Patents Examined by T C Patel
  • Patent number: 5848920
    Abstract: An elongate strip of electrical terminals adapted to be inserted into a row of terminal-receiving passages in connector housing is disclosed. The strip includes a series of terminals joined by a mid-carrier strip and includes alternating first and second terminals. The terminals have base portions with retention sections adapted to be inserted into the terminal-receiving passages. Spring arms having contact portions extend from first ends of the base portions. Tail portions extend from second, opposite ends of the base portions. The mid-carrier strip joins the alternating first and second terminals at the base portions of the first terminals and at the spring arm of the second terminals. A second carrier strip joins the tips of the tail portions of only the first terminals so that the adjacent ends of the second terminals can be formed independent of the first terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel Thomas Klein, Gregory R. Pratt, Kent E. Regnier
  • Patent number: 5846093
    Abstract: A novel male connector for an electrical connector assembly comprises an elastic housing which includes a recess for receiving the end of a female connector. When the male and female connectors are connected, a cavity is formed between the female connector and the recess of the male connector. Along the length of the recess, a rigid member is provided in the male connector which prevents the recess from stretching substantially when the male connector is disconnected from the female connector. Because the recess is prevented from stretching, the air pressure in the cavity between the male connector and the female connector remains relatively high during disconnection. The dielectric strength of the air in the cavity, which is a function of pressure, also remains high, so that the possibility of flashover is substantially eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank John Muench, Jr., John Mitchell Makal
  • Patent number: 5846094
    Abstract: Conductive pads (126) of a first PCB (114) and conductive pads (128) of a second PCB (116) are electrically coupled. An electrical device includes a housing portion (112) which has an inner face (122) including a protrusive element (200). First PCB (114) has a body (203) and a flexible portion (204) which includes conductive pads (126). An elastomeric connector (208), having an elastomeric face (210) and an elastomeric edge (212), is positioned adjacent to protrusive element (200). First PCB (114) is disposed within inner face (122) of housing portion (112) such that flexible portion (204) bends, preferably at an angle perpendicular to body (203) of first PCB (114), by protrusive element (200). Flexible portion (204) is secured to elastomeric face (210), thus securing conductive layers of elastomeric connector (208) to conductive pads (126).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Patrick Murray, Louis J. Lundell
  • Patent number: 5842893
    Abstract: Electrical connector for connecting electrical conductors having insulating covering (14), which comprises: a receiver element (2) with edges (9) in the shape of an acute angle and with wings (10) to partially enclose the conductors (12); a wedge element (6) with active edges (28) with an equal acute angle and which can be inserted between edges (9) of element (2); and an intermediate member (4) made of an electrically conductive material; suitable for being situated between receiver (2) and wedge (6) and provided with two edges (18) that form an equal acute angle; in edges (18) there are individual wings (20) between which wedge (6) can be inserted; these wings (20) have perforating means (22) suitable for piercing conductors (12) by perforating covering (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Framatome Connectors International
    Inventor: Marcel L. De Keyser
  • Patent number: 5842894
    Abstract: A fixing element has a screwthread for fixing to a main member. The fixing element includes a cable lug and a contact plate defined on the cable lug. The contact plate is completely rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the fixing element but is not removable from the fixing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Nedschroef Plettenberg GmbH
    Inventor: Reinhard Mehlberg
  • Patent number: 5842876
    Abstract: A power clip for a printed circuit board. The power clip comprises a substantially planar base having an electrical contact extending therefrom, especially in the form of a spring clip. The base of the power clip has stand-offs at opposed ends and a raised platform extending downwardly to contact the surface of the printed circuit board. The base has a plurality of electrical contact pins in a grid pattern. The pins are adapted for insertion into plated through holes in a printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin J. Collin, Carmine Gugliotti
  • Patent number: 5839925
    Abstract: An electrical terminal comprises a forward receptacle portion for mating with a tab. The receptacle portion as a pair of spaced opposed side walls connected by a contact spring support base and a contact spring joined to the forward end of the support base by a forwardly bowed bight. The contact spring extends obliquely and rearwardly from the bight between the side walls. For protecting the bight and the contact spring from damage by a probe a barrier comprises barrier halves projecting towards one another from the side walls, and which may have chamfered, probe deflecting upper surfaces. In order to allow a terminal to be inserted into a cavity in a housing, the cavity having a channel in its floor, the channel being of substantially the same width as the contact spring, the lower part of the bight and the adjacent part of the support base are formed as a sledge having runners which are slideable along the surfaces of the floor, on either side of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Reginald John Simmons
  • Patent number: 5836787
    Abstract: A first connector housing can be attached to an electrical instrument, and a second connector housing can be disposed on a part of a panel wall. The first and second connector housings are connected together by a screw-joining means including a bolt and a nut. The second connector housing can be provisionally retained on the panel wall by a provisionally retaining means. When the connectors connect together, the second connector housing can part from the panel wall toward the first connector housing; when the connectors separate from each other, the second connector housing can be provisionally retained on the panel wall by the provisionally retaining means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Shinji Kodama
  • Patent number: 5836790
    Abstract: A connector for mounting on a circuit board of a radio telephone and providing external connection to the radio telephone, comprising a first conductive track for coupling the circuit board of the radio telephone to an external connection, and a second conductive track, wherein the connector is adapted to receive a microphone of the radio telephone and maintain it in a predetermined position, in which an output terminal of the microphone contacts the second conductive track, such that the microphone is coupled to the circuit board of the radio telephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones Limited
    Inventor: Ricky William Barnett
  • Patent number: 5836788
    Abstract: A waterproof press-connecting connector of the invention includes a terminal holder for holding a plurality of press-connecting terminals in a juxtaposed manner, a mat seal of a soft, elastic material having a plurality of juxtaposed wire seal holes formed therethrough, and a housing having an opening having a peripheral edge portion in which an outer peripheral surface of the mat seal is fitted watertight. A cover plate for pressing the mat seal is formed integrally at a rear end of the terminal holder. A projected plate is formed on one inner surface of the peripheral edge portion of the opening in the housing, and a support projection is formed on the peripheral edge portion in opposed relation to the projected plate. A projected portion, through which the wire seal holes extend, is formed integrally on the front surface of the mat seal, and is disposed on a front end of a proximal portion of the terminal holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Chieko Torii
  • Patent number: 5836774
    Abstract: An adapter (10) includes a pair of male/female connectors (12, 14) solderably positioned on two ends of a PC board (16). A pair of identical metal shells (20) are adapted to be engaged with each other with their grounding tangs (38) extending at two ends thereof, respectively, for conductive engagement with the metal shieldings (60, 80) of such pair of connectors (12, 14). The metal shells (20) also defines a space for protectively enclosing the PC board (16) therein. A pair of identical plastic covers (40) are fixedly aligned and attached to each other commonly enclosing such pair of metal shells (20) therein. The metal shells (20) are restrained between the pair of connectors (12, 14), and fixedly aligned with the corresponding covers (40), respectively. The connectors (12, 14) are aligned with and confinably received within the covers (40). Two interconnection ports of such pair of connectors (12, 14) are respectively exposed to the exterior at opposite ends of the adapters (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haw-Chan Tan, Gordon Lok, Joel J. Yeh, Sung Liu Hsu
  • Patent number: 5836776
    Abstract: An electrical connector including a connector body having a first end and a second end, an axially movable sleeve disposed within the body, and at least one switch actuating pin in contact with the sleeve and axially movable therewith. A first end of the switch body is adapted to removably receive a mating connector for creating an electrical connection between the connector and the mating connector. Upon mating of the first end of the body with the mating connector, a portion of the mating connector contacts the sleeve and moves the sleeve axially within the body in the direction of the second end of the body. Movement of the sleeve causes corresponding movement of the switch actuating pin whereby a first end of the switch actuating pin extends outward from the body. The connector may be positioned adjacent a normally open switch with one terminal of the switch connected to a center conductor the connector and the other terminal of the switch being connected to an electrical signal source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Tru-Connector Corporation
    Inventor: Richard M. Koch
  • Patent number: 5836783
    Abstract: A computer system includes a computer and a peripheral device. A communication cable, used to connect the peripheral device to the computer, has a first cable, a second cable and a patch unit. The first cable encloses a set of power lines and a set of data lines, and the second cable encloses a set of data lines. The patch unit includes a socket with first and second contacts. In the patch unit, the sets of data lines of the first and second cables are connected. One of the power lines is connected to the first contact, and another of the power lines is connected to the second contact. The first cable connects the patch unit with the peripheral device, and the second cable connects the patch unit with the computer. When power is applied from an external source to the first and second contacts, the power is supplied from the first and second contacts to the peripheral device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tahei Morisawa, Nobuhiro Tani, Harumi Aoki
  • Patent number: 5833481
    Abstract: There is provided a multi-drop distribution apparatus capable of securely connecting a transmission cable thereto without opening a case and of allowing safe transmission of large currents. A housing (1) has formed on its inner wall block securing recesses (9b). A split tube (8) provided on an end of a transmission line is gripped in a pair of grip blocks (9) each having a support groove (9a) on a split surface. The grip blocks (9) are disposed in a block securing recesses (9b) and secured by tightening a screw (9c) at a side through a screw access hole (3c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Maspro Denkoh Co., LTT
    Inventor: Nobutaka Inoue
  • Patent number: 5833479
    Abstract: A test point enabling hands-free diagnostic testing of electronical circuits, has a body with two planar, at least substantially parallel end surfaces which are spaced apart and face opposite directions. The end surfaces are connected with each other by a waist portion which is in electrical contact with at least one of the end surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Nokia Telecommunications Oy
    Inventor: Andrew Talbot
  • Patent number: 5833475
    Abstract: An electrical connector, comprising a housing of electrically insulating material. The connector is provided with a number of contact elements of electrically conducting material, each with a contact end for contacting a further connector and an L-shaped connection pin for mounting on a printed circuit board. The connection pins consist of a fixed leg which at one end is immovably connected to the contact element and a free leg running at right angles to the fixed leg. The connector is also provided with a positioning element of electrically insulating material for holding the connection pins in the correct position. One side of the positioning element adjoins the connection pin output side. The fixed legs of the connection pins run through the bores of the positioning element, which is provided with a bending anvil for bending the connection pins to an L-shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Berg Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Niranjan Kumar Mitra
  • Patent number: 5833499
    Abstract: An encapsulated electrical connector is molded to the end portion of a battery cable to provide a releasable electrical connection between the cable and a battery terminal. The dielectric molding includes a hinged cover that is automatically moved to a readily visible angulation when the connector is inserted onto the battery terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, Inc., United Technologies Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Michael Gonzales, David Eugene May, Jeffrey Stone
  • Patent number: 5833492
    Abstract: A battery for energizing engine electrical starters, motors and electrical equipment comprises a flat negative terminal post and a flat positive terminal post located underneath the battery casing. The battery is easy to install and easy to maintain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Lawrence Arimidio Lueder
    Inventor: Lawrence Arimidio Lueder
  • Patent number: 5833473
    Abstract: An IC card is provided, of the type that has a cardbus shield (30) with a shield plate (132) mounted on the top of a front connector (12) and with shield tails (36) extending rearwardly and downwardly to secondary ground traces (50) on a circuit board (34), wherein the IC card includes a dielectric cardbus bridge with a crosspiece (100). The crosspiece supports the middle (104) of the front end (102) of the sheet metal top cover so it is held securely out of contact with the cardbus shield but lies above at least portions of the contact tails (130) that extend from the rear of the front connector to signal traces on the circuit board. The crosspiece is supported to lie over the circuit board closely behind the rear end (136) of the shield plate, with the crosspiece having a top cover support surface (112) on which the front end of the cover middle lies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Brian Betker, Anthony John Knights
  • Patent number: 5830007
    Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for mounting a microphone of the disc type which has opposite flat faces joined by a cylindrical periphery. The connector includes a dielectric housing having a cylindrical microphone insertion cavity defined by a rigid arcuate wall portion at one side of the cavity and a flexible wall portion at an opposite side of the cavity. The distance between the rigid arcuate wall portion and the flexible wall portion is less than the diameter of the disc shaped microphone so that the flexible wall portion resiliently engages the cylindrical periphery of the microphone to establish an interference fit therewith. Terminals project into the cavity for engaging appropriate mating terminals on the microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Rupert J. Fry, Keith Samuel Maranto