Patents Represented by Attorney Driscoll Niwa
  • Patent number: 5687477
    Abstract: A method of automatically manufacturing cable harnesses, and an apparatus and assembly for implementing the method. The assembly includes a main conveyor capable of transporting wires by means of transfer clamps, a secondary conveyor capable of transporting unique transfer trays, themselves capable of receiving at least one component. Transfer trays are loaded into the secondary conveyor, where they pass through a component loading station for receiving components, then the trays travel to an insertion zone. The insertion zone includes a device for transferring the loaded trays from the secondary conveyor to the main conveyor, where the components receive the wire ends for forming the cable bundles. The formed bundles are then transferred away from the insertion zone by the main conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Louis Soriano
  • Patent number: 5681184
    Abstract: A connector comprises a housing for receiving terminals therein, a secondary locking member mountable thereto and a linear bayonet type of slide-lock member to assist coupling of the connector to a complementary connector. In the preassembly position, the slide lock member is in a fully closed position where shoulders engage with latches of the secondary locking member which is in the preassembly position allowing reception of terminals in cavity of the connector housing. When the secondary locking member is depressed into its fully locked position, the latches disengage from the shoulders of the slide-lock member, thus allowing it to be opened to enable coupling to the complementary connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Olivier Pamart, Jaques Lalange
  • Patent number: 5580286
    Abstract: A connector assembly comprises a housing and a clamping screw for clamping connection of ring tongue terminals to terminals of the connector assembly. The clamping screw comprises a flanged portion for, on the one hand clamping down on the terminal, and on the other hand engage against a shoulder of the housing when in the raised, disconnected position to prevent removal of the clamping screw from the housing. A U-shaped metal plate inserted in a housing slot transverse to the clamping screw, provides a second thread means to enable raising the clamping screw away from the mating clamping nut to allow unobstructed insertion of the ring tongue terminal therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Rudolf Kramer, Werner Tille