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).

  • Patent number: 9379530
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale J. Smutny, John W. Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20150162733
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: DALE J. SMUTNY, JOHN W. SHAFFER
  • Patent number: 8992251
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale J. Smutny, Wesley W. Weber, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140287621
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: DALE J. SMUTNY, WESLEY W. WEBER, JR.
  • Patent number: 8584315
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Masanori Adachi, Dale J. Smutny
  • Publication number: 20130291335
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Masanori Adachi, Dale J. Smutny
  • Publication number: 20120225582
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: DALE J. SMUTNY, WESLEY W. WEBER
  • Patent number: 8257111
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale J. Smutny, Wesley W. Weber
  • Patent number: 7980872
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale J. Smutny, Wesley W. Weber
  • Patent number: 7757997
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale J. Smutny, Brian Gene Angelo
  • Publication number: 20100025547
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Dale J. Smutny, Brian Gene Angelo
  • Patent number: 7594629
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale J. Smutny, Laura M. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20070284486
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventors: Dale J. Smutny, Laura M. Lewis
  • Patent number: 7278890
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale J. Smutny, Lisa J. McClearn
  • Patent number: 7104829
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Volpone, Dale J. Smutny, Daniel J. Erdman
  • Patent number: 7026549
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale J. Smutny, Terry L. Chapin, Masahiro Yoshino, Dale W. Kirk, Paul W. Miller