Patents by Inventor Thomas F. Rahrig

Thomas F. Rahrig 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: 20040101251
    Abstract: A multichannel fiber connector including a pair of mating connector parts, each including a body, each mating connector part including an optical fiber coupling element for each respective channel. The optical fiber coupling element having an outer section and an inner section. The coupling element is positioned on a first fiber receiving side having a first thread section and the coupling element on a second fiber receiving side having a second threaded section. The first and second threaded sections are directly in contact with and biting into the first and second fibers when the fibers are positioned in the respective optical coupling element. The connector further includes a latching assembly comprising a resilient locking arm on one connector part and a locking catch on the other connector part. The locking arm is adapted to engage the locking catch when the connector parts are mated and secure the parts together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Applicant: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Rahrig, Adam W. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 6467942
    Abstract: A lamp assembly for use with a vehicle's electrical system, the electrical system including a plurality of terminals each having a wire insulating portion and an end connector portion. A main elastomeric housing includes a socket for receiving a bulb. A front seal encircles an exterior surface of the socket and seals around a periphery of the socket. A first plurality of sealing ridges extend along an open facing side of the main housing, opposite the bulb socket, and within which are received the wire insulating portions of the terminals and the end connector portions of each terminal conmmunicating with the bulb socket upon the terminals being located within the main housing. A back cap matingly aligns over an open facing side of the main housing and includes an opposingly facing side with a second plurality of sealing ridges which align with the first plurality of sealing ridges and to sandwich therebetween the wire insulating portions of the terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Alcoa Fujikura Limited
    Inventors: Michael J. Alloway, Earl J. Hayes, Christopher J. Dillon, Thomas F. Rahrig
  • Publication number: 20020093830
    Abstract: A lamp assembly for use with a vehicle's electrical system, the electrical system including a plurality of terminals each having a wire insulating portion and an end connector portion. A main elastomeric housing includes a socket for receiving a bulb. A front seal encircles an exterior surface of the socket and seals around a periphery of the socket. A first plurality of sealing ridges extend along an open facing side of the main housing, opposite the bulb socket, and within which are received the wire insulating portions of the terminals and the end connector portions of each terminal communicating with the bulb socket upon the terminals being located within the main housing. A back cap matingly aligns over an open facing side of the main housing and includes an opposingly facing side with a second plurality of sealing ridges which align with the first plurality of sealing ridges and to sandwich therebetween the wire insulating portions of the terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventors: Michael J. Alloway, Earl J. Hayes, Christopher J. Dillon, Thomas F. Rahrig
  • Patent number: 5179503
    Abstract: A modular automobile power distribution box having a housing for mounting a plurality of interchangeable support modules. Each support module is adapted for supporting a specific electrical component such as an ISO relay, a mini-fuse, a maxi-fuse, etc., and the support modules are uniform so as to permit interchangeable positioning within the housing for selective variation of combinations of electrical components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Assignee: United Technologies Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Fouts, Thomas F. Rahrig, David E. Champlin, Zenon Hotra
  • Patent number: 5169338
    Abstract: A battery connector cover (10) having an insulative body (12) locked over a battery terminal (18) and a cable connector (16) for electrically insulating the battery terminal (18) and connector (16). The connector cover (10) is locked in a closed position at one end by a locking detent (24) and is secured at its opposite end to battery cables (14) via a cable lock (40). The cover includes an integral hinge (36) disposed between the two ends so as to provide easy access to the battery terminal (18) and connector (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: United Technologies Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Dewar, Thomas F. Rahrig, Steven F. Gawron
  • Patent number: 4717359
    Abstract: An improved arrangement for retaining a terminal in a terminal holder includes providing a mounting opening through a wall of the terminal and provides a resilient snap-lock extending from the surface of a support member of the holder. The snap-lock extends through the terminal mounting opening for preventing relative longitudinal motion of the terminal in the holder and for yieldably restricting relative motion of the terminal substantially normal to the support member of the holder. The snap-lock has two locking fingers extending in "V"-shape fashion from the support member, which is preferably the holder's base. The locking fingers include camming surfaces to facilitate mounting the terminal on the locking fingers by moving the terminal transverse to its longitudinal extent. The holder is open at its top to facilitate mounting and removal of a terminal. A connector housing may be provided to removably close that opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: United Technologies Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Rahrig, Thomas E. Hall
  • Patent number: 4717356
    Abstract: An electrical receptacle terminal having a longitudinal body for receiving a pin terminal includes a bifurcated beam spring forming two spring arms. The two spring arms act independently to urge an inserted pin terminal into good electrical contact with an opposing rib formed in an opposing wall. Each spring arm also includes a respective side flange which is contoured to engage the pin terminal in quadrature with the spring arms and rib. The pair of flanges have opposed faces for engaging opposite sides of the pin terminal. The spacing of the opposed faces of the flanges is normally less than the dimension of the pin terminal they engage such that they and the spring arms are resiliently spread by the pin terminal to thereby provide secure engagement. The four walls of the receptacle terminal are folded inward and rearward to form a continuous entry aperture and also to provide the spring arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: United Technologies Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Rahrig, Thomas E. Hall
  • Patent number: 4690478
    Abstract: An improved sealing arrangement is provided for a connector assembly having a terminal holder, terminals in the holder and joined by conductor wires and a housing in which the holder is disposed with the wires extending rearward through an opening. The holder has a support surface with channels of arcuate cross section for supporting the wires substantially in coplanar relation. The sealing arrangement is provided by inner and outer resilient seal members. The inner seal member is preferably annular and encircles the support holder between the holder support surface and the wires. The outer seal member encircles both the terminal holder and the conductor wires at least in partial coincidence with the inner seal member. The outer seal includes circumferential ribs for sealing engagement with the periphery of the opening in the housing. A face seal between the forward end of the holder and the housing seals pin terminals when inserted into receptacle terminals in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: United Technologies Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Rahrig, Thomas E. Hall