Patents by Inventor Michael L. Black

Michael L. Black 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: 7651359
    Abstract: An electrical cable assembly includes a carrier having an insulating housing and at least one retention clip for managing and securing terminated cable assemblies to the carrier. The side exterior walls of the insulating housing are configured to enable side-to-side and end-to-end placement of a plurality of carriers for mating to a pin header, resulting in a high speed, high density electrical connector system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Scherer, Joseph N. Castiglione, Michael L. Black
  • Publication number: 20090057010
    Abstract: A cover includes a flexible polymeric body defining a longitudinally extending space and having an outer surface, a first end defining an opening providing access to the space, a second end opposite to the first end, and an attachment segment positioned near the second end. The opening and the space are configured to receive an end portion of a terminated cable. The attachment segment is configured to receive a pulling member. The cover may be positioned over an end portion of a terminated cable and attached to a pulling member to draw the terminated cable through a passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Richard J. Scherer, Michael L. Black, Melanie G. Gover
  • Patent number: 7465184
    Abstract: An electrical connector for terminating electrical conductors includes a housing and a cap mounted to the housing. The housing includes a first housing section extending between a front wall and a base, a first wire groove formed through the front wall, and an insulation displacement connector (IDC) element disposed in the first housing section and configured for attachment to a printed circuit. The cap includes a pivot portion pivotally mounted to the housing and a cover portion extending from the pivot portion, where the pivot portion defines a wire receiving recess. In this regard, the cap is rotatable between an open position in which the first recess is linearly aligned with the first wire groove, and a closed position in which the cover portion is coupled to the front wall and the pivot portion is offset from the base to define a wire cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Scherer, Michael L. Black
  • Publication number: 20080070436
    Abstract: An electrical cable assembly includes a carrier having an insulating housing and at least one retention clip for managing and securing terminated cable assemblies to the carrier. The side exterior walls of the insulating housing are configured to enable side-to-side and end-to-end placement of a plurality of carriers for mating to a pin header, resulting in a high speed, high density electrical connector system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Richard J. Scherer, Joseph N. Castiglione, Michael L. Black
  • Publication number: 20080020626
    Abstract: An electrical connector for terminating electrical conductors includes a housing and a cap mounted to the housing. The housing includes a first housing section extending between a front wall and a base, a first wire groove formed through the front wall, and an insulation displacement connector (IDC) element disposed in the first housing section and configured for attachment to a printed circuit. The cap includes a pivot portion pivotally mounted to the housing and a cover portion extending from the pivot portion, where the pivot portion defines a wire receiving recess. In this regard, the cap is rotatable between an open position in which the first recess is linearly aligned with the first wire groove, and a closed position in which the cover portion is coupled to the front wall and the pivot portion is offset from the base to define a wire cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: RICHARD J. SCHERER, Michael L. Black
  • Publication number: 20080020649
    Abstract: An electrical connector has a housing that includes a mating end defining a first connector relief segment opposite a second connector relief segment and a first connector projection segment opposite a second connector projection segment. At least one male contact extends from a face of the first connector relief segment and at least one male contact extends from a face of the second connector relief segment. At least one female contact is formed in a face of the first connector projection segment and at least one female contact is formed in a face of the second connector projection segment. In this regard, the mating end is configured to align and mate with a mating end of a second substantially identical electrical connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Richard J. Scherer, Jess A. Mann, Jerome P. Dattilo, Michael L. Black
  • Patent number: 6283670
    Abstract: A closure system includes two longitudinally-extending shell members, each having flanges. Each of the flanges have inner and outer surfaces such that in a closed state the inner surfaces of each of the flanges contact one another to form at least one longitudinal seam. Several longitudinally extending ramp pairs are disposed on the outer surfaces of the flanges One ramp of each ramp pair is disposed on the outer surface of one flange and another ramp of each ramp pair is disposed on the outer surface of the other flange. The ramp pairs are inclined away from the longitudinal seam when viewed along a first direction. A clamping rail has an inner surface that includes a guide channel interlocking with the ramp pairs so that the first and second flanges compress the seam. Additional longitudinally extending ramp pairs can be disposed on the outer surfaces of the flanges, in which case a second clamping rail having an inner surface that includes a second guide channel interlocks with the additional ramp pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jenny L. Blankinship, Michael L. Black
  • Patent number: D571735
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Scherer, Michael L. Black
  • Patent number: D572201
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Scherer, Michael L. Black
  • Patent number: D575742
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Scherer, Jess A. Mann, Jerome P. Dattilo, Michael L. Black
  • Patent number: D591238
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Scherer, Jess A. Mann, Jerome P. Dattilo, Michael L. Black
  • Patent number: D427152
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael L. Black, Jenny L. Blankinship