Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Anthony J. Casella
  • Connector
    Patent number: 6764334
    Abstract: A connector has a housing (10) with cavities (11) for receiving terminal fittings (40). Locks (17) lock the terminal fittings (40) in the cavities (11) and serve also as partition walls (20) between cavities (11) for the miniaturization of the connector. Upside-down insertion preventing portions (46) are provided on the terminal fittings (40), but are disposed so as not to interfere with the corresponding lock (17). The upside-down insertion preventing portions (46) also do not interfere with the lock (17) of the adjacent cavity (11) even if both the upside-down insertion preventing portion (46) and the lock (17) are near the front end and are on opposite sides. Since the upside-down insertion preventing portions (46) and the locks (17) are near the front end, inserting resistance is low and an earlier detection of upside-down insertion is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Tsuji, Masaaki Tabata
  • Connector
    Patent number: 6764352
    Abstract: Properly inserted terminal fittings (40) are engaged and locked by locks (20) returned to their free states. A retainer (30) mounted into a housing (10) then enters deformation spaces (26) for the locks (20). The retainer (30) presses and deforms the locks (20) from their free states toward the terminal fittings (40). Thus, areas of engagement of the locks (20) and the terminal fittings (40) are increased. Additionally, the degree of the resilient deformation of the locks (20) in the inserting process of the terminal fittings (40) is low and resistance acting when the terminal fittings (40) are inserted is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Tsuji
  • Enhancements to ion mobility spectrometers
    Patent number: 6765198
    Abstract: An ion trap mobility spectrometer is provided. The ion trap mobility spectrometer employs algorithms to simultaneously detect and analyze both positive and negative plasmagrams. Selectivity is improved by detecting the presence of peaks in both spectra and setting logic filters which require the presence or absence of certain peaks in both spectra. Selectivity is improved by looking for two peaks in the two spectra.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anthony Jenkins, William J. McGann
  • Safety blood collection needle assembly
    Patent number: 6761704
    Abstract: A dual blunting needle assembly for use in blood collection procedures is provided. The needle assembly includes a hub assembly having a first external cannula with an intravenous puncture tip, a second external cannula with an external blunt tip and an internal lumen extending through the hub assembly from the intravenous puncture tip to the blunt tip. The needle assembly further includes an internal cannula extending concentrically within the internal lumen of the hub assembly. The internal cannula includes an internal blunt tip at a first end and a non-patient puncture tip at a second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventor: Jamieson William Maclean Crawford
  • Wire cover and a connector provided therewith
    Patent number: 6762363
    Abstract: A wire fixing portion (26) with a substantially U-shaped cross section that projects from an edge section of a wire draw-out opening (22) of a wire cover (20). The wire fixing portion (26) has a pair of bundling holes (28) through which a bundling band (40) can be introduced for bundling wires (W). In order to fix the wires (W) to the wire cover (20), the bundling band (40) is put on the wires (W) and the wire fixing portion (26) to fasten the wires (W). At this time, the wires (W) can be firmly fixed to the wire fixing portion (26) by suitably selecting a mounting path of the bundling band (40) based on the number of the wires (W) to be fixed and the outer diameter thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Yamashita, Koji Okutani
  • Female terminal fitting with a resilient contact piece locked at a specified position therein
    Patent number: 6755697
    Abstract: A female terminal fitting (1) has a rectangular tubular connecting portion (5) for connection with a male tab (4). First and second contacts (9C, 18) are provided respectively on first and second opposed walls (23, 17) of the connecting portion (5). The contacts (9C, 18) resiliently contact and hold the male tab (4). The first contact (9C) is provided at the leading end of a resilient contact piece (9). An engaging edge (25) projects from one side of a base (9A) of the resilient contact piece (9) and is fit into a locking hole (26) formed in a sidewall (15) to position the base (9A) of the resilient contact piece (9) and prevent it from being raised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Kojima, Hirotaka Makino
  • Needle holder for use with safety needle assembly
    Patent number: 6755804
    Abstract: A needle holder for use with a needle assembly for blood collection is provided, and in particular, for use with a needle assembly including an activation mechanism adapted for axial displacement between a first position and a second position with respect to the needle assembly through engagement with a blood collection tube. The needle holder includes an outer body having a first end adapted for attachment to such a needle assembly and a second end having an internal opening therein. The needle holder is adapted for accommodating a blood collection tube within the internal opening for engagement with the needle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventor: Jamieson William Maclean Crawford
  • Connector provided with a wire cover and a connector assembly
    Patent number: 6755674
    Abstract: A connector has first and second housings (10, 20) and a wire cover (30) is mounted to cover the upper surface of the second housing (20). A lever (40) is supported rotatably on the second housing (20) and has cam grooves that engage follower pins (15) on the first housing (10). The two housings (10, 20) are connected by rotating the lever (40) to an end position. During this time, arms (41) of the lever (40) constantly press parts of the wire cover (30) to prevent the wire cover (30) from widening sufficiently to disengage the wire cover (30) from the female housing (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayasu Fujii, Hitoshi Okumara
  • Watertight connector
    Patent number: 6752644
    Abstract: A seal (30) is mounted on the outer periphery of a fittable portion (11) of a housing (10), and resilient contacts (31F, 31R) at a front end of the seal (30) closely contact a receptacle (Mc) to provide sealing. The resilient contacts (31F, 31R) may be pushed back by frictional resistance during a fitting operation into the receptacle (Mc). However, steps (19, 34) prevent the resilient contacts (31F, 31R) from being pulled by the receptacle (Mc) and moved back loosely. Thus, even if the seal (30) is long along forward and backward directions and the resilient contacts (31F, 31R) are at the front end of the seal (30), the seal (30) is prevented from buckling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Shibata
  • Bulb socket and a method for mounting it
    Patent number: 6752518
    Abstract: A bulb socket (S) has a main body (D) and a restricting projection (15) is formed continuously on an outer circumferential surface (18) of the main body (D) over the entire circumference. An O-ring (14) is fitted on the main body (D) behind the restricting projection (15). Thus, the restricting projection (15) contacts the O-ring (14) during detachment of a bulb socket (S), thereby separating the O-ring (14) from a sealing surface (16a) of an edge (16) of a mount hole (11). Further, the restricting projection (15) contacts a contact surface (16b) of the edge (16) during the mounting of the bulb socket (S), thereby preventing the bulb socket (S) from being pushed any further. This prevents the excessive squeezing of the O-ring (14) and prevents a reduction in its sealing function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takatoshi Katsuma
  • Terminal fitting, connector provided therewith and method for producing the terminal fitting
    Patent number: 6752660
    Abstract: A terminal fitting (30) has a rectangular tubular main body (31) with a ceiling wall (33), first and second sidewalls (34, 35) extending down from the opposite sides of the ceiling wall (33), a bottom wall (36) projecting from the first sidewall (34) to face the ceiling wall (33), and an outer wall (37) projecting from the second side wall (35) and placed on the outer side of the bottom wall (36). A front-portion holding piece (50) projects from a front portion (37a) of the outer wall (37) and engages a front-portion holding groove (51) in the first sidewall (34). A restrictable projection (70) is provided at the rear end of the front-portion holding piece (50), and engages a restricting groove (71) of the front-portion holding groove (51) for restricting an opening deformation of the outer wall (37).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Fujita, Yukihiro Fukatsu, Takeshi Tsuji, Ryotaro Ishikawa, Hideto Nakamura, Hajime Kawase, Yuuichi Nankou, Naoya Kurimoto
  • Connector
    Patent number: 6749461
    Abstract: A connector has a housing (20) with cavities (25) for receiving terminal fittings (10). A resiliently deformable lock (30) extends along a wall (25A) of each cavity (25) and is configured for locking the terminal fitting in the cavity (25). An elongated projection (31) is formed at a widthwise center position of the upper surface of each lock (30) and an escaping groove (34) is formed in the wall (25A) of each cavity (25) for receiving the elongated projection (31) when the lock (30) deforms. The elongated projection (31) reinforces the lock (30) and provides a large engaging area with the terminal fitting (10). Additionally, the escaping groove (34) provides a necessary a deformation permitting space (35) for the thicker lock (30) without increasing the height of the housing (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryotaro Ishikawa, Hajime Kawase, Hideto Nakamura, Takeshi Tsuji
  • Connector with side mounted retainer and support for retainer in connector housing
    Patent number: 6749469
    Abstract: A connector has a housing (20) with cavities (32S) formed at a plurality of stages and configured for receiving terminals (26S). A retainer insertion opening (50) is formed in one side surface of the housing (20) for receiving a retainer (40). The retainer (40) has arms (42) for the respective stages of the cavities (32S). Locking projections (45) are formed on the arms (42) for engaging the corresponding terminals (26S). Transversely extending guide grooves (52, 52A) are formed in the front and rear surfaces of the arms (42), and ribs (57, 57A) are formed on side walls of the retainer insertion opening (50) for engaging the guide grooves (52, 52A) and preventing deformation of the arms (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Matsuoka
  • Connector
    Patent number: 6749455
    Abstract: A connector has a housing (20) with a recess (21). A moving plate (50) is located at an initial position in the recess (21) by a resilient restoring force of a spring (40) with a slider (30) held at a returning position in the recess (21). A mating connector moves the moving plate (50) to a connection position in this state and a resilient restoring force is accumulated in the spring (40). If the state of the slider (30) held at the returning position is canceled with the mating connector properly connected and the moving plate (50) at the connection position, the resilient force accumulated in the spring (40) is released as the slider (30) is moved to a releasing position. Thus, the spring (40) is free from permanent set in fatigue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Nishide, Ryotaro Ishikawa
  • Collection assembly
    Patent number: 6749078
    Abstract: The present invention is a container assembly that includes an inner tube formed from a plastic that is substantially inert to bodily fluids and an outer tube that is formed from a different plastic. Collectively, the container assembly is useful for providing an effective barrier against gas and water permeability in the assembly and for extending the shelf-life of the container assembly, especially when used for blood collection. The outer surface of the inner tube and/or the inner surface of the outer tube are provided with a matte finish that forms an array of peaks and valleys. The valleys form circuitous paths that accommodate a flow of air to facilitate insertion of the inner tube into the outer tube. The circuitous paths also allow air to vent during processing to low pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventor: Michael Iskra
  • Automated grommet station
    Patent number: 6745461
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for setting grommets around the perimeter of a tarp. The apparatus includes a feed reel from which a rolled tarp may be unwound; a table, across which the tarp may be drawn; a take-up reel, onto which the tarp may be rolled; and a grommet setter positioned relative to the table to permit an operator to set grommets on the tarp as the tarp is drawn across the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Inventor: Mark Lucas
  • Fire hose nozzle comprising a safety device to prevent it from being displaced through the action of the water supplying it
    Patent number: 6745957
    Abstract: A fire hose nozzle includes a safety device to prevent the nozzle from being displaced due to the action of the water supplied to the nozzle. The safety device includes a tubular body and a butterfly disc with two coaxial trunnions pivotally mounted on the body. The butterfly disc is movable inside the tubular body between an open position, in which the butterfly disc allows water to flow, and a closed position, in which the butterfly disc restricts this flow. An external control lever is integral with one of the trunnions. A trigger is borne by the control lever and bears against the ground. The trigger holds the butterfly disc in its open position when the control lever exerts a downwardly directed vertical force thereon due to the action of the water flowing over the butterfly disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: St-Mihiel S.A.
    Inventor: Didier D. Parey
  • Coaxial connector
    Patent number: 6746267
    Abstract: A housing (30) has a terminal accommodation part (32) for accommodating a terminal (20) and a circular arc wall (34) constituting an insertion opening (36) into which a socket (10) can be inserted. Slits (41) are formed on an upper end of the circular arc wall (34) to form elastic pieces (42). A protrusion (44) projects inwardly on each elastic piece (42) and is disposed to cover an upper portion of each contact piece (25) of the terminal (20). A guide surface (46) inclines inward on each protrusion (44). The lower end of the socket (10) slides on the guide surface (46) so that the socket (10) becomes almost coaxial with the insertion opening (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Fukamachi, Naoya Kurimito
  • APPARATUS, A METHOD FOR TESTING AN ELECTRICAL WIRING SYSTEM, A COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR TESTING AN ELECTRICAL WIRING SYSTEM AND A COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM HAVING STORED THEREON A COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR TESTING AN ELECTRICAL WIRING SYSTEM
    Patent number: 6744257
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to quickly electrically test an electrical wiring system that has a large number of contacts by maximally reducing the number of electrical tests. A plurality of contacts forming a network of an electrical wiring system is divided into a plurality of groups. The respective groups are insulated from each other. The insulated states of these groups are discriminated, and the insulated states of the respective contacts in the respective groups are discriminated if the insulated states of the respective groups are judged to be satisfactory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Taniguchi, Setsurou Mori
  • Connector and a connector assembly
    Patent number: 6743040
    Abstract: A connector has a female housing (20) with a lock arm (35) that moves onto a lock (15) 0f a male housing (10). A slider (50) on the female housing (20) has pushable arms (52) that are pushed back by the male housing (10). This slider (50) is moved back and compresses springs (S). The lock arm (35) returns to engage the lock (15) when the housings (10, 20) are connected properly, and the pushable arms (52) are displaced by push canceling portions (38) to cancel the pushed state of the pushable arms (52). Thus, the springs (S) are released to move the slider (50) forward to an initial mount position. The slider (50) is pulled back to separate the housings (10, 20). Thus, an unlock pushable portion (37) of the lock arm (35) is pushed by the slider (50) to disengage the lock arm (35) from the lock (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideto Nakamura