Patents by Inventor Kenneth H. Fernalld

Kenneth H. Fernalld 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).

  • PCMCIA strain relieved electrical connector assembly
    Patent number: 6068501
    Abstract: A PCMCIA electrical connector for assembly to a printed circuit board is disclosed which includes a C-shaped connector with a strain relief for the contact tails to prevent stress fracturing of soldered connections. The connector is circumjacent the front edge and the side edges of the printed circuit board and snap engages the side edges of the board for precise alignment of the contact tails for soldering to a corresponding conductive pad on a surface of the board. The connector has opposed channel shaped legs which receive the side edges of the circuit board therebetween. The strain relief may include a flex beam formed on one side wall of the channel shaped leg which has a locating pin engaging a corresponding hole in the edge portion of the circuit board. Alternatively, each channel shaped leg may have a notch in the base of the channel adapted to receive an outwardly projecting tab on each side edge of the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Maxtor Corporation
    Inventors: David B. Knighton, Kenneth H. Fernalld
  • Electrical connector assembly with strain relief between electrical connector and printed circuit board
    Patent number: 6036507
    Abstract: A PCMCIA electrical connector for assembly to a printed circuit board is disclosed which includes a C-shaped connector with strain relief for the contact tails to prevent stress fracturing of soldered connections. The connector is circumjacent the front edge and the side edges of the printed circuit board and snap engages the side edges of the board for precise alignment of the contact tails for soldering to a corresponding conductive pad on a surface of the board. The connector has opposed channel shaped legs which receive the side edges of the circuit board therebetween. The strain relief may include a flex beam formed on one side wall of the channel shaped leg which has a locating pin engaging a corresponding hole in the edge portion of the circuit board. Alternatively, each channel shaped leg may have a notch in the base of the channel adapted to receive an outwardly projecting tab on each side edge of the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Maxtor Corporation
    Inventors: David B. Knighton, Kenneth H. Fernalld, Harold J. Beecroft
  • PCMCIA strain relieved electrical connector assembly
    Patent number: 5755586
    Abstract: A PCMCIA electrical connector for assembly to a printed circuit board is disclosed which includes a C-shaped connector with a strain relief for the contact tails to prevent stress fracturing of soldered connections. The connector is circumjacent the front edge and the side edges of the printed circuit board and snap engages the side edges of the board for precise alignment of the contact tails for soldering to a corresponding conductive pad on a surface of the board. The connector has opposed channel shaped legs which receive the side edges of the circuit board therebetween. The strain relief may include a flex beam formed on one side wall of the channel shaped leg which has a locating pin engaging a corresponding hole in the edge portion of the circuit board.Alternatively, each channel shaped leg may have a notch in the base of the channel adapted to receive an outwardly projecting tab on each side edge of the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Maxtor Corporation
    Inventors: David B. Knighton, Kenneth H. Fernalld, Harold J. Beecroft