Patents by Inventor James Charles Shiffler
James Charles Shiffler 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: 10770836Abstract: A plug connector includes a housing having a front and a rear, a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The housing has a mating end at the front for mating with a mating connector. The housing has a latch pocket at the first end. The plug connector includes plug contacts held by the housing provided proximate to the mating end for mating with the mating connector. The plug connector includes a latch received in the latch pocket having a main body and a latch beam extending from the main body. The latch beam includes a dual tip latch including a first tip latch and a second tip latch both configured to be received in a same latch opening of the mating connector.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2018Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY CORPORATIONInventors: Randall Robert Henry, James Charles Shiffler, Michael John Phillips
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Publication number: 20200194932Abstract: A plug connector includes a housing having a front and a rear, a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The housing has a mating end at the front for mating with a mating connector. The housing has a latch pocket at the first end. The plug connector includes plug contacts held by the housing provided proximate to the mating end for mating with the mating connector. The plug connector includes a latch received in the latch pocket having a main body and a latch beam extending from the main body. The latch beam includes a dual tip latch including a first tip latch and a second tip latch both configured to be received in a same latch opening of the mating connector.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2018Publication date: June 18, 2020Inventors: Randall Robert Henry, James Charles Shiffler, Michael John Phillips
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Patent number: 10490952Abstract: A connector assembly includes a cage member having a plurality of walls defining a module cavity for a pluggable module. The walls include a top wall, a bottom wall and side walls extending between the top and bottom walls. The side walls extend to a bottom edge at the bottom wall and include mounting pins extending from the bottom edge that each have a press-fit portion configured to be press fit in a plated via of a circuit board. The bottom wall has a generally planar bottom surface facing the circuit board and a generally planar top surface facing the module cavity. The bottom wall includes a locating feature extending below the bottom surface and having a datum surface configured to engage the circuit board. The datum surface is a predetermined distance from the top surface to set a position of the top surface relative to the circuit board.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2017Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY CORPORATIONInventors: Eric David Briant, Randall Robert Henry, Brandon Michael Matthews, James Charles Shiffler, Charles Jameson Valentine, Leo Joseph Graham
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Patent number: 10104793Abstract: A connector assembly includes a cage member having a plurality of walls defining first and second module cavities configured to receive corresponding pluggable modules therein. The module cavities are separated by a separator wall. The connector assembly includes a separator spring plate along the separator wall. The separator spring plate has a base section coplanar with the separator wall along a separator wall plane. The separator spring plate has first separator spring beams extending out of the separator wall plane to a first side of the separator wall plane into the first module cavity to couple to the pluggable module received therein and second separator spring beams extending out of the separator wall plane to a second side of the separator wall plane into the second module cavity to electrically couple to the pluggable module received therein.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2017Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY CORPORATIONInventors: Eric David Briant, Charles Jameson Valentine, James Charles Shiffler
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Publication number: 20180205184Abstract: A connector assembly includes a cage member having a plurality of walls defining a module cavity for a pluggable module. The walls include a top wall, a bottom wall and side walls extending between the top and bottom walls. The side walls extend to a bottom edge at the bottom wall and include mounting pins extending from the bottom edge that each have a press-fit portion configured to be press fit in a plated via of a circuit board. The bottom wall has a generally planar bottom surface facing the circuit board and a generally planar top surface facing the module cavity. The bottom wall includes a locating feature extending below the bottom surface and having a datum surface configured to engage the circuit board. The datum surface is a predetermined distance from the top surface to set a position of the top surface relative to the circuit board.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2017Publication date: July 19, 2018Inventors: Eric David Briant, Randall Robert Henry, Brandon Michael Matthews, James Charles Shiffler, Charles Jameson Valentine, Leo Joseph Graham
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Publication number: 20180206353Abstract: A connector assembly includes a cage member having a plurality of walls defining first and second module cavities configured to receive corresponding pluggable modules therein. The module cavities are separated by a separator wall. The connector assembly includes a separator spring plate along the separator wall. The separator spring plate has a base section coplanar with the separator wall along a separator wall plane. The separator spring plate has first separator spring beams extending out of the separator wall plane to a first side of the separator wall plane into the first module cavity to couple to the pluggable module received therein and second separator spring beams extending out of the separator wall plane to a second side of the separator wall plane into the second module cavity to electrically couple to the pluggable module received therein.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2017Publication date: July 19, 2018Inventors: Eric David Briant, Charles Jameson Valentine, James Charles Shiffler
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Publication number: 20170125952Abstract: A connector assembly includes a cage member having walls defining a module cavity receiving a pluggable module. The walls extend rearward from a front end to a rear end and surround a communication connector at or near the rear end. An EMI skirt is provided at or near the mating interface between the pluggable module and the communication connector. The EMI skirt includes plural spring beams configured to surround a mating perimeter of the pluggable module forward of a mating end of the pluggable module configured to be mated with the communication connector. The spring beams are deflectable and are elastically deformed against the mating perimeter when the pluggable module is mated with the communication connector. The spring beams have mating interfaces configured to engage and electrically connect to the pluggable module.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2015Publication date: May 4, 2017Inventors: Eric David Briant, James Charles Shiffler, Charles Jameson Valentine, Richard James Long
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Patent number: 9620906Abstract: A connector assembly includes a cage member having walls defining a module cavity receiving a pluggable module. The walls extend rearward from a front end to a rear end and surround a communication connector at or near the rear end. An EMI skirt is provided at or near the mating interface between the pluggable module and the communication connector. The EMI skirt includes plural spring beams configured to surround a mating perimeter of the pluggable module forward of a mating end of the pluggable module configured to be mated with the communication connector. The spring beams are deflectable and are elastically deformed against the mating perimeter when the pluggable module is mated with the communication connector. The spring beams have mating interfaces configured to engage and electrically connect to the pluggable module.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2015Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY CORPORATIONInventors: Eric David Briant, James Charles Shiffler, Charles Jameson Valentine, Richard James Long
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Patent number: 9070990Abstract: Power connector including a pair of discrete contact springs configured to electrically engage a conductive component. Each of the contact springs includes a contact body having opposite inner and outer side surfaces and a contact edge that extends between the inner and outer side surfaces. The contact body is shaped to form a spring base and a mating portion. The spring bases of the contact springs are joined by a locking feature. The locking feature includes a localized portion of at least one of the spring bases. The localized portion frictionally engages the other spring base to interlock the spring bases. Each of the mating portions extends from the corresponding spring base. The mating portions are separated by a receiving space and are configured to engage the conductive component when the conductive component is inserted into the receiving space.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2013Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATIONInventors: Steven Lee Flickinger, Evan Charles Wickes, James Charles Shiffler, John L. Broschard, Steve Douglas Sattazahn
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Publication number: 20140349529Abstract: Power connector including a pair of discrete contact springs configured to electrically engage a conductive component. Each of the contact springs includes a contact body having opposite inner and outer side surfaces and a contact edge that extends between the inner and outer side surfaces. The contact body is shaped to form a spring base and a mating portion. The spring bases of the contact springs are joined by a locking feature. The locking feature includes a localized portion of at least one of the spring bases. The localized portion frictionally engages the other spring base to interlock the spring bases. Each of the mating portions extends from the corresponding spring base. The mating portions are separated by a receiving space and are configured to engage the conductive component when the conductive component is inserted into the receiving space.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2013Publication date: November 27, 2014Applicant: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: Steven Lee Flickinger, Evan Charles Wickes, James Charles Shiffler, John Lawrence Broschard, III, Steve Douglas Sattazahn
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Patent number: 8708757Abstract: An electrical contact including an elongated contact body that has a compliant tail, a mating beam, and a channel section extending between the compliant tail and the mating beam. The channel section has a base wall and sidewalls that extend from the base wall. The base wall and the sidewalls extend around a central longitudinal axis to define a flow channel. The channel section includes a flow-limiting feature that is configured to impede capillary flow of a plating solution along the channel section from the compliant tail to the mating beam.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2011Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: David Allison Trout, James Charles Shiffler
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Patent number: 8574018Abstract: A connection member includes a tube extending a length along a central longitudinal axis. The tube includes a central passageway that extends through the length of the tube. The tube has a non-circular cross-sectional shape along the length of the tube. The tube includes an exterior side that defines a perimeter of the non-circular cross-sectional shape of the tube. Stamped threads are formed on the exterior side of the tube along at least a portion of the length of the tube. The stamped threads are discontinuous along the perimeter of the non-circular cross-sectional shape of the tube such that the stamped threads only extend along at least one portion of the perimeter of the non-circular cross-sectional shape of the tube.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2012Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: James Charles Shiffler, Paul Eric Wittensoldner, Leo Joseph Graham
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Publication number: 20130273791Abstract: A connection member includes a tube extending a length along a central longitudinal axis. The tube includes a central passageway that extends through the length of the tube. The tube has a non-circular cross-sectional shape along the length of the tube. The tube includes an exterior side that defines a perimeter of the non-circular cross-sectional shape of the tube. Stamped threads are formed on the exterior side of the tube along at least a portion of the length of the tube. The stamped threads are discontinuous along the perimeter of the non-circular cross-sectional shape of the tube such that the stamped threads only extend along at least one portion of the perimeter of the non-circular cross-sectional shape of the tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2012Publication date: October 17, 2013Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATIONInventors: James Charles Shiffler, Paul Eric Wittensoldner, Leo Joseph Graham
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Patent number: 8449335Abstract: An electrical connector including a connector housing having opposite mating and loading faces and a mating axis extending therebetween. The connector housing has interior walls that oppose each other with a contact cavity therebetween. The electrical connector also includes a retention insert that is sized and shaped to be advanced through the loading face and positioned within the contact cavity. The retention insert has an outer engagement surface. The electrical connector also includes first and second rows of mating contacts that are separated by the retention insert. The contact cavity has a component-receiving region that exists between the first and second rows of mating contacts and is accessible through the mating face. The mating contacts of the first and second rows are oriented to extend lengthwise along the mating axis and are held between the engagement surface of the retention insert and respective interior walls.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2011Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: Eric David Briant, James Charles Shiffler, Melissa Anne Harden, Bryon Todd Eppley, Craig William Clewell
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Publication number: 20130090025Abstract: An electrical contact including an elongated contact body that has a compliant tail, a mating beam, and a channel section extending between the compliant tail and the mating beam. The channel section has a base wall and sidewalls that extend from the base wall. The base wall and the sidewalls extend around a central longitudinal axis to define a flow channel. The channel section includes a flow-limiting feature that is configured to impede capillary flow of a plating solution along the channel section from the compliant tail to the mating beam.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2011Publication date: April 11, 2013Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATIONInventors: DAVID ALLISON TROUT, JAMES CHARLES SHIFFLER
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Publication number: 20120264336Abstract: An electrical connector including a connector housing having opposite mating and loading faces and a mating axis extending therebetween. The connector housing has interior walls that oppose each other with a contact cavity therebetween. The electrical connector also includes a retention insert that is sized and shaped to be advanced through the loading face and positioned within the contact cavity. The retention insert has an outer engagement surface. The electrical connector also includes first and second rows of mating contacts that are separated by the retention insert. The contact cavity has a component-receiving region that exists between the first and second rows of mating contacts and is accessible through the mating face. The mating contacts of the first and second rows are oriented to extend lengthwise along the mating axis and are held between the engagement surface of the retention insert and respective interior walls.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2011Publication date: October 18, 2012Applicant: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: ERIC DAVID BRIANT, JAMES CHARLES SHIFFLER, MELISSA ANNE HARDEN, BRYON TODD EPPLEY, CRAIG WILLIAM CLEWELL
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Patent number: 8203084Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes an electrically conductive cage having a cage end configured for mounting in a panel opening. The cage has a compartment for receiving a pluggable electrical component therein. The cage end has a circumference defined by an exterior surface of the cage. A retention frame extends over the cage end along at least a portion of the circumference. The retention frame includes a gasket side and a rear side. A retention opening extends through the gasket and rear sides of the retention frame. An EMI gasket is mounted on the cage end. The EMI gasket includes a length of electrically conductive cord having opposite cord ends. The cord is wrapped externally around the cage end forming a continuous band that engages the exterior surface of the cage along at least a portion of the circumference. The cord extends along and engages the gasket side of the retention frame and the cord ends extend through the retention opening and along the rear side of the retention frame.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2010Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: Robert Harrison Wertz, Jr., Matthew Ryan Schmitt, James Charles Shiffler, Scott P. Drescher
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Publication number: 20120021641Abstract: An electrical connector is provided including a housing. A mounting plate is provided having a mounting surface configured to be mechanically coupled to a circuit board. An opening extends through the mounting plate. The opening has an interior contour shaped to slidably receive a post of the housing as the mounting plate is loaded onto the post until the mounting plate rests on a plate surface of the housing. An engagement feature is provided on the mounting plate. The engagement feature secures the mounting plate to the housing. The engagement feature displaces a plate securing portion formed on the housing to secure the mounting plate to the housing with an interference fit.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2010Publication date: January 26, 2012Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATIONInventors: ERIC DAVID BRIANT, JODI RAE PETERSON, CHARLES JAMESON VALENTINE, JAMES CHARLES SHIFFLER, JOHN JACOB O'KEEFE, II
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Publication number: 20110226521Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes an electrically conductive cage having a cage end configured for mounting in a panel opening. The cage has a compartment for receiving a pluggable electrical component therein. The cage end has a circumference defined by an exterior surface of the cage. A retention frame extends over the cage end along at least a portion of the circumference. The retention frame includes a gasket side and a rear side. A retention opening extends through the gasket and rear sides of the retention frame. An EMI gasket is mounted on the cage end. The EMI gasket includes a length of electrically conductive cord having opposite cord ends. The cord is wrapped externally around the cage end forming a continuous band that engages the exterior surface of the cage along at least a portion of the circumference. The cord extends along and engages the gasket side of the retention frame and the cord ends extend through the retention opening and along the rear side of the retention frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2010Publication date: September 22, 2011Inventors: Robert Harrison Wertz, JR., Matthew Ryan Schmitt, James Charles Shiffler, Scott P. Drescher
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Patent number: 7789703Abstract: A connector assembly includes a cable, a connector and a resistance weld. The cable includes a conductor and a cable shield. The connector includes a contact and a shield. The shield includes conductive walls and a cradle. The walls extend from a mating interface to the cradle and at least partially surround the contact to shield the contact from electromagnetic interference. The mating interface is configured to receive a mating connector to mate the connector and mating connector. The cradle includes sidewalls interconnected by a coupling wall. The sidewalls and coupling wall extend from a loading interface toward the mating interface and are shaped to receive the cable through the loading interface. The resistance weld is between the cable shield and the cradle to electrically couple the shield to the cable shield. The shield is electrically connected to the electrical ground by the resistance weld and the cable shield.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2008Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: Robert Neil Mulfinger, John Joseph Consoli, Chad William Morgan, James Charles Shiffler, Kenneth William Ellis, Keith McQuilkin Murr