Patents by Inventor Alan Howard Kirchner

Alan Howard Kirchner has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method and apparatus for attaching connectors
    Patent number: 5649357
    Abstract: A machine (46) for attaching an Insulation Displacement Connector (IDC) (10) to a cable (20) includes a fixture (76, 240) for engaging and arranging individual wires (18-18) in the cable in parallel, spaced-apart relationship. The machine also includes a press mechanism (51, 54, 101, 102)) for engaging a mandrel (12) of the IDC (10) and for pressing it against the wires (18-18) engaged by the fixture (76, 240) to seat each wire in a corresponding mandrel channel (14). The press mechanism (51, 54, 101 and 102) further functions to press the mandrel (12), with the wires (18-18) seated in the mandrel channels (14-14), against a IDC contact block (22) to engage each wire with an end (30) of a corresponding IDC contact (24) to accomplish attachment. As the wires (18-18) are pressed into the mandrel channels (14-14), a blade (106) severs the excess portion of each wire to facilitate attachment of the wires to the contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: James Stephen Chapman, Lyndon Dee Ensz, Alan Howard Kirchner, Clyde Allyn Lawrence, Ivan Pawlenko, Geri Estelle Smith