Patents by Inventor Christopher David Ritter

Christopher David Ritter has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7553188
    Abstract: An electrical connector for mounting to a panel includes a housing configured to be mounted to the panel, and a deflectable latch including a latch arm having a length extending in a longitudinal direction between a fixed end secured to the housing and a free end movable with respect to the housing. The free end has a locking finger extending therefrom. The latch arm is deflected laterally with respect to the length thereof to align the locking finger with an opening through the panel. The deflectable latch returns to a resting position once the housing is mounted to the panel, and the locking finger engages the panel when in the resting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Neil Whiteman, Jr., Christopher David Ritter
  • Patent number: 7462067
    Abstract: An electrical connector mountable to a panel includes a dielectric housing having a plurality of contact cavities extending from a mating end to a contact loading end and arranged in rows and columns. At least one of the plurality of contact cavities includes a polarizing contact cavity positioned and formed to define a mating connector. In one embodiment, the polarizing contact cavity is a corner contact cavity having a contact cavity wall with a slot formed therein. The slot is configured to receive a ridge on the mating connector. The slot may open into a guide receptacle. Alternatively, the polarizing contact cavity is a corner contact cavity and includes a contact cavity wall having a channel that extends into a side wall of the housing. The channel is configured to receive a protrusion on the mating connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Neil Whiteman, Jr., Christopher David Ritter
  • Publication number: 20080248697
    Abstract: An electrical connector for mounting to a panel includes a housing configured to be mounted to the panel, and a deflectable latch including a latch arm having a length extending in a longitudinal direction between a fixed end secured to the housing and a free end movable with respect to the housing. The free end has a locking finger extending therefrom. The latch arm is deflected laterally with respect to the length thereof to align the locking finger with an opening through the panel. The deflectable latch returns to a resting position once the housing is mounted to the panel, and the locking finger engages the panel when in the resting position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Robert Neil Whiteman, Christopher David Ritter
  • Publication number: 20070281547
    Abstract: A connector includes a housing with a plurality of contact cavities arranged in a matrix having M columns and N rows of contact cavities. Each of the contact cavities extend between a contact loading side and a mating side of the housing. Contacts are received within respective ones of the contact cavities, wherein a first group of the contacts are held within the contact cavities at a first depth with respect to the contact loading side and a second group of the contacts are held within the contact cavities at a different second depth with respect to the contact loading side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Robert Neil Whiteman, Christopher David Ritter
  • Patent number: 7300313
    Abstract: A connector includes a housing with a plurality of contact cavities arranged in a matrix having M columns and N rows of contact cavities. Each of the contact cavities extend between a contact loading side and a mating side of the housing. Contacts are received within respective ones of the contact cavities, wherein a first group of the contacts are held within the contact cavities at a first depth with respect to the contact loading side and a second group of the contacts are held within the contact cavities at a different second depth with respect to the contact loading side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Neil Whiteman, Jr., Christopher David Ritter