Patents by Inventor Tod M. Harlan

Tod M. Harlan 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: 20180132374
    Abstract: An enclosure assembly for housing printed circuit boards and related electrical components that provides secured component mounting in outdoor environments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Kevin Walker, Tod M. Harlan, Gottlieb Oyster, Nathan Potteiger
  • Patent number: 9967993
    Abstract: An enclosure assembly for housing printed circuit boards and related electrical components that provides secured component mounting in outdoor environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact Development and Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Walker, Tod M. Harlan, Gottlieb Oyster, Nathan Potteiger
  • Patent number: 9166326
    Abstract: An electrical connector has a plastic body and a blade contact in a terminal cavity in the body. A guard extends across the mouth of the cavity over an adjacent edge of the blade. A physical interlock connection holds the guard on the blade edge to shield the blade and prevent an object inserted into the mouth from contacting the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Brian Billman, Scott Anthony Faulkner, Tod M. Harlan, Kevin Walker
  • Patent number: 9136615
    Abstract: A shelf lighting connector assembly provides an electrical connection between a power strip on a wall and a light mounted on the underside of a shelf mounted on the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact Development and Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Tod M. Harlan, Osenaga Osagie, Nathan Potteiger, Kevin Walker
  • Publication number: 20150155643
    Abstract: A shelf lighting connector assembly provides an electrical connection between a power strip on a wall and a light mounted on the underside of a shelf mounted on the wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: Tod M. Harlan, Osenaga Osagie, Nathan Potteiger, Kevin Walker
  • Patent number: 8986039
    Abstract: A shelf lighting connector assembly provides an electrical connection between a power strip on a wall and a light mounted on the underside of a shelf mounted on the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact Development and Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Tod M. Harlan, Osenaga Osagie, Nathan Potteiger, Kevin Walker
  • Publication number: 20140235093
    Abstract: A shelf lighting connector assembly provides an electrical connection between a power strip on a wall and a light mounted on the underside of a shelf mounted on the wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Phoenix Contact Development & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Tod M. Harlan, Osenaga Osagie, Nathan Potteiger, Kevin Walker
  • Patent number: 8449205
    Abstract: An optical connector (100) defining a receiving space (101) includes an insulative housing (1), a plurality of contacts (2) and an optical fiber module (3) retained in the insulative housing (1). The insulative housing (1) has a base (12) and a tongue (13) extending forwardly from the base (12). The base (12) has a front wall (121) and a cavity (125) extending therethrough. The optical fiber module (3) is received in the cavity (125) and has at least a position post (32) extending forwardly beyond the front wall (121). A protecting mechanism (126) extends into the receiving space (101). The protecting mechanism (126) has a front end (1260) arranged at front of the position post (32) to make the receiving space (101) having a first insertion length (X) and a second insertion length (Y). The second insertion length (Y) is larger than the first insertion length (X).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Terrance F. Little, Stephen Sedio, James M. Sabo, Tod M. Harlan
  • Publication number: 20130023162
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulative housing defining a receiving cavity extending along a longitudinal direction and a plurality of stamped terminals arranged in the insulative housing along the longitudinal direction with each terminal disposed in a transverse plane perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction. Each terminal defines a retaining portion retained in the insulative housing, a contacting portion projecting into the receiving cavity, and a connecting arm connecting the retaining portion with the contacting portion, the contacting portion defines opposite first and second contacting arms upwardly extending toward each other from the connecting arm. The first contacting arm abuts against the second contacting arm when the terminal mating with a counterpart terminal so as to provide a low profile electrical connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: TOD M. HARLAN
  • Patent number: 8292516
    Abstract: An optoelectronic cable assembly (100) includes an insulative housing (2), a set of contacts (3) retained in the housing, an optical module (5) movably retained to the housing and at least one fiber optic coupled (6) to the optical module. The housing defines a base portion (21) and an extending portion (22) extending forwards from the base portion. The set of contacts each defines a retention portion (31) retained in the base portion, an elastic arm (32) running through the extending portion and exposed beyond the extending portion and a tail portion (33) extending out of the base portion. The optical module is disposed in front of the extending portion to receive the elastic arms therein, and is capable of moving along a front-to-back direction with regard to the extending portion. The optical module is moveable with regard to the extending portion, which can be accurately aligned with.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Terrance F. Little, Tod M. Harlan
  • Patent number: 8282404
    Abstract: A card connector includes a main housing having a base portion, a pair of side walls and a bottom wall connecting with the base portion and side walls thereby defining a receiving cavity. Multiple groups of contact sets comprise at least one grounding contact. The contact sets have contacting portions projecting into the receiving cavity. A metallic shell covers a top side of the main housing and defines an insertion opening together with the main housing. A pair of guiders are floatably assembled on opposite sides of the insertion opening for guiding different sized cards. A grounding plate which is attached to a bottom side of the main housing, comprises a pair of flexible tangs respectively pressing against a bottom side of the guiders. The grounding plate further comprises a grounding section electrically contacting with the at least one grounding contact so as to establish a grounding path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Terrance F. Little, Tod M. Harlan, Kuo-Chun Hsu, Hsueh-Lung Hsiao, Hung-Yang Yeh
  • Patent number: 8157596
    Abstract: A card connector (100) includes an insulating housing (1) defining a card receiving space; a set of first contacts (21) supported by the insulative housing and adapted for mating with XD card, and the first contacts having at least one grounding contact (211G); a set of second contacts (22) supported by the insulative housing and adapted for mating with SD card, the second contacts having at least one grounding contact (221G); a set of third contacts (23) supported by the insulative housing and adapted for mating with MS card, the third contacts having at least one grounding contact (231G); and at least two of the grounding contacts commonly grounded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Terrance F. Little, Richard Scott Kline, Kuo-Chun Hsu, Hsueh-Lung Hsiao, Hung-Yang Yeh, Tod M. Harlan
  • Patent number: 8109788
    Abstract: A cable assembly includes a housing including a main portion defining a connecting direction and a mating portion defining a mating direction, the connecting direction being perpendicular to the mating direction, a plurality of contacts receiving in the housing, a plurality of cables each including an inner conductor connected to the contacts and an outer conductor, a grounding bar connected to all the outer conductors of the cables. The grounding bar defines a long side extending along a direction perpendicular to the connecting direction and a short side extending along a direction parallel to the mating direction, and the housing further has a receiving trough to receive the grounding bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tod M. Harlan, Richard Lee Malehorn, II
  • Patent number: 8100726
    Abstract: An audio jack includes an insulative housing and a number of contacts retained therein. The insulative housing defines a receiving space for receiving a corresponding plug and a number of mounting holes extending inwardly from a mounting wall thereof. Each contact has a tail portion for connecting with a circuit board. A core pin is inserted into the receiving space and a plenty of elastomeric material is flowed into the mounting holes around the contacts to make the insulative housing being sealed except the receiving space. After the elastomeric material has solidified the core pin is withdrawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tod M. Harlan, Richard Scott Kline
  • Publication number: 20110317962
    Abstract: A cable assembly (100) includes an insulative housing (2) defining a mounting cavity (221); an optical module (5) accommodated in the mounting cavity and capable of moving therein along a front-to-back direction; at least one fiber (6) coupled to the optical module; two resilient members (9) spaced apart from each other along a transversal direction; and a cap (7) integrated with the two resilient members, the cap mounted to the insulative housing to cover the at least one fiber, and the two resilient members pressing against the optical module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: RICHARD LEE MALEHORN, II, TOD M. HARLAN
  • Publication number: 20110237103
    Abstract: An audio jack includes an insulative housing and a number of contacts retained therein. The insulative housing defines a receiving space for receiving a corresponding plug and a number of mounting holes extending inwardly from a mounting wall thereof. Each contact has a tail portion for connecting with a circuit board. A plenty of elastomeric material is filled into the mounting holes around the contacts to make the insulative housing being sealed except the receiving space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tod M. Harlan, Richard Scott Kline
  • Publication number: 20110194822
    Abstract: A cable assembly (100) includes an insulative housing (2) defining a mounting cavity (221); an optical module (5) accommodated in the mounting cavity and capable of moving therein along a front-to-back direction; at least one fiber (6) coupled to the optical module; and a one-piece resilient member (91) disposed in the mounting cavity and arranged behind the optical module, the resilient member (91) having a left resilient portion (911A) and a right resilient portion (911B) spaced apart from each other along a transversal direction to bias the optical module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: TOD M. HARLAN, TERRANCE F. LITTLE
  • Publication number: 20110176778
    Abstract: An optoelectronic cable assembly (100) includes an insulative housing (2), a set of contacts (3) retained in the housing, an optical module (5) movably retained to the housing and at least one fiber optic coupled (6) to the optical module. The housing defines a base portion (21) and an extending portion (22) extending forwards from the base portion. The set of contacts each defines a retention portion (31) retained in the base portion, an elastic arm (32) running through the extending portion and exposed beyond the extending portion and a tail portion (33) extending out of the base portion. The optical module is disposed in front of the extending portion to receive the elastic arms therein, and is capable of moving along a front-to-back direction with regard to the extending portion. The optical module is moveable with regard to the extending portion, which can be accurately aligned with.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Terrance F. LITTLE, Tod M. HARLAN
  • Publication number: 20110158591
    Abstract: A cable assembly (100) includes an insulative housing (2) defining a mounting cavity (221); an optical module (5) accommodated in the mounting cavity and capable of moving therein along a front-to-back direction; at least one fiber (6) coupled to the optical module; and an elongated elastomeric member (9) disposed in the mounting cavity along a transversal direction and arranged behind the optical module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: TOD M. HARLAN
  • Patent number: RE44448
    Abstract: An electrical connector (100) for receiving a mating plug (200) having an insulative housing (10), a set of first contacts (21), and a set of second contacts (22). The insulative housing includes a base portion (13), a wafer (14), and a latch mechanism fastened the wafer to the base portion. The electrical contacts are attached to the insulative housing and each has a contact section (214, 222) connecting with the plug and a mounting section (213, 224) extending out of the insulative housing. The contact sections of the first contacts are staggered with the contact sections of the second contacts along a mating direction of the electrical connector, and wherein the contact sections of the first contacts are closed to a front edge of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chong Yi, Tod M. Harlan, Richard L. Malehorn, Jia-Yong He, Terrance F. Little