Patents by Inventor Thomas Robert DeWitte

Thomas Robert DeWitte 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: 11916336
    Abstract: An electrical header for use in an electrical connector assembly includes a body for mounting to an object and having an opening formed therethrough for receiving an electrical terminal. The body further defines a plug on a first side thereof for engaging with a mating electrical connector of the assembly. The plug includes a pair of first opposing sidewalls extending from the body at a first height and defining a locking feature for engaging with a corresponding locking feature of the mating connector, and a pair of second opposing sidewalls extending from the body at a second height, less than the first height. The first and second pairs of opposing sidewalls are adapted to mate with a first mating connector oriented in a first direction, and mate with a second mating connector oriented in a second direction distinct from the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Robert DeWitte, Adam Price Tyler, Lindsey Gatesman, David James Rhein
  • Publication number: 20240047924
    Abstract: An electrical header for use in an electrical connector assembly includes a body adapted to mount to an object and having an opening formed therethrough for receiving an electrical terminal. The body further defines a plug on a first side thereof and adapted to engage with a mating electrical connector of the assembly. The plug includes a pair of first opposing sidewalls extending from the body and defining a locking feature adapted to engage with a corresponding locking feature of the mating connector, and a pair of second opposing sidewalls extending from the body and defining a keying feature. The first and second pairs of opposing sidewalls are adapted to mate with a first mating connector oriented in a first direction, and mate with a second mating connector oriented in a second direction distinct from the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Robert DeWitte, Adam Price Tyler, Lindsey Gatesman, David James Rhein
  • Publication number: 20230299546
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly comprises a header and a backing plate attachable thereto. The header includes a plug portion for connecting to a complementary mating connector, and a base having a plurality of mounting through holes for fixing the header to a mounting surface. The backing plate includes a plurality of mounting elements corresponding in location to the plurality of mounting holes of the header for fixing the backing plate to the header on an underside of the mounting surface, and a central opening corresponding in location to the plug portion of the header with the backing plate fixed to the header.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicants: Tyco Electronics Canada ULC, TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH
    Inventors: Zoran Krnetic, David James Rhein, Thomas Robert DeWitte, Lindsey Gatesman, Adam Price Tyler, Praveen Kumar HM
  • Patent number: 11708908
    Abstract: A gasket assembly includes a substrate, such as a portion of a body of an electrical connector. The substrate defines a mating surface to which a gasket or gasket seal is mechanically fixed. The gasket defines at least one recess or other mounting feature thereon for engaging with a complementary feature of the substrate for fixing the gasket to the substrate. According to an embodiment, the gasket defines a sealing face or sealing wall opposing and/or abutting the mating surface of the substrate, and a sidewall extending from the sealing wall and defined about a perimeter thereof. The sealing wall and sidewall define a circumferential recess configured to receive a peripheral edge of the substrate for securing the gasket to and generally over the mating surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Robert DeWitte, Zoran Krnetic, Lindsey E. Gatesman, David James Rhein, Eric D. Shields
  • Publication number: 20220329000
    Abstract: An electrical header for mounting to an object such as an electrical device. The header comprises a body including a base, a first plug end defined on a first side of the base and adapted to mate with a mating connector, and a second plug end defined on a second side of the base and adapted to be inserted into the object. An elastic locking element is arranged on the second plug end and is adapted to engage with and secure the header to the object. The elastic locking element is sized and shaped to be elastically biased by the object in a direction transverse to an insertion direction of the header during removal of the header from the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Applicant: TE Connectivity Services GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Robert DeWitte, David James Rhein, Pushkar S. Kolhatkar
  • Patent number: 11362472
    Abstract: A terminal extraction tool includes a handle and an extraction arm extending from the handle. The handle has a bottom extending between a handle front and a handle rear having a handle axis centered between the handle front and the handle rear. The extraction arm has a base at the bottom of the handle and a finger extending from the base. The finger has an elbow between an upper finger member and a lower finger member. The lower finger member is angled non-parallel to the upper finger member. The lower finger member extends from the elbow to a tip configured to engage a latching beam to release the latching beam and allow removal of the terminal from a housing. The handle and the extraction arm are rotated about the elbow to rotate the lower finger member and the tip to engage the latching beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Robert DeWitte, Pushkar S. Kolhatkar
  • Publication number: 20220140540
    Abstract: An electrical header for use in an electrical connector assembly includes a body for mounting to an object and having an opening formed therethrough for receiving an electrical terminal. The body further defines a plug on a first side thereof for engaging with a mating electrical connector of the assembly. The plug includes a pair of first opposing sidewalls extending from the body a first height and defining a locking feature for engaging with a corresponding locking feature of the mating connector, and a pair of second opposing sidewalls extending from the body at a second height, less than the first height. The first and second pairs of opposing sidewalls are adapted to mate with a first mating connector oriented in a first direction with respect to the header, and mate with a second mating connector oriented in a second direction with respect to the header and distinct from the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: TE Connectivity Services GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Robert DeWitte, Adam Price Tyler, Lindsey Gatesman, David James Rhein
  • Publication number: 20210285545
    Abstract: A gasket assembly includes a substrate, such as a portion of a body of an electrical connector. The substrate defines a mating surface to which a gasket or gasket seal is mechanically fixed. The gasket defines at least one recess or other mounting feature thereon for engaging with a complementary feature of the substrate for fixing the gasket to the substrate. According to an embodiment, the gasket defines a sealing face or sealing wall opposing and/or abutting the mating surface of the substrate, and a sidewall extending from the sealing wall and defined about a perimeter thereof. The sealing wall and sidewall define a circumferential recess configured to receive a peripheral edge of the substrate for securing the gasket to and generally over the mating surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Applicant: TE Connectivity Services GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Robert DeWitte, Zoran Krnetic, Lindsey E. Gatesman, David James Rhein, Eric D. Shields
  • Publication number: 20200373721
    Abstract: A terminal extraction tool includes a handle and an extraction arm extending from the handle. The handle has a bottom extending between a handle front and a handle rear having a handle axis centered between the handle front and the handle rear. The extraction arm has a base at the bottom of the handle and a finger extending from the base. The finger has an elbow between an upper finger member and a lower finger member. The lower finger member is angled non-parallel to the upper finger member. The lower finger member extends from the elbow to a tip configured to engage a latching beam to release the latching beam and allow removal of the terminal from a housing. The handle and the extraction arm are rotated about the elbow to rotate the lower finger member and the tip to engage the latching beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas Robert DeWitte, Pushkar S. Kolhatkar
  • Patent number: 10734755
    Abstract: Electrical connector includes an electrical contact coupled to a connector body and configured to engage a respective contact of a mating connector. The electrical connector includes a seal gland secured to the connector body. The seal gland is shaped to engage the mating connector during the mating operation. The seal gland includes a lubricating section and a sealing section that are displaceable by the mating connector during the mating operation. The lubricating section is positioned in front of the sealing section such that the lubricating section initially engages the mating connector. The lubricating section has at least one of an added lubricant or an intrinsic lubricant. The seal gland is configured to provide a first frictional force as the mating connector engages the lubricating section and a second frictional force as the mating connector engages the sealing section. The second frictional force is greater than the first frictional force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Robert DeWitte, David James Rhein
  • Publication number: 20200099164
    Abstract: Electrical connector includes an electrical contact coupled to a connector body and configured to engage a respective contact of a mating connector. The electrical connector includes a seal gland secured to the connector body. The seal gland is shaped to engage the mating connector during the mating operation. The seal gland includes a lubricating section and a sealing section that are displaceable by the mating connector during the mating operation. The lubricating section is positioned in front of the sealing section such that the lubricating section initially engages the mating connector. The lubricating section has at least one of an added lubricant or an intrinsic lubricant. The seal gland is configured to provide a first frictional force as the mating connector engages the lubricating section and a second frictional force as the mating connector engages the sealing section. The second frictional force is greater than the first frictional force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas Robert DeWitte, David James Rhein
  • Patent number: 10128611
    Abstract: A ferrule assembly for terminating an electrical connector to a cable includes an inner ferrule, an outer ferrule and an inner ferrule sleeve. The inner ferrule has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner ferrule is conductive and provides electrical shielding. The outer ferrule is positioned radially outside of the inner ferrule such that a cable shield of the cable is received between the inner ferrule and the outer ferrule. The outer ferrule secures the cable shield between the inner ferrule and the outer ferrule. The inner ferrule sleeve is positioned radially inside of the inner ferrule. The inner ferrule sleeve substantially fills the space between the inner ferrule and an inner jacket of the cable. The inner ferrule sleeve is dielectric and electrically isolating the inner ferrule from an inner conductor of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: David James Rhein, Aric J. Boyer, Thomas Robert DeWitte
  • Publication number: 20180034200
    Abstract: A ferrule assembly for terminating an electrical connector to a cable includes an inner ferrule, an outer ferrule and an inner ferrule sleeve. The inner ferrule has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner ferrule is conductive and provides electrical shielding. The outer ferrule is positioned radially outside of the inner ferrule such that a cable shield of the cable is received between the inner ferrule and the outer ferrule. The outer ferrule secures the cable shield between the inner ferrule and the outer ferrule. The inner ferrule sleeve is positioned radially inside of the inner ferrule. The inner ferrule sleeve substantially fills the space between the inner ferrule and an inner jacket of the cable. The inner ferrule sleeve is dielectric and electrically isolating the inner ferrule from an inner conductor of the cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: David James Rhein, Aric J. Boyer, Thomas Robert DeWitte
  • Patent number: 9583860
    Abstract: An electrical connector with recordable position assurance includes a housing, an electrical conductor, an indicating feature, and a concealing feature. The housing is configured to engage a complementary mating connector during a mating operation. The indicating feature and the concealing feature are both carried by the housing. The indicating feature has a visual identifier disposed thereon. The indicating feature and the concealing feature are movable relative to each other between a concealed position and an exposed position. The concealing feature conceals at least a portion of the visual identifier in the concealed position. The visual identifier is exposed or exposable in the exposed position. The indicating feature is in the exposed position relative to the concealing feature when the housing is fully mated to the mating connector, and is in the concealed position relative to the concealing feature when the housing and mating connector are not fully mated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Thomas Robert DeWitte
  • Patent number: 8221165
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a housing, an input conductor, and an output conductor. The housing is configured to mate with a mating connector. The input conductor is held in the housing and extends between a receiving end and a coupling end. The receiving end is configured to receive electric current from a power source. The coupling end is configured to join with a fuse inside the housing. The output conductor is held in the housing and extends between a transmission end and a joining end. The joining end is configured to couple with the fuse inside the housing. The transmission end is configured to convey the electric current to a first electric load. The input conductor and the output conductor are electrically coupled with one another via the fuse to provide a fused conductive pathway within the connector assembly over which the electric current passes from the power source to the first electric load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Robert DeWitte
  • Publication number: 20110151719
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a housing, an input conductor, and an output conductor. The housing is configured to mate with a mating connector. The input conductor is held in the housing and extends between a receiving end and a coupling end. The receiving end is configured to receive electric current from a power source. The coupling end is configured to join with a fuse inside the housing. The output conductor is held in the housing and extends between a transmission end and a joining end. The joining end is configured to couple with the fuse inside the housing. The transmission end is configured to convey the electric current to a first electric load. The input conductor and the output conductor are electrically coupled with one another via the fuse to provide a fused conductive pathway within the connector assembly over which the electric current passes from the power source to the first electric load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: THOMAS ROBERT DeWITTE