With Additional Reinforcing Spring Means Patents (Class 439/839)
  • Patent number: 11870175
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrical connector assembly for use in a high-power application, such as with motor vehicle electronics, that exposes the connector assembly to elevated temperatures and thermal cycling. The connector assembly includes a first electrically conductive connector formed from a first material, an internal spring member formed from a second material residing within the first connector, and a second electrically conductive connector with a receptacle dimensioned to receive both the first connector and the spring member to define a connected position, wherein the connector assembly withstands the elevated temperatures and thermal cycling resulting from the high-power application. To maintain the first and second connectors in the connected position, the spring arm of the spring member exerts an outwardly directed force on the contact beam of the first connector to outwardly displace the contact beam into engagement with an inner surface of the receptacle of the second connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Slobodan Pavlovic, Mohamad Zeidan
  • Patent number: 11715899
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly for electrically and mechanically connecting a component to a power source is disclosed. The connector assembly includes a male terminal with side walls defining a receiver. The side wall includes a contact arm that extends across an aperture in the side wall. The assembly also includes an internal spring member dimensioned to reside within the receiver of the male terminal. The spring member has at least one spring arm that extends from a base portion. The assembly further includes a female terminal with a receptacle dimensioned to receive both the male terminal and the spring member residing within the receiver of the male connector to define a connected position. In the connected position, the spring arm exerts an outwardly directed biasing force on the contact arm of the male terminal to outwardly displace it into engagement with an inner surface of the receptacle to ensure connectivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Royal Precision Products LLC
    Inventors: Slobodan Pavlovic, Mohamad Zeidan, James Dawson, Brantley Natter
  • Patent number: 11223150
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrical connector assembly for use in a high-power application, such as with motor vehicle electronics, that exposes the connector assembly to elevated temperatures and thermal cycling. The connector assembly includes a first electrically conductive connector formed from a first material, an internal spring member formed from a second material residing within the first connector, and a second electrically conductive connector with a receptacle dimensioned to receive both the first connector and the spring member to define a connected position, wherein the connector assembly withstands the elevated temperatures and thermal cycling resulting from the high-power application. To maintain the first and second connectors in the connected position, the spring arm of the spring member exerts an outwardly directed force on the contact beam of the first connector to outwardly displace the contact beam into engagement with an inner surface of the receptacle of the second connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Royal Precision Products, LLC
    Inventors: Slobodan Pavlovic, Mohamad Zeidan
  • Patent number: 11217925
    Abstract: A female terminal (10) includes a rectangular tubular body (24) extending in a front-rear direction. A first resilient piece (26A) is folded from a bottom wall (16) into the body (24) via a first base end (40), and a second resilient piece (26B) is folded from the bottom wall (16) into the body (24) via a second base end (42) in the same folding direction as the first resilient piece (26A). The second base end (42) is displaced from the first base end (40) in the front-rear direction. The second resilient piece (26B) is closer to the bottom wall (16) than the first resilient piece (26A). The second resilient piece (26B) is pressed by the first resilient piece (26A) and resiliently displaced toward the bottom wall (16) with the second base end (42) as a fulcrum when the first resilient piece (26A) is displaced toward the bottom wall (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Inventor: Takahiro Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 11171446
    Abstract: The invention relates to a contact element (1) for a plug connector, comprising a crimp region having crimp wings (5), with which same is connected to an electrical conductor of a line, wherein the contact element (1) has a spring-like contact geometry for a counter contact element in a contact region, wherein this contact geometry is provided in duplicate, characterised in that one part of the double contact geometry is formed by an additional contact element (3), wherein this additional contact element (3) is produced separately from the contact element (1) and, after production, same is arranged on the contact element (1) via a connection (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: HIRSCHMANN AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Andreas Metzler
  • Patent number: 11165180
    Abstract: A connection terminal for connecting a first conductor and a second conductor, the connection terminal including: a connection configured to be connected to the first conductor; an arc-shaped fitting that extends from the connection, and is configured to be fitted to, while being in surface contact with, a tubular outer circumferential surface of the second conductor over a half of the circumference thereof, with application of restoring force after elastic deformation; and a pair of extensions that extend from two ends, in a circumferential direction, of the arc-shaped fitting, and are curved to a side opposite to a side to which the arc-shaped fitting is curved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Jisung Kim, Mitsuru Hirose
  • Patent number: 10992073
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a contact member and a spring member. The contact member has a base and contact arms that extend from the base in an arm direction on opposite sides of a terminal plane. The spring member is supported on the contact member and includes a spring base and spring arms that extend from the spring base in the arm direction. The spring arms are on opposite sides of the terminal plane and engage respective ones of the contact arms at respective spring contacts. The spring member also includes a shroud that is connected to the spring base and has an end shield that extends beyond the arms. The shroud includes side shields that are located on opposite sides of the contact arms and connect the end shield to the spring base. Shield arms also connect the end shield to the spring base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Deborah Probert, Michael James Porter, Jens Lamping, David Menzies, Tulasi Sadras-Ravindra, Michael Glick, Andrew Fisher
  • Patent number: 10782044
    Abstract: At least one aspect of the present disclose is directed towards a temperature control device that includes a face plate, a housing, and an adjustment mechanism. The housing may protrude away from the rear side of the face plate. The housing may include a mounting mechanism that includes a set of clamps configured to engage at least a portion of an inner surface. The set of clamps may be adjustable based on alterations to the adjustment mechanism. The housing may also include one or more cavities that may be configured to receive at least a portion of the set of clamps when the set of clamps is collapsed into the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventor: Gary Franklin Bart
  • Patent number: 10763609
    Abstract: An electrically conductive terminal that has a first terminal at its outer layer and a second terminal at its inner layer. The first terminal has a first contact portion at an end thereof. The second terminal is on an inner surface side of the first terminal and has a second contact portion at an end thereof. There is an opening in the first contact portion. A raised portion is on the second contact portion. The raised portion passes through the first terminal via the opening, so as to electrically contact with a mating member. The first terminal at the outer layer and the second terminal at the inner layer may be in electrical contact with the mating member simultaneously, so that the electrically conductive terminal may carry a larger electric current. The electrically conductive terminal can be part of a connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Zhicheng Zhang
  • Patent number: 10720717
    Abstract: A conductive terminal adapted to be mounted in an insulation housing of a connector includes a mating portion disposed at a front of the conductive terminal and adapted to engage a mating terminal of a mating connector, a crimping portion disposed at a rear of the conductive terminal and adapted to be crimped onto a wire, and a pressing portion disposed at a rear end of the crimping portion and extending outward. The conductive terminal is adapted to be held in the insulation housing by pushing the pressing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Qin Xu, Hongbo Zhang
  • Patent number: 10693252
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrical connector assembly for use in a high-power application, such as with motor vehicle electronics, that exposes the connector assembly to elevated temperatures and thermal cycling. The connector assembly includes a first electrically conductive connector formed from a first material, an internal spring member formed from a second material residing within the first connector, and a second electrically conductive connector with a receptacle dimensioned to receive both the first connector and the spring member to define a connected position, wherein the connector assembly withstands the elevated temperatures and thermal cycling resulting from the high-power application. To maintain the first and second connectors in the connected position, the spring arm of the spring member exerts an outwardly directed force on the contact beam of the first connector to outwardly displace the contact beam into engagement with an inner surface of the receptacle of the second connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Riddell, Inc.
    Inventors: Slobodan Pavlovic, Mohamad Zeidan
  • Patent number: 10516238
    Abstract: A method of forming a shielded electrical terminal configured to receive a corresponding shielded electrical terminal. The terminal includes an inner shield defining a shield cavity about a longitudinal axis. The shield cavity is configured to receive the corresponding shielded electrical terminal. The inner shield has a longitudinal inner seam substantially that is parallel to the longitudinal axis. The inner shield defines a plurality of resilient contact springs that protrude into the shield cavity. The contact springs are configured to contact the corresponding shielded electrical terminal. The terminal also includes an outer shield integrally formed with the inner shield and covering at least a portion of the inner shield. The terminal formed by this method is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Joon Lee, Dominic Anthony Messuri, Christopher Adrian Margrave, Michael Jerry Demonica, John R. Morello
  • Patent number: 10511130
    Abstract: A charging connector for electric vehicle having one-piece sleeve and contact piece connected to each other, comprising: a sleeve and a contact piece; wherein the contact piece is a one-piece structure and formed integrally with a plurality of contact arms, a connecting portion and a wiring portion, the connecting portion is cylindrical and the plurality of contact arms are extended forwardly from a periphery of one end of the connecting portion; wherein the sleeve is sleeved outside the contact arms and includes slots corresponding to each of the contact arms; the sleeve and the contact piece are connected by snaps; when used, conductive pins in an external receptacle are inserted along a port of the sleeve and inserted into the contact arms to form a conductive contact with the contact arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Suyin Electronics (Dongguan) Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Li-Ying Huang
  • Patent number: 10468802
    Abstract: A terminal connecting structure includes a male terminal having a rod-shaped portion, a female terminal having a cylindrical portion, and an elastic member provided in the cylindrical portion. The female terminal has indented portions. A projecting portion is provided on one of the rod-shaped portion and a central portion of the cylindrical portion. A cut-out portion is provided on the other of the rod-shaped portion and the central portion of the cylindrical portion. The projecting portion fits the cut-out portion when the male terminal fits in the female terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignees: YAZAKI CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kobayashi, Ryutaro Yamazaki, Takayoshi Hirakawa, Yasuhiro Tanaka, Kengo Machida
  • Patent number: 10468844
    Abstract: A plug-type lamp is disclosed. The lug-type lamp includes a base with a plug part, where the plug part is configured to be plugged in a socket and be electrically connected with the socket; a light source module housed in the base; a pair of conductive terminals configured to electrically connect the plug part with the light source module; and a cover assembled with the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Opple Lighting Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qi Xu, Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 10396482
    Abstract: An electrical terminal assembly includes a contact member. The contact member includes a contact base. A plurality of contact arms extend from the contact base in an arm direction. The contact arms are arranged on opposed sides of a terminal plane. The electrical terminal assembly also includes a spring member. The spring member is supported on the contact member. The spring member includes a spring base. A plurality of spring arms extend from the spring base in the arm direction. The spring arms include respective spring contacts where the spring arms engage one of the contact arms. The spring arms include respective spring deflections between the spring base and the spring contact. Each spring deflection extends into a spring space between adjacent ones of the contact arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Glick, Deborah Probert, David Menzies, Michael James Porter
  • Patent number: 10290450
    Abstract: Plug-on neutral circuit breakers include a housing, a plug-on neutral clip with a crown held in the housing and with legs extending out from the housing and in communication with a biasing member that resides at least partially in the housing that allows the plug-on neutral clip to move between first and second positions associated with pre-installed and fully installed orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Luis Enrique Betances Sansur, Jeffrey Scott Gibson, Modesto Rafael Rosario Perez, Sujit Subhash Patwardhan, Sandy Omar Jimenez
  • Patent number: 10283889
    Abstract: An electrical terminal includes a contact member. The contact member includes a contact base. The contact member includes a plurality of contact arms extending from the contact base. The contact arms are arranged on opposed sides of a terminal plane. The electrical terminal also includes a spring member. The spring member includes a spring base. The spring member includes a plurality of spring arms. The spring arms extend from the spring base. Each of the spring arms engages one or more of the contact arms. The spring member also includes a shroud. The shroud is connected to the spring base and extends around the contact arms and beyond the contact arms. The spring member is symmetrical across the terminal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Glick, Deborah Probert, David Menzies, Michael James Porter
  • Patent number: 10283895
    Abstract: An electrical terminal assembly includes a contact member with a contact base. A plurality of contact arms extend from the contact base in an arm direction. The contact arms are arranged on opposed sides of a terminal plane. The electrical terminal assembly includes a spring member supported on the contact member. The spring member includes a spring base. A plurality of spring arms extend from the spring base on opposed sides of the terminal plane in the arm direction. The spring arms engage the plurality of contact arms and bias the contact arms toward the terminal plane. The spring member also includes a shroud. The shroud extends in the arm direction around and beyond the contact arms. The shroud includes a terminal pass that the terminal plane is located in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Deborah Probert, Michael Glick, David Menzies, Michael James Porter
  • Patent number: 10193258
    Abstract: A female electrical terminal includes a contact piece and a spring piece. The contact piece includes contact arms that extend from a contact base on opposite sides of a terminal axis in an insertion direction to respective arm ends. The contact piece also includes at least one contact latch. The spring piece includes spring arms that extend from a spring base on opposite sides of the terminal axis. The spring arms bias the contact arms toward the terminal axis. The spring piece also includes at least one engagement tab that extends from the spring base. The engagement tab includes a spring latch that is engaged with the contact latch to prevent movement of the spring piece relative to the contact piece in the insertion direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Balser
  • Patent number: 10193257
    Abstract: A connection terminal includes a terminal main body having a female connector provided with an internal space into which a male connector is inserted and a contact member accommodated into the internal space. The contact member has at least one first locked part and at least one second locked part. The female connector has a first locking part that is arranged on a side in an insertion direction of the male connector and locks the movement of the first locked part in the insertion direction, and a second locking part that is arranged on a side opposite to the side in the insertion direction relative to the second locked part of the contact member after the completion of being accommodated and locks the movement of the second locked part in a removal direction in order to maintain the accommodated state of the contact member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayoshi Hirakawa, Yasuhiro Tanaka, Kengo Machida
  • Patent number: 10193247
    Abstract: An electrical terminal assembly includes a contact member. The contact member has a contact base. A plurality of contact arms extend from the contact base in an arm direction. The electrical terminal assembly includes a spring member supported on the contact member. The spring member includes a spring base. A plurality of spring arms extend from the spring base in the arm direction. The spring arms engage the plurality of contact arms. The spring member includes a shroud. The shroud extends in the arm direction around and beyond the contact arms. A shroud extension extends from the shroud opposite the arm direction. The shroud extension engages the contact base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Glick, Tulasi Sadras-Ravindra, Deborah Probert, David Menzies
  • Patent number: 10135168
    Abstract: The present invention is a high-power, spring-actuated connector device. The device has a male terminal and a female connector. The male terminal has a metallic tubular member that provides a contact surface for the female connector. The female connector fits inside the male terminal, when making an electrical connection. The female connector has a contact element, with a plurality of contact beams. A spring actuator is nested inside the contact element. The spring has spring arms that map, one-to-one, to the contact beams. The spring-actuator spring arms force the contact beams into electrical contact with the inner surface of the metallic tubular member of the male terminal. Thermal expansion and residual material memory create a more secure connection in this configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Royal Precision Products, LLC
    Inventors: Slobodan Pavlovic, Mohamad Zeidan
  • Patent number: 10044137
    Abstract: An electric vehicle charging station having a console, a cable and a vehicle connector. The cable is connected with a break-away system that allows for a controlled structural failure of one of the cable connections when the vehicle connector is pulled away from the console with a critical level of force. The break-away system could be a body positioned along the length of the cable, and could be a connection between the cable and either the console or the vehicle connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Inventors: Gregory A. Petrie, Steven P. Bishop, Davy Ta-Yuan Tong, Atulkumar M. Patel
  • Patent number: 10044114
    Abstract: A contact element for plug connectors includes plug contacts arranged on the plug side and a crimp connection arranged on the cable connection side, and at least one primary locking element and at least one secondary locking element. The plug contacts and the crimp connection are offset from one another in an axially parallel manner; the at least one primary locking element has two locking springs which act transversely in relation to the plugging direction, and which are mirror-symmetrically arranged in relation to a plugging device plane; and the at least one secondary locking element is arranged in the contact element in a mirror-symmetric manner in relation to the plugging device plane, and has at least one secondary locking recess running transversely in relation to the plugging direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: ERNI Production GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Juergen Lappoehn
  • Patent number: 9972932
    Abstract: An electrical terminal includes an electrically conductive monolithic body including a mating end having a base, a contact beam spaced from the base in an upward direction, a side wall that extends from the base to the contact beam, and a spring assist member. The contact beam can be elastically flexible from an initial position whereby the spring assist member is spaced from the contact beam in the upward direction, to a deflected position whereby the contact beam abuts the spring assist member. The electrical is suited for assembly into a connector assembly which includes and inner core and an outer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignees: FCI Americas Technology LLC, FCI Asia Pte, Ltd.
    Inventors: Charles Copper, Gert Droesbeke, Aymeric Soudy
  • Patent number: 9905953
    Abstract: The present invention is a high-power, spring-actuated connector device. The device has a male terminal and a female connector. The male terminal has a metallic tubular member that provides a contact surface for the female connector. The female connector fits inside the male terminal, when making an electrical connection. The female connector has a contact element, with a plurality of contact beams. A spring actuator is nested inside the contact element. The spring has spring arms that map, one-to-one, to the contact beams. The spring-actuator spring arms force the contact beams into electrical contact with the inner surface of the metallic tubular member of the male terminal. Thermal expansion and residual material memory create a more secure connection in this configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Inventors: Slobodan Pavlovic, Mohammad Zeidan
  • Patent number: 9859644
    Abstract: A contact element for insertion in an insertion direction into a contact chamber of a plug-in connector. The contact element includes a housing extending in the insertion direction. The contact element furthermore includes a latching element connected to the housing, for latching into the contact chamber of the plug-in connector. The latching element has a cantilevered end region, the cantilevered end region having a first portion and a second portion connected to the first portion. The first portion extends oppositely to the insertion direction, or the first portion points obliquely outward from the housing oppositely to the insertion direction. The second portion is bent over inward with respect to the first portion. At least one support element is provided between the first portion and the second portion, which element braces the second portion against the second portion upon said application of force onto the latching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Zhenyu Hu
  • Patent number: 9714965
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for evaluating the adequacy of a connection between a utility line and a utility meter. In one embodiment, a force sensing unit is disposed between a first half and a second half of a first terminal of the utility meter and is configured to measure a contact force between the first terminal and a socket jaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Aclara Meters, LLC
    Inventor: Curtis Whitmore Crittenden
  • Patent number: 9667000
    Abstract: A coaxial connector assembly includes an inner contact terminating a center conductor of a coaxial cable, an insulator holding the inner contact, and an outer contact, which surrounds the insulator and the inner contact, terminating a shield braid of the cable. The outer contact is formed into a barrel shape and includes a seam extending along an entire length of the outer contact. The coaxial connector assembly further includes an outer ferrule and a seamless inner ferrule. The seamless inner ferrule has a first ferrule portion with a first diameter and a second ferrule portion with a second diameter that is different from the first diameter. The first ferrule portion surrounds at least a portion of the outer contact. The shield braid is sandwiched between the second ferrule portion and the outer ferrule. A method of manufacturing the coaxial connector assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventors: John R. Morello, James M. Rainey
  • Patent number: 9608353
    Abstract: A conductive terminal is provided which includes a base unit, two elastic contact pieces, a tail unit and two contact plates. The base unit includes a bottom plate extending along a front-rear direction and two side plates integrally extending upwardly from a left and right sides of the bottom plate respectively. The two elastic contact pieces are arranged side by side, each elastic contact piece comprises a connecting portion bent upwardly from a front end of the bottom plate, an arm portion extending rearwardly from the connecting portion, positioned above the bottom plate and spaced apart from the bottom plate, and a first contact portion positioned at a rear end of the arm portion. The tail unit is connected to a rear end of the bottom plate. The two contact plates are respectively bent from two upper edges of two front ends of the two side plates toward each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Molex, LLC
    Inventors: Lay Khim Ang, Kian Heng Lim
  • Patent number: 9537245
    Abstract: A socket assembly is for a meter center including at least one meter having a stab. The socket assembly includes a base member; and a jaw assembly having a first jaw member and a second jaw member coupled to the first jaw member, each of the first jaw member and the second jaw member having a number of retaining edges and being structured to engage the stab. The jaw assembly is structured to rotate between a first position corresponding to disengagement between the number of retaining edges and the base member, and a second position corresponding to engagement between the number of retaining edges and the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Albert Boyd Cable
  • Patent number: 9437974
    Abstract: An electrical terminal assembly includes a connector body having a passageway formed therein and an electrical terminal. The electrical terminal includes a contact portion having a contact arm and a spring arrangement having a spring arm engaged with the contact arm. The electrical terminal assembly further includes a one way installation feature preventing the electrical terminal from being inserted into the passageway in an incorrect orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Glick, Slobodan Pavlovic, Brantley Natter, Tulasi Sadras-Ravindra
  • Patent number: 9431761
    Abstract: An upper face plate constituting a box part of a female terminal is flared outward in a free state before the female terminal is inserted in the cavity, and is formed as a spring plate that is bent and deflected inward by being pressed inward from the outside while accumulating a spring force. A stabilizer is disposed on the free end of the upper face plate. A cavity of a connector housing includes a stabilizer guide that presses back the upper face plate to the regular position by sliding on the stabilizer while the female terminal is being inserted. Accordingly, rattling of the terminal is prevented after the terminal is inserted in the cavity of the connector housing while suppressing enlargement of the outside dimensions of the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyoshi Fukaya, Moeko Fukada
  • Patent number: 9343833
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device for connecting a first electric cable to a second electric cable, said device comprising: a first cable lug which comprises a first connection portion for electrically contacting the first electric cable and a socket portion having a conical socket; a second cable lug which comprises a second connection portion for electrically contacting the second electric cable and a plug portion having a conical plug; wherein the plug can be inserted into the socket and conductively contacted therewith in order to connect the first cable to the second cable in an electrically conductive manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GMBH
    Inventors: Detlef Tiegs, Merten Helms
  • Patent number: 9300069
    Abstract: An electrical connector having one or more pairs of opposing contact arms extending from a body portion and configured to receive a mating connector. A spring clamp member is positioned over the opposing contact arms to increase a compressive force of the contact arms on the mating connector. The contact arms include stabilizing features to limit lateral, longitudinal, and/or rotational movement of the spring clamp member relative to the contact arms. The contact arms may be formed of a material having a high electrical connectivity and the spring clamp member may be formed of a different material having a higher relaxation temperature than the contact arm material. The mating connector may include be a male blade type terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Morello, Jeffrey A. Janis, James M. Rainey, Scott Shemitz
  • Patent number: 9065207
    Abstract: Locking electrical receptacles and methods for selectively securing an electrical connection. One or more prongs of an electrical plug may be engaged by a clamping element disposable between a clamping configuration and a release configuration. A release mechanism accessible to a user when the electrical connection between a receptacle and plug is established may dispose the clamping mechanism in the release configuration. The clamping element may include a first and second portion that undergo relative movement to impart a shear force on the one or more prongs retained by the clamping mechanism. Furthermore, a strain relief mechanism may be provided to release the plug at a predetermined level of force by moving the clamping element deflectable portion (188) to a release configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: ZONIT STRUCTURED SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Steve Chapel, William Pachoud
  • Patent number: 8998655
    Abstract: An electrical terminal includes a contact portion having a contact portion base with at least three sides forming a generally polyhedron structure. The contact portion has a plurality of contact arms, with at least one of the contact arms extending from at least some of the sides. The contact arms are arranged to receive a mating electrical component such that the mating electrical component contacts at least one of the contact arms associated with each side. A spring arrangement includes a plurality of spring arms, each having a spring head in contact with at least one respective contact arm near a distal end of the contact portion for applying a force thereto in a direction toward a central axis of the terminal, thereby increasing the retention force applied to the mating electrical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Glick, Slobodan Pavlovic, Tulasi Sadras-Ravindra
  • Patent number: 8992270
    Abstract: An electrical terminal includes a contact portion having a contact portion base with at least three sides forming a generally polyhedron structure. At least one contact arm extends from at least some of the sides, and are arranged to receive a mating electrical component. A spring arrangement includes a plurality of spring arms extending from a spring base. Each of the spring arms includes a spring head in contact with at least one respective contact arm near a distal end of the contact portion for applying a force thereto in a direction toward a central axis of the terminal. The spring base includes a support structure configured to support the mating electrical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Glick, Slobodan Pavlovic, Tulasi Sadras-Ravindra
  • Patent number: 8979600
    Abstract: Fuse holders having a fuse clip assembly configured to support resilient fuse clip arms when subjected to a compression force and also configured to support the resilient fuse clip arms when subject to an expansion force. The bias element is movable relative to the fuse clip arms between first and second positions and prevents deformation of the fuse clip arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Alex von zur Muehlen, Mengxi Zhao
  • Patent number: 8956170
    Abstract: A ground power connector comprising: a plug body comprising a cavity, wherein the cavity comprises an inside dimension; a female socket positioned within the cavity, wherein the female socket comprises an outside dimension, wherein the outside dimension of the female socket is smaller than the inside dimension of the cavity; and a support of the female socket in the cavity, wherein the support allows the female socket to change positions within the cavity. A method of manufacturing a ground power connector having a female socket, the method comprising: providing an internal block comprising a cavity; inserting at least a portion of a female socket into the cavity of the internal block; sealing the cavity of the internal block; and molding a rubber plug body onto an exterior of the internal block so that the plug body flexibly supports the female socket in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventor: John Andrew White
  • Publication number: 20150031249
    Abstract: A power contact includes a fixing portion, an engaging arm extending backwardly from a front end of the fixing portion along a first direction and a support member extending towards the engaging arm. The support member is positioned between the engaging arm and the fixing portion along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The support member is adapted for abutting against the engaging arm so as to increase insertion/withdraw force and avoid over deformation of the engaging arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: ALLTOP ELECTRONICS (SUZHOU) LTD.
    Inventors: Wang-I YU, Hung-Chi TAI, Yung-Chih HUNG
  • Patent number: 8939787
    Abstract: A ground clip for a PIU of a busway system has a two part assembly made with two different materials, a first hard material designed to remove dielectric coating on the busway section and a second highly conductive material to establish necessary electrical contact, cooperating together as the PIU is installed on the busway case to establish a reliable ground automatically and without tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan E. Kolbe, James R. Ramsey
  • Patent number: 8702455
    Abstract: A connector assembly comprises a base, a conventional lay in conductor connector channel, a blade contact superstructure and a blade contact. The base has the blade contact superstructure appended to one sidewall thereof. The blade contact superstructure has a cavity between generally ā€œVā€ shaped blade receiving supports. The blade contact is a plated copper strip and is inserted into the cavity between the blade receiving supports where the blade contact then becomes an interface between the superstructure and an electrical blade inserted in the blade contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: The Durham Company
    Inventors: Brandon L. Lackey, Mark K. Shoemaker
  • Patent number: 8475220
    Abstract: An electrical connector formed to have at least one or more pairs of opposing legs extending from a body portion where each leg extends to a contact point where an inner surface of each opposing leg contact. A spring clip can be positioned over one or more of the opposing legs to increase a compressive force. The spring clip may include an alignment feature to limit clip rotating and/or pitching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Glick, Slobodan Pavlovic, Brantley Natter, David Menzies, Rainer Busies, Dirk Winter, Dirk Placzko
  • Patent number: 8449338
    Abstract: An electrical connector has at least two contact assemblies spaced apart from each other by a first distance to receive corresponding one of at least two plug conductors being spaced apart from each other by a second distance. Each of the at least two contact assemblies includes a pair of contact members for contacting one corresponding plug conductor, and a clamping member configured to clamp the pair of contact members to apply a holding force onto the pair of contact members and the corresponding plug conductor. The clamping member is inserted through the pair of contact members in a direction opposite to a mating direction, and the clamping member and the pair of contact members are adapted to swing in a direction substantially perpendicular to the mating direction in order to compensate for a difference between the first and second distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jinlong Gong, Manqian Wang
  • Patent number: 8388389
    Abstract: Electrical connector that includes a pair of electrical contacts. Each of the electrical contacts has a mounting portion and a flexible mating portion that is configured to electrically engage a conductive component. The mating portions of the electrical contacts are separated by a component-receiving space and oppose each other across the component-receiving space. The electrical connector also includes a spring clip that is configured to mechanically engage the mating portions and is movable with respect to the mounting portions. The spring clip has a pair of opposing clip arms and a bridge member that joins the clip arms. The clip arms are separated by a gap with the mating portions positioned therebetween. The clip arms are biased against the corresponding mating portions. The spring clip has a dielectric member that is positioned to electrically isolate at least one of the electrical contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Patrick Costello, David Patrick Orris
  • Patent number: 8366497
    Abstract: An electrical connector formed to have at least one or more pairs of opposing legs extending from a body portion where each leg extends to a contact point where an inner surface of each opposing leg contact. A spring clip can be positioned over one or more of the opposing legs to increase a compressive force. The spring clip may include an alignment feature to limit clip rotating and/or pitching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Glick, Slobodan Pavlovic, Brantley Natter, David Menzies
  • Patent number: 8317552
    Abstract: A female electrical contact (100) has one connecting end (102) which is able to have two states, respectively a non-stressed state, and a stressed state, in which a connecting diameter is reduced, for receiving and maintaining the connection with a mating electrical contact. An annular gorge (107) in an undercut is provided on the wall (105) of the female electrical contact, such that in the non-stressed state, it has a tapered longitudinal cross-section, and in the stressed state, it has a straight longitudinal cross-section. A connector unit that includes at least one such contact, and a process for production are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: SOURIAU
    Inventors: Serge Leroyer, Pascal Ribeau
  • Patent number: RE44490
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical clamp connector and connecting terminal that, per pole, has at least two conductor terminal connections oriented in the same direction and an additional connecting contact on the opposite-lying side, which serves for connecting a countercontact external to the terminal. It is proposed for such a terminal to use the especially small-construction design features of a terminal that is produced from a single piece of spring steel sheet and a busbar rod, and to combine these with the new features that the busbar rod has one or two cross projections, which project through the free opening in the spring steel sheet and form the additional connecting contact, which, for example, may be constructed in the form of a socket contact or in the form of a plug-in contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Wago Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Axel Kirstein, Konrad Stromiedel