Patents by Inventor Michael Edward Didonato

Michael Edward Didonato 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).

  • Patent number: 10211558
    Abstract: A receptacle terminal for receipt of a mating terminal therein. The receptacle terminal has a contact portion including a bottom wall and resilient contact arms which extend from the bottom wall. The resilient contact arms have resilient contact sections and mating terminal engagement members. The mating terminal engagement members have a projection receiving opening. A spring arm extends from the bottom wall toward the mating terminal engagement members. The spring arm has a projection which extends from the spring arm to create a raised area on an inner surface of the spring arm to engage the mating terminal. Prior to the receipt of the mating terminal, the projection of the spring arm is positioned in the projection receiving opening of the mating terminal engagement members, allowing the portions of the spring arm to be positioned proximate the mating terminal engagement members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Edward Didonato, Richard B. Emenheiser
  • Patent number: 10193259
    Abstract: A receptacle connector includes a housing and a terminal held within a cavity of the housing. The housing includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and first and second side walls. The housing includes a first hold-down rib in a first corner region of the cavity defined by the top wall and the first side wall, and a second hold-down rib in a second corner region of the cavity defined by the top wall and the second side wall. The terminal defines a receptacle configured to receive a mating tab contact therein through a mating end of the housing. The first hold-down rib engages an outer surface of a first rolled wall of the terminal and the second hold-down rib engages an outer surface of a second rolled wall of the terminal to limit float of the terminal within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Edward Didonato, David Tracy Humphrey, Scott Mitchell Wright
  • Patent number: 10079440
    Abstract: An electrical terminal having a contact portion, a wire termination portion and a transition portion. The contact portion is configured to receive a mating terminal along a mating axis. The wire termination portion defines a wire termination axis that intersects the mating axis. The transition portion extends between the contact portion and the wire termination portion. The transition portion extends parallel to the mating axis and the wire termination axis. An engagement section extends at an angle from the transition portion. The engagement section has a push surface intersecting the mating axis. Wherein a force can be applied to the push surface to mate the contact portion with the mating terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Edward Didonato, David Tracy Humphrey, Raymond L. Landon, III
  • Patent number: 10027037
    Abstract: An embodiment is directed to a receptacle terminal for receipt of a mating terminal therein. The receptacle terminal includes a contact portion which has a bottom wall and resilient contact arms. The resilient contact arms extend from opposed sides of the bottom wall. Each of the resilient contact arms has an opening extending therethrough with a first resilient contact section and a second resilient contact section extending on either side of the opening. The first resilient contact sections and the second resilient contact sections have arcuate portions which extend from the bottom wall to mating terminal engaging members. The first resilient contact sections and the second resilient contact sections generate a contact force when a mating terminal is inserted into the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Edward Didonato, David Humphrey
  • Publication number: 20180013212
    Abstract: An embodiment is directed to a receptacle terminal for receipt of a mating terminal therein. The receptacle terminal includes a contact portion which has a bottom wall and resilient contact arms. The resilient contact arms extend from opposed sides of the bottom wall. Each of the resilient contact arms has an opening extending therethrough with a first resilient contact section and a second resilient contact section extending on either side of the opening. The first resilient contact sections and the second resilient contact sections have arcuate portions which extend from the bottom wall to mating terminal engaging members. The first resilient contact sections and the second resilient contact sections generate a contact force when a mating terminal is inserted into the terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Michael Edward DIDONATO, David HUMPHREY
  • Patent number: 9692163
    Abstract: A receptacle connector that includes a positive lock receptacle, wherein the positive lock receptacle includes a wire receiving portion; and a housing insertion portion, wherein the housing insertion portion further includes a first electrical contact roll and a second electrical contact roll; and a housing adapted to receive the positive lock receptacle, wherein the housing includes: an insulating housing body; and a first crush rib positioned within the insulating housing body and a second crush rib positioned within the insulating housing body, wherein the first and second crush ribs engage and secure the first and second electrical contact rolls respectively upon insertion of the housing insertion portion of the positive lock receptacle into the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Edward Didonato, David T. Humphrey, Raymond L. Landon, III