Patents by Inventor Richard J. Middlehurst

Richard J. Middlehurst 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: 8047880
    Abstract: Connectors having a smaller profile. These connectors are useful as a reduced form factor DisplayPort connector. Keys on a receptacle are used to indicate when an insert is fully engaged. Edges of the receptacle and insert are chamfered in such a way as to prevent the pins of the connector from being damaged when an improper insertion is attempted. User experience is also enhanced by the use of one or more latches. As the connector is inserted, the latch provides resistance that builds until the connector is inserted a certain distance, after which the latch enters a cutout portion of the insert thus releasing the pressure and letting the user know the connection has been made. Fingers are employed to provide mechanical stability and electrical connection between receptacle and insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Stewart Shannon Fields, Matthew K. Herndon, Min Chul Kim, Ron Larson, Richard J. Middlehurst, Anilkumar R. Pannikkat, Glenn Wheelock, Colin Whitby-Strevens
  • Publication number: 20110039443
    Abstract: Connectors having a smaller profile. These connectors are useful as a reduced form factor DisplayPort connector. Keys on a receptacle are used to indicate when an insert is fully engaged. Edges of the receptacle and insert are chamfered in such a way as to prevent the pins of the connector from being damaged when an improper insertion is attempted. User experience is also enhanced by the use of one or more latches. As the connector is inserted, the latch provides resistance that builds until the connector is inserted a certain distance, after which the latch enters a cutout portion of the insert thus releasing the pressure and letting the user know the connection has been made. Fingers are employed to provide mechanical stability and electrical connection between receptacle and insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Stewart Shannon Fields, Matthew K. Herndon, Min Chul Kim, Ron Larson, Richard J. Middlehurst, Anilkumar R. Pannikkat, Glenn Wheelock, Colin Whitby-Strevens
  • Patent number: 7841910
    Abstract: Connectors having a smaller profile. These connectors are useful as a reduced form factor DisplayPort connector. Keys on a receptacle are used to indicate when an insert is fully engaged. Edges of the receptacle and insert are chamfered in such a way as to prevent the pins of the connector from being damaged when an improper insertion is attempted. User experience is also enhanced by the use of one or more latches. As the connector is inserted, the latch provides resistance that builds until the connector is inserted a certain distance, after which the latch enters a cutout portion of the insert thus releasing the pressure and letting the user know the connection has been made. Fingers are employed to provide mechanical stability and electrical connection between receptacle and insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Stewart Shannon Fields, Matthew K. Herndon, Min Chul Kim, Ron Larson, Richard J. Middlehurst, Anilkumar R. Pannikkat, Glenn Wheelock, Colin Whitby-Strevens
  • Publication number: 20090117754
    Abstract: Connectors having a smaller profile. These connectors are useful as a reduced form factor DisplayPort connector. Keys on a receptacle are used to indicate when an insert is fully engaged. Edges of the receptacle and insert are chamfered in such a way as to prevent the pins of the connector from being damaged when an improper insertion is attempted. User experience is also enhanced by the use of one or more latches. As the connector is inserted, the latch provides resistance that builds until the connector is inserted a certain distance, after which the latch enters a cutout portion of the insert thus releasing the pressure and letting the user know the connection has been made. Fingers are employed to provide mechanical stability and electrical connection between receptacle and insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Stewart Shannon FIELDS, Matthew K. Herndon, Min Chul Kim, Ron Larson, Richard J. Middlehurst, Anilkumar R. Pannikkat, Glenn Wheelock, Colin Whitby-Strevens
  • Patent number: 6835103
    Abstract: A male electrical contact assembly having first and second unitary bodies, each having a central portion and a blade member extending from the central portion. An insulating spacer is disposed between the bodies for insulating them from each other. Each of the bodies transmits a distinct power supply. In another embodiment, a male electrical contact comprising a conductive body having first and second blade members is provided. The blade members have first ends joined together to form a rounded end and second ends joined to respective spaced-apart, first and second central members. In a further embodiment, an electrical contact comprising a conductive body having a central portion is provided. A plurality of thin contact members are secured to a first end of the body and extend in a first direction to a fold and then in an opposite second direction towards the second end of the body to a common strip for engaging a contact blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Middlehurst, Donald E. Wood, Robert S. Jetter, Robert G. Foley
  • Patent number: 6604967
    Abstract: A socket assembly having first and second bodies of an electrically conductive material. Each of the bodies has a unitary construction and has a width and a central portion extending substantially in a plane. The central portion has a plurality of pin members extending in the plane in spaced-apart positions across the width from its second end and a plurality of thin contact members secured to its first end and spaced apart across the width. The thin contact members extend toward the second end and are bowed outwardly from the central portion, and are opposed to each other for sandwiching a connector blade therebetween. The pin members are adapted to engage an array of interconnect holes in a printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Middlehurst, Donald E. Wood, Robert S. Jetter, Robert G. Foley
  • Publication number: 20030143876
    Abstract: A low profile connector assembly for use with a first printed circuit board having a plurality of first traces extending to an array of interconnect holes and a second printed circuit board having a plurality of second traces extending to an array of interconnect holes. The connector assembly comprises an elongate male connector housing extending along a longitudinal axis and having a first side extending parallel to the longitudinal axis adapted for mounting to the first printed circuit board in a position overlying the array of interconnect holes of the first printed circuit board. The male connector housing has a second side and a cavity communicating with an opening in the second side. A plurality of male electrical contacts of an electrically conductive material are carried by the male connector housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Richard J. Middlehurst, Donald E. Wood, Robert S. Jetter, Robert G. Foley
  • Publication number: 20020081909
    Abstract: A low profile connector assembly for use with a first printed circuit board having a plurality of first traces extending to an array of interconnect holes and a second printed circuit board having a plurality of second traces extending to an array of interconnect holes. The connector assembly comprises an elongate male connector housing extending along a longitudinal axis and having a first side extending parallel to the longitudinal axis adapted for mounting to the first printed circuit board in a position overlying the array of interconnect holes of the first printed circuit board. The male connector housing has a second side and a cavity communicating with an opening in the second side. A plurality of male electrical contacts of an electrically conductive material are carried by the male connector housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Applicant: TVM GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Richard J. Middlehurst, Donald E. Wood, Robert S. Jetter, Robert G. Foley
  • Patent number: 6402566
    Abstract: A low profile connector assembly for use with first and second printed circuit boards comprising a male connector housing having a cavity communicating with an opening in a side. A plurality of male electrical contacts have respective blades are disposed completely within the cavity in longitudinally spaced-apart positions and accessible from the opening. A female connector housing is included in the connector assembly for at least partially seating within the cavity. A plurality of female electrical contacts are carried by the female housing and have respective socket portions for receiving the blades when the male and female housings are interconnected. The male and female electrical contacts serve to transmit power between the printed circuit boards. The connector assembly may include a split blade assembly having unitary bodies separated by an insulative spacer for transmitting power from distinct traces and may include cooperative ribs and grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: TVM Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Middlehurst, Donald E. Wood, Robert S. Jetter, Robert G. Foley
  • Patent number: 6322377
    Abstract: A connector for use with a printed circuit board having a plurality of traces extening to an array of interconnect holes. The connector includes a connector housing adapted for mounting to the printed circuit board in a position overlying the array of interconnect holes and at least one male connector means of an electrically conductive material carried by the male connector housing. The male connector means is formed from a unitary body having first and second blade members and first and second central members. Each of the first and second blade members extends in juxtaposition and has first and second ends. The first ends of the first and second blade members are joined together to form a forward end of the male connector means and the second ends of the first and second blade members are joined to respective first and second central members. The first and second central members are spaced apart and each has an end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: TVM Group. Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Middlehurst, Donald E. Wood, Robert S. Jetter, Robert G. Foley
  • Patent number: 6317311
    Abstract: Contact bands for electrically connecting pluggable circuit breakers to ground and to distribution wires in a wiring system are housed in respective housings for protection. The housings are mounted on modular circuit breaker bus bar assemblies adapted to pluggably receive the pluggable circuit breakers, which have posts for pluggably engaging associated contact bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: TVM Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Middlehurst, Donald E. Wood, Jason S. Sloey
  • Publication number: 20010023143
    Abstract: A low profile connector assembly for use with a first printed circuit board having a plurality of first traces extending to an array of interconnect holes and a second printed circuit board having a plurality of second traces extending to an array of interconnect holes. The connector assembly comprises an elongate male connector housing extending along a longitudinal axis and having a first side extending parallel to the longitudinal axis adapted for mounting to the first printed circuit board in a position overlying the array of interconnect holes of the first printed circuit board. The male connector housing has a second side and a cavity communicating with an opening in the second side. A plurality of male electrical contacts of an electrically conductive material are carried by the male connector housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Applicant: TVM GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Richard J. Middlehurst, Donald E. Wood, Robert S. Jetter, Robert G. Foley
  • Patent number: 6270362
    Abstract: An electronic socket adapter includes an insulative carrier and an array of a plurality of surface mount contacts carried on the base. The pins may be floatably mounted on the carrier. A plurality of relatively large openings are formed in the carrier between adjacent contacts in the array. The openings provide improved heat flow in the region of the surface mount portions of the contacts and also provide for visualization of the surface mount portions of the contacts during and after soldering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Berg Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Orest D. Guran, Donald E. Wood, Richard J. Middlehurst
  • Patent number: 6238225
    Abstract: A bus bar assembly that includes a plurality of bus bars having substantially planar portions disposed in juxtaposition. Adjacent bus bars are electrically isolated from each other. The portion of each of the bus bars is made from an electrically conductive material and has a region provided with at least one interconnect hole extending through the bus bar and adapted to cooperatively receive a pin member. The regions of the bus bars are disposed substantially in a plane so as to permit pin members of equal lengths to be utilized for making electrical connections with the bus bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: TVM Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Middlehurst, Donald E. Wood, Robert S. Jetter
  • Patent number: 6086388
    Abstract: An auxiliary terminal connector adapted for use with a circuit breaker panel into which one or more pluggable circuit breakers are plugged comprises a support base which supports one or more electrically conducting bus connectors. Each bus connector corresponds to a pin from each set of signaling connector pins of the pluggable circuit breaker and is adapted to electrically connect together all these corresponding pins such that signals from them are conveniently bused together and can be accessed from a single or multiple positions on the auxiliary terminal connector. The bus connectors are tulip-shaped in cross section and are adapted to maintain good electrical contact with the signaling pins. They are made of resilient, electrically conducting material which provides a biasing component against the signaling pins when these are plugged in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: TVM Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason S. Sloey, Richard J. Middlehurst
  • Patent number: D438843
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: TVM Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Middlehurst
  • Patent number: D411173
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Elcon Products International
    Inventors: Danny Kwun-Man Chau, Richard J. Middlehurst
  • Patent number: D412489
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Elcon Products International
    Inventors: Richard J. Middlehurst, Jason S. Sloey
  • Patent number: D417862
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Elcon Products International
    Inventors: Donald E. Wood, Richard J. Middlehurst
  • Patent number: D434726
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: TVM Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Middlehurst