Patents Examined by Phuong Dinh
  • Patent number: 10177505
    Abstract: A protective element including (i) a PTC element having an opening passing through in the thickness direction, and (ii) a first electrode and a second electrode positioned on both main surfaces of the PTC element, the protective element characterized in that the first electrode extends from a main surface of the PTC element over an edge thereof and into the opening wherein the PTC element is not prevented from expanding even when secured by a screw or caulking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: LITTELFUSE JAPAN G.K.
    Inventors: Arata Tanaka, Masaaki Iwai, Toshiya Ikeno, Tsuyoshi Takizawa
  • Patent number: 10170853
    Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a casing and a connector module. The casing has a retaining member. The connector module has an electrically insulating contact carrier and a plurality of electrically conductive contacts. The connector module is at least partially surrounded by the casing and is retained at the casing by the retaining member. The retaining member exerts a retaining force on the connector module in a direction along a mating direction of the electrical connector. The connector module is removable from the retaining member in a direction transverse to the mating direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignees: Connecteurs Electriques Deutsch, TE Connectivity Corporation
    Inventors: Fabien Houvenaghel, Benjamin Michael Grab, Frederic Duval, Thierry Corriou
  • Patent number: 10170875
    Abstract: The embodiments relate to an apparatus allowing for the insertion and removal of multiple like and/or unlike connectors simultaneously without requiring permanent connector modification. The apparatus includes at least a first housing and a second housing. The first housing receives a first connector and the second housing receives a second connector. The first housing has a first variable aperture and the second housing has a second variable aperture. The first aperture is adjusted by a first retainer to hold the first connector in the first housing. The second aperture is adjusted by a second retainer to hold the second connector in the second housing. The first housing has a first exterior wall sized to receive and secure a second exterior wall of the second housing to form an assembly of the connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Khajistha Fattu, Rachael C. Freitas, Murali Neralla, Madeline Vega, George Zacharakis-Jutz
  • Patent number: 10170854
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a holding frame, into which plug connector modules can be inserted, wherein the holding frame comprises or consists of two halves articulated to each other, a first half and a second half, wherein the holding frame has at least one locking element, wherein the locking element is formed from a flat component, which overlaps the two halves at least in some regions, wherein the locking element has at least one end locking hook and wherein one half of the holding frame has at least one cut-out, in which the locking hook of the locking element can engage, whereby the holding frame can be fixed in an open position. The halves are fixed in relation to each other at an open angular position. Such a holding frame can be conveniently fixed in an open position for fitting with suitable plug connector modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: HARTING Electric GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Heiko Herbrechtsmeier, Heiko Meier
  • Patent number: 10159283
    Abstract: An aerosol-forming article for use in an electrically heated aerosol-generating device is provided, the aerosol-forming article including a mouthpiece, an aerosol-forming substrate, and a plurality of magnetic particles including a magnetic material having a Curie temperature of between 60 degrees Celsius and 200 degrees Celsius. An electrically heated aerosol-generating device for receiving the aerosol-forming article is also provided, the device including a heater element configured to heat the aerosol-forming article, an inductor, and a controller configured to measure an inductance of the inductor and to control a supply of electrical current to the heater element in response to the measured inductance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Oleg Mironov
  • Patent number: 10164372
    Abstract: An electrical connecting assembly is provided, including a male connector and a female connector corresponding to the male connector. The male connector has a first insulating body and a conductive member protruding from the insulating body. The female connector has a second insulating body, a hollow conductive seat, a resilient element, and sliding unit. The second insulating body has an opening portion and a chamber for receiving the conductive member. The conductive seat is disposed in the chamber, the sliding unit is movably disposed in the conductive seat, and the resilient element connects the sliding unit to the conductive seat. Specifically, the internal diameter of the opening portion is shorter than the internal diameter of the conductive seat, and the resilient element forces the sliding unit to move to the opening portion, so that the sliding unit forms a seal with the opening portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: WISTRON CORP.
    Inventors: Ping-Feng Liao, Po-Yuan Hsu, Chia-Cheng Su
  • Patent number: 10153576
    Abstract: In an imaging device, an electric connection is achieved in which a pressing force of a terminal of a substrate-side connector does not act on a substrate stored in a housing. Harness connection terminals have inner-surface contact pieces each shaped like a flat plate and extending along an inner peripheral surface of a cylindrical peripheral wall of a rear housing. Terminals of a connector have press contact portions in press contact with the inner-surface contact pieces in a radial direction of the cylindrical peripheral wall. The pressing force of the press contact portions acts in the radial direction of the cylindrical peripheral wall, but does not act in the plate thickness direction of the substrate. This avoids warpage of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: IRISO ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuma Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 10151456
    Abstract: The utility model discloses a novel lamp holder which comprises a lamp holder for installing a lamp and a base; the lamp holder is fixed to the base, wherein a wire-fixing device is integrally formed at the bottom of the base; the wire-fixing device is composed of a wing-shaped support and a wire-clamping plate; the wing-shaped support is a winding support which is formed by suspended extension towards the left side and the right side of the base from the edge of one side of the bottom of the base; the two sides of the front end of the wire-clamping plate are provided with wire-clamping grooves respectively; and the middle part of the wire-clamping plate is provided with a wire-clamping hole. The novel lamp holder is simple in structure, reduces product parts, lowers production cost and is convenient to dismantle and operate, and a process is simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Inventor: Xiaoyuan Ma
  • Patent number: 10143237
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vaporizer and associated tip where the tip extension is made of a more structurally stable two-component design to reduce the probability of failure in an area prone to failure. In particular, the tip can include a first extension closer to the body and that is made of a more ductile material than a ceramic (e.g., metal), and a second extension closer to the coil of the tip that is made of ceramic. The more ductile portion can therefore absorb impacts and stresses applied to the far end of the tip, while the ceramic portion can dissipate heat from the coil in a more effective manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Zipline Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: James Matthew Watson
  • Patent number: 10148027
    Abstract: A structure that includes a board and a connector secured to an end portion of the board. The board has a first dielectric layer, a signal pattern that is provided on the top face of the first dielectric layer, a first ground layer that is provided under the first dielectric layer and forms part of a signal transmission circuit in conjunction with the signal pattern, and a plating film formed on an end face of the end portion of the board in an area located directly under the signal pattern and includes an end face of the first ground layer. The connector has a center conductor, an outer conductor, and securing portions that secure the connector to an end portion of the board. When the connector is secured, the center conductor comes in contact with the signal pattern and the plating film comes in contact with the outer conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: HIROSE ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Teppei Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10144371
    Abstract: A grounding element is provided. The grounding element includes a metal plate; and a metal block attached to the metal plate. The grounding element may be welded to a body or frame of a vehicle and used to provide a plurality of attachment points for a vehicle wiring harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Inventors: Bruno C. Bennati, Luke A. Reini
  • Patent number: 10141674
    Abstract: Tamper resistant cartridges for electrical devices are provided. The tamper resistant cartridges include a housing and one or more tamper resistant assemblies configured to normally block access to electrical contacts with the electrical device, and to permit access to such electrical contacts when the line phase prongs of a plug are inserted into the electrical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas L. Scanzillo, Edward Bazayev, Jason Zachary Walker
  • Patent number: 10128587
    Abstract: A power connection apparatus assembly has first and second power connection apparatuses. The first apparatus includes a connecting unit and a first circuit board. The connecting unit has a conductive member and a positioning member, the conductive member has a mounting plate portion and an inserting plate portion bending from the mounting plate portion and extending. The mounting plate portion has a positioning hole, the positioning member has a flat plate portion cooperating with the mounting plate portion and a protruding post protruding from the flat plate portion to correspondingly pass through the positioning hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Molex, LLC
    Inventor: Yi-Tse Ho
  • Patent number: 10122107
    Abstract: A connection device includes a conductive first counterpart terminal formed into a tubular shape with one side in a first direction open and the other side blocked, a conductive relay terminal provided inside the first counterpart terminal, an interposition member provided inside the first counterpart terminal, and interposed between the first counterpart terminal and the relay terminal with respect to intersection directions, an elastic member provided inside the first counterpart terminal, interposed between a blocked end portion that is an end portion on the blocked side of the first counterpart terminal and the relay terminal 31 with respect to the first direction, and elastically deformable along the first direction, and a second counterpart terminal that is a conductive terminal different from the first counterpart terminal and coming in contact with an end portion on an opposite side of the elastic member side of the relay terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fuminori Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 10122132
    Abstract: Structures, methods, and apparatus that provide connector receptacles that have a reduced tendency to scratch and otherwise mar connector inserts, have an aesthetically-pleasing appearance, and have an improved tactile response when inserts are inserted. Various examples reduce scratches and wear by utilizing domes, cylinders, balls, or other structures as finger contacts in a connector receptacle. Another example provides aesthetically-pleasing connector receptacle enclosures by forming receptacle enclosures using the same type of material, or material having the same or similar color or texture, as is used for enclosing the electronic device that includes the receptacle. Another example provides an aesthetically-pleasing receptacle enclosure by forming receptacle enclosures that are, in part or in whole, contiguous or formed with the housing. Another embodiment provides a connector receptacle having a housing where a portion of the housing has been removed to save space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Zheng Gao, Steve McClure, Joshua Banko, Greg Springer, Min Chul Kim, Joshua Funamura
  • Patent number: 10116068
    Abstract: A bonding block has a block body configured to be secured to a structure, a threaded hole extending in an axial direction, and a ground wire channel extending through the threaded hole in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. The bonding block also has a screw assembly having a screw and a contacting element having a substantially flat first contact surface. The contacting element is rotatable relative to the screw such that the contacting element traverses axially without rotating while the screw is tightened in the threaded hole. The block body has a substantially flat second contact surface positioned at a bottom of the threaded hole and the ground wire channel. The screw assembly compresses a ground wire extending through the ground wire channel between the first contact surface and the second contact surface as the screw is tightened in the threaded hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: ANTRONIX INC.
    Inventor: Neil Tang
  • Patent number: 10111332
    Abstract: A composite cable is provided which can connect a power line for feeding drive power to flat panel-shaped electric equipment and a signal line for outputting an electric signal to the electrical equipment at the narrow side surface of the electrical equipment. A flexible printed circuit board constitutes an end connection unit of the flexible composite cable to be connected to the electrical equipment, so that the composite cable can be connected to a side surface of the electrical equipment. Since the lateral width of the flexible printed circuit board is sufficiently long, a power trace is made thin and wide, so that the resistance value per unit length can be reduced and a current carrying capacity that allows the use of high power current can be adopted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: SMK Corporation
    Inventors: Tadahito Sasaki, Kohei Homma, Mitsuhiro Yoshida, Toyokazu Yoshino
  • Patent number: 10106109
    Abstract: A connector includes a housing configured to be supported by an attachment object and a terminal configured to be supported by the housing, and the terminal is configured to be electrically connected to a counterpart terminal of a counterpart connector when the counterpart connector is fitted to the connector. The housing includes a body portion having an inner cylinder portion to which the terminal is assembled and to which a counterpart housing of the counterpart connector can be fitted and an attachment portion having an outer cylinder portion which is configured to be fixed to the attachment object and to which the inner cylinder portion is fitted. The body portion is assembled to the attachment portion in a state that the inner cylinder portion fitted to the outer cylinder portion penetrates the outer cylinder portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryuji Kawai, Tomokazu Iwami, Michitake Masuda
  • Patent number: 10104909
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cigarette smoking device having an electronic atomization function, including a cigarette holder and an electronic atomization component cooperatively assembled with one another, wherein the cigarette holder includes a cigarette holding cavity and an optional end cap for closing the open end of a shell; the electronic atomization component includes the shell and the following components located in the shell: a power supply, an airflow sensor switch and an atomizer provided with a central airflow channel; the cigarette holding cavity is in air communication with the central airflow channel of the atomizer; the cigarette smoking device further includes an airflow sensor switch air inlet penetrating the shell and/or the end cap of the cigarette holder. Also provided is a method for improving cigarette smoking quality, the method includes smoking after mainstream smoke generated by an end-lighting cigarette, dilution air and atomization vapor are mixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: CHINA TOBACCO YUNNAN INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yi Han, Shoubo Li, Donglai Zhu, Xiaowei Gong, Xia Zhang, Yongkuan Chen, Xudong Zheng, Zhiyong Sun, Yongfeng Tian, Mingming Miao
  • Patent number: 10104760
    Abstract: A pluggable module includes a pluggable body extending between a front end and a mating end receivable in a module cavity of a receptacle assembly to mate with a communication connector. The pluggable body has channel walls defining a cooling channel at a top of the pluggable body allowing airflow between the front end and the mating end. The pluggable body has a plurality of heat transfer fins in the cooling channel between the channel walls and a landing cover spanning between the channel walls over the heat transfer fins. The channel walls, the heat transfer fins and the landing cover are an integral unitary structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric David Briant, Michael John Phillips, Michael Joseph Tryson