Patents by Inventor Gregory R. Pratt
Gregory R. Pratt 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: 8292639Abstract: Control modules having connectors with compliant pin terminals for connection to a printed circuit board (PCB) are provided. The module housing can be made of a die cast metal to withstand harsh environments and have at least one open bay area for receiving a connector having compliant pin contacts for connecting the module to a PCB. A plurality of compliant pin terminal can have a push shoulders for providing an engagement surface for insertion of the terminals through passages in a connector housing, for positioning the connector relative to the die cast housing during the mounting the connector to the die cast housing, and to transfer the force away from the connector housing applied in connecting the PCB to the compliant pin tips. The connectors can be linear and exposed terminal surfaces can be sealed against the elements by a sealant.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2007Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: Molex IncorporatedInventors: Daniel G. Achammer, Gregory R. Pratt, Thomas G. Premo, Sasikumar Vimalan, Christopher J. Vetch
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Publication number: 20100317239Abstract: Control modules having connectors with compliant pin terminals for connection to a printed circuit board (PCB) are provided. The module housing can be made of a die cast metal to withstand harsh environments and have at least one open bay area for receiving a connector having compliant pin contacts for connecting the module to a PCB. A plurality of compliant pin terminal can have a push shoulders for providing an engagement surface for insertion of the terminals through passages in a connector housing, for positioning the connector relative to the die cast housing during the mounting the connector to the die cast housing, and to transfer the force away from the connector housing applied in connecting the PCB to the compliant pin tips. The connectors can be linear and exposed terminal surfaces can be sealed against the elements by a sealant.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2007Publication date: December 16, 2010Inventors: Daniel G. Achammer, Gregory R. Pratt, Thomas G. Premo, Sasikumar Vimalan, Christopher J. Vetch
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Patent number: 6652292Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a first connector having a dielectric housing mounting a plurality of conductive terminals. A second connector includes a grounding housing. A double-sided printed circuit board is sandwiched between the first and second connectors. One side of the board has circuit means connected to the terminals of the first connector. A second side of the board has ground circuit means connected to the grounding housing of the second connector.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2002Date of Patent: November 25, 2003Assignee: Molex IncorporatedInventors: Gregory R. Pratt, Harry N. Etters, Paul Christopher Berg, Russell L. Mackowiak
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Publication number: 20030162421Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a first connector having a dielectric housing mounting a plurality of conductive terminals. A second connector includes a grounding housing. A double-sided printed circuit board is sandwiched between the first and second connectors. One side of the board has circuit means connected to the terminals of the first connector. A second side of the board has ground circuit means connected to the grounding housing of the second connector.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2002Publication date: August 28, 2003Inventors: Gregory R. Pratt, Harry N. Etters, Paul Christopher Berg, Russell L. Mackowiak
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Patent number: 5848920Abstract: An elongate strip of electrical terminals adapted to be inserted into a row of terminal-receiving passages in connector housing is disclosed. The strip includes a series of terminals joined by a mid-carrier strip and includes alternating first and second terminals. The terminals have base portions with retention sections adapted to be inserted into the terminal-receiving passages. Spring arms having contact portions extend from first ends of the base portions. Tail portions extend from second, opposite ends of the base portions. The mid-carrier strip joins the alternating first and second terminals at the base portions of the first terminals and at the spring arm of the second terminals. A second carrier strip joins the tips of the tail portions of only the first terminals so that the adjacent ends of the second terminals can be formed independent of the first terminals.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 1996Date of Patent: December 15, 1998Assignee: Molex IncorporatedInventors: Daniel Thomas Klein, Gregory R. Pratt, Kent E. Regnier
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Patent number: 5830017Abstract: A connector for an edge card includes an elongated insulative housing with a central edge card-receiving slot formed in its top surfaces between two opposing sidewalls of the housing. The housing incudes two sets of terminal-receiving cavities disposed between the two side walls. The cavities are spaced apart from each other and separated by intervening cavity walls and the cavities are open to the exterior of the connector housing at the top and bottom of the housing. Conductive terminals are inserted into the cavities, preferably from the bottom and the terminals contain contact portions that are adapted to engage confronting contact pads on the edge card. The contact portions extend through additional openings of the cavities so that part of the contact portions extend into the card-receiving slot. The housing includes two preload walls that extend the length of the housing and separate the top openings from the slot openings of the cavities.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 1997Date of Patent: November 3, 1998Assignee: Molex IncorporatedInventors: Robert A. Owsley, Vladimir A. Dashevsky, Gregory R. Pratt, Kent E. Regnier
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Patent number: 5824257Abstract: An improved core detail tooling assembly for use in the injection molding of electrical connector housings utilizes opposing sets of tooling elements and one set of tooling elements positively engages the other set at a location exterior of openings in the mold cavity. This engagement location permits the molding of electrical connector housings with greater reliability and at smaller pitches.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 1997Date of Patent: October 20, 1998Assignee: Molex IncorporatedInventors: Vladimir A. Dashevsky, Robert A. Owsley, Gregory R. Pratt, Kent E. Regnier
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Patent number: 5810623Abstract: A push-pull edge card electrical connector is adapted for receiving an edge of a printed circuit board having contact pads on opposite sides of the board adjacent the edge. The connector includes an elongated dielectric housing having a board-receiving face. An elongated slot is disposed in the board-receiving face generally along a longitudinal axis of the housing for receiving the edge of the printed circuit board. A plurality of pairs of transversely spaced terminal-receiving cavities are disposed on opposite sides of the slot defining two rows of cavities lengthwise of the housing. The pairs of transversely spaced cavities are separated by transverse walls extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing. A plurality of terminals are received in the transversely spaced cavities. The terminals are in pairs for engaging the contact pads on opposite sides of the printed circuit board. One terminal in each pair is disposed in a respective one of the transversely spaced cavities.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 1996Date of Patent: September 22, 1998Assignee: Molex IncporporatedInventors: Kent E. Regnier, Gregory R. Pratt
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Patent number: 5800203Abstract: A push-pull edge card electrical connector is adapted for receiving an edge of a printed circuit board having contacts on opposite sides of the board adjacent the edge. An elongated dielectric housing includes a board-receiving face and a board-mounting face. An elongated slot is disposed in the board-receiving face generally along a longitudinal axis of the housing for receiving the edge of the printed circuit board. A plurality of pairs of alternating transversely spaced terminal-receiving cavities define two rows of first and second cavities on opposite sides of the slot lengthwise of the housing. The pairs of transversely spaced cavities are separated by transverse walls. A plurality of retention bosses are molded integrally with the housing in alignment with said second cavities and projecting from the board-mounting face a predetermined distance. A pair of first and second shapes of terminals are received in each pair of first and second cavities, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 1996Date of Patent: September 1, 1998Assignee: Molex IncorporatedInventors: Gregory R. Pratt, Kent E. Regnier
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Patent number: 5800214Abstract: A push-pull edge card electrical connector is adapted for receiving an edge of a printed circuit board having contact pads on opposite sides of the board adjacent the edge. The connector includes an elongated dielectric housing having a board-receiving face. An elongated slot is disposed in the board-receiving face generally along a longitudinal axis of the housing for receiving the edge of the printed circuit board. A plurality of pairs of transversely spaced terminal-receiving cavities are disposed on opposite sides of the slot defining two rows of cavities lengthwise of the housing. The pairs of transversely spaced cavities are separated by transverse walls extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing. The housing includes side walls at each pair of transversely spaced terminal-receiving cavities, with the side walls being of different thicknesses along the length thereof to accommodate different shapes of terminals in each pair thereof.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 1996Date of Patent: September 1, 1998Assignee: Molex IncorporatedInventors: Gregory R. Pratt, Kent E. Regnier
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Patent number: 5800213Abstract: A push-pull edge card electrical connector is adapted for receiving an edge of a printed circuit board having contact pads on opposite sides of the board adjacent the edge. The connector includes an elongated dielectric housing having an elongated slot for receiving the edge of the printed circuit board. A plurality of first and second alternating terminal-receiving cavities are spaced along at least one side of the slot and separated by transverse walls extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing. The cavities are disposed between longitudinal side walls of the housing and a reinforcing rib extends across and joins the transverse walls of at least some of the cavities generally adjacent the slot. A first press-fit recess is located generally adjacent but spaced from one of the longitudinal sidewalls of the first cavities and a second press-fit recess is located generally adjacent but spaced from the reinforcing rib within the second cavities.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 1996Date of Patent: September 1, 1998Assignee: Molex IncorporatedInventors: Kent E. Regnier, Gregory R. Pratt
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Patent number: 5785556Abstract: A push-pull edge card electrical connector is adapted for receiving an edge of a printed circuit board having contact pads on opposite sides of the board adjacent the edge. The connector includes an elongated dielectric housing having a board-receiving face. An elongated slot is disposed in the board-receiving face generally along a longitudinal axis of the housing for receiving the edge of the printed circuit board. A plurality of pairs of transversely spaced terminal-receiving cavities are disposed on opposite sides of the slot defining two rows of cavities lengthwise of the housing. The pairs of transversely spaced cavities are separated by transverse walls extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing. A plurality of terminals are received in the transversely spaced cavities. The terminals are in pairs for engaging the contact pads on opposite sides of the printed circuit board. One terminal in each pair is disposed in a respective one of the transversely spaced cavities.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 1996Date of Patent: July 28, 1998Assignee: Molex IncorporatedInventors: Gregory R. Pratt, Kent E. Regnier
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Patent number: 5370550Abstract: A connector, for example an electrical connector, comprises first and second slidably engaging portions (12) (14) having a lock (16) distributed therebetween. The lock (16) comprises a locking tongue (18) having a fixed end (20) attached to the first portion, and a free end (22) extending therefrom. First and second spaced apart side walls (28, 30) are positioned adjacent the free end. A keeper (24) is formed on the second portion, and has a roof (31 ) and first and second spaced apart side walls (34, 36), and a depending lug (38) on the interior of the keeper roof. The free end (22) of the tongue (18) is formed to engage the lug (38) on the keeper roof. A lock disabler (26) having two operative positions with respect to the locking tongue is provided. A first position allows disengagement of the free end of the locking tongue from the keeper and a second position prevents disengagement of the free end of said locking tongue from the keeper.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 1993Date of Patent: December 6, 1994Assignee: OSRAM Sylvania Inc.Inventors: K. Troy Alwine, Bradley G. Johnson, Gregory R. Pratt, Douglas G. Seymour
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Patent number: 5199884Abstract: A surface mounted connector (25) for interconnecting closely centered circuits such as those carried by circuit boards (12, 18) includes plug and receptacle housings (24, 90) which internest to interconnect edge mounted, thin stamped contacts (50, 116) on centers complementary those of said circuits which include a contact configuration producing a series of point contacts (70, 128) and solder wells (70, 130) to provide an improved solder joint between respective contacts and boards. The contacts extend outside the side walls of the housings (64, 164) to facilitate heat application for solder reflow and inspection of solder joints. The contacts further have barbs (66, 126) engaging the said housings to hold the contacts against displacement upon separation of the plug from the receptacle.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 1991Date of Patent: April 6, 1993Assignee: AMP IncorporatedInventors: John W. Kaufman, Donald J. Summers, Gregory R. Pratt