Patents by Inventor Gwen L. Michaux

Gwen L. Michaux 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).

  • Connector having surface mount terminals for connecting to a printed circuit board
    Patent number: 6012931
    Abstract: A connector having a set of terminals (10) that are preferably coplanar and are used to connect electrical components, such as surface mount components, with a printed circuit board (PCB). The connector uses an insulative wafer (50) to achieve and to maintain the coplanarity of the terminals (10). Initially, the terminals (10) are overbent so that as the wafer (50) is being placed in the connector housing (5), the terminals (10) contact the wafer (50) on a slope (55) of the wafer (50). In other words, as the wafer (50) is being mated with the connector housing (5), the wafer (50) pushes against the terminals (10) to establish coplanarity. Thus, the wafer (50) works in conjunction with the terminals (10) in the connector housing (5) to establish coplanarity. Therefore, the connector supports the terminals (10) for positioning while ensuring that the terminals (10) are coplanar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Berg Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gwen L. Michaux, David C. Horchler