Patents Examined by Paula Bradley
-
Patent number: 6307167Abstract: A key switch includes a cam member rotating in accordance with the insertion-and-pull of a key to be inserted into a key insertion opening, a plunger coming into contact with a circumferential cam side of the cam member, a switch mechanism actuated by the plunger which is displaced in accordance with the rotation of the cam member, and a rotation lock mechanism for locking the rotation of the cam member when the key is pulled, in which the rotation lock mechanism including a locking member which can be displaced in the direction parallel to a vertical rotation face on the rotation axis of the cam member and a spring urging the locking member toward a position to be engaged with the cam member, and the locking member being disposed to be displaced to a lock release position by contacting the key resisting the spring.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 1999Date of Patent: October 23, 2001Assignee: Omron CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki Kajio, Takashi Niwa
-
Patent number: 6303884Abstract: This invention discloses a safety controller for use with a power switch for turning on or off the power switch. Two pressing actuators are provided in the design of the control pedal of the invention, having slant surfaces tilting in opposite directions. When the user steps on the control pedal, the first pressing actuator presses the button on the power switch to turn on the power; whereas when the control pedal is restored, the second pressing actuator presses the button on the power switch to turn off the power.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2000Date of Patent: October 16, 2001Assignee: Link Treasure LimitedInventors: Jen-En Hou, Kun-Chung Lin
-
Patent number: 6302734Abstract: A connector is provided with a short longitudinal direction. The connector includes a housing (11) with a cavity (13). An electric wire (45) extends to a position rearwardly of the cavity (13), and is bent downwardly. A cover (30) then is pressed against the housing (11), with the electric wire (45) sandwiched between sealing members (50), (51) made of a jelly-like material. As a result, the sealing member (51) penetrates into the gap between confronting portions of the housing (11) and the cover (30). The sealing members (50), (51) also are pressed against both sides of the electric wire (45). As a result, the periphery of the electric wire (45) is filled with the cover-side sealing members (50), (51).Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2000Date of Patent: October 16, 2001Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Toshifumi Ichio, Kouji Nemoto, Shiro Nishida
-
Patent number: 6302736Abstract: A miniature connector has an inner insulating body, which supports a plurality of contact conductors which contact other contact conductors on the companion connector, the inner insulating body being surrounded on the outside by a shield case, and an external insulated mold covering an outer surface of a connection cord side end of the shield case, wherein: a flap is formed in a unitary manner via a thin-walled hinge on the internal insulating body; a plurality of plug protrusions are formed on the internal insulating body; resin leakage during formation of the external insulated mold being prevented by inserting each of the plug protrusions into contact conductor passage holes.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2000Date of Patent: October 16, 2001Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Atsushi Nishio, Katsuhiro Hori
-
Patent number: 6302721Abstract: An adapter is configured to be installed on an existing cable, extending along a connector of the cable to present a latching surface on a flexible arm of the adapter for engagement with a latching surface within a latching member adjacent a port connector of a device. When these latching surfaces are engaged with one another, the cable connector is held in engagement with the port connector. The flexible arm may then be manually depressed to release the engagement of these latching surfaces. The adapter is installed on the existing cable by placing the cord of the cable between a pair of hooks extending in opposite directions from the adapter, and by then turning the adapter on the cord so that the hooks are brought into position to extend partly around the cord.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2000Date of Patent: October 16, 2001Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Craig Walton Turner, Fred David Parnell
-
Patent number: 6302732Abstract: A coaxial connector having a conductive copper wire core plated with a layer of gold with the layer of gold surrounded by a dielectric layer, such as polyimide. The layer of polyimide is surrounded by a conductive shielding layer, such as copper, with a tin-plated layer surrounding it. Connection of the coaxial connector at one end to adjacent signal and ground pads is achieved by laser ablation to expose a section of gold sufficient to accommodate the terminal pad pitch and allow wire bonding to the signal pad. Connection of the conductive shielding layer to the ground pad is achieved by hot tip soldering. Connection at the opposite end of the coaxial connector uses the same process.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 1999Date of Patent: October 16, 2001Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Mark Budman, Mario J. Interrante, John U. Knickerbocker
-
Patent number: 6302735Abstract: A connector housing is provided to prevent a locking portion from being excessively deformed when the insufficient insertion of a terminal fitting is detected. Cavities 3 are provided in two stages in the connector housing, and locking portions 11 are arranged back to back to share deformation permitting spaces 16. The upper and lower locking portions 11 are arranged such that the longitudinal axes thereof are transversely offset to each other. Detecting portions 23 to be inserted into the deformation permitting spaces 16 project from a retainer 20. At the left and right ends of an inserting end surface 24 of each detecting portion 23, excessive deformation preventing portions 25 are formed symmetrically with respect to vertical direction. The excessive deformation preventing portions 25 can individually come into contact with leading ends 13 of the upper and lower locking portions 11. If a female terminal fitting 8 is insufficiently inserted as in the upper stage of FIG.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 1999Date of Patent: October 16, 2001Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Satoru Nishide, Hajime Kawase, Ryotaro Ishikawa
-
Patent number: 6299467Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulated housing having a top wall formed with a top opening, a first terminal having a first solder tail projecting outwardly from the housing and a first contact part in contact with the housing, and a second terminal having a second solder tail projecting outwardly from the housing and a spring arm connected to and extending above the second solder tail. The spring arm has a second contact part disposed below and aligned with the first contact part, and a U-shaped bent portion projecting into the top opening. The second contact part is movable between a first position, in which the second contact part is urged by the spring arm to make contact with the first contact part, and a second position, in which the second contact part is moved away from the first contact part when the U-shaped bent portion is pressed downwardly.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2000Date of Patent: October 9, 2001Assignee: Advanced Connecteck Inc.Inventor: Min-Lung Chien
-
Patent number: 6299486Abstract: In a connector plug covering the housing (78) with contacts (82) in the socket engaging hole (81) by the metal shell portion (88) of the shield case (79), the metal shell portion (88) is roughly angular cylindrical in the direction of insertion of a plug, by installing the elasticity portion (77) bulged out to this roughly angular and cylindrical both-side portion (88) or bent to curve outwards the lower part of the roughly angular cylindrical both-side portion, and forms in the direction of insertion of a plug the gap (89) to let have flexibility to the metal shell portion (88) in the bottom.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1999Date of Patent: October 9, 2001Assignees: Sony Corporation, SMK Co., Ltd.Inventors: Seiichi Morikawa, Naoyuki Ono
-
Patent number: 6300583Abstract: A collapsible key structure for a depression key structure includes a pair of scissors type linkage for supporting the depression key structure. At least one scissors type linkage has a first lever pivotally engaged with a second lever. The first lever has a top end pivotally engaged with depression key structure and a bottom end rotatably and slidably engaged with a base plate. The second lever has a top end rotatably and slidably engaged with the depression key structure and a bottom end forming a rotatable-and-slidable constraint means with the base plate. The rotatable-and-slidable constraint means includes a bordering rail mounted on the base plate, in which the bordering rail has a first and a second sliding surfaces for a first and a second engaging pins at a bottom end of the second lever to slide along, respectively. By providing the present invention, the depression key structure may be moved steadily up or down without drifting sideward.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2000Date of Patent: October 9, 2001Assignee: Darfon Electronics Corp.Inventor: Chien-Shih Hsu
-
Patent number: 6299479Abstract: A female connector assembly for an electrically conductive coaxial cable, comprises an electrically conductive barrel shaped body having a top end with a centrally located hole forming an input port, and a bottom end configured for connecting with a portion of a housing of an electrical device. An electrically insulative hollow sleeve consisting of two interlocking cap members encloses an electrically conductive clip pin, and is contained within the body of the connector. The sleeve and clip pin are securely held within the body via connection of the body to a housing of an electrical device, and rigid attachment of an elongated pin extending from the sleeve, through a hole in the housing, to electrical circuitry within the housing.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2000Date of Patent: October 9, 2001Inventor: Danny Q. Tang
-
Patent number: 6299458Abstract: A contact element (4) comprises a fixed section (5) inserted into the slot (2) along the first minor side of the slot, a flexible section (6) extending from the fixed section toward the second minor side of the slot in a plane and being flexible in the plane, and contact portions (7A, 7B) extending from the flexible section so as to project from the major faces of a housing (1). The fixed section, the flexible section, and the contact portions are in the plane parallel to the major faces of the slot. A conductive layer or sheet (3) is provided on the major sides of the slot. A sliding contact (8A, 8B) are provided near the contact portions are brought into sliding contact with the conductive layer or sheet.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 1999Date of Patent: October 9, 2001Assignee: Hirose Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoku Yamagami, Tsuyoshi Sakata, Tsutomu Matsuo, Takashi Nagawatari
-
Patent number: 6299477Abstract: A Yo-Yo shaped power adapter is provided to better organize and manage its power cable. Its physical configuration further protects the power cable from damage. It is both convenient to use and aesthetically pleasing in appearance. In operation, the combination of the power adapter housing and the AC power cable connector is self-stabilizing in that it maintains its position and orientation by centering itself in response to the many undesirable push and pull forces exerted by the cables near by.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 1999Date of Patent: October 9, 2001Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.Inventors: Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Christopher J. Stringer, Jonathan P. Ive
-
Patent number: 6297461Abstract: A keyboard switch actuates a switch sheet from a first position to a second position and correspondingly narrows a gap between a key top and the switch sheet. In keyboard switch operation, trailing claw pieces cause a cross-link to submerge allowing the switch sheet to accommodate an integrally formed return springwithout elastic deformation.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2000Date of Patent: October 2, 2001Assignee: SMK CorporationInventor: Osamu Kamishima
-
Patent number: 6296530Abstract: A connector including a first component which has a first receiving portion, and a a second component which has a first projection portion to be abuttingly engaged with the first receiving portion and which is to be pivoted about a first abutting portion of the first projection portion and the first receiving portion. Also included is a first locking member which is fixed to the second component and which is to form a first track while pivoting the second component, and a first side member which is fixed to the first component and which has on the first track a first portion to be lockingly engaged with the first locking member.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 1999Date of Patent: October 2, 2001Assignee: Yazaki CorporationInventors: Takahiro Yoneda, Hitoshi Kazuhara
-
Patent number: 6296531Abstract: A cavity that crosses chambers and opens in an external wall is formed in a housing proper of a housing. A retainer is slidably fitted into the cavity, and linking parts that link chambers being divided into a front portion and a rear portion by the cavity are formed in the retainer. The linking parts are arranged in such a way that when the terminals are in a regular position in the chambers, the linking parts allow the retainer to shift in the sliding direction and the retainer is secondarily fixed to the terminals by this shift. The retainer is provided to be integral with the housing proper by means of a hinge.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 1999Date of Patent: October 2, 2001Assignee: Japan Solderless Terminal Mfr. Co., Ltd.Inventor: Akira Nagamine
-
Patent number: 6296532Abstract: A connecting device (10) for detachably connecting an electrical conductor (12) for high currents which is disposed therein, to an electrical contact (14) is characterized in that at least one wedging face (44) is provided, by means of which the electrical conductor (12) can be loaded against the contact (14).Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 1999Date of Patent: October 2, 2001Assignee: Harting KGaAInventors: Dietmar Harting, Ludger Leve, Jens Krause
-
Patent number: 6296499Abstract: A signal connector assembly with a plug contact within a plug having a high resistive portion. When the plug of the assembly first makes contact with the electrical receptacles within a mating receptacle, the high resistive portion prevents a current surge. As the plug is further inserted into the receptacle, the energy passing from the plug to the receptacle is gradually increased. Eventually, the receptacle contacts within the receptacle pass the high resistive portion and make contact with the conductive portion of the plug contact, thereby permitting transmission of valid signals without the generation of spurious errors.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 1998Date of Patent: October 2, 2001Assignee: The Whitaker CorporationInventors: Henry Otto Hermann, Jr., Marjorie Kay Myers
-
Patent number: 6296517Abstract: The present invention provides a terminal protective cap that covers a terminal of an electric wire and protects the terminal from exposure. The terminal protective cap has an engaging portion that engages with a projecting portion provided on an outer periphery of the terminal. This prevents the terminal from being exposed. Thus, the terminal is securely protected.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2000Date of Patent: October 2, 2001Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Takanori Ito, Takashi Suzuki, Satoshi Amihiro
-
Patent number: 6293811Abstract: An assembly of a connection end of a heating element and a connector matable therewith includes a heating element having side-by-side-rod sections, a ground strap mounted to the rod elements and a connector mountable to a frame of an electronic device. The connector includes at least two power terminals and at least one ground terminal. The power terminals are receptacles and the rod sections of the heating element include an integral male lead dimensioned to be directly connected to respective receptacle terminals. The ground strap is disposed over the rod sections and is adapted to mate with the ground terminal in the connector.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1998Date of Patent: September 25, 2001Assignee: The Whitaker CorporationInventor: Robert Houston Frantz