Patents Examined by Vanessa Girardi
  • Electrical connector mating port enclosed by inner sleeve and outer cover
    Patent number: 11108190
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes: a connector unit having a mating part, the mating part defining a front mating end; a sleeve enclosing the mating part and extending forwardly beyond the front mating end to define a receiving chamber; and an outer cover enclosing the sleeve and the connector unit, wherein the sleeve has a front portion containing the receiving chamber, and the outer cover is made of a material softer than the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignees: FOXCONN (KUNSHAN) COMPUTER CONNECTOR CO., LTD., FOXCONN INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Zheng-Rong Zhu, Jun Chen, Jerry Wu
  • Spring biased female terminal
    Patent number: 11101579
    Abstract: A female terminal, including: a female terminal fitting including a connector to be conductively connected to a male terminal; a male terminal inserting tube provided in the female terminal fitting, the male terminal being press-fit into the male terminal inserting tube, the male terminal inserting tube forming the connector by an inner surface; a pair of overlapping plates connected to a pair of first divided portions provided by dividing the male terminal inserting tube over an entire length in an axial direction at one position in a circumferential direction, the pair of overlapping plates being separated from each other and projecting outward; and a spring held on the female terminal fitting, the spring holding the male terminal inserting tube in a reduced diameter state by biasing the pair of overlapping plates in a direction to overlap the pair of overlapping plates on each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Seido Nishijima
  • Electrical connector using a metallic sliding block to hold an inner insulator during the overmolding of an outer insulator onto the inner insulator
    Patent number: 11081819
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulative housing having a first insulator integrally formed with the contacts via an insert-molding process, and a second insulator, i.e., the cover, overmolded upon the first insulator wherein an internal cavity is formed within the housing and between the first insulator and the second insulator in the transverse direction, through which a sliding block presses the first insulator in position in the transverse direction during overmolding the second insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignees: FOXCONN (KUNSHAN) COMPUTER CONNECTOR CO., LTD., FOXCONN INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yin-Chao Xu, Wei Zhong, Jian-Kuang Zhu
  • Safety switch including main button and sub button arrangements
    Patent number: 11062861
    Abstract: Safety switch for a gardening device driven by a motor. The safety switch includes a main button arrangement and a sub button arrangement which is provided onto the main button arrangement. The main button arrangement may pivot between a first position and a second position. In the first position the sub button arrangement may be provided in an arrest position and in the second position the sub button arrangement is arranged in an energize position. Further, the sub button arrangement includes biasing means by means of which biasing means the sub button arrangement is biased towards the arrest position in the first position, and by application of an external force the sub button arrangement may be moved towards a biasing force exerted by the biasing means and be slid to the energize position where the main button arrangement may activate the power means in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Globe (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Johanna Olsson, Zhigao Pu
  • Electronic device housing that permits removal of damaged plug from jack within the housing
    Patent number: 11063392
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a jack including a first opening portion through which a plug can be inserted along a first axis, and coming into contact with the plug at an electrode; and a housing formed separately from the jack. The jack includes a second opening portion facing the first opening portion along the first axis, and a through-hole connecting the first opening portion and the second opening portion along the first axis. The housing includes a third opening portion opening on a same side as the first opening portion and opening at a position where a plug can be inserted from outside the housing into the first opening portion, and a fourth opening portion facing the third opening portion along the first axis and opening at a position where the plug can be discharged to an outside of the housing through the second opening portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruka Adachi, Goichi Matsuda, Kiyoshi Yokota, Takayasu Ono
  • Connector having a sealing member interposed between the connector support member and housing
    Patent number: 11063387
    Abstract: A connector includes an insulating housing that is fixed to a casing of a first device at a communication part through which an opening of the casing of the first device and an opening of a casing of a second device communicate with each other and includes first through holes, conductors that are inserted into the respective first through holes to electrically connect the first device and the second device, an insulating sealing member that includes tubular sealing parts that seal between the conductors and the housing, and a connecting part that connects the sealing parts, and an insulating support member that includes second through holes into which the conductors are inserted, is attached to the housing from a side of the second device, and interposes the sealing member between the support member and the housing to support the sealing parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji Aoki, Kazuhide Takahashi
  • Multi-cable connector with cable piercing terminals
    Patent number: 11063377
    Abstract: A connector is provided with a plurality of terminals and a housing. The terminals include a first terminal corresponding to a first cable and a second terminal corresponding to a second cable. Each of the terminals has a contact portion, a held portion and a connection portion. The contact portion is brought into contact with a mating contact portion when the connector is connected to a mating connector. The held portion is held by the housing. When the connector is attached to a composite cable, the connection portion pierces a covering portion of a cable corresponding thereto and is connected to a conductor of the cable. The connection portion of the first terminal protrudes from the held portion in a front-rear direction. The connection portion of the second terminal protrudes from the held portion in a perpendicular direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited
    Inventor: Kentaro Toda
  • Wire holding member
    Patent number: 11056826
    Abstract: A wire holding member is a wire holding member for holding a wire in which an outer circumference of a core wire is covered by an insulating covering, the wire holding member including: a front wall that includes an insertion hole having an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the core wire so as to allow the core wire to be passed therethrough; an upper extending piece and a lower extending piece that extend rearward from a plurality of different end edges of the front wall, and that are to be disposed around the insulating covering; and an upper holding portion and a lower holding portion that protrude from rear end portions of the upper extending piece and the lower extending piece toward the insulating covering, and that clamp an outer surface of the insulating covering, wherein at least the upper and lower extending pieces and the upper and lower holding portions are made of a metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shunya Takeuchi, Teruo Hara, Hisashi Kojima
  • Crimping terminal with wire hook to loop wire
    Patent number: 11050168
    Abstract: An electrical terminal includes a conductor barrel and a contact portion that is adapted to mate with a corresponding terminal. A terminal base extends from the conductor barrel to the contact portion. The electrical terminal includes a first side wall and a second side wall that extend from the contact base between the conductor barrel and the contact portion. A wire hook extends between the first side wall and the second side wall. A first wire space is defined between the wire hook and the first side wall and a second wire space is defined between the wire hook and the second side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Edgar Michael Racho, Albert Cabanero
  • Foldable 2-pin AC power plug/extension cord
    Patent number: 11050202
    Abstract: An electrical extension cord with a unique jack for use with an AC adapter assembly is presented. The jack includes a housing that defines a planar surface upon which a channel structure is positioned. The channel structure defines first and second channels which are sized and shaped to receive one of the pins of a 2-pin foldable plug of the AC adapter when the plug is in the folded state and contained within a recess of the AC adapter body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: BBY Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Wang, Fan Tang
  • Magnetic float switch
    Patent number: 11049678
    Abstract: A magnetic float switch is provided. The magnetic float switch can include a housing configured to float in a liquid, response circuitry located inside the housing, an internal chamber located inside the housing, a float state indicator housed within the internal chamber, and an actuating arm housed outside the internal chamber and coupled to the response circuitry. In operation, when a position of the housing changes so as to indicate an increasing level of the liquid, the float state indicator can move within the internal chamber from a first position to a second position to initiate a magnetic force between the float state indicator and the actuating arm so as to actuate the actuating arm from an inactive position to an active position. Then, when the actuating arm is in the active position, the response circuitry can initiate a response to the increasing level of the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Metropolitan Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: James Andrew Nimmer, Joseph Kenneth Burza
  • Reversible connector orientation detection in an electromagnetic tracking system
    Patent number: 11050197
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for implementing a reversible connector for receiving coil-based sensor signals in an electromagnetic or hybrid tracking system. The apparatus is designed to reduce the number of connector pins assigned to the coil-based sensor signals while maintaining signal quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: ALKEN Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Higgins, Henry E. Himberg, Keith M. Hanf
  • Double density small form-factor plugable connector
    Patent number: 11043780
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an electrical connection device and a plug assembly, the electrical connection device comprises a receptacle assembly and a plug assembly. The receptacle assembly comprises a cage and a connector. The plug assembly comprises an outer housing and a communication module provided in the outer housing. The outer housing has a main body which can be inserted into the cage along the mating direction to be mated with the connector. The receptacle assembly is provided with at least one guide groove extending along the mating direction, and the outer housing of the plug assembly is provided with at least one guide block protruding from the main body to correspond to the at least one guide groove, when the plug assembly is mated with the receptacle assembly, the at least one guide block enters into the corresponding guide groove along the mating direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Molex, LLC
    Inventor: Bing-Jyun Wang
  • Circuit breaker linking system for movable contact
    Patent number: 11031191
    Abstract: A device for switching an electric current with separable electrical contacts includes a switching mechanism including: a switching shaft that is coupled to a mobile electrical contact; a trip hook that is pivotably mounted on a fixed support of the mechanism; a linking system coupling the switching shaft to the trip hook. The linking system includes a first pair of connecting rods that are pivotably mounted on the trip hook and a second pair of connecting rods that are mounted so as to pivot with a crank of the switching shaft. The first connecting rods are connected to the second connecting rods with a single axis of articulation which forms a pivot link between the first connecting rods and the second connecting rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventors: Eric Pinero, Brice Jacolin, Anais Toumi, Daniel Reviron
  • Electronic device housing incorporating a cable connecting device
    Patent number: 11031705
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic device (2) comprising a housing body (4) for housing components, a connector (6) which has a receiving space (8) for a shield conductor section (10) and a housing cover (22) which is movable between a starting position and an end position for covering a portion (24) of the housing body. In this case the connector (6) has at least one cover (20), which is arranged movably on the housing body (4) between an open position and a closed position, in which the cover closes the opening (18). Furthermore, locking means (36) are provided with at least one locking member (38) which is movable between a locking position and an unlocking position, in which the locking member unlocks the cover (20) for a movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Eugen Penner, Armin Struckmeier
  • Multi-functional keyboard assemblies
    Patent number: 11023081
    Abstract: Multi-functional keyboard assemblies include an array of keys formed from stacked component layers. A top portion of the key may be capable of travelling vertically with respect to a base of the key. The top portion can include a keycap and a circuitry module coupled to the keycap. The keys may be capable of receive at least two distinct types of inputs and/or receiving at least one type of input and providing at least one type of output. Such output may include use of one or more light sources, displays, and/or haptic feedback devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Craig C. Leong, James J. Niu, John M. Brock, Keith J. Hendren, Thomas W. Wilson, Jr., Bartley K. Andre, Mikael Silvanto, Dinesh C. Mathew
  • Circuit substrate mounted cable connector
    Patent number: 11025009
    Abstract: A first connector has first rear engagement parts exposed toward the rear of the first connector, along with first front engagement parts exposed towards the front of the first connector. A second connector has second rear engagement parts and second front engagement parts. In the mating state between the first connector and the second connector, the second rear engagement parts are disposed on the rear side of the first rear engagement parts so as to engage with the first rear engagement parts, while the second front engagement parts are disposed on the front side of the first front engagement parts so as to engage with the first front engagement parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Molex, LLC
    Inventors: Satoshi Shimonishi, Toshiya Oda
  • Key structure convertible between digital and analog switch modes and switching method thereof
    Patent number: 11017966
    Abstract: A key structure including a circuit board, a membrane, a positioning frame, a sensor module, a scissor leg, and a key cap is provided. The membrane is disposed on the circuit board and is electrically connected to each other. The positioning frame is disposed on the membrane. The sensor module is disposed on the membrane and is electrically connected to the circuit board. The scissor leg is connected to the positioning frame and is adapted to move up and down relative to the positioning frame. The key cap is detachably disposed at the scissor leg and is spaced with positioning frame. The key cap has a reflective plane and a shaft component. The reflective plane faces the membrane. The shaft component is extended from the reflective plane and penetrates through the scissor leg and the positioning frame to abut the membrane. The sensor module is aligned with the reflective plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Acer Incorporated
    Inventors: Hung-Chi Chen, Yung-Cheng Teng, Chen-Chih Hou, Cheng-Han Lin, Yung-Hui Hou
  • Locking push-button switch housing with a jig fulcrum projection
    Patent number: 11011325
    Abstract: A push button switch may include a housing, an operation unit, and, a lock lever unit. A lever body of the lock lever unit may have a locking portion capable of locking one end of a long jig in an extending direction. The housing may have a fulcrum projection that contacts an intermediate portion of the jig having the one end locked to a locking portion when the lever body is moved using the jig, and serves as a rotation fulcrum of the jig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuaki Morita, Yusuke Komoguchi, Tadahiko Ogawa, Masami Nishida
  • Keyboard key with capacitive switch having mechanical and proximity switching functions
    Patent number: 11012069
    Abstract: A key switch implements a receiving switch conductor and transmitting switch conductor in the key switch. Depressing the key switch will cause the receiving switch conductor and transmitting switch conductor to approach each other. The approach of a finger and movement of the key switch can be detected using the receiving switch conductor and the transmitting switch conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Tactual Labs Co.
    Inventor: Braon Moseley