Patents by Inventor Robert Keith Southard

Robert Keith Southard 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: 4050764
    Abstract: A technique is described for completely and positively wiring components into mass produced machines, such as washing machines, dryers and the like. The subject technique encompasses improved contacts, connectors and a wiring harness all of which are individually and collectively adopted to provide a readily ascertainable positive visual indication of a full mating condition and which will prevent further assembly of components if not initially fully assembled in the proper relationship. Each subassembly of a connector and related component includes keying means allowing only correct assembly and mounting in the machine plus visual indicators which verify correct assembly at each step. The connectors preferably have housings which can be produced in great lengths and cut to the desired shorter lengths. These housings also include strain relief means for the associated conductors and may be hermaphroditic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1977
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: John Root Hopkins, Robert Maurice Renn, Robert Keith Southard
  • Patent number: 4043494
    Abstract: High speed wire feeding means comprises a wire feed roll and a pressure roll, the wire feed roll being driven by a printed circuit motor under the influence of control means which maintains a high and constant level of acceleration and deceleration at the beginning and end of the feeding cycle. One embodiment has a single driven feed roll and a plurality of side-by-side pressure rolls for feeding a plurality of wires. This apparatus is capable of producing a bundle of wires having varying lengths in a minimum amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1977
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: David Edward Bickford, Robert Keith Southard, Matthew Michael Sucheski, Earl William Wagner
  • Patent number: 4010996
    Abstract: A technique is described for completely and positively wiring components into mass produced machines, such as washing machines, dryers and the like. The subject technique encompasses improved contacts, connectors and a wiring harness all of which are individually and collectively adopted to provide a readily ascertainable positive visual indication of a full mating condition and which will prevent further assembly of components if not initially fully assembled in the proper relationship. Each subassembly of a connector and related component includes keying means allowing only correct assembly and mounting in the machine plus visual indicators which verify correct assembly at each step. The connectors preferably have housings which can be produced in great lengths and cut to the desired shorter lengths. These housings also include strain relief means for the associated conductors and may be hermaphroditic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1977
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: John Root Hopkins, Robert Maurice Renn, Robert Keith Southard
  • Patent number: 4006959
    Abstract: A technique is described for completely and positively wiring components into mass produced machines, such as washing machines, dryers and the like. The subject technique encompasses improved contacts, connectors and a wiring harness all of which are individually and collectively adopted to provide a readily ascertainable positive visual indication of a full mating condition and which will prevent further assembly of components if not initially fully assembled in the proper relationship. Each subassembly of a connector and related component includes keying means allowing only correct assembly and mounting in the machine plus visual indicators which verify correct assembly at each step. The connectors preferably have housings which can be produced in great lengths and cut to the desired shorter lengths. These housings also include strain relief means for the associated conductors and may be hermaphroditic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1977
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: John Root Hopkins, Robert Maurice Renn, Robert Keith Southard
  • Patent number: 3970354
    Abstract: A technique is described for completely and positively wiring components into mass produced machines, such as washing machines, dryers and the like. The subject technique encompasses improved contacts, connectors and a wiring harness all of which are individually and collectively adopted to provide a readily ascertainable position visual indication of a full mating condition and which will prevent further assembly of components if not initially fully assembled in the proper relationship. Each subassembly of a connector and related component includes keying means allowing only correct assembly and mounting in the machine plus visual indicators which verify correct assembly at each step. The connectors preferably having housings which can be produced in great lengths and cut to the desired shorter lengths. These housings also include strain releif means for the associated conductors and may be hermaphroditic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1974
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1976
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: John Root Hopkins, Robert Maurice Renn, Robert Keith Southard