Patents by Inventor Christopher A. Margrave

Christopher A. Margrave 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).

  • Patent number: 11387604
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes, among other things, a connector that includes a connector lock arm that is cantilevered from one side of the connector to a free end. The connector lock arm has first and second apertures that are separated by a block. The assembly further includes a connector position assurance lock that has a base that supports a wave-shaped center lock arm that is received in the connector lock arm. The center lock arm extends to a nose that has a shoulder. The connector position assurance lock is slidable between unlocked and fully locked positions that respectively correspond to the shoulder arranged in the first and second apertures. The center lock arm has a bend joined to the nose by a portion that is parallel to the connector lock arm in the unlocked and fully locked positions. The center lock arm is configured to be deflected to an improper mating position with the portion arranged non-parallel to the connector lock arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Christopher A. Margrave, Michael Messuri, Nicole L. Liptak, Dominic A. Messuri, James Shuster
  • Publication number: 20220115814
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes, among other things, a connector that includes a connector lock arm that is cantilevered from one side of the connector to a free end. The connector lock arm has first and second apertures that are separated by a block. The assembly further includes a connector position assurance lock that has a base that supports a wave-shaped center lock arm that is received in the connector lock arm. The center lock arm extends to a nose that has a shoulder. The connector position assurance lock is slidable between unlocked and fully locked positions that respectively correspond to the shoulder arranged in the first and second apertures. The center lock arm has a bend joined to the nose by a portion that is parallel to the connector lock arm in the unlocked and fully locked positions. The center lock arm is configured to be deflected to an improper mating position with the portion arranged non-parallel to the connector lock arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher A. Margrave, Michael Messuri, Nicole L. Liptak, Dominic A. Messuri, James Shuster
  • Patent number: 11183793
    Abstract: A connector system includes a connector body defining a terminal cavity and a first and second groove each extending along an outer surface of the connector body and a terminal retainer attached to the connector body and moveable from a pre-staged position to a staged position. The terminal retainer retains a terminal within the cavity in the staged position. The terminal retainer has a base, a pair of first cantilevered arms extending from the base, a crossbar extending between the first arms defining a first latch feature, and a second cantilevered arm extending from the crossbar. The second arm is between the pair of first arms and defines a second latch feature. The first latch feature engages the first groove in the pre-staged position and the second groove in the staged position. The second latch feature engages the first groove in the staged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Inventors: Nicole L. Liptak, Christopher A. Margrave, Dominic A. Messuri, Michael D. Messuri
  • Patent number: 10741975
    Abstract: An electromagnetic shield terminal assembly configured for attachment to a shielded cable includes a tubular inner ferrule having a flared attachment end configured to be disposed intermediate the shield conductor and the inner insulation layer of the cable and a crimped outer ferrule formed of sheet metal having a cable attachment portion that defines a pair of bypass crimp wings and a pair of insulation crimp wings. Each insulation crimp wing defines a prong having a pointed end that penetrates the outer insulation layer of the cable. The flared attachment end of the inner ferrule is located intermediate the bypass crimp wings and the insulation crimp wings when the outer ferrule is crimped to the shielded cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Leslie L. Jones, Nicole L. Liptak, Michael D. Messuri, Jared Bilas, Michael J. Demonica, Christopher A. Margrave, Dominic A. Messuri, James P. Schuster
  • Publication number: 20200127421
    Abstract: An electromagnetic shield terminal assembly configured for attachment to a shielded cable includes a tubular inner ferrule having a flared attachment end configured to be disposed intermediate the shield conductor and the inner insulation layer of the cable and a crimped outer ferrule formed of sheet metal having a cable attachment portion that defines a pair of bypass crimp wings and a pair of insulation crimp wings. Each insulation crimp wing defines a prong having a pointed end that penetrates the outer insulation layer of the cable. The flared attachment end of the inner ferrule is located intermediate the bypass crimp wings and the insulation crimp wings when the outer ferrule is crimped to the shielded cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Leslie L. Jones, Nicole L. Liptak, Michael D. Messuri, Jared Bilas, Michael J. Demonica, Christopher A. Margrave, Dominic A. Messuri, James P. Schuster
  • Publication number: 20200112125
    Abstract: A connector system includes a connector body defining a terminal cavity and a first and second groove each extending along an outer surface of the connector body and a terminal retainer attached to the connector body and moveable from a pre-staged position to a staged position. The terminal retainer retains a terminal within the cavity in the staged position. The terminal retainer has a base, a pair of first cantilevered arms extending from the base, a crossbar extending between the first arms defining a first latch feature, and a second cantilevered arm extending from the crossbar. The second arm is between the pair of first arms and defines a second latch feature. The first latch feature engages the first groove in the pre-staged position and the second groove in the staged position. The second latch feature engages the first groove in the staged position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Nicole L. Liptak, Christopher A. Margrave, Dominic A. Messuri, Michael D. Messuri
  • Patent number: 10601164
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a connector-body having electrical-terminals. The electrical-terminals are inserted into cavities defined by the connector-body through apertures defined in a rear-face of the connector-body. The connector-body includes a lock feature configured to releasably lock the electrical-terminals within the cavities. The lock feature has a planar-member with a first-end and a second-end. The first-end defines a flex-lock feature. The second-end is attached by a hinge to a leading-edge of the outer-surface of the connector-body proximate the front-face. The flex-lock feature defines a hook-side and a wall-side disposed within a slot defined by the connector-body. The hook-side is configured to releasably engage a locking-shelf partially enclosing the slot. The wall-side engages the electrical-terminals when the hook-side engages the locking-shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Erika M. Garver, Bart N. Caldwell, Christopher A. Margrave
  • Publication number: 20190312374
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a connector-body having electrical-terminals. The electrical-terminals are inserted into cavities defined by the connector-body through apertures defined in a rear-face of the connector-body. The connector-body includes a lock feature configured to releasably lock the electrical-terminals within the cavities. The lock feature has a planar-member with a first-end and a second-end. The first-end defines a flex-lock feature. The second-end is attached by a hinge to a leading-edge of the outer-surface of the connector-body proximate the front-face. The flex-lock feature defines a hook-side and a wall-side disposed within a slot defined by the connector-body. The hook-side is configured to releasably engage a locking-shelf partially enclosing the slot. The wall-side engages the electrical-terminals when the hook-side engages the locking-shelf.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Erika M. Garver, Bart N. Caldwell, Christopher A. Margrave
  • Patent number: 10348019
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a connector-body having electrical-terminals. The electrical-terminals are inserted into cavities defined by the connector-body through apertures defined in a rear-face of the connector-body. The connector-body includes a lock feature configured to releasably lock the electrical-terminals within the cavities. The lock feature has a planar-member with a first-end and a second-end. The first-end defines a flex-lock feature. The second-end is attached by a hinge to a leading-edge of the outer-surface of the connector-body proximate the front-face. The flex-lock feature defines a hook-side and a wall-side disposed within a slot defined by the connector-body. The hook-side is configured to releasably engage a locking-shelf partially enclosing the slot. The wall-side engages the electrical-terminals when the hook-side engages the locking-shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Erika M. Hocevar, Bart N. Caldwell, Christopher A. Margrave
  • Patent number: 10186803
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a first-connector and a second-connector. The first-connector has a locking-lug. The second-connector has a cantilevered latch configured to slideably engage the locking-lug. The cantilevered latch includes a pair of parallel latch-arms. The pair of parallel latch-arms terminate at a first cross-beam that spans the pair of parallel latch-arms. The cantilevered latch further includes a second cross-beam parallel to the first cross-beam. The second cross-beam is configured to releasably lock the locking-lug when the first-connector is mated with the second-connector. The pair of parallel latch-arms includes a rib extending beyond a bottom-surface of each individual latch-arm. The locking-lug deflects the pair of parallel latch-arms toward an outer-surface of the second-connector when first-connector is moved from an unmated-position to a mated-position, whereby the rib contacts the outer-surface and limits a deflection of the pair of parallel latch-arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Erika M. Hocevar, Bart N. Caldwell, Christopher A. Margrave
  • Patent number: 7588466
    Abstract: A filtered electrical connector for a power module comprises a connector body having a back wall partly defining a chamber at one end of the connector body. An alternating current filter is retained in the chamber, and a terminal extends through the back wall, the chamber, and the alternating current filter disposed in the chamber. The filtered electrical connector is attached to a housing having a metal portion with the chamber disposed in a pass-through hole of the housing. The terminal is attached to an electrical circuit inside the housing and the alternating current filter is grounded on the metal portion of the housing to filter alternating current flowing outside of the housing from the electrical circuit inside the housing via the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond J. Blasko, Dominic A. Messuri, Hoi Lui, Robert C. Beer, Christopher A. Margrave
  • Patent number: 7510407
    Abstract: A filtered electrical connection header assembly for an electrical device, and methods for assembling a filtered connection header assembly for an electrical device, are disclosed. An electrical connection header may include a housing for an electrical circuit and a connection header assembly secured to the housing that includes a plurality of electrical pins. The pins may each include a first portion, and a second portion oriented generally orthogonal to the first portion. The second portions of the pins extend into the housing to contact the electrical circuit. A forward end of a connector shroud may receive a pin stabilizer having a plurality of apertures that receive the first portion of the pins for engagement with a mating connector. The electrical connection header may further include a filter assembly configured to filter a signal transmitted though the pins that is secured to the external surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond J. Blasko, Dominic A. Messuri, Peter M. Politsky, Christopher A. Margrave
  • Patent number: 7485012
    Abstract: An electrical connection system comprises a connector shell and a plurality of wafer connectors that plug into the connector shell. Each wafer connector holds a plurality of electric terminals that are attached to ends of electric cables, and a lock bar that is attached to the connector shell to retain the wafer connectors in the connector shell. The connector shell has an upper wall, a lower wall and side walls that are spaced apart to define a stack of wafer connector compartments that extends from the upper wall to the lower wall, an uppermost compartment being defined in part by the upper wall and an lowermost compartment being defined in part by the lower wall. The side walls each have slots in their confronting surfaces for each compartment in the stack of wafer connector compartments for locating a wafer connector in each compartment, the slots being longitudinal and open ended so that a wafer connector can be inserted longitudinally into each compartment from an insertion end of the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Daugherty, Christopher A. Margrave, Thomas E. McLain, John T. Kightlinger, Theodore R. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20090004922
    Abstract: An electrical connection system comprises a connector shell and a plurality of wafer connectors that plug into the connector shell. Each wafer connector holds a plurality of electric terminals that are attached to ends of electric cables, and a lock bar that is attached to the connector shell to retain the wafer connectors in the connector shell. The connector shell has an upper wall, a lower wall and side walls that are spaced apart to define a stack of wafer connector compartments that extends from the upper wall to the lower wall, an uppermost compartment being defined in part by the upper wall and an lowermost compartment being defined in part by the lower wall. The side walls each have slots in their confronting surfaces for each compartment in the stack of wafer connector compartments for locating a wafer connector in each compartment, the slots being longitudinal and open ended so that a wafer connector can be inserted longitudinally into each compartment from an insertion end of the shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: James D. Daugherty, Christopher A. Margrave, Thomas E. McLain, John T. Kightlinger, Theodore R. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20080070444
    Abstract: A filtered electrical connector for a power module comprises a connector body having a back wall partly defining a chamber at one end of the connector body. An alternating current filter is retained in the chamber, and a terminal extends through the back wall, the chamber, and the alternating current filter disposed in the chamber. The filtered electrical connector is attached to a housing having a metal portion with the chamber disposed in a pass-through hole of the housing. The terminal is attached to an electrical circuit inside the housing and the alternating current filter is grounded on the metal portion of the housing to filter alternating current flowing outside of the housing from the electrical circuit inside the housing via the terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Raymond J. Blasko, Dominic A. Messuri, Hoi Lui, Robert C. Beer, Christopher A. Margrave
  • Patent number: 7241156
    Abstract: An electrical connector has a connector body that is equipped with a cam lever that is pivotally attached to the connector body for movement between a transit position and a lock position. The electrical connector has a retainer to prevent detachment of the cam lever from the connector body during transit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Margrave, Robert S. Lesigonich, Joseph M. Senk
  • Patent number: 5238429
    Abstract: An electrical assembly comprises an electrical connector and an electrical device such as a sensor that are connected directly to each other. The electrical connector has a one-piece connector body of moldable, thermoplastic electrically insulative material that has a socket at one end for receiving a mating electrical connector, and a platform at the other end supporting the electrical device. One-piece terminals are insert molded in the connector body so that the insert molded terminals have exposed contacts at one end that project into the socket and exposed contacts at the other end that project outwardly of the platform. The electrical device is fastened to the platform mechanically and has prongs that engage the exposed contacts at the other end of the insert molded terminals. The electrical assembly may also include a second electrical device such as a diode that is fastened to the front of the platform and electrically connected to the exposed contacts of the insert molded terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher A. Margrave, Kenneth C. Stevens
  • Patent number: 4906203
    Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a plug connector body which has a pair of female terminals and a U-shaped, sheet metal shorting clip. The shorting clip is retained in an intermediate cavity and has a pair of cantilevered spring contact arms which engage respective side walls of the female terminals. A mating electrical connector comprises a socket connector body which has a cam which engages one of the spring contact arms of the shorting clip and disengages the shorting clip form the side wall of one female terminal when the socket connector body is connected to the plug connector body. A loose piece shroud which is attached to the plug connector body has a lock arm which engages a lock member of the socket connector body to lock the mated plug and socket connector bodies together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher A. Margrave, Randall K. Smith, Charles E. Fowler, Glenn E. Robison