Patents by Inventor David A. Pretchel
David A. Pretchel 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).
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Patent number: 5024798Abstract: Method and apparatus for making multiconductor electrical cable termination assembly and method of making the same having an integral structural combination of a multiconductor electrical cable, a plurality of electrical contacts, and a housing part that is molded about at least a portion of each of the contacts and a portion of the cable. Each contact forms a function with a respective conductor of the cable, and the integral housing part is molded with the assistance of a mold core under elevated temperature and pressure conditions so that each of the junctions is fully encapsulated by the molded body part to create a hermetically sealed junction zone which is free of air, moisture, oxygen, and other like deleterious contaminants, and which helps to prevent the contamination of the function when the cable termination assembly is utilized in a hostile environment.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 1989Date of Patent: June 18, 1991Assignee: Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Randy G. Cloud, David A. Pretchel
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Patent number: 4955824Abstract: An electrical shunt includes a U-shape contact having a unitary body molded directly in a housing into which pin contacts may be inserted for connection to and via the shunt.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 1988Date of Patent: September 11, 1990Inventors: David A. Pretchel, Howard J. Venaleck, John T. Venaleck
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Patent number: 4869684Abstract: A muliconductor electrical cable termination assembly and method of making the same having an integral structural combination of a multiconductor electrical cable, a plurality of electrical contacts, and a housing part that is molded about at least a portion of each of the contacts and a portion of the cable. Each contact forms a junction with a respective conductor of the cable, and the integral housing part is molded with the assistance of a mold core under elevated temperature and pressure conditions so that each of the junctions is fully encapsulated by the molded body part to create a hermetically sealed junction zone which is free of air, moisture, oxygen, and other like deleterious contaminants, and which helps to prevent the contamination of the junction when the cable termination assembly is utilized in a hostile environment.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 1986Date of Patent: September 26, 1989Assignee: Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Randy G. Cloud, David A. Pretchel
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Patent number: 4795602Abstract: An electrical shunt includes a U-shape contact having a unitary body molded directly in a housing into which pin contacts may be inserted for connection to and via the shunt.A method of making an electrical shunt formed of an electrically conductive contact having plural contacting portions for connection with respective external members inserted to connection therewith and an electrically non-conductive housing includes molding electrically non-conductive material directly to at least part of such contact to form such housing, whereby such housing and contact form an integral structure, including forming relatively open chamber areas within the housing for exposure therein of such contacting portions, and forming an opening in such housing for insertion therein of respective external members for electrical connection with respective contacting portions.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 1987Date of Patent: January 3, 1989Inventors: David A. Pretchel, Howard J. Venaleck, John T. Venaleck
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Patent number: 4793060Abstract: Manufacture of low profile clip connectors characterized by a cap in the form of a planar strip of plastic material provided with plural tapered holes spaced along its length. The cap is loaded into a test clip mold along with a cable/contact sub-assembly with the cap in juxtaposition with the side of the cable opposite the contacts which are soldered to respective conductors of the cable. After the mold is closed, molten plastic material is introduced into the mold cavity to form the balance of a clip body, the molten material flowing up through an insulation removed area of the cable around the soldered junctions and into the tapered holes in the cap which locks the cap to the thusly molded balance forming portion of the clip body. During molding, the cap is used as a back stop for the cable to prevent shifting of the cable as the molten plastic is forced into the mold cavity.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 1987Date of Patent: December 27, 1988Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventor: David A. Pretchel
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Patent number: 4776803Abstract: A card edge connector (10) includes electrical contacts (15) for engaging traces of a printed circuit card to establish electrical connection therewith, a housing (16) for supporting the contacts, a strain relief (17) directly molded to at least part of the contacts and housing for securing the same as an integral structure, the contacts having a compliance characteristic in the card edge connector, and a secondary compliance mechanism (95) for increasing the effective compliance characteristic of the contacts in the card edge connector. Such secondary compliance mechanism is provided by a shrinkage of some of the molded strain relief material during cooling thereof. The contacts and housing provide part of a shut of function and a shut off key (56) inserted into the housing for use during the molding provides another part of a shut off function to block flow of molding material into a contacting area of the housing (27).Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 1986Date of Patent: October 11, 1988Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: David A. Pretchel, John T. Venaleck
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Patent number: 4767352Abstract: A cable termination assembly, and a mold and method of molding the same, includes an electrical cable including at least one conductor, at least one electrical contact, a support body for at least preliminarily supporting the electrical contact, the electrical contact having an insulation displacement connection portion, a contacting portion, and an offset between said portions, and the support body having a land for cooperating with the offset to support the electrical contact during insulation displacement connection connecting of the insulation displacement connection portion to such conductor. Part of the electrical contact and the support body cooperate during the mentioned molding to effect a shut off function blocking flow of molding material of the strain relief into an area of the support body where the contacting portion is located.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 1986Date of Patent: August 30, 1988Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventor: David A. Pretchel
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Patent number: 4725243Abstract: A cable termination assembly with an integral polarizing key, and method of molding the same, includes an electrical cable including at least one conductor, at least one electrical contact, a support body for at least preliminarily supporting the electrical contact, the electrical contact having an insulation displacement connection portion, a contacting portion, and an offset between said portions, and the support body having a land for cooperating with the offset to support the electrical contact during insulation displacement connection connecting of the insulation displacement connection portion to such conductor. Part of the electrical contact and the support body cooperate during the mentioned molding to effect a shut off function blocking flow of molding material of the strain relief into an area of the support body where the contacting portion is located. Molding material fills a cell of the support body during molding of the strain relief body to form a polarizing key.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 1986Date of Patent: February 16, 1988Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: David A. Pretchel, Robert H. Black, John T. Venaleck
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Patent number: 4679870Abstract: Manufacture of low profile clip connectors characterized by a cap in the form of a planar strip of plastic material provided with plural tapered holes spaced along its length. The cap is loaded into a test clip mold along with a cable/contact sub-assembly with the cap in juxtaposition with the side of the cable opposite the contacts which are soldered to respective conductors of the cable. After the mold is closed, molten plastic material is introduced into the mold cavity to form the balance of a clip body, the molten material flowing up through an insulation removed area of the cable around the soldered junctions and into the tapered holes in the cap which locks the cap to the thusly molded balance forming portion of the clip body.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 1984Date of Patent: July 14, 1987Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventor: David A. Pretchel