Patents by Inventor Harold B. Kent

Harold B. Kent 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).

  • Publication number: 20110214914
    Abstract: A method and system for transporting a fluid, gas, semi-solid, cryogen, or particulate matter, or combination thereof, between a three-dimensional structure and a substantially two-dimensional structure is disclosed. A system and method for electrically coupling a three-dimensional structure to a substantially two dimensional structure is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: E-Cath, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold B. Kent, Steven T. Kent
  • Patent number: 7957155
    Abstract: A method and system for transporting a fluid, gas, semi-solid, cryogen, or particulate matter, or combination thereof, between a three-dimensional structure and a substantially two-dimensional structure is disclosed. A system and method for electrically coupling a three-dimensional structure to a substantially two dimensional structure is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Medconx, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold B. Kent, Steven T. Kent
  • Patent number: 7762837
    Abstract: A male connector, including: a body having a proximal end and a distal end; and an elastomeric member disposed around an outer surface of the distal end of the body, wherein the distal end of the body is configured to be received into a female connector interface in a medical device, and wherein the proximal end of the body is configured to receive an electronic block connector therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Medconx, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold B. Kent, James J. Levante, Thor Roff, Joseph R. Layton, Aaron T. Fine
  • Patent number: 7718927
    Abstract: A micro solder pot includes a dielectric substrate having at least one hole formed therein, a conductive coating coupled to the interior of the hole, and at least one heat transfer pad spaced from the hole in thermal communication with the conductive coating of the hole. When the heat transfer pad is exposed to a heat source, the conductive coating inside the hole is heated. The micro solder pot may also include a thermally activated conductive material disposed within the hole. When the heat transfer pad is exposed to a heat source, the thermally activated conductive material becomes liquidus such that a component can be inserted into the liquidus material. When the heat source is removed, the thermally activated conductive material cools to couple the component to the conductive coating in the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: MEDCONX, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold B. Kent, James J. Levante, Aaron T. Fine, Joseph R. Layton
  • Publication number: 20090197460
    Abstract: A male connector, including: a body having a proximal end and a distal end; and an elastomeric member disposed around an outer surface of the distal end of the body, wherein the distal end of the body is configured to be received into a female connector interface in a medical device, and wherein the proximal end of the body is configured to receive an electronic block connector therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Harold B. Kent, James J. Levante, Thor Roff, Joseph R. Layton, Aaron T. Fine
  • Patent number: 7507114
    Abstract: A male connector includes a body and an elastomeric member. The body has a proximal end and a distal end. The elastomeric member is disposed around an outer surface of the distal end of the body. The distal end of the body is configured to be received into a female connector interface in a device. The proximal end of the body is configured to couple with an electronic block connector selected from a plurality of electronic block connectors, each of which has a different pin arrangement but a common coupling interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Medconx, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold B. Kent, James J. Levante, Thor Roff, Joseph R. Layton, Aaron T. Fine
  • Patent number: 7479019
    Abstract: An intelligent connector assembly for use in an interface between a device and a cable, including: a block having a circuit thereon, the block being configured to be received onto a housing, with alignment features on the housing and the block such that the block is receivable in only one orientation into the housing, and a plurality of external interfaces on the block. A method of simultaneously fabricating a plurality of circuit blocks for aligned positioning onto the housing of individual connectors, by: simultaneously fabricating a plurality of blocks on a single sheet of material; cutting a repeating pattern of holes across the single sheet; and separating the single sheet into sections such that each individual block is disposed on an identically shaped section of the single sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Medconx, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold B. Kent, James J. LeVante, Joseph R. Layton, Aaron T. Fine
  • Patent number: 7417197
    Abstract: A power transfer pad, having: a non-conductive board having a top and a bottom; a plurality of conductive substrate sections disposed across the top of the non-conductive board; at least one conducting element disposed on each of the conductive substrate sections; a plurality of electrical contacts on the bottom of the non-conductive board, wherein each of the electrical contacts on the bottom of the non-conductive board are in electrical communication with one of the conductive substrate sections on the top of the non-conductive board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Medconx, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold B. Kent, James J. Levante
  • Patent number: 7281324
    Abstract: A method of simultaneously fabricating a plurality of circuit blocks is presented. Each circuit block is configured for aligned positioning onto a housing of an individual electrical connector. The method includes simultaneously fabricating a plurality of circuits on a single sheet of material and cutting a repeating pattern of holes across the sheet of material. Then the sheet is separated into individual identical sections that have one or more peripheral edge. A circuit board is defined by each section. Each of the sections has a peripheral shape that is defined by the one or more peripheral edges. The peripheral shape is sized and configured to be receivable in only one orientation into a housing of an electrical connector. The holes are cut in the sheet of material such that holes are associated with each peripheral edge of each section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Medconx, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold B. Kent, James J. LeVante, Joseph R. Layton, Aaron T. Fine
  • Patent number: 7273992
    Abstract: A mechanical limiter device, having: a housing with a slot passing at least partially therearound, the slot forming a plurality of teeth in a side of the housing; a plunger movable within the housing; a biasing mechanism configured to urge the plunger in a proximal direction within the housing; a contact member extending through the slot in the side of the housing, the contact member being configured to advance past at least one of each of the plurality of teeth in the slot each time the plunger is moved back and forth within the housing. The contact member may perform a switching function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Medconx, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold B. Kent, James J. LeVante, Aaron T. Fine
  • Patent number: 7256362
    Abstract: A mechanical limiter switch for use in a medical or surgical device has a substantially cylindrically shaped housing with a perimeter and an opening in an axial direction. The housing has a pattern along the perimeter. A spring is mounted in the opening along the axial direction, and is pre-stressed for movement in a radial direction and pre-stressed for movement in the axial direction. The spring has a radial member protruding through the pattern of the housing. A plunger is mounted in the opening along the axial direction, abutting the spring for urging the spring in the axial direction and for moving the member in the pattern along the perimeter. After a pre-determined number of activations of the plunger in the axial direction, the member will come to a terminating position and will either contact a pin to establish electrical continuity or at the terminating position break electrical continuity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Medconx, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold B. Kent, James J. Levante, Aaron T. Fine, Joseph R. Layton
  • Patent number: 7075023
    Abstract: A mechanical limiter switch device, having: a housing with a slot passing at least partially therearound, the slot forming a plurality of teeth in a side of the housing; a plunger movable within the housing; a biasing mechanism configured to urge the plunger in a proximal direction within the housing; a contact member extending through the slot in the side of the housing, the contact member being configured to advance past at least one of each of the plurality of teeth in the slot each time the plunger is moved back and forth within the housing. The contact member may perform a switching function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Medconx, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold B. Kent, James J. LeVante, Aaron T. Fine
  • Patent number: 6846996
    Abstract: A mechanical limiter switch for use in a medical or surgical device has a substantially cylindrically shaped housing with a perimeter and an opening in an axial direction. The housing has a pattern along the perimeter. A spring is mounted in the opening along the axial direction, and is pre-stressed for movement in a radial direction and pre-stressed for movement in the axial direction. The spring has a radial member protruding through the pattern of the housing. A plunger is mounted in the opening along the axial direction, abutting the spring for urging the spring in the axial direction and for moving the member in the pattern along the perimeter. After a pre-determined number of activations of the plunger in the axial direction, the member will come to a terminating position and will either contact a pin to establish electrical continuity or at the terminating position break electrical continuity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Medconx, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold B. Kent, James J. Levante, Aaron T. Fine, Joseph R. Layton
  • Publication number: 20040245079
    Abstract: A mechanical limiter device, having: a housing with a slot passing at least partially therearound, the slot forming a plurality of teeth in a side of the housing; a plunger movable within the housing; a biasing mechanism configured to urge the plunger in a proximal direction within the housing; a contact member extending through the slot in the side of the housing, the contact member being configured to advance past at least one of each of the plurality of teeth in the slot each time the plunger is moved back and forth within the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Applicant: Medconx, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold B. Kent, James J. LeVante, Aaron T. Fine
  • Publication number: 20040129551
    Abstract: A mechanical limiter switch for use in a medical or surgical device has a substantially cylindrically shaped housing with a perimeter and an opening in an axial direction. The housing has a pattern along the perimeter. A spring is mounted in the opening along the axial direction, and is pre-stressed for movement in a radial direction and pre-stressed for movement in the axial direction. The spring has a radial member protruding through the pattern of the housing. A plunger is mounted in the opening along the axial direction, abutting the spring for urging the spring in the axial direction and for moving the member in the pattern along the perimeter. After a pre-determined number of activations of the plunger in the axial direction, the member will come to a terminating position and will either contact a pin to establish electrical continuity or at the terminating position break electrical continuity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: Harold B. Kent, James J. Levante, Aaron T. Fine, Joseph R. Layton
  • Patent number: 5195897
    Abstract: An electrical connector, bridge connector and opening accessory to protect the contacts on flexible circuitry of such connectors from being damaged by the sharp edges of a printed circuit board like member wherein the opening accessory is provided with spaced apart cam means that spread apart cam bearing portions of the connectors outside flexible circuitry mounted thereon is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Beta Phase, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold B. Kent, Gary Yasumura
  • Patent number: 5175409
    Abstract: A flexible circuit which may be a strap or a board or the like has a plurality of conductors exposed on one surface in a predetermined array and a heater disposed on the opposed surface so as to heat the exposed conductors. The exposed conductors may have solder or the heat activated conductive bonding material applied thereto so that the flexible circuit may be directly connected to a component, a printed circuit board, a connector or the like. If a reusable bonding material, such as solder, is employed the heater may be utilized to both connect and disconnect the flexible circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Metcal, Inc.
    Inventor: Harold B. Kent
  • Patent number: 5045666
    Abstract: A flexible circuit which may be a strap or a board or the like has a plurality of conductors exposed on one surface in a predetermined array and a heater disposed on the opposed surface so as to heat the exposed conductors. The exposed conductors may have solder or the heat activated conductive bonding material applied thereto so that the flexible circuit may be directly connected to a component, a printed circuit board, a connector or the like. If a reusable bonding material, such as solder, is employed the heater may be utilized to both connect and disconnect the flexible circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Metcal, Inc.
    Inventor: Harold B. Kent
  • Patent number: 4788404
    Abstract: A flexible circuit which may be a strap or a board or the like has a plurality of conductors exposed on one surface in a predetermined array and a heater disposed on the opposed surface so as to heat the exposed conductors. The exposed conductors may have solder or the heat activated conductive bonding material applied thereto so that the flexible circuit may be directly connected to a component, a printed circuit board, a connector or the like. If a reusable bonding material, such as solder, is employed the heater may be utilized to both connect and disconnect the flexible circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Assignee: Metcal, Inc.
    Inventor: Harold B. Kent
  • Patent number: 4522457
    Abstract: A reusable connecting device is disclosed which utilizes a heat-recoverable metallic driver connected to a socket having a biasing portion and a sequentially-operating overload portion. When it is desired to make a connection between this device and other objects, the object is placed within the socket and the driver is caused to shrink, thereby overcoming the biasing portion of the socket and causing the socket to contact and hold the object, the overload portion then acting as an overload mechanism for the heat-recoverable metallic driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1985
    Assignee: Raychem Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas H. McGaffigan, Harold B. Kent