Patents Examined by Vanessa Girardi
  • Patent number: 11963548
    Abstract: A portable inhalation apparatus is provided comprising a base and a collapsible stem assembly. In some embodiments, the portable inhalation apparatus is a smoking pipe. The collapsible stem assembly may have an extended position in which the stem assembly extends away from the base and a collapsed position in which the stem assembly is collapsed towards the base. When the stem assembly is in the collapsed position, the smoking pipe may be in a compact form to store and transport the smoking pipe. The stem assembly may comprise at least two stem sections and at least one articulating connection interconnecting the stem sections. A related method for making a portable inhalation apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Wolf Grinders Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas Booth
  • Patent number: 11962111
    Abstract: An electrical connector is provided that includes a first conductor for receiving electrical power. A first seal is coupled to the first conductor for protecting the first conductor. An insulating body is coupled to the first conductor, and includes an electrical terminal that establishes electrical connections between the first conductor and a plurality of electrical terminal pins. A downhole cable is coupled to a first electrical terminal pin of the plurality of electrical terminal pins. The first electrical terminal pin establishes an electrical connection between the electrical terminal and the downhole cable to provide the electric power to the downhole cable. A second seal is coupled to the downhole cable for protecting the electrical connection between the electrical terminal and the downhole cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Sonic Connectors Ltd.
    Inventors: Bradley Yingst, Brody Whitley, Matt Duckworth
  • Patent number: 11955747
    Abstract: A watertight electrical connection system to flat-wire conductors of a flexible circuit is described including a watertight electrical connector that houses connector terminals within a cavity. A contact surface of the watertight electrical connector is configured to mate with a connection area on a surface of the flexible circuit. The connection area is of variable thickness. A seal surrounds an opening to the cavity to form a watertight connection between the connector terminals and one or more of the flat-wire conductors within the connection area on the surface of the flexible circuit. A retainer fits over the flexible circuit and onto the watertight electrical connector to compress the seal and form the watertight connection between the surface of the flexible circuit and the contact surface, which is of variable thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Duane Lee Brantingham, Michael J. Demonica, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11942743
    Abstract: The present invention may comprise: a body including a first plate facing a first direction, a second plate facing a second direction opposite to the first direction, and at least one printed circuit board; and at least one receptacle disposed at the body to be connected to an external connector, wherein the receptacle comprises: a receptacle body which is connected onto the printed circuit board; a receptacle shell to which the external connector is connected and which is slidable in the receptacle body in a third direction vertically facing each of the first and second directions; a guide device which guides the sliding movement of the receptacle shell; a molded member which is coupled to the receptacle shell and configures a connection position of the external connector; and a connection structure which electrically connects the receptacle shell and the receptacle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byungmin Lee
  • Patent number: 11942721
    Abstract: A protective cover for a connector can having a top cover having a top cover connector end and a top cover cord end, a bottom cover pivotally connected to the top cover having a bottom cover connector end and a bottom cover cord end, a bias applying a force to cause the top cover cord end to abut the bottom cover cord end, and a connector void disposed on the bottom cover for receiving a connector adjacent a connector tray for supporting the connector. A cord with a connector can be inserted into the protective cover for a connector through the bottom cover. The cord can be inserted through the cord void and the connector can be inserted through the connector void. The protective cover can then be displaced slightly to allow the connector to rest on the connector tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Inventor: Yolanda Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 11936155
    Abstract: An appliance power connector includes a terminal block having a base. The base includes an upper surface and a lower surface. The base includes a pocket. The terminal block includes an upper shroud and a lower shroud. The upper shroud has upper shroud walls extending from the base forming an upper chamber above the upper surface. The lower shroud has lower shroud walls extending from the base forming a lower chamber below the lower surface. The appliance power connector includes a power terminal coupled to the terminal block. The power terminal includes a main body, an upper stud extending from a top of the main body and a lower stud extending from a bottom of the main body. The main body is received in the pocket. The upper stud is located in the upper chamber above the base for connection to an upper power cable terminal. The lower threaded stud is located in the lower chamber below the base for connection to a lower power cable terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH
    Inventors: Brian Keith Weaver, William James Moyer, II, Divya Shukla
  • Patent number: 11936146
    Abstract: A grounding system for a rackable circuit breaker includes a finger cluster connector connected to a grounding bus in the circuit breaker and a rail conductor mounted in a circuit breaker cradle and connected to ground potential. The finger cluster connector includes a conductor formed from a single plate of conductive material folded into a generally U-shaped body with first and second sides divided into a plurality of fingers. Distal ends of the fingers form mutually facing parallel surfaces of a constricted passage configured to make a sliding electrical contact with the rail conductor that is advanced into the constricted passage as the circuit breaker is racked into the cradle. First and second leaf springs fastened to the conductor portion are divided into a plurality of spring finger sections with spring distal ends configured to respectively press against the distal ends of respective fingers of the conductor portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Alan Williford, Sergio Flores, David Price
  • Patent number: 11923640
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes first and second adjacent electrical contacts that each define respective first and second mating ends, the first mating end of a first one of the first and second adjacent electrical contacts defines a first contact surface, the second mating end of a second one of the first and second adjacent electrical contacts defines a second contact surface electrically isolated from the first contact surface; and a dielectric material positioned between the first and second adjacent electrical contacts. When a mating connector applies a force to the first contact surface and the second contact surface, the first and second mating ends and the dielectric material all move in a first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: SAMTEC, INC.
    Inventors: John A. Mongold, Jonathan E. Buck
  • Patent number: 11894628
    Abstract: A PCIe SAS direct link connector includes a cable end and a back board; the cable end fixed on the back board and including a direct link female head, a high-speed line, and a 15pin plug terminal; the back board including a primary and a secondary cavity position; the direct link female head connected with the high-speed line; the 15pin plug terminal being an asymmetric bow shape and having a short and a long side, a first contact point disposed on the short side, and a second contact point disposed on the long side; the 15pin plug terminal connected with the high-speed line; when the 15pin plug terminal is combined with a server board end connector, the first contact point and the second contact point contact a terminal of the server board end connector, respectively, simplifying the connection structure and improving heat dissipation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Amphenol East Asia Electronic Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiang Wang, Yan-Bin Tan, Lei Liao
  • Patent number: 11888358
    Abstract: Emergency stop for a linear actuator system, which comprises a housing (13) and an activation button (12) adapted for activating a circuit breaker and where the activation button (12) has a neutral position and an emergency position. The emergency stop further comprises a spring (19) for spring-loading the activation button (12) for retaining the activation button (12) in the neutral position, a latching mechanism adapted for retaining the activation button (12) in the emergency position once it has entered this position, and a release mechanism adapted to unlatch the latching mechanism. The spring-loaded activation button (12) is pivotally connected to the housing (13) and arranged to pivot between the neutral position and the emergency position. The spring-loaded activation button (12) comprises an arm (26,27) having one end attached to the underside (24) of the spring-loaded activation button (12). The housing 13 comprises a wall piece (35,36) adapted for engaging a free end of the arm (26,27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Linak A/S
    Inventors: Martin Kahr Knudsen, Jan Frølich
  • Patent number: 11881644
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a wire with terminal that can suppress buckling of a wire during assembly. A wire with terminal includes a wire having a core wire made of a conductor and an insulation coating covering the outer periphery of the core wire, and a terminal connected to a lengthwise end portion of the wire. Also, the wire with terminal includes a reinforcing material adhered to an outer peripheral surface of the insulation coating and an unreinforced part where the reinforcing material is not provided, in the circumferential direction of the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Yuji Okamoto
  • Patent number: 11876320
    Abstract: A cap for an electrical connector comprises a first cap body defining a first portion of a first circular opening, and a second cap body defining a second portion of a first circular opening. The second cap body is hingedly connected to the first cap body and movable between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, first and second portions of the first cap body and the second cap body define a circular opening sized to receive a conductive cable therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Inventors: Kevin John Peterson, Clara Rhodes, Hurley Chester Moll
  • Patent number: 11870185
    Abstract: A separable and reconnectable connector for semiconductor devices is provided that is scalable for devices having very small contact pitch. Connectors of the present disclosure include signal pins shielded by pins electrically-coupled to ground. One or more signal pins in a contact array are electrically-shielded by at least one ground pin coupled to a ground plane. Embodiments thereby provide signal pins, either single-ended or a differential pair, usable to transmit signals with reduced noise or cross-talk and thus improved signal integrity. Embodiments further provide inner ground planes coupled to connector ground pins to shield pairs of differential signal pins without increasing the size of the connector. Inner grounding layers can be formed within isolation substrates incorporated into connector embodiments between adjacent pairs of signal pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: GITech, Inc.
    Inventor: John Williams
  • Patent number: 11862953
    Abstract: An electrical outlet cover gasket comprising a rectangular front face, a rectangular rear face opposite the front face, a central aperture extending through a center of the gasket, and a bug cover. The bug cover is molded as a single piece with the gasket and extends forward from the front face. The bug cover may extend forward from the front face on at least two sides of the front face. Additionally, the bug cover may have at least one slit extending through the bug cover. The at least one slit allows an electrical cord to pass through the bug cover. The bug cover is configured to cover at least one cord port of the electrical outlet cover when the gasket is installed in an electrical outlet cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Titan3 Technology LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey P. Baldwin
  • Patent number: 11855404
    Abstract: A terminal block structure (1, 1A) is provided and includes an insulative housing (10), separation members (20, 20A) and conductive wire and terminal crimping members (30). The separation member (20, 20A) is secured to the insulative housing and includes a base (21) and a pressing mechanism (22) operably connected to the base (21). The pressing mechanism (22) includes a pressing portion (221) and a tail portion (222) extended outward from the pressing portion (221). The conductive wire and terminal crimping members (30) are arranged inside the insulative housing (10). When an acting force is exerted on the pressing portion (221), the pressing mechanism (22) generates deformation or rotation to drive the tail portion (222) to ascend. Accordingly, the pressing operation of the terminal block structure (1, 1A) is facilitated, and it is equipped with simple structure for easy installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: DINKLE ENTERPRISE CO., LTD., DINKLE ELECTRIC MACHINERY (CHINA) CO., LTD., LI YANG ELECTRIC MACHINERY (DONGGUAN) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shang-Tsai Wu
  • Patent number: 11848529
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a terminal block that can be kept compact. A terminal block has a housing made of a synthetic resin, a columnar metal connection terminal held by the housing, and a cylindrical metal joint part in which a device connection part of the connection terminal is inserted. The joint part has a cylindrical part in which the device connection part is inserted and a cylindrical part in which an end part of a device-side terminal electrically connected to the connection terminal is inserted. The connection terminal is electrically connected to the device-side terminal via the joint part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro Tachi, Dohyung Kim, Mitsuru Hirose, Daisuke Hashimoto, Soichiro Okumura
  • Patent number: 11837825
    Abstract: A connector includes a first terminal assembly having a longitudinally extending first plate-shaped fixing portion, a longitudinally extending first terminal portion, and a substantially laterally extending first connection portion to connect the first plate-shaped fixing portion and the first terminal portion. A second terminal assembly is arranged opposite to and spaced apart from the first terminal assembly and includes a longitudinally extending second plate-shaped fixing portion, a longitudinally extending second terminal portion, and a substantially laterally extending second connection portion to connect the second plate-shaped fixing portion and the second terminal portion. A spacing between the first plate-shaped fixing portion and the second plate-shaped fixing portion is greater than a spacing between the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiaoyong (Mac) Liu, Jie (Roger) Luo, Guangming (Suny) Zhao, Kunlin Yao
  • Patent number: 11837419
    Abstract: An on-load tap-changer has a transmission, a motor with an output shaft, and a diverter switch with a drive shaft. The transmission has a cam disk; a drive gear wheel; and a roller coupled to the drive gear wheel. The cam disk is connected the output shaft, which lies on a rotation axis of the cam disk. The drive gear wheel is connected to the drive shaft. The cam disk has an inner and outer contour, which are followed by the roller, and which each have a first region with a constant radius of curvature and a second region in which a distance of a respective contour from the rotation axis of the cam disk changes. During a rotational movement of the cam disk, the roller follows the first region of the outer contour, the second region of the outer contour, and then the first region of the inner contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: MASCHINENFABRIK REINHAUSEN GMBH
    Inventor: Stefan Herold
  • Patent number: 11837815
    Abstract: A sealing member is attached to a connector opening of an electronic device to seal between an insulating cover of a cable inserted in the connector opening and a main body of the electronic device. The sealing member includes a housing made of an elastic material. The housing includes a first opening, a second opening facing the first opening and located to an inside of the electronic device than the first opening, and an inclined surface having a tapered shape that is tapered inward from the first opening to the second opening. The housing includes a first cylindrical portion forming the inclined surface inside the first cylindrical portion, a second cylindrical portion provided outside the first cylindrical portion, and a gap formed between the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion. The first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion are connected to each other around the first opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuki Zusho, Shinji Fujita, Hiroki Kamezaki, Hitoshi Nakatani
  • Patent number: 11837837
    Abstract: A terminal block includes: a busbar including a first terminal portion and a second terminal portion, the first terminal portion having a through hole; a housing that holds the busbar and has a storage chamber; a nut stored in the storage chamber; and a holder including a support unit that supports the nut, the holder configured to be attached to the housing, in which the storage chamber has wall surfaces facing individual side surfaces of the nut, the storage chamber configured to restrict rotation of the nut by using the wall surfaces of the storage chamber, and the support unit is positioned on a side opposite to a side of the first terminal portion with respect to the nut, the support unit configured to support the nut by setting a threaded hole of the nut to face the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hayato Iizuka, Yasuhiro Otsuta, Yuki Hiruta