Patents Examined by Tho Dac Ta
  • Patent number: 5772465
    Abstract: A connector includes a body having an interior space for receiving de-twisted wires of a cable therein. The body has a plurality of channels for the insertion of the wires. The channels have openings formed on a front end face of the body so as to allow a portion of the wires to expose outside the front end face of the body to be pulled by an operator's hand to the desired position. The body also has a plurality of slots each receiving a metal contact therein. The metal contacts have piercing ends to penetrate into the wires for holding them in position. The exposed portions of wires are then cut off after being held by the metal contacts and a retainer for retaining the connector to a counterpart connector is removably attached to the body. The body has an open bottom defined by two opposite side walls, each having a reduced height defined by an arc connecting segment so as to allow the operator's finger to insert therein for temporarily holding the wires in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Inventors: Wayne Hwang, Richard Hai-Tau Hwang
  • Patent number: 5769673
    Abstract: A female terminal in which excessive flexing of a resilient contact piece portion is prevented by simple working. The female terminal of the invention includes deformation prevention folded portions which are bent respectively at opposite side portions of a second folded piece portion toward a first folded piece portion. The deformation prevention folded portion supports the first folded piece portion in a maximumly-flexed position of the first folded piece portion. When a male terminal, having a proper thickness, is inserted into the female terminal, a predetermined gap is formed between the first folded piece portion and the deformation prevention folded portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Yukio Ohta, Takeya Miwa
  • Patent number: 5762516
    Abstract: To provide a contact capable of reducing the crosstalk between adjacent contacts, and a terminal connector with such contacts, capable of constructing a high speed communication network. The contact 10 has a generally central base section 12, contact sections 14, 16 extending from the opposite ends of the base section 12 generally normal thereto, connecting sections 18, 20 obliquely extending generally in the same direction transverse to the contact sections 14, 16, for connecting the base section 12 with the contact sections 14, 16, respectively. One connecting section 18 has a first part 18a extending from one lengthwise end of the base section 12 generally normal thereto while maintaining a lateral distance from the contact section 14, a second part 18b extending from the contact section 14 in parallel thereto, and a third part 18c extending in the crossing direction to the surface of the contact section 14 to connect the first part 18a to the second part 18b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Shigekazu Itoga, Rentara Osawa
  • Patent number: 5759049
    Abstract: A connector for electrically connecting a first conductor on a top surface of a first substrate with a second conductor on a top surface of a second substrate, when the second substrate is positioned beneath the first substrate, the connector includes an electrically conductive clip having a first prong and a second prong, with at least a portion each of the first and second prongs positionable at the top and bottom surfaces of the first substrate respectively, such that the first and second prongs provide a clipping force upon the first substrate to engage the first substrate with the clip. The connector further includes a first electrically conductive contact affixed to the first prong of the clip and is for contacting the first conductor when the clip engages the first substrate. An electrically conductive third prong is connected and extends from the clip, and includes a third electrically conductive contact affixed to the third prong for contacting the second conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Dallas Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventor: Mark A. Gerber
  • Patent number: 5759069
    Abstract: A multipolar electrical plug (multipolar plug) which uses a multipolar electrical jack (multipolar jack) as a counter electrical connector so that, even when a plug is of a multipolar type, the length of the plug can be shortened. In addition, it is possible to enhance resistance to deformation and resistance to breakage of the pole portion. The multipolar plug is useful as a multipolar electrical connector to be used in the case where a space for insertion and ejection is required to be as small as possible, such as the case of an audio apparatus and a car navigation apparatus mounted on an automobile. The multipolar plug has the body, a pin pole protruding from the body, a plurality of sleeve poles which are respectively formed of a plurality of cylinders disposed in a coaxial manner with respect to the pin pole, and which protrude from the body. It is preferable to locate the front end position of the pin pole at a position which is recessed from the front end positions of the sleeve poles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Hosiden Corporation
    Inventors: Haremi Kitatani, Koji Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 5759061
    Abstract: An (IDC) (10) includes a first pair of arms (12a and b) depending from a bridge (14) and defining a first conductive slot (15) for receiving an insulated wire, displacing the insulation thereon, and completing an electrical connection thereto. A detent (20) depending from one of the arms forms a narrower passage (23) for retaining a wire in the slot. A similar detent (40) in the slot (35) of a second pair of arms (32a and b) is farther from the bridge (14) than the detent (20) in the first slot (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Raychem Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Lind Jensen, John Ervin Francis, Eric Kelly Vann
  • Patent number: 5755593
    Abstract: An electrical outlet which is mountable over a cutout of known size in a wall panel wherein the known size is one in a range of different standard sizes. The outlet comprises a base which is dimensioned to extend across the cutout and a plurality of latch arms attached to the base. The latch arms are arranged in arrays of different sizes corresponding to the different standard sizes of the cutout. At least one of the latch arms in a relatively large size array is selectively detachable from the base, wherein a largest remaining array corresponds to the known size of the cutout. In one embodiment, the base includes a plate which is confrontable with the wall panel, and the latch arms extend forwardly from the plate and then rearwardly through respective apertures in the plate and continue rearwardly through the cutout in the panel, and each of the latch arms has a projection with an inclined trailing face that is engageable with the wall panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Paul John Pepe
  • Patent number: 5755599
    Abstract: A contact is shown comprised of an inner spring and an outer assist spring where the front contact section is longitudinally moveable within the outer assist spring. The front contact section includes contact arms where side spring sections are constricted inwardly by way of transition sections at, thereby forming a compact forward contact section. A contact having a contact section, a conductor engaging section and a central section therebetween where the contact section includes opposing contact arms with side arms therealong both arms being joined to the central section where the central section has a width greater then the width of the contact section, where the central section may be made resilient for float between the contact section and conductor engaging section, an outer assist spring may be provided to prevent overstress, or include a locking lance cantilevered from a band section defined by a slit therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Gheorghe Hotea
  • Patent number: 5752852
    Abstract: A waterproof connector-mounting construction 70 includes a connector-mounting through hole 43 formed through a mounting member 41, a tapered portion 45 of a truncated-cone shape formed at the connector-mounting through hole 43, the tapered portion 45 increasing in diameter progressively toward an outer surface of the mounting member 41, a terminal 49 having a cylindrical base portion 57, a mounting plate 63 which is mounted on the terminal 49, and has at least such an area that the mounting plate 63 covers the tapered portion 45, the mounting plate 63 being parallel to the mounting member 41, and an O-ring 69 press-fitted into the tapered portion 45 in such a manner that an inner peripheral surface of the O-ring 69 is held in intimate contact with an exposed portion of the terminal, and that the O-ring 69 is pressed against the mounting plate 63.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Onoda
  • Patent number: 5749755
    Abstract: A female electric terminal made of conductive sheet metal. The terminal has a contact body with contact first and second flexible blades which project from opposite walls of the contact body and which cooperate with a male terminal and a portion for connection to an electric cable. The blades define a gap smaller than the thickness of the male terminal. The male terminal is inserted into the gap and the blades cooperate elastically with opposite faces of the male terminal. The first and second blades are asymmetrical so as to define transversely offset contact areas on the respective faces of the male terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Framatome Connectors International S.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro Genta, Renzo Rampone
  • Patent number: 5741159
    Abstract: A connector and connector kit is provided which includes an insulative housing, a conductive shell and a contact. When assembled, the contact and conductive shell are contained in the insulative housing. In particular, the conductive shell includes one segment which is positioned in a cavity which extends into one surface of the housing, and another segment which extends out of such cavity and into a groove provided at an end of the housing. The contact is positioned in a bore which extends into the housing from an opposite end of the housing to the cavity. The contact and the bore include abutments which engage one another when the connector is assembled to assure proper positioning of the contact relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventor: John O. Wright
  • Patent number: 5735716
    Abstract: An electrical connector wherein a female terminal has a deformable sleeve for receiving a male terminal in a manner such that the male terminal may be inserted almost fully into the interior of the sleeve before it contacts the sleeve and begins to meet any resistance to further insertion. Further urging of the male terminal into the sleeve causes the sleeve to deform both longitudinally and radially inward and apply pressure to the male terminal, thus producing sufficient normal force between the electrical contact surfaces of the sleeve and the male terminal to ensure good current flow therebetween. It is only over the last, relatively short distance of pin travel to the fully inserted position that any substantial resistance to insertion is encountered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: John Peter Bilezikjian
  • Patent number: 5735709
    Abstract: In a zero insertion force connector for flexible circuit boards, there are a housing, plural flexible circuit boards in multiple rows, an insulator holding the flexible circuit boards and displaceable in perpendicular to the flexible circuit boards in the housing, a counterpart insulator having plural pairs of broader counterpart contacts than thickness of the flexible circuit boards, and a driving member for displacing the insulator so as to incline the flexible circuit boards. When the driving member is operated, the insulator presses the flexible circuit boards. Then the flexible circuit boards incline, and connect the counterpart contacts respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limited
    Inventors: Osamu Hashiguchi, Kazuomi Sato
  • Patent number: 5735711
    Abstract: A connector (10) for joining coaxial or other cables includes an electronic or other connector (12) located in a housing (11). The housing has outlets (17) and (43) for a distribution cable carrying a signal, and outlets (19) for branch cables which take signals away from that cable to subscribers. The outlets (17)(43) may be separate from and are distinguishable from the branch outlets (19). The housing (11) may comprise a base portion (13) with at least one cover portion (14) or (11) which is releasably secured to the base portion by a snap connection to give easy access to the connectors (12) and cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Raychem GmbH
    Inventor: Dieter Fremgen
  • Patent number: 5735702
    Abstract: A lever type connector wherein a pair of housings are interconnected by turning a lever attached to one of the housings, comprises: a housing containing a plurality of terminals each of which is adapted to be detachably coupled to each of a plurality of mating terminals contained in a mating housing and drawing out an electric wire clamped in each terminal through a wire-drawing surface; a pair of support axles formed on the housing; a U-shaped lever rotatably and detachably mounted on the housing by coupling the pair of support axles in a pair of bearing holes formed in opposed leg portions of the lever, respectively; a cover detachably mounted on the wire-drawing surface of the housing to protect the electric wires; and means for positioning the cover at a given mounting position on the housing, the positioning means including engaging portions formed on the housing and cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahide Hio
  • Patent number: 5733143
    Abstract: An upstanding stacked electrical connector assembly comprises an upper connector having a plurality of contact elements, each having a first segment rearwardly therein and a second segment extending downwardly from the first segment, a lower connector having a plurality of contact elements, each having a first segment extending rearwardly therein and a second segment extending downwardly from the first segment, support structure for supporting the upper and lower connectors in vertically spaced relation and having transversely spaced elements extending rearwardly from and vertically below the second connector and contact retention structure disposed between the transversely spaced elements of the support structure for receiving at least the second segments of the contacts of the upper connector and retaining the received contact second segments against both transverse and vertically upward movement relative to the connector assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventors: Terrence S. Ward, Sharanjit S. Aujla
  • Patent number: 5733139
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for electrically connecting wires. The device includes first and second nonconductive housing sections adapted to be mateably secured together to form a substantially closed housing. An electrically conductive contact is disposed within the housing and has a first end including a tang for piercing the insulation of the first wire and making electrical contact with the center conductor thereof, a second end including a tang for piercing the insulation of the second wire and making electrical contact with the center conductor thereof, and a connecting portion electrically connecting the first end and the second end to provide an electrical path from the center conductor of the first wire through the contact to the center conductor of the second wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Sea Gull Lighting Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas R. Bray, Michael M. Strazhnik, deceased
  • Patent number: 5733137
    Abstract: A threaded rod is fitted to a plug-in assembly which can be inserted into a mounting rack, which threaded rod is aligned in the insertion direction and becomes operatively connected to a motor-driven threaded nut during insertion. The first thread pitches are designed such that the rod and nut latch on one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Franz-Josef Knoop
  • Patent number: 5730628
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is provided for detachably coupling an electrical lead to a medical device. A hollow barrel has a through passage which extends between proximal and distal ends. A leaf spring member includes a base element on the barrel adjacent the distal end and a plurality of integral resilient spring elements extend away from the distal end at a plurality of circumferentially spaced locations to tip ends adjacent the proximal end. The leaf spring elements have contact portions intermediate the base element and the tip ends projecting and biased toward a longitudinal axis of the barrel for mating engagement with a proximal end of the electrical lead when inserted into the barrel from the distal end. A guide device on the barrel adjacent the proximal end and overlying the tip ends of the resilient spring elements serves to guide the electrical lead past the tip ends of the resilient spring elements without engaging the tip ends both during insertion and extraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventor: Rodney J. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 5730618
    Abstract: The panel has several sections, each with a different hole profile. The top panel section has a hole diameter which corresponds to the terminal flange in such a way that the top panel section contacts the terminal flange, holding the terminal with frictional gripping force. This contact keeps the terminal from wobbling, thus eliminating the weakening of the terminal support legs and shorting between terminals. The panel section between the top and rear panel sections (i.e. the middle section) has a hole diameter which corresponds to the outer diameter of the terminal between the terminal flange and the terminal support legs, so that the terminal can be press fitted in the middle section hole. The rear panel section has a hole diameter which is conical or profiled with a larger diameter towards the top panel section, corresponding to the width of the support legs in such a way that the support legs can be fully sprung out, and a smaller diameter towards the rear of the mass termination panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: AVP Mfg. & Supply Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel L. Baker, John E. Grant