Patents Issued in January 19, 2010
  • Patent number: 7648370
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a display panel, a flexible printed wiring board, a printed circuit board, a support member to support the display panel and the printed circuit board, and a frame member to cover the printed circuit board and to assist support of the display panel. The printed circuit board is supported at a side surface of the support member by bending the flexible printed wiring board, and the support member includes, at the side surface for supporting the printed circuit board, a first support part to support one end side of the printed circuit board which is opposite to another end side to which the flexible printed wiring board is connected, and a second support part to support the another end side of the printed circuit board. The frame member has a contact portion for contacting the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Displays, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Azuma, Masaki Tsubokura
  • Patent number: 7648371
    Abstract: An electrical connecting arrangement includes a locator device mounted on a photovoltaic panel for relatively positioning a connector housing such that a resilient contact on the connector housing is arranged for electrical connection with a stationary rigid contact on the photovoltaic panel that extends in space relation within a chamber contained in the locator device, connection being made via an access opening contained in the locator device. Preferably, the stationary contact is a knife contact having a rectangular configuration defining a pair of parallel end edges that are supported by a pair of support slots defined in the opposed walls of the access opening, thereby to support the stationary contact during the engagement thereof by the resilient contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Weidmuller Interface GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Boensch, Thorsten Beck, Klaus Pueschner, Klaus Holterhoff, Jim Cahaly
  • Patent number: 7648372
    Abstract: A cable assembly (1000) includes a connector (1) having an insulated housing (1) and a plurality of contacts (10) received therein; a printed circuit board (2) having a front portion and an opposite rear portion, with the front portion thereof connected to the connector; a cable (4) coupled to the rear portion of the printed circuit board; a framework (3) having at least a retainer (31) and two arms (33, 34) extending rearward from lateral sides of the retainer, said connector held by the retainer and the printed circuit board supported by at least one of the two arms; and a cover enclosing the framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Jerry Wu
  • Patent number: 7648373
    Abstract: A cable connector may be disclosed. The connector may include a connector housing having a first threaded portion and an insert having compression voids. The insert may be configured for insertion into the connector housing. The connector may also include a compression nut configured to engage the first threaded portion. The compression nut may be configured to compress the insert to close the compression voids when the compression nut engages the first threaded portion. The cable connector may also include an end stop having an adjustable throat diameter configured to adjust in proportion to an adjustable inner diameter of the cable connector as the connector engages or armor of an armored cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Southwire Company
    Inventors: Mark Dixon, James Tairney, Kris Grube, Shelton Herrell, Mark Roden, Wilber F. Powers, Richard Temblador, Kyle McGovern
  • Patent number: 7648374
    Abstract: An insulation sheath for a USB flash drive is provided. The insulation sheath includes a first silicone body with a first aperture configured to receive a USB flash drive therein. A second silicone body includes a second aperture configured to receive a USB flash drive cap therein. A combination insulation sheath and USB device is also provided. Further, a method for electrically insulating a USB device is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Inventor: Ronald L. Koskondy
  • Patent number: 7648375
    Abstract: An electrical socket safety device is disclosed which comprises a base plate for an electrical receptacle exposing multiple electrical sockets thereon, a sliding plate slidably engaging the base plate for covering the electrical sockets, a spring urged to protrude through a slot in the base plate, a concave space on the sliding plate for accommodating the protruding spring, the concave space forcing a first slope on the spring to depress the same into the slot when the sliding plate sliding in one direction, the concave space forcing a second slope of the spring to depress the same into the slot when the sliding plate sliding in an opposite direction, wherein the engagement of the concave space and the spring holds the sliding plate in a predetermined position, and the disengagement of the concave space and the spring requires a predetermined amount of force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Inventor: Peigen Jiang
  • Patent number: 7648376
    Abstract: A loadbreak connector formed by a power cable elbow and a bushing insert with increased flashover distance is disclosed. The power cable elbow includes a conductive member having an energized portion and a non-energized portion, a cable receiving end, a loadbreak bushing insert receiving end with an elbow cuff that extends beyond the energized portion. The bushing insert includes an insulative outer housing and an insulative interface sleeve. The insulative outer housing has an axial bore with a conductive socket, a first, second end mid-section, and a transition shoulder portion between the second end section and the mid-section. The insulative interface sleeve extends over the outer housing from the mid-section to the second end section. When the power cable elbow is installed on the second end section, the flashover distance from the top of the second end section to the bottom of the elbow cuff is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan D. Borgstrom
  • Patent number: 7648377
    Abstract: In a connector to be connected to a connection object, a housing holds at least one contact to be contacted with the connection object and a switch for detecting whether the connection object is in a connected state or an unconnected state. The switch includes a first conductive member and a second conductive member. The first conductive member includes a first spring portion which is elastically deformable and extends in a first direction to have a free end, a conductive member abutting portion which is formed at the free end of the first spring portion and adapted to the abutted to the connection object in the connected state in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a first contact point which is connected to the first spring portion. The second conductive member includes a second contact point faced to the first contact point in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited
    Inventors: Takeharu Naito, Takaaki Kudo
  • Patent number: 7648378
    Abstract: A pipestring (12) wherein the leading coupling portion (221) of a first pipe segment (141) and the trailing coupling portion (242) of a second pipe segment (142) are coupled together. A leading seal part (341) is installed in the leading coupling portion (221) of the first pipe segment (141) and a trailing seal part (362) is installed in the trailing coupling portion (242) of the second pipe segment (142). The seal parts (341, 362) interface to form a fluid seal between the composite pipe segments (141, 142), and also to provide an electrically conductive path between their electrical lines (461, 462).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel J. Funke
  • Patent number: 7648379
    Abstract: A universal power distribution system is provided for routing electrical circuits within a building structure to comprehensively provide electrical power to the building in ceiling configurations, wall-mounted configurations, raised floor configurations and in office furniture configurations. The system components for all of these configurations have common plug connectors that are engagable with each other so as to be readily usable in a wide variety of applications. The system is readily adaptable to form virtually any conventional circuit configuration found within conventional hard-wired systems yet is formed simply through the routing of the cables through the building cavities and interconnection is accomplished merely by plugging components together rather than through labor-intensive manual wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross Johnson, Harold Wilson
  • Patent number: 7648380
    Abstract: A pin connector assembly comprising a socket (11) adapted to receive a cylindrical electrical plug (12), the plug having a central longitudinal bore (17), the socket being in the form of an insulated housing having a cylindrical receptacle (13) with a pin (14) located in the centre thereof, said pin (14) being adapted to be located in the bore (17) of the plug when the plug and the socket are in mating connection, the assembly further comprising an annular resilient collar (20) adapted to fit either over the pin (14) of the socket or within the bore (17) of the plug and which compresses radially inwards when the circumference of the bore and the pin are of essentially equal size and which remains in an expanded configuration when the circumference of the bore (17) is greater than the circumference of the pin (14), thus maintaining electrical contact between the electrical plug (12) and the socket (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Cliff Electronic Components Limited
    Inventor: Robert W. Taylor
  • Patent number: 7648381
    Abstract: An electrical plug connector part with a locking nut that is rotatable relative to the plug body and can be screwed onto an associated matching plug part and that is secured against unintentional rotation relative to the plug body by matched latch elements, wherein first latch elements are rigid and are molded onto the locking nut, and corresponding second latch elements are mounted rotation-proof and with spring action on the plug body. The locking nut and the plug body of the plug connector part have an equal number N of first and second latch elements that are spaced from each other and are arranged in sequence in circumferential direction, with the first latch elements being located on an inner circumference of the locking nut, and the second latch elements being located on an outer circumference of the plug body. The spacing of the first latch elements is different than that of second latch elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Coninvers GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Wehrle, Paul Rudolph
  • Patent number: 7648382
    Abstract: A socket adapted for electrically connecting a module, comprises a board-like housing, and a plurality of latching units provided on the housing for retaining the module. Each latching unit has at least one latching arm and a silicon plug abutting against the latching arm. The silicon plug can support the latching arm and provide an additional strength for the latching arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Igor Polnyi
  • Patent number: 7648383
    Abstract: A device for locking a power tool and a rechargeable battery pack that is insertable in a guide of the power tool has a locking bar installable on a housing of the power tool and held in locking engagement with the rechargeable battery pack via spring force, a release mechanism that acts on the locking bar for manually releasing the locking bar from the locking engagement, the locking bar and the release mechanism forming a lever that is pivotally supportable in a rocker pivot on the housing, the locking bar being fixedly held via spring force and a recess formed at a top side of the rechargeable battery pack and is releasable by pivoting the lever from the locking engagement via a compression force applied to the release mechanism, which extends upwardly across a front base end of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Wolf Matthias, Urs Roth, Huynh Cuong, Jochen Krauter
  • Patent number: 7648384
    Abstract: An electrical hook-up device including an outlet, a plug and a tight-seal casing with a cover and a shutter and enabling a tightly sealed hook-up of the plug in the outlet. The casing takes the form of an accessory removably mounted on the outlet, and the shutter of said casing is also movably mounted on the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignees: Legrand France, Legrand SNC
    Inventors: Olivier Desissard, Sébastien Dupuy
  • Patent number: 7648385
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a display device (3) having an illuminant portion (31) and legs (32) extending from the illuminant portion. An insulating housing (1) has a front wall (111), a rear wall (112), four side walls (113) and a receiving cavity (13) recessed from one side wall (113A) and running though the front wall (111) so as to form a retaining portion (141) and at least one first blocking portion (142) at a front section thereof. A plurality of terminals (2) are mounted in the insulating housing thereof. The retaining portion (141) is located at an outer side of the receiving cavity (13) and over the illuminant portion (31) to prevent the illuminant portion from outward moving, and the first blocking portion (142) is located in front of the illuminant portion (31) and abuts against the illuminant portion to prevent the illuminant portion from forward moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Jian-Feng Wu
  • Patent number: 7648386
    Abstract: A connector includes contacts each having a contact portion, an elastic portion and a fulcrum portion between the contact portion and a connection portion, and a pressure receiving portion; a housing fixing the contacts; and a slider having urging portions pivotally moved between the connection and pressure receiving portions of the contacts to urging the contact portions against the circuit board, thereby achieving reliable connection and miniaturization of the connector. In an aspect, the housing is formed on the side of a board insertion opening with a recessed portion for conducting the board. In another aspect, the contact includes upper and lower contact portions one above the other arranged alternately staggered so as to be connected to a circuit board having contact portions alternately staggered, so that no defective connection occurs, even if the circuit board is inserted erroneously upside down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: DDK, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Suzuki, Jun-ichi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7648387
    Abstract: A jumper including a control module and a plurality of conduits connected to the control module is provided. A connector is connected to each of the conduits. The control module controls the flow of a communications medium through the conduits and the control module. The control module may be configured for activation by a user specific identification input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Wurtec Elevator Products & Services
    Inventors: Steven P. Wurth, Stephen W. Pratt, Dan Zeitz
  • Patent number: 7648388
    Abstract: A communication relay apparatus includes a first connecting section for connecting to a first wire harness connected to an electronic control device, a second connecting section for connecting to a second wire harness connected to a plurality of electronic equipments, a communication address setting section which has a plurality of connection portions and sets a communication address for the electronic control device with a conducting pattern based on presence or absence of conduction at the connection portions, and a communication relay section which is electrically connected to the first connecting section and the second connecting section, and relays communication between the electronic control device and the electronic equipments on the basis of the communication address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Kanazawa, Takashi Gohara, Ken Ito
  • Patent number: 7648389
    Abstract: A utility meter adapter plugs between a utility meter and its meter socket to provide a power pigtail suitable for a solar electric system to backfeed power to the utility. A round plastic base has several connector jaw blades underneath positioned like a meter to fit in a meter socket and its jaw sockets. A corresponding set of jaw sockets is provided for the jaw blades on the meter to plug into the topside. The jaw sockets in the adapter on the load side of the meter are pigtailed to terminal lugs with a conduit access. A solar electric system backfeed can be run through conduit tubing to the terminal lugs on top of any flush walls, thus avoiding any disturbances to the pre-existing walls and service panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Solarcity Corporation
    Inventors: Damien Scott, Dennis Alan Cox, Ben Tarbell
  • Patent number: 7648390
    Abstract: An electrical connector (100) includes an insulative housing (10), a number of first contacts (20), a contact module (30) and a metallic shell (40). The insulative housing has a mating face (14), a first receiving cavity (15) and a second receiving cavity (16) recessed from the mating face. The first contacts are disposed in the insulative housing. The contact module is received in the second receiving cavity and has an insulative base (31), a number of second contacts (32) and a shielding plate (33). The metallic shell is attached to the mating face of the insulative housing and having a plate section (41) defining a central opening (410) in alignment with the first receiving cavity, and a pair of opposite ends (42) extending from the plate section and inserted in the insulative housing. The metallic shell has electrical connection with the shielding plate of the contact module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dao-Kuan Zhang, Qing Wan
  • Patent number: 7648391
    Abstract: A shaft lock socket system comprises: a housing defining a receiving chamber; at least a socket received in the receiving chamber, installed with a gap between the back of the socket and the inward portion of the receiving chamber; and at least an adjusting member arranged in the gap between the socket and the receiving chamber and abutting against the back of the socket. The system allows for adjustment of the tightness between the socket and the housing to a proper level, reducing resonance vibration in response to tiny vibrations caused by current passing through the plug and socket, thus improving the stability of power transmission and the sound quality of an audio device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Furutech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoji Nishimura, Frank Yoo
  • Patent number: 7648392
    Abstract: A connector apparatus for connecting an air supply unit and a mattress or cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenith W. Chambers, John Boyd Havener, Terry J. Stratman
  • Patent number: 7648393
    Abstract: A coaxial cable connector is provided with an external clip that can be installed on location rather than in a factory. An adapter is also provided that can be shipped with connector for securing the external clip on the coaxial cable connector and the connector on a coaxial cable. A method for assembling the connector, the clip and the cable is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Corning Gilbert Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Andrew Burris, William Bernard Lutz
  • Patent number: 7648394
    Abstract: An electrical coaxial connector comprising a body made of insulator to be put on a circuit board, a signal-joining contacting conductor held by the body, and a grounding contacting conductor formed into a cylindrical shape and held also by the body for surrounding the signal-joining contacting conductor on the circuit board, wherein the grounding contacting conductor has an arm portion extending toward the circuit board from one of ring-shaped ends of the grounding contacting conductor, which is more distant from the circuit board than the other, a grounding terminal portion is formed at an end of the arm portion to be soldered to a ground-potential terminal provided on the circuit board, and each of the grounding contacting conductor and the arm portion is resilient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: I-Pex Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Yotsutani
  • Patent number: 7648395
    Abstract: An electrical connector for interconnecting a camera module with a printed circuit board comprises a shield housing including a base wall and side wall. Wherein at least a grounding finger is formed on the side wall and extends from the inner surface of the side wall to the opposite wall for contacting with the periphery of the camera module. And a shield element, which can be compress and conductive, is attached to the bottom surface of the housing. Therefore, when the electrical connector is assembled into a chamber formed on the mobile phone for accommodating the electrical connector, the shield element can be compressed between the housing and the inner wall of the chamber, thus, the electricity from the camera module can be transmitted to the mobile phone via the shield element and the electrical connector is not interfered by the other electric equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Wen-Qiang Ma
  • Patent number: 7648396
    Abstract: A shielding device for an electrical connector for joining a contact with an electrical line or cable includes a cylindrical shield member formed of brass arranged within the connector. The shield member contains an opening in a central region which defines cylindrical sleeves at each end of the member and a transitional portion joining the cylindrical sleeves. One of the sleeves receives the contact and the other of the sleeves receives an end of the electrical line. The shield member transitional portion defines a fold line about which the cylindrical sleeves are bent toward each other at a desired obtuse angle. Portions of the cylindrical sleeves overlap when the sleeves are bent toward each other to at least partially close the opening and shield the connection between the contact and the electrical line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Weidmuller Interface GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Marcell Nickol, Norbert Carl
  • Patent number: 7648397
    Abstract: An electronic part equipped unit includes a case body that includes a first recess portion for containing an electronic part and a second recess portion for containing a relay terminal which is connected to the electronic part, a wire side terminal to which a middle portion of a wire is attached, and a cover member to which the wire side terminal is attached. A wire positioning rib is formed on the cover member and is brought into contact with the wire to position the wire. A wire position correcting rib for correcting a position of the wire is formed in the second recess portion. The wire position correcting rib which is inserted into an inner portion of the cover member corrects the position of the wire when the cover member to which the wire side terminal is attached is fitted to the second recess portion of the case body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Tomohiko Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7648398
    Abstract: A memory card connector includes an insulating housing, a plurality of terminals and an ejection mechanism mounted to a side of the insulating housing. The insulating housing defines a receiving space for receiving a memory card and a plurality of terminal grooves for correspondingly receiving the terminals therein. The ejection mechanism includes a slider. The slider has a base body, a sliding body extending inward from a rear of the base body to be located in the receiving space, and an elongated locking body extending frontward from a root portion of the sliding body and spaced from a bottom wall of the insulating housing. A free end of the locking body is projected downward to form a projection for being buckled into a recess formed at a side of the memory card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Hong Liao, Ming-Chiang Chen
  • Patent number: 7648399
    Abstract: An all-in-one card connector includes a base frame, a cover member; a first terminal having a plurality of first terminals each having a molding part embedded in the base frame and a rear end thereof partially exposed outside a rear end of the base frame; a bridge piece set having a plurality of bridge pieces having a molding part embedded in the base frame, a front end partially exposed outside the base frame, and a rear end partially exposed outside the rear end of the base frame; and a second terminal set having a plurality of second terminals mounted to a terminal rack mounted to the base frame each having a rear end partially exposed outside the terminal rack and in contact with the front end of the bridge piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Tai-Sol Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yaw-Huey Lai
  • Patent number: 7648400
    Abstract: An electrical connector (100) including an insulative housing (1) having a front mating face (16), a receiving cavity (10) recessed rearwardly from the front mating face to receive a mating plug and a plurality of passageways; a number of contacts retained in the passageways respectively and including a first contact (21) having a first vertical base portion (210), a first curved portion (218) being curved forwardly from an upper side of the first vertical base portion, a second curved portion (270) and a vertical plate portion (219) connecting with both the first curved portion and the second curved portion, a first contacting arm (211) extending rearwardly from the second curved portion and projecting into the receiving cavity, a first soldering portion (216) connected to a bottom end of the first vertical base portion; both the vertical plate portion (211) and the first contacting arm (211) is deflectable along a direction perpendicular to the plug insertion direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zi-Qiang Zhu, Hong-Wu Wang, Hong-Qiang Han, Lun-Song Hu
  • Patent number: 7648401
    Abstract: The invention relates to a connecting piece for connecting to an electrode line and to an electric implant, whereby the connecting piece has an electrically conducting plug module, multiple ring-shaped electrically conducting contacts with insulation sections having the same outside diameter arranged in the longitudinal direction therebetween, multiple electric connecting lines, and a supporting element which supports the insulation sections and secures them in the radial direction. A through-bore situated within the supporting element receives the plug module and/or a feeder line of an electrode body. The supporting element has grooves spaced along the longitudinal direction, and recesses extending from the proximal end to the distal end and running parallel to the longitudinal axis wherein the electric connecting lines are fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Biotronik CRM Patent AG
    Inventors: Thomas Guenther, Klaus Bartels, Carsten Steglich
  • Patent number: 7648402
    Abstract: A plug-in battery pack for an electrical tool includes a mechanical coding of a coding system for cooperation with a mechanical counterpart coding of the coding system associated with the electrical tool, in which the coding extends in the insertion direction of the battery pack. The coding has at least one recess that cooperates on opposite sides with at least one projection that is situated on the tool and constitutes the counterpart coding. The coding rib extends out from the wall of the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Marcin Rejman
  • Patent number: 7648403
    Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) assembly includes a PCB and a screwless terminal connection having a conductor rail and a clamping spring. The PCB has a recess on an edge. The conductor rail has a base part soldered to the PCB and bridging the PCB recess. The base part includes an end extending past the PCB edge. The clamping spring includes three spring legs. The first leg contacts the base part and is between the base part and the PCB recess. The first leg includes an end extending past the PCB edge and contacting the end of the base part. The second leg extends from the first leg through the PCB recess and is beneath the PCB. The third leg includes a clamping aperture and extends upward from the second leg above the PCB. The ends of the base part and the first leg extend through the clamping aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Kostal Industrie Elektrik GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Rueggen, Herwig Rilling
  • Patent number: 7648404
    Abstract: A foot strap and recreational sports board that allows the user to easily tension a foot strap over the top of his or her foot. The foot strap, attached to the board, includes a strap, a cable, and a cable adjuster. The strap has separate first and second sides connected by the cable cinched and uncinched together as the cable is tightened and loosened by the cable adjuster with which it is engaged. A single cable adjuster and cable can be employed to simultaneously adjust two straps, both attached to the sports board. A pull may be included to facilitate exercise of the cable adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Inventor: John Dietrich Martin
  • Patent number: 7648405
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescence device whereby an encapsulating layer is formed by coating an encapsulating substrate with an encapsulating layer-forming composition and thermally processing the encapsulating substrate. A plasma treatment is performed on the encapsulating substrate having the encapsulating layer. A sealant is applied to at least one of the plasma treated encapsulating substrate and a substrate on which an organic electroluminescent unit including a first electrode, an organic layer, and a second electrode, which are sequentially stacked, is deposited. The sealing substrate and the substrate on which the organic electroluminescent unit is deposited are combined. Contaminants generated around the encapsulating layer and generated in the thermal process can be effectively removed by the cleaning process using plasma. Therefore, the interfacial adhesion between the sealant and the substrate is greatly improved, thereby preventing permeation of external air, moisture, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Mobile Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Soo Choi, Seung-Yong Song, Jin-Woo Park
  • Patent number: 7648406
    Abstract: A method for producing a carbon nanotube array element includes the steps of: providing a first substrate coated with a conductive paste layer; forming an array of thin film blocks of catalyst on a second substrate; forming each of the thin film blocks into islands of catalyst; forming carbon nanotube bundles on the islands of catalyst, each of the carbon nanotube bundles including a plurality of carbon nanotubes and having a free end portion; pressing the second substrate toward the first substrate such that the free end portions insert into the conductive paste layer; solidifying the conductive paste layer; and removing the second substrate together with the islands of catalyst from the carbon nanotube bundles, thereby forming an open end for each of the carbon nanotubes. A carbon nanotube array element for a field emission cathode device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Nyan-Hwa Tai, Chien-Chao Chiu, Tsung-Yen Tsai
  • Patent number: 7648407
    Abstract: A toy building element has sidewalls that include grooves and tongues by which the toy building element can be interconnected with a like building element. Each groove is formed between a pair of outwardly extending flexible ridges. In some embodiments, the tongue does not extend outward beyond the virtual plane of the sidewall that includes the tongue. In other embodiments in which the tongue extends outward beyond the tongue-sidewall virtual plane, the distance by which the tongue extends beyond the tongue-sidewall virtual plane is less than (a) the distance by which each ridge of the pair of ridges extends beyond the ridge-sidewall virtual plane, (b) the distance by each ridge of the pair of ridges extends outward to the ridge-sidewall virtual plane and/or (c) the distance by which each side of the tongue extends outward to the tongue-sidewall virtual plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Inventor: Soren Christian Sorensen
  • Patent number: 7648408
    Abstract: A user selectable interchangeable bra system enables user to customize the selection, style, construction, and usage of a bra both through component purchase and interchangeable fit. An infinite number of different size, color and fits are possible, as well as underwire interchangeableness. The center connector can be selected to provide for user selectable cup separation. Buckle type shoulder strap fittings can be provided with a tiny loop to support body jewelry, and because the shoulder straps are reversible, the body jewelry can be worn on the front or back upper chest, especially where the jewelry can appear to come from underneath the dress to give an appearance of a much more extensive jewelry extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Hung Hon Industrial Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Cheung Sui Lung
  • Patent number: 7648409
    Abstract: A method of polishing the double sides of a plurality of works simultaneously by rotating a plurality of carriers between upper and lower rotating surface plates, comprising the steps of forming the works (400) integrally with the carriers (500) on the outside of a polishing device main body (110), feeding the works (400) onto a rotating surface plate (111) on the underside of the polishing device main body (110) with the works formed integrally with the carriers (500), injecting liquid such as water from the upper side rotating surface plate when the upper side rotating surface plate is raised after the double sides are polished, holding the plurality of works (400) on the lower side rotating surface plate (111) after the double sides are polished, enabling the works (400) to be discharged automatically from the lower side rotating surface plate (111), providing a brush storage part (180) and a dresser storage part (190) near the polishing device main body (110), and frequently treating a polishing cloth ins
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignees: Sumitomo Mitsubishi Silicon Corporation, Kashiwara Machine Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Horiguchi, Ken Isobe, Heigo Tanaka, Tomio Fukushima, Kiyohide Murata, Tsunco Takeda, Yoshiaki Uzu, Hiroshi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7648410
    Abstract: A polishing pad and a CMP apparatus are provided. The polishing pad includes a plurality of patterns formed of trenches having a predetermined size and may include a groove for slurry flow. The plurality of patterns can include herringbone shaped trenches in concentric rows, where the rows of herringbone shaped trenches alternate in direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Dongbu Hitek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae Young Choi
  • Patent number: 7648411
    Abstract: A suspension loop for a portion pack, consisting of a tubular sleeve, sealed on its ends by clips, in particular sausages, is attached to the end of a tubular sleeve drawn together to form a string of sausages by a twist knot formed from the suspension loop. The suspension loop, kept ready, clamped in rectangular shape, is pulled through the loop around the string with the aid of a swivelable looping finger. The device suitable for this additionally has a holding fork and a movable clamping fork, both of which are two-pronged. The device can be swiveled into the sealing device when the tubular sleeve is sealed with clips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Poly-Clip System GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Martin Zurwieden
  • Patent number: 7648412
    Abstract: Poultry defeathering apparatus comprising at least one defeathering assembly (6) with a plurality of picking heads (7). Each picking head has a base member (15) provided with at least one flexible picking device (19). The base member is rotatable with respect to a support part (9). The flexible picking device (19) is rotatable with respect to the base member and is connected to a drive for rotating it with respect to the base member in a rotating movement different from the rotating movement of the base member with respect to the support part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Linco Food System A/S
    Inventor: Poul Kjeldsen
  • Patent number: 7648413
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling maximum available engine power of a combine harvester wherein the engine drives the harvester and additionally powers a threshing mechanism for separating harvested crop into grain and crop residue and at least one further crop processing subsystem that may be selectively configured and disengaged, including a straw chopper engageable for chopping the crop residue and propelling the chopped residue from the harvester, structure configurable for directing the crop residue into the chopper or to bypass the chopper, utilizing a controller for automatically reducing the maximum available engine power as a function of the status of the engagement of the subsystems, particularly the chopper and the configuration of the associated structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Frank Duquesne, Daniël M. G. Van Overschelde, Herbert M. Farley
  • Patent number: 7648414
    Abstract: Systems and methods for recognizing preferred wagerers are provided. These systems and methods monitor wagerers using a wagering system, determine whether a wagerer is to be recognized, and, if so, provide an incentive to the wagerer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: ODS Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E McNutt, Douglas V Ramsey
  • Patent number: 7648415
    Abstract: A game apparatus includes a game machine and a game cartridge. On a case of the game machine, operation buttons are provided. On the LCD, game images of a player object and non-player objects in a game space are displayed. For example, a player, by holding the case with both hands and operating the operation buttons, controls a holding action of a left hand and a right hand of the player object. When the player instructs the player object to perform the holding action, if the non-player object exists at a position where the hand of the player object exists, the non-player object is held. In a case that the player object holds the non-player object with one hand, the player object rotates, and by changing the non-player object to be held, the player object can move within the game space. Furthermore, if releasing the hand from it during the rotation, the player object jumps out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiharu Izuno, Atsushi Kaneko, Masataka Sato
  • Patent number: 7648416
    Abstract: A musical rhythm is expressed by the number of the timing marks (for example, three timing marks when in simple triple time); and a musical tempo is expressed by the distance among the timing marks and a timing ball that moves at a fixed speed among those timing marks. Accordingly, a player may easily grasp the tempo of the music and easily determine the rhythm of the music in a sound game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Chuuma, Hiroyuki Kotani
  • Patent number: 7648417
    Abstract: A system and method for conducting a game with two or more participants that provides selections of the final two contestants for a particular contest. In the game, at least one winning participant is determined by comparing each participant's selections of the final two contestants to the actual final two contestants in the contest. Participants may also provide an indication of the first place contestant from among the selected final two contestants. Ties may be broken by comparing each participant's selection of a first place contestant to the actual first place contestant in the contest. Also described is a system for implementation of the method including means for carrying out the steps of the method. The method and system provide a fun, straightforward game that can be adapted to a wide variety of contests, be played by a large number of participants and be implemented over the World Wide Web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Dot Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: David Sonn
  • Patent number: 7648418
    Abstract: A constant velocity twin ball joint, having an outer joint part with outer ball tracks, an inner joint part with inner ball tracks. Circumferentially adjoining pairs of tracks comprise center lines of the outer and inner ball tracks which, when the longitudinal axes are aligned, are positioned in planes which extend parallel relative to one another and are symmetric relative to the longitudinal axes. A ball cage is positioned between the outer joint part and the inner joint part and comprises circumferentially distributed cage windows which each accommodate pairs of balls of adjoining pairs of tracks positioned in parallel planes. The circumferential length of second cage windows for second pairs of balls is smaller than the circumferential length of first cage windows for first pairs of balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: GKN Driveline Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Heiko Harnischfeger
  • Patent number: 7648419
    Abstract: A joint arrangement including a constant velocity ball joint (1) which is constructed as a counter track joint, with an inner hub (4) having first inner track grooves (16) and second inner track grooves (17), and an outer hub (7) in which first outer track grooves (20) and second outer track grooves (21) are arranged on an inner surface in an alternating matter distributed around the axis of the outer hub. The joint arrangement also includes a displacement unit (12), which transmits torque and permits axial displacements along a longitudinal axis (9), and which is constructed as a roller guide unit with inner tracks 28 and outer tracks (29) extending parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Shaft-Form-Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Jacob, Ernst-Guenter Paland, Renate Paland, legal representative