Patents Assigned to Methode Development Company
  • Patent number: 6547606
    Abstract: A clock spring wiring harness for an automotive steering apparatus has a resilient flexible flat cable containing flat conductors and terminated at its opposite ends by lead conductors. The flat cable is connected between a reel about which it is spirally wound and a fixed housing which supports the reel for rotation therein. The flat conductor/lead conductor terminations are formed by assembly of a stepped series of cradle assemblies integrally formed on and contained within terminal block ultrasonically welded together in assembly while subjected to a predetermined compressive force. Each lead conductor is normal to and continuously biased into direct electrical contacting engagement with an associated flat conductor in a region of termination defined by an associated one of the cradle assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Methode Development Company
    Inventors: James J. Johnston, Gordon Udall
  • Patent number: 6549427
    Abstract: Metallic circuit traces disposed on a substrate of a panel and terminated in a high-density in-line array. Each termination comprises a terminal portion of a circuit trace disposed on and extending along a beam defined by the panel, a portion of a resilient compressible electrical conductor disposed in overlying relation to at least an associated part of the terminal portion, and a cradle assembly including a cradle member and a cap ultrasonically welded together in assembly generally within a common plane of joinder spaced from the substrate. The cradle assembly surround portions of the beam, the terminal portion, and the conductor and maintains the conductor under compression and in electrical contacting engagement with the terminal portion to form an electrical termination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Methode Development Company
    Inventor: James J. Johnston