Patents Examined by Tho Dac Ta
  • Patent number: 8018080
    Abstract: A hydroelectric device, for the production of electricity in an aquatic environment with currents, includes a frame supporting a rotating member having a number of bearing surfaces that cooperate with the currents to generate a rotation of the rotating member. An electromechanical device produces an electrical current from the rotation. The hydroelectric device also includes a device for adjusting the position of the rotating member with reference to the surface of the aquatic environment. The latter device includes a tank having a variable opening positionable under the surface of the aquatic environment for modifying the water filling rate of the tank. The rotating member may be mounted on the frame by means of a shaft extending along a perpendicular direction to the currents, which facilitates the coupling thereof to one or two similar hydroelectric device shafts arranged at either end of the first, in alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Inventor: Georges Poupinet
  • Patent number: 7563131
    Abstract: A wall plate for premise wiring. The wall plate is preterminated with a quick-connect coupling to enable fast connection and disconnection with a complementary quick-connect coupling on a wire configured to carry an electrical signal, such as digital or analog audio, visual or related signal. The wall plate may include numerous signal interfaces for audio, visual or combination audio/visual application. By including all of the components into a modular package, installation and removal of the wall plate for premise wiring upgrades is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Lastar, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Sullivan, Gary Hess
  • Patent number: 7419411
    Abstract: The present invention is an exposed-spring female terminal comprising a tubular body having two lateral walls and two vertical walls and extending in a depth direction; a connecting part being arranged with the body on a rear side in the depth direction, being provided integrally with the body and being structured to connect to an electric wire, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: J.S.T. Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Kaneko
  • Patent number: 7410384
    Abstract: A flexible flat connector cable electrical contact including a first connection section adapted to be connected to an electrical conductor of a flexible flat conductor (FFC) cable; and a second connection section electrical coupled to the first connection section and adapted to be electrically connected to another member. The first connection section includes at least one staple feature having a hole and only two outwardly extending lances at the hole. Each lance has a pointed tip adapted to pierce through the electrical conductor of the FFC cable. The lances are adapted to be deformed back towards the electrical conductor to form a stapled connection of the first connection section to the FFC cable with only the two lances at the staple feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph B. Shuey
  • Patent number: 7393243
    Abstract: A patch panel mountable to a network rack is provided. The patch panel may include a frame with first and second mounting portions that are each located at opposite longitudinal ends of the frame. The frame may also include a first panel section adjacent to the first mounting portion and a second panel section adjacent to the second mounting portion. The first and second panel sections may be angled relative to each other. Additionally, the first panel section may include a first row of connector openings aligned along a first pitch line, with the first pitch line preferably being angled relative to the longitudinal length of the first panel section. Similarly, the second panel section may include a second row of connector openings aligned along a second pitch line, with the second pitch line preferably being angled relative to the longitudinal length of the second panel section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventor: Jack E. Caveney
  • Patent number: 7393223
    Abstract: An electrical mounting connector for a bi-pin fluorescent bulb has a lamp holder with two terminals and a cap with two pin guiding openings that snaps into the lamp holder such that two pins held in the two pin guiding openings will be held in contact with the two pin-shaped over a substantial portion of the pins along a parallel length of the pins. An alignment marking is provided on the lamp holder and a visual inspection point (such as a hole) is provided on the cap that compliment one another to provide a visual indication of when the lamp holder and the cap are properly assembled together. A drain is formed by one or more slots in the lamp holder to drain a space between the lamp holder and the cap accessed through pin guiding openings when the lamp holder and the cap are properly assembled together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Inventor: Kojiro Koda
  • Patent number: 7381074
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for locking a cam lever which positions a second card as inserted into a connector on a first card, and activating the second card with a coupling member. In one embodiment, the second card is inserted between a pair of guides secured to the first card into a connector on the first card. A hinged cam lever on either a guide or the second card positions the second card. A coupling member on the cam lever can be moved to lock the cam lever in place and engage a switch on the second card to activate the second card. When removal of the second card is desired, the coupling member on the cam lever can be moved to unlock the cam lever and disengage the switch on the second card to deactivate the second card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeremy Scott Bridges, David L. Hager, Dean F. Herring, Daniel Paul Kelaher, Paul Andrew Wormsbecher
  • Patent number: 6679727
    Abstract: An electrical connector (1) includes an insulative housing (2), a number of terminals (5) received in the housing, a shell (22) partially enclosing the housing, a pair of board locks (3) and a pair of fasteners (4) securing the board locks onto the housing. Each board lock includes a fixed section (30) fixed to the connector and a pair of spaced legs (311) connected to the fixed section by means of a resilient section (31). The legs have convex portions (320, 330) arranged on opposite outer edges thereof for engaging with inner walls of a hole (60) of a PCB (6) into which the legs are inserted and retention portions (321, 331) arranged on opposite inner edges thereof for abutting against a bottom face (61) of the PCB, thereby securely and stably retaining the connector on the PCB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hung-Chi Yu
  • Patent number: 6386927
    Abstract: A conductive male thread (22) has a thrust bearing flank (22a) coated with an insulating paint layer (23), and a conductive female thread (12) has a thrust bearing flank (12a) formed with a conductive projection (13) to break through the paint layer (23) and bite in that flank (22a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Fuse Rashi Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoichi Nakayama, Shinji Nakano
  • Patent number: 6186840
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a female connector (1) for electrical connectors having a sheet-metal frame (2) which is in the form of a box and has contact spring elements (3) and a connecting part (4) for a cable end, and having a reinforcing cage (5) which is attached via the sheet-metal frame, is in the form of a box and has a coding rib (6). The reinforcing cage (5) is folded from sheet steel such that the coding rib is formed by bending the metal sheet to form a profile having rounded edges, while avoiding outward-pointing sharp edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Framatome Connectors International
    Inventors: Hans Otto Geltsch, Harald Lutsch
  • Patent number: 6179667
    Abstract: A high frequency electrical connector assembly including a housing defining a plug-receiving receptacle having an entrance opening and contact/terminal members arranged in the housing. The contact/terminal members include at least one forward facing contact/terminal member having a forward facing contact situated in the receptacle and a non-contact portion including a terminal. The forward facing contact has a rearward end coupled to the terminal and a forward end which is closer to the entrance opening than the rearward end. The housing includes an outer housing part and an insert assembly insertable into the outer housing part to define the plug-receiving receptacle and including a securing insert for firmly securing the forward facing contact/terminal member(s) in the housing. The securing insert itself may be secured in connection with the housing to prevent movement thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Stewart Connector Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard K Espenshade, Ronald Locati, Brian Simmering, Ted Meckley
  • Patent number: 6168457
    Abstract: A electric wire connecting structure including a first wire connector which taps into electric current flowing through a first electric wire, a second wire connector connected to a second wire, and a bridge integrally connecting the first wire connector and the second wire connector, such that electric current is transmitted from the first wire to the second wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Yoengseog Kim
  • Patent number: 6095851
    Abstract: An electronic device adapted to be coupled to an information transfer system by means of a conductor including a standard connector having a translucent or transparent body insertable into a receptacle defined by the electronic device, the device including a housing, a substrate carrying electronic components, a light source mounted on the substrate and connected to components on the substrate, the light source being energizable in response to electrical signals generated by said components, the signals being indicative of the status and/or activity of the device, and a light guide extending between the light source and the receptacle for transmitting light from the light source to the receptacle, the light transmitted from the source to the receptacle illuminating the connector body thereby providing an indication of the status and/or activity of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Xircom, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian A. Laity, Joakim Ahlstrom
  • Patent number: 6093051
    Abstract: A conductive element for a low voltage outdoor light fixture including a body having first and second ends; a wire piercing element proximate the first end of the body, the wire piercing element extending out of the wire support surface; a light bulb mount proximate the second end of the body; at least one ear protruding from the body, wherein each of the ears forms an aperture with the body, the aperture opening towards the second end of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventor: Steven T. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 6093047
    Abstract: The present invention provides a slot type connecting terminal (40) which may make a connection between the conductor material (Wc) of the insulated conductor (W) and the slot (42) by penetration into the insulation of conductor and contacting the conductor material therewith in the area at least half a circle of the arcuate, by weighing down of the conductor after setting the insulated conductor into the slot (42) of terminal (40), and the slot having semi-circular knife edge profile in at least the lower part thereof will penetrate and make a contact area between them. The cover (20) and the terminal block body (30) have respective conductor receiving groove (23, 33) to securely hold the connected conductor in place. The cover has a scoring line (24) formed in transverse direction to the length of the cover by cutting off a part of its height, leaving thin film at the scoring line such that the scoring line will act as a snap hinge (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Inventor: Young Sook Ann
  • Patent number: 6080008
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a push-wire electrical contact. The contact comprises a body, a plurality of arms coupled to said body, said arms having free ends. The arms being positioned such that the free ends of the arms are adapted to receive an electrical wire therebetween, and are spaced apart a distance that is slightly less than the diameter of the wire. The contact may be used with or without a housing that can be positioned over the body and the arms of the contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Houston Frantz
  • Patent number: 6062882
    Abstract: In a low insertion force connector, fitting members 30 and 40 are constituted respectively by a first cam member 30 and a second cam member 40 opposed to each other in a hood portion 21. In each of the first and second cam members, cam grooves 36, 46 for respectively guiding cam projections 12 and 13 are formed respectively in opposed walls 32, 42 of a frame-like body 31, 41. Fitting guide portions 37, 47 for respectively receiving the cam projections are formed respectively in extension walls 33, 43 extending respectively form the opposed walls. A window 35, 45 is formed in a guide groove 34, 44 formed in the extension wall, and is connected to an outlet of the cam groove. The extension walls of the first cam member are received respectively in the guide grooves in the second cam member, and the extension walls of the second cam member are received respectively in the guide grooves in the first cam member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Hanazaki, Takao Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6045397
    Abstract: The present invention provides a crack-free electrical connection structure between electrical components and a circuit board in a connector device by soldering electrical wires to through-holes of the circuit board. Retention members (40) formed integrally with the connector device have slots (36) and channels (58, 62) intersecting inside the slots (36). Projections (54) are located at an exit of each channel (58). Ends of electrical wires (90) are stripped to expose core conductors (92) and they are bent in a generally L-shape to be disposed in the respective channels (58, 62) of slots 36. The projections (54) keep the exposed core conductors (92) in position, thereby simplifying electrical connection with through-holes in the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignees: The Whitaker Corporation, Nisshinbo Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Moritaka Iwamura, Tetsuya Sagawa
  • Patent number: 6042403
    Abstract: In an outside surface of a frame having a guide groove for draw and insert of an IC card in an inside, a heart-shaped cam groove that can hold a push rod at two positions, that is, a pushed-in position and a projecting position with cooperating with a first transfer pin, and a circulative cam groove and a linear long groove which a second transfer pin selectively traces according to the projection amount of the push rod are formed, and this second transfer pin is intervened between the first transfer pin and a drive plate interlocking with an eject arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Nishioka
  • Patent number: 6039597
    Abstract: A lamp housing to support and power a compact dual or quad-tube fluorescent lamp. A body portion with a central cavity receives the lamp base and selectively retains same using a trapped metal clip; contacts mounted in separated cavities receive the lamp leads at a first end and at the second end the bared end of an electrical conductor inserted into a one way type clutch contact lever to apply AC power to the lampleads. The contact lever can be bifurcated to independently engage more than a single conductor. The lamphousing can be mounted to a panel using fasteners extending through apertures in mounting pads of the base, or by using flexible mounting tabs to grip the underside of a mounting panel or a combination of the flexible mounting tabs and flexible arms to permit the lampholder to be mounted on panels of different thicknesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Arkady Getselis, Walter Newman, Anthony Tufano