Patents by Inventor Thomas Robert DeWitte
Thomas Robert DeWitte 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).
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Publication number: 20250105545Abstract: A header connector includes a header housing extending between a mating end and a terminating end. The mating end is configured to be mated with a plug connector. The header housing has a cavity between the mating end and the terminating end. The header housing has a mounting flange configured to be mounted to a panel. The header connector includes a busbar carrier assembly that includes a busbar carrier and a busbar held by the busbar carrier. The busbar carrier has a support wall and a mounting portion. The busbar is coupled to the support wall. The mounting portion is coupled to the terminating end of the header housing. The busbar is received in the cavity of the header housing for mating with the plug connector when the mounting portion of the busbar carrier is coupled to the terminating end of the header housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2024Publication date: March 27, 2025Inventor: Thomas Robert DeWitte
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Patent number: 12230922Abstract: An electrical header for use in an electrical connector assembly includes a body adapted to mount to an object and having an opening formed therethrough for receiving an electrical terminal. The body further defines a plug on a first side thereof and adapted to engage with a mating electrical connector of the assembly. The plug includes a pair of first opposing sidewalls extending from the body and defining a locking feature adapted to engage with a corresponding locking feature of the mating connector, and a pair of second opposing sidewalls extending from the body and defining a keying feature. The first and second pairs of opposing sidewalls are adapted to mate with a first mating connector oriented in a first direction, and mate with a second mating connector oriented in a second direction distinct from the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2023Date of Patent: February 18, 2025Assignee: TE Connectivity Solutions GmbHInventors: Thomas Robert DeWitte, Adam Price Tyler, Lindsey Gatesman, David James Rhein
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Publication number: 20240204427Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing having a mounting end configured to be mounted to a structure. The electrical connector includes an electrical shield having shield walls surrounding a shield cavity. The shield walls are coupled to the housing and provide electrical shielding for the housing. The electrical shield includes grounding tabs extending from the shield walls. The grounding tabs include teeth having cutting edges. The grounding tabs are received in the opening in the structure. The teeth of the grounding tabs configured to engage the structure to electrically ground the grounding tabs to the structure. The cutting edges configured to cut through a coated surface of the structure to directly engage a conductive layer of the structure to electrically connect the electrical shield to the structure through the coated surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2022Publication date: June 20, 2024Inventors: David James Rhein, Thomas Robert DeWitte, Zoran Krnetic, Deborah J. Probert
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Patent number: 11916336Abstract: An electrical header for use in an electrical connector assembly includes a body for mounting to an object and having an opening formed therethrough for receiving an electrical terminal. The body further defines a plug on a first side thereof for engaging with a mating electrical connector of the assembly. The plug includes a pair of first opposing sidewalls extending from the body at a first height and defining a locking feature for engaging with a corresponding locking feature of the mating connector, and a pair of second opposing sidewalls extending from the body at a second height, less than the first height. The first and second pairs of opposing sidewalls are adapted to mate with a first mating connector oriented in a first direction, and mate with a second mating connector oriented in a second direction distinct from the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2021Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: TE Connectivity Solutions GmbHInventors: Thomas Robert DeWitte, Adam Price Tyler, Lindsey Gatesman, David James Rhein
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Publication number: 20240047924Abstract: An electrical header for use in an electrical connector assembly includes a body adapted to mount to an object and having an opening formed therethrough for receiving an electrical terminal. The body further defines a plug on a first side thereof and adapted to engage with a mating electrical connector of the assembly. The plug includes a pair of first opposing sidewalls extending from the body and defining a locking feature adapted to engage with a corresponding locking feature of the mating connector, and a pair of second opposing sidewalls extending from the body and defining a keying feature. The first and second pairs of opposing sidewalls are adapted to mate with a first mating connector oriented in a first direction, and mate with a second mating connector oriented in a second direction distinct from the first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2023Publication date: February 8, 2024Applicant: TE Connectivity Solutions GmbHInventors: Thomas Robert DeWitte, Adam Price Tyler, Lindsey Gatesman, David James Rhein
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Publication number: 20230299546Abstract: An electrical connector assembly comprises a header and a backing plate attachable thereto. The header includes a plug portion for connecting to a complementary mating connector, and a base having a plurality of mounting through holes for fixing the header to a mounting surface. The backing plate includes a plurality of mounting elements corresponding in location to the plurality of mounting holes of the header for fixing the backing plate to the header on an underside of the mounting surface, and a central opening corresponding in location to the plug portion of the header with the backing plate fixed to the header.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2022Publication date: September 21, 2023Applicants: Tyco Electronics Canada ULC, TE Connectivity Solutions GmbHInventors: Zoran Krnetic, David James Rhein, Thomas Robert DeWitte, Lindsey Gatesman, Adam Price Tyler, Praveen Kumar HM
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Patent number: 11708908Abstract: A gasket assembly includes a substrate, such as a portion of a body of an electrical connector. The substrate defines a mating surface to which a gasket or gasket seal is mechanically fixed. The gasket defines at least one recess or other mounting feature thereon for engaging with a complementary feature of the substrate for fixing the gasket to the substrate. According to an embodiment, the gasket defines a sealing face or sealing wall opposing and/or abutting the mating surface of the substrate, and a sidewall extending from the sealing wall and defined about a perimeter thereof. The sealing wall and sidewall define a circumferential recess configured to receive a peripheral edge of the substrate for securing the gasket to and generally over the mating surface of the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2020Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: TE Connectivity Solutions GmbHInventors: Thomas Robert DeWitte, Zoran Krnetic, Lindsey E. Gatesman, David James Rhein, Eric D. Shields
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Publication number: 20220329000Abstract: An electrical header for mounting to an object such as an electrical device. The header comprises a body including a base, a first plug end defined on a first side of the base and adapted to mate with a mating connector, and a second plug end defined on a second side of the base and adapted to be inserted into the object. An elastic locking element is arranged on the second plug end and is adapted to engage with and secure the header to the object. The elastic locking element is sized and shaped to be elastically biased by the object in a direction transverse to an insertion direction of the header during removal of the header from the object.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2022Publication date: October 13, 2022Applicant: TE Connectivity Services GmbHInventors: Thomas Robert DeWitte, David James Rhein, Pushkar S. Kolhatkar
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Patent number: 11362472Abstract: A terminal extraction tool includes a handle and an extraction arm extending from the handle. The handle has a bottom extending between a handle front and a handle rear having a handle axis centered between the handle front and the handle rear. The extraction arm has a base at the bottom of the handle and a finger extending from the base. The finger has an elbow between an upper finger member and a lower finger member. The lower finger member is angled non-parallel to the upper finger member. The lower finger member extends from the elbow to a tip configured to engage a latching beam to release the latching beam and allow removal of the terminal from a housing. The handle and the extraction arm are rotated about the elbow to rotate the lower finger member and the tip to engage the latching beam.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2020Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: TE Connectivity CorporationInventors: Thomas Robert DeWitte, Pushkar S. Kolhatkar
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Publication number: 20220140540Abstract: An electrical header for use in an electrical connector assembly includes a body for mounting to an object and having an opening formed therethrough for receiving an electrical terminal. The body further defines a plug on a first side thereof for engaging with a mating electrical connector of the assembly. The plug includes a pair of first opposing sidewalls extending from the body a first height and defining a locking feature for engaging with a corresponding locking feature of the mating connector, and a pair of second opposing sidewalls extending from the body at a second height, less than the first height. The first and second pairs of opposing sidewalls are adapted to mate with a first mating connector oriented in a first direction with respect to the header, and mate with a second mating connector oriented in a second direction with respect to the header and distinct from the first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2021Publication date: May 5, 2022Applicant: TE Connectivity Services GmbHInventors: Thomas Robert DeWitte, Adam Price Tyler, Lindsey Gatesman, David James Rhein
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Publication number: 20210285545Abstract: A gasket assembly includes a substrate, such as a portion of a body of an electrical connector. The substrate defines a mating surface to which a gasket or gasket seal is mechanically fixed. The gasket defines at least one recess or other mounting feature thereon for engaging with a complementary feature of the substrate for fixing the gasket to the substrate. According to an embodiment, the gasket defines a sealing face or sealing wall opposing and/or abutting the mating surface of the substrate, and a sidewall extending from the sealing wall and defined about a perimeter thereof. The sealing wall and sidewall define a circumferential recess configured to receive a peripheral edge of the substrate for securing the gasket to and generally over the mating surface of the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2020Publication date: September 16, 2021Applicant: TE Connectivity Services GmbHInventors: Thomas Robert DeWitte, Zoran Krnetic, Lindsey E. Gatesman, David James Rhein, Eric D. Shields
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Publication number: 20200373721Abstract: A terminal extraction tool includes a handle and an extraction arm extending from the handle. The handle has a bottom extending between a handle front and a handle rear having a handle axis centered between the handle front and the handle rear. The extraction arm has a base at the bottom of the handle and a finger extending from the base. The finger has an elbow between an upper finger member and a lower finger member. The lower finger member is angled non-parallel to the upper finger member. The lower finger member extends from the elbow to a tip configured to engage a latching beam to release the latching beam and allow removal of the terminal from a housing. The handle and the extraction arm are rotated about the elbow to rotate the lower finger member and the tip to engage the latching beam.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2020Publication date: November 26, 2020Inventors: Thomas Robert DeWitte, Pushkar S. Kolhatkar
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Patent number: 10734755Abstract: Electrical connector includes an electrical contact coupled to a connector body and configured to engage a respective contact of a mating connector. The electrical connector includes a seal gland secured to the connector body. The seal gland is shaped to engage the mating connector during the mating operation. The seal gland includes a lubricating section and a sealing section that are displaceable by the mating connector during the mating operation. The lubricating section is positioned in front of the sealing section such that the lubricating section initially engages the mating connector. The lubricating section has at least one of an added lubricant or an intrinsic lubricant. The seal gland is configured to provide a first frictional force as the mating connector engages the lubricating section and a second frictional force as the mating connector engages the sealing section. The second frictional force is greater than the first frictional force.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2018Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: TE Connectivity CorporationInventors: Thomas Robert DeWitte, David James Rhein
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Publication number: 20200099164Abstract: Electrical connector includes an electrical contact coupled to a connector body and configured to engage a respective contact of a mating connector. The electrical connector includes a seal gland secured to the connector body. The seal gland is shaped to engage the mating connector during the mating operation. The seal gland includes a lubricating section and a sealing section that are displaceable by the mating connector during the mating operation. The lubricating section is positioned in front of the sealing section such that the lubricating section initially engages the mating connector. The lubricating section has at least one of an added lubricant or an intrinsic lubricant. The seal gland is configured to provide a first frictional force as the mating connector engages the lubricating section and a second frictional force as the mating connector engages the sealing section. The second frictional force is greater than the first frictional force.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2018Publication date: March 26, 2020Inventors: Thomas Robert DeWitte, David James Rhein
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Patent number: 10128611Abstract: A ferrule assembly for terminating an electrical connector to a cable includes an inner ferrule, an outer ferrule and an inner ferrule sleeve. The inner ferrule has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner ferrule is conductive and provides electrical shielding. The outer ferrule is positioned radially outside of the inner ferrule such that a cable shield of the cable is received between the inner ferrule and the outer ferrule. The outer ferrule secures the cable shield between the inner ferrule and the outer ferrule. The inner ferrule sleeve is positioned radially inside of the inner ferrule. The inner ferrule sleeve substantially fills the space between the inner ferrule and an inner jacket of the cable. The inner ferrule sleeve is dielectric and electrically isolating the inner ferrule from an inner conductor of the cable.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2017Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY CORPORATIONInventors: David James Rhein, Aric J. Boyer, Thomas Robert DeWitte
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Publication number: 20180034200Abstract: A ferrule assembly for terminating an electrical connector to a cable includes an inner ferrule, an outer ferrule and an inner ferrule sleeve. The inner ferrule has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner ferrule is conductive and provides electrical shielding. The outer ferrule is positioned radially outside of the inner ferrule such that a cable shield of the cable is received between the inner ferrule and the outer ferrule. The outer ferrule secures the cable shield between the inner ferrule and the outer ferrule. The inner ferrule sleeve is positioned radially inside of the inner ferrule. The inner ferrule sleeve substantially fills the space between the inner ferrule and an inner jacket of the cable. The inner ferrule sleeve is dielectric and electrically isolating the inner ferrule from an inner conductor of the cable.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2017Publication date: February 1, 2018Inventors: David James Rhein, Aric J. Boyer, Thomas Robert DeWitte
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Patent number: 9583860Abstract: An electrical connector with recordable position assurance includes a housing, an electrical conductor, an indicating feature, and a concealing feature. The housing is configured to engage a complementary mating connector during a mating operation. The indicating feature and the concealing feature are both carried by the housing. The indicating feature has a visual identifier disposed thereon. The indicating feature and the concealing feature are movable relative to each other between a concealed position and an exposed position. The concealing feature conceals at least a portion of the visual identifier in the concealed position. The visual identifier is exposed or exposable in the exposed position. The indicating feature is in the exposed position relative to the concealing feature when the housing is fully mated to the mating connector, and is in the concealed position relative to the concealing feature when the housing and mating connector are not fully mated.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2015Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY CORPORATIONInventor: Thomas Robert DeWitte
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Patent number: 8221165Abstract: A connector assembly includes a housing, an input conductor, and an output conductor. The housing is configured to mate with a mating connector. The input conductor is held in the housing and extends between a receiving end and a coupling end. The receiving end is configured to receive electric current from a power source. The coupling end is configured to join with a fuse inside the housing. The output conductor is held in the housing and extends between a transmission end and a joining end. The joining end is configured to couple with the fuse inside the housing. The transmission end is configured to convey the electric current to a first electric load. The input conductor and the output conductor are electrically coupled with one another via the fuse to provide a fused conductive pathway within the connector assembly over which the electric current passes from the power source to the first electric load.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2009Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventor: Thomas Robert DeWitte
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Publication number: 20110151719Abstract: A connector assembly includes a housing, an input conductor, and an output conductor. The housing is configured to mate with a mating connector. The input conductor is held in the housing and extends between a receiving end and a coupling end. The receiving end is configured to receive electric current from a power source. The coupling end is configured to join with a fuse inside the housing. The output conductor is held in the housing and extends between a transmission end and a joining end. The joining end is configured to couple with the fuse inside the housing. The transmission end is configured to convey the electric current to a first electric load. The input conductor and the output conductor are electrically coupled with one another via the fuse to provide a fused conductive pathway within the connector assembly over which the electric current passes from the power source to the first electric load.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATIONInventor: THOMAS ROBERT DeWITTE