Patents Issued in April 1, 2003
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Patent number: 6540539Abstract: A connector is adapted to connect a small board (1) inserted in a first direction (A1) and is provided with an elastic member (13) for pressing opposite ends of the small board in a second direction (A2) when the small board is inserted into an insulator housing (3). The small board is inserted into the housing to be faced to conductive contacts fixed to the housing. Upon insertion, the small board is positioned with respect to the contacts by means of the elastic member. Thereafter, the small board is rotated in a thickness direction around its part inserted into the housing to connect the small board and the contacts.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, LimitedInventors: Yasufumi Yahiro, Akihiro Matsunaga, Keiichiro Suzuki, Atsushi Iiyama
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Patent number: 6540540Abstract: A socket 10 is used to mount a memory module 2, such as a small outline dual in-line memory module, on a printed circuit board 4. The socket 10 includes a plurality of contacts 30 mounted in a housing 20 so that contact can be established with pads on opposite sides of a card included in the module 2 when the module is cammed into the a housing slot 22. Identical latches 40 are mounted on opposite ends 24, 26 of the housing 20. Each latch 40 includes a latch arm 41 that can be deflected in opposite directions with latching surfaces 46, 47 on opposite sides, so that the same latch configuration can be used on either end. A floating solder foot 60 is mounted on each latch 40 so that the latch 40 can be soldered to the printed circuit board 4 with no concern for misalignment or stresses induced by warpage of the socket 10 or the printed circuit board 4.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2000Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventor: Shawn Phillip Tobey
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Patent number: 6540541Abstract: A ZIF socket assembly used with a chip (6) comprises a ZIF socket (5), an external actuating tool (8) and a protector (7). The socket comprises a base (51) and a sliding cover (53). The base comprises a recess (514) on an end thereof. The sliding cover is movably assembled on the base for receiving the chip and comprises a slot (514) in alignment with the recess. The protector is placed upon the chip and comprises a number of legs (71) extendingdownwardly for pressing against the chip and a rib (72) projecting downwardly from a bottom face thereof for heightening the protector with respect to the chip. The actuating tool is inserted into the recess through the slot and drives the cover, the chipand the protector to move with respect to the base, thereby achieving an electrical connection between the chip and the socket.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hao-Yun Ma
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Patent number: 6540542Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for mating with a complementary connecting device in a mating direction. A non-conductive housing mounts a plurality of conductive terminals. The housing has a channel extending generally parallel to the mating direction with an opening to the channel at a forward mating end of the housing. A flexible latch arm is located in the channel and has a free end with a latch plate for latchingly engaging an appropriate latch of the complementary connecting device inserted into the opening of the channel. The latch arm and latch plate are located substantially entirely within the bounds of the channel. The latch plate is in a plane generally parallel to the mating direction and has side edges confined by opposite side walls of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Molex IncorporatedInventor: George M. Simmel
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Patent number: 6540543Abstract: An electrical connection box has a casing 1 and a cover 2, which can be securely assembled, regardless of whether a packing is to be interposed therebetween. A female locking element 10 having a hook-shaped locking pawl 13 is formed on an outside surface of a side wall 1b of the casing. The cover is formed with a flexible male locking element 20, which is V-shaped in its cross-section and which is to be inserted into the female element. The male locking element is provided with locking holes 24a, 24b spaced a distance corresponding to the thickness of a watertight packing 3, and the locking pawl can be inserted into either of the locking holes.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 1999Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Furakawa Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tomotaka Watanabe
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Patent number: 6540544Abstract: In a press-connecting connector (30), a receiving width (W2) between side walls (31b, 31b) of a connector housing (31) is larger than a width (W1) of the press-connecting portion, and a gap (g) is formed between each press-connecting blade (9) and the corresponding side wall (31b). In a wire press-fitting apparatus (40), a lower end surface (43a) of each of press-connecting blade pressing portions (43) is flat. The lower end surfaces (43a) of the press-connecting blade pressing portions (43) are brought into abutting engagement with upper end surfaces (9d) of the press-connecting blades (9), respectively, and a lower end surface (42a) of a press-fitting rod portion (42) forces an electric wire (7) into a gap (G) between downwardly-extending inner surfaces (9c, 9c). As a result, the pair of press-connecting blades (9) are displaced respectively toward the side walls (31b, 31b), so that the gap (G) between the downwardly-extending inner surfaces (9c, 9c) is expanded into a generally V-shape.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2000Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Yazaki CorporationInventor: Nobuyuki Akeda
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Patent number: 6540545Abstract: A portable electric tool which miniaturizes a mold of a motor housing, reduces the costs for manufacturing the mold, extends the life of the mold, and simplifies attachment of electric equipment to a mount part of the motor housing. A flat mount part (29) extends toward the rear end of an electric tool is provided in the rear of the motor housing (5) and V-grooves (31) are provided on lateral sides of the mount part. Electric equipment to be attached to the electric too, such as a switch block (37) and a controller (39), are mounted to the top and bottom surfaces of the mount, respectively. On the bottom surface or the top surface of the electric equipment facing the surface of the mount part, engaging claws (41, 43) are provided which engages the V-grooves on the mount part. The electric equipment is attached to the mount part, by sliding forward from behind with the claws riding along the V-grooves. A rear cover (11) is added to retain the equipment.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2000Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Makita CorporationInventors: Toru Itakura, Fumitoshi Numata
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Patent number: 6540546Abstract: The invention provides a means for preventing foreign matter from entering via a supplementary guiding hole into an electrical connector provided with a cover. After female terminal fittings have been inserted into cavities of a female housing 40, this female housing 40 is inserted into a cover 20 via an attachment hole 21 that opens onto a side face of a closer side of the cover 20. Electric wires W that extend from a posterior end of the female housing 40 are passed through a guiding hole 22 adjacent to the attachment hole 21, and are guided towards the closer side in the direction of an arrow A. In the case where a different, closer, pair of male and female connectors M and F are fitted together after a female connector F has been fitted to a male connector M, the electric wires W are passed through a supplementary guiding aperture 50 that adjoins a lower side of a hole edge of the guiding hole 22, and are guided downwards in the direction of an arrow B.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2000Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.Inventor: Akinobu Kubo
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Patent number: 6540547Abstract: A cable harness plug is described, including a housing part for accommodating the contact carriers and a cover, a securing device being provided for securing a cable harness leading to the contact elements on the cable harness plug, and the cable harness being arranged inside a cable protection device provided on the cable harness plug. The securing device includes a retaining strap which forms one piece with the cable protection device. This makes it possible to arrange a cable harness directly on the cable harness plug in a vibration-proof mount and to protect it from mechanical damage at the transition from the cable protection device to the cable harness plug.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Peter Zweigle
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Patent number: 6540548Abstract: A method for separating a metallic braid from a core wire of a micro coaxial cable during connecting the coaxial cable to a printed circuit board (PCB) is disclosed. The coaxial cable includes a sheath surrounding the metallic braid and the inner conductor. An apparatus for performing the method includes a rotiform brush, a spin shaft extending through the rotiform brush and an electrical motor for driving the spin shaft and the rotiform brush. The rotiform brush includes a circular frame and a plurality of densely arranged hard brushings attached to the frame.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2002Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jun-Wu Zhang
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Patent number: 6540549Abstract: An electrical power distribution system for supplying electrical energy to power utilization equipment located, for example, at multiple work stations in a modular furniture installation, has a plurality of power taps, each having an electrical inlet connector, an electrical outlet connector and a power lead for connection to the power utilization equipment. Some of the inlet and outlet connectors are configured differently from others. A plurality of power transmitting jumpers, each having an electrical connector at each of the opposite ends thereof interconnect the outlet connector of one power tap and the inlet connector of another power tap. Certain ones of the jumper electrical connectors are configured differently from other of the jumper electrical connectors so as to connect to only selected ones of the power tap connectors.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Dekko Engineering, Inc.Inventor: Brian K. Rupert
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Patent number: 6540550Abstract: A card edge connector assembly is provided for electrically connecting at least a pair of stacked memory cards to a circuit board. The assembly includes a lower connector having a dielectric housing mounting a plurality of conductive terminals along a slot for receiving an edge of a lower memory card. An upper connector has a dielectric housing mounting a plurality of conductive terminals along a slot for receiving an edge of an upper memory card at an angle to the lower memory card, the angle diverging in a direction away from said slots.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Molex IncorporatedInventors: Wei Sun Chang, Pei-Cheng Chao
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Patent number: 6540551Abstract: The present invention provides an improved connector structure, which is a double-layer connector comprising an insulating main body, an upper and a lower terminal seat, a first connector, and a second connector. The insulating main body has a first main body and a second main body. A D-type connector is installed in the first main body. Conductive terminals of the D-type connector are bent into L shapes and then embedded into the upper and lower terminal seats, which are then embedded at the rear side of the insulating main body. The AV plug connector is wholly assembled and then installed in the second main body. Several AV plug connectors are integrated on the insulating main body to facilitate insertion for use. Moreover, the whole structure is much simplified to facilitate assembly, hence greatly lowering manufacturing and processing cost.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Cosner Precision Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yao Do Wang
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Patent number: 6540552Abstract: A stacked electronic card connector assembly includes a Smart Card connector including a housing retaining a number of first contacts and a Card Bus connector including a header retaining a number of second contacts. An insulative frame defines an opening to receive and retain the housing of the Smart Card connector. The frame is secured to the header of the Card Bus connector for interposing and fixing the housing therebetween thereby forming a stack. A first portion of a board-to-board connector is connected to the first and second contacts by a flexible printed circuit board. A second portion of the board-to-board connector is mounted a main computer board of for example a notebook computer.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.Inventor: Ming-Lun Kuo
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Patent number: 6540553Abstract: An electrical connector (10) comprises a housing (20) defining a mating port and a pair of side portions (24), a plurality of terminals (30) received in the mating port, and a pair of board locks (40) assembled in the side portions. Each side portion has a receiving space (240) extending along the mating direction and two shoulder portions (243) around the receiving space. The receiving space is divided into a first receiving part (241) and a second receiving part (242) by the two shoulder portions and communicating with each other. Each board lock is assembled into the receiving space. The board lock comprises a base portion (41) received in the first receiving part, a pair of resilient latch portions (42) extending from the base portion into the second receiving part to abut against the shoulder portions, and a pair of leg portions (43) extending outside the side portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2002Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jerry Wu
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Patent number: 6540554Abstract: An electrical receptacle unit is formed from a housing having a top section, a bottom section, and a recessed portion separating the top and bottom sections. The top section includes receptacles for removably receiving electrical plugs and other communication lines and cords. The housing is connectable to sources of electrical line power and existing communication lines for activating the receptacles in the upper section of the housing. The recessed portion of the housing receives the edge of a supporting structure, as for example, a table top, for removably mounting the housing to the supporting structure.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Inventor: David G. McCarthy
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Patent number: 6540555Abstract: The shielding plate is particularly suited for optoelectronic transceivers. The shielding plate is a hollow body in the form of a casing and has contact springs which are formed on the hollow body in order to make contact between the hollow body and a metallic structure. Contact springs are formed by projections which are arranged on the end face of the hollow body and are bent back onto the hollow body. As a result, the shielding plate having a chimney-like structure with improved shielding and reduced emission.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2000Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Mario Festag, Uwe Fischer, Michael Pöhnke
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Patent number: 6540556Abstract: An electric connector having an electrically insulative housing, terminals respectively mounted in respective terminal chambers of the housing, and a metal shielding shell covering the housing. The housing has locating notches. The terminals include signal transmission terminals and grounding terminals, each having a protruded positioning portion. The grounding terminals have the respective protruded positioning portions respectively engaged into the locating notches of the housing and maintained in contact with the metal shielding shell positively, forming with the metal shielding shell a grounding loop.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Speed Tech Corp.Inventor: Huang-Lung Fu
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Patent number: 6540557Abstract: An electrical card connector comprises an insulative housing (50) having an upper surface (5021) and an opposite lower surface (5022), a plurality of terminals (51) received in the insulative housing, a top shield (52) attached to the upper surface of the insulative housing and including a body plate (526) and a pair of sidewalls (528) downwardly extending from the body plate, a grounding plate (53) attached to the lower surface of the insulative housing, and a bottom shield (54) having a front end engaged with the grounding plate and an opposite rear end engaged with the sidewalls of the top shield, whereby the top shield and the bottom shield together define a receiving cavity for receiving an electrical card.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hung-Chi Yu
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Patent number: 6540558Abstract: A connector, comprising one or more integrated PCB assemblies, each of said PCB assemblies comprising an insulating substrate, a cover plate and optionally a spacer each of said insulating substrates (16) comprising a predetermined pattern of conductive tracks (11) on a first surface, each of said conducting tracks (11) having one end for connection to one first contact terminal (4), and another end for connection to one second contact terminal (7) recesses are provided between the substrate and the cover with a first set of one or more first recesses (24) arranged for accommodating at least part of one first contact terminal (4) and with a second set of one or more second recesses (25) arranged for accommodating at least part of one second contact terminal (7).Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1997Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Berg Technology, Inc.Inventor: Bernardus L. F. Paagman
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Patent number: 6540559Abstract: A docking connector system has been provided that includes a plurality of interchangeable plug and header chicklets, or terminal modules. Each interchangeable plug and header chicklet includes a plurality of signal contact pairs with corresponding signal pins and a plurality of ground contacts with corresponding ground pins. The signal contact pairs are arranged in a pattern in which a ground contact is positioned between any two signal contact pairs in the same row. Further, a ground contact is positioned between any two signal contact pairs in the same column. The signal contact pairs in one row of the pattern are staggered relative to the signal contact pairs in an adjacent row of the pattern. That is, signal pairs in adjacent rows do not line up with each other. Each plug and header chicklet also includes a plurality of signal pins and a plurality of ground pins. Each signal pin is attached to a signal contact pair, while each ground pin is attached to a ground contact.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: Dennis L. Kemmick, Francis P. Morana
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Patent number: 6540560Abstract: The connector body comprises: side portions to guide side surfaces of the inserted IC card; a bottom portion having a support surface to support a back surface or front surface of the IC card and stepped portions to engage a raised surface portion formed on the back surface so that the raised surface portion can be moved in an IC card insertion/retraction direction X when the back surface of the IC card is supported on the support surface; and a top plate portion to keep the IC card from floating upward. The top plate portion has: a restriction surface to keep the IC card from floating upward; and a receiving groove to movably receive the raised surface portion of the back surface in the IC card insertion/retraction direction when the back surface of the IC card faces the restriction surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2000Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignees: Yamaichi Electronics Co., Ltd., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshiyasu Ito, Takahiro Sakamoto
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Patent number: 6540561Abstract: In a plug connector (1) for being connected to a receptacle connector (2) in a first direction, a plug contact (13) is held by a plug housing (11) and has a principal surface extending along the first direction. The plug contact is formed with a concave portion recessed from the principal surface in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A wall is remained between the principal surface and the concave portion. In the receptacle connector (2), a receptacle housing (21) holds a receptacle contact (23) for coming in contact with the plug contact in the second direction. The receptacle contact is formed with a projection (23d) which is positioned inside the concave portion when the plug connector is connected to the receptacle connector.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2000Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronic Industry, Ltd.Inventor: Toshio Masumoto
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Patent number: 6540562Abstract: A communication jackfield having a face-plate, with a multitude of first through holes. Further, a multitude of assemblies comprising two or more communication jacks, having wire-wrap terminal connectors, are arranged to be mounted in the first through holes of the face-plate. A printed circuit board is fastened to the terminal connectors and is arranged in a gap formed between the terminal connectors. The board has an electrically conducting pattern arranged on both flat sides of the board, the pattern comprising a set of input pads, electrically connectable to the terminal conductors, a set of output pads, for connecting to electrical wiring, and interconnecting means for electrically connecting an individual input pad to an individual output pad.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2000Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: AVP Mfg. & Supply Inc.Inventors: Daniel L. Baker, John E. Grant
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Patent number: 6540563Abstract: A stacked connector assembly (1) comprises an insulative housing (10) defining a first and a second apertures (13, 14) in a mating face and a number of inner and outer recesses (180, 182) in a rear face (122), a first connector (20) disposed in the first aperture, a second connector (30) disposed in the second aperture, and a spacer (5) fixed to the housing. The second connector includes an array of second terminals (31) having second right-angle bent tails (314) received in the outer and inner recesses of the housing. The spacer is formed with a plurality of projections (510) abutting against the second right-angle bent tails that are received in the inner recesses of the housing, and a plurality of channels (512) having inside faces (5120) for abutting against the second right-angle bent tails that are received in the outer recess.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jinkui Hu, ZiQiang Zhu
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Patent number: 6540564Abstract: A connector assembly (1) mounted on a printed circuit board for mating with the network cable includes a housing (11) configured to two mating ports (10) to receive their complementary connector. A conditioning unit (3) is installed into the housing (11) and disposed between these mating ports (10), and includes a circuit board (30) having conditioning components (31) and two terminal modules (32) surface mounted thereon. A pair of flexible latching portions (14) is formed on two side edges of the rear side of the housing (11) respectively. And a stopping portion (16) is formed underneath every latching portion (14) and extending a predetermined distance longer than the length of the latching portion. A notch (37) is formed at one edge of the circuit board (30) to be engaged with the latch (14) to fix the conditioning unit (3) in position.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2002Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.Inventor: David Tso-Chin Ko
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Patent number: 6540565Abstract: A connector for use in metrology, in particular, in environmental metrology is described. The connector is fitted with a coupling and a plug. A housing on the plug and a housing on the coupling are provided with a key and a channel on their inner surfaces or outer surfaces respectively.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Endress & Hauser Conducta Gesellschaft fur Mess-Un Regeltechnik GmbH & Co.Inventors: Wolfgang Babel, Detlev Wittmer
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Patent number: 6540566Abstract: A connector includes an insulative housing defining a plurality of passageways for receiving pins therein. A buffering slot is defined in the housing corresponding to and adjacent each passageway. When pins are forcibly fit into the passageways, deformation is caused on the flexible walls for absorbing the stress/strain induced in the housing. The deformation of the flexible walls are accommodated by the corresponding buffering slots.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2002Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jerry Wu
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Patent number: 6540567Abstract: A battery connector assembly (5, 5a) has an insulative housing (1, 1a) and a plurality of terminals (2, 2a). The housing has three passageways (101, 102, 103) defined by sidewalls (11, 12) and inner walls (13, 14). Each inner wall has a clasp (141). The terminals are inserted molded with an elongate insulative insert part (20, 20a). Latches (201, 203) are formed on the insert part. Each terminal has a connection portion (22, 22a) and a contacting portion (23, 23a). Pitches between terminals are equal.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.Inventor: Ryan Yeh
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Patent number: 6540568Abstract: Upon coupling a shield connector 10 to a partner-side connector 50, the cam followers 37 of the shield connector 10 are made engage with the cam grooves of a lever 56 provided at the partner-side connector 50, and the lever 56 is rotated. Then, the shield shell 55 covering the outer surface of the tip end side of the terminal housing tube 52 moves into the fit-in portions 15 of an inner housing 12, so that the belt portions 19B of belt-shaped elastic pieces 19 are applied with a force directed to the inner side of an inner housing fit-in hole 34 due to the sliding-contact resistance between the belt-shaped elastic pieces and the shield shell 55. However, according to the embodiment, the sliding-contact resistance acts as a force of pulling the belt-shaped elastic pieces 19.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2002Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignees: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Sho Miyazaki
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Patent number: 6540569Abstract: A utility vehicle integrated a motorcycle and a motorized watercraft within a hull is presented. It can be set in a motorcycle status or a motorized watercraft status. The two statuses of the vehicle shares a driving power source, and a driving power shifting control system is used to shift the driving power to either one of the two statuses with rider's choice. A steering system also is used to control the move directions for both the motorcycle status and the motorized watercraft status. The hull of the vehicle is formed by a front hull with a front wheel cabinet and a rear hull with a rear wheel cabinet, and it is sealed to make the vehicle buoy on the water surfaces as a motorized watercraft. The wheels of the vehicle can be pushed out with the open of the wheel cabinet doors to stand as a conventional motorcycle, or can be pulled back and hide in the wheel cabinets with the close of the wheel cabinet doors.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Inventor: Shao-Wei Gong
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Patent number: 6540570Abstract: A transmission, for use with a drive shaft carrying a driving pulley, comprises a frame having a front and a back. The back of the frame has an opening for receiving the drive shaft and the driving pulley while the front of the frame has an opening for receiving a transmission assembly. The transmission assembly comprises a primary driven shaft carrying a pulley and a hollow, secondary, driven shaft coaxial with the primary driven shaft. A drive gear is carried by the primary driven shaft. An idler gear is driven by the drive gear and a driven gear, carried by the secondary driven shaft, is driven by the idler gear to effect rotation of the secondary driven shaft in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the primary driven shaft.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2002Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Inventor: Robert C. Eakin
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Patent number: 6540571Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for supporting an outboard motor in a tilted position, relative to the transom of the boat, during transportation by trailer. The outboard motor is affixed to a boat's transom by means of a motor mounting bracket, where the motor support bracket is interposed between the motor mounting bracket and the outboard motor's drive shaft housing.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: University of FloridaInventor: Larry D. Tolbert
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Patent number: 6540572Abstract: A propulsion system for motor boats is described, wherein the motor unit and the support member for the propeller shaft are mechanically connected together.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: F.B. Design S.r.l.Inventor: Fabio Buzzi
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Patent number: 6540573Abstract: A marine drive comprises an engine having a cooling system adapted to cool the combustion chambers, air intake system, and the power generator. Intake coolant passages are formed on either side of the crankcase so as to lie adjacent reed valves that are positioned within the crankcase. Cooling water is directed through the intake cooling jackets in order to dissipate heat that may accumulate in the intake valves. Another cooling jacket is defined adjacent a portion of a flywheel magneto generator assembly. Cooling water is directed through this generator cooling jacket to absorb heat generated within the magneto coil of the generator. Accordingly, the magneto coil is protected further from damage that may occur if it is exposed to excessive heat. This arrangement has particular advantages with direct-injected, two-cycle engines in which no lubricant is directed across the intake valves.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takayuki Sato
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Patent number: 6540574Abstract: A diving flipper is provided wherein a blade is attached to a body 1, which is secured to a foot, so that the position of the blade can be switched between a position for use and a folded position. The folded position is attained by rotating the blade about an axis in a base, or at a front of the body. This flipper can be used for swimming in the same manner as a conventional flipper when the blade is in the position for use, and the user can easily climb a ladder of a boat or walk without the blade causing interference when the blade is switched to the folded position.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Inventors: Hideya Hashizume, Soichi Hashizume
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Patent number: 6540575Abstract: When manufacturing an electron-beam source, an activation is performed. To generate activation material at a plurality of electron-emitting devices; by dividing the plurality of electron-emitting devices into plural groups and sequentially applying voltage to each group.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 1999Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Noritake Suzuki, Hidetoshi Suzuki, Eiji Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 6540576Abstract: In a plasma display panel, a partition wall defining a discharge space is formed of a thermal-sprayed film formed by thermal spraying of a partition wall material. A process for forming such a partition wall includes the steps of forming a photosensitive coating layer on a substrate; forming an opening having a prescribed pattern in the photosensitive coating layer; depositing the partition wall material to a prescribed height at least inside the opening by a thermal spraying technique, thereby forming the thermal-sprayed film; removing a portion of the thermal-sprayed film bulging out from a surface of the photosensitive coating layer by polishing; and removing the photosensitive coating layer to obtain the partition wall having a prescribed shape.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2000Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Taku Watanabe, Yuusuke Takada, Shigeo Suzuki, Masaki Aoki
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Patent number: 6540577Abstract: An amusement system that includes a miniature toy skateboard and the mechanism for engaging and lifting the miniature toy skateboard. The miniature toy skateboard is less than six inches long and is referred to as a finger board in the toy industry. The finger board is manufactured to have a top surface that is either magnetic or attracted to a magnet. The mechanism for engaging and lifting the finger board is a magnet that is held within an external object, such as a ring or a toy figure. A manually adjustable spacer is positioned in front of the magnet. To engage the finger board with the external object, the length of the spacer is minimized and the finger board is brought into close proximity with the magnet. The magnetic field created by the magnet attracts the finger board and holds the finger board against the external object. To detach the finger board, the length of the spacer is increased. This moves the external object out beyond the effective range of the magnetic field of the magnet.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2000Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Inventors: Webb Nelson, Chan Yuk Ng
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Patent number: 6540578Abstract: The inventive balloon comprises an inflatable pocket (2) and an end piece (4) provided with an opening (6) that enables the pocket (2) to be inflated. An elastic buckle-shaped fastener (10) is fixed onto the end piece (4).Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Inventor: Pierre Billon
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Patent number: 6540579Abstract: A convertible activity toy for promoting gross motor development in children includes a base receivable on a supporting surface and a top coupled to the base. The top includes a first portion and a second portion whereby the first portion is movable from a substantially coplanar orientation relative to the second portion to a substantially non-coplanar orientation relative to the second portion. The top and base define an opening and an interior space so that an infant can crawl through the opening into the interior space when the top is in the substantially coplanar orientation or so that the child may walk the opening and into the interior space or a portion thereof when the top is in the substantially non-coplanar orientation. The top includes activity items that are attractive to an infant and encourages the infant to reach up to the top by pulling up from a seated position to a standing position using handles or grips disposed on the toy.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Domenic T. Gubitosi, Seth P. Frankel, Christopher D. Cimerman
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Patent number: 6540580Abstract: A yo yo toy is formed of a pair of substantially disk-shaped body halves joined in a spaced arrangement by a center shaft. A quantity of string is secured to the center shaft and wound within the space. Each body half includes a receptacle and a cover pivotally secured thereto and lachable in a closed position. A plurality of toy items are secured within the receptacle and cover of one body half while the remaining body half defines a play feature background and play surface for the toy figure in the open position.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2000Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventor: David G. Wolfram
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Patent number: 6540581Abstract: A kit for making a personalized hands operated puppet, the kit comprising a sculptable block of material, such as a flexible foam, that may be readily cut and trimmed to form a head portion that can be manipulated by the hand of the puppeteer. The kit may further include a piece of fabric to be glued to the mouth opening to help stimulate the mouth of the puppet, a pair of eye balls to be inserted in eye sockets, an elongated sleeve, with simulated arms, for receiving the puppeteer's hand to operate the mouth motions of the puppet, and a pair of rigid wire members that may be used by the puppeteer's other hand to manipulate the arms of the puppet. A process for making the puppet is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Inventor: John Edward Kennedy
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Patent number: 6540582Abstract: A multi-tool apparatus for friction game calls includes a main body sized to house at least three surface treatment implements. The surface treatment implements may include a stone, a diamond surface, an abrasive pad, chalk, and a lined cavity for conditioning and cleaning elongate structures, such as strikers for slate-type calls. The multi-tool apparatus is intended to be transported in the field by the hunter for conditioning and cleaning all types of friction game calls.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2000Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Primos, Inc.Inventors: Wilbur R. Primos, James A. Primos, Jr.
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Patent number: 6540583Abstract: A toy vehicle includes a chassis having front and rear portions with a wheel supporting the front portion of the chassis. The toy vehicle further includes spaced-apart swing arms connected to the rear portion of the chassis. Rear wheels are rotatably mounted to each end of the swing arms. The swing arms are independently movable with respect to the chassis between first and second positions. Two separate propulsion drives are operatively associated with the chassis and are drivingly coupled to respective rear wheels. Each propulsion drive is adapted to independently drive the respective rear wheels in either a first direction or a second opposite direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Inventors: Michael G. Hoeting, Sean T. Mullaney
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Patent number: 6540584Abstract: A toy system has at least one toy vehicle having wheels, and at least one toy object having a member, which is movable between an initial position and an active position. The toy object has an operating element, which is movable between a first position, in which it is adapted to hold said member in its initial position, and a second position, in which said member is allowed to be moved from its initial position to its active position. At least one of the wheels of the toy vehicle includes a part, which is adapted, when the toy vehicle is moved to a position adjacent to the operating element, to interact magnetically with the operating element to move it from its first position to its second position.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Brio ABInventor: Gert Olsen
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Patent number: 6540585Abstract: A ventilated padded material suitable for providing air circulation in padded lingerie is disclosed. Padded lingerie, for example, bras, typically are made from man-made materials that prevent perspiration from evaporating and then accumulates in the breast cup area. The retained perspiration causes discomfort to the wearer, as the surrounding breast area remains moist and damp. The ventilation channels or perforations in the padding material, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, enable air circulation to occur through the padding material. Increased air circulation through the padding material allows for perspiration evaporation and less accumulated perspiration.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2000Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Inventor: William Lee
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Patent number: 6540586Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus and methods for collision detection and recovery for waterjet and abrasive-jet cutting systems. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first mount member coupleable to a controllably positionable mounting portion of the cutting system, and a second mount member coupleable to the cutting head and disengageably or movably coupled to the first mount member. Embodiments of the inventions may also have a sensing circuit having at least one first conductive element disposed on the first mount member and at least one second conductive element disposed on the second mount member. In the event of a collision between the cutting head and an obstruction, the second mount member disengages from or moves with respect to the first mount member to prevent breakage of the cutting head. This movement causes the first and second conductive elements to touch, signaling a collision and shutting down one or more internal systems.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Flow International CorporationInventor: Felice M. Sciulli
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Patent number: 6540587Abstract: A chemical mechanical planarization system and methods for implementing infrared detection of process state and substrate surface composition are provided. In one example, the chemical mechanical planarization system includes a substrate chuck to hold and rotate a substrate, a preparation head mounted on a preparation carrier, and a conditioning head mounted on a conditioning carrier. The preparation head is configured to be applied against the substrate, overlapping at least a portion of the substrate of an area smaller than the entire surface area of the substrate. The system further includes an infrared sensor positioned over the substrate to sense infrared emissions from the surface of the substrate. Several examples of infrared sensors are provided including single point, scanning, and array infrared sensors. In another example, a method of determining process state and surface composition of a substrate using infrared sensing is provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2000Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Lam Research CorporationInventors: Yehiel Gotkis, Rodney Kistler
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Patent number: 6540588Abstract: A method and apparatus for the wireless transfer of measurements made during chemical-mechanical planarization of semiconductor wafers with a planarizing machine. The apparatus includes a sensor connected to the semiconductor substrate or a movable portion of the planarizing machine. The apparatus further comprises a display spaced apart from the sensor and a wireless communication link coupled between the sensor and the display to transmit a signal from the sensor to the display. The wireless communication link may include an infrared link, a radio link, an acoustic link, or an inductive link. The sensor may measure force, pressure, temperature, pH, electrical resistance or other planarizing parameters. The sensor may also detect light reflected from a reflective surface of a substrate that is used to calibrate the planarizing machine.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Scott E. Moore