Patents by Inventor Timothy J. Kinross

Timothy J. Kinross 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: 5620342
    Abstract: A socket (8) for electrically connecting a circuit card (4) to a substrate comprises a dielectric housing (10) defining a card-receiving slot (12) having a bottom surface (24) and a pair of opposite side surfaces (26, 28), and a plurality of contacts (31, 32) spaced apart along the length of the slot. The plurality of contacts include contact beams (37, 38) at least some of which extend to a greater height above the bottom surface than others of the contact beams. Each of the contact beams includes a contact section (45, 46) extending into the slot and having a card-contacting surface (47, 48) for electrically connecting with the circuit card. All of the card-contacting surfaces are at a substantially same height above the bottom surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy J. Kinross
  • Patent number: 5480316
    Abstract: A socket for electrically connecting a circuit card to a substrate comprises a dielectric housing (10) having a card receiving slot (12) and a plurality of contacts (30). Each of the contacts (30) comprises an electrically conductive body including a portion rigidly secured with respect to the housing, a lead for engaging a respective circuit trace on the substrate, and an elastic portion extending from the rigidly secured portion along a course which includes first a stress loop (44) and then a contact loop (46). The contact loop (46) is open in a direction toward the slot opening. A pair of opposed contact points (50, 52) at ends of the contact loop 46 extend into the slot (12) through opposite sides thereof for engaging respective contact pads on the circuit card. The stress loop (44) is open in a direction substantially opposite to the contact loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Kinross, Roger L. Thrus
  • Patent number: 5425651
    Abstract: A socket for establishing electrical connection with a circuit board comprises a dielectric housing having a board receiving slot and a plurality of terminals disposed for engaging respective contacts on the circuit board. The terminals are arranged in at least first and second sets corresponding to respective first and second sets of the contacts on the circuit board. The first set of terminals engages the first set of contacts when the circuit board is inserted into the slot in a first position, and the second set of terminals engages the second set of contacts as the circuit board is pivoted through an angle to a second position. When the circuit board is removed from the socket, the terminals of the second set disengage their respective contacts before the terminals of the first set. Thus, a socket has terminals arranged such that a portion of the terminals provide make first, break last electrical interconnections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Roger L. Thrush, Timothy J. Kinross
  • Patent number: 5366390
    Abstract: A socket for electrically connecting a circuit panel to a substrate comprises an insulative housing (10) defining an elongated slot (12) for receiving the circuit panel (14). A plurality of terminal receiving cavities (16) are spaced apart along a length of the slot, and each of the cavities is open to the slot on opposite sides (22, 24) thereof. The housing includes a rib (20) extending beneath the slot along its length. A plurality of electrically-conductive terminals (30) are disposed in respective ones of the cavities. Each of the terminals comprises an integral body including a housing engaging section (32) having opposed surfaces (34, 36) each gripping a respective opposite side (46, 48) of the rib. Each terminal has a lead (58) extending to an exterior of the housing for electrically engaging a substrate, and a pair of resilient contact arms (52, 62) extending into the slot from respective opposite sides of the slot for electrically engaging opposite sides of the circuit panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Kinross, Roger L. Thrush