Patents by Inventor John DiFonzo

John DiFonzo 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: 9780475
    Abstract: Spring-loaded contacts having an improved reliability. One example may provide spring-loaded contacts having a reduced likelihood of entanglement between a spring and a plunger. For example, a piston may be placed between a plunger and a spring. The piston may have a head portion that is wider than the diameter of the spring and located between the spring and the plunger to isolate the spring and the plunger. In these and other examples, an additional object, such as a sphere, may be placed between the plunger and spring. In another example, two additional objects, such as two spheres, may be placed between a plunger and piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Min Chul Kim, John DiFonzo
  • Patent number: 9660376
    Abstract: A magnetic connector system having a durable and reliable construction and a reduced height while maintaining sufficient holding strength. A connector insert may utilize a crimping piece to crimp a braiding of a cable. The crimping piece may be fixed to an attraction plate and a board in the insert for mechanical reliability. Retention clips may be used to fix a shell to the attraction plate. A connector receptacle may employ a magnetically conductive label to improve holding strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Zheng Gao, Joshua J. Pong, Chris Ligtenberg, Bartley K. Andre, Bradley J. Hamel, John DiFonzo, Dave Narajowski, Greg Springer, Eric Monsef, Min Chul Kim
  • Patent number: 9431742
    Abstract: A spring-loaded contact may include a barrel to form a housing for the spring-loaded contact, a plunger at least partially enclosed by the barrel, a spring enclosed by the barrel, and a sphere between the plunger and the spring. A back of the plunger may be formed at an angle and to include a retention guide, the retention guide partly over the sphere such that the sphere may be in contact with the back of the plunger and the retention guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John DiFonzo, Shuhi Mori
  • Publication number: 20160020542
    Abstract: A spring-loaded contact may include a barrel to form a housing for the spring-loaded contact, a plunger at least partially enclosed by the barrel, a spring enclosed by the barrel, and a sphere between the plunger and the spring. A back of the plunger may be formed at an angle and to include a retention guide, the retention guide partly over the sphere such that the sphere may be in contact with the back of the plunger and the retention guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: John DiFonzo, Shuhi Mori
  • Publication number: 20150357751
    Abstract: A magnetic connector system having a durable and reliable construction and a reduced height while maintaining sufficient holding strength. A connector insert may utilize a crimping piece to crimp a braiding of a cable. The crimping piece may be fixed to an attraction plate and a board in the insert for mechanical reliability. Retention clips may be used to fix a shell to the attraction plate. A connector receptacle may employ a magnetically conductive label to improve holding strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Zheng Gao, Josh Pong, Chris Litenberg, Bartley K. Andre, Bradley J. Hamel, John DiFonzo, Dave Narajowski, Greg Springer, Eric Monsef, Min Chul Kim
  • Publication number: 20150140870
    Abstract: Spring-loaded contacts having an improved reliability. One example may provide spring-loaded contacts having a reduced likelihood of entanglement between a spring and a plunger. For example, a piston may be placed between a plunger and a spring. The piston may have a head portion that is wider than the diameter of the spring and located between the spring and the plunger to isolate the spring and the plunger. In these and other examples, an additional object, such as a sphere, may be placed between the plunger and spring. In another example, two additional objects, such as two spheres, may be placed between a plunger and piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Min Chul Kim, John DiFonzo
  • Patent number: 8970332
    Abstract: An electrical plug and receptacle relying on magnetic force from an electromagnet to maintain contact are disclosed. The plug and receptacle can be used as part of a power adapter for connecting an electronic device, such as a laptop computer, to a power supply. The plug includes electrical contacts, which are preferably biased toward corresponding contacts on the receptacle. The plug and receptacle each have a magnetic element. The magnetic element on one of the plug or receptacle can be a magnet or ferromagnetic material. The magnetic element on the other of the plug or receptacle is an electromagnet. When the plug and receptacle are brought into proximity, the magnetic attraction between the electromagnet magnet and its complement, whether another magnet or a ferromagnetic material, maintains the contacts in an electrically conductive relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John DiFonzo, Bartley K. Andre, Kanye Lim, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Mark Edward Doutt, Jean-Marc Gery
  • Patent number: 8905795
    Abstract: Spring-loaded contacts having an improved reliability. One example may provide spring-loaded contacts having a reduced likelihood of entanglement between a spring and a plunger. For example, a piston may be placed between a plunger and a spring. The piston may have a head portion that is wider than the diameter of the spring and located between the spring and the plunger to isolate the spring and the plunger. In these and other examples, an additional object, such as a sphere, may be placed between the plunger and spring. In another example, two additional objects, such as two spheres, may be placed between a plunger and piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Min Chul Kim, John DiFonzo, Nathan N. Ng, Chris Ligtenberg, Bradley Hamel, Rian Leichter, Sridhar Sundaram, Josh Pong, Vince Duperron, Zheng Gao
  • Patent number: 8780539
    Abstract: A multipart computer housing is described. The multipart computer housing includes at least a structural support layer and a body. The body includes at least an outer layer formed of lightweight flexible material and an inner layer attached to the outer layer. The inner layer is connected to the support layer forming a load path between the inner layer and the structural support layer. A load applied to the multipart computer housing is transferred by way of the load path to the support layer without substantially affecting the outer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John Raff, Bartley K. Andre, Laura DeForest, John DiFonzo, Zheng Gao, Michelle Goldberg, Bradley J. Hamel, Timothy S. Hibbard, Ron Hopkinson, William F. Leggett, Chris Ligtenberg, Gavin J. Reid, Charles A. Schwalbach
  • Patent number: 8734706
    Abstract: A mold assembly or system includes a moldbase that holds mold inserts and has embedded fluid lines to facilitate cooling during part formation. Mold inserts combine to form mold cavities that receive carbon fiber and resin components to form a carbon composite based part. A permanent release coating along a mold component surface that contacts the carbon fiber and resin components facilitates the release of the finished part from the mold component. Guide pins and guide pin receiving holes facilitate accurate alignment of mold components. Ejector pins within respective ejector pin shafts help eject a finished part from a respective mold component. An ejector pin shaft cover transfers force from an ejector pin to eject a finished part and also prevents substantial passage of resin into the ejector pin shaft. A fluid actuated ejection system provides fluid based mechanical forces to the ejector pins to facilitate finished part ejection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Choiniere, Glenn Aune, John Difonzo, Daniel Hong, Kevin Kenney
  • Publication number: 20130330983
    Abstract: A spring-loaded contact may include a barrel to form a housing for the spring-loaded contact, a plunger at least partially enclosed by the barrel, a spring enclosed by the barrel, and a sphere between the plunger and the spring. A back of the plunger may be formed at an angle and to include a retention guide, the retention guide partly over the sphere such that the sphere may be in contact with the back of the plunger and the retention guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: John DiFonzo, Shuhi Mori
  • Patent number: 8605426
    Abstract: A computing device is disclosed. The computing device includes a shock mount assembly that is configured to provide impact absorption to sensitive components such as a display and an optical disk drive. The computing device also includes an enclosureless optical disk drive that is housed by an enclosure and other structures of the computing device. The computing device further includes a heat transfer system that removes heat from a heat producing element of the computing device. The heat transfer system is configured to thermally couple the heat producing element to a structural member of the computing device so as to sink heat through the structural member, which generally has a large surface area for dissipating the heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nick Merz, John DiFonzo, Stephen Zadesky, Michael Prichard
  • Publication number: 20130316549
    Abstract: An electrical plug and receptacle relying on magnetic force from an electromagnet to maintain contact are disclosed. The plug and receptacle can be used as part of a power adapter for connecting an electronic device, such as a laptop computer, to a power supply. The plug includes electrical contacts, which are preferably biased toward corresponding contacts on the receptacle. The plug and receptacle each have a magnetic element. The magnetic element on one of the plug or receptacle can be a magnet or ferromagnetic material. The magnetic element on the other of the plug or receptacle is an electromagnet. When the plug and receptacle are brought into proximity, the magnetic attraction between the electromagnet magnet and its complement, whether another magnet or a ferromagnetic material, maintains the contacts in an electrically conductive relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John DiFonzo, Bartley K. Andre, Kanye Lim, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Mark Edward Doutt, Jean-Marc Gery
  • Patent number: 8587955
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device may include a component made of a ceramic material. The electronic device may also include circuitry configured to transmit signals. The signals may pertain to input received through the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John DiFonzo, Chris Ligtenberg
  • Patent number: 8562886
    Abstract: A composite laminate includes a plurality of sheets of prepreg stacked one over another, and a scrim layer provided on an exterior surface of the sheets of prepreg. Each prepreg sheet is formed of fibers preimpregnated with resin. The scrim layer and the sheets of prepreg form a composite laminate whereby the scrim layer constitutes an outer, exposed surface of the composite laminate. The scrim layer may be a nonwoven carbon or glass fiber scrim that has absorbed resin from the sheets of prepreg. A method of making a composite laminate includes placing into a mold a scrim and a plurality of sheets of prepreg, with the scrim extending between an exterior surface of the sheets of prepreg and an inner surface of the mold; forming a composite laminate whereby the scrim is adhered to the sheets of prepreg; and removing the composite laminate from the mold. An outer layer of the composite laminate includes the scrim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John DiFonzo, Chris Ligtenberg
  • Publication number: 20130273295
    Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a composite panel with a surface finish. The method includes securing a polymer film within a first portion of a mold and securing a composite panel within a second portion of the mold. The method also includes holding the first portion of the mold against the second portion of the mold to form a mold cavity between composite panel and the polymer film. The method further includes heating the mold to an elevated temperature, injecting a polymer resin into the mold cavity, and curing the polymer resin to form an integrated structure having a polymer resin layer between the composite panel and the polymer film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin M. Kenney, Michael K. Pilliod, John DiFonzo
  • Patent number: 8497753
    Abstract: An electrical plug and receptacle relying on magnetic force from an electromagnet to maintain contact are disclosed. The plug and receptacle can be used as part of a power adapter for connecting an electronic device, such as a laptop computer, to a power supply. The plug includes electrical contacts, which are preferably biased toward corresponding contacts on the receptacle. The plug and receptacle each have a magnetic element. The magnetic element on one of the plug or receptacle can be a magnet or ferromagnetic material. The magnetic element on the other of the plug or receptacle is an electromagnet. When the plug and receptacle are brought into proximity, the magnetic attraction between the electromagnet magnet and its complement, whether another magnet or a ferromagnetic material, maintains the contacts in an electrically conductive relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John DiFonzo, Bartley K. Andre, Kanye Lim, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Mark Edward Doutt, Jean-Marc Gery
  • Patent number: 8482930
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device may include a component made of a ceramic material. The electronic device may also include circuitry configured to transmit signals. The signals may pertain to input received through the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John DiFonzo, Chris Ligtenberg
  • Publication number: 20130095690
    Abstract: Spring-loaded contacts having an improved reliability. One example may provide spring-loaded contacts having a reduced likelihood of entanglement between a spring and a plunger. For example, a piston may be placed between a plunger and a spring. The piston may have a head portion that is wider than the diameter of the spring and located between the spring and the plunger to isolate the spring and the plunger. In these and other examples, an additional object, such as a sphere, may be placed between the plunger and spring. In another example, two additional objects, such as two spheres, may be placed between a plunger and piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Min Chul Kim, John DiFonzo, Nathan N. Ng, Chris Liqtenberg, Bradley Hamel, Rian Leichter, Sridhar Sundaram, Josh Pong, Vince Duperron, Zheng Gao
  • Publication number: 20130040470
    Abstract: A magnetic connector system having a durable and reliable construction and a reduced height while maintaining sufficient holding strength. A connector insert may utilize a crimping piece to crimp a braiding of a cable. The crimping piece may be fixed to an attraction plate and a board in the insert for mechanical reliability. Retention clips may be used to fix a shell to the attraction plate. A connector receptacle may employ a magnetically conductive label to improve holding strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Zheng Gao, Josh Pong, Chris Ligtenberg, Bartley K. Andre, Bradley J. Hamel, John DiFonzo, Dave Narajowski, Greg Springer, Eric Monsef, Min Chul Kim