Patents by Inventor Dale J. Smutny
Dale J. Smutny 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).
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Patent number: 9379530Abstract: A flexible grommet with a grommet spreader mounting and alignment feature is provided. The grommet is configured to attach an object to a support structure. A body of the grommet defines an opening configured to clamp around the object. The opening defines a plurality of channels configured to facilitate mounting of the grommet onto the spreader. The channels may also be configured to correctly orient a mating feature of the grommet relative to the spreader.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2013Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Dale J. Smutny, John W. Shaffer
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Publication number: 20150162733Abstract: A flexible grommet with a grommet spreader mounting and alignment feature is provided. The grommet is configured to attach an object to a support structure. A body of the grommet defines an opening configured to clamp around the object. The opening defines a plurality of channels configured to facilitate mounting of the grommet onto the spreader. The channels may also be configured to correctly orient a mating feature of the grommet relative to the spreader.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2013Publication date: June 11, 2015Applicant: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: DALE J. SMUTNY, JOHN W. SHAFFER
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Patent number: 8992251Abstract: An electrical splice assembly includes a housing having a forward portion, a rearward portion, and an intermediate portion defining a plurality of terminal retention cavities between the forward portion and the rearward portion. A conductive bus plate is retained within the forward portion of the housing. A plurality of terminals each extend into a respective terminal retention cavity and each terminal is in electrical contact with the bus plate. Each of the terminal retention cavities is defined by 1) a pair of opposing sidewalls connected to the forward portion and to the rearward portion and 2) a pair of opposing retention beams. The retention beams each include a latch which engages a respective terminal to retain the terminals in the terminal retention cavities.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2013Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Dale J. Smutny, Wesley W. Weber, Jr.
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Publication number: 20140287621Abstract: An electrical splice assembly includes a housing having a forward portion, a rearward portion, and an intermediate portion defining a plurality of terminal retention cavities between the forward portion and the rearward portion. A conductive bus plate is retained within the forward portion of the housing. A plurality of terminals each extend into a respective terminal retention cavity and each terminal is in electrical contact with the bus plate. Each of the terminal retention cavities is defined by 1) a pair of opposing sidewalls connected to the forward portion and to the rearward portion and 2) a pair of opposing retention beams. The retention beams each include a latch which engages a respective terminal to retain the terminals in the terminal retention cavities.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2013Publication date: September 25, 2014Applicant: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: DALE J. SMUTNY, WESLEY W. WEBER, JR.
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Patent number: 8584315Abstract: A grommet extends along an axis for insertion into a hole of a panel. The grommet includes a hollow funnel-shaped section inclined to the axis such that a portion of said funnel-shaped section is compressed radially inward during insertion of the grommet into said hole, the funnel-shaped section terminates at a circular ridgeline. The grommet also includes a retention groove adjacent to the ridgeline for receiving the panel upon complete insertion of the grommet into the hole. An array of recesses is included on an inside surface of the grommet. The recesses are arranged to expand when the funnel-shaped section passes through the hole during insertion of the grommet into the hole.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2012Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Masanori Adachi, Dale J. Smutny
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Publication number: 20130291335Abstract: A grommet extends along an axis for insertion into a hole of a panel. The grommet includes a hollow funnel-shaped section inclined to the axis such that a portion of said funnel-shaped section is compressed radially inward during insertion of the grommet into said hole, the funnel-shaped section terminates at a circular ridgeline. The grommet also includes a retention groove adjacent to the ridgeline for receiving the panel upon complete insertion of the grommet into the hole. An array of recesses is included on an inside surface of the grommet. The recesses are arranged to expand when the funnel-shaped section passes through the hole during insertion of the grommet into the hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2012Publication date: November 7, 2013Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Masanori Adachi, Dale J. Smutny
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Publication number: 20120225582Abstract: A sealed electrical splice assembly includes a housing defining a cavity and including an opening. A conductive bus plate is retained in the cavity. A plurality of electrically conductive terminals are received in the cavity are electrically connected to the bus plate. The plurality of terminals are connected to a plurality of wire conductors. A seal plug is disposed in the cavity through the opening adapted to sealingly engage an interior surface of the housing surrounding the seal plug. An end cover overlies the seal plug disposed in the opening. The cavity receives the plurality of terminals through the end cover and the seal plug thereby allowing the seal plug to sealingly engage the plurality of wire conductors.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2011Publication date: September 6, 2012Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: DALE J. SMUTNY, WESLEY W. WEBER
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Patent number: 8257111Abstract: A sealed electrical splice assembly includes a housing defining a cavity and including an opening. A conductive bus plate is retained in the cavity. A plurality of electrically conductive terminals are received in the cavity are electrically connected to the bus plate. The plurality of terminals are connected to a plurality of wire conductors. A seal plug is disposed in the cavity through the opening adapted to sealingly engage an interior surface of the housing surrounding the seal plug. An end cover overlies the seal plug disposed in the opening. The cavity receives the plurality of terminals through the end cover and the seal plug thereby allowing the seal plug to sealingly engage the plurality of wire conductors.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2011Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Dale J. Smutny, Wesley W. Weber
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Patent number: 7980872Abstract: An electrical splice assembly includes a conductive bus plate having a plurality of male blades, an insulative housing having a forward portion retaining the bus plate and a rearward portion defining a terminal receiving tray, a plurality of female terminals disposed in the terminal receiving tray and attached to the male blades, and a cover integrally hingedly attached to the housing. The cover includes a lock bar that projects into the terminal receiving tray to retain the terminals in connection with the bus plate when the cover is in a closed position overlying the tray. The housing further includes an intermediate portion defining a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending cavities in communication with a space defined by the tray. At least a portion of each blade and a portion of each terminal extend into respective cavities.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2010Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Dale J. Smutny, Wesley W. Weber
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Patent number: 7757997Abstract: A clip for fastening an article to a panel having a hole has a base and a self expanding head attached to the base. The self-expanding head has at least one column extending from the base to a platform that is spaced from the base. First and second flexible beams are attached to the platform at one end and to the base at an opposite end. The first flexible beam has a first plurality of retention shoulders and the second flexible beam has a second plurality of retention shoulders. Each plurality of retention shoulders includes at least one retention shoulder that is spaced from every other retention shoulder in a vertical direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2008Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Dale J. Smutny, Brian Gene Angelo
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Publication number: 20100025547Abstract: A clip for fastening an article to a panel having a hole has a base and a self expanding head attached to the base. The self-expanding head has at least one column extending from the base to a platform that is spaced from the base. First and second flexible beams are attached to the platform at one end and to the base at an opposite end. The first flexible beam has a first plurality of retention shoulders and the second flexible beam has a second plurality of retention shoulders. Each plurality of retention shoulders includes at least one retention shoulder that is spaced from every other retention shoulder in a vertical direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2008Publication date: February 4, 2010Inventors: Dale J. Smutny, Brian Gene Angelo
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Patent number: 7594629Abstract: A clip for fastening an article to a panel having a hole has a base and a self expanding head extending upwardly from the base. The self-expanding head has at least one column rising from the base to a platform that is spaced from the base. First and second pluralities of resilient legs attached to the platform extend toward the base. The first plurality of resilient legs have first retention shoulders that are spaced from the base and the second plurality of resilient legs have second and third retention shoulders that are spaced from the base. The second and third retention shoulders are located respectively closer to the base than the first retention shoulders so that the clip can be attached to panels of varying thickness when the head is inserted through a hole in the panel with the base abutting one side of the panel adjacent the hole and the first retention shoulders or the second retention shoulders or the third retention shoulders abutting an opposite side of the panel adjacent the hole.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2006Date of Patent: September 29, 2009Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Dale J. Smutny, Laura M. Lewis
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Publication number: 20070284486Abstract: A clip for fastening an article to a panel having a hole has a base and a self expanding head extending upwardly from the base. The self-expanding head has at least one column rising from the base to a platform that is spaced from the base. First and second pluralities of resilient legs attached to the platform extend toward the base. The first plurality of resilient legs have first retention shoulders that are spaced from the base and the second plurality of resilient legs have second and third retention shoulders that are spaced from the base. The second and third retention shoulders are located respectively closer to the base than the first retention shoulders so that the clip can be attached to panels of varying thickness when the head is inserted through a hole in the panel with the base abutting one side of the panel adjacent the hole and the first retention shoulders or the second retention shoulders or the third retention shoulders abutting an opposite side of the panel adjacent the hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2006Publication date: December 13, 2007Inventors: Dale J. Smutny, Laura M. Lewis
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Patent number: 7278890Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a connector body having rows of longitudinal terminal cavities that are separated by internal partition walls of the connector body and that extend from an insertion end to a mating end for receiving electrical terminals attached to conductor wires. The connector body has primary terminal locks in the terminal cavities for retaining the electrical terminals in the terminal cavities. The connector body has a transverse slot that extends through a floor and intersects the rows of terminal cavities. A secondary lock fits into the transverse slot for retaining the electrical terminals in the terminal cavities. The secondary lock has lock nibs that engage internal partition walls of the connector body to hold the secondary lock in a preload position that permits insertion of the electrical terminals into the terminal cavities via openings at the insertion end of the connector body.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2006Date of Patent: October 9, 2007Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Dale J. Smutny, Lisa J. McClearn
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Patent number: 7104829Abstract: A connector includes a housing, a base extending from an outer surface of the housing, and a deflectable, cantilever locking arm extending from an outer surface of the base. A window is formed in the locking arm at a location proximate the base. The locking arm and base are shaped to resist breakage of the locking arm and base when the lock arm is bent away from the outer surface of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2005Date of Patent: September 12, 2006Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Thomas A. Volpone, Dale J. Smutny, Daniel J. Erdman
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Patent number: 7026549Abstract: A one-piece, molded elastomeric grommet for mounting in a hole that extends through a support panel for passing a member through the support panel has an elongate tubular portion defining a passage that extends from an inlet at one end of the tubular portion to an exit at an opposite end of the tubular portion. An umbrella portion surrounds the tubular portion and has a forward end that is integrally attached to the tubular portion so as to form an open ended acoustic chamber outwardly of the tubular portion. A mounting portion at a rearward end of the umbrella portion comprising a forward mounting flange and the umbrella portion includes a collapsible wall having a substantially uniform thickness and an undulate shape in a circumferential direction to facilitate insertion of the forward mounting flange through an undersized hole in a support panel.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2005Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Dale J. Smutny, Terry L. Chapin, Masahiro Yoshino, Dale W. Kirk, Paul W. Miller