Patents by Inventor Donald Robert Worthington

Donald Robert Worthington 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: 8926363
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a housing having a front end and a rear end and including housing channels extending axially from the front end to the rear end for holding a wire assembly. The connector assembly includes a stabilizer having a front end and a rear end. The stabilizer includes supports extending from the front end with support channels along a longitudinal axis of the stabilizer. The stabilizer is coupled to the rear end of the housing so that the support channels align with the housing channels to accept corresponding wire assemblies therein. A front retaining feature holds the stabilizer to the housing. A rear retaining feature holds the wire assemblies to the stabilizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: David Allen Klein, Donald Robert Worthington, Jr., Matthew Chris Peterson
  • Publication number: 20130230996
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a housing having a front end and a rear end and including housing channels extending axially from the front end to the rear end for holding a wire assembly. The connector assembly includes a stabilizer having a front end and a rear end. The stabilizer includes supports extending from the front end with support channels along a longitudinal axis of the stabilizer. The stabilizer is coupled to the rear end of the housing so that the support channels align with the housing channels to accept corresponding wire assemblies therein. A front retaining feature holds the stabilizer to the housing. A rear retaining feature holds the wire assemblies to the stabilizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: David Allen Klein, Donald Robert Worthington, JR., Matthew Chris Peterson
  • Patent number: 7773379
    Abstract: A module assembly includes a component housing having a plurality of walls forming a cavity. At least one of the walls includes an opening therethrough open to the cavity. The heat transfer plate is mounted within the opening of the component housing and his exposed on an exterior of the component housing. The heat transfer plate forms at least a portion of a mounting surface of the component housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Lyle Stanley Bryan, Roger Lee Thrush, Robert Daniel Irlbeck, Donald Robert Worthington
  • Publication number: 20090103268
    Abstract: A module assembly includes a component housing having a plurality of walls forming a cavity. At least one of the walls includes an opening therethrough open to the cavity. The heat transfer plate is mounted within the opening of the component housing and his exposed on an exterior of the component housing. The heat transfer plate forms at least a portion of a mounting surface of the component housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: LYLE STANLEY BRYAN, ROGER LEE THRUSH, ROBERT DANIEL IRLBECK, DONALD ROBERT WORTHINGTON
  • Patent number: 7481675
    Abstract: An electrical connector is shown having a housing having terminal receiving passageways, which receives a plurality of electrical terminals therein. The connector housing has a rear wire seal having a plurality of apertures at a rear face thereof for receiving terminals and a terminated conductor therethrough. At least one of the plurality of electrical terminal passageways is empty, and the sealing plug is positioned in the terminal receiving passageway to seal the cavity from the rear side thereof. The sealing plug also includes a latching surface for latching with the latch of the housing, and further provides a forward portion to deflect an installed shunt downwardly to prevent stubbing of a pin contact of a mating connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jeremy Christin Patterson, Donald Robert Worthington, John Mark Myer
  • Publication number: 20080233784
    Abstract: An electrical connector is shown having a housing having terminal receiving passageways, which receives a plurality of electrical terminals therein. The connector housing has a rear wire seal having a plurality of apertures at a rear face thereof for receiving terminals and a terminated conductor therethrough. At least one of the plurality of electrical terminal passageways is empty, and the sealing plug is positioned in the terminal receiving passageway to seal the cavity from the rear side thereof. The sealing plug also includes a latching surface for latching with the latch of the housing, and further provides a forward portion to deflect an installed shunt downwardly to prevent stubbing of a pin contact of a mating connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jeremy Christin Patterson, Donald Robert Worthington, John Mark Myer
  • Patent number: 7384285
    Abstract: A lever mated connector assembly including a housing configured to mate with a header, a wire guide mounted to the housing having a latch with a retaining surface, a lever having a catch with a retaining surface and being coupled to the housing for rotational movement between an unlocked position and a locked position wherein the catch retaining surface engages the latch retaining surface to inhibit movement of the lever out of the locked position. The wire guide is provided with an overstress mechanism to prevent over extension of the latch to a position where the latch is plastically deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jeremy Christin Patterson, Donald Robert Worthington
  • Publication number: 20070197081
    Abstract: A lever mated connector assembly including a housing configured to mate with a header, a wire guide mounted to the housing having a latch with a retaining surface, a lever having a catch with a retaining surface and being coupled to the housing for rotational movement between an unlocked position and a locked position wherein the catch retaining surface engages the latch retaining surface to inhibit movement of the lever out of the locked position. The wire guide is provided with an overstress mechanism to prevent over extension of the latch to a position where the latch is plastically deformed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Applicant: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jeremy Christin Patterson, Donald Robert Worthington
  • Patent number: 6666698
    Abstract: In electrical connector assemblies 2, 102 comprising mating receptacle and plug connectors, a force is generated during mating which urges the receptacle and plug connectors away from an intermediate, partially mated position in which arcing might occur between terminals in the mating connectors. This force can be generated when an inertial protrusion 24 on receptacle connector 10 engages an inertial protrusion 56 on a plug connector 50. This force can also be generated when movement of an over-center lever 170 results in deformation of a cantilever beam 120 when a receptacle connector 110 is mated to a plug connector 150. These connector assemblies 2, 102 can be used to limit damage to mating terminals in a 42 volt automotive electrical connector system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hoy Smith Beck, Jr., Jeremy Christin Patterson, Donald Robert Worthington
  • Publication number: 20020022391
    Abstract: In electrical connector assemblies 2, 102 comprising mating receptacle and plug connectors, a force is generated during mating which urges the receptacle and plug connectors away from an intermediate, partially mated position in which arcing might occur between terminals in the mating connectors. This force can be generated when an inertial protrusion 24 on receptacle connector 10 engages an inertial protrusion 56 on a plug connector 50. This force can also be generated when movement of an over-center lever 170 results in deformation of a cantilever beam 120 when a receptacle connector 110 is mated to a plug connector 150. These connector assemblies 2, 102 can be used to limit damage to mating terminals in a 42 volt automotive electrical connector system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Hoy Smith Beck, Jeremy Christin Patterson, Donald Robert Worthington
  • Patent number: 5964621
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes two plug connectors 2 that can be mounted in separate pockets 66 in a pin header 62 that can be mounted on an electronic module. Separate plug connectors 2 can be attached to separate wiring harnesses. To insure that an adequate number of wires can be connected in a header of substantially the same size, terminal latches 18 on inner ends of terminal rows are deflectable in a direction that is perpendicular to the direction in other terminal latches 16 in the same row are deflected when terminals 20 are inserted into the housing 4. A terminal position assurance member 30 includes a cantilevered plate 32 that engages terminal latches 16 and a cantilevered arm 24 that engages the terminal latch 18. This provides space for a force applying bolt 50 to be used in each connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Wolla, Donald Robert Worthington, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5931688
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly for mounting an electrical component, such as a radio, on a panel. The connector assembly permits blind mating of a radio in a dash. A header on the radio is mated to a plug connector on a wiring harness. The plug connector is mounted on a mounting member on a panel. When the component is inserted through an opening, such as an opening in an automobile dash, the plug connector can shift into alignment with a header on the component. Ramps on the header and on the plug connector cam the mating connectors into alignment permitting movement in a plane perpendicular to the mating direction. Alignment and movement in the mating direction is permitted by springs holding the plug connector on the housing. Metal springs exerting a mating force when deflected can be use. Alternatively molded cantilever latches can be deflected. The mated connectors can still move in the axial direction after mating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Company
    Inventors: Richard Eric Hasz, Lynn Wilson Abernethy, David Maurice Wolla, John Rudell Bussard, Donald Robert Worthington, Bruce Edwin Chapman