Patents Examined by Hien Vu
-
Patent number: 9496665Abstract: Connector receptacles having a contoured form factor that allows their use in stylized enclosures. These receptacles may also be contoured to avoid circuitry internal to the device enclosure. The contoured form factor may also simplify the assembly of the connector receptacle.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2014Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Trent K. Do, Jason S. Sloey
-
Patent number: 9496659Abstract: An artificial lighted tree is presented with power routed through the trunk of the tree and three-wire safety grounding. The tree is divided into sections for easy assembly, disassembly, and storage. Safety electrical connectors at the ends of each section are not powered until the sections are assembled. The tree can also accommodate multiple lighting circuits utilizing different voltages simultaneously.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2015Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Inventor: Michael McRae
-
Patent number: 9490589Abstract: A differential signal connector includes a plurality of pairs of signal contacts, a plurality of ground contacts, and an insulating housing holding the signal contacts and the ground contacts. On a first connection side for connection to a connection partner, the ground contacts are arranged on both sides of each pair of signal contacts so that a contact array of a fixed pitch is formed. On a second connection side for connection to a board, the ground contacts are arranged spaced apart from each other in a first row, while the pairs of signal contacts, which are adjacently arranged on both sides of the ground contact on the first connection side, are arranged so as to be allocated in a second row and a third row located on both sides of the first row so that the pairs of signal contacts are arranged zigzag on the second connection side.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2014Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, LimitedInventors: Masayuki Shiratori, Shuichi Aihara, Masayuki Katayanagi, Osamu Hashiguchi
-
Patent number: 9490569Abstract: A connector includes: a first connector constituent including a first terminal and a cylindrical part provided with a first locking part and a second locking part; a second connector constituent provided with a second terminal, a first locked part, and a second locked part; and a connector cover body including a first cylindrical part provided with a first abutment part, and a second cylindrical part provided with a second abutment part, the second cylindrical part constituting a locked-part holding part. When the connector cover body is moved closer to the first connector constituent from a state in which the second connector constituent is installed in the connector cover body, the second connector constituent is joined to the first connector constituent.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2015Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATIONInventor: Tetsuya Sekino
-
Patent number: 9484641Abstract: A female terminal includes a terminal body having a contact holder in a tubular shape at a front side of the terminal body, a contact member in a tubular shape which is contained inside the contact holder and into which a male terminal is inserted from a front side, and a rotary ring which is mounted to the contact holder. The contact member has a pair of holding rings provided at both ends thereof, and a diameter variable part held by a pair of the holding rings at both ends thereof, an inner diameter of the diameter variable part being set to be larger than an outer diameter of the male terminal in an initial state, and contracted to be smaller than the outer diameter of the male terminal, by twisting a pair of the holding rings.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATIONInventors: Yoshitaka Ohkubo, Shuhei Ando
-
Patent number: 9472886Abstract: There is provided a storage apparatus including an apparatus body including at least one connector connected by being inserted into a connection terminal provided in an electronic device and disconnected by being pulled out from the connection terminal and a connector holding portion holding the connector, and a cap attached/detached to/from the connector holding portion. A direction in which the connector is inserted into the connection terminal is set as an insertion direction, a direction in which the connector is pulled out from the connection terminal is set as a pulling direction, the cap is provided with a locked portion locked with respect to the connector holding portion, and the connector holding portion is provided with a locking portion engaged with the locked portion to regulate detachment of the cap from the connector holding portion in the pulling direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2014Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Taiwan LimitedInventor: Eugene Kang
-
Patent number: 9472897Abstract: A connector has a male-side housing provided with terminals and a female-side housing provided with contact portions to contact the terminals. In a state in which the male-side housing and the female-side housing are rotated relative to each other and engaged with each other, the terminals and the contact portions are contact each other to be electrically connected.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2015Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATIONInventors: Hajime Kato, Miki Nakamura, Yoshitake Ohmori
-
Patent number: 9466904Abstract: A method for manufacturing a terminal includes: an electrically conductive member that has an electrical connection, which is formed at an end portion of the electrically conductive member; and a seal film that is formed on a surface of a intermediate portion of the electrically conductive member, which is other than the electrical connection. In the method for manufacturing, the electrically conductive member is formed by processing an end portion of a rounded rod, which has a cross section having an arcuate shape, into a planar shape to form the electrical connection. Furthermore, a liquid seal agent is coated on an intermediate portion of the rounded rod, which is other than the end portion. Then, the coated liquid seal agent is solidified to form the seal film.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2013Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventor: Seizaburou Kawashima
-
Patent number: 9466919Abstract: A magnetic connector has a plug core disposed around a plug contact set and a receptacle core disposed around a receptacle contact set. The plug core defines a generally elongated circular plug core edge. The receptacle core defines a generally elongated concentric-circular receptacle core edge. The receptacle core edge defines an air gap and the plug core defines an anchor configured to insert into the air gap. A coil is disposed around the receptacle core, and the coil, the plug core and the air gap define a magnetic circuit. The coil is electrically energized so as to form a magnetic field within an air gap, lock the anchor within the air gap and lock the plug contact set to the receptacle contact set accordingly.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2013Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Inventors: Massi Joe E. Kiani, Marcelo M. Lamego, Cristiano Dalvi, Hung The Vo
-
Patent number: 9461410Abstract: An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing, a plurality of electrical signal contacts carried by the dielectric housing, and a ground plate carried by the dielectric housing. The electrical signal contacts are arranged along a first plane, wherein the signal contacts define signal pairs such that a respective gap is disposed between adjacent signal pairs. The signal contacts further define respective mating and mounting ends. The ground plate includes a ground plate body oriented in a second plane that is substantially parallel to the first plane and offset from the first plane. The ground plate body defines first and second opposed surfaces. The ground plate includes at least one rib that defines first and second opposed surfaces, wherein the first surface of the rib projects from the first surface of the ground plate body in a direction toward the gap, and the second surface is recessed into the second surface of the ground plate body.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2014Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: FCI Americas Technology LLCInventors: Douglas M. Johnescu, Jonathan E. Buck
-
Patent number: 9450323Abstract: A second terminal fitting which abuts and is connected to a first terminal fitting includes a second annular portion formed at the tip end of a second terminal body which extends on a center axis thereof, a plurality of contact surfaces which protrude from the outer periphery of the second annular portion at the same intervals as those of a plurality of contact protrusions in the first terminal fitting, and a plurality of contact release portions which are positioned between the adjacent contact surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2015Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATIONInventors: Yoshitaka Ohkubo, Hiroaki Imai
-
Patent number: 9450343Abstract: A differential signal connector includes a plurality of pairs of signal contacts, a plurality of ground contacts, and an insulating housing holding the signal contacts and the ground contacts. On a first connection side for connection to a connection partner, the ground contacts are arranged on both sides of each pair of signal contacts so that a contact array of a fixed pitch is formed. On a second connection side for connection to a board, the ground contacts are arranged spaced apart from each other in a first row, while the pairs of signal contacts, which are adjacently arranged on both sides of the ground contact on the first connection side, are arranged so as to be allocated in a second row and a third row located on both sides of the first row so that the pairs of signal contacts are arranged zigzag on the second connection side.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2014Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, LimitedInventors: Masayuki Shiratori, Shuichi Aihara, Masayuki Katayanagi, Osamu Hashiguchi
-
Patent number: 9444167Abstract: A male terminal (40) includes a terminal body (41) and an insulating member (45). The terminal body (41) includes a cylindrical terminal contact portion (42) provided with a penetration hole (42a) extending in the axial direction. The insulating member (45) includes a tip insulating portion (46) projecting forward from the tip of the terminal contact portion (42), a terminal holding portion (47) disposed on the rear side of the terminal contact portion (42) to hold the terminal body (41), and a communicating resin portion (48) disposed in the penetration hole (42a) to connect the tip insulating portion (46) and the terminal holding portion (47).Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2015Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATIONInventors: Hirotaka Fukushima, Daisuke Sugiyama, Tsutomu Sawada
-
Patent number: 9444202Abstract: A connector receptacle includes an insulating housing, a plurality of contacts, a protective plate, and a metallic shell. The insulating housing includes a base portion and a tongue portion extending from the base portion. The tongue portion defines a plurality of receiving slots through the base portion. The contacts are inserted into the receiving slots, and a power contact exists among the contacts. The protective plate includes a planner main portion and two connecting arm portions. The planar main portion is disposed on the tongue portion, and includes a planar section, a front section, a side section, and a connecting section. One lateral side of the planar section is a cutting notch exposing parts of the tongue portion which corresponds to the power contact. The cutting notch prevents the power contact and the protective plate from contacting while connecting with a plug, so as to secure the safety.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2015Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: ADVANCED-CONNECTEK INC.Inventors: Min-Lung Chien, Ming-Yung Chang, Yun-Jhong Wong, Cheng-Che Tsai
-
Patent number: 9445491Abstract: The described embodiments relate generally to use of an electrically conductive member, such as a grounding spring, used to electrically ground components on a printed circuit board as well as provide mechanical protection to the components. More particularly, a method and apparatus for attaching a grounding spring to multiple locations on the printed circuit board are disclosed. In one embodiment, the grounding spring can act as both a ground and a mechanical protection element for other surface mounted components disposed on the printed circuit board.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2014Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Gregory N. Stephens, Matthew D. Hill, Scott A. Myers
-
Patent number: 9437979Abstract: A connector can include a first shell having at least one first wall made of an electrically conductive material, where the at least one first wall forms a first cavity. The connector can also include an insert disposed within the first cavity. The connector can further include at least one connector pin disposed in and traversing the first shell. The connector can also include an electrically conductive face seal that abuts against a distal end of the insert within the first cavity, where the at least one connector pin traverses at least one first aperture in the electrically conductive face seal. The connector can further include at least one electrically insulating bushing disposed within the at least one first aperture in the electrically conductive face seal, where the at least one electrically insulating bushing is further disposed between the face seal and the at least one connector pin.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2014Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: COOPER TECHNOLOGIES COMPANYInventor: Charles Pitman Fischer
-
Patent number: 9431749Abstract: Electrical connector assembly including a connector housing having a front end and a receiving cavity that opens to the front end. The receiving cavity is configured to receive a mating connector therein that is inserted into the receiving cavity along a central axis. The electrical connector assembly also includes a contact array of electrical contacts that is disposed within the receiving cavity. The electrical contacts have elongated bodies that extend generally parallel to the central axis through the receiving cavity. The electrical connector assembly also includes a movable guard that is configured to be slidably held by the contact array within the receiving cavity. The movable guard includes a dielectric sheet that extends transverse to the central axis and has an array of thru-holes. Inner edges of the thru-holes engage corresponding electrical contacts to slidably hold the movable guard at a forward position within the receiving cavity.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2014Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATIONInventors: Tisha Mikhaili Mingo, Randy Thomas Matthews, Galen M. Martin
-
Patent number: 9431737Abstract: In a fitting type connecting terminal having male and female terminals, each of which has a tin plating layer formed on an electrically conductive base material, a surface of a contact portion of one of the male and female terminals with the other thereof has a plurality of grooves or recessed portions which are spaced from each other in longitudinal directions, and the grooves or recessed portions are formed so as to satisfy d?b, d?a?L and a+c?L assuming that the width of each of the grooves or recessed portions is a (?m), the depth thereof being b (?m), the distance between two of the grooves or recessed portions adjacent to each other in the longitudinal directions being c (?m), the sliding distance producible between the male terminal and the female terminal in a state that the male terminal is fitted into and fixed to the female terminal being L (?m), and the maximum grain size of the oxide of abrasion powder producible due to sliding between the male terminal and the female terminal being d (?m).Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2012Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignees: DOWA METALTECH CO., LTD., YAZAKI CORPORATIONInventors: Akifumi Onodera, Masatoshi Nakamura, Akira Sigawara, Hiroto Narieda
-
Patent number: 9431746Abstract: A USB (Universal Serial Bus) plug connector includes an insulative housing, a number of terminals retained in the insulative housing, and a protector enclosing the insulative housing. The housing defines an upper surface, a bottom surface, a pair of side surfaces, and a front surface. The protector defines a front wall, a pair of side walls extending backwardly from two edges of the front wall, and a number of affixed portions extending backwardly from the front wall and located between the two side walls. The affixed portions are received in the insulative housing. The front wall of the protector encloses the front surface of the insulative housing and the side walls of the protector respectively enclose the side surfaces of the insulative housing to prevent the insulative housing from physically contacting with a mating USB receptacle connector.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2015Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: FOXCONN INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY LIMITEDInventors: Zhuang-Zhi Wu, Chien-Hsun Huang, Xiao-Li Li
-
Patent number: 9431761Abstract: An upper face plate constituting a box part of a female terminal is flared outward in a free state before the female terminal is inserted in the cavity, and is formed as a spring plate that is bent and deflected inward by being pressed inward from the outside while accumulating a spring force. A stabilizer is disposed on the free end of the upper face plate. A cavity of a connector housing includes a stabilizer guide that presses back the upper face plate to the regular position by sliding on the stabilizer while the female terminal is being inserted. Accordingly, rattling of the terminal is prevented after the terminal is inserted in the cavity of the connector housing while suppressing enlargement of the outside dimensions of the terminal.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2015Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATIONInventors: Tomoyoshi Fukaya, Moeko Fukada