Patents Examined by Amir Abdulmelik
  • Patent number: 6168445
    Abstract: An electrical connector (10) comprising a first part (12) including a housing (16) having opposed side walls (18,20) each having an upper wall (24) and a lower wall (26) defining opposed slide surfaces (28) extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to a mating axis (X), first and second spaced apertures (34,36) in the upper wall, a pair of spaced apertures (38) in the lower wall, and a longitudinally extending slot (66) in the upper wall; a slider (30,31) positioned adjacent each side wall, each slider having an upper edge (54) and a lower edge (50) making a sliding engagement with the slide surfaces of the upper wall and the lower wall, a pair of inclined cam surfaces (46) having openings (48) in the lower edge alignable with the apertures in the lower wall, and a resilient tab (52) in the upper edge for making a snap fit in the first aperture in the upper wall in a fully unmated position, or in the second aperture in a fully mated position; a substantially U-shaped lever (58) having a pair of arm
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Roman Seutschniker, Peter Schekalla
  • Patent number: 6152748
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improvement in a card ejection device having an ejection lever slidably attached to one side of an associated card casing so that the inserting of a card in the card casing may drive the ejection lever out of the front side of the card casing, and so that the pushing of the ejection lever toward the rear side of the card casing may eject the card out of the front side of the card casing. The head section of the ejection lever has two opposite walls that are "U" shaped, rotatably sandwiching an ejection button. The pivot axle of the ejection button passes through the engagement holes made in the confronting walls, thereby permitting the ejection button to turn from the operative position in which the ejection button is put in alignment with the ejection lever to the rest position in which the ejection lever is perpendicular to the ejection lever or vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Honda Tsushin Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Sato, Kinzo Narumo
  • Patent number: 6106320
    Abstract: An electrical receptacle includes a receptacle housing, a movable element, an interlock mechanism, a release mechanism, and a blocking element. The receptacle housing has a receptacle opening having a longitudinal axis. The movable element is located within the receptacle opening and is designed to move along the longitudinal axis between an extended position and an inserted position. The interlock mechanism is connected to interlock with the movable element when the movable element is in the inserted position. The interlock mechanism also maintains the movable element in the inserted position. The release mechanism is coupled to the interlock mechanism, accessible from outside the receptacle housing, and operable to disengage the interlock mechanism from the movable element to permit the movable element to move to the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald James Gunn
  • Patent number: 6095862
    Abstract: A metal adapter frame assembly mounts a first electrical connector in an aperture in a panel for mating with a second electrical connector. A metal body defines a first receptacle for receiving the first connector and a second receptacle for receiving the second connector, with the connectors mateable through the body. A metal shield is mounted over a substantial portion of the metal body. A metal gasket is mounted on the body for engaging the panel at the aperture and substantially surrounds the first receptacle. A metal shutter member is movably mounted on the body to close the first receptacle and is movable to an open position upon engagement by the first connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Dennis Lee Doye, Michael J. Miskin, Jay Henry Neer
  • Patent number: 6083011
    Abstract: A tool-less insulation displacement connector block for selectively routing wiring connections contains a first terminal strip, a second terminal strip and a third terminal strip which are disposed on the connector block. The first terminal strip has a first wire receiving terminal which is electrically connected to a first output connector. The second terminal strip has a second wire receiving terminal which is electrically connected to a second output connector. Similarly, the third terminal strip has a third wire receiving terminal which is electrically connected to a third output connector. The connector block also contains a unitary cap which encapsulates the first, second and third output connectors. The cap has a bridging device which can be used for selectively connecting either the first output connector or the third output connector to the second output connector thereby establishing an electrical connection between the second wire receiving terminal and the selected output connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Bassel Hage Daoud
  • Patent number: 6080001
    Abstract: Inadvertent disconnection between a receptacle and a modular connector is achieved by fitting the connector with a new type of protective sleeve. The sleeve interior defines a first cavity sized to accept the connector and further defines a smaller cavity sized to admit the projecting connector tail. With the connector mated to the receptacle, the sleeve is slid forward. The exposed portion of the connector fits within the first sleeve cavity, and the connector tail fits within and is captured by the smaller cavity. The smaller cavity defines a connector tail capture region that constrains movement of the connector tail. More particularly, the capture region prevents unintended movement of the connector tail in a direction that would release the connector from the receptacle. This arrest feature prevents interruption of the connector-receptacle mechanical and electrical connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: @POS.COM, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyin Pauk Wong
  • Patent number: 6062914
    Abstract: A low profile mounting bracket carries coupling connector blocks that mate with load and line terminals of a molded split case circuit breaker housing. The housing defines a well for receiving an alarm or auxiliary switch, and the switch is received in a central opening in the bracket with the switch terminals in turn received in a connector that fits into the same central opening. Finally, a PC board is used to electrically connect each switch to external circuitry that may generate alarms or otherwise affect the circuit breaker's operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Carlingswitch, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Fasano
  • Patent number: 6045368
    Abstract: An electrical circuit includes a substrate having at least two alignment pads on the substrate that are accurately aligned with a first set of electrical interconnect pads, and also includes a corresponding number of alignment posts that are cylindrical and have flat bases that are geometrically similar to and smaller than a corresponding shape of each of the at least two alignment pads by a predetermined solder fillet radius. Each of the at least two alignment posts is reflow soldered to one of the at least two alignment pads. An electrical part can be accurately aligned to the substrate using the alignment posts, during attachment of the electrical part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Inventors: Jonathan Cadenhead, Terry Richard Fleegle, Michael Carlos Menard
  • Patent number: 6027380
    Abstract: A locking device serves to lock an electronic module to a bank of terminal blocks, characterized by a body member having at least one pair of integral parallel spaced legs that extend downwardly within a corresponding T-shaped vertical groove contained in one end of a first one of the terminal blocks. The legs are resiliently biased apart and are provided at their free ends with hook or catch portions that extend laterally outwardly from opposite sides of the legs into corresponding locking recesses contained in opposite side walls of the groove, respectively, thereby to lock the body member with the bank of terminal blocks. The adjacent end of the body member contains a longitudinal chamber that slidably receives a locking member that is displaceable between retracted unlocked and extended locking positions relative to the body member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Weidmueller Interface GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Walter Hanning, Joerg Richts, Manfred Wilmes