Patents by Inventor Michael Eugene Shirk

Michael Eugene Shirk 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: 7539018
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is provided that includes a guide frame having an internal compartment configured to receive an electrical component. The guide frame extends a length between a plug end portion having a plug opening and a rear end portion opposite the plug end portion. The guide frame includes a first wall that extends between the rear end portion and the plug end portion. The first wall includes a heat sink retention area that is configured to receive a heat sink. The rear end portion includes a rear wall. A clip is configured to be mounted on the guide frame. The clip is configured to extend over and engage at least a portion of the heat sink when the heat sink is received by the heat sink retention area. The clip is configured to engage the rear wall of the guide frame and extend along at least a portion of the first wall of the guide frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Keith McQuilkin Murr, Michael Eugene Shirk
  • Publication number: 20090109627
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is provided that includes a guide frame having an internal compartment configured to receive an electrical component. The guide frame extends a length between a plug end portion having a plug opening and a rear end portion opposite the plug end portion. The guide frame includes a first wall that extends between the rear end portion and the plug end portion. The first wall includes a heat sink retention area that is configured to receive a heat sink. The rear end portion includes a rear wall. A clip is configured to be mounted on the guide frame. The clip is configured to extend over and engage at least a portion of the heat sink when the heat sink is received by the heat sink retention area. The clip is configured to engage the rear wall of the guide frame and extend along at least a portion of the first wall of the guide frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Keith McQuilkin Murr, Michael Eugene Shirk
  • Patent number: 7452216
    Abstract: A receptacle assembly for a transceiver module includes a transceiver cage that is configured to receive the transceiver module. The transceiver cage is configured to be mounted proximate a cutout in a circuit board such that a portion of the transceiver cage extends through the cutout. A connector is configured to mate with the transceiver module and is disposed within the cage. The transceiver cage and the connector are configured to be mounted on the same surface of a circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Keith McQuilkin Murr, Michael Eugene Shirk, Michael J. Phillips
  • Publication number: 20080242127
    Abstract: A receptacle assembly for a transceiver module includes a transceiver cage that is configured to receive the transceiver module. The transceiver cage is configured to be mounted proximate a cutout in a circuit board such that a portion of the transceiver cage extends through the cutout. A connector is configured to mate with the transceiver module and is disposed within the cage. The transceiver cage and the connector are configured to be mounted on the same surface of a circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Keith McQuilkin Murr, Michael Eugene Shirk, Michael J. Phillips
  • Patent number: 7090523
    Abstract: An electrical module assembly configured for latching engagement with a receptacle assembly adapted for mounting to a printed circuit board includes a release mechanism having at least one actuator arm adapted to extend longitudinally along a respective one of opposite side walls of the receptacle assembly, and the actuator arm includes an ejector tab extending longitudinally therewith. A pivotally mounted bail is selectively positonable between a latched position and an unlatched position, and the bail engages the actuator arm and longitudinally pulls the actuator arm to release the ejector tab from the receptacle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Eugene Shirk, Keith McQuilkin Murr
  • Patent number: 6872094
    Abstract: A pluggable transceiver module for insertion into a cage includes a front shell and a housing. The housing includes a forward portion having electrical contacts and a rearward portion. The rearward portion is receivable in the cage. The rearward portion includes a tab that is receivable in a module latch on the cage for retention of the rearward portion within the cage. The rearward portion is configured to receive an electrical connection proximate an end thereof. The forward portion is received in the front shell and the forward portion includes a connector interface configured to receive a mating plug connector. An actuator is slidably coupled to the forward portion of the housing and is movable from a latched position to a released position. The actuator engages the module latch to release the housing from the cage when the actuator is moved to the released position. A bail member is rotatably coupled to the forward portion of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Keith McQuilkin Murr, Michael Warren Fogg, Michael Eugene Shirk
  • Patent number: 6666720
    Abstract: An electrical connector receptacle cage is provided including upper and lower shells. The upper and lower shells are joined to one another to define a module retention chamber with an open front end configured to accept a module. At least one of the shells has a rear wall closing the back end of the module retention chamber, and side walls extending between the front and back ends. The upper shell comprises a top wall extending between the front and back ends including a flexible section formed proximate the back end. A kickout spring is joined to the flexible section, and has a module engaging section extending into the module retention chamber toward the front end which is configured to contact and exert an ejection force on the module when the module is inserted into the module retention chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jason M'Cheyne Reisinger, Michael Eugene Shirk, James Charles Shiffler, Thomas Edward Lowe
  • Patent number: 6655995
    Abstract: A small form factor pluggable (SFP) cage is provided having an upper and lower shell. The upper shell has pins configured to fit into a circuit board. The upper shell has a top wall extending between front and back ends, and a rear wall closing the back end. The upper shell also includes side walls extending between the front and back ends and base portions integral with the bottom of the side walls. The base portions are bent inward toward one another. The lower shell has a bottom wall and interlocking members that extended to from a front end of the bottom wall. The upper and lower shells are joined with one another to form a module retention chamber therebetween. The module retention chamber has an open front end configured to accept an SFP module. The interlocking members overlap and inter-connect with the base portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jason M'Cheyne Reisinger, Michael Eugene Shirk, James Charles Shiffler, Thomas Edward Lowe
  • Patent number: 6142815
    Abstract: A plurality of interface modules (200,300,400,500) having identical first mating interfaces (202,302) for mating with the mating face (100) of a cable tap connector (10), to enable interconnection therewith at second mating interfaces by different types of electrical conductors. A set of contacts in each module have identical first contact sections (212,318) along the first mating interface, and the contacts are secured in the module housing (206,306) under an insulative retention plate (210,360) that assuredly secures the contacts in proper position for accurate positioning of the first contact sections. The insulative plate (210,360) also protects the first contact sections during handling of the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Neil Whiteman, Jr., Earl William McCleerey, Michael Eugene Shirk, Douglas Morgan Walburn, Robert Wayne Walker
  • Patent number: 6135797
    Abstract: A connector includes a connector base, a contact housing, and a floating latch. The connector base has a first bottom surface, and the contact housing has a second bottom surface. The floating latch couples the contact housing to the connector base. The floating latch is adapted to allow the first and second bottom surfaces to move relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Earl William McCleerey, Michael Eugene Shirk, Melissa Ann Sherman
  • Patent number: 6116931
    Abstract: Interface modules (200,300) have identical first mating interfaces (204,304) to mate with the same cable tap connector (10). Contact arrays for either of the two different interface modules (200,300) are defined by use of the same first members (232) having first contact sections (224,322) and transverse body sections (228,324), being joined to one of two groups (226) or (336) of socket members by crimping pin embossments (242) or (338) at either closely spaced holes (248) or less closely spaced holes (250), to define a closely spaced array (254) or a less closely spaced array (258) along second mating interfaces (206,306) to correspond with smaller round cable connector (208) or larger round cable connector (308). Thereby a cable tap connector (10) providing connection to a flat cable (12) may be modified by selection of different interface modules (200) or (300) for use with different types of mating connectors (208) or (308) The contacts of each array may also be of different sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Earl William McCleerey, Michael Eugene Shirk
  • Patent number: 6048221
    Abstract: A connector includes a contact housing and a signal contact. The contact housing has at least two cooperating retention channels. The signal contact is coupled to the contact housing. The signal contact includes a finger portion, a base portion, and a foot. The base portion has first and second retaining tabs. The first and second retaining tabs are interference fit into cooperating retention channels. The foot is defined in the base portion between the first and second retaining tabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Earl William McCleerey, Michael Eugene Shirk, Richard J. Conrad
  • Patent number: 6022240
    Abstract: A connector (10,200,300) for termination to a multiconductor cable (12,306) along a length thereof at a point remote from an end thereof, such as after installation of the cable within a premises, and including a housing (20,202,302) and a cover (22,204,304) securable to each other around the cable. The housing contains a plurality of contacts (60,220,320) with first contact sections (66,234,328) in slots (62,236,330) that open onto the cable face adjacent the cable jacket. Upon actuation of actuators (90,222,326), the contacts associated with the actuators are urged downwardly against the cable jacket, penetrating the jacket (14) and compressively engaging the cable's conductors (16). Second contact sections (68,232,348) are exposed along the mating face (72,214,310) of the connector for mating with complementary contacts of an interface module (400).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Earl William McCleerey, Robert Neil Whiteman, Jr., Robert Wayne Walker, Douglas Morgan Walburn, Michael Eugene Shirk
  • Patent number: 5797770
    Abstract: A shielded electrical connector having an insulating housing (4), a conducting outer shell (6) encircling the housing (4), and a conducting second or inner shell (7) engaging the outer shell (6) to provide electrical shielding (5), electrical contacts (2) extending inside multiple plug receiving cavities (3) in the housing (4), the second shell (7) extending inside each of the plug receiving cavities (3) to engage plug type connectors to be received in the plug receiving cavities (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne Samuel Davis, Robert Neil Whiteman, Jr., Michael Eugene Shirk
  • Patent number: 5779489
    Abstract: An electrical connector (10) having a housing (12) and contact members (16) having vertical sections (36) extending along slots (42) of a rear housing face (24) and concluding in horizontal feet (40) adapted for surface mounting to a circuit board. Positioning recesses (60) receive flanges (62) of vertical contact sections (36) in a snug fit assuredly holding feet (40) along board-mounting face (26) facilitating surface mounting. A rib (64) is defined in each recess (60) to be deformed by a surface (66) of its associated flange (62) during insertion to anchor the flanges in the recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne Samuel Davis, Michael Eugene Shirk, Robert Neil Whiteman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5685739
    Abstract: An electrical receptacle connector (10) including a one-piece shell (12) affixed to a housing (14) and adapted to be mounted at an input/output port of an apparatus and on a circuit board within a panel. Shell (12) includes a front wall (66) that provides shielding of the mating interface adjacent the panel cutout(s), and an upper wall (62) and a lower wall (64) extending rearwardly from the front wall (66). Retention spring arms (70,94) extend from the upper and lower walls through recesses (34,56) into plug-receiving cavities (32) to engage and retain the mating connector in a mated condition, and ground legs (96) secure the connector to a circuit board. The connector may have a pair of plug-receiving cavities (32) divided by a vertical housing wall (112), and the lower shell wall (64) may comprise two portions (84) each receivable along a slot (60) above a bottom housing wall (54) to be insulated from a circuit board beneath the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne Samuel Davis, Michael Eugene Shirk, Leung Man Shiu
  • Patent number: 5683269
    Abstract: A shielded cable connector (10) including a housing (12) rearward insertable into an enclosing body section (22) of a first shell (20). The first shell (20) includes a tab section (32) extending rearwardly to a cable strain relief site, and a second shell (34) is affixable to the first shell rearwardly of the body section (22) to cooperate with the tab section (32) to form a strain relief clamped to a jacketed cable portion. The first shell (20) is free of upstanding arms and thereby provides a clearance to align the housing (12) with the body section (22) to enable insertion thereinto, while the second shell (34) includes coextending arms (72) for confining the crimped cross-section to form a rectangular shape, and the end portions (76) of the arms (72) are formed around the tab section's side edges (54) and against its outer surface thereof upon crimping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne Samuel Davis, Michael Eugene Shirk