Patents Examined by Vanessa Girardi
  • Planar terminal connector having an additional contact spring
    Patent number: 11264752
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes an elongate planar terminal extending along a first longitudinal axis having a connection end configured to interconnect the terminal to a corresponding elongate planar mating terminal extending along a second axis and an attachment end configured to attach the terminal to an electrical conductor. The electrical connector assembly also includes a contact spring configured to exert a normal force between the terminal and the mating terminal when the mating terminal is arranged between the contact spring and the connection end such that second axis is parallel to the first axis or when the mating terminal is arranged between the contact spring and the connection end such that the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Durse, Michael L. Mellott, Patrick J. Reedy, Glenn E. Robison
  • Two wire pressure indicating switch with all electronic architecture with millivolt operating supply
    Patent number: 11264193
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for a two wire detection circuit powered system comprising: an electronic switch circuit configured to sense a pressure level above or below a predetermined value and indicate an open or closed switch condition, wherein the electronic switch circuit provides a contact resistance voltage of about 20 mV in the closed switch condition; and an energy harvester configured to convert 20 mV when the electronic switch circuit is in the closed switch condition to an operating voltage between 3.6 Volts and 5 Volts for the electronic switch circuit to operate without an additional power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: HYDRA-ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Robert Andrew Guziak
  • Sealed electrical plug with temperature sensors
    Patent number: 11258209
    Abstract: A sealed electrical plug comprises at least one temperature sensor for monitoring an internal temperature of the electrical plug. The electrical plug further comprises a data cable that is wrapped by a shield for screening electrical noise so as to accurately capture and convey temperature data. The electrical plug further comprises a housing or holder for receiving the at least one temperature sensor, wherein the housing is capable of being embedded within an inner-mold of the electrical plug and positioned close to at least one pin. One or more seals may be placed at junctions between the at least one pin and the inner-mold and a cable for the data cable to seal the inner-mold from air, moisture and particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: VOLEX CABLE ASSEMBLY (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: ChangChun Zhao, Mui Lian Jessica Toh, Yuanwen Mo
  • Backlit key structure bottom plate with light blocking protrusions having differing heights
    Patent number: 11257637
    Abstract: A key structure including a keycap, a bottom plate, a supporting element disposed on the bottom plate a backlight module, and a thin film circuit board is provided. The bottom plate includes a body and a plurality of protrusions, wherein the body has a plurality of openings, and the protrusions protrude from a first surface of the body and are disposed around the openings. At least two of the protrusions have different heights. The backlight module is disposed on a second surface of the body, wherein the first surface and the second surface are opposite surfaces. The thin film circuit board and the keycap are disposed on the first surface of the body, and the thin film circuit board is located between the keycap and the bottom plate, and the protrusions are located within an orthographic projection range of the keycap and do not contact the supporting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignees: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Ming-Fu Yen
  • Lever-type connector
    Patent number: 11251565
    Abstract: A lever-type connector includes a first housing, a second housing, and a lever for moving the second housing. The lever is formed with cam grooves and the second housing includes cam followers movable along the cam grooves. The lever is rotatable about axes of rotation movable within a predetermined range with respect to the first housing. The cam groove includes a first groove portion configured to guide the cam follower, a second groove portion disposed along the first groove portion on the side of the axes of rotation with respect to the first groove portion and configured to guide the cam follower, and a coupling groove extending in a direction intersecting the first and second groove portions to couple the first and second groove portions and configured to guide the cam follower. The coupling groove extends in a direction along a moving direction of the axes of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Shinji Nozaki
  • Cantilevered operating button for an electronic vapor provision system
    Patent number: 11246339
    Abstract: An electronic vapor provision device including a cantilever and a button which is configured to be operated by the cantilever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: NICOVENTURES HOLDINGS LIMITED
    Inventor: Jeremy Wright
  • Multiple-position momentary electrical push switch with configurable activation zones
    Patent number: 11232919
    Abstract: A momentary electrical push switch that can be configured for 2 or more activation positions. The switch has a top surface, or “key” top, which is pressed down upon in different areas to actuate the switch's different activation positions. The key top can be of various shapes, such as quadrangles, circle, hexagon, etc., or irregular shapes, to suit a particular application. The key top can be divided into multiple segments, or activation zones, each corresponding to a different activation position of the switch. The key allows free-form movement when pressing down upon it, without requiring the user to use specific or narrowly-defined motions to actuate the various activation positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Inventor: Steven B Hirsch
  • Conductor connection terminal with clamping spring provided therein
    Patent number: 11233344
    Abstract: A conductor connection terminal, having an insulating material housing, a busbar, a clamping spring and an operating lever which is pivotably received in the insulating material housing over a pivoting range and can be pivoted between an open position and a closed position, wherein the clamping spring has an operating arm which is deflected via a spring driver of the operating lever at least in the open position, characterized in that the operating lever is supported in the open position at a first and a second support point spaced from the first, and that the operating lever is pulled against the first and the second support point by a tensile force of the clamping spring acting on the spring driver from the operating arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: WAGO Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH
    Inventor: Frank Hartmann
  • Assembly of disconnect terminals having a coupling device, and switching status display
    Patent number: 11228147
    Abstract: An assembly includes at least two disconnect terminals and at least one coupling device, wherein the at least two disconnect terminals each include at least one switching lever. Each switching lever is adjustable independently from the other switching lever from a first switch position into at least one second switch position and back, wherein the switching levers are connectable by the at least one coupling device. The at least one coupling device connects the switching levers if the at least one coupling device is switched into at least one first coupling position, and the at least one coupling device separates the switching levers from one another if the at least one coupling device is switched into at least one second coupling position. A disconnect terminal includes the at least one coupling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Inventors: Andreas Rutz, Genadij Neumann, Peter Meyer
  • Magnetorheological fluid damping with variable viscosity for circuit interrupter actuator
    Patent number: 11227729
    Abstract: A damping and latching mechanism for a Thomson coil-based actuator used to open and close the separable contacts of circuit interrupters in circuit breakers uses magnetorheological fluid to actively control the damping of opening and closing strokes in a circuit breaker in order to decrease wear and tear on components that can result from contact-based damping mechanisms and to maintain the open and closed states of separable contacts in the circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Paul R. Rakus, Hongbin Wang, Logan D. Weigle
  • Transfer switch contactor mechanism
    Patent number: 11227728
    Abstract: An automatic transfer switch includes a motor and a drive shaft rotatable by the motor. The automatic transfer switch includes a gear rotatable by the drive shaft. The automatic transfer switch includes a pin attached to, and movable with, the gear. The pin is offset from the central axis of the gear. The automatic transfer switch includes a bracket rotatable around the central axis of the gear and connected to an output shaft. The bracket is rotatable separately from the gear. Upon rotation of the bracket, the output shaft rotates. The bracket has at least a first source position and a second source position and the first and second source positions are different. The automatic transfer switch includes a module connected to the output shaft. The module includes at least one movable electrical contact which moves upon rotation of the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Generac Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Debra J. Miller, Joseph Peter Gerovac, Joseph M. Finney, Nicholas P. Brusky
  • Wire harness seal
    Patent number: 11228136
    Abstract: A wire harness including: an electric wire that includes a core wire and a covering material that covers the core wire; a connector that is attached to an end of the electric wire; and a seal that is interposed between the electric wire and the connector, wherein: the covering material includes a thin portion, which is thinner than other portions of the covering material, at a portion overlapping the seal in a radial direction, the covering material includes a distal-end non-thin portion and a proximal-end non-thin portion on two sides of the thin portion in a longitudinal direction, a first annular stepped surface is formed between the thin portion and the distal-end non-thin portion, and a second annular stepped surface is formed between the thin portion and the proximal-end non-thin portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoya Kawaguchi, Masaharu Suetani, Akio Kimura
  • Terminal block with handle
    Patent number: 11217913
    Abstract: The invention relates to a terminal block with a handle. The terminal block includes an insulative base, a conductive terminal, a flexible clamp and a toggle member. The insulative base has a chamber and an insertion hole communicating with the chamber. The conductive terminal is fixed at a bottom of the insertion hole. The flexible clamp is received in the chamber and extended with a movable elastic arm abutting against the conductive terminal and closing the inserting hole. The toggle member has a pivot rotatably connected in the chamber. The pivot is extended with a pusher abutting against the movable elastic arm. When the toggle member is rotated to a release position, the pusher is rotated about the pivot to press the movable elastic arm so the movable elastic arm deviates from the conductive terminal and the insertion hole is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignees: DINKLE ENTERPRISE CO., LTD., DINKLE ELECTRIC MACHINERY (CHINA) CO., LTD., LI YANG ELECTRIC MACHINERY (DONGGUAN) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shang-Tsai Wu
  • Threaded stud within a conductive bushing connecting a printed circuit board
    Patent number: 11211721
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is provided with a fastener with an elongate body with a threaded portion to receive an electrical terminal, and to receive a threaded fastener to retain the electrical terminal. A conductive body cooperates with the elongate fastener body to engage the electrical terminal and to limit rotation of the fastener relative to the conductive body. A seal is provided between the fastener and the conductive body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Angel Molinero Benitez, Ramon Pinana Lopez, Joan Ignasi Ferran Palau, Joan Balana Avila, Josep Maria Pares Caselles
  • Multi-part wire terminal with sealing member
    Patent number: 11205865
    Abstract: A terminal-equipped wire (1) includes a connector terminal (2), a wire (3), a relay conductor (4) and a sealing member (5). The connector terminal (2) is arranged in an insertion hole (71) provided in a connector case (7). The wire (3) is formed by bundling a plurality of conductors (31). The relay conductor (4) is composed of one conductor and electrically connects the connector terminal (2) and the wire (3). The sealing member (5) is mounted on the outer periphery of the relay conductor (4) and arranged in the insertion hole (71) to close a clearance (S1) between the inner periphery of the sealing member (5) and the outer periphery of the relay conductor (4) and a clearance (S2) between the outer periphery of the sealing member (5) and the inner periphery of the insertion hole (71).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Inventors: Tsutomu Hashimoto, Hiroki Hirai, Hisashi Sawada, Kosuke Sone, Toshikazu Saba, Takehiro Matsunaga, Yasuto Takeda, Yoshitaka Ikeda, Kazuyoshi Ohara, Takahiro Maruyama
  • Electromechanical switch with manual switching option
    Patent number: 11205545
    Abstract: A mechanical switch (10), in particular a light switch and/or a roller shutter switch and/or thermostat switch is provided. The mechanical switch (10) has a switching contact assembly (20), in particular a monostable, bistable or tristable switching contact assembly (20), and a base carrier (40), in which the switching contact assembly (20) is received The base carrier (40) has a holding device (50) for receiving an electromechanical actuator unit (100), which is designed in such a way that an electromechanical actuator unit (100) received in the holding device (50) can be supplied with voltage for effecting a state change of the switching contact assembly (20) independently of an external mechanical action on an operating mechanism by means of the electromechanical actuator unit (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: BERKER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Johann Gruszeninks, Martin Engels, Christian Fa
  • Grounding pipe clamp
    Patent number: 11205864
    Abstract: A grounding pipe clamp secures a pipe and accommodates various attachment configurations to secure a range of conductor sizes. The grounding pipe clamp includes a bolt, a main body, and clamping pads. The bolt has a first leg and a second leg. The main body has a first end portion, a middle portion, and a second end portion. The first end portion has a slot that receives the first leg of the bolt. The second end portion has a L-shaped cutout that receives the second leg of the bolt to secure a pipe between the main body and the bolt. The clamping pads are secured to the first leg of the bolt and the second leg of the bolt. The clamping pads secure the conductors positioned on the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventor: Robert W. Kossak
  • Electrical connection assembly employing a compression fitting deformed by a compression sleeve
    Patent number: 11205863
    Abstract: An electrical nut assembly for coupling an electrical lug to an electrical post is disclosed. The electrical nut assembly comprises a compression fitting and a compression sleeve. The compression fitting comprises a material comprising a first yield strength and comprises an internal thread operable to electrically couple to the electrical post and a base surface configured to electrically couple to the electrical lug. The compression sleeve comprises a material comprising a second yield strength greater than the first yield strength and is sized to at least partially cover the compression fitting. The compression sleeve is configured to compress the compression fitting in a radial direction when fitted at least partially over the compression fitting and pressed or advanced axially towards the base surface and as the compression fitting makes contact with the electrical lug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Robert Eiermann, Richard J. Adams
  • Sub-miniature push-on connectors mounted in a base having a close-loop groove containing seal
    Patent number: 11189966
    Abstract: An integral SMP connector assembly for a base station antenna comprising a base, in which at least two SMP connectors are configured to extend away from a backplate of the base station antenna from an upper surface of the base, the base including: at least one connecting portion which connects the base to the backplate so that the upper surface of the base faces the backplate; and a close looped groove located in the upper surface of the base and surrounding the at least one connecting portion and the at least two SMP connectors. The integral SMP connector assembly further comprises a seal received in the groove and configured to provide an airtight seal between the upper surface of the base and the backplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Zhigang Wang, Xun Zhang, Ruixin Su
  • Central locking dual illumination switch
    Patent number: 11177094
    Abstract: A rocker switch assembly includes a housing having at least one bracket with a bracket stop formed therein, and a rocker actuator pivotably mounted on the housing. At least one wedge lock is pivotably mounted on the rocker actuator, the wedge lock pivotable between a locked position in which the wedge lock engages the bracket stop formed in the bracket, thereby preventing pivoting of the rocker actuator with respect to the housing in at least one direction, and a retracted position in which the wedge lock is disengaged from the bracket stop formed in the bracket so as to allow for pivoting of the rocker actuator with respect to the housing. A lock release button is also provided, actuation of which from a resting position to a release position causes the wedge lock to move to the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Carling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Trevor Fitch