Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Anton P. Ness
  • Patent number: 5902151
    Abstract: Connector (10) having a mating face (16) and an opposed board-mounting face (18) and having an outer metal shield (12) therearound with an annular transverse flange (40). Opposed notches (46) into the peripheral edge surface (48) of the flange enable gripping by robotic equipment for accurate placement of the connector onto a circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Jacob Glenn Havener, Gregory Padraic Grogan, Patricia Chelap Williamson
  • Patent number: 5901220
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a network interface device 10 and a network interface module 50 for mounting therein. The network interface device 10 features two covers 12, 32. The first cover 32 restricts access to the service provider section of the device, and the second cover 12 covers both the service provider section 24 and the subscriber section 22. The network interface module 50 is profiled to span between the subscriber section 22 and the service provider section 24 so as to eliminate the need for separate components in each section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: William Joseph Garver, Sam Denovich, Maris Anthony Glass
  • Patent number: 5899758
    Abstract: A memory card connector with an ejection mechanism 10 comprises an operating rod 15 sliding lengthwise along a side surface of a frame 11 and a cam bar 16 linked to the operating rod 15 intended for the ejection of the card. A spring 17 is attached to an overhang at an inner end of the operating rod 15 and to a mounting member 19 on the frame 11. Because of such an arrangement, the operating rod 15 is forced forward; and at the same time, due to the fact that the mounting member 19 is closer to the center of the connector than an overhang 34 of the operating rod 15, the operating rod is forced to the side surface of the frame 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Yamamoto, Hiroshi Kojima
  • Patent number: 5899775
    Abstract: Contact (10) including at least one latching arm (50,52) extending rearwardly from a forward end (26) of a socket contact section (12) to define a rearwardly facing latching surface (60) at a free end (56) thereof, for retention of the contact in a housing passageway (72). A single latching arm (108) may be oriented edgewise with respect to the contact-receiving channel and be deflected laterally during insertion, or a pair of such latching arms (50,52;206,208) coextend rearwardly for free ends thereof to be deflected toward each other during insertion. The socket contact (300) may include a spring arm (330) along a bottom wall (332) to press the mating contact (308) against embossments (310) of the top wall (312) for assured electrical connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne Samuel Davis, Robert Neil Whiteman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5897384
    Abstract: Coaxial connector (10) for mounting to a circuit board (12) at an edge (14) thereof and having an outer conductor housing block (20) with an enlarged rearward housing section (22) and an elongate threaded cylindrical forward housing section (30). A bottom housing section (70) is provided that depends beneath downwardly facing housing surfaces (60) of wings (24) that are coplanar with inner conductor (40), extending through a board recess (16), with the bottom housing section (70) being provided rearwardly of forwardmost ends (62) of the downwardly facing housing surfaces (60). The bottom housing section (70) is sufficiently massive to move the center of mass of the connector rearwardly of the forwardmost ends of the downwardly facing surfaces (60) so that the connector (10) remains stablely positioned without tooling on the top of the circuit board during assembly prior to soldering thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Craig Hosler, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5896649
    Abstract: A seating tool 10 for installing connectors on a circuit board comprises a base plate 12, an alignment plate 40 and fasteners 60 to fasten them together at respective fastening locations. The alignment plate 40 has at least two connector alignment surfaces 42, 44 at different locations thereon and a set of at least two fastening locations 46, 48 associated with a respective alignment surface for securing the alignment plate 40 to the base plate 12 in at least two orientations relative to the base plate 12 to accommodate board-mounting of differing connectors having different dimensions of the posts from the front faces of the connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne Leroy Millhimes, Todd Alan Shuey, Anton Paul Ness, Katherine Alice O'Neil Nelson, Harold Elwood Friedline
  • Patent number: 5895289
    Abstract: A retainer (1) for a connector (2) terminated to a signal transmitting cable (3) has a first bracket (4) interlocking with an opening (8) through a panel or chassis (6), and overmolding (17) on the connector (2) forming a second bracket (15) interlocking with the first bracket (4), and the first bracket (4) having latch arms (12) latched to the second bracket (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Tracy Lee Smith
  • Patent number: 5894658
    Abstract: An applicator (10) for crimping electrical terminals onto conductors is provided with a ram (16) having outer facing surfaces (28, 42, 44, 46) that are unobstructed by the slide (32, 34) coupling the ram to the applicator frame (12). A ram retention device is provided that includes a retention screw (50) extending through the ram (16) and into the slide coupling for engagement with a shoulder (64) to limit movement of the ram (16) and to hold it captive to the frame (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Marlin Robert Schollenberger
  • Patent number: 5890641
    Abstract: A detector unit (30) for use in a wire handling machine (10) includes an encoder (38) for monitoring movement of the wire (26) along a wire feed path (28) and for detecting the presence of a splice (130) and the end of the wire (26) as it is being fed. The shaft (58) of the encoder is electrically interconnected to the frame (12) of the machine by means of a brush (66) and leaf spring (68) and includes an enlarged diameter (62) for engaging and being driven by the wire being fed. A presser member (84), which is electrically isolated from the frame (12), is arranged to urge the wire against the enlarged diameter (62) so that when a the wire is fed it causes the shaft (58) of the encoder to rotate proportionately. When the controller unit (126) detects wire movement that is substantially different from that expected, the machine is stopped and an appropriate message is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas Sebastian Pfautz
  • Patent number: 5890926
    Abstract: A cable bend controller (50) comprising a relatively rigid member includes a body section (52) having first and second cable-engaging sections (56,60) at opposing ends thereof. The first and second cable-engaging sections (56) are securable to a cable at a first and second spaced apart locations. The said body section (52) is curved about a preselected radius such that said first cable-engaging section (56) is oriented at a substantial angle to said second cable-engaging section, (60) the body section thereby defining an externally arcuate concave cable-engaging surface (54). Upon fastening the first and second cable-engaging sections (56,60) to the cable (42), cable (42) is required to assume a bend to lie along said externally arcuate concave cable-engaging surface (54).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: William Vito Pauza, Harold William Kerlin
  • Patent number: 5888091
    Abstract: A termination 76 of a conductor and a terminal includes an electrical conductor 46 having insulation 40 therearound and extending to an end 48 exposed at an end 42 of the insulation. The terminal 60 includes a termination end 70 having at least a pair of cutting edges 72 aligned with the conductor 46. The cutting edges 72 are sliced into the end of the conductor 46 a selected axial distance and receive a first portion 52 of the conductor 46 between the cutting edges 72 and outer portions 54 of the conductor 46 along outer surfaces of the termination end 70 of the terminal 60.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Keith McQuilkin Murr
  • Patent number: 5886300
    Abstract: The invention is a plug for plugging an opening in a sealing grommet wherein the grommet has an opening with a series of webs with spaces therebetween. The plug has a plug body with an outer sealing member, a tower, and an inner sealing member. The outer sealing member is received along an exterior side of the grommet. The inner sealing member is received within a space between the webs of the grommet. The tower connects the outer sealing member to the inner sealing member and extends beyond the inner sealing member to be received within the opening thereby sealing the opening of the grommet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Scott Allan Strickler
  • Patent number: 5882214
    Abstract: A contact assembly (90) includes separate conductive members (42,54) with insulative material (90) molded about body sections (50,64) to define an integral unit for handling during connector assembly. The method includes stamping the conductive members (656,658,660,662) from a common blank (680) to have beams (610,612,614,616) associated in pairs to define sockets (606,608), second contact sections (648,650,652,654) at other ends, and body sections (656,658,660,662) joining the respective beams and second contact sections (648,650,652,654). Final separation of the conductive members may occur after molding of the insulative material (670), prior to which the conductive members may be retained on carrier strip facilitating the stamping, plating and molding processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Warren Christian Hillbish, Earl William McCleerey
  • Patent number: 5879175
    Abstract: A card (12) is inserted by pushing against a rubber roller (44) at the leading end of the card (12). The action of the rubber roller (44) pivots an actuation lever (24) to actuate a switch (36), which, in turn, starts a motor (16). The card (12) is moved inwardly by the rotation of the rubber roller (44) thereby pushing the card against support legs (62) causing a pinion (58) to engage with a rack (56) mounted on a card holder (48). The card holder (48) then holds the card (12) and is driven by the pinion (58) causing hook portions (84a, 84b) of pushing arms (72a, 72b) to engage the trailing edge (12b) of the card (12) thereby connecting the card (12) with contact pins (22) of an electrical connector (20) by pushing the card at its trailing edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Hidenori Muramatsu, Hiroto Handa, Hiroyuki Umezawa, Makoto Hamada
  • Patent number: 5879610
    Abstract: A method for making an electrical connector (10,170) formed by molding a plastic septum (50) transversely across an axially extending connector cavity (22) defined between the axial connector walls about the array of contacts (60) extending axially within the cavity (22) from one connector face to another. The contact sections (62) extending from the connector are initially straight prior to molding and are then subjected to a forming step to define right angles for example, with portions (66) of the contacts (60) embedded with the plastic septum (50) being of irregular cross-section to establish resistance to the stresses of such forming and maintain the sealed nature of the connector (10). The connector may comprise an integrally molded plastic housing (174) or a metal shell (20) with the plastic septum (50) molded therewithin such as about an inner flange (34) for sealing and retention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Ernest Lloyd Beinhaur, William Edward McClusky, Daryl Lynn Stoner
  • Patent number: 5880665
    Abstract: A holder (10) for a fuse (18) of the type typically used in automobile and marine applications. The fuse includes a fuse element encased within a generally rectilinear insulative fuse body (20), with a pair of parallel coplanar conductive blades (22, 24) in contact with opposite ends of the fuse element and extending out the fuse body. The holder is a unitary molded insulative plastic piece having a base member (12), a capture plate (14), and a cover member (16). The capture plate and cover member are hingedly secured to the base member on opposite sides thereof, with the capture plate adapted to overlie the base member and the cover member adapted to overlie the capture plate. The base member includes pockets with retention wings (50) for holding wire- terminating receptacles (28) and the capture plate locks the receptacles in place by means of blocks (62) extending into the pockets. The capture plate includes apertures (58, 60) aligned with the receptacles for receiving therethrough the fuse blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Neil Yetter, Michael Scott Feher
  • Patent number: 5876247
    Abstract: A shied formed by a pair of substantially C-shaped metal shield plates 10,10 that have substantially the same shape and dimensions. Contact parts 13 that contact the other shield plate are defined at both ends of each shield plate. The contact parts 13,13 are edge portions of both shield plates that are accommodated together and caused to contact each other inside grooves 7 that are formed in the end wall surfaces of the housing 2. Housing-engaging projections 13b and 13c are elastically engaged with the inside wall surfaces 7b,7b of grooves 7 at points above and below the contact point embossments 13a with the mating shield plate, so that the shield plates are clamped inside grooves 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 5876246
    Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a dielectric housing having a pair of accessory mounting stations integrally formed with the housing on respective opposite sides of the housing, and a pair of resilient latch arms extending forwardly from respective ones of the accessory mounting stations. In a preferred embodiment, each of the accessory mounting stations includes a lug extending laterally from the housing and a beam extending forwardly from the lug. The lugs are configured to be gripped by an accessory to the connector. The beams flank the housing and are spaced from the housing, thereby defining pockets which are configured to receive portions of the accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Darryl Craig Martin, Todd Edwin Harriman
  • Patent number: 5863210
    Abstract: A connector housing 10 is mountable to a circuit board along a board-mounting face 18, and a mounting bracket 40 is secured around side walls 12 and upper wall 14 with mounting feet 46 extending outwardly from the housing parallel to board-mounting face 18 for being soldered to the circuit board, eliminating the need for mounting holes through the circuit board. Projections 28 of side walls 12 extend outwardly through slots 48 of vertical leg sections 44 of bracket 40 and lances 52 extend from slot edges 50 bite into projections 28 to secure the bracket assuredly to housing 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Jason M'Cheyne Reisinger
  • Patent number: D407626
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Brian Patrick Costello