Patents by Inventor Michael Paul Osterhart

Michael Paul Osterhart 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: 8550845
    Abstract: A connector assembly according to the present disclosure includes a connector body, a lock reinforcement, and a secondary lock. The connector body has a plurality of terminal cavities and a plurality of lock projections configured to engage a plurality of terminals to retain the terminals in the terminal cavities. The lock reinforcement is slidable relative to the connector body for engagement with a subset of the lock projections to maintain the lock projections engaged with a first subset of the terminals. The secondary lock is slidable relative to the connector body for engagement with a second subset of the terminals to retain the terminals in the terminal cavities independent from the lock projections. The secondary lock is coupled to the lock reinforcement such that moving one of the lock reinforcement and the secondary lock moves the other one of the lock reinforcement and the secondary lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Yazaki North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Paul Osterhart
  • Publication number: 20130244469
    Abstract: A connector assembly according to the present disclosure includes a connector body, a lock reinforcement, and a secondary lock. The connector body has a plurality of terminal cavities and a plurality of lock projections configured to engage a plurality of terminals to retain the terminals in the terminal cavities. The lock reinforcement is slidable relative to the connector body for engagement with a subset of the lock projections to maintain the lock projections engaged with a first subset of the terminals. The secondary lock is slidable relative to the connector body for engagement with a second subset of the terminals to retain the terminals in the terminal cavities independent from the lock projections. The secondary lock is coupled to the lock reinforcement such that moving one of the lock reinforcement and the secondary lock moves the other one of the lock reinforcement and the secondary lock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: YAZAKI NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Paul Osterhart
  • Patent number: 8454378
    Abstract: A connector is provided that may include first and second housings. The first housing may include a first body and a lock arm. The first body may include a first receptacle. The lock arm may be pivotably coupled to the first body. The second housing may include a second body having a second receptacle and a support member. The first and second housings may be engageable with each other in a first position and a second position and movable relative to each other from the first position to the second position. The lock arm may be deflectable relative to the support member when the first and second housings are in the first position. The support member may restrict deflection of the lock arm when the first and second housings are in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Yazaki North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Paul Osterhart, Kent Edward Younglove
  • Publication number: 20130052850
    Abstract: A connector is provided that may include first and second housings. The first housing may include a first body and a lock arm. The first body may include a first receptacle. The lock arm may be pivotably coupled to the first body. The second housing may include a second body having a second receptacle and a support member. The first and second housings may be engageable with each other in a first position and a second position and movable relative to each other from the first position to the second position. The lock arm may be deflectable relative to the support member when the first and second housings are in the first position. The support member may restrict deflection of the lock arm when the first and second housings are in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: YAZAKI NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Paul Osterhart, Kent Edward Younglove
  • Patent number: 7503813
    Abstract: An electrical terminal has a frame with an inner spring element for making electrical contact. The spring element has a base section near a wire connect portion of the terminal and an elevated section extending from the base section toward a mating end of the terminal. A raised projection is formed between the base and elevated sections to strengthen the spring element where it bends. The projection is made by punching an indentation in adjacent lower surfaces of the base and elevated sections. The elevated section has an apex with a center contact strip bordered on each side by a recess in the elevated section to avoid a sudden increase in a mating terminal insertion force. A guide member on the frame blocks a mating terminal from being inserted under the elevated section. A support member on the frame underneath the elevated section prevents excessive deflection of the spring element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Yazaki North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Paul Osterhart