Patents Examined by Briggitte R. Hammond
  • Printed circuit board with a connector for electric connection of the PCB with another apparatus
    Patent number: 11177590
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) with a connector to electrically connect the PCB with another apparatus. In embodiments, the apparatus may include a PCB having a via that begins on a first surface of the PCB and ends inside the PCB. The apparatus may further include a connector to electrically connect the PCB with another apparatus or another portion of the apparatus. The connector may include a pin to provide connectivity between the PCB and the connector. The pin may be inserted into the via in response to an attachment of the connector to the PCB. The PCB may include a space that extends from an end of the via inside the PCB to a second surface of the PCB opposite the first surface, to accommodate layers for signal routing inside the PCB. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Yongcai Zhou, Lu She
  • Magnetic fastener providing electrical connection and having female member with solid cover
    Patent number: 11172717
    Abstract: An electrically conductive magnetic snap fastener for releasably coupling a first material to a second material, the fastener including a male fastening element having a stud and stud flange affixable to the first material, and a female fastening element affixable to the second material and including a cover and a magnet disposed within a cavity defined by the cover, and defining a channel into which the stud is insertable, the female fastening element being electrically conductive at least in a portion disposed for electrically conductive contact with the male fastening element when the stud is inserted in the channel, and the cover being a unitary member of electrically conductive metal, wherein the channel is a distally closed and proximally open socket defined by a continuous wall portion of the cover for receiving the stud and preventing passage of liquid through the channel to the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Romed Fasteners, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard J. Reiter
  • Connector structure and housing
    Patent number: 11177607
    Abstract: A connector structure includes a female housing and a male housing. The female housing includes a first holding portion holding first female terminals for power supply, a second holding portion adjacent to the first holding portion, formed as one unitary piece with the first holding portion, and holding second female terminals for communication, and a conductive shield layer separating the first holding portion from the second holding portion. The male housing includes a recessed portion configured to fit with the female housing, and holding first male terminals to be connected with the first female terminals and second male terminals to be connected with the second female terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayoshi Takayanagi, Kazuhide Takahashi, Keigo Tsubo
  • Tools for coupling and decoupling a cable connector
    Patent number: 11171460
    Abstract: A tool for coupling and decoupling a connector of a cable. The tool includes a body, a bracket, and a first hook. The body has a first end portion, a second end portion opposite the first end portion, and an intermediate portion between the first end portion and the second end portion. The body has a longitudinal axis running between the first end portion and second end portion. The body also has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The bracket is disposed at the first end portion. The bracket defines a cavity configured to receive a portion of the connector, and the bracket is configured to push the connector as the tool moves in a first direction. The first hook is disposed at the intermediate portion. The first hook is configured to engage an opening defined by the connector and pull the connector as the tool moves in a second direction different than the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventor: Chih I Wu
  • Electric wire connector
    Patent number: 11158960
    Abstract: An electric wire connector connecting at least two wires includes a connector housing having a housing base and a housing cover, the housing base divided into at least two compartments, and at least two contact terminals each arranged in a different one of the at least two compartments. The at least two contact terminals are connected to one another by an electrically conductive member. The housing cover has a wire receiving opening receiving one of the at least two wires in an insertion direction. The housing cover is linearly movable relative to the housing base from an open position receiving the one of the at least two wires to a closed position terminating the one of the at least two wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignees: TE Connectivity Nederland BV, Tyco Electronics Austria GmbH
    Inventors: Freddy Jean Philip Dendas, Olaf Leijnse, Frank Rosenkranz
  • Connector
    Patent number: 11146017
    Abstract: A connector includes a housing that has a L-shape in a side view and in which a connection portion capable fitting to the mating connector is projected, a terminal having a connection terminal portion and an electric wire connection portion and mounted to the housing by inserting the connection terminal portion into a terminal accommodation portion formed in the connection portion, an electric wire connected to the electric wire connection portion of the terminal and led out from the housing, a ferrite core mounted to the electric wire and accommodated in the housing. The housing includes a rib formed along an extending direction of the connection portion, and a hole portion formed at a root portion of the rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignees: YAZAKI CORPORATION, HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Taro Shimizu, Ryosuke Ohfuku
  • Electrical connector
    Patent number: 11145999
    Abstract: A connector for holding a linear conductor by a first contact portion and a second contact portion is provided. The linear conductor is inserted through an insertion portion. The first contact portion is formed in a pressing portion configured to be deformed elastically to press the linear conductor against the second contact portion. The second contact portion is formed in a fixed portion which is not deformed elastically and the second contact portion has at least one edge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: YOKOWO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Nozomu Morita
  • Electrical connector and assembly method thereof
    Patent number: 11139602
    Abstract: An electrical connector and an assembly method thereof are disclosed. The electrical connector includes a substrate provided with multiple accommodating holes, and multiple terminals. Each of the first terminals has a first insertion portion inserted downward into a corresponding accommodating hole, a first strip connecting portion to be connected to a first strip, and a first soldering portion located outside the corresponding accommodating hole and soldered on an upper surface of the substrate. A bottom portion of the first insertion portion, the first strip connecting portion and the first soldering portion are located on a same first plane, such that the first terminals are not easy to twist when the strip is bent and when being inserted into the substrate, thereby allowing the first terminals to be assembled stably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: LOTES CO., LTD
    Inventor: Chien Chih Ho
  • Electrical connector
    Patent number: 11139604
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulating body and multiple terminals accommodated in the insulating body. Each terminal has a base portion, a strip connecting portion extending upward from the base portion to be connected to a strip, and an elastic arm extending from the base portion. The elastic arm has a first tearing edge torn from the strip connecting portion, a second tearing edge torn from the strip, and a blanking edge blanked from the strip. The second tearing edge or the blanking edge has a dividing point. When each terminal is connected to the strip and expanded in a same vertical plane, the dividing point and a top point of the first tearing edge are vertically aligned. After the elastic arm is formed by bending, the dividing point and the first tearing edge are both located at a back side of the strip connecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: LOTES CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yong Jun Dai, Chien Chih Ho, Jun Zhang
  • Modular connector for circuit boards
    Patent number: 11139609
    Abstract: A plug connector, in particular a modular plug connector, is provided for mounting on a circuit board. The plug connector can be assembled from a plurality of plug connector modules, wherein each plug connector module comprises at least one part. The plug connector modules have an insertion side and a connection side, wherein the insertion side can either be installed on the circuit board or else it contacts a connection side of a mating connector module. The plug connector modules can be connected by at least one connector. This makes it possible also to install modular plug connectors on a printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: HARTING Electronics GmbH
    Inventor: Torsten Wolf
  • Connector
    Patent number: 11139608
    Abstract: A connector is provided with a body cover and a lid cover for covering a wire. A tightening member is to be wound along a surface of the body cover. A first part and a second part are provided on the surface of the body cover while being spaced apart in a circumferential direction. A recess is provided between the first and second parts in the body cover, and a pressing portion is stretched from the first part toward the second part in the tightening member. A coupling is to be received into the recess in the lid cover, and a pressed portion is arranged outwardly of a virtual straight line connecting the first and second parts in the coupling. The pressing portion presses the pressed portion toward an inner surface of the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Inventor: Naotaka Tanikawa
  • Quick change battery clamp
    Patent number: 11139596
    Abstract: A quick change battery clamp includes a first clamp body, a second clamp body, and a handle assembly. The second clamp body is coupled to the first clamp body. The handle assembly is selectively disposed through each of the first clamp body and the second clamp body. Each of the first clamp body and the second clamp body define an aperture having a substantially polygonal cross-section configured to receive a battery post. Each of the first clamp body and the second clamp body have an internal wall with a plurality of ridges configured to selectively abut the battery post. The first clamp body and the second clamp body are hingedly connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Inventor: Billy L. Marchal
  • Electric wire cover
    Patent number: 11133621
    Abstract: An electric wire cover includes a first cover and a second cover, the electric wire cover being to be attached to a connector and to cover and protect an electric wire drawn out from the connector. The first cover includes a side plate and a locking claw. The second cover includes a lock piece and a protective wall, the lock piece protruding in a direction in which the second cover is attached to the first cover, the lock piece being to lock the locking claw, the protective wall surrounding the lock piece. The protective wa1l includes an outer wall portion and side wall portions, the outer wall portion being provided with a first gap between the outer wall portion and an outer surface of the lock piece, the side wall portions being provided with second gaps between the side wall portions and side portions of the lock piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuya Sekino, Daigo Yokoyama
  • Flexible aerosol-generating devices
    Patent number: 11129242
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating device may include a housing having flexible portion along its length. The flexible portion is configured to transition between a relaxed or unloaded configuration and a flexed or deflected configuration. A flexible heating element and mouthpiece may also be disposed in the housing. When the housing is in a relaxed or unloaded configuration, the flexible heating element and the mouthpiece are at least partially longitudinally aligned with the flexible portion of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Rui Nuno Batista, Stephane Antony Hedarchet
  • Electronic assembly with a direct current bus connection
    Patent number: 11128062
    Abstract: A folded outer tab comprises a first outer dielectric layer and a second outer dielectric layer that contact or overlie an outer terminal, where the outer terminal is associated with a first polarity of the DC bus. A bent inner tab comprises a first inner dielectric layer and a second inner dielectric layer that contact or overlie an inner terminal, where the inner terminal is associated with a second polarity of the DC bus that is opposite the first polarity. The folded outer tab and the bent inner tab comprise electrically conductive faces, of opposite polarities, formed of exposed portions of the outer terminal and the inner terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Inventor: Christopher J. Schmit
  • Battery clamp device
    Patent number: 11121485
    Abstract: A battery clamp having a first inner metal battery clamp member having a handle portion and a clamp portion, a second inner metal battery clamp member having a handle portion and a clamp portion, a first outer insulating battery clamp member having a handle portion and a clamp portion connected to the first inner metal battery clamp, and a second outer insulating battery clamp member having a handle portion and a clamp portion connected to the second inner metal battery clamp. The first inner metal battery clamp member and/or the second inner metal battery clamp member having a battery cable connector configured to allow a user to access the battery cable connector with the user's fingers or a tool while avoiding interference with the handle portions of the battery clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: THE NOCO COMPANY
    Inventors: Jonathan Lewis Nook, William Knight Nook, Sr., James Richard Stanfield, Derek Michael Underhill
  • Magnetic fastener providing electrical connection and having female member with solid cover
    Patent number: 11116265
    Abstract: An electrically conductive magnetic snap fastener for releasably coupling a first material to a second material, the fastener including a male fastening element having a stud and stud flange affixable to the first material, and a female fastening element affixable to the second material and including a cover and a magnet disposed within a cavity defined by the cover, and defining a channel into which the stud is insertable, the female fastening element being electrically conductive at least in a portion disposed for electrically conductive contact with the male fastening element when the stud is inserted in the channel, and the cover being a unitary member of electrically conductive metal, wherein the channel is a distally closed and proximally open socket defined by a continuous wall portion of the cover for receiving the stud and preventing passage of liquid through the channel to the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Romed Fasteners, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard J. Reiter
  • Battery clamp device
    Patent number: 11114777
    Abstract: A battery clamp having a first inner metal battery clamp member having a handle portion and a clamp portion, a second inner metal battery clamp member having a handle portion and a clamp portion, a first outer insulating battery clamp member having a handle portion and a clamp portion connected to the first inner metal battery clamp, and a second outer insulating battery clamp member having a handle portion and a clamp portion connected to the second inner metal battery clamp. The first inner metal battery clamp member and/or the second inner metal battery clamp member having an inclined connection plate for connection with a battery cable, the inclined connect plate configured to allow a user to access the inclined access plate with a tool while avoiding interference with the handle portions of the battery clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: THE NOCO COMPANY
    Inventors: Jonathan Lewis Nook, William Knight Nook, Sr., James Richard Stanfield, Derek Michael Underhill
  • Electrical connection box
    Patent number: 11107654
    Abstract: Provided is an electrical connection box in which a greater number of fuses can be inserted while suppressing an increase in size. An electrical connection box for a vehicle includes: an insertion housing that has a rectangular open port on one side and in which a plurality of rectangular insertion holes into which fuses are to be respectively inserted are provided facing the open port; a first insertion hole row in which a plurality of the insertion holes are provided side by side in a lengthwise direction of the open port, with long sides of the insertion holes adjacent to each other; and a second insertion hole row in which a plurality of the insertion holes are provided side by side in the lengthwise direction of the open port, with short sides of the insertion holes adjacent to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriko Okamoto, Akihiro Oda, Masakazu Okumura, Ryoma Hamada, Tatsuya Daidoji
  • Power cable assembly
    Patent number: 11108197
    Abstract: A power cable assembly includes a lamp that has a base. A power cord extends outwardly from the base and the power cord is electrically coupled to a power source comprising a female electrical outlet. A housing is provided and the power cord extends through the housing. The housing has a first power port and a second power port. Each of the first power port and the second power port is in electrical communication with the power cord. A surge protector is positioned within the housing to protect the power cord, the first power port and the second power port from electrical surges. Each of the first power port and the second power port can supply electrical power for an electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Inventor: Kirk Sjolund