Combined With Plug Having Spaced, Longitudinally Engaging, Prong-like Contacts Patents (Class 439/651)
  • Publication number: 20100167580
    Abstract: An electrical wall tap assembly comprises a central portion, a male input connector, at least one female output connector, and an electrical subassembly. In this embodiment, the electrical subassembly comprises a top cover, an upper cover, a lower cover, a bottom cover, and electric power distribution circuitry. In this version, the top cover comprises at least one attachment aperture, and the lower cover comprises at least one attachment member configured to engage the at least one attachment aperture in the top cover. In this version, the electric power distribution circuitry electrically connects the male input connector and the at least one female output connector. In an alternate embodiment, an electrical wall tap assembly comprises an electrical subassembly and an outer covering configured to encase the electrical subassembly. In another embodiment, an electrical wall tap assembly comprises a male input connector, a plurality of female output connectors, and an electrical subassembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventor: Dominic Kan Nam Lee
  • Publication number: 20100159713
    Abstract: An adapter includes a device-side component and a wall-side component. The device-side component has a male socket receptacle to receive an electrical plug and a male socket opposite the male socket receptacle. The wall-side component has a female socket plug to insert into an electrical outlet and a female socket opposite the female socket plug. The male socket is configured to interface with the female socket, regardless of orientation of the male socket with respect to the female socket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Lance Sushin Nishihira, Thomas Sukei Nishihira
  • Publication number: 20100151743
    Abstract: An electrical adapter (100) comprises a first electrical connector (2) having a first insulative housing (21) and a plurality of first terminal sets (22) disposed in the first insulative housing (21); a second electrical connector (3) having a second insulative housing (31) and a plurality of second terminal sets (32) disposed in the second insulative housing (31). A printed circuit board (4) is disposed between the first and second electrical connector (2, 3) and respectively electrically and mechanically connected to the first and second terminal sets (22, 32). And a cable (5) has an end electrically connected to the printed circuit board (4) and another end for electrically connected to another electrical connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: YI ZHOU, XIAN-KUI SHI, CHUNG-YEN YANG
  • Publication number: 20100112848
    Abstract: This is directed to a power adapter plug arm manufactured from a single piece of material. The plug arm can include a plug operative to extend into a wall socket, an elongated plate coupled to an end of the plug such that the plug extends from a first surface of one end of the plate, and a pin coupled to the opposite end of the plate and extending from the opposite surface of the plate. The pin can be operative to engage a circuit board of the power adapter to provide power received from the wall socket to an electronic device coupled to the power adapter. To enhance the strength of the plug arm, the plate can be manufactured by creating a co-axial plug and a stem from a single piece of material, bending the stem, and cold heading the bent portion of the stem to form a plate. Because the cold heading process involves cold working the material, the arm and in particular the bridge member at the interface between the plate and the stem can become stronger as a result of the manufacturing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Malcolm Early, Brandon Connors, Kevin Walsh
  • Publication number: 20100068939
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly comprises a receptacle connector (100) and a plug connector (200) mating with the receptacle connector. The receptacle connector (100) has a receptacle housing (10) and a plurality of receptacle contacts (12) received in the receptacle housing, and the receptacle housing comprises a base portion (102) and an expansion portion (104) extending outwards from the base portion. The plug connector comprises a plug housing (20) and a plurality of plug contacts (21) retained in the plug housing. Each of the receptacle contacts and the plug contacts define a mating portion (121, 211), a retention portion (123, 213) retained with associated housing and a tail portion (124, 214) extending beyond the associated housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Bin Xu, Su-Feng Liu, David Tso-Chin Ko
  • Publication number: 20100022106
    Abstract: An electrical, circuit breaker protected, extension cord in-line tap, securement device for securing tandemly connected electrical extension cords. The securement device includes opposing proximal and distal open-ended hook members each having a hinged locking flap for receiving therein a looped end of the associated extension cord thereby preventing unintended separation of the extension cords. The hook members may comprise a back wall having a plurality of vertical ribs along at least a portion of the back wall. The vertical ribs may be configured to grippingly secure the extension cords. Embodiments of the in-line tap may also include a plurality of circuit breaker protected auxiliary electrical outlets on opposing sides for powering additional extension cords or electrical devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventor: Dominic Kan Nam Lee
  • Patent number: 7641489
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a safety plug socket, which mainly includes a sliding insulating base disposed within an outer housing. A pair of contact conducting strips is located on a bottom surface of the sliding insulating base, and conductive clips disposed internal of a pair of socket holes extend to the bottom portion of the outer housing and form folded strips. When a pair of plug terminals is correctly inserted, then the sliding insulating base is pressed down, thereby causing the lower contact conducting strips to make conductive contact with the folded strips, and causing clips on the conductive clips to make contact with the inserted plug terminals to supply power for use by an electronic product. When a plug is incorrectly inserted or metallic foreign body is inserted, then no electric conduction is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Inventors: Chih-Hua Hsu, Yung-Shun Chiang
  • Patent number: 7604511
    Abstract: An electrical adaptor providing access to an electrical receptacle with an object placed in close proximity directly in front of the receptacle. The electrical adaptor having a pair of male connectors with a center line; a pair of female connectors having a center line; the female connectors in electric conductive communication with the male connectors; a rigid single section body having a bend such that the center line of the female conductors is oriented and fixed at an angle of 90° relative to the center line of the male connectors and the center line of the female connectors is oriented and fixed at an angle of 30° to 60° from a plane formed by the male connectors; and the body extending from the male connectors to the female connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Inventor: Steve O. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20090253306
    Abstract: A plug adapter for plugging a connecting lead having at least two poles onto a switching device having a respective secondary contact, for a respective lead conductor, disposed parallel to a combination plug-in orifice includes, on a bottom side facing the switching device, a housing cutout. Associated with each of the at least two poles is a respective access contact including a contact spring. The access contact has a housing opening, and a respective plug, a respective conductor bar. The free end of the contact spring is elastically preloaded, and a damping device is configured to simultaneously clamp the lead conductors to the contact spring and actuatable via an actuator bracket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: Moeller GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Knoerrchen, Stephan Stanke
  • Patent number: 7581992
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein to provide improved techniques for connecting an electrical device to an external power source. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an electrical device is disclosed having various types of connections to a power source. The connections may also provide power transformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Calvin Y. Liu, Lynn Lee, Frank Hung
  • Publication number: 20090093154
    Abstract: A modular jack (100) for receiving a mating plug includes a visual indicator (3) having a lighting pipe (31), a pair of pins (32) extending from the lighting pipe and a separate guiding pipe (33), and an insulative housing (1) including a front face (1), an opposite rear face (13), side faces (12) connecting with the front face and rear face. The insulative housing defines a pipe slot (152) extending through the front face and the side face for receiving the guiding pipe, and further has a receiving channel (152) in communication with the pipe slot for receiving the lighting pipe and a number of pin slots (151) extending rearwardly and through the rear face of the housing for receiving the pins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventors: Hui-Juan Shen, Qing Wan, Li-Chun Wu
  • Patent number: 7497740
    Abstract: A tandem-connected rotatable receptacle unit is provided. The unit includes a primary receptacle having a housing, an electric plug with an electric cord disposed at the front end of the housing, and a first slot set formed at the rear side of the primary receptacle for the output of power. The unit further includes at least one tandem connection receptacle having a blade set at the front side of the housing, the blade set being fixed at a round seat. The blades of the blade set are each coupled to a conducting wire electrically coupled to a conducting piece of a first slot set at the rear end of the tandem connection receptacles. The tandem connection receptacle further includes a second slot set at a side wall and a projecting rib provided at the circumference of the round seat, whereby the round seat can be rotated about the round seat for adjusting the direction of a second slot set at the side wall of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Inventors: Tzu-Chiang Mei, Da-Peng Mei
  • Patent number: 7481660
    Abstract: A rotatable plug with a fixable converter includes a lower case having two through holes formed therein, two plug receiving slots opened in one end and two openings formed between the plug receiving slots; a plug having a longer end to be inserted into the through holes in the lower case, wherein the longer end of the plug is received in the plug receiving slots in the lower case when the plug is rotated to a hidden position; a locking member placed on the lower case and having two hook locks formed on the lower surface thereof; a fixing member having two clamping fixtures formed on the lower surface thereof to clamp the plug; and a converter having two hooks formed on the upper surface thereof, wherein the hooks pass through the openings in the lower case and then are locked by the hook locks of the locking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Phihong Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung-Nien Tsai
  • Patent number: 7467888
    Abstract: A power supply module for a lighting system is directly mountable onto a special cover plate for a standard electrical junction box. The power supply module is provided with a plug assembly that mates with a socket assembly incorporated within the special cover plate. The power supply circuit provides an electronically power limited output through multi-conductor connectors. The power supply output is used to connect to luminaires using a multi-conductor cable having multi-conductor connectors that mate with the multi-conductor connectors on the power supply and the luminaires. The luminaires use a circuit to interface between the power supply output and the lamp. The special cover plate is also suitable for receiving a plug assembly incorporated within the base of a lighting base module that can provide temporary incandescent or gas-discharge lighting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Inventor: Dale E. Fiene
  • Publication number: 20080293304
    Abstract: A device for use in a cable connection includes a first section formed of a molded resilient material. The first section is provided with at least one opening extending there through for receiving a cable. A second section is formed of a molded resilient material. The second section is at least partially separated from the first section. The second section has at least one interface that lies opposite an interface of the first section that is mateable therewith. The interface of the second section and the interface of the first section have an intermediate space there between in an unmated position. The interface of the second section mutually abuts the interface of the first section in a mated position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Torsten Friedrich, Richard Graf, Markus Hardi
  • Publication number: 20080139050
    Abstract: An adjustable power plug adapter structure comprises an insulating case, a first inserted member, a second inserted member, and a plug. The insulating case has two side arms and a pivoting portion. The first and second inserted members are oppositely joined in the insulating case, and electrically connected. The plug is movably assembled to the insulating case. The plug has a third inserted member which is mated to the second inserted member. The plug has a sliding groove on its side, and the sliding groove corresponds to the first pivoting portion. Making use of this structure, the insulating case, the first inserted member, and the second member form an adjustable power plug adapter. When one adjustable power plug adapter is not used, it can slide and rotate away. The adjustable power plug adapters can be assembled together to correspond to a variety types of receptacles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventor: Sheng-Hsin Liao
  • Publication number: 20080124988
    Abstract: The terminal board component is composed of a box traversed by electrical current-carrying elements (30), with an end surface (110) bearing mechanical (111) and electrical (114) connection elements allowing its attachment to a modular component of an electrical device and one end surface (150) bearing elements for connection to at least one electric power cable. The box includes at least one housing (104) for accommodating a connection element designed to be electrically connected to at least one electric power cable. The connection elements is a screwless connector (4), and the box bears a plunger (136, 137, 138) that is obtained by molding with its upper surface (13, 113) and that is movable perpendicular to the upper surface (113), positioned over each housing (104) for accommodating a screwless connector (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: PROFESSIONAL GENERAL ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS PGEP
    Inventor: Michèle Blanchot
  • Patent number: 7378756
    Abstract: A plug which is attached to a power cord of an appliance, such as a clock or an appliance having an internal clock, includes a battery that will supply power to the appliance during a failure of utility power whereby the clock associated with the plug need not be reset after restoration of power. The plug is interposed between the plug of the appliance associated therewith and the source of utility power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Inventors: Troy W. Singer, Kellie Singer
  • Patent number: 7361046
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a display assembly comprises a base, a monitor assembly, and a first spacing connector having a first interlocking mechanism selectively connectable to the base and a second interlocking mechanism selectively connectable to the monitor assembly to provide structural support for the monitor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Paul L. Drew
  • Patent number: 7267581
    Abstract: A plug stabilizing apparatus includes a prong connector well-secured by a receptacle chamber. The connect has a prong portion, a clip portion, and a neck support situated therebetween, wherein the clip portion is configured to accept a prong having substantially the same dimensions as the prong portion of the connector (e.g., prongs such as those used in connection with standard household plugs), and the clip portion includes one or more distal protrusions extending outwardly therefrom. Support pads are located between said neck support and/or distal protrusions and a back housing surface of a vaporizer device. The receptacle chamber has a first end configured to contact the neck support, a second end including an elongated opening and at least two clip supports configured to accept the distal protrusions, and a guide structure configured to guide the distal protrusions into the clip supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: The Dial Corporation
    Inventors: Carl Triplett, Christopher J Wolpert, Kevin Hafer
  • Patent number: 7249976
    Abstract: A combination electrical plug, receptacle and switch includes a cylindrical plug portion in which is inserted a cylindrical receptacle portion. The plug portion may be plugged into a conventional electrical socket. An electrical appliance or device may be plugged into the receptacle end. Electrical contacts in the plug portion and the receptacle portion can be made to contact to form a pathway for electrical current by a applying a twisting motion to the receptacle portion. The pathway for the electrical current may be disconnected by twisting the receptacle portion the other way. In this manner, the combination may be conveniently used as an on/off switch for almost any electrical device. Safety features include a way to block twisting of the receptacle end when the switch is in the off position unless the receptacle end is first pulled slightly away from the plug end before twisting it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Inventor: H. Scott Watson
  • Patent number: 7223126
    Abstract: A plug device for fitting into a country specific electrical wall socket comprises a base part and at least one country specific electrical plug adapter, able to be secured to the base part, for fitting into the country specific line socket. The at least one plug adapter may be locked without using tools in an assembled state with a locking means and released from the base part after unlocking the locking means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Helms-Man Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuk Hung Ng
  • Patent number: 7220136
    Abstract: A plug and socket combination positions a plug and electrical cord at an orientation perpendicular to a wall socket, thus reducing the required clearance to substantially that of the plug width without the electrical cord or less than half of the clearance normally required. Two-pronged and three-pronged plug and socket combinations have been developed that are substantially the same width, length, and depth as the typical plug on a two or three wire electrical cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Inventor: Robert L. Green
  • Patent number: 7140922
    Abstract: An AC/DC adapter in which an AC to DC converter is incorporated in a multiple outlet wall adapter. The AC/DC adapter includes at least one standard AC plug receptacle and at least one DC receptacle. Electronic devices which require DC power can be plugged into to the AC/DC adapter by a power cord having a universal DC plug at one end and a connector or plug specific to the make and/or model of the electronic device at the other end. The universal DC plug corresponds with the DC receptacle provided on the AC/DC adapter. The adapter may be formed as one integrated unit or as a modular assembly which includes an AC module and a DC module. In the assembly, the AC and DC modules are constructed so that they can be fitted together and used as one conveniently sized unit, but modules can also be used independently of the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Pacusma Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel V. H. Luu, Lionel V. Luu
  • Patent number: 7128616
    Abstract: A connector assembly is disclosed for interconnecting high speed data transmission cables across an interface panel to an external circuit. A first pin array of conductive pins is carried by an input face and a corresponding second pin array of conductive pins is carried by an output face of a panel connector. An array of conductive sockets corresponding to the second pin array is carried by a plug front of a plug connector for receiving the second array of pins when connectors are mated together. A third pin array of conductive pins is carried by plug back corresponding to the first pin array. In this manner, a first set of transmission cables electrically connected to the first pin array of the panel connector is electrically connected to a second set of transmission cables connected to the third pin array of the plug connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignees: Woven Electronics Corporation, Deutsch ECD Defense/Aerospace Operations
    Inventors: Lawrence William Orr, Dennis Whitacre
  • Patent number: 7094109
    Abstract: An improved power supply terminal to prevent defects and output voltage drop of the power supply and reduce the total cost, and to bridge a power supply connector and insertion slots of a mainboard includes twenty-four first coupling slots on an upper end and twenty or twenty-four second coupling slots on a lower end. The coupling slots are opposing each other and not connected by conductive wires. Thereby it can be coupled with different types of power supply connectors and mainboard insertion slots. Defects and output voltage drop of the power supply can be prevented. Due to no conductive wires and separated design of the coupling slots and the coupling pins is not necessary, molding, material, and fabrication and assembly costs are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Topower Computer Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ching-Lin Chou
  • Patent number: 7090539
    Abstract: The socket adaptor insertion-removal tool including a handle, a depending shank terminating in a head with at least two conducting prongs wired to a receptacle in the handle top, for insertion into a socket adaptor, thus to provide electrical power from the receptacle in the top of the handle upon insertion of the socket adaptor into an electrical socket. In another embodiment, the handle top end does not have a receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Inventor: Robert Mazur
  • Patent number: 7052298
    Abstract: A compact traveling-use power adapter structure comprises primarily a casing and several adjustable adapting plugs. The adjustable adapting plugs are installed on two sides at the bottom of the lower casing, and rotate toward a common grounding terminator in the center of the adjustable adapting plugs, thereby achieving the object of storage or opening for use. The two adjustable adapting plugs contain adjustable contact terminators, respectively. In using the aforementioned structure, a power plug of an electronic product is directly inserted into the power adapter, after rotating and opening the adjustable adapting plugs at the bottom of the casing, and adjusting the position or angle of their contact terminators, thereby improving the practicability and convenience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Inventor: Sheng-Hsiung Cheng
  • Patent number: 7048546
    Abstract: A bicycle hub dynamo assembly is configured with a hub and a releasable electrical connector. The hub has a generator mechanism housed in a hub shell that generates electricity by rotation of the hub shell relative to a hub axle. The generator mechanism includes a first electrical connector with first electrical contacts. The releasable electrical connector includes mating electrical contacts configured to mate with the electrical contacts of the electrical connector that is fixed to the hub axle. The releasable electrical connector includes an inner housing part and an outer housing part with a fixing portion of the second electrical contacts retained between the inner and outer housing parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Takahiro Endo
  • Patent number: 7040931
    Abstract: An adapter for connecting a welding-type power source to various different input voltage signals is disclosed. The adapter comprises a body with a receptacle at one end which is connectable to a power cord of a welding-type power source and a plug at another end which is connectable with a number of different electrical outlet configurations. The body of the adapter is shaped to allow both the plug and a grounding prong of a connected power cord to engage the same outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Richard M. Achtner, Jeffery J Gadamus
  • Patent number: 7021949
    Abstract: An electrical plug and grip combination includes a housing that has a back side, a front side, a top side, a bottom side and a pair of lateral sides. The front side has a female plug extending therein. A male plug extends outwardly from the back side. An electrical plug may be removably extended into the female plug and electrically coupled to the male plug. A panel is attached to the front side of the housing. The panel has an upper edge, a lower edge, a forward side, a rear side, a first side edge and a second side edge. The forward side faces away from the housing and has an opening extending therein that exposes the female plug. The upper edge extends upwardly above a plane of the top side of the housing. The lower edge extends downwardly below a plane of the bottom side of side housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Inventor: Rosemary K. Boers
  • Patent number: 6974351
    Abstract: In an electric motor-and-gear assembly for driving automotive power accessories such as front and rear wipers, power window units, or the like, having transmission casing, that can be closed by means of a casing cover, and having a socket that is disposed in the casing cover and can be contacted by means of a connector plug in order to connect the electric motor to the electrical system of the vehicle, for the sake of a uniform, single design of the socket when there are structurally varied designs of connector plugs, the socket is attached to an interchangeable adapter which has a first group of electrical contacts adapted to the socket and a second group of electrical contacts adapted to the connector plug. The contacts of the two contact groups, which are comprised of plug tabs, are connected to one another in an electrically conductive manner inside or along a surface of the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Detlef Lauk, Ernst Fischer, Hansjoerg Karcher, Juergen Herp, Erik Maurer, Andreas Wiegert, Bernd Bock, Richard Hurst
  • Patent number: 6962509
    Abstract: A plug stabilizing apparatus includes a prong connector well-secured by a receptacle chamber. The connect has a prong portion, a clip portion, and a neck support situated therebetween, wherein the clip portion is configured to accept a prong having substantially the same dimensions as the prong portion of the connector (e.g., prongs such as those used in connection with standard household plugs), and the clip portion includes one or more distal protrusions extending outwardly therefrom. The receptacle chamber has a first end configured to contact the neck support, a second end including an elongated opening and at least two clip supports configured to accept the distal protrusions, and a guide structure configured to guide the distal protrusions into the clip supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: The Dial Corporation
    Inventors: Carl Triplett, Christopher J. Wolpert, Kevin Hafer
  • Patent number: 6955567
    Abstract: A junction terminal is accommodated in a connector housing to connect a pin terminal fitted on a case of an electric instrument with a receptacle terminal of a wiring harness connector. The junction terminal includes a female electrical contact portion to electrically connect with the pin terminal of the electric instrument, a male electrical contact portion to electrically connect with the receptacle terminal of the wiring harness connector, and a bridging portion to connect the female electrical contact portion with the male electrical contact portion. The male electrical contact portion is constructed so as to be correctly positioned by a positioning member attached to the connector housing. The male electrical contact portion is arranged such that a first longitudinal line passing an intermediate point of the male electrical contact portion aligns with a second longitudinal line passing an intermediate point of the female electrical contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Shigemitsu Inaba, Katsuhiko Onoda
  • Patent number: 6916210
    Abstract: A compressor is provided with a fluid tight electrical connector. The electrical connector is sealed against the seal compressor housing, and a cable end connector is detachably attached to a connector housing . Since the cable is separately attached to the connector housing, it is not directly connected to terminal pins in the compressor. This reduces damage to those terminal pins. Further, unique sealing arrangements make the electrical connection fluid tight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Billy W. Moore, Jr., Scott E. Westberg
  • Patent number: 6896551
    Abstract: A power line phase coupler system for repeating data signals between power line phases that can be easily installed by a user. The power line phase coupler system includes a housing, a female connector positioned within the housing, a male connector electrically connected to the female connector by a length of cord, and a repeater coupler electrically connected to the male connector. The repeater coupler is electrically connected between Phase A and Phase B of the male connector for repeating and amplifying a data signal received from either phase to the opposite phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas L. Hauck, David L. Kvidt, Jeff L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6863574
    Abstract: A plug assembly includes a plug adapter with a front side, a back side, a first lateral side and a second lateral side. The back side has a pair of slots therein positioned adjacent to and extending along one of the first and second lateral sides such that flanges are defined. A pair of male plugs is attached to and extends away from the front side. Each of a plurality of cords has a female plug coupler electrically attached thereto and adapted for selectively coupling with one of the flanges such that the cords extend laterally away from the plug adapter. A plurality of electrical contacts is mounted in the slot and on the female plug couplers for electrically coupling the female plug couplers to the plug adapter. The electrical contacts in the slots are electrically coupled to an associated one of the male plugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Inventor: Johannes Cornelius N. Bosch
  • Patent number: 6840813
    Abstract: A connecting apparatus for constituting a Y-connection of three phase windings of a three phase induction motor or supplying three phase power to the three phase windings includes a first connector and a second connector. The first connector has three terminals respectively extending from the three phase windings. The second connector has a Y-connection plug, which is coupled to the first connector and constitutes a Y-connection of the three terminals. The second connector also has slots for guiding a plug for supplying three phase power to the three terminals of the first connector. Accordingly, it is not required to separate the second connector from the first connector for supplying three phase power to the three phase windings of the induction motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Tae Woo Kim
  • Publication number: 20040253876
    Abstract: A connecting apparatus for constituting a Y-connection of three phase windings of a three phase induction motor or supplying three phase power to the three phase windings includes a first connector and a second connector. The first connector has three terminals respectively extending from the three phase windings. The second connector has a Y-connection plug, which is coupled to the first connector and constitutes a Y-connection of the three terminals. The second connector also has slots for guiding a plug for supplying three phase power to the three terminals of the first connector. Accordingly, it is not required to separate the second connector from the first connector for supplying three phase power to the three phase windings of the induction motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventor: Tae Woo Kim
  • Patent number: 6825427
    Abstract: An electrical circuit interrupter for a conventional electrical plug is provided that be mounted on a wall electrical socket or on the plug itself. Adaptable to either 2-prong or 3-prong electrical plugs, a toggle switch either turns on or off the circuit from the plug to the wall socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Inventor: Jerry A. Jenks
  • Patent number: 6817729
    Abstract: A airport runway lighting system, including a power source (10) supplying a constant current to a primary circuit (12) and several marking lights (14-1 to 14-6) each being connected to the primary circuit by a current transformer (16-1 to 16-6), the secondary winding of which supplies the lamp current. At least several adjacent transformers form a multiple assembly without a connection cable. Each transformer features a built-in male connector and a female plug or two built-in female plugs. The transformers are stacked to form the multiple assembly, the male connector of one of the transformers being inserted into the female plug of the immediately adjacent transformer, the male connector of the first transformer and the female plug of the last transformer being connected in series to the primary circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Augier S.A.
    Inventor: Patrick Lebel
  • Patent number: 6790093
    Abstract: Selectively mounted on a mounting concavity (13) of a switch-side connector (10) having a switch terminal (14) projected therefrom is a first attachment (40) having a connector fit-on part (41) and a terminal insertion part (42) disposed orthogonally to the connector fit-on part (41) or a second attachment (50) having a connector fit-on part (51) and a terminal insertion part (52) disposed in an approximately straight line. By fitting a mating electric wire-side connector on the connector fit-on part (41) of the first attachment (40), an electric wire can be pulled out in the shape of a letter “L” from the switch-side connector (10). By fitting the electric wire-side connector on the connector fit-on part (51) of the second attachment (50), the electric wire can be pulled out upward and straight from the switch-side connector (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Tanaka, Kiyofumi Ichida
  • Patent number: 6784860
    Abstract: This invention relates to a detachable display 10, in particular to a detachable liquid crystal display for an electronic device. The display 10 has a first plate 12, a second plate 14 parallel to the first plate 12, and a layer of liquid crystal material 16 between the first plate 12 and the second plates 14. So that the liquid crystal material 16 can be addressed, a plurality of X address lines 20 are provided on the first plate 12, and a plurality of Y address lines 22 are provided on the second plate 14. The X address lines 20 and the Y address lines 22 are each respectively connected to X contacts and Y contacts, the X contacts and Y contacts being positioned along a single connecting edge 32 of the display, so that the display can be connected/disconnected to/from a matching connector by simply sliding connecting edge 32 of the display 10 into/out of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: John William Lumley
  • Patent number: 6767255
    Abstract: A temporary power outlet adapter for use with temporary power distribution boxes comprising a twist type male power coupling that is electrically connectable to a conventional temporary power distribution box. A splitter is electrically connected to the twist type male power coupling. A household power outlet is electrically connected to the splitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Inventor: Del W. Croswell
  • Patent number: 6757165
    Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a function expanding device which may render electronic hardware multifunctional, light, small, and easy to operate. The function expanding device of the present invention includes a first connection part connectable to a unit that expands a function of the electronic hardware, a second connection part connectable to the electronic hardware, and an operation part for the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Tatsuya Fujiki, Tomonori Hatano
  • Patent number: 6746284
    Abstract: A cable connector (2) includes a number of signal and power cables (26, 28), a dielectric housing (20) defining a number of passageways (204), a number of signal contacts (22) received in the housing and electrically connecting with the signal cables, and a number of power contacts (24) received in the passageways. Each passageway has a guiding channel (2041) and a receiving space (2043). Each power contact includes a contact portion (242) for mating with a complementary contact, a tail portion (244) electrically connecting with a corresponding power cable and a middle portion (240) connected between the contact portion and the tail portion. The contact portion has a projection (246) formed adjacent the middle portion. Each power contact is assembled to a corresponding passageway by moving the projection into the guiding channel and then rotating the projection into the receiving space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: William E. Spink, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6743055
    Abstract: A lead having an adapting member extending from the lead's main body, wherein the adapting member is suitable for receiving a terminal pin of a second lead thereby electrically coupling the second lead thereto. The lead may then be electrically and mechanically coupled to a single electrical port of a medical device. The lead may be unipolar, bipolar, or multipolar and suitable for use with a pacer, defibrillator or other cardiac rhythm management device, wherein the second lead is electrically connected in parallel with a selected conductor of the lead. The adapter may be positioned on the lead adjacent the terminal pin such that when the lead is coupled to the medical device the adapter engages a portion of the medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Flynn, Stuart R. Chastain, Steve Hahn, June M. Zytkovicz
  • Patent number: 6736679
    Abstract: A shunt receptacle and plug device has a main case, a head cover, an end cover, and a pair of disk fasteners. The end cover has a receptacle set and a pair of opposite notches. The main case has a pair of plug blades, an electric source socket set, a pair of telephone socket slots, two pairs of opposite insertion grooves, two opposite positioning apertures, and a top illumination indicator. The head cover has a pair of opposite circular holes, a top oblong hole, and a pair of side holes. The end cover covers the main case. The head cover covers the main case. Each disk fastener is disposed on the head cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Inventor: Teng-Shun Hung
  • Publication number: 20040043666
    Abstract: A shunt receptable and plug device has a main case, a head cover, an end cover, and a pair of disk fasteners. The end cover has a receptable set and a pair of opposite notches. The main case has a pair of plug blades, a post, an electric source socket set, a pair of telephone socket slots, two pairs of opposite insertion grooves, two opposite positioning apertures, and a top illumination indicator. The head cover has a pair of opposite circular holes, a top oblong holes, and a pair of side round holes. The end cover covers the main case. The head cover covers the main case. Each disk fastener is disposed on the head cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventor: Teng-Shun Hung
  • Patent number: 6638113
    Abstract: A pin configuration adapter is disclosed which can be attached to an AC-adapter having a plug body having a first pin configuration and an AC-adapter housing having a power conversion circuit. The plug body is rotatable between a first position where it is accommodated in a recess formed in the AC-adapter housing and a second position where it is in an upright position with respect to the AC-adapter housing. The pin configuration adapter includes a plug part having a second pin configuration different from the first pin configuration; a receptacle part whereto the plug body in the second position can be inserted; a pin configuration adapter housing having an internal connection mechanism for electrically connecting the plug body and the plug part; and an engaging part provided on the pin configuration adapter housing and engages with the recess of the AC-adapter housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Terutomo Kajiwara, Takenori Kinkawa, Hidetoshi Hamai