With Circuit Conductors And Safety Grounding Provision Patents (Class 439/92)
  • Patent number: 7915525
    Abstract: A lightning direction device is provided. The lightning direction device includes a drag member, a pendant mass and a conductor. The drag member is configured to have a select amount of wind resistance. The pendant mass has a select weight and shape. Moreover, the conductor is coupled between the pendant mass and the drag member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.
    Inventor: John S. Canham
  • Publication number: 20110039430
    Abstract: A fastening and grounding apparatus adapted to be positioned against a channel of a metallic support frame member. A metallic bolt has a threaded shaft and an enlarged head portion at one end thereof. A metallic leaf spring has a central portion and a pair of opposing end portions, with the threaded shaft extending through the hole. At least one of the opposing end portions has a tooth projecting therefrom. The metallic leaf spring maintains the threaded shaft in an upright orientation extending from the channel. The tooth digs into a surface of the metallic support frame member to effect an electrical current signal path through the fastening apparatus to the metallic support frame member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: JAC-Rack, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. Aftanas
  • Patent number: 7887338
    Abstract: A ground terminal is mounted on a circuit board. The circuit board has a through-hole. The ground terminal includes a main body, a tail part and an insertion part. The tail part is connected to the main body. The insertion part is extended downwardly from the tail part and aligned with the through-hole of the circuit board, and has a hooking element. After the insertion part is penetrated through the through-hole, the hooking element is sustained against a lower surface of the circuit board so as to facilitate fixing the ground terminal onto the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chieh-Wei Lin, Tsun-Sung Chen
  • Patent number: 7887337
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing, a circuit board, a cover and a ground element. The housing has a first side wall and a second side wall, the first and second side walls define a first inserting slot and a second inserting slot, respectively. The circuit board is mounted in the housing and defines a plurality of contact terminals. The cover is supported on the side walls and defines a plurality of locating grooves. The ground element is mounted to the housing and has an elastic cantilever arm, one end of the ground element opposite to a free end of the cantilever arm passes through the first inserting slot firstly and then the second inserting slot, the cantilever arm enters into an inside of the housing from the first inserting slot and then springs up to make the free end thereof blocked by the first side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sheng-Tsung Yuan, Chin-Chou Wang
  • Patent number: 7874851
    Abstract: An earth connection unit, in which the elastic engagement piece portion of the earth plate for locking the earth plate to the unit case is engaged with the engagement projection formed on the outer side surface of the unit case, and wherein the elastic engagement piece portion formed on the earth plate is covered with the engagement piece cover integrally interconnecting the plurality of opening covers, and is not exposed to the exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Tomohiko Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20110006800
    Abstract: A cartridge, including a cartridge frame, formations on the cartridge frame for mounting the cartridge frame in a fixed position to an apparatus frame, a contactor support structure, a contactor interface on the contactor support structure, a plurality of terminals, held by the contactor support structure, for contacting contacts on a device, and a plurality of conductors, held by the contactor support structure, connecting the interface to the terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: AEHR TEST SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Scott E. Lindsey, Jovan Jovanovic, David S. Hendrickson, Donald P. Richmond, II
  • Patent number: 7824194
    Abstract: A case with a connector integrally formed with a resin connector, and can be manufactured with a small number of processes is provided. The connector case includes a housing, a resin connector, and a ground terminal extending along an outer periphery of the connector. A terminal-side fixing portion extending backward from the ground terminal is crimped to or pressed over a housing-side fixing portion. When molds are closed after the housing and the ground terminal are placed in the molds for injection molding of the resin connector, a pressing portion formed on the mold presses the terminal-side fixing portion against the housing-side fixing portion to crimp or press the terminal-side fixing portion to or over the housing-side fixing portion. As a result, in the process for the injection molding of the connector, the ground terminal is fixed to the housing at the same time. The connector case with the ground terminal fixed to the housing can be manufactured in a small number of processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Matsuo Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Suzuki, Akira Ishimaru, Tomokiyo Suzuki, Hironao Hayashi, Shigeru Hayashida, Osamu Kuriyagawa, Iori Kobayashi, Kensuke Nakanishi, Toru Takahashi, Yuki Yamakawa, Masanori Sumida
  • Patent number: 7819674
    Abstract: A surface mounting lug terminal formed of a metallic plate having terminal leads and positioning projections can readily be positioned on a printed board with high precision by fitting the positioning projections into positioning cutouts formed in the printed board. The terminal leads of the surface mounting lug terminal can easily be soldered to land patterns on the printed board to secure the surface mounting lug terminal onto the printed board irrespective of the number of terminal leads. The surface mounting lug terminal can be reduced in size, thus to contribute miniaturization of electronic circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignees: SMK Corporation, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Miyoshi, Tatsuo Saito, Ken Aoki
  • Publication number: 20100267454
    Abstract: A connector for a video game controller including electrical circuitry and a plurality of buttons. The connector includes: a plurality of contacts for receiving and transmitting electrical signals; and a plurality of pins electrically coupled to the plurality of contacts for communicating the electrical signals with the electrical circuitry of the video game controller. The plurality of contacts includes at least one contact for receiving an electrical signal that corresponds to pressing one of the plurality of buttons from among the plurality of electrical signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventor: Amir Navid
  • Patent number: 7803020
    Abstract: A computer system architecture in which functionally compatible electronic components are located on modular printed circuit boards. Thus, a type of processor used by the system can be changed by replacing the printed circuit board incorporating the processor. Similarly a type of peripheral bus used can be changed simply by replacing the printed circuit board containing the peripheral controller. High-density connectors connect the circuit boards. Some embodiments of the invention use a single backplane. Other embodiments place peripheral slots on a second, passive backplane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Inventors: Stanford W. Crane, Jr., Maria M. Portuondo, Willard Erickson, Maurice Bizzarri
  • Publication number: 20100233892
    Abstract: An extended USB receptacle includes n standard terminals spaced apart from each other, and up to n-1 extended terminals interposed between the n standard terminals and spaced apart from each other. An extended Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug to connect with a USB receptacle includes n standard terminals spaced apart from each other to correspondingly connect with n standard terminals of the USB receptacle, and n-1 extended terminals interposed between the n standard terminals and spaced apart from each other, the n-1 extended terminals to correspondingly connect to n-1 extended terminals of the USB receptacle if the USB receptacle is an extended USB receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: Pantech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Han-il KIM
  • Patent number: 7794242
    Abstract: The invention discloses a conductive elastic sheet structure mounted on a metallic cover of an electronic device eliminates static electricity. The conductive elastic sheet structure includes a main panel, a first extending portion, and a second extending portion. The main panel includes a first side wall, and a second side wall opposite to the first side wall. The first extending portion and the second extending portion extend from the side edges of the first side wall and the second side wall respectively, and each forms a sharp angle with the main panel. The first extending portion and the second extending portion extend from two opposite sides of the main panel respectively. The invention also provides an electronic device using the conductive elastic sheet structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventors: Zheng Shi, Chih-Chiang Chang
  • Patent number: 7788802
    Abstract: A method for creating an electrical earth contact to electrically couple a contact shoe to an electrical contact stud using a polymeric material cap nut includes creating an external thread on a shank of the stud. A contact flange is fixed to the stud such that the contact flange faces the shank. The cap nut is selected from a non-conductive polymeric material and from a plurality of sizes of cap nuts. The cap nut is threaded onto the shank until the cap nut engages the contact flange. A torque is applied to the cap nut, the torque selected from a torque range operating to prevent pullout of the shank to electrically engage the contact shoe between the cap nut and the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventor: Harald Schaty
  • Publication number: 20100184312
    Abstract: A holder for a controller housing of a central airbag unit is arranged on a central tunnel of the vehicle and fixed using fastening bolts by union nuts. A blank paint-free contact area is created around the fastening bolts by the union nuts being mounted on the fastening screws before a painting process. After a painting process, the union nuts are removed from the screws and the controller housing is mounted on the contact areas and secured by the union nuts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Mike Bachmann
  • Patent number: 7753697
    Abstract: An electrical connection (1) for electrically interconnecting adjacent first and second metal parts (2, 3) that are electrically insulated from each other, includes clamping elements (30) together with first and second metal inserts (10, 20) that are arranged respectively in first and second openings (4, 5) formed in the first and second metal parts (2, 3), the first and second inserts (10, 20) being secured to each other by the clamping elements (30) so as to be electrically in contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventors: Cédric Carlavan, Philippe Corre
  • Patent number: 7753696
    Abstract: The document discusses, among other things, apparatuses, assemblies, and methods for facilitating the installation of an implantable lead into a subject. In one example, the apparatus includes a housing having a lead terminal passageway on a first end and having an introductory opening on a second end. The lead terminal passageway is adapted to be inserted over a lead terminal end. The introductory opening is adapted to accept a stylet and guide it into a pin lumen. In another example, the apparatus includes one or both of at least one protective terminal contact device and a securing contact device allowing electrical contact to be made with a lead terminal ring or a lead terminal pin without damaging or bridging between such elements of the lead terminal end. The securing contact device is also adapted to mechanically engage the lead terminal pin thereto for facilitating actuation of fixation devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Hoecke, Gregory L. Sundberg, Michelle Fangmeier, Bryan D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7749566
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for providing an effective means for making it easy to identify which holes in an interface plate are to be populated with probes and which are to be left empty. This identification of holes or apertures in a plate is used most commonly an electrical probe testing plates where a probe array is set up and inserted though the plate. The problem is that it is very difficult to double check to see if all probes are installed. With a two-tone color identifier (or other techniques disclosed herein) it is easy to visually or machine read the probe plate for probe installation errors. The method employs coating the plate with a colorant and ablating colorant adjacent holes, which are either populated or empty, the difference being easy to spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Circuit Check
    Inventor: Scott Staggert
  • Patent number: 7744383
    Abstract: Ground connections are made between first and second electrical connectors (1, 27). The first connector has a first sleeve (5) and has contact elements (23) mounted on the first sleeve. The second connector has a second sleeve (31) with slots (35) that receive the contact elements (23) when the connectors mate. Locating ribs (21) lie forward (F1) of the contact elements to align the slots in the second sleeve with the contact elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Da Silva
  • Patent number: 7738260
    Abstract: A grounding connector for an electronic device having a first housing element and a second housing element comprising a ground clip, a cam surface and a follower. The ground clip is electrically coupled to a first housing element, and selectably electrically coupled with the second housing element. A cam surface is positioned on the first housing element and in proximity to the ground clip. The follower is slidably positionable on the second housing element, and has a first end that engages the cam surface and a second end that engages the ground clip. The ground clip is electrically coupled to a second housing element while the electronic device is in each of the collapsed orientation and the articulated orientation. Upon movement between the collapsed orientation and the articulated orientation, the cam surface directs the follower to electrically decouple the ground clip from the second housing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc
    Inventors: Craig Stanley, Adam Cole, David Lim, Oleg Los
  • Publication number: 20100130036
    Abstract: In an example embodiment a plug-light assembly includes an outlet assembly and a light assembly releasably engageable with the outlet assembly. One or more outlet may be installed in a housing of the outlet assembly and wired to external wires extending through a rear aperture in the outlet housing. The light assembly may include one or more lights and may be wired to external wiring through a rear aperture or through an end aperture in the outlet housing. End caps may be provided at ends of the outlet assembly housing and apertures may be provided to allowing wiring to extend through the ends of adjacent plug-light assemblies. The outlets and lights may be powered by separate circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventor: David J. Ziobro
  • Publication number: 20100110056
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a connector that includes a body and a plurality of terminals. The body extends in a first direction and includes at least one side surface coupled with an external device. The terminals include a conductive material. The terminals are arranged on the body, extend in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and are arranged in the first direction to receive a voltage and a control signal from the external device. At least one terminal of the terminals has a length in the second direction greater than a length of remaining terminals in the second direction, the at least one terminal to receive a ground voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji-Won Kim, Ik-Sun Song, Kyung-Ju Jeon, Hak-Cheol Shin, Hyoung-Wook Kim
  • Patent number: 7695332
    Abstract: An intermediate portion of an insulating sheath of a coaxial cable is removed, and a first insulating sheath portion is drawn toward a second insulating sheath portion, so that a braid is projected into an annular shape outwardly from an interval between opposed ends of the first and second insulating sheath portions to form an annular projecting braid portion, and this annular projecting braid portion is fixed so as to be connected to a portion (that is, a braid fixing portion) of a coaxial cable shielding terminal for connection to an end portion of the coaxial cable. This connecting and fixing operation is effected by press-contacting or press-clamping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Taishi Morikawa, Tetsuro Ide, Tadahisa Sakaguchi, Nobuyuki Asakura
  • Patent number: 7695766
    Abstract: A circuit board tester that uses a dual-stage translation to bring a unit under test (UUT) into physical and electric contact first with a series of tall probes, then with a series of short probes. Initially, the UUT is mounted on a support plate, and spaced apart from both the tall and short probes. First, in order to perform a functional test on the UUT, a first vacuum stage is engaged, and atmospheric pressure translates the UUT longitudinally until contact is made with a first hard stop, defining a first position. At this first position, the UUT is in contact with a series of tall probes, and is spaced apart from a series of short probes. After a function test is performed, a second vacuum stage is engaged in addition to, and independent of, the first vacuum stage. Atmospheric pressure translates the UUT longitudinally until contact is made with a second hard stop, defining a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Circuit Check
    Inventors: Neil Adams, Stuart Eickhoff, Jon Hample
  • Patent number: 7686625
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a grounding clip which can provide an electrical connection between a ground wire, a first panel and a second panel. The grounding clip has a wire terminating section for terminating a grounding wire thereto, a first panel receiving portion for terminating a first panel therein, and a second panel receiving portion for terminating a second panel therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jacob M. Dyer, Matthew Edward Mostoller
  • Patent number: 7682166
    Abstract: A grounding mechanism (20) is electronically connected to a main circuit board (52), a subsidiary circuit board (53) and a key conductive member (55). The grounding mechanism includes an elastic member (30). The elastic member includes a mounting portion (31), a conductive portion (32) and a resisting portion (35). The mounting portion is electronically fixed to the main circuit board. The conductive portion extends from one side of the mounting portion for electronically connecting to the key conductive member. The resisting portion extends from another side of the mounting portion for resisting the subsidiary circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Chi Mei Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Cheng-Lung Chang
  • Patent number: 7670153
    Abstract: An electrical connector including a pair of connector bars and a pair of biting pads. The connecting bars are configured to be located on opposite sides of a plate section of a first member. The connector bars include holes to receive a bolt for clamping the connector bars directly against each other. The pair of biting pads are connected to the connector bars. The biting pads include surfaces which are configured to contact the opposite sides of the plate section and bite onto the opposite sides as the connector bars are clamped against each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Burndy Technology LLC
    Inventor: Thomas A. Kulig
  • Publication number: 20100048045
    Abstract: A connector configured to be connected with a cable including a drain line, comprises a plurality of ground contacts, a housing holding the ground contacts, and a ground plate connected with the ground contacts. The ground plate has a first surface and a second surface and provided with a drain connection portion. The first surface is configured so that the cable is mounted on the first surface. The second surface is a back of the first surface. The drain connection portion is configured to be connected with the drain line and being formed on the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventor: Yukitaka TANAKA
  • Patent number: 7661884
    Abstract: A roller apparatus includes a rotating roller, a bushing frictionally supporting the rotating roller, a frame having a bushing hole into which a bushing is inserted and supporting the bushing, and a grounding member interposed between the bushing and the frame and grounding the bushing by press contacting with the bushing when the bushing is inserted into the bushing hole. Thus, the roller apparatus effectively grounds a bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Sansung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-kon Jo
  • Patent number: 7661965
    Abstract: A surface mounting lug terminal formed of a metallic plate having terminal leads and positioning projections can readily be positioned on a printed board with high precision by fitting the positioning projections into positioning cutouts formed in the printed board. The terminal leads of the surface mounting lug terminal can easily be soldered to land patterns on the printed board to secure the surface mounting lug terminal onto the printed board irrespective of the number of terminal leads. The surface mounting lug terminal can be reduced in size, thus to contribute miniaturization of electronic circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignees: SMK Corporation, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Miyoshi, Tatsuo Saito, Ken Aoki
  • 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: 7645962
    Abstract: This invention relates to a portable grounding mat, and more particularly to a mat specifically designed to protect electrical workers by providing a zone of equi-potential. The mat has a flexible base to which is attached at least one conductive element laid out in a grid pattern. A novel terminal that electrically connects the mat to a power source has an inner core to provide an electrical load path and an outer casing to provide a mechanical load path, resulting in a superior mat design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Inventors: Dean Loy Krossa, Theodore David Krossa
  • Patent number: 7637753
    Abstract: A clamping device utilizing the mechanism of conventional vise-grip or locking pliers comprises a L-shape fixed arm and a L-shape movable arm, an insulating U-shape clamping jaw which is connected to the ground cable of an arc welding system; and a floating pad attached to a threaded rod so that the effective clamping size of the clamping device is adjustable. With the U-shape clamping jaw, the clamping device is capable of clamping firmly flat workpieces of various thicknesses as well as workpieces with curved or angled surfaces and providing a good electrical contact between the ground cable of the arc welding system and the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Inventors: Harry Wong, Qiang Li
  • Patent number: 7637743
    Abstract: A conductive roller is arranged so as to project from an opening of an upper surface of a circuit board unit removably accommodated in a rack. An opening of the rack is covered by a conductive thin plate. When the circuit board unit is accommodated in the rack, the roller fits in the opening of the rack and pushes the conductive thin plate. Thus, the circuit board unit and the rack are brought into electrical contact to perform electromagnetic shielding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Fuminobu Iwasaki, Motohiro Takemae
  • Patent number: 7626672
    Abstract: A portable display panel includes a liquid crystal display panel for displaying images, a backlight assembly including a light source for supplying light to the liquid crystal display panel, a bottom chassis for receiving the backlight assembly, a first printed circuit board for controlling the liquid crystal display panel and the light source, a second printed circuit board connected to the first printed circuit board and an external drive circuit, and a protrusion extending from the first printed circuit board. The protrusion has copper film exposed on its end. The copper film of the protrusion is electrically connected to the bottom chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Mobile Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyo Shin Song
  • Patent number: 7625223
    Abstract: A receptacle assembly includes a guide frame, a heat sink and a conductive gasket. The guide frame includes a top wall and defines an interior chamber that is configured to receive a mating connector. The top wall defines an opening that provides access to the interior chamber. The heat sink is held in the interior chamber such that at least an upper portion of the heat sink produces through the opening and a lower portion of the heat sink engages the mating connector when the mating connector is loaded in the interior chamber. The conductive gasket is held in the interior chamber between the guide frame and the heat sink. The gasket is configured to be compressed between the guide frame and the heat sink when the mating connector is loaded into the interior chamber such that the gasket provides a conductive path between the heat sink and the guide frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Warren Fogg
  • Patent number: 7619161
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a grounding device in which a grounding member E having a grounding conductor 2 and a conductive laminated portion 5 covering the grounding conductor 2 is integrated with a foundation member B of a building so that the grounding member E and the foundation member B overlap partly or entirely. The grounding device is configured so that the grounding member having the grounding conductor and the conductive laminated portion covering the grounding conductor is integrated with the foundation member of the building are so that the grounding member and the foundation member overlap partly or entirely. This makes it possible to easily offer a small grounding resistance. Further, the foundation member of the building contacts the earth over a large area. This enables a small grounding resistance to be stably offered for a long period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Sankosha Corporation
    Inventors: Chikashi Okabayashi, Makoto Ishizaki, Minoru Yoneda
  • Publication number: 20090280655
    Abstract: A ground strap assembly couples two conductive components of a utility structure. The ground strap assembly includes an elongate electrically conductive ground strap having opposed ends. A pair of attachment members are mechanically and electrically coupled to each end of the strap. Each attachment member has a magnetic surface so that the ends of the strap may be placed in removable magnetic attachment to the two components to establish ground continuity across the components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: Thomas & Betts International., Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. Gall
  • Patent number: 7604490
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulative housing, a plurality of first and second contacts retained in the insulative housing and a metallic ground. Each first contact comprises a first contact portion and a first mounting portion. Each second contact comprises a second contact portion and a second mounting portion. The first and second mounting portions are respectively arranged in first and second rows. The second contacts comprise a grounding contact. The ground piece comprises an elastic contact beam for abutting against the grounding contact so that the surface of the grounding contact is expanded. As a result, cross-talk occurred between the contacts can be decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Kuan-Yu Chen, Chong Yi, Jia-Yong He
  • Patent number: 7591680
    Abstract: A conductive cage (100) for receiving a SFP transceiver includes a cage body (10) having a number of pins (122) extending downwardly and a unitary, rectangular-shaped collar (20) mounted onto the cage body. The unitary, rectangular-shaped collar has a top plate (21), a pair of opposite side plates (23) and a bottom plate (22). The bottom plate has a first bottom plate half (221) including a first engaging portion (24) and a second bottom plate half (222) having a corresponding second engaging portion (25) coupling with the first engaging portion for connecting the first bottom plate half to the second bottom plate half.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xin-Jie Zhang, Chun-Hsiung Hsu
  • Publication number: 20090227128
    Abstract: An electrical connection (1) for electrically interconnecting adjacent first and second metal parts (2, 3) that are electrically insulated from each other, includes clamping elements (30) together with first and second metal inserts (10, 20) that are arranged respectively in first and second openings (4, 5) formed in the first and second metal parts (2, 3), the first and second inserts (10, 20) being secured to each other by the clamping elements (30) so as to be electrically in contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: EUROCOPTER
    Inventors: CEDRIC CARLAVAN, Philippe Corre
  • Patent number: 7566250
    Abstract: A wire grounding assembly including a unitary bidirectional connector having a first threaded shaft, a second threaded shaft, and a torque-receiving portion that is radially oriented about the major axis of the unitary bidirectional connector and that has a first radial surface and an opposing second radial surface. The first threaded shaft and the second threaded shaft project, respectively, from the first radial surface and the second radial surface, and are aligned such that their respective major axes coincide with the major axis. The first threaded shaft has an axial ground wire slot configured to receive a ground wire therein, and the second threaded shaft has a base. The unitary bidirectional connector has an annular sharp projection that projects beyond the plane of the second radial surface, encircling the base, and is configured to penetrate a non-conductive surface of a ground upon application of sufficient torque to the torque-receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Scott Good
  • Publication number: 20090181563
    Abstract: A ground terminal is mounted on a circuit board. The circuit board has a through-hole. The ground terminal includes a main body, a tail part and an insertion part. The tail part is connected to the main body. The insertion part is extended downwardly from the tail part and aligned with the through-hole of the circuit board, and has a hooking element. After the insertion part is penetrated through the through-hole, the hooking element is sustained against a lower surface of the circuit board so as to facilitate fixing the ground terminal onto the circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Chieh-Wei Lin, Tsun-Sung Chen
  • Publication number: 20090176388
    Abstract: A rail-type grounding terminal structure composed of a metal grounding member and an insulating housing. The grounding member has better operation elasticity and can be easily tightly connected with a grounding rail. The grounding member includes a metal insertion leg mountable on a leaf spring mount, a bow section connected with the metal insertion leg and a first end and a second end respectively outward extending from the bow section and latched on a grounding rail. The metal insertion leg has a slightly outward deflected head end and a neck wall formed thereunder. When the metal insertion leg is mounted on the leaf spring mount, the leaf spring mount exerts a reaction force to urge the grounding member to tightly attach to lower side of the housing. Therefore, a gap is defined between the grounding member and the housing for a serviceman to separate the grounding member from the rail or connect the grounding member with the rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Chih-Yuan Wu, Biao-Huang Hsu, Chien-Hsin Lee
  • Patent number: 7547217
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes an electrically insulative housing that has a rear accommodation space, a front receiving unit for receiving a matching electrical connector, terminal slots formed in the front receiving unit and extended to the rear accommodation space and recessed locating portions symmetrically disposed at two opposite lateral sides, a circuit board mounted in the rear accommodation space of the housing and having signal terminals extended from the front side thereof and respectively inserted into the terminal slots of the housing and suspending in the front receiving unit of the housing, an adapter module fastened to the rear bottom side of the circuit board and carrying a plurality of input terminals that have the respective front connection portions respectively electrically connected to the metal contacts of the circuit board and the respective rear bonding portions downwardly extending out of the bottom wall of the adapter module for bonding to an external circuit board, grounding spri
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: U.D. Electronic Corp.
    Inventor: Hung-Chao Lin
  • Publication number: 20090149045
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulative housing, a plurality of first and second contacts retained in the insulative housing and a metallic ground. Each first contact comprises a first contact portion and a first mounting portion. Each second contact comprises a second contact portion and a second mounting portion. The first and second mounting portions are respectively arranged in first and second rows. The second contacts comprise a grounding contact. The ground piece comprises an elastic contact beam for abutting against the grounding contact so that the surface of the grounding contact is expanded. As a result, cross-talk occurred between the contacts can be decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Kuan-Yu Chen, Chong Yi, Jia-Yong He
  • Patent number: 7527506
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are provided of EMI shielding/electrical grounding members configured to be installed to a substrate for interposition between electrically-conductive surfaces, for establishing electrical grounding contact from the substrate to the electrically-conductive surfaces. In one exemplary embodiment, an EMI shielding/electrical grounding member generally includes first and second generally opposing sides hingedly connected and having respective first and second contact faces configured such that the first and second contact faces are each relatively independently operable and freely compressible upon contact with the respective first and second electrically-conductive surfaces, regardless of whether the other of said first and second contact faces is in contact with the corresponding first or second electrically-conductive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignees: Laird Technologies, Inc., Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Shelby Ball, Karl Hamand
  • Patent number: 7524196
    Abstract: A connecting/disconnecting element (6a; 6b) for retaining a component (1) on a PCB (3), said connecting/disconnecting element (6a; 6b) comprising at least one longitudinal arm (61a, 62a; 61b) with a first end (63a; 63b) adapted to engage through a hole (30) in said PCB (3), and a second opposite end (64a; 64b), said element being adapted to clip onto said PCB (3) whilst bridging component (1) with said longitudinal arm extending in a retaining position parallel to the plane of the PCB and to a top surface of said component. According to the invention, said element is made of electrical conductive material, said longitudinal arm is (61a, 62a; 61b) adapted to be in contact, in said retaining position, with an electrical conductive part of said top surface, and said hole (30) is a plated through hole with which said first end (63a; 63b) is adapted to be in contact with in said retaining position, thus achieving both mechanical holding of component and electrical connection to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Inventor: William H. Bond
  • Publication number: 20090104799
    Abstract: An adapter includes a first USB interface, a second USB interface, and an audio interface. The first and the second USB interfaces each have a power pin, a first data pin, a second data pin, and a ground pin. The pins of the first USB interface respectively connected to the pins of the second USB interface correspondingly. The audio interface includes a left ear audio pin, a right ear audio pin, and a ground pin. The left ear audio pin of the audio interface is connected to the first data pin of the second USB interface. The right ear audio pin of the audio interface is connected to the second data pin of the second USB interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicants: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (Shenzhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chang-Chun Liu, Xiao-Lin Gan, Yu-Kuang Ho
  • Patent number: 7510408
    Abstract: A grounding structure is provided in an electrical connector, which includes contacts, a housing, a shell, and a ground terminal or a ground lug. The shell has a through-hole communicating with a fitting groove, an installing groove, and a connection portion groove, and the through-hole has an inserting groove into which the ground terminal is inserted, a screw portion for holding the ground terminal, a spacing groove for avoiding any interference with the ground lug integrally mounted on the housing, and an engaging portion to engage a locking portion of the housing. Both the ground lug and the ground terminal are constructed to become electrically conductive with the same shell, respectively, so that grounding is effected by either of the ground lug integrally mounted on the housing and the separately provided ground terminal. It is thus possible to select one contact or the separate ground terminal with respect to the same shell for grounding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: DDK Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiko Tsurumi
  • Patent number: RE42331
    Abstract: An all stainless steel grounding electrode uses a coating of stainless steel for an upper collar which has a dual purpose cable connector. The cable connector can accommodate a cable lug and bolt connection or a cad weld connection. A cap for the collar has a one quarter turn dual heavy duty thread set to prevent corrosion from locking up the cap. An osmotic material is placed and replaced in the grounding electrode via the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Lightning Eliminators & Consultants, Inc.
    Inventors: Roy B. Carpenter, Jr., Peter Carpenter, legal representative, Nathan M. Mascarenas, Darwin N. Sletten