Patents by Inventor Robert E. Fransen

Robert E. Fransen 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: 20240072499
    Abstract: A communications connector has a jack housing and a pair of plug interface contacts. The plug interface contacts each have an insulation displacement contact end and a plug interface end. The plug interface end and the insulation displacement contact end each have a broad face and, the broad face of the plug interface end and the insulation displacement contact of each plug interface end contact are parallel to each other. Additionally, the broad faces of each contact also being parallel to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Jason O'Young, Robert E. Fransen, Satish I. Patel, Robert L. Fritz
  • Patent number: 11817659
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide an RJ45 jack that has a self-closing shutter door and allows for RJ45 plug insertion in one linear motion, but which incorporates a free contact plug stop on the shutter door and a door catch feature that aids in the retention of the door in the housing when a plug is subjected to a pull out force while latched into the jack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Roman J. Churnovic, Robert E. Fransen
  • Patent number: 11811181
    Abstract: A communications connector has a main plug assembly and a wire cap that is configured to terminate a pair of conductors to the pair of contacts by being secured to a side of the main plug assembly in a direction perpendicular to a plane defined by a deflection direction of a latch of the connector. In another embodiment, a communications connector has a main plug assembly and two electrical contacts within the main plug assembly wherein each electrical contact has a first end having a forked receptacle and a second end having an IDC that is configured to have a conductor terminated in a direction perpendicular to a direction of mating insertion and parallel to a plane defined by the contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Benjamin S. Novak, Satish I. Patel, Sean W. Lenz, Roman J. Churnovic, Robert E. Fransen, Robert L. Fritz
  • Patent number: 11677198
    Abstract: A field terminal plug assembly including an RJ45 plug connected to a termination zone. The termination zone includes a wire cap, a rear sled, and an electrical board assembly with attached insulation displacement contacts (IDCs) electrically connected to the twisted wire-pairs of assembly cable. The wire cap is configured to terminate twisted wire-pairs of a communications cable to the IDCs when the wire cap is inserted into the rear sled. The IDCs contain at least a first and a second IDC, the first IDC having a first horizontal length and a first vertical length and the second IDC having a second horizontal length and a second vertical length. The first vertical length does not equal the second vertical length but the first vertical length plus the first horizontal length equals the second vertical length plus the second horizontal length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: David C. Stanislaw, Andrew Ciezak, Frank M. Straka, Robert E. Fransen, Joshua A. Valenti, Vytas J. Vaitkus, Michael A. Tome, Paul W. Wachtel
  • Publication number: 20230132737
    Abstract: A connector module is disclosed having physical dimensions for being installed into standardized, or pre-existing, structures such as a patch panel including pre-populated slot openings. The connector module provides simple field termination for different sized single pair cables using screw-down/cage-clamp for the bare single pair of conductors emerging from a centralized power equipment to be a pluggable mating connector terminating the field wires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Teresa Agee, Robert E. Fransen, Roman J. Churnovic
  • Publication number: 20230066043
    Abstract: A communications connector has a shielded jack body and a wire cap. The shielded jack body has a single pair of plug interface contacts having a first thickness and a single pair of insulation displacement having a second smaller thickness. The plug interface contacts are configured to electrically connect to the insulation displacement contacts. The wire cap is configured to terminate a pair of conductors to the pair of insulation displacement contacts by being secured to the sheilded jack body in a direction perpendicular to a direction of an insertion of an associated connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Benjamin S. Novak, Satish I. Patel, Sean W. Lenz, Roman J. Churnovic, Robert E. Fransen, Robert L. Fritz, Jason O'Young
  • Patent number: 11476616
    Abstract: A modular communications plug is disclosed having a simplified design that allows for more efficient termination of a cable into the plug. The plug includes modular components that are applicable to different applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Satish I. Patel, Roman J. Churnovic, Vytas J. Vaitkus, Robert E. Fransen
  • Patent number: 11387606
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various communications systems allowing for multiple contacts points between plug contacts in a communications plug and plug interface contacts (PICs) in a communications jack. In some disclosed implementations, a communications plug including a first and a second plug contact mated with a communications jack having a first and a second plug PIC may form a plurality of plug/jack interfaces. The plug/jack interfaces may form multiple current paths between the communications plug and the communications jack. When a signal propagates between the communications plug and the communications jack, it may be split in the communications plug between a first current path and a second current path, and recombined in the communications jack after traveling through the plurality of plug/jack interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Joshua A. Valenti, Sean W. Lenz, Paul W. Wachtel, Robert E. Fransen, Satish I. Patel
  • Publication number: 20220190531
    Abstract: A field terminal plug assembly including an RJ45 plug connected to a termination zone. The termination zone includes a wire cap, a rear sled, and an electrical board assembly with attached insulation displacement contacts (IDCs) electrically connected to the twisted wire-pairs of assembly cable. The wire cap is configured to terminate twisted wire-pairs of a communications cable to the IDCs when the wire cap is inserted into the rear sled. The IDCs contain at least a first and a second IDC, the first IDC having a first horizontal length and a first vertical length and the second IDC having a second horizontal length and a second vertical length. The first vertical length does not equal the second vertical length but the first vertical length plus the first horizontal length equals the second vertical length plus the second horizontal length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: David C. Stanislaw, Andrew Ciezak, Frank M. Straka, Robert E. Fransen, Joshua A. Valenti, Vytas J. Vaitkus, Michael A. Tome, Paul W. Wachtel
  • Publication number: 20210242623
    Abstract: A modular communications plug is disclosed having a simplified design that allows for more efficient termination of a cable into the plug. The plug includes modular components that are applicable to different applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Satish I. Patel, Roman J. Churnovic, Vytas J. Vaitkus, Robert E. Fransen
  • Publication number: 20210151905
    Abstract: A communications connector has a main plug assembly and a wire cap that is configured to terminate a pair of conductors to the pair of contacts by being secured to a side of the main plug assembly in a direction perpendicular to a plane defined by a deflection direction of a latch of the connector. In another embodiment, a communications connector has a main plug assembly and two electrical contacts within the main plug assembly wherein each electrical contact has a first end having a forked receptacle and a second end having an IDC that is configured to have a conductor terminated in a direction perpendicular to a direction of mating insertion and parallel to a plane defined by the contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Benjamin S. Novak, Satish I. Patel, Sean W. Lenz, Roman J. Churnovic, Robert E. Fransen, Robert L. Fritz
  • Publication number: 20210013678
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various communications systems allowing for multiple contacts points between plug contacts in a communications plug and plug interface contacts (PICs) in a communications jack. In some disclosed implementations, a communications plug including a first and a second plug contact mated with a communications jack having a first and a second plug PIC may form a plurality of plug/jack interfaces. The plug/jack interfaces may form multiple current paths between the communications plug and the communications jack. When a signal propagates between the communications plug and the communications jack, it may be split in the communications plug between a first current path and a second current path, and recombined in the communications jack after traveling through the plurality of plug/jack interfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicant: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Joshua A. Valenti, Sean W. Lenz, Paul W. Wachtel, Robert E. Fransen, Satish I. Patel
  • Patent number: 10790616
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various communications systems allowing for multiple contacts points between plug contacts in a communications plug and plug interface contacts (PICs) in a communications jack. In some disclosed implementations, a communications plug including a first and a second plug contact mated with a communications jack having a first and a second plug PIC may form a plurality of plug/jack interfaces. The plug/jack interfaces may form multiple current paths between the communications plug and the communications jack. When a signal propagates between the communications plug and the communications jack, it may be split in the communications plug between a first current path and a second current path, and recombined in the communications jack after traveling through the plurality of plug/jack interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Joshua A. Valenti, Sean W. Lenz, Paul W. Wachtel, Robert E. Fransen, Satish I. Patel
  • Publication number: 20200303884
    Abstract: A field terminal plug assembly including an RJ45 plug connected to a termination zone. The termination zone includes a wire cap, a rear sled, and an electrical board assembly with attached insulation displacement contacts (IDCs) electrically connected to the twisted wire-pairs of assembly cable. The wire cap is configured to terminate twisted wire-pairs of a communications cable to the IDCs when the wire cap is inserted into the rear sled. The IDCs contain at least a first and a second IDC, the first IDC having a first horizontal length and a first vertical length and the second IDC having a second horizontal length and a second vertical length. The first vertical length does not equal the second vertical length but the first vertical length plus the first horizontal length equals the second vertical length plus the second horizontal length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: David C. Stanislaw, Andrew Ciezak, Frank M. Straka, Robert E. Fransen, Joshua A. Valenti, Vytas J. Vaitkus, Michael A. Tome, Paul W. Wachtel
  • Patent number: 10673195
    Abstract: Various implementations of lead frame style communications connectors are disclosed. In some implementations, a lead frame style communications connector may include a plurality of conductors each including a plug contact region and an opposing cable conductor termination region. Each of the plurality of conductors may be arranged in one of a first subset of conductors and a second subset of conductors. The lead frame style communications connector a mandrel separating the first subset of conductors from the second subset of conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Robert E. Fransen, Louann M. Devine, Frank M. Straka
  • Patent number: 10665993
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of telecommunication, and more specifically, to communication connectors such as, for example, shielded plug and jack connectors. In an embodiment, the present invention is a communication jack that includes a housing and a front sled assembly having a plurality of plug interface contacts (PICs), the front sled assembly being moveable along a horizontal plane of the communication jack between a first position and a second position, the first position being different from the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Jason O'Young, Satish I. Patel, Joshua A. Valenti, Paul W. Wachtel, Robert E. Fransen, Andrew Ciezak, Michael B. Verbeek
  • Patent number: 10637199
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the field of telecommunication, and more particularly, to the field of connectors such as plugs and/or jacks used to interconnect electronic equipment. In an embodiment, the present invention is a shielded RJ45 network jack with an inter-jack connection method that has an electrical disengagement point outside of any electrical mating points, while still allowing for a relatively short distance to compensation from the plug/jack mating interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Joshua A. Valenti, Satish I. Patel, Robert E. Fransen, Michael B. Verbeek
  • Patent number: 10587081
    Abstract: Various implementations of communications connectors are disclosed. In some implementations, a communications connector, such as a communications plug, may include a plug body and a termination sled positioned at least partially in the plug body. The termination sled may include a printed circuit board (PCB) having a front section, a rear section, and a connecting section connecting the front section and the rear section. In some implementations, a communications cord may include a communications plug having a conductive shell and PCB assembly. The PCB assembly may include a PCB, front and rear load bars, and a shielded divider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Joshua A. Valenti, Sean W. Lenz, Andrew Ciezak, Paul W. Wachtel, Robert E. Fransen, Satish I. Patel
  • Patent number: 10559927
    Abstract: A communication connector has a housing for receiving a communication plug, a printed circuit within the housing, a switch which actuates the printed circuit board, and a translating crossbar which engages the switch. The printed circuit board is moved dependent upon a type of plug inserted. The movement of the circuit board can help to selectively engage one of two sets of circuit traces and groupings of contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Jason O'Young, Robert E. Fransen, Samuel M. Marrs, Satish I. Patel, Paul W. Wachtel, Andrew Ciezak
  • Publication number: 20190326708
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various communications systems allowing for multiple contacts points between plug contacts in a communications plug and plug interface contacts (PICs) in a communications jack. In some disclosed implementations, a communications plug including a first and a second plug contact mated with a communications jack having a first and a second plug PIC may form a plurality of plug/jack interfaces. The plug/jack interfaces may form multiple current paths between the communications plug and the communications jack. When a signal propagates between the communications plug and the communications jack, it may be split in the communications plug between a first current path and a second current path, and recombined in the communications jack after traveling through the plurality of plug/jack interfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Applicant: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: JOSHUA A. VALENTI, SEAN W. LENZ, PAUL W. WACHTEL, ROBERT E. FRANSEN, SATISH I. PATEL