Patents by Inventor Rip Hanks

Rip Hanks 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).

  • Publication number: 20090215306
    Abstract: An electrical connector has a body with a bore that terminates in a sloped surface at its inner end. A cap, through which a conductor is threaded, fits into the bore. An axial inner end of the cap is divided into a plurality of spaced-apart gores which, when the cap is forced axially inwardly, will cam against the sloped surface in the bore, displacing the gores toward the axis and gripping and fastening in place the electrical conductor. Preferably the gores have ridges on their internal surfaces and a center pin standing up from the bottom of the bore has grooves mating with some of these ridges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: CENTERPIN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Rip HANKS
  • Patent number: 7575465
    Abstract: Insulated conductors, of either the wire or multistranded cable variety, are provided with a series of markings or visual indicators along their length on their insulation jackets. The markings include cut markings to show where the conductor is to be cut and, spaced from respective ones of the cut markings by a predetermined insertion depth, insertion markings to show a correct depth of insertion into an associated electrical connector receptacle. Depending on the type of connector for which the conductor is being furnished, the markings may further include a plurality of strip markings, spaced from respective ones of the cut markings by a predetermined strip length, and/or a plurality of final insertion markings, which are spaced from respective ones of the initial insertion markings by a predetermined connector cap compression stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Centerpin Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Rip Hanks
  • Patent number: 7520772
    Abstract: An electrical connector has a connector body with a bore and a cap through which a stranded insulated conductor is threaded. A ridge in the external surface of the cap engages with at least one groove in the bore to secure the conductor in place. Preferably, there are at least two such grooves in the bore at different axial positions, and the cap is axially advanced from one such groove to another one farther inside the bore to effect full physical and electrical connection. Surface pairs make up each such ridge and groove, with the area of one of the surface pairs being much greater than the other one of the surface pairs. The connector may have multiple bores and caps, and embodiments are provided for coaxial conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Centerpin Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Rip Hanks
  • Publication number: 20080233791
    Abstract: One of a set of caps, each having a bore for accepting a conductor within a predetermined range of diameters, has at least one ridge on an external surface thereof formed of a surface pair, with the area of one of the surface pairs being much greater than the other one of the surface pairs. This cap is received into a bore of female connector body with a center pin. The female connector body has one, and preferably has two, grooves formed by a like differential surface pair. A front end of the cap is cut up into fingers which, upon contacting a sloped surface in the female connector body, will fold radially inwardly to clamp the conductor to the center pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: Centerpin Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Rip HANKS
  • Patent number: 7329142
    Abstract: An electrical connector has a connector body with a bore and a cap through which a stranded insulated conductor is threaded. A ridge in the external surface of the cap engages with at least one groove in the bore to secure the conductor in place. Preferably, there are at least two such grooves in the bore at different axial positions, and the cap is axially advanced from one such groove to another one farther inside the bore to effect full physical and electrical connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Centerpin Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Rip Hanks
  • Publication number: 20070202735
    Abstract: An electrical connector has a connector body with a bore and a cap through which a stranded insulated conductor is threaded. A ridge in the external surface of the cap engages with at least one groove in the bore to secure the conductor in place. Preferably, there are at least two such grooves in the bore at different axial positions, and the cap is axially advanced from one such groove to another one farther inside the bore to effect full physical and electrical connection. Surface pairs make up each such ridge and groove, with the area of one of the surface pairs being much greater than the other one of the surface pairs. The connector may have multiple bores and caps, and embodiments are provided for coaxial conductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Applicant: CENTERPIN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Rip HANKS
  • Publication number: 20070149033
    Abstract: Insulated conductors, of either the wire or multistranded cable variety, are provided with a series of markings or visual indicators along their length on their insulation jackets. The markings include cut markings to show where the conductor is to be cut and, spaced from respective ones of the cut markings by a predetermined insertion depth, insertion markings to show a correct depth of insertion into an associated electrical connector receptacle. Depending on the type of connector for which the conductor is being furnished, the markings may further include a plurality of strip markings, spaced from respective ones of the cut markings by a predetermined strip length, and/or a plurality of final insertion markings, which are spaced from respective ones of the initial insertion markings by a predetermined connector cap compression stroke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: CENTERPIN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Rip HANKS
  • Patent number: 7226308
    Abstract: An electrical connector has a connector body with a bore and a cap through which a stranded insulated conductor is threaded. A ridge in the external surface of the cap engages with at least one groove in the bore to secure the conductor in place. Preferably, there are at least two such grooves in the bore at different axial positions, and the cap is axially advanced from one such groove to another one farther inside the bore to effect full physical and electrical connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Centerpin Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Rip Hanks
  • Publication number: 20070117447
    Abstract: An electrical connector has a connector body with a bore and a cap through which a stranded insulated conductor is threaded. A ridge in the external surface of the cap engages with at least one groove in the bore to secure the conductor in place. Preferably, there are at least two such grooves in the bore at different axial positions, and the cap is axially advanced from one such groove to another one farther inside the bore to effect full physical and electrical connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Applicant: CENTERPIN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Rip HANKS
  • Patent number: 7121872
    Abstract: In an electrical connector suitable for a multistranded insulated conductor, a frustoconical collar is so dimensioned that it will exhibit physical interference with a housing bore into which the conductor and the collar are inserted. As the collar is advanced into the bore, fingers of the collar more tightly grip the external surface of the conductor. A cap affixes the conductor and collar to the housing to complete the connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Centerpin Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Rip Hanks
  • Patent number: 6857895
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a method and an electrical connector for coupling to a multi-stranded conductor. In a specific embodiment, the subject method and electrical connector can be used for coupling to an insulated multi-stranded conductor. In a specific embodiment, the subject connector can have: a housing having at least one bore for receiving an insulated multi-stranded electrical conductor; an electrically conductive prong located in the bore and electrically connected to the housing; and a securing means for insertion into the bore after insertion of the electrical conductor into the bore and onto the prong. Insertion of the securing means into the bore, after insertion of the electrical conductor into the bore and onto the prong, presses the strands of the electrical conductor against the conductive prong such that the connector makes electrical contact with the electrical conductor and acts to mechanically secure the electrical conductor to the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Centerpin Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald R. Korte, Rip Hanks
  • Patent number: 6736674
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a method and connector for coupling to a cable having a center conductor surrounded by a layer of material, further surrounded by one or more conductor wires. In a specific embodiment, the subject coupler can be used with a cable for producing light via electroluminensce.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Centerpin Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald R. Korte, Rip Hanks
  • Publication number: 20030060082
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a method and connector for coupling to a cable having a center conductor surrounded by a layer of material, further surrounded by one or more conductor wires. In a specific embodiment, the subject coupler can be used with a cable for producing light via electroluminensce.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Donald R. Korte, Rip Hanks
  • Publication number: 20030054700
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a method and an electrical connector for coupling to a multi-stranded conductor. In a specific embodiment, the subject method and electrical connector can be used for coupling to an insulated multi-stranded conductor. In a specific embodiment, the subject connector can have: a housing having at least one bore for receiving an insulated multi-stranded electrical conductor; an electrically conductive prong located in the bore and electrically connected to the housing; and a securing means for insertion into the bore after insertion of the electrical conductor into the bore and onto the prong. Insertion of the securing means into the bore, after insertion of the electrical conductor into the bore and onto the prong, presses the strands of the electrical conductor against the conductive prong such that the connector makes electrical contact with the electrical conductor and acts to mechanically secure the electrical conductor to the connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Donald R. Korte, Rip Hanks