Patents by Inventor Patrick L. Horner

Patrick L. Horner 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: 7682180
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having at least one contact cavity extending along a longitudinal axis between a mating end and an opposite contact loading end. A primary terminal lock extends from an interior wall of the housing and is configured to engage a terminal contact to retain the terminal contact in the at least one contact cavity. A secondary locking member is integrally formed with the housing. The secondary locking member has a flexible hinge member proximate the contact loading end that pivotably connects the secondary locking member to the housing. The secondary locking member includes an engagement end that is received in the housing in a direction transverse to the axis of the at least one contact cavity to provide a visible indication of a seating condition of the terminal contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Dale Brown, Andrew Jacob Vasbinder, Matthew Bryan Hitchcock, Patrick L. Horner
  • Publication number: 20090269963
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having at least one contact cavity extending along a longitudinal axis between a mating end and an opposite contact loading end. A primary terminal lock extends from an interior wall of the housing and is configured to engage a terminal contact to retain the terminal contact in the at least one contact cavity. A secondary locking member is integrally formed with the housing. The secondary locking member has a flexible hinge member proximate the contact loading end that pivotably connects the secondary locking member to the housing. The secondary locking member includes an engagement end that is received in the housing in a direction transverse to the axis of the at least one contact cavity to provide a visible indication of a seating condition of the terminal contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Michael Dale Brown, Andrew Jacob Vasbinder, Matthew Bryan Hitchcock, Patrick L. Horner
  • Patent number: 6808418
    Abstract: A dummy plug for wiring harnesses is disclosed. The dummy plug is used in an unused connector cavity of the wiring harness, thereby electrically isolating the connector cavity in the wiring harness to prevent short circuits. The dummy plug is substantially flush with the latch arm of the wiring harness, so that a pogo pin can determine whether or not the connector cavity is in use. The dummy plug has a design such that pressure blowout is prevented. A method for plugging an unused connector cavity is also disclosed, the method including the steps of providing a dummy plug having a head, a stem, and a female end, providing a wiring harness having at least one connector cavity and at least one latch arm and inserting the dummy plug into the unused connector cavity so that the female end is substantially flush with the latch arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Quality Synthetic Rubber, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick L. Horner
  • Patent number: 6280220
    Abstract: A seal for disposition between a connector and a wire includes opposed faces having at least one wire hole therethrough, an outer sealing surface connecting said opposed faces and contacting the connector, said at least one wire hole having at least two inwardly extending compressive ribs contacting an outer surface of the wire wherein the ribs have a notch therebetween. The inwardly extending compressive ribs each have a contacting apex extending from lead-in side surfaces which extend from the respective opposed faces, and the notch has a diameter less than a diameter of a connection point between the lead-in side surfaces and the opposed faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Quality Synthetic Rubber, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick L. Horner
  • Publication number: 20010007802
    Abstract: A dummy plug for wiring harnesses is disclosed. The dummy plug is used in an unused connector cavity of the wiring harness, thereby electrically isolating the connector cavity in the wiring harness to prevent short circuits. The dummy plug is substantially flush with the latch arm of the wiring harness, so that a pogo pin can determine whether or not the connector cavity is in use. The dummy plug has a design such that pressure blowout is prevented. A method for plugging an unused connector cavity is also disclosed, the method including the steps of providing a dummy plug having a head, a stem, and a female end, providing a wiring harness having at least one connector cavity and at least one latch arm and inserting the dummy plug into the unused connector cavity so that the female end is substantially flush with the latch arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2000
    Publication date: July 12, 2001
    Applicant: Quality Synthetic Rubber
    Inventor: Patrick L. Horner
  • Patent number: 6071146
    Abstract: A seal for disposition between a connector and a wire includes opposed faces having at least one wire hole therethrough, an outer sealing surface connecting said opposed faces and contacting the connector, said at least one wire hole having at least two inwardly extending compressive ribs contacting an outer surface of the wire wherein the ribs have a notch therebetween. The inwardly extending compressive ribs each have a contacting apex extending from lead-in side surface which extend from the respective opposed faces, and the notch has a diameter less than a diameter of a connection point between the lead-in side edges and the opposed faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Quality Synthetic Rubber, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick L. Horner