.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignees: Hitachi Cable, Ltd., Hirose Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishikawa, Shinjiro Fujiwara, Kenichi Hirokawa
  • Patent number: 7111831
    Abstract: A cooling tower sound attenuation apparatus having at least one sheet. The sheet has an upper and lower end and a first substantially straight region and a second region that is connected to the first substantially straight region. The apparatus additionally has a liquid collection basin along with a support structure that supports the sheet such that the lower end of the sheet is proximate to the liquid collection basin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Marley Colling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory P. Hentschel, Robert F. Beltz, Jidong Yang, Eldon F. Mockry
  • Patent number: 7112083
    Abstract: To provide a connector for camera module use capable of preventing a defective contact of the connector. A connector for camera module use in which a camera module 12 is accommodated in a connector box 23, which is covered with a shield case, and engaged by an engaging member, the camera module 12 including: a solid image pickup element; a lens unit having a lens for guiding light to the solid image pickup element; and a lens holder by which the solid image pickup element is held, wherein a distance between the lens and the solid image pickup element is adjusted to a predetermined focal distance by the lens holder, and the connector for camera module use comprises a pushing member 21, and the pushing member 21 includes: an opening portion 21a formed at the center, the size of which is larger than that of the lens unit; leaf-spring-shaped elastic members 22, 22 . . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Nishio, Takashi Kawasaki, Satoru Karahashi
  • Patent number: 7104801
    Abstract: An arrangement for preventing lead wires on a patient monitoring or treatment device from becoming tangled. The arrangement comprises a plurality of electrically conductive lead wires, each having a fixed end and a free end, the fixed end being electrically coupled to the patient monitoring or treatment device. A mating connector is coupled to the free end of each of the plurality of electrically conductive lead wires. Each mating connector is electrically mateable with an electrode and also mateable with another mating connector to attach the free ends of at least two of the plurality of electrically conductive lead wires together. In one embodiment, a mounting member is provided that includes means for releasably connecting the mating connectors to store the mating connectors during periods of non-use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: The General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donald E. Brodnick, Marvin J. Zellmer
  • Patent number: 7101203
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for electrically connecting two closely positioned high voltage modules with little or no bend and without any loops in an electrical interconnecting coaxial cable may have a high voltage connector attached to at least a portion of the cable on at least one end of the cable; a push through high voltage connector receptor within one module; and a disconnection mechanism within the one module adapted to move the high voltage connector and at least a portion of cable to which the high voltage connector is attached through the connector receptor from a contact position to a housed position in a direction away from the other module to which high voltage connection is to be made. The connector receptor may have an open cylindrical connector with a contacting surface contained on the interior wall of the cylindrical connector and an interlock mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Cymer, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Saethre, Paul C. Melcher, George X. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 7097486
    Abstract: An assembly for providing a weatherproof feedthrough for data communications cables into a structure. The assembly includes a unique housing having a cavity for removably receiving a connector attached to a terminal end of a cable in a fixed orientation. The cable attached to the connector in the cavity exits the assembly into a protected side of the structure. A cable from the unprotected side of the structure enters the assembly such that a connector disposed on its terminal end may be connected to the connector in the cavity. The assembly is particularly suited to allow off the shelf connectors to be used within the housing. The assembly may include strain relief devices for protecting the cables attached to the connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Cushcraft Corporation
    Inventor: Scott Parsons
  • Patent number: 7086908
    Abstract: A jack with a hollow columnar contact has a housing, which holds the hollow columnar contact firmly and the front end of the hollow columnar contact does not deflect readily. The insulating housing 1 comprises a plug connection opening 61, which a mating plug 65 is inserted into, a first insertion chamber 9 having the plug connection opening 61, and a first opening 14 in communication with the contact insertion chamber 9. The hollow columnar contact 3 is inserted along an axial direction into the first insertion chamber from the first opening 14. A cylindrical main contact body 3a is held by the first opening 14. A press-fit pin 6, arranged with a small-diameter axial part 6a, a large-diameter axial part 6b, and a head part 6c having an outer diameter is press-fitted into the cylindrical main contact body 4a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: J.S.T. Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fukuzaki, Satoru Kihira, Kiyoshi Washino, Tsuyoshi Fukami, Yuki Morita, Masaharu Takai
  • Patent number: 7080989
    Abstract: An assembly for a computer system is mountable on a circuit board of a computer system. The assembly includes a base portion for engaging with an electronic component mounted on the circuit board. The assembly also includes a spring formed of memory metal. The spring is operable to urge the base portion against the electronic component to urge the electronic component towards the circuit board. The spring is configured to provide a greater spring force for urging the base portion against the electronic component when the spring is above a predetermined temperature than when it is below said predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: William George Gates
  • Patent number: 7077684
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cable connector that can reduce the stress that is generated in the solder connections between the contacts of the connector and the circuit board. The cable connector comprises a plurality of contacts, each having a contact part configured to contact a mating contact on one end, and a soldering part on the other end, a circuit board that is soldered to the soldering part of the contacts and is soldered to a cable, a housing that accommodates the contacts, the housing having a mating part disposed on the front thereof configured to mate with the mating connector and circuit board supporting parts that support the circuit board and extend rearward from both ends of the mating part, and locking arms disposed in the housing and configured to lock with a mating connector. The locking arms extend along both sides of the mating part and extend along the circuit board supporting parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics AMP K.K.
    Inventors: Naotaka Sasame, Junya Tsuji, Shuji Kajinuma
  • Patent number: 7077662
    Abstract: A contact connector is provided that has at least one loading fiber and a plurality of conductors. Each conductor may have at least one contact point. Each conductor may contact a single loading fiber, and each loading fiber may be capable of delivering a contact force at each contact point. In one example, the connector may be a power connector having a power circuit and a return circuit. In another example, the connector may be a data connector having at least one signal path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Tribotek, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Sweetland, James Moran, Andrew Wallace
  • Patent number: 7074089
    Abstract: A card connector system that detachably supports a PC card and electrically connects the PC card to an electrical device. The system includes a temperature sensor to monitor temperature of the PC card to prevent the deleterious effect of heat generated by the PC card on the PC card itself and the electrical device. The sensor detects the surface temperature of the supported PC card and transmits the obtained temperature information to the electrical device. In this case, it is preferable that a transition board 33, electrically connected between the PC card and the electrical device, is used to transmit the temperature information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Motomo Kajiura, Ryosuke Takahashi, Hiroshi Masuda
  • Patent number: 7070444
    Abstract: In a cable connector used for connecting cables (23, 24) having a plurality of wires, cable-side insulators (26, 27) each arraying and retaining the wires in one plane are made attachable/detachable relative to a base insulator (13) retaining contacts. The cable-side insulators connect the wires to the contacts when attached to the base insulator. The base insulator has a pair of base guide portions (15) extending while confronting each other. The cable-side insulators each have a pair of cover guide portions (45) of which movement is guided by the base guide portions. At least either of the base guide portions and the cover guide portions have projection portions that bring both of them mutually into a press-fitted relation in a cable connected state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited
    Inventors: Kazuomi Sato, Yoshinori Mizusawa, Hisashi Ishida, Masahiro Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 7066752
    Abstract: A slide-in structure (210) inside a cradle set (200) for accommodating a personal digital assistant (PDA) module (10) is disclosed. The slide-in structure comprises a base plate (220), a sliding stand (230) and a pushing arm (240). A connector (204) of the cradle set is fastened to the sliding stand via a circuit board (206). The base plate has a pair of sidewalls (222, 224) and two sliding grooves (226) located on of the sidewalls. The two ends of the sliding stand are inserted into the respective sliding grooves so that the sliding stand is free to move relative to the sliding grooves. The pushing arm is in contact with the sliding stand. The pushing arm resiliently pushes the sliding stand to one side of the sliding grooves and provides a buffering force when the PDA module engages with/disengages from the connector in the cradle set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: High Tech Computer, Corp.
    Inventors: Hsi-Hsing Hsu, Chu-Yang Chu, Chien-Lung Huang, William Wang, Leader Hung