Patents Examined by Paul Baillargeon
  • Patent number: 10018344
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a plug-in bulb coupling structure, comprising a lamp cap provided on a bulb and a plug-in lamp holder provided on a power line, wherein a plug-in end of the plug-in lamp holder is provided with plug-in holes and raised barbs, and conductive tubes connected to a lead are provided in the plug-in holes; the plug-in end of the plug-in lamp cap is provided with conductive bars and barb holes, and the conductive bars are connected to a drive circuit board in the plug-in lamp cap. With the coupling structure of the present invention, the drive circuit board and the SR of the power line can be assembled and connected to each other quickly. The operation is easy, convenient and quick and does not require any tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: FAVORU ELECTRONIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jiansheng Chen, Ping Wang, Jun Fang
  • Patent number: 10020619
    Abstract: An electrical connector comprise: an insulative body comprising a body portion and a tongue portion extending forwards from the body portion; a plurality of conductive terminals divided into a group of first conductive terminals and a group of second conductive terminals, a mating portion of each first conductive terminal is exposed on a first surface of the tongue portion, a mating portion of each second conductive terminal is exposed on the second surface of the tongue portion; an outer shielding shell fixed on the insulative body, having at least a grounding soldering leg and enclosing an outer space of the tongue portion to form a mating cavity; and a grounding metal plate comprising a main plate and at least an extending portion extending from the main plate, the main plate is embedded in the tongue portion and spaces the first conductive terminals apart from the second conductive terminals, the extending portion extends out from at least a side of the insulative body and electrically contacts the outer
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Molex, LLC
    Inventor: Xue-Hai Zhang
  • Patent number: 10014626
    Abstract: A compression connector including a tubular connector body with a through bore, a flange, a leading end and a trailing end for connecting ground conductors to a load center. A nose extends from the flange to the leading end and a trailing body portion extends to the trailing end. A boss on the connector body includes a threaded bore and an opening on each side of the boss. A screw within the threaded bore of the boss holds a clip to the connector body. The clip includes two legs with arcuate ends that bisect the through bore. Insertion of a grounding electrode conductor into the through bore and tightening of the clip enables a secure connection of the conductor grounding electrode to the connector body. A threaded nose and a locknut are provided on the compression connector to facilitate attachment of the leading end of the connector body to a knockout aperture in a load center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: ARLINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gretz
  • Patent number: 10003094
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a first temperature sensor to detect a valve temperature of a sealing valve. A second temperature sensor is provided in a refrigerant circulation circuit to detect a fuel cell temperature of a fuel cell through a refrigerant. The circuitry is configured to calculate a sealing valve estimated temperature by subtracting a correction value from the fuel cell temperature detected by the second temperature sensor after the fuel cell stops generating electric power and after the sealing valve is closed. The circuitry is configured to determine whether at least one of the valve temperature and the sealing valve estimated temperature is lower than a predicted freezing temperature. The circuitry is configured to open the sealing valve when it is determined that the at least one of the valve temperature and the sealing valve estimated temperature is lower than the predicted freezing temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuniaki Ojima, Takuya Tamura
  • Patent number: 9991626
    Abstract: A connector includes a female terminal; a female housing; a shield shell which is formed in a tubular conductive material in which both ends are opened, the shield shell being integrated with the female housing in a state in which at least one of an outer circumferential side and an inner circumferential side of an end portion on an insertion direction side to the male connector is exposed as an annular exposed surface, and the female terminal and/or the electric wire being disposed inside the shield shell; and a sealing member which has a tubular sealing portion interposed between the male housing of the fitted male connector or the shield shell and the exposed surface as a seal side exposed surface opposed to the male housing or the shield shell, and suppresses entry of liquid therebetween by the sealing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuhei Takeshita, Yasuhiro Tanaka, Noboru Hayasaka, Hiroaki Ono
  • Patent number: 9985379
    Abstract: An electrical connector (100) comprises an insulative housing (1), a cover (50) and a plurality of terminals (32) retained in the insulative housing (1). The insulative housing (1) includes a base (10), the base (10) defines a first region (13) disposed on the lower surface thereof. The electrical connector (100) further comprises a body portion (40) injection molded on the first region (13). The body portion (40) is disposed between the insulative housing (1) and the cover (50) and defining at least one spot-welded portion (43). The cover (50) is spot-welded on the spot-welded portion (43) of body portion (40) so as to cover the insulative housing (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: FOXCONN INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Chien-Jen Ting, Zhi-Feng Wang, Da-Chun Li
  • Patent number: 9972934
    Abstract: An electronic device with a port is disclosed. To expel liquid in the port, the port includes modifications to form a capillary pressure gradient with the liquid, causing uneven capillary forces to act on the liquid in the port. For example, the port may include an asymmetric profile with one section having a curved profile and another section having one or more linear profiles that join at an edge. The edge may form a relative higher curved surface as compared to the curved profile. As a result, the capillary pressure gradient may exert a higher capillary pressure in a location associated with the edge, as compared to a capillary pressure along the curved profile. The capillary pressure gradient causes ambient air into the port along the edge, and separates the liquid from the edge, allowing gravity to overcome atmospheric pressure and causing removal of the liquid from the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Warren Taylor, Jesse A. Lippert, Amin M. Younes, Paul Choiniere, Sathyanarayanan Kaliyamoorthy, Maegan K. Spencer, Shannon X. Yang
  • Patent number: 9972950
    Abstract: A shield case including a first shell having electrical conductivity and a second shell having electrical conductivity. The first shell includes a connecting portion and a cover. The connecting portion is a tube extending in a first direction and including a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is a portion of the connecting portion on one side in a second direction, the second direction crossing the first direction. The second portion is a portion of the connecting portion on the other side in the second direction. The cover extends in the first direction contiguously from the first portion of the connecting portion and includes a pair of walls opposed to the second portion, with interstices left between the respective walls and the second portion. The second shell includes a first blocking portion, the first blocking portion blocking the interstices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: HOSIDEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuta Kawakami, Takayuki Nagata
  • Patent number: 9972921
    Abstract: It is aimed to provide a connector capable of dealing with a change in the number of poles without structurally changing a mating connector. Housings (11) for accommodating terminal fittings (12) electrically connectable to tab-like terminals (52) include a main housing (11M) having a locking structure (21) for locking a mating connector (52) and a plurality of types of sub-housings (11S) having different number of poles and selectively unitable with the main housing (11M). The main housing (11M) and the sub-housing (11S) are united by coupling side surfaces to each other. A tab insertion groove (25) into which the tab-like terminal (52) is to be inserted at the time of connection to the mating connector is formed in a coupling part of the united housings (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hajime Matsui, Masaaki Tabata, Yasuo Omori
  • Patent number: 9960520
    Abstract: A connector includes a first connector constituent including a first terminal and a locking portion; a second connector constituent including a second terminal and a locked portion, and configured so that the second terminal is joined to the first terminal when the second connector constituent is installed in the first connector constituent; and a third connector constituent including a locked-portion holding portion configured to keep the locked portion locked to the locking portion when the third connector constituent is installed over the second connector constituent installed in the first connector constituent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuya Sekino, Nobuyuki Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 9960508
    Abstract: A wire lug connector includes a lug having a termination end configured to be terminated to a conductor of a wire. The lug has a conductive base at a mounting end configured to be mounted to a substrate. The base has a plurality of compliant pins extending from a bottom of the base. The compliant pins are electrically connected to the conductor by the base. The compliant pins are configured to be mechanically and electrically connected to the substrate. The compliant pins may have double ended press-fit sections at opposite heads and tails of the compliant pins that are press-fit into corresponding openings in the base and vias in the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Paul Nichols, Michael Allen Blanchfield
  • Patent number: 9954331
    Abstract: A terminal unit has a terminal unit body, a first terminal connector located adjacent a first opening in the terminal unit body for connection of a first conductor passing through the first opening, and a second terminal connector located adjacent a second opening in the terminal unit body for connection of a second conductor passing through the second opening. The first terminal connector conductor terminates internally of the terminal unit at a first link connection point, and the second terminal connector conductor terminates internally of the terminal unit at a second link connection point. The first and second link connection points are accessible via a link opening in the terminal unit body and a removable link comprising a link conductor and a link handle is removably insertable into the link opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: PIVOT ELECTRONICS PTY LTD
    Inventor: Philip Louis Peach
  • Patent number: 9941625
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is disclosed having a socket-shaped housing with a cable receiving end and an opposing support facing end, a plug connector receiving space, and a flange positioned on the support facing end. A cable collar is positioned in the plug connector receiving space and supported by the housing, and has at least one cable receiving space. At least one cable is secured in the cable receiving space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Boemmel, Rolf Jetter
  • Patent number: 9941601
    Abstract: A transition portion (4) has a surface (14) that is formed extending upward. The surface (14) is a surface formed extending upward so as to face a bottom portion (6a). Specifically, the transition portion (4) has a cross-sectional shape in which upper edge portions of side portions (8a) are bent inward. As the surface (14) approaches a main terminal body (3) from a sealing portion (22), the surface (14) gradually separates away from the bottom portion (6a) and the edge portions of the surface (14) gradually open outward and connect to side portions (8b) of the main terminal body (3). The surface (14) is formed so as to be curved upward, in a cross-section, from the end portion of the sealing portion (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignees: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD, FURUKAWA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Yukihiro Kawamura, Takashi Tonoike, Mikio Kuwahara, Ryusuke Terashima
  • Patent number: 9935402
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is described. The electrical connector assembly includes a first connector body, a second connector body, a first removable cap, and a second removable cap. The first connector body has a first connector end, a first cap end, and first and second electrodes that protrude from the first cap end. The second connector body has a second connector end, a second cap end, and third and fourth electrodes that protrude from the second cap end. The first and second removable caps each have a cavity, formed by an outer wall portion that shields the corresponding electrodes, and an interior wall portion that shields at least a portion of the corresponding electrodes. Upon an engagement of the first and second connector bodies, the first connector end abuts the second connector end, the first and third electrodes are electrically connected, and the second and fourth electrodes are electrically connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Hobbico, Inc.
    Inventors: Shane Curry, Neal Cloud, Kevin Burner, Robert Csiki, Jamie M. Seymour
  • Patent number: 9935410
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a female connector removably connectable with a male connector. The female connector includes an outer ring shield, and first and second ring insulator. The first ring insulator is spaced inwardly of the outer ring shield to define a first recess with a first female electrical contact provided in the first recess. The second ring insulator is spaced inwardly of the first ring insulator to define a second recess with a second female electrical contact provided in the second recess. The male connector includes first and second. When the male and female connectors are electrically connected, the first and second male electrical contacts are received in the first and second recesses respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: STERLING INNOVATION INC.
    Inventor: Sterling Roberts
  • Patent number: 9929487
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a receptor connector and a cable end connector. The receptor connector has a receptor terminal set, a receptor connector body, a slot set and a guide slot set. The cable end connector has a cable end terminal set, a cable end connector body, a block set and a guide block set. The invention allows the cable end connector body to be connected with the receptor connector body by means of the guide slot set and the guide block set, and also allows the receptor terminal set to be plugged with the cable end terminal set by means of the slot set and the block set. Thereby, the receptor connector and the cable end connector of the invention can be easily connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignees: TARNG YU ENTERPRISE CO., LTD., DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
    Inventors: Tsung-Chi Chen, Mu-Jung Huang, Chai-Fa Chang, Shao-Szum Ho
  • Patent number: 9923322
    Abstract: A stacking connector including: a first port for receiving an RJ-45 plug along a front-to-back direction; a second port below the first port for receiving a USB Type-A plug, the second port and the first port being formed on a same insulative housing; and a receiving room formed below the second port for receiving an external USB Type-C connector, the receiving room has an opening running through a bottom surface of the insulative housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: FOXCONN INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Zhi-hui Tang, Jun-Hua Hu, Chih-Ching Hsu
  • Patent number: 9923296
    Abstract: An electrical connector is provided and includes a housing and a terminal. The housing includes a terminal receiving passageway and a lance extending into the terminal receiving passageway. The terminal is inserted into the terminal receiving passageway and includes a top surface facing the lance and a holding portion extending from and above the top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Japan G.K.
    Inventor: Yusuke Mito
  • Patent number: 9917400
    Abstract: The invention relates to a front housing of an electrical connector, particularly for sealed applications, said front housing being designed to be connected to a base and being configured to be at least partially received in a main housing of said electrical connector, said front housing comprising: at least one locking means configured to engage a corresponding locking zone of said main housing so as to lock said front housing to said main housing, and said front housing further comprising a plurality of contact sockets designed to each receive an electrical conductor to connect to said base. The invention further relates to a main electrical connector housing, to an electrical connector, to a base and to an electrical connector assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics France SAS
    Inventor: Eric Chatelus