Patents by Inventor Dale C. McCarthy

Dale C. McCarthy 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: 8776732
    Abstract: A retractable leash having a tension strap connected to a safety line that can be releasably fastened to a tethered article. The retractable leash allows freedom of use of the tethered article without the retractable leash impinging any spring force on the tethered article. A retractable leash that employ a series of metal rings, a plastic spacer and a flat sided ball that can rotate in any direction to guide and to prevent tangling of the tension strap and preclude friction from the plastic collar edges. A retractable leash that uses means of a furrow in the spring cup for locking the inner loop of the tension strap from rotating. A retractable leash having an arbor with a flat side for mounting a spring retaining clip thereto and a central bore that keeps debris out of the spring cup in sandy conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Inventors: Carl S. Bredesen, Dale C McCarthy
  • Publication number: 20130219668
    Abstract: A retractable leash having a tension strap connected to a safety line that can be releasably fastened to a tethered article. The retractable leash allows freedom of use of the tethered article without the retractable leash impinging any spring force on the tethered article. A retractable leash that employ a series of metal rings, a plastic spacer and a flat sided ball that can rotate in any direction to guide and to prevent tangling of the tension strap and preclude friction from the plastic collar edges. A retractable leash that uses means of a furrow in the spring cup for locking the inner loop of the tension strap from rotating. A retractable leash having an arbor with a flat side for mounting a spring retaining clip thereto and a central bore that keeps debris out of the spring cup in sandy conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventors: Carl S. Bredesen, Dale C. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 6890208
    Abstract: The subject invention relates to an electrical connector for coupling to an insulated single conductor electrical cable or to a coaxial cable, the latter being of the type having an inner conductor enclosed in an inner concentric insulation and having a generally concentric conductive sheath therearound and an outer insulation enclosing the conductive sheath. The subject connector includes a housing having an electrically conductive portion and a bore therein. One or more conductive arms can be disposed in the bore and electrically connected to the conductive housing portion and have pointed ends sized for piercing the outer insulation of the insulated electrical conductor. A closure member is included for closing the open end of the above and for forcing and/or securing engagement of the pointed ends of the conductive arms through the outer insulation of an electrical cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Centerpin Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale C. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 6848934
    Abstract: A connector is provided for coupling a single wire electrical cable to an electrical appliance. The connector includes a body portion, a compression collar, and an end cap. The body portion has an elongated axis at one end of which is a battery terminal attaching portion and at the other end of which is a cable receiving portion that has a threaded outer surface and an internally positioned electrically conducive prong for penetrating the end of an electrical cable. The compression collar is sized to fit over an electrical conductor and has gripping fingers for engaging the surface of an electrical conductor. The end cap has an opening through which a cable can be inserted and includes threads on the inner surface for mating with the threads on the body portion. In practice, an electrical conductor is inserted through the opening in the end cap and through the compression collar and impinged onto the conductive prong of the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Centerpin Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale C. McCarthy
  • Publication number: 20040248466
    Abstract: The subject invention relates to an electrical connector for coupling to an insulated single conductor electrical cable or to a coaxial cable, the latter being of the type having an inner conductor enclosed in an inner concentric insulation and having a generally concentric conductive sheath therearound and an outer insulation enclosing the conductive sheath. The subject connector includes a housing having an electrically conductive portion and a bore therein. One or more conductive arms can be disposed in the bore and electrically connected to the conductive housing portion and have pointed ends sized for piercing the outer insulation of the insulated electrical conductor. A closure member is included for closing the open end of the above and for forcing and/or securing engagement of the pointed ends of the conductive arms through the outer insulation of an electrical cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventor: Dale C. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 6796829
    Abstract: The subject invention relates to an electrical connector for coupling to an insulated single conductor electrical cable or to a coaxial cable, the latter being of the type having an inner conductor enclosed in an inner concentric insulation and having a generally concentric conductive sheath therearound and an outer insulation enclosing the conductive sheath. The subject connector includes a housing having an electrically conductive portion and a bore therein. One or more conductive arms can be disposed in the bore and electrically connected to the conductive housing portion and have pointed ends sized for piercing the outer insulation of the insulated electrical conductor. A closure member is included for closing the open end of the above and for forcing and/or securing engagement of the pointed ends of the conductive arms through the outer insulation of an electrical cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Centerpin Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale C. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 6705884
    Abstract: The subject invention relates to an electrical connector for coupling to an insulated electrical conductor or a coaxial cable of the type having an inner conductor enclosed in an inner concentric insulation and having a generally concentric conductive sheath therearound and an outer insulation enclosing the conductive sheath. The subject connector can have a housing having an electrically conductive portion and a bore therein. The subject connector can also have an electrically conductive pin mounted in the housing with one end protruding axially into the housing bore. A second end of the conductive pin can extend in an opposite direction within a second housing bore. The electrically conductive center pin can have a hollow portion extending thereinto from the protruding end and can have an annular sharpened edge on the protruding end. One or more slits can extend along the side of the center pin from the protruding end to form a plurality of center pin segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Centerpin Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale C. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 6244892
    Abstract: The present invention is for an electrical connector and a method of making an electrical connector which connector has a housing having a bore therein and a housing cap having an aperture therethrough sized for an electrical conductor to pass through. An electrical conductor gripping collar is positioned between the housing and housing cap for gripping an electrical conductor threaded through the housing cap, through the gripping collar, and into the housing bore. The gripping collar is formed of a single generally flat piece of material having at least one opening therein having a plurality of gripping fingers extending from the edge of the opening for gripping an electrical conductor threaded therethrough for holding the electrical conductor to the electrical connector. The gripping collar can advantageously be made of flat material which has been stamped with a shaped die to punch a hole in the material and form the gripping fingers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Centerpin Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale C. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 6126491
    Abstract: An electrical connector and method for coupling an electrical conductor thereto has a conductor housing having at least one bore therein and an electrical conductive prong mounted in the housing bore. An electrical conductor gripping collar is positioned in each conductor housing bore with gripping fingers extending from the housing bore. A collar driving member or collar ring has an opening therein to receive an insulated electric conductor which extends therethrough, and through the gripping collar into the housing bore end onto the electrical conductive prong and to engage the extended and of the gripping collar. The collar driving member is used to push the gripping collar further into the housing bore to force the gripping fingers of the gripping collar onto the electrical conductor's insulation. The collar driving member is then fastened to the connector housing to couple the electrical conductor to the electrical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Centerpin Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale C. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 6123567
    Abstract: An electrical connector for coupling to a coaxial cable of the type having an inner conductor enclosed in an inner concentric insulation and having a generally concentric conductive sheath therearound and an outer insulation enclosing the conductive sheath. The connector has a housing having an electrically conductive portion and a bore therein. An electrically conductive pin has one end protruding axially into the housing bore and the second prong end extending in an opposite direction within a second housing bore. One or more conductive arms are electrically connected to the conductive housing portion and insulated from the electrical conductive prong and having pointed ends sized for driving the clamp into the outer insulation and into the conductive sheath without contacting the center conductor. A closure member for enforcing engagement of the pointed ends of the conductive arms into the outer insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Centerpin Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale C. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 6062897
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to an electrical/connector for coupling to a coaxial cable of the type having an inner conductor enclosed in an inner concentric insulation and having a generally concentric conductive sheath therearound and an outer insulation enclosing the conductive sheath. The connector has a housing having an electrically conductive portion and a bore therein. In a specific embodiment, an electrically conductive pin or prong has one end protruding axially into the housing bore and the second prong end extending in an opposite direction within a second housing bore. One or more conductive clamps are electrically connected to the conductive housing portion and insulated from the electrical conductive prong and has pointed ends sized for driving the clamp into the outer insulation and into the conductive sheath without contacting the center conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Centerpin Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale C. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 5934937
    Abstract: An electrical connector for coupling to a coaxial cable. The connector has a housing with a bore therein and a first electrical conductive prong protruding axially into the housing bore for receiving the end of an insulated electrical conductor. A second electrical conductive prong is attached to the housing and protrudes axially into the housing bore generally concentric to the first electrical conductive prong. The coaxial cable end is pushed into the housing bore to drive the center conductor into the first conductive prong and the second conductive prong into the cable conductive sheath. A coaxial cable collar is shaped to fit over the end of a piece of coaxial cable placed in the housing and has compressible fingers for driving onto the coax cable outer insulation to lock the cable to the housing. A cap having an annular wedging surface therein compresses the coaxial cable collar in the housing onto the insulated coaxial cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Centerpin Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale C. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 5934943
    Abstract: An electrical connector for coupling to an insulated electrical conductor which includes a housing having a housing cover, said housing and cover each having a bore therein, one of which has a tapered portion and the other end of which has a flat end wall, electrical conductive prong, attached to said housing in the bore therein and extending axially into the housing bore for receiving the end of an insulated electrical conductor. Attaching means for attaching the housing cover to the housing. A compression collar having a bore extending axially therethrough for insertion of a wire therethrough and into the housing bore and onto the pointed prong extending thereinto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Centerpin Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale C. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 5775934
    Abstract: An electrical connector for coupling to a coax cable of the type having an inner conductor enclosed in an inner concentric insulation and having a generally concentric conductive sheath therearound and an outer insulation enclosing the conductive sheath. The connector has a housing having an electrically conductive portion and a bore therein. An electrically conductive pin or prong has one end protruding axially into the housing bore and the second prong end extending in an opposite direction within a second housing bore. One or more conductive clamps are electrically connected to the conductive housing portion and insulated from the electrical conductive prong and has pointed ends sized for driving the clamp into the outer insulation and into the conductive sheath without contacting the center conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Centerpin Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale C. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 5704814
    Abstract: An electrical connector for coupling to an insulated electrical conductor includes an insulated housing having a threaded bore therein, which bore has a tapered portion therein. An electrical conductive prong has two end portions with one end portion attached to the housing and having a second end portion protruding axially into the housing bore for receiving the end of an insulated electrical conductor. A threaded compression collar is threadedly attached in the bore and has a bore extending axially therethrough for insertion of a wire therethrough and into the housing bore and onto the pointed prong extending thereinto. The threaded compression collar has a compressed portion compressible by threading the collar into the tapered portion of the bore whereby threading the collar onto the tapered portion of the bore clamps the collar onto the wire placed therein so that an insulated wire can be rapidly connected to an electrical connector without removing the insulation from the end of the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Centerpin Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale C. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 5403201
    Abstract: An electrical connector for coupling to an insulated electrical conductor includes an insulated housing having a bore therein shaped to receive an insulated wire end. An electrically conductive pointed prong is attached in the housing with the pointed prong extending axially within the bore. An electrical conductor is attached to the opposite end of the pointed prong and extends from the housing for conducting an electrical current therethrough. At least one clamp is positioned in the housing extending into the bore towards the pointed prong for clamping onto the wire insulation of an insulated conductor wire inserted into the bore to hold the wire end within the bore. The clamp can be positioned at an angle to allow the easy insertion of the wire end while preventing its removal without the lifting of the clamp. The housing can have a plurality of bores and with therein and the plurality of clamps can be spring loaded with a grip means for releasing each clamp to remove the wire end from the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Inventor: Dale C. McCarthy
  • Patent number: D387730
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Centerpin Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale C. McCarthy
  • Patent number: RE36700
    Abstract: An electrical connector for coupling to a .[.coax.]. .Iadd.coaxial .Iaddend.cable of the type having an inner conductor enclosed in an inner concentric insulation and having a generally concentric conductive sheath therearound and an outer insulation enclosing the conductive sheath. The connector has a housing having an electrically conductive portion and a bore therein. An electrically conductive pin or prong has one end protruding axially into the housing bore and the second prong end extending in an opposite direction within a second housing bore. One or more conductive clamps are electrically connected to the conductive housing portion and insulated from the electrical conductive prong and .[.has.]. .Iadd.have .Iaddend.pointed ends sized for driving the clamp into the outer insulation and into the conductive sheath without contacting the center conductor. A housing cap has an annular wedging member for driving the conductive .[.clamps.]. .Iadd.clamp's .Iaddend.pointed ends .[.into.]. .Iadd.through .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Centerpin Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale C. McCarthy