Moved By Mating Connector Patents (Class 439/137)
  • Patent number: 7637756
    Abstract: A socket safety apparatus includes an upper cover, a lower cover, a cover body, and a flexible element. The upper cover has two first plug holes. The lower cover is located below the upper cover and has two second plug holes that correspond to the first plug holes. The cover body, movably located between the upper cover and the lower cover, is supported above the lower cover via a supporting portion so that two sides of the cover body can move upwards and downwards. The cover body has two slant surfaces and two braking portions that respectively correspond to the first plug holes and second plug holes. The flexible element pushes the cover body so that the cover body is covered between the first plug holes and the second plug holes. Thereby, the apparatus can prevent foreign matter from being plugged into a socket, and prevent electric shock to user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Powertech Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung-Hui Hsu
  • Publication number: 20090311892
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a modular shutter assembly for use within various types of electrical wiring devices having differing amperage ratings. Each of the electrical wiring devices includes a housing assembly. The housing assembly further includes a cover assembly and a rear body member. The cover assembly includes at least one set of receptacle openings configured to receive a corded plug blade set having a hot plug blade and a neutral plug blade. The modular shutter assembly includes a first shutter member having a first blade engagement structure. The first shutter member is configured to be disposed within an interior portion of the cover assembly and disposed between the at least one set of receptacle openings and the at least one set of receptacle contacts. A second shutter member includes a second blade engagement structure. The second shutter member is slidably disposed within the first shutter member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Weeks
  • Publication number: 20090305535
    Abstract: A component (30) is to be attached by means of a plug connector (10) in a hole (53) of a base plate (50). To this end, the plug connector (10) has a shaft (15) with a flat profile. When the plug is inserted in the socket, the shaft end (20) projects out of the hole (53) on the rear side of the circuit board (52). The shaft end (20) is followed by a shaft section (13), broadened relative to the hole width (54), which has an opening (14). By means of the opening (14), the shaft section (13) is split into two legs (11, 12), which are sprung against each another and which hold the shaft (15) in the hole (53) of the circuit board (50) when the plug is inserted in the socket. To improve the holding effect, the two legs (11, 12) are constructed differently one from the other, wherein one leg (11) has a greater longitudinal extension (21) than the other (12). This means that the broadened shaft section (13) splits into a long (11) and a short leg (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventor: Frank Schmitz
  • Patent number: 7628624
    Abstract: An electrical card connector (10) for receiving at least a first electrical card (100), includes an insulative housing (1) having a base portion (11), an arm portion (12) extending forwardly from the base portion, and a receiving space (14) formed between the base portion and the arm portion. A number of terminals (2) are mounted on the insulative housing and extend into the receiving space. A spring tab (3) has a retaining portion (31) fixed to the insulative housing and an engaging portion (32) extending from an end of the retaining portion. A guiding member (4) is cantileveredly fixed to the engaging portion to guide the first electrical card into the receiving space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ke-Hua Ye, Qi-Jun Zhao, Hua Yin
  • Publication number: 20090275225
    Abstract: A water and/or airtight electrical socket for portable electronic devices includes sealing elements that are shaped like an arc, and arranged to seal only a portion of the perimeter of the socket-plug interface. When this arc element experiences pressure, it will mechanically relay the force caused by the pressure only to that section of the perimeter of the socket-plug interface that it is arranged to seal. It will not relay mechanical forces any further. This way, the mechanical effect of any extra asymmetric pressure will simply be limited to increasing the pressure of the seal in the perimeter section of that particular sealing element, thereby tightening the seal further still. This allows the socket opening to be sealed in a water- and/or airtight manner even in asymmetric pressure conditions, both when there is no plug in the socket and also when a plug is inside the socket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: BALL-IT OY
    Inventors: Timo Remes, Johannes Väänänen
  • Patent number: 7597568
    Abstract: An electronic device and a dust-proof mechanism thereof are disclosed. The electronic device is electrically connected to a charger and includes a power source, a housing with a hole and a sliding track and a dust-proof mechanism. The dust-proof mechanism includes a pivot cover and a slide cover. The pivot cover includes a pivoting side and a rotating side. The pivoting side is rotatably installed adjacent to the hole of the housing. The slide cover is disposed on the sliding track and movably installed adjacent to the rotating side. When the charger does not enter the hole, the pivot cover is disposed in a closed position to cover the hole and the slide cover is adjacent to the rotating side of the pivot cover. When the charger is inserted into the hole and pushes the pivot cover, the pivot cover is disposed in an opened position and the slide cover is pushed until the charger is electrically connected to the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Wistron Corp.
    Inventor: Fu-Lung Lu
  • Patent number: 7588448
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical socket (110) that is water and/or airtight. In particular, the invention relates to a water and/or airtight electrical socket (110) for portable electronic devices (500). The invention involves sealing elements (200, 210, 220 and 230) that are shaped like an arc, and arranged to seal only a portion of the perimeter of the socket-plug interface (300, 310). When this arc element experiences pressure, it will mechanically relay the force caused by the pressure only to that section of the perimeter of the socket-plug interface (300, 310) that it is arranged to seal. It will not relay mechanical forces any further. This way, the mechanical effect of any extra asymmetric pressure will simply be limited to increasing the pressure of the seal in the perimeter section of that particular sealing element (200, 210, 220 and 230), thereby tightening the seal further still.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Ball-IT Oy
    Inventors: Timo Remes, Johannes Väänänen
  • Patent number: 7588447
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments are directed to a apparatus that includes a frame and a shutter device located within the frame, the shutter device being configured to simultaneously block openings for at least a hot connector element and a neutral connector element of an electrical receptacle when forces are unequally applied to the shutter device through openings corresponding to the at least hot and neutral connector elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Wenzhou MTLC Electrical Appliances Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lidong Ni
  • Publication number: 20090227130
    Abstract: An electrical receptacle includes a front cover having a rib and a protrusion connected thereto, a back housing secured to the front cover and a tamper resistant assembly disposed between the front cover and the back housing. The tamper resistant assembly includes a base member, first and second shutter members, a first spring disposed between and biasing the first and second shutter members toward closed positions thereof, and a second spring disposed between and biasing the first shutter member away from the front cover. The base member is connected to the back housing. The first shutter member is slidably disposed on the base member and has first and second arms extending from a first cam surface. A second shutter member is slidably disposed on the base member and has a blocking body connected to a second cam surface. The first and second shutter members are movable between open and closed positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Christopher A. Carbone, Sorin I. Mortun, Anthony Melito
  • Patent number: 7556513
    Abstract: A shutter assembly for a receptacle including a plate, a card disposed adjacent the plate, a shutter disposed between the plate and the card, a first biasing member for providing lateral movement of the shutter, the first biasing member abutting a first extension of the plate; a second biasing member for providing transverse movement of the shutter, the second biasing member for providing a first pivot point to the shutter; and one or more protrusions for providing a second and/or third pivot point to the shutter, the protrusions disposed between the plate and the shutter. In one example the receptacle may be an AC outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Koncept Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Yat Chung Ng, Edmund Yat Kwong Ng
  • Patent number: 7554034
    Abstract: A weatherproof power inlet box and mating plug wherein the inlet box and mating plug are asymmetrical, positively latched and include more robust elements and a visual indicator of the status of the interconnect. Also included is a thermostat that trips to prevent overheating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Inventor: Kenneth Smith
  • Patent number: 7554802
    Abstract: A dustproof member for a memory card slot includes a housing provided with an inserting slot for receiving the card, a cover including a main body for covering the inserting slot, the main body comprising a pivotal side pivotally assembled with the housing and a rotary side opposed to the pivotal side, and at least one spring. The rotary side can rotate about the pivotal side when the card is inserted in or withdrawn, and the spring applies elastic force on the cover for pushing the cover to a station covering the inserting slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tung-Chi Tsai
  • Publication number: 20090137138
    Abstract: The present invention provides a connector capable of preventing contacts from being touched by fingers or things through an opening of a connector housing, and of thereby improving connection reliability. A plug connector comprising a connector housing and PCB having contacts contained in the connector housing with a contacting surface exposed at one end and which functions as an interface capable of transmitting electric signal or light signal by being fitted to a receptacle connector to connect respective contacts to each other, characterized in that a shutter is provided as a part of a bottom wall of the connector housing to be freely opened or closed at a position covering the contacts formed in PCB, and that, before fitting of the connector, the shutter is in a closed state, and during and after fitting of the connector, the shutter is in a opened state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventor: Masami Ohsumi
  • Patent number: 7537169
    Abstract: A flash memory mass storage drive stores user files in a convenient credit card sized drive. Embodiments function as both a credit card and a mass storage drive. Communication may be through a host interface connector such as a USB connector, a magnetic interface, a smart card interface, and/or a near field communication interface. In certain embodiments the drive comprises a portion that is sufficiently thin to be swiped through a standard credit card, ATM, or point of sale device. The USB connector of the drive can easily be plugged into even a crowded receptacle of a host computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Carlos Gonzalez, Edwin J. Cuellar, Joel Jacobs, Robert C. Miller, Ronald LaPedis
  • Patent number: 7527508
    Abstract: A sliding safety structure for power supply receptacles located on a path of a plug prong inserting to a receptacle electrode includes a control dock which has a directing stem, a safety gate slidably located on the directing stem and an elastic element which has two ends pushing respectively the control dock and the safety gate. The safety gate has two force receiving portions which are pushed by the elastic element in regular conditions to block the path of the plug prong inserting to the receptacle electrode and maintain at a latched position. When the plug prong is inserted into the receptacle, the two force receiving portions are depressed by the plug prong to move the safety gate to slide away from the latched position so that insertion of the plug prong to the electrode of the power supply receptacle is allowed. The safety gate also has a stopper below the sliding path thereof to harness the safety gate at the latched position when the two force receiving portions receive uneven forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: XYZ Science Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chiu-San Lee, Yi-Hsun Lee
  • Patent number: 7524192
    Abstract: An electrical connector including a first connector portion and a second connector portion. First and second covers are pivotally attached to the body about a common axis for covering the first and second connector portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Stoneridge Control Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Dave Cummings, Michael O'Reilly, Neal Pugh, Mark Vincent
  • Patent number: 7510412
    Abstract: A tamper resistant assembly provides tamper resistance to an electrical receptacle. A groove has a locking portion connected to a first portion in a base member of the tamper resistant assembly. A first shutter member having first and second resilient arms is slidably connected to the base member. First and second protrusions extend rearwardly from the first and second resilient arms, respectively, and are slidably received in the groove in the base member. The first and second protrusions are disposed in the locking portion of the groove when the shutter member is in a closed position and in the first portion when the shutter member is in an open position. The locking portion prevents separation of the first and second protrusions in the closed position to prevent the first and second resilient arms from being separated and to prevent insertion of an object therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: William Ramon Valentin
  • Publication number: 20090080836
    Abstract: A connector has first and second connector units, each unit incorporating an oil-filled chamber housing one or more contact elements to be joined. At least one connector unit has a face seal assembly which seals the forward end of the contact chamber in the unmated condition. The face seal assembly comprises three elements. One element is an annular elastomeric seal situated radially outward. The two other elements are inner seal elements which are pressed together radially to form a substantially disc-like shape. The resulting disc-like shaped seal fills the central, circular end face opening of the outer annular seal. As the connector units are mated, elements of the elastomeric face seal assembly are displaced, one axially, and others both axially and radially, creating an opening between the oil-filled chambers that is sealed from the outside environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: OCEAN DESIGN, INC.
    Inventors: James L. Cairns, Srikanth Ramasubramanian, Stewart M. Barlow
  • Patent number: 7470858
    Abstract: To assist in searching, the following abstract includes a receptacle system used to keep a receptacle cap secure through use of an enhanced retaining strap with its associated wall plate when the receptacle cap is unscrewed. The enhanced retaining strap is a separate individual component and is separably coupled to the rest of the receptacle system so that if it is pulled with sufficient force, the strap will break free from the rest of the receptacle system before associated members such as gaskets are damaged or loosened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick S. McNutt, Phillip Phung, Frank Chin-Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 7455538
    Abstract: Electrical wiring devices with user accessible connections and a shutter system for preventing unwanted objects from being inserted into the devices to the user accessible connections is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Frantz Germain
  • Patent number: 7452221
    Abstract: A tamper resistant assembly provides tamper resistance to an electrical receptacle. The tamper resistant assembly includes a base member having first and second grooves. Each groove has a first portion and a second portion connected to the first portion. The first portion is substantially perpendicular to a rear wall of the member and the second portion forms an angle with the first portion. A shutter member is slidably and pivotally connected to the base member for movement between open and closed positions. First and second protrusions extend outwardly from the shutter member and are slidably and pivotally received in the first and second grooves, respectively, in the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Dennis A. Oddsen, Michael J. Marchetti
  • Patent number: 7438567
    Abstract: A safety mechanism capable of blocking an opening to an electrical connection in an electrical outlet includes a safety barrier coupled to the electrical outlet at a pivot point and a biasing member adjacent to the safety barrier. The safety barrier is rotatable between a first position, in which the safety barrier blocks the opening, and a second position, in which the safety barrier does not block the opening. The biasing member biases the safety barrier toward the first position. In the same or another embodiment of the invention, the safety mechanism forms a part of one or more electrical outlets contained in an electrical product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Belkin International Inc.
    Inventors: Vijendra Nalwad, Vincent Razo, Tyler Sheble, John Wadsworth
  • Publication number: 20080194128
    Abstract: A shutter assembly for a receptacle including a plate, a card disposed adjacent the plate, a shutter disposed between the plate and the card, a first biasing member for providing lateral movement of the shutter, the first biasing member abutting a first extension of the plate; a second biasing member for providing transverse movement of the shutter, the second biasing member for providing a first pivot point to the shutter; and one or more protrusions for providing a second and/or third pivot point to the shutter, the protrusions disposed between the plate and the shutter. In one example the receptacle may be an AC outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: Kenneth Yat Chung NG, Edmund Yat Kwong NG
  • Patent number: 7367823
    Abstract: A fiber optic telecommunications frame is provided including termination modules positioned on left and right sides of the frame. The frame further includes left and right vertical cable guides. The frame includes a horizontal passage linking the left and right panels and the cable guides. The termination modules hold fiber optic modules with front termination locations. The fiber optic modules can house couplers, such as splitters, combiners, and wave length division multiplexers. A retention mechanism retains each fiber optic module in a partially removed position from the termination module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Rapp, Timothy J. Haataja, Kristofer J. Bolster, Heidi L. Miller
  • Publication number: 20080045057
    Abstract: The electronic apparatus includes: a housing having an opening for inserting a card and a cover member, the opening being closed when a medium is not inserted, the cover member being pressed by the medium when the medium is inserted so that the cover member is rotated to go down at least partially; a medium slot disposed at a position facing the opening and receives a medium inserted through the opening; and an insulation sheet spread under the medium slot and extended to a position in which the cover member rotated to go down by being pressed by the inserted medium covers the insulation sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Taiji Mizunaga, Ikki Tatsukami, Yoshiaki Tamura
  • Publication number: 20070293068
    Abstract: A closing mechanism applicable to an electronic device, computer device or docking device comprises a housing, a closing member, a base, an elastomer and a support. Sliding portion and the corresponding chutes are disposed at the bottom portions of the closing member and the base, respectively. Both ends of the elastomer are fastened to the hooks of the closing member and base; thus, via elasticity, the elastomer automatically closes the opening of the I/O port of the closing mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: QUANTA COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Jung-Wen Chang, Ching-Cheng Wang, Wan-Chi Lin
  • Patent number: 7264489
    Abstract: A connector assembly for an electronic device saves space and cost. It includes first and second sockets defining first and second insertion paths for receiving mating plugs. A pivoting keep-out member has first and second blocking surfaces and can be pivoted between first and second positions. In the first position, the first blocking member blocks at least a portion of the first insertion path, but the second blocking member clears the second insertion path. In the second position, the second blocking member blocks at least a portion of the second insertion path, but the first blocking member clears the first insertion path. Thus the connector assembly may receive a plug in either the first or the second socket, but not in both simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen J Higham, Juan M. Perez
  • Patent number: 7223108
    Abstract: A dustproof receptacle connector includes a dielectric housing, a plurality of female contacts disposed in the housing, and a slider unit installed in the housing. The housing has a receiving cavity with a front opening defined in a front surface thereof, and a pair of mounting holes defined in a rear wall of the housing communicating with the receiving cavity. The slider unit includes a dustproof cover slidably received in the receiving cavity for sealing the front opening and a pair of springs disposed on the dustproof cover. A pair of longitudinal pillars extending backwards from the dustproof cover, with the free end of each pillar slidably disposed in the corresponding mounting hole of the housing. Each spring is retained on the corresponding longitudinal pillar, with one end thereof abutting against the dustproof cover and the other end thereof abutting against the rear wall of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shu Man Chiang, Chung Hsin Huang, Yi Chiu Kao, Yu-Hung Su
  • Patent number: 7198505
    Abstract: Improvements to a 3-way light bulb socket are shown. The major improvement is to replace or complement the rigid middle contact element of the socket with an elastic/flexible contact spring. The 3-way light bulb has a solder blob on its middle contact ring, where said blob usually has a rough, uneven surface, and frequently does protrude beyond the general surface of the bulb middle contact ring. The solder blob interferes with the conventional socket middle contact element, which is rigid, and prevents the system from creating a good, permanent and reliable electrical connection between the socket and the bulb. Potential flicker and discomfort to the user can occur as a result. Also, the operating life of the bulb as well as the power consumption can be affected. The proposed flexible middle contact spring can alleviate most of these problems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Gabe Cherian
  • Patent number: 7150645
    Abstract: An electrical connector (500) for mating with a mating electrical connector (500) includes an insulative housing (6), a number of terminals received in the insulative housing and a guiding device (7). The insulative housing has a concave chamber for receiving the guiding device, a guiding device movably assembled to the insulative housing comprises guiding members (71) and spring members (72). The spring members arranged in the concave chamber and below the guiding members, the guiding members can move along the concave chamber due to the elasticity of the spring members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chien Hsun Huang
  • Patent number: 7140891
    Abstract: A dustproof receptacle connector includes a dielectric housing having a cavity. A plurality of terminals and a dustproof means are received in the cavity. The back end of the dielectric housing is a closed end. A pair of guide grooves are defined in lateral sides of the cavity. The dustproof means includes a dustproof cover and a plurality of springs. The dustproof cover has a plate. A pair of arms extend from two opposite sides of the plate respectively. A pair of positioning pillars are defined in the inner side of the plate. The springs twine on the positioning pillars and the arms slide in the guide grooves. A block protrudes inwardly from the inner side of each arm respectively to increase the anti-stress intensity of the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Hsin Huang, Mei-Chuan Yang
  • Patent number: 7134888
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing (1) defining a mating cavity (13) in a mating face thereof; terminals (2) loaded in the housing and each having a contact portion (21) exposed in the mating cavity; a shutter (4) covering the mating cavity and capable of sinking into the mating cavity to expose the contact portions of the terminals; and an elastic means (3) disposed between the shutter and the housing and provided with a elongated shaft member (33) aslant extending into the mating cavity to support the shutter. The shaft member is capable of rotating to a state substantially flatly lying between the housing and the shutter by pressure of the sinking shutter and will urge the sunk shutter to return to cover the mating cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chia Hao Fan
  • Patent number: 7114968
    Abstract: The electrical outlet with safety guard prevents children from inserting improper conductors, such as hairpins or paper clips, into the outlet. The outlet has an outlet body, a plurality of sockets within the body, a plurality of resilient gates pivotally attached to the body within the sockets, and a plurality of terminals at the ends of the sockets. The plug is inserted into the sockets, and the prongs are confronted with the resilient gates. Upon further pressure from the prongs, the gates pivot into cavities defined between the open end of the sockets and the terminals, so that the prongs make electrical contact with the conductors. The gates are sufficiently stiff that pins, paper clips, and other objects are deflected away from the terminals by the gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Inventor: Rafael Healy
  • Patent number: 7104818
    Abstract: An electrical receptacle is provided herein which has a special locking mechanism preventing the plug from falling off. The receptacle mainly contains a body housed inside a sleeve. The body has at least a locking blade with a bended portion extended out of the body and pressed against the inside of the sleeve. A slot opening on the bended portion is roughly aligned with the slot of the body. When the prong of a plug is inserted into the sleeve, the sleeve presses the bended portion so that the slot opening and the slot on the body are completely aligned and the prong could go all the way into the slot of the body. The bended portion of the locking blade then springs back to a slant position to lock the prong. To unplug, the pulling force applied to the plug drags the body toward the sleeve which again presses the bended portion of the locking blade so that the prong could be pulled out of the slot of the body easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Inventor: Chi-Tsai Chang
  • Patent number: 7104817
    Abstract: A dust-proof structure (200) for an electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device includes a case (208) having a slot (208a) aligned with a card connector (204) in the electronic device. The dust-proof structure includes a frame (212) formed on the case and around the slot, and a dust-proof gate (210) made of resilient material. The dust-proof gate is attached to the case at a position surrounded by the frame and covering the slot. The dust-proof gate has a slit (210a) positioned communicating with the slot, wherein the slit extends along a direction parallel to a longitudinal length of the slot. To insert an electronic card (202) into the electrical device to electrically connect with the card connector, the card is moved first through the slot of the case and then the slit of the dust-proof gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: High Tech Computer, Corp.
    Inventors: Jih-Jeng Shiue, Jih-Chen Yeh
  • Patent number: 7101202
    Abstract: An electrical connector (1) includes a housing (11) having a mating portion (112) defining a mating direction, contacts (13) received in the mating portion of the housing, and a post member (14) disposed beside the mating portion. The post member includes a fixed portion (141), a movable portion (143), and an elastic portion (142) linking the fixed portion and the movable portion. The fixed portion and the movable portion define a first engaging state where the movable portion being immovable along the mating direction and a second engaging state where the movable portion being free to move along the mating direction. The movable portion has an actuating portion (162) for receiving a force to drive the movable portion to move from the first engaging state to the second engaging state along a direction substantially perpendicular to the mating direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chia Hao Fan
  • Patent number: 7097473
    Abstract: A cable clip includes a housing defining an open space and outer grooves about the housing for mounting the cable clip into a mounting opening, the inner edge of the housing including trumpet flares around the edges of the ends and side to provide bend radius protection for cables passing through the clip and a gate closing off the open sided space. The gate may be attached to the housing by a living hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. Krampotich, Thomas C. Tinucci, John C. Holman
  • Patent number: 7086878
    Abstract: The present invention seeks to provide an optical connector with an in-swinging shutter for closing a plug insertion opening of the connector, to avoid interference between the shutter and a plug holding part provided inside a plug insertion hole, to avoid increase in the outer dimensions of the connector by suppressing the accommodating space of the shutter. The in-swinging shutter has a two-piece hinge configuration in combination of a main shutter on the basal side and a sub shutter on the distal side. The sub shutter is hinge-coupled to the opening side end of the main shutter. The main shutter is elastically held at the closed position by a bias spring. The sub shutter is elastically held by another bias spring in a bent state in which it is bent towards the insertion opening side, or in a straightened state extending along the extended line of the basal side shutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Hosiden Corporation
    Inventors: Keiji Mine, Hiroshi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 7086879
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes first and second sockets disposed on opposite sides of a housing and defining first and second insertion paths, respectively, for receiving a plug. A sliding keep-out member has first and second blocking surfaces. The keep-out member can move back and forth through the housing between first and second positions. In the first position, the first blocking surface blocks at least a portion of the first insertion path, but the second blocking surface clears the second insertion path. In the second position, the second blocking surface blocks at least a portion of the second insertion path, but the first blocking surface clears the first insertion path. Thus the connector assembly may receive plugs in either the first or the second socket, but not in both sockets simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen J Higham, Michael R. Durham
  • Patent number: 6994572
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus, system, and method for enabling the installation of an installable device configured with a required component in a receiving device. A component deactivated interlock obstructs the installation of the installable device when not configured with the required component. The invention makes use of an extendable and retractable plunger disposed upon the installable device, a stop barrier disposed upon the receiving device, and an actuator disposed upon the required component. The plunger normally extends beyond the installable device, and upon contacting the stop barrier of the receiving device obstructs the installation. Upon a physical connection of the required component with the installable device, the actuator retracts the plunger, thereby enabling the installation of the installable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce E. Baker, Martin Joseph Crippen, Francis A. Kuchar Jr., Peter Andrew Smith, Brian Alan Trumbo
  • Patent number: 6988903
    Abstract: An extractable conversion plug with a safety protection means includes a spring is located between a moveable pillar of a slab and a latching element, inside a connection head, such that the slab can cover conduction pieces through an elastic force from an expansion of the spring, thereby preventing the conduction pieces from being exposed. Upon emplacing the connection head at a base seat, the slab is stopped from moving by a stopper, and the conduction pieces are exposed and are contacted with spring leaves of the base seat, thereby constituting a close-circuit status. When the base seat falls off by accident, a stopping force of the slab is relieved to release a compression force from the spring, which will cause the spring to expand, so as to move the slab to cover the conduction pieces, thereby preventing from getting an electric shock by a careless touch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Edac Power Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jen-Jen Cheng
  • Patent number: 6971891
    Abstract: An electrical connector (300) for mating with a mating electrical connector (500) includes an insulative housing (1), a number of terminals (4) received in the insulative housing, a shutter (2) movably assembled to the insulative housing. The insulative housing includes a mating portion (11) and a first engaging portion (16) mounted on the insulative housing, the first engaging portion comprising a limitation section (161) and a first guiding section (162). The shutter closes and opens the mating portion of the insulative housing and includes a second engaging portion (212) which mates with the first guiding section. The shutter is translating in a plane perpendicular to the mating electrical connector insertion direction between a closed portion and an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chien Hsun Huang
  • Patent number: 6955546
    Abstract: An electrical connector (1) is provided with a pair of shutter members (31, 32). The connector comprises a housing (10), a number of electrical contacts (20) received in the housing. The housing has a mating portion (21) which the contact arranged in. The shutter members are displaced on a front surface of the housing for covering the mating portion. A pair of coil springs (5) respectively connect the shutter members with the housing. When a complementary connector is inserted in the connector along a mating direction, a guide post provided by the complementary connector urge the shutter member always moving along a direction which is perpendicular to the mating direction and apart from each other to expose the mating portion. The pair of coil springs urge the pair of shutter members always closing toward each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chien-Hsun Huang
  • Patent number: 6948953
    Abstract: A female connector (10) is assembled with a holder (20) on a dashboard (A) and a male connector (30) is assembled with an instrument panel (B). The male connector (30) has a receptacle 32 with a cut-out (35) for receiving the female connector (10). Guide pins (11) of the female connector (10) slide along guide grooves (25) of the holder (20) to displace the female connector (10) normal to an assembling direction and to connect the female connector (10) with the male connector (30). A movable protecting portion (40) is displaced from a protecting position where the movable protecting portion (40) covers the cut-out (35) to a retracted position RP where the movable protecting portion (40) is retracted from the cut-out (35) by sliding movements of guide pins (42) of the movable protection portion (40) along guide grooves (29) of the holder (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Fukamachi
  • Patent number: 6948954
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly (1) comprises a receptacle connector (2) and a plug connector (3) to be connected to the receptacle connector (2). The receptacle connector (2) comprises a first insulating case (4) including a first base portion (41) having a plug fitting section (411), a pair of neck portions (42) and a pair of wall portions (43), a plurality of first electrical contacts (23) received in the first insulating case (4) and a pair of shutter members (21) mounted on the first insulating case (4) comprising a pair of shutter member halves (21a, 21b). The plug connector (3) comprises a second insulating case (6) provided with a pair of separate guide devices (63) on opposite ends and a pair of separate receiving spaces (423) and a plurality of second electrical contacts (33) received in the second insulating case (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chia Hao Fan
  • Patent number: 6947036
    Abstract: An electronic device with a conversion module for a liquid crystal display. The electronic device includes a motherboard, a liquid crystal display, and a converter board. The converter board is coupled to the motherboard and the liquid crystal display respectively, and converts a first signal from the motherboard to a second signal suitable for use by the liquid crystal display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Via Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kung-Fu Chen
  • Patent number: 6935873
    Abstract: An electrical connector system comprises a shutter (15) having shutter members (16 and 17) with arms (21) pivoted to the end walls of a receptacle (1). The shutter members (16 and 17) are biased by a spring member (18) such that the sliding sections (20) are closed to cover a plug fitting section (39) and opened by guide pins (37) that are provided on a plug connector (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Hirose Electic Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Funatsu
  • Patent number: 6935874
    Abstract: A cooking assembly includes a tray unit mounted detachably on a base member, and a plug. The tray unit includes a cooking tray, and a socket casing fixed to the cooking tray. The plug is insertable into the socket casing. A spring-biased latch is disposed movably in the socket casing, and is pushed by the plug to move from a first position to a second position upon insertion of the latter into the socket casing. The latch engages the base member when the latch is disposed at the second position, and disengages the base member when the latch is disposed at the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Tsann Kuen Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Cheng Fang, Kuang-Yi Hsu
  • Patent number: 6932629
    Abstract: A device main body with a USB terminal and a cap including a housing space for housing at least the USB terminal are provided. The device main body and the cap are assembled so that they can be moved in an extending or compressing manner relative to each other by inserting at least the USB terminal to the housing space, or can be rotated relative to each other in an extended state without removing the cap from the device main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kazuhisa Ikenoue
  • Patent number: 6908319
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrical connector with a plurality of contacts therein and a conductive shutter rotatable between a closed position covering the plurality of contacts and an open position exposing the plurality of contacts. A shield member encircles the plurality of contacts and is configured to make electrical contact with the conductive shutter when the conductive shutter is in the closed position. A mating connector and a connector arrangement are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics, AMP K.K.
    Inventors: Naotaka Sasame, Shinichi Hashimoto