Single Means Retaining Plural Distinct Coupling Parts And Mating Parts Together Patents (Class 439/368)
  • Patent number: 5442138
    Abstract: An insulator for a terminal-connecting portion has a sufficient force for holding a terminal and can drain water efficiently. An insulator body 100 is provided with a draining hole 140 on a side wall part 133 which is one of the exterior walls forming a curved portion 130. Since the draining hole 140 is provided on the side wall part, an outer corner wall part 131 of the curved portion 130 is left intact and an inner peripheral face of the outer corner wall part 131 is closely and elastically mounted on a corner 64 of a female terminal 60. Since an inner peripheral face of another end 120 of the insulator body 100 is closely and elastically mounted on two corners 62 and 63 out of three remaining corners 61 to 64, the female terminal 60 is supported on three points, so that a sufficient force of holding a terminal can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Ochi
  • Patent number: 5334042
    Abstract: An electrical cord connecting apparatus for maintaining the connection between a plug and socket. A plug of a portion of electrical cord is held at a first end of a supporting member and a socket of another portion of electrical cord is held at a second end of the supporting member. The supporting member is shaped such that the plug and socket are held at positions which are effective to hold the plug adjacent to the socket in an engaged position with the plug inserted in the socket. The plug end portion or the socket end portion of an electrical cord is clipped onto and retained at one end of the supporting member and the corresponding other of the plug end or the socket end portion of either the same electrical cord (when the device is used to facilitate handling of the electrical cord) or another electrical cord (when the device is used to maintain the effective coupling between the plug and socket) is clipped onto and retained by the other end of the supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Inventor: Robert K. Chevalier
  • Patent number: 5315062
    Abstract: A connector cover for a wire harness includes a main cover composed of a hinged pair of half case bodies and a secondary cover composed of a hinged pair of semicylindrical bodies. The main cover is formed with an opening for affixing to the back of the connector and a circular opening with a circular ridge elongating inside surface for passing the wire extending from the connector when the half case bodies are closed. The secondary cover has both ends opened for receiving the wire harness and is formed with a cylindrical opening with a channel grove extending therearound for passing the wire when the semicylindrical bodies are closed, and is connected to the main cover such that the circular ridge of the main cover fits in the channel groove around the cylindrical opening. Accordingly, the secondary cover can rotate with respect to the main cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Hoshino
  • Patent number: 5259783
    Abstract: An easy to engage and disengage dual height card retainer that facilitates removal of daughterboards is disclosed. Daughterboards have a two-tier staggered arrangement above the motherboard. Each daughterboard has a signal transfer end that electrically connects to the motherboard through one of the dual height bus connectors, and a back panel connector end that couples to the back panel with an accessory connector or with a filler panel that functions as an electromagnetic interference shield. Dual height card retainers that require no tools to operate function as retaining means to prevent daughterboards from working lose from bus connectors during shipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Vince Hileman, Steven J. Furuta, Clifford B. Willis, Robert J. Lajara
  • Patent number: 5186645
    Abstract: A latching system is disclosed for use in an electrical connector system which includes a backplane connector mounted on a backplane of an electrical apparatus, along with a mating connector mateable with the backplane connector in a direction generally perpendicular to the backplane. The latching system includes a latching device independent of the backplane and mating connectors. The device includes a latch arm projecting from the backplane, and a hook portion engageable with a latching surface on the mating connector for holding the mating connector in mated condition with the backplane connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventor: Craig A. Bixler
  • Patent number: 5179044
    Abstract: A securing device is provided for a male plug connector on a portable appliance cord and a female socket connector on an extension cord. The securing device comprises an elongated elastic member. A first mechanism is at a first end of the elongated elastic member, for attachment to the extension cord proximate the female socket connector. A second mechanism is at a center of the elongated elastic member, for attachment to the portable appliance cord proximate the male plug connector. A third mechanism is at a second end of the elongated elastic member, for attached to the extension cord proximate the female socket connector. The elongated elastic member can wrap around the female socket connector and the male plug connector, thereby securing the female socket connector to the male plug connector during the use of the portable appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Inventors: Paul N. Muromachi, Staci M. Muromachi
  • Patent number: 5139429
    Abstract: A lockout device for enclosing and inhibiting unauthorized access to an electrical connector attached to an electrical cable has first and second identical joinable shell portions each with a concave interior so that when the shell portions are joined the interiors define a cavity for receiving an electrical connector. Each shell portion has a hinge pin and a hinge clevis for connection to a hinge clevis and a hinge pin, respectively, on the other shell portion to pivotally join the shell portions so that they are pivotable between open and closed positions. Male and female latch members engageable with similar members on the other shell portion are provided to hold the shell portions in the closed position. Arcuate recesses at opposite ends of the said shell portions form a circular opening, when the portions are joined, to permit a cable attached to the connector contained in the cavity to extend out of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Wallace U. Herman, Patrick J. Tiberio
  • Patent number: 5061194
    Abstract: A lockout device for enclosing and inhibiting unauthorized access to an electrical connector attached to an electrical cable has first and second identical joinable shell portions each with a concave interior so that when the shell portions are joined the interiors define a cavity for receiving an electrical connector. Each shell portion has a hinge pin and a hinge clevis for connection to a hinge clevis and a hinge pin, respectively, on the other shell portion to pivotally join the shell portions so that they are pivotable between open and closed positions. Male and female latch members engageable with similar members on the other shell portion are provided to hold the shell portions in the closed position. Arcuate recesses at opposite ends of the said shell portions form a circular opening, when the portions are joined, to permit a cable attached to the connector contained in the cavity to extend out of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Wallace U. Herman, Patrick J. Tiberio
  • Patent number: 5044976
    Abstract: An electrical cord holder includes an elongated member which can be secured to a conventional electrical outlet in a position whereby the elongated member extends perpendicularly away from the wall plate of the outlet. A clamp is detachably secured around the electrical cord immediately adjacent the plug while the plug is inserted within the wall outlet. The clamp is then detachably secured to the elongated member so as to prevent the plug from being pulled out of the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Inventor: Dennis L. Thompson
  • Patent number: 5022865
    Abstract: A connector device and method of use thereof provide positioning and hermetic sealing of electrical contacts in protective housings. The housings protect wires which connect the speed sensor of a turbine engine to a display. The connector supports the electrical contacts in an electrical insulator. The connector includes a malleable flange which is adapted to be hermetically sealed between two housings which protect wires connected to the speed sensor in the turbine engine. The flange is hermetically sealed between a tongue on one housing and a groove in the other housing. The sealing flange extends radially from the central axis of the connector and is compressed by the tongue of a releasable housing into the groove of a permanent housing to form a hermetic seal. The flange supports the electrical insulator which holds electrically conducting inner contacts in position to be slideably mounted into outer contacts which are supported by the connector housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Wright, James R. Hall, Keith D. Theobald
  • Patent number: 5007854
    Abstract: A locking device for connectors of printed wired boards, the connectors being of EURODIN (DIN41612C/R) type, which device prevents the disconnection of two coupled connectors, consisting of a rectangular elongated plate in plastic material having four tenons at its corners in relief over said plate, the tenons inserting in end recesses of the connectors when the plate is overlapped to two coupled connectors, the plate further having two resilient end arms, perpendicular to the plate and extending in the same direction as the tenons, each arm having a locking tooth which hooks to the lower side of the connector pair when the plate is overlapped to the coupled connector pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Inventors: Giampietro Crespiatico, Luciano Mondori
  • Patent number: 4986769
    Abstract: A first connector 1 provided with a polarizing structure 23 and keying structure 28, 29, a complementary housing 3 provided with a receiving end 25 having a slidable frame 30 for receiving the polarizing structure 23 and the keying structure 28, 29, and the frame 30 having complementary keying means aligned with the keying structure of the first connector and aligned with a single one of the multiple connector positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: Charles N. Adams, III, Leroy J. Morningstar
  • Patent number: 4984993
    Abstract: An electrical end connector (10) of the zero insertion force type includes a pair of opposing blocks (21, 40), one of which blocks is slideably mounted in a housing (22). Opposite corresponding pairs of female receptacles (34) and male pins (31) are cooperatively mounted on the opposing blocks (21, 40). The housig (22) has two sets of oppositely disposed windows formed through the longitudinal ends. One block (40) has a channel formed therethrough, such that the block (40) is urged transversely upon insertion of a cam-like slider device (70), thereby selectively engaging or disengaging the male pins (31) and female receptacles (43).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Assignee: Cray Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene F. Neumann, Melvin C. August, Stephen A. Bowen
  • Patent number: 4964810
    Abstract: An arrangement to provide a card cage of an electronic system with a retaining bar. The retaining bar simply and quickly latches in to holes drilled in the side of the card cage. Similarly, the retaining bar quickly unlatches from its holes to provide access for maintenance personnel. The retaining bar has a spring loaded latch element at each end of its length. It has a bar member with a U-shaped cross section in order to prevent excessive bending in the middle. The retaining bar further has a layer of resilient material between the U-shaped bar member and the printed wiring cards to provide a force against each card to retain it in its respective card position. The resilient material may be highly insulating or it may be anti-static as the technology requires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy P. Malotke, Glendon D. Kappel, Charles H. Marohl
  • Patent number: 4904199
    Abstract: The invention relates to a support for a detachable junction between at least two cables each one equipped with a connecting socket.According to the invention, this support comprises:a box (1,6,7,16) with a cover (17) for receiving the two joined sockets;first stop means (9) to oppose the separation of the sockets;a lock (19) with a key (22) mounted on the cover and a latch (24) mounted on the box, the lock being arranged for enabling the operation of the key and its release only when the latch cooperates with the said lock, whereas the latch can cooperate with the lock, only when the cover is in a closed position, andsecond stop means (31,32) arranged in such a way that in case at least one of the sockets is missing, it opposes the closing of the box.Application to the cable support on works site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: Treficable Pirelli
    Inventor: Francis L. Ducassou
  • Patent number: 4846318
    Abstract: A shock absorber is disclosed which electrically communicates with an external source of electrical potential. The shock absorber comprises a valve for electrically controlling the flow of damping fluid in the working chamber of the shock absorber. The shock absorber further comprises a connector for allowing the valve to be electrically connected to the source of electrical potential. The connector comprises an adapter shaft communicating with the piston rod of the shock absorber, a female connector assembly connected to the adapter shaft, and a male connector assembly connected to the female connector assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Monroe Auto Equipment Company
    Inventor: Gary W. Groves
  • Patent number: 4795361
    Abstract: There is disclosed a clamping device which comprises a U-shaped spring secured to a spring retainer in a pivotable manner. The spring retainer is a sub-assembly which consists of two plates forming a slot when sandwiched together to accommodate the spring. The two plates associated with the retainer assembly accommodate a rotatable bolt or screw which screw is directed into a compression stop assembly. A bracket is mounted to the appropriate waveguide flange. This bracket contains an aperture to accommodate a projecting end of the spring. The mating waveguide flanges are clamped in place by adjusting the captive screw which serves to deflect the U-spring completing the clamping action. The unit, as described in the specification, contains two U-shaped springs both of which are coupled to a central spring retaining unit and can operate to connect or disconnect two separate waveguide sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Assignee: ITT Avionics, A Division of ITT Corporation
    Inventor: Norbert T. Trojanowski
  • Patent number: 4772562
    Abstract: A jackfield with a split front panel so that it can be removed to provide access to jack modules without breaking patch cord interconnections between jacks. Each jack module includes a printed circuit board having a lamp assembly and a tri-jack connected to the front and extending forwardly. The printed circuit boards are hard wired at the back of the jackfield and the printed circuit boards route the circuits to the tri-jack and the lamp assembly. To remove just a tri-jack, it is pulled forwardly after the split front panel is removed. A lateral bracket retains the printed circuit board to prevent it from being pulled forwardly. To remove the entire jack module, the wire wraps are disconnected from the back of the printed circuit board and the retaining bracket is removed. Then, the entire module can be slid forwardly in its guide slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignee: Switchcraft, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick L. Lau