Patents Examined by Edwin A. León
  • Patent number: 7654843
    Abstract: A medical device connector assembly and fabrication method are provided wherein the connector assembly includes a core element, a plurality of conductive members positioned along the core element, and a plurality of sealing members positioned between the conductive members, the sealing members having an outer surface supported by the core element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Olson, Andrew J. Ries, George Patras, John D. Longtin
  • Patent number: 7507119
    Abstract: A Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) device has a USB plug with reduced wobble. A USB metal wrap around the perimeter of the USB plug is attached to a housing by overmolding. A plug supporter is inserted into the front of the USB metal wrap, and has locking tabs that snap over the inside wall of the housing. Side tabs on the plug supporter fit into side slots on the USB metal wrap to secure the plug supporter inside the USB metal wrap. A circuit board with a USB flash controller has USB metal contacts on an extension end that is inserted through the housing and into the USB metal wrap. The extension end fits underneath top tabs on the plug supporter, preventing the extension end with the USB metal contacts from upward wobble when the USB plug is inserted into a USB socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Super Talent Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Chin-Nan Ni, Charles C. Lee, Abraham C. Ma, Ming-Shiang Shen
  • Patent number: 7462064
    Abstract: A strain relief device can include at least one mounting tab including a first mounting surface facing a first mounting surface direction and a second mounting surface facing a second mounting surface direction opposite the first mounting surface direction. The strain relief device can further include first and second clamping surfaces that face in diverging directions and extend along a substantially V-shaped profile. Apparatus are also provided that include a first strain relief device and a second strain relief device configured to be selectively mounted with respect to the first strain relief device in a first orientation to provide a first clamping area and a second orientation to provide a second clamping area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
    Inventor: John M Vasarhelyi
  • Patent number: 7462059
    Abstract: A connector which is excellent in transmission characteristics and at the same time capable of facilitating cable-connecting operations. One contact group is comprised of a ground contact including a first contact portion and a first connection portion, a first signal contact including a second contact portion and a second connection portion, and a second signal contact including a third contact portion and a third connection portion. A plurality of the contact groups are held by a housing along a direction orthogonal to a connector fitting direction. First to third contact portions of all the contact groups are arranged on a single imaginary straight line substantially orthogonal to the connector fitting direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limiited
    Inventors: Yuichi Saito, Tadahiro Ota
  • Patent number: 7458845
    Abstract: A terminal assembly that selectively couples multiple electrical loads in parallel or in series includes a circuit board that may be defined by a first section and a second section. A housing is disposed on the circuit board, and defines an access aperture overlapping multiple sets of jumpers attached to the first and second sections of the circuit board A cover is positioned on the access aperture to selectively expose the set of jumpers of the first section of the circuit board and the set of jumpers of the second section of the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Sound Sources Technolog, Inc
    Inventors: Yoichiro Sumitani, Lin Chun-Yi
  • Patent number: 7456367
    Abstract: A controller for a power window actuator including a crank-handle body configured to look like a traditional automobile window crank handle, and an electronic control unit that includes at least one electrical switch positioned such that movement of the crank-handle body actuates the switch, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to generate a first electronic window control signal after the switch is actuated to at least one of a closed and an open position by movement of the crank-handle body to control a power window actuator to close/open a window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Omron Automotive Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Goff, Joseph Wnuk
  • Patent number: 7452241
    Abstract: A card connector includes contacts adapted to contact contacts of two memory cards, a housing having inserting openings for inserting the memory cards and arranging and holding the contacts therein, and a shell covering the housing. The housing includes two side walls, a rear wall, and a lower wall contiguous with these side and rear walls to form the inserting openings for the memory cards by these two side walls, rear wall and lower wall, and is provided with a pivotally movable plate to form, by its pivotal movement, the one inserting opening for inserting either of the cards and simultaneously to prevent the other card from being inserted. The card connector enables stable connection by merely inserting two different cards having equal lengths in the inserting direction and different widths and thicknesses into the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: DDK Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kikuchi, Hirokazu Takahashi, Kazunori Takei
  • Patent number: 7452236
    Abstract: A connector module is provided that includes a longitudinal body adapted for installation in a computer equipment rack capable of housing a plurality of server units positioned in a stack configuration. The longitudinal body has a plurality of data connectors mounted along an outer surface. Each data connector is located at a different location along the outer surface of the longitudinal body and is adapted to receive a signal source introduced from a front side of the outer surface. The connector module includes a collection of signal paths coupled to the plurality of data connectors. Signal paths are positioned toward a backside of the outer surface. The longitudinal body is adapted for installation in a transverse orientation relative to the plurality of server units in the stack configuration such that each data connector is positioned in proximity to a connector mounted on a corresponding one of the server units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Aprius, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Verdiell, Peter Kirkpatrick, Marc Epitaux
  • Patent number: 7448890
    Abstract: A memory card connector includes a metal housing defining a card-receiving space in which a memory card is insertable in a card insertion direction through an insert opening generally at a front end of the metal housing to correspondingly connect with contacts mounted in a terminal socket at a rear end of metal housing, a pair of independently card eject mechanisms installed to the connector for ejecting memory card from the connector. And, one of the card eject mechanisms is generally disposed at one end of terminal socket and within an inside of the metal housing, and the other card eject mechanism is disposed at outside of the metal housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chien-Jen Ting
  • Patent number: 7448885
    Abstract: A device or connection adapter having a base part, in which contact-making units with connection contacts are accommodated for making electrical contact with busbars of a busbar system, and having a holding apparatus for detachably fixing the device adapter with respect to the busbar system. Given a simple design and simple operation, variable coupling options are provided if the holding apparatus has different, modular connections and clamping feet, at least some of which can be fitted detachably to the base part, in order to mechanically fix the device adapter either to a supporting apparatus of the busbar system or directly to at least one busbar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Rittal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Hans Wagener
  • Patent number: 7445484
    Abstract: A plug connector includes a housing, a latch member and an actuating member. The housing includes a base portion and a tongue portion extending forwardly from the base portion. The tongue portion has a first surface and is sized to fit within the complementary connector. The base portion has a second surface disposed at a level on the housing that is above the first surface of the tongue portion. The latch member includes an engaging portion attached to the second surface of the base portion and a latching portion extending beyond the base portion and located above the first surface of the tongue portion. The actuating member has an operating portion extending beyond said base portion, a cooperating portion disposed between the latch member and said second surface of the base portion, and an intermediate portion interconnecting the operating portion and the cooperating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jerry Wu
  • Patent number: 7445510
    Abstract: A surface contact card holder (100) includes a body (10), a frame (30) and a sliding groove (14). The frame is configured for carrying a surface contact card therein. The sliding groove is provided on the body for receiving the frame. The frame is slidably received in the sliding groove to allow insertion and removal of the surface contact card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., Sutech Trading Limited
    Inventors: An-Ming Feng, Hsiao-Hua Tu, Chia-Hua Chen
  • Patent number: 7446269
    Abstract: A rotatable locking member is located between a plunger of a switch and a contact part that is configured as a slide, with the rib-type locking elements of the locking member engaging corresponding groove-type locking elements of the plunger. The contact part is fixed in the axial direction on the locking member, but is mounted so that it can be rotated in relation to the member. In an initial position of the plunger, an anti-torsion device, which can be released by an unlocking action, secures the locking member against torsion. This allows both the plunger and the contact part to be accommodated by the housing of the switch so that they can be axially displaced, but are resistant to torsion, thus increasing the adjustment reliability and preventing undesired torsion of the locking member before the start of the adjustment process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Methode Electronics, Incorporated
    Inventor: Evan B. Stringos
  • Patent number: 7442062
    Abstract: A fluorescent tube connector device includes a plurality of connection terminals corresponding to a plurality of electrode pins provided at one end of a fluorescent tube, wherein the plurality of connection terminals are fixed by a molded case, and the molded case has a rib for insulating the plurality of connection terminals from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshinori Sasaki, Shuichi Endo
  • Patent number: 7442057
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a receptacle connector and a plug connector. The receptacle connector includes a first housing including a base plate and a tongue portion including a pair of first and second halves, and a number of first contacts protruding through the base plate and received in the first and second halves of the first housing. The plug connector includes a second housing, a plurality of second contacts received in the second housing, and a cable electrically connecting with the second contacts. The second housing includes a pair of sidewalls, an upper wall connecting with upper ends of the sidewalls, and an insert section connecting with the sidewalls to form a first space together with the upper wall and the sidewalls, and a second space together with the sidewalls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: David (Tso-Chin) Ko
  • Patent number: 7438574
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to electrical plug apparatus for selectively connecting a device such as a battery charger, for example, to sources of AC and DC electrical power and comprise a housing, a first connector attached to the housing for connecting to a DC source of electrical power, a second connector attached to the housing for connecting to an AC source of electrical power wherein the first and second connectors are configured to enable only one of the connectors to be used at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Peter W. Neumann
  • Patent number: 7438579
    Abstract: An anti-decoupling device for use in preventing undesired rotation of a spin coupling of, for example, a two-part electrical connector, is disclosed. The anti-decoupling device can form part of a new connector, or can be used to retrofit existing connectors without having to modify the connector. In some embodiments, the anti-decoupling device comprises a base and two prongs that extend in a generally axial direction relative to the base. Blades that depend from the prongs extend into channels within the knurled side-edge of the spin coupling. The blades prevent inadvertent rotation of the spin coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Alain T. Pellen
  • Patent number: 7438608
    Abstract: This invention discloses a novel socket connector and female terminals therein. The female terminal has a contact portion and an attachment portion. The attachment portion is set to attach to a wire core, while the contact portion is set to permit a pin to plug in and contact conductively. A neck with a smaller diameter is provided between the contact portion and the attachment portion. The contact portion comprises an outer barrel and an inner tube having a plurality of spring elements extending axially. Each spring element has a biasing section toward the inner tube axis near the plug-in entrance for matching the contact pin. The other side of the spring element distant from the biasing section is connected to the inner tube. The inner tube and the outer barrel are made of a metal sheet in one-piece construction while the inner tube is connected to the neck at one end and connected to the outer barrel via the folded part at the opposite side. The outer barrel is shorter than the inner tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: K.S. Terminals, Inc.
    Inventor: fute Hung
  • Patent number: 7438586
    Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed to include two conducting terminals mounted in each terminal slot of the electrically insulative housing thereof and electrically coupled together for connection to a respective external electronic member, and a spring member accommodated in an accommodation space between the two conducting terminals in each terminal slot to support the associating conducting terminals against external pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Inventor: Ted Ju
  • Patent number: 7438591
    Abstract: A connecting module includes a single housing including a front end, a first receiving hole and at least one second receiving hole. The first receiving hole is formed on the front end. The profile of the first receiving hole is used to receive a first external connecting plug. The second receiving hole is formed on the front end. The profile of the second receiving hole differs from that of the first receiving hole and is used to receive a second external connecting plug. The first and second receiving holes are arranged in a horizontal array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Tse Chen, Ching-Man Kao, Han-Cheng Hsu