Patents Examined by Steven L. Stephan
  • Patent number: 6146197
    Abstract: An end connector for coaxial cable which is composed of a thimble, an outer sleeve, a grip nut and a taper jacket; wherein the thimble having a first flange and a first extension part. The outer sleeve is installed outside of the thimble and has a body and a second extension part, between the first extension part and the second extension part can form a cylindrical cavity, furthermore, the inner circumference of the second extension part having a plurality of engaging teeth for engaging the outer layer of a coaxial cable. The end of this end connector for coaxial cable is fitted with the grip nut in which having female treads for connecting with a receiver or a terminal station. The taper jacket is installed on the second extension part of the outer sleeve, this taper jacket having a taper hole formed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Inventors: Randall A. Holliday, Shen-Chia Wong
  • Patent number: 6146154
    Abstract: An improved light bulb holder structure includes a housing, a heat insulation layer, a main body, and a bottom cover. The main body is disposed inside the housing. The heat insulation layer is disposed between the housing and the main body. The bottom cover is fitted and fastened to a bottom portion of the housing. The main body includes a substrate plate and a connecting seat. The substrate plate includes a printed circuit board having a stepless switch and necessary electronic components thereof soldered thereon. Three upwardly extending upper terminals are soldered to an upper side of the circuit board to be secured with the connecting seat as an integral whole. Two downwardly extending lower terminals are provided on a lower side of the circuit board to connect to electrical wires of a power source. The improved light bulb holder has advantages of cost and material savings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Inventor: Chien-Yu Lin
  • Patent number: 6146163
    Abstract: An ejection mechanism for ejecting an electrical card from an electrical card connector includes a shell (1) for receiving the electrical card, a push bar (2) positioned on a side of the shell (1), a push plate (5) slidably connected to a base (10) of the shell (1), and a connection plate (3). The connection plate (3) pivots about a positioning silo (33) formed in the base (10) and has a first end (31) engaging with the push bar (2) and a second end (32) engaging with the push plate (5). Thus, the electrical card can be easily ejected from the electrical card connector by exerting a force on a free end of the push bar (2) of the ejection mechanism, which actuates the push plate (5) to push the electrical card out of the shell (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kun-Tsan Wu
  • Patent number: 6142815
    Abstract: A plurality of interface modules (200,300,400,500) having identical first mating interfaces (202,302) for mating with the mating face (100) of a cable tap connector (10), to enable interconnection therewith at second mating interfaces by different types of electrical conductors. A set of contacts in each module have identical first contact sections (212,318) along the first mating interface, and the contacts are secured in the module housing (206,306) under an insulative retention plate (210,360) that assuredly secures the contacts in proper position for accurate positioning of the first contact sections. The insulative plate (210,360) also protects the first contact sections during handling of the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Neil Whiteman, Jr., Earl William McCleerey, Michael Eugene Shirk, Douglas Morgan Walburn, Robert Wayne Walker
  • Patent number: 6142791
    Abstract: The invention provides a mounting construction in which an electronic component is mounted on a flexible substrate. The mounting construction comprises a flexible substrate including a flexible sheet, bendable electrode pattern forming portions formed on the flexible sheet, and electrode patterns formed on the electrode pattern forming portions, an electronic component having electrode portions, and a clamping member having clamping pieces for clamping the electronic component therebetween. The electrode pattern forming portions are deflected, so as to cause the electrode patterns to be contacted with the electrode portions of the electronic component placed on the flexible substrate. By this, the electronic component is clamped by the clamping pieces of the clamping member through the deflected electrode pattern forming portions. Thus, the electronic component may be easily and positively secured to the flexible substrate, without employing additional reinforcing means such as adhesives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Teikoku Tsushin Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Yagi, Shigeaki Kinoshita, Noboru Tohma, Osamu Nomura, Ikuo Nagatomo, Mitsuru Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 6142822
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulative housing, a pair of LED devices, a contact member, a pair of positioning members, and an EMI shield. The LED devices are fittingly attached to locating regions defined in a front portion of a top wall of the housing. Each positioning member is seated in a positioning space defined in a rear portion of the top wall of the housing whereby a guiding stem and a retaining post extending from a cover thereof are snugly received in a guiding groove and a retaining hole defined in the housing, respectively. A flange of each positioning member abuts against each LED device thereby securing the LED device to the housing. To replace the LED devices, the positioning members are removed from the housing by applying a lifting force on the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kun Tsan Wu
  • Patent number: 6135781
    Abstract: An interconnection providing multiple electrical interconnections at a fine pitch can be formed in a pluggable and unpluggable form using multiple connector channels and rows of contact elements in each of a plug and socket. The contacts may be a mixture of active and passive contacts. Furthermore, a contact support structure may provide improve spring characteristics in the contacts. The contacts may be formed in a number of configurations including vertical staggering, alternating or offset patterns, mulit-level tail exit designs, rotated contacts, staggered or nonalign retention features and dedicated power contacts. Anchors or permanent latches, separable latches, and polarization keys may also be utilized. Alternative embodiments may include straddlemount and attachment clip embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard A. Pope, Thomas M. Cherney, David S. Hardcastle
  • Patent number: 6135788
    Abstract: A connector includes a housing (10) defining a mating opening (11) for receiving a complementary connector. A pair of increased standoffs (20, 40) are form on the bottom surface (22) wherein each defines a cavity or slot (26) for receiving a screw nut (29) therein. A retention hole (27) extends from the bottom surface (22) of the housing (10) into the cavity (26) so that a screw (61) can extend through a screw hole (62) in the PC board (60) on which the connector is seated, and the retention hole (27) into the cavity (26) to attach to the nut (29). Therefore, the connector can be fastened to the PC board (60) for strongly and efficiently resisting the bending movement resulting from the insertion/withdrawal force when mating with a complementary connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Chu Wang, Fei-tai Lu
  • Patent number: 6135799
    Abstract: A coupling nut retention apparatus 10 for an electrical connector comprises a generally cylindrical coupling nut 20 having an aperature 24 therein for telescopically receiving a cylindrical housing 40 and an annular flange 30 depending therefrom. The housing 40 has a hole 50 in the front end 46 thereof for receiving a retaining ball 80. An insulator 60 having a rear annular flange 66 depending therefrom is telescopically received by an aperature 44 in the cylindrical housing 40 and has an axial keyway 74 therein that is engaged by said retaining ball 80. The annular flanges, 30 and 66 respectively, of the coupling nut 20 and the insulator 60 abut the retaining ball 80 to prohibit forward motion of said coupling nut 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: UniStar Industries
    Inventor: Thomas C. Lincoln
  • Patent number: 6132235
    Abstract: The connector lock mechanism according to the invention includes a pair of guide plates (5) which are respectively disposed in the neighborhood of one connector housing (3) provided on and projected from an electric connection box (1) and each of which includes a shaft hole (9), and a lock member (15) including a pair of flexible support pieces (17) on each of which there is projectingly provided a cylindrical-shaped projection (18) fittable with the shaft hole (9). In each of the guide plates (5), there are formed a provisionally securing portion (10) on which the cylindrical-shaped projection (18) can be mounted, and a guide groove (8) for connecting the provisionally securing portion (10) to the shaft hole (9). By pressing a given position of the lock member (15), the cylindrical-shaped projections (18) mounted on provisionally securing portions (10) can be fitted with the shaft holes (9) through the guide grooves (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Masashi Kitada
  • Patent number: 6132231
    Abstract: The lock member 6 is provided with a resilient arm 7 flexible in a plane parallel to the side faces of a housing body 2. A hook portion 8 is provided on the free end of the resilient arm 7. A cam follower 10 is provided on the resilient arm 7 for receiving a force from the release knob. The resilient arm 7 is guided by a guide face 5A so that it is flexible only in a plane parallel to the side face of the housing body. A cam section 13 with a tapered edge 10A is provided on the resilient arm 7 so that when the release knob 11 is squeezed, the cam section 13 presses the cam follower 10 downwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Hirose Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akio Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6129559
    Abstract: A microconnector provides a practically sufficient strength, and has an arrangement in which structures of electrode members and guiding members can be designed at least somewhat independently of each other for allowing a simple connecting operation. In a male connector, wiring layers are formed on a substrate, and male pin connector electrodes project from the wiring layers, whereby the electrodes are two-dimensionally arranged and enclosed with spacers. In a female connector, on the other hand, wiring layers are formed on a substrate, and female connector electrodes are formed on single ends of the wiring layers respectively. The female connector electrodes comprise holes for receiving the pin electrodes, and are arranged in correspondence to the pin electrodes. The female connector electrodes each having a spring characteristic and are enclosed with spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Hirata, Tsuyoshi Haga
  • Patent number: 6129582
    Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for use in a telephone handset. The connector includes a dielectric housing having opposite ends and an array of terminal-receiving cavities between the ends. A receptacle is formed in the housing outside the array of terminal-receiving cavities for receiving a microphone. A plurality of signal terminals disposed in the cavities. A plurality of microphone terminals are mounted on the housing, with spring arms located in slots in the bottom wall, and project into the receptacle for engaging appropriate contacts on the microphone. An acoustic channel extends through the housing to communicate the receptacle with the environment outside the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Matthew Wilhite, William Gordon Fogarty
  • Patent number: 6129568
    Abstract: An interchangeable electrical connector includes a connector body and an adapter body. The connector body includes electrical contact means, such as a banana plug tip, for engaging an electrical terminal. The connector body includes a conical portion and a threaded portion which is coaxial with the conical portion. The adapter body includes a conical portion which is shaped for co-operative engagement with the conical portion of the connector body, and a threaded portion which is coaxial to the conical portion of the adapter body. The threaded portion of the adapter body is for cooperative engagement with the threaded portion of the connector body, such that cooperative rotation of the connector body relative to the adapter body draws the conical portion of the connector body into engagement with the conical portion of the adapter body. The wedging action of the two conical portions frictionally engages the connector body to the adapter body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Monster Cable Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Mercurio, Richard N. Marsh, Demian T. Martin
  • Patent number: 6126468
    Abstract: Retaining members are formed separately from a female connector housing and can be installed on the female connector housing. A sealing member is installed within the female connector housing prior to the installation of the retaining members. The sealing member includes protrusions having retaining portions, which protrusions are inserted into guide channels of the female connector housing without bending. Then, the retaining members are installed on the female connector housing, and two protrusions of the retaining members engage with the retaining portions from opposite sides, whereby the sealing member is retained against removal. When the sealing members are installed, the protrusions and retaining portions are not elastically deformed, and therefore resistance during installation is reduced, and the installation can be easily carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Matsushita, Kazunori Yamashita, Mitsuhiro Fujitani
  • Patent number: 6120308
    Abstract: electrical connector assembly including a first connector supported by a holder and a second connector coupled to the first connector. At least one rocking lever is supported rotatably by a support pin with driving means for moving the rocking lever in accordance with a sliding displacement of the first connector along the holder when interconnecting the first and second connectors. Actuating means displaces the second connector toward the first connector by transmitting the driving force of the rocking lever to the second connector. Each pair of protection ribs is provided on the opposite sides of the mounting portion of the rocking lever to protect the lever. A pair of support lances formed on the holder holds the first connector temporarily in a waiting position for coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignees: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Harness System Technologies Research, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 6116961
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a jack assembly including a jack mount having a front side and a rear side. The jack mount has top and bottom supports defining a jack receiving region that opens outward toward the front side of the jack mount. A jack of the assembly is adapted to be slidably mounted in the jack receiving region defined between the top and bottom supports of the jack mount. The jack includes a jack body formed of a dielectric material, and a plurality of electrically conductive tip and ring springs. The jack body defines a plurality of bores sized to receive plugs having tip and ring contacts. The tip springs are adapted to make electrical contact with the tip contacts of the plugs when the plugs are inserted within the bores, and the ring springs are adapted to make electrical contact with the ring contacts of the plugs when the plugs are inserted within the bores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Roy Lee Henneberger, James D. Dewey, Ahmad R. Sajadi
  • Patent number: 6116966
    Abstract: Disclosed are male and female electrical contacts for transferring high electrical power between a master assembly and a tool assembly of a robotic tool changer. The male and female contacts have corresponding outwardly-projecting and inwardly recessed conical or frusto-conical contact surfaces which tend to cause contaminants to slide off the surface of the contacts. The contacts may instead have corresponding outwardly-projecting and inwardly recessed contact surfaces having spherical, frusto-spherical, ellipsoid, frusto-ellipsoid, ovoid, or frusto-ovoid shapes. Each of the contacts includes a contact base for attaching the contact to one of the assemblies of the robotic tool changer and a contact tip removably attached to the contact base, thereby allowing the contact tip to be replaced without detaching the contact base from the robotic tool changer. The contact tip of either or both of the electrical contacts is mounted in such a way as to have compliance in at least one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: ATI Industrial Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Little, Prasad Balakrishnan
  • Patent number: 6116921
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing (10) having a mating face (12) and a pocket (32) in the mating face (12). The housing carries an electrical contact (20) having a mounting surface (54) which is disposed within the pocket (32). Walls (33, 34, 35, 36) of the pocket (32) are configured to closely encompass at least a portion of a solderball (60) which is attached to the mounting surface (54). The pocket (32) facilitates attachment of a solderball (60) to the sheared edge of a narrow edge-stamped contact, and reduces the overall height of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Scholz, James J. Cain, Peter P. Wilson
  • Patent number: 6116957
    Abstract: An electrical connector (10) for interconnecting discrete circuits on a first circuit board (14) with discrete circuits on a second circuit board (16), includes an insulating housing (18) having a series of contact members (20) arranged in side by side cavities (22). Each contact member (20) has a straight shank (130) that is only partially supported by the floor (32) of the housing. The shank (130) has a first beam (136) at one end and a second beam (138) at the other end, each end of which has a respective one of first and second contacts (140, 142) attached thereto. Each contact terminates in a pre-load member (144, 146) that is formed parallel to the shank and slidingly extends into a recess (120) in the housing. Each pre-load member (144, 146) includes a latch surface (168) that abuts against a stop surface (124) formed in the housing (18) to limit movement of the contacts and thereby provide a desired pre-load to each contact (140, 142).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Keith Mickievicz, Scott Anthony Faulkner, Edmund Luther Jacobs