Finger Or Stretchable Sleeve Resiliently Urged Laterally Of Connection Patents (Class 439/350)
  • Publication number: 20010024900
    Abstract: A female connector housing (4) has a terminal accommodation chamber (5) configured for accommodating therein a pair of male terminals (6) and provided with a leakage prevention wall (7) as a partition for dividing the terminal accommodation chamber (5) into a pair of divided terminal accommodation chambers (8) neighboring to each other for individual accommodation of the male terminals (6). A male connector housing (10) has a pair of neighboring terminal cavity block portions (11) configured for accommodation of female terminals, to be individually inserted into the divided terminal accommodation chambers (8), and to define therebetween a mating recess (13) for the leakage prevention wall (7) to be inserted therein. When the male connector housing (10) is fitted into the female connector housing (4), the leakage prevention wall (7) tight fits in the mating recess (13), thereby preventing water invasion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Applicant: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Takeya Miwa
  • Publication number: 20010024899
    Abstract: An electrical connector plug is made available, which has a connector housing (1) with at least a first stiff locking element (7, 8, 44) and which comprises a counter-connector housing (2) which is complementarily formed to the connector housing (1) with at least a second elastic locking element (15, 53) and a spring element (25, 55) for increasing the spring force and with the two locking elements (7,8, 15, 44, 53) defining an unstable swell point. Furthermore, during the movement of the counter-connector housing (2) in the direction of insertion (F), the first locking element (7, 8, 44) presses so strongly against the second locking element (15,53) that the spring element (25, 55) located in the second locking element (15, 53) builds up a tension with the swell point being determined by using the spring element (25, 55).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Inventors: Hans-Otto Geltsch, Rainer Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6281444
    Abstract: A protective cover for a connector including a cover body to be fitted over a terminal engaging portion of the connector, an engaging projection provided on the cover body in such a manner as to be capable of engaging an engaging stepped portion formed on the lock arm and of being disengaged from the engaging stepped portion by a tilting operation of the lock arm, and a pair of arm protecting walls provided projectingly on an outer peripheral wall of the cover body in such a manner as to face each other with the lock arm positioned therebetween. The height of an upper edge of each of the arm protecting walls is set in such a manner that the lock arm is accommodated in a space defined by the pair of arm protecting walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Yamanashi
  • Patent number: 6276841
    Abstract: A connector couples with a mating component and has a main body and a generally planar latch. The main body is insertable into the mating component in a coupling direction, and has a face generally parallel to the coupling direction. The latch is resiliently coupled to the main body at the face thereof, and is generally parallel to the face. The latch includes a latching surface for cooperating with a latch-catch of the mating component, and is resiliently actuatable in the plane thereof. Accordingly, the latching surface is released from the latch-catch of the mating component. In one embodiment of the present invention, a pair of the connectors each couple with a respective mating component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Berg Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Drew A. Demangone
  • Patent number: 6264491
    Abstract: A clasp mechanism connector for quickly connecting a computer cable to a receiving member includes a body, a port connector and a biasing member. The biasing member maintains ratchet like teeth particularly useful in grasping internal threading such as that found in computer port housing. The connection apparatus securingly connects the cable connector to a traditional jack screw-type receiving member via actuation of the biasing member. The biasing member may preferably be a resilient member such as a spring or spring-like mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Mobility Electronics
    Inventor: Charles Lord
  • Patent number: 6254417
    Abstract: An I/O connector has a housing with front, rear and top openings. Set within the housing is a monolithically formed latch. This latch has first and second tines. The first tine has a notch at its front end for engaging with an appropriate locking niche on the portable communications device, and a button at its back end. The button protrudes through the top opening of the housing, and the front ends of the tines protrude through the front opening of the housing. By pressing on the button, the first tine is depressed towards the second tine, which unlocks the I/O connector from the locking niche. The second tine is slightly longer than the first tine to ensure that the first tine stays locked within the locking niche.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Acer Communications and Multimedia Inc.
    Inventor: Long-Jyh Pan
  • Patent number: 6241551
    Abstract: There is provided a divided-type connector comprising a male connector 20 and a female connector 40, one of the connectors being divided-type into a plurality of connector units, so that each of the connector units so divided-type is coupled to the other connector, wherein the one of the connectors comprises a fixing part 23 having an opening hole 24 formed in a coupling face thereof and a moving part 22 adapted to be received in the opening hole 24 for locking therein with a part thereof being left projecting from the coupling face in a coupling direction, and wherein after the moving part 22 is coupled to the other connector, the fixing part 23 is coupled to the other connector while the moving part 22 is being moved in a direction opposite to the coupling direction into the fixing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6238230
    Abstract: A latch assembly includes a body member defining a cavity and including at least two spaced apart, opposed, relatively displaceable arms. A latch structure is located on at least one of the arms. A deformable elastomeric core is disposed in the cavity to resist convergent displacement of the arms. The elastomeric core is responsive to convergent displacement of the arms to provide a spring force biasing the arms apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L.M. Ericsson
    Inventors: John T. Sadler, Gregory S. Patterson
  • Patent number: 6215457
    Abstract: A transmitter and/or receiver unit has a plug-type connector mounted on a printed circuit board. The electrical contact elements of the plug-type connector are soldered at one end to the printed circuit board. At least one of the electrical contact elements of the plug-type connector and an additional lead disposed in or on a housing of the plug-type connector, form an antenna for the transmitter and/or receiver unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Allan Losey
  • Patent number: 6171130
    Abstract: A connector for preventing a half-fitting thereof comprises a first connector housing, a second connector housing for engaging with the first connector housing, a slide cover provided so as to cover an outer periphery of the second connector housing, the slide cover capable of sliding on the outer periphery of the second connector housing in a fitting direction of the first and second connector housing, resilient member provided in the second connector housing for urging the slide cover toward an anti-fitting direction, and at least three half-fitting detection mechanisms for detecting the half-fitting of the first and second connector housing respectively provided on outer face of front end portions of the first connector housing and the slide cover, the detection mechanisms arranged such that there are substantially equal intervals therebetween with respect to a circumferencial direction of the first connector housing and the slide cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Haruki Yoshida, Motohisa Kashiyama
  • Patent number: 6159033
    Abstract: There is provided an electrical connection box configured to be smaller in size on which electrical components and an electronic control device are mounted such that production costs are reduced. A plurality of electrical component housing areas is provided on a surface of one side on an electric connection box. An electrical component is adapted to be mounted on the electrical component housing areas. A male type connector for mounting an electronic control device is provided on a surface of the electrical connection box. The electronic control device is connected with the electric connection box by connecting the male type connector with a female type connector provided in the electronic control device. The electronic control device is mounted off to an outer side of the electric connection box, and a supporting plate which supports an area of the electronic control device is cantilevered from, or shifted off to the outer side of, the electronic control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshito Oka
  • Patent number: 6146179
    Abstract: A first movable connector part and a second fixedly positioned connector part form a connector. The second fixedly positioned connector part has at least two catch members separately positioned at spaced apart locations. The first connector part is adapted to be moved in a first direction toward the second connector part in response to a predetermined insertion force until the first connector part and the second connector part are connected. The first connector part has at least two movable latches separately supported at spaced apart locations on the first connector part, each of the latches being associated with a respective one of the catch members. Each of the catch members are adapted for engaging a respective one of the movable latches. A flexible linking bar connects the movable latches. On application of a predetermined extraction force, the linking bar flexes so as to cause the movable latches to be released from the catch members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ian McFarlane Denny, Peter Andrew Smith
  • Patent number: 6146180
    Abstract: A first connector of the type that has a pair of forwardly-projecting latch arms for locking into a cavity of a second connector, where the latch arms of the first connector have outer sides with slots that hold first auxiliary contacts, and the second connector has slots at opposite sides of its cavity for holding corresponding second auxiliary contacts. Each slot is aligned with a bore in the connector frame, with the bore being of rectangular configuration. Each auxiliary contact includes a plate portion lying in the bore in interference fit with the opposite sides of the bore, a strip portion that extends forward of the plate portion, and a 90.degree. bend that connects one side of the plate portion to an edge of the strip portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Brian Betker, Rene Augusto Mosquera
  • Patent number: 6126474
    Abstract: A latching shroud for use on a backplane connector is provided which has an integrated a retention feature. The backplane connector includes a receptacle portion that receives a plurality of mating connectors therein and the latching shroud includes a pair of sidewalls that slip over and engage the connector around the receptacle portion thereof. A plurality of series of latching arms are formed in one of the sidewalls of the latching shroud, while polarizing elements are formed with the other sidewall of the latching shroud. The polarizing elements assist in orienting the mating connectors and the latching arms extend up and partly over the connector receptacle. The latching arms include hook end portions that grip the top surfaces of the mating connectors to retain them in place in the connector receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Dennis Lee Doye, Michael J. Miskin
  • Patent number: 6099338
    Abstract: A securing means for blades of an electrical plug, essentially comprised of a plug adapted with two resilient leaves in conjunction with a socket outlet, wherein, on both sides of the blade at its central portion is formed respectively an indent while at where appropriately relative to said gap on both sides to the front section of the resilient leave is separately made a protrusion bending outwardly, and the rear section of said resilient leaf is provided inside the plug; in another preferred embodiment, said two resilient leaves may be respectively embedded into sectional grooves on both sides of the blade; and furthermore in yet another preferred embodiment, a resilient covering leaf is formed as a protrusion at the corresponding to the plug gap respectively on both sides of the front section and a side leaf provided and connected to the rear section while the resilient covering leaf and the blade may be further riveted with a conductor from a plug adapter so that once the plug is inserted into the socket;
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Inventor: Chyong-Yen Huang
  • Patent number: 6095844
    Abstract: An electrical connection box which includes a main housing, a hollow connector holder, a retainer, and a connector unit. The connector holder projects from an outer face of the main housing and the retainer surrounds a portion of the outer surface of the connector holder. The connector unit is releasably engaged in the connector holder. A busbar is introduced into the main housing through an insertion groove and there is a slit, contiguous with the groove, on the perimeter wall of the connector holder. A contact terminal projects from the busbar into the connector holder. A connector unit is releasably attached to the outer face of the connector holder and a connection terminal is in the connector unit adapted to mate with a contact terminal. By virtue of the retainer surrounding the end of the outer surface of the connector holder, the predetermined outer shape of the perimeter wall is maintained during insertion and affixing of the connector unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Kasai
  • Patent number: 6086411
    Abstract: An electrical connector has a sealing face 30 provided along the entire circumference of a side edge and upper face of a foot member 25 and along outer side faces and an outer base face of a terminal housing chamber 23. An operating member 26B and short-circuiting terminal 24 are sealed by a boot 31, an opening edge 31A of the boot 31 fitting tightly with a continuous sealing circumference face 30, thereby preventing the entry of water or dirt. The arrangement ensures that the locking arm 26 can be operated without risk of breaking the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Shinozaki
  • Patent number: 6036550
    Abstract: A connector holder (1) has an elongate front wall (2), an elongate and partitioning center wall (3) formed integral with, perpendicular to and along the inner edge of the front wall, and end walls (4, 4') extending perpendicular to the center wall and located at opposite ends of same. The end walls have latch means (6, 7 and 8) for engagement with the connectors of the pressure contacting type. A pair of spaces (5) for receiving the connectors are provided such that a side of each space facing the front wall is opened, with another side confronting the center wall also opened. The connector holder (1) further has lugs (11) that are capable of engaging with the entrances (26) of compartments formed in each connector (20), so that the electric wires received in the compartments are surely held in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Japan Solderless Terminal Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Naganawa, Yutaka Ushiro, Junichi Tsuda
  • Patent number: 6036523
    Abstract: A connector socket has a metallic latch member that is inserted from the rear through a latch attachment opening to position an engagement section in a plug insertion opening where it can be engaged by a lock claw of a plug inserted into a plug insertion opening in the front surface of the connector socket. The metallic engagement section resists wear from repeated plugging and unplugging of a connector plug in the connector plug opening. The latch member has transversely extending fixed support pieces integrally formed with the engagement section, which fit through guide grooves in the latch attachment opening. Reverse engagement claws extending laterally from the outer ends of the fixed support pieces dig into, and permanently retain the latch member in place. The ability to easily insert the latch member through the rear surface of the connector socket reduces assembly cost, and permits a connector socket to have any desired number of plug insertion openings in its face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akihito Sukegawa
  • Patent number: 6030248
    Abstract: A mechanical latch for increasing the mechanical integrity of board to board interconnection. The mechanical latch adds additional retention force utilizing a rigid mechanical connection. In a first embodiment, the latch is connected to a male mating connector via two screws through adjusting slots. Once the male and female connectors are engaged, the latch can be adjusted via a thumb tab so that retaining tabs engage with the backside of the female connector. The latch is then tightened via the screws to ensure a rigid mechanical connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Michael Dancel, Thomas M. Speirs
  • Patent number: 6010352
    Abstract: A connector includes a jack and an attachment plug which inserts into a socket of the jack. The plug has a plug body with an attachment pin planted at its forward end and sinkable lock portions projecting from an outer circumferential surface of the plug body so that the sinkable lock portions return to their initial positions automatically by their own elastic force. The jack has an engagement portion formed along the inner circumference of the plug insertion inlet of the socket so that the engagement portion locks the lock portions when the attachment plug is inserted into the jack. The engagement portion is formed by folding an end portion of the socket at the plug insertion inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Isao Kameyama
  • Patent number: 6007360
    Abstract: A guide socket is adapted to be embedded in a first electrical connector for receiving a guide post mounted on a mating second connector to guide the connectors into mating engagement with each other. The guide socket includes a body having an external threading receivingly engaging with an inner-threaded hole defined in the first connector. The guide socket defines a central bore extending through the body for receiving the guide post of the second connector. An inner circumferential groove is formed in the central bore for receiving and retaining a retaining ring therein. The retaining ring has an original inner diameter which is smaller than an outer diameter of the guide post and is resiliently expandable to a larger diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the guide post for allowing the guide post to extend therethrough and securely retain the guide post in the guide socket by means of a spring-back force caused by the resiliency thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kun-Tsan Wu, Johnson Yang
  • Patent number: 6000961
    Abstract: An electrical connector is arranged to be connected to an associated element and disposed together with the associated element within a hollow body. Radially extending tongues having detents are formed on the shell of the connector, the tongues being bent at an approximately 90.degree. angle during insertion of the connector and associated element into the hollow body to retain the connector and associated element within the hollow body. The associated element may be the generator and of a vehicle airbag system, and the hollow body may be a steering column of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Amphenol-Tuchel Electronics GmbH
    Inventor: Alfred Annecke
  • Patent number: 5989050
    Abstract: A connector for a microphone includes a connecting member provided with a hook having a slot, a tubular member having an end formed with a plurality of hooks and fitted on the connecting member, an adjusting ring having a flange engaged with the hooks of the tubular member and an inner side formed with internal threads, and a fixing collar having an end formed with external threads engageable with the internal threads of the adjusting ring and a longitudinal notch engageable with the slot of the connecting member, whereby the microphone can be firmly and easily engaged with the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Inventor: Chang-Chi Lee
  • Patent number: 5971788
    Abstract: An electrical connector has improved locking characteristics for mating with an opposing complementary connector component. The connector has an insulative housing with a series of walls defining a mating space which receives the complementary connector component. Terminals are arranged in the mating space to interconnect with the complementary connector component. Sidewalls have two distinct inner and outer sections wherein the inner sidewall section are flexible and include an engagement surface for engagement with the complementary connector component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Toshihiro Niitsu, Minoru Fukushima
  • Patent number: 5971790
    Abstract: Spring latch (30) for a connector assembly (10) having an engagement section (40,42) at a forward end (38) to latch to a post (24) of a mating connector (22), to maintain the connectors in mated engagement. Forward end (38) comprises a pair of beams (50) coextending to respective transverse feet (40), the beams and feet separated by a slot (48) extending rearwardly along a body section (42). Beams (50) are pried apart during mating as inner edges of feet (40) bear against tapered side surfaces (56) of the forward end (26) of a post (24) of the mating connector (22), until full mating when feet (40) seat into an annular groove (28) rearwardly of the post forward end (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Carl William Rohde
  • Patent number: 5938465
    Abstract: An axially mating quick connect-disconnect electrical connector comprising a plug member and a jack member is provided. A split spring ring having a circumferential notch therein is carried by the plug member in a peripheral groove as the connective member and when the two connectors are joined the ring is compressed reducing the diameter of the ring and the periphery of the ring is compressed toward the notch resulting in a dual compression of the ring which is mated in an inner, circumferential groove in the jack and provides the necessary connection forces between the plug and jack members while providing for connection or disconnection of the two connectors using less force than typically needed for such connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Palco Connector, Inc.
    Inventor: Roy W. Fox, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5931690
    Abstract: The purpose of this invention is to provide an electrical connector for attachment to post-type terminals of electrical equipment which would allow for an easy attachment to the terminals and would cover the terminals in a fully-connected state. This is accomplished by a terminal (22) made by bending a blank stamped from a conductive sheet material and it comprises a first tubular section (22a) in which a core (21a) of cable (21) is secured by crimping and of a second tubular section arranged approximately perpendicularly to the first tubular section. The terminal (22) mounted to an inner housing (23) and the cable core (21) secured thereto are enveloped in an outer housing (26) by an over-molding method. The outer housing (26) has openings (26c) which engage latching arms (13) of the battery (10) when the second tubular section (22b) is placed over the post-type terminal (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Noriaki Sai, Toru Takeda
  • Patent number: 5885098
    Abstract: A cord set for electrically connecting an electrically powered device to a power source. The cord set includes a plug, a receptacle defining an axis and an axial passage extending through the receptacle to accommodate the plug, and coupling means extending axially from the receptacle for coupling the plug to the receptacle. The present invention is also directed to a cord set receptacle that defines an axis and an axial passage extending through the receptacle to accommodate a plug and coupling means extending axially from the receptacle for coupling the plug to the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Phillips & Temro Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Ireneusz Witkowski
  • Patent number: 5839915
    Abstract: A lock detection structure of a connector, includes: a first connector housing (63) having a connector lock projection (65); a second connector housing (39) having a deformable lock arm (49); and a lock detecting member (33, 83) for detecting whether the connector lock projection is locked with the deformable lock arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Rhodri Ford, Masanori Tsuji
  • Patent number: 5836773
    Abstract: A board-to-board connector assembly (10) includes a socket connector (12) with plural rigid contacts (48) therein and a counterpart plug connector (14) with plural flexible contacts (20) therein. Locking tabs with protrusions are formed on the exterior surfaces (43) of the socket connector (12) and the corresponding recesses (56) are formed in side walls (58) of the plug connector (14) so that there is a retention function between these two mating connectors (12, 14) when they are coupled with each other. The housing (16, 36) of each connector (14, 12) further includes an expansion section (15, 11) at either end for protectively avoiding damage of the contact tails (24, 50) due to exterior impact during delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert G. McHugh, Yu-Ming Ho
  • Patent number: 5810610
    Abstract: To realize a simple and inexpensive connection of a high-voltage resistive cable and a high-voltage part without providing a special facility. A C-shaped fittable member 11 the opposite ends of which have inwardly acting restoring forces is provided. A groove 13 is formed on the outer surface of a right end portion of a connection part 2. Rectangular through holes are formed in a part insertion portion 1a fitted with the connection part 2 in two positions facing the groove 13. The fittable member 11 is cut in positions in the vicinity of the opposite ends thereof. The left sides of cut portions are bent inward to form projections 16a, 16b. By fitting the fittable member 11 on the part insertion portion 1a, the projections 16a are fitted and locked in the groove 13 through the through holes of the part insertion portion 1a so as to prevent the connection part 2 from coming out of the part insertion portion 1a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinao Kobayashi, Yuji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5803760
    Abstract: A grip shaft extends substantially longitudinally from the rear of a charge connector and a lever is mounted thereon. The connector is connected to a battery fixture by inserting it therein while holding the grip shaft. The lever moves the connector and fixture toward each other as it is pivoted against the shaft, thereby fully connecting the fixture and connector. Thus, the burden on the wrist of the operator during the connection is reduced, even if the battery fixture is horizontally mounted in a relatively low position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hikaru Ito, Masashi Saito, Eiji Saijo, Shinichi Yamada
  • Patent number: 5784263
    Abstract: A printed circuit board retention system for supporting printed circuit boards in a computer chassis consists of a mother board located in the computer chassis and having a mother board connector mounted to it for connecting to a daughter card. The mother board connector has attachment points molded into it for optionally fastening a base support member. A daughter card including an edge card connection along the bottom edge for mating with the mother board connector such that the daughter card is positioned substantially at right angles to the mother board. A separate base support member may be fastened to the mother board by attachment points that mechanically mate with the attachment points on the mother board connector. The base support member has upwardly extending arms with clips on the ends. A partial frame element has downwardly extending arms with clips at the end that mate with the clips on the base support member arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Daryl James Nelson
  • Patent number: 5765938
    Abstract: A flashlight includes a flexible core comprising a pair of conductive wires which electrically connect a source of power to a power using implement. A flexible spine surrounds the pair of conductive wires and includes a plurality of interconnected universally rotatable members. A resilient sleeve engages the outer surface of the rotatable members forming the spine. The flashlight includes a working end housing and a base housing. A first anchor connects one end of the flexible core to the base end housing and a second anchor connects the other end of the flexible core to the working end housing. The outer surface of the resilient sleeve is restrained against relative twisting or longitudinal movement with respect to each housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: John G. Rousso, Paul R. Holbrook
  • Patent number: 5692923
    Abstract: This invention aims to settle an attaching state of a connector assembly by positively engaging a lock piece of the assembly with an apparatus m. In the connector assembly, a male housing 4 is provided on its side with a deformable lock piece 15, which is loosely engaged with a recess 24 formed in the apparatus m when the male housing 4 is fitted in a chamber 16 in the apparatus m. When a female housing 3 is coupled to the male housing 4, a projection 13 provided on the female housing 3 pushes the lock piece 15 from its inner side so that a pawl 15a is deeply engaged with the recess 24.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hisashi Sawada
  • Patent number: 5651695
    Abstract: A connector (9) for electrically connecting a cable (10) including a bundle of electric wires (13) to a printed circuit board where the connector includes a connector body (1), a housing (12) formed to support wires of the cable integrally with one another and capable of being coupled to the connector body. The connector body includes at least one pair of facing supports (4) provided at edges of the connector body and adapted to support the housing so as to prevent the cable from being easily separated from the connector body when external force or tension is applied where at least one support of the connector body has a hook (5) adapted to engage with an edge of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Berg Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hyoung Ku Lee, Heung Sik Lee
  • Patent number: 5620330
    Abstract: Connector for coaxial cable comprising a first element (10) and a second element (20), these being designed to be fitted together, one in the other, in order to establish an electrical connection between two cores (11, 21) and two earth braids (12, 22), one of the elements (20, 10) including a snap-fastening means (26) while the other element (10, 20) is equipped with a complementary snap-fastening means (16) designed to interact with the snap-fastening means (26) after the two elements (10, 20) have been fitted together: the complementary snap-fastening means (16) is provided on a piece (17) made of insulating material, especially made of plastic, having radial projections (160) designed to become snap-fastened after the fitting operation, the snap-fastening means (26) being formed by a kind of radially projecting collar (39); the radial projections (160) are circumferentially surrounded by an elastic unlocking ring (29) extending around the axis of the connector and with which the radial projections are rad
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Mecaniplast
    Inventor: Ernest Pizon
  • Patent number: 5601349
    Abstract: In a computer chassis having a wall, an interiorly-positioned card cage associated with the wall, and the card cage having a card guide slot therein, a card guide retaining device. In a preferred embodiment, the card guide retaining device has a retainer having (1) a first end extending to within the computer chassis through a retainer aperture in the wall, the retainer aperture corresponding to the card guide slot, and (2) a second end extending to without the retainer aperture exterior to the computer chassis. The first end includes a gripping surface to engage and retain a card guide positioned about the card guide slot. The gripping surface may be a generally rectangular planar member extendable over a retaining tab portion of the card guide to thereby secure the card guide against a card guide ledge of the card cage. The second end has a flanged portion to contact an exterior surface of the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Dell U.S.A., LP
    Inventor: George T. Holt
  • Patent number: 5558535
    Abstract: A locking projection is provided on a first electrical component. A locking portion is provided on a second electrical component. The locking portion includes an elastically deflectable flexible portion and a hook portion formed at a distal end of the flexible portion and engageable with the locking projection. A spring portion is provided on the second electrical component so as to be spaced a predetermined distance from the locking portion. When deflection of the flexible portion has reached a predetermined amount or more, the spring portion is depressed by the locking portion so as to be elastically deflected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd
    Inventors: Yuuji Saka, Kouichi Shirouzu, Kazuyuki Shiraki
  • Patent number: 5554043
    Abstract: A connector for a transmission is disclosed. The connector includes a cylindrical part which is provided on one side thereof with a hood part for engaging with a mating connector, a substantially cylindrical transmission-case engaging part formed integral with an opposite side of the cylindrical part so that an outer diameter of the transmmission-case engaging part is larger than a diameter of the cylindrical part and at least one projection provided on a periphery of the cylindrical part for engaging with the other connector. The transmission-case engaging part has an opening formed at one end thereof and an inlet for pouring fluid sealant formed at the other end thereof. The inlet communicates with the opening through a penetration space extending along the periphery of the cylindrical part, and the projection is positioned over the penetration space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Yamanashi
  • Patent number: 5545051
    Abstract: A connector assembly (20) includes a plug connector (22) having a housing (24) and an array of first contacts (40), the housing including latch projections (36) extending laterally from at least both of the opposed sides (30) or both the opposed ends (32) thereof; and a complementary receptacle connector (50) having a housing with a plug receiving cavity (68) and corresponding array of second contacts (70), the housing (52) including latch receiving recesses (66) adjacent the cavity floor (68) alongside at least both of the sidewalls (62) or both of the endwalls (64) corresponding to the sides (30) and ends (32) of the plug portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Donald J. Summers, Robert S. Correll, Jr., Donald E. Dellinger
  • Patent number: 5454737
    Abstract: A connector which can be easily attached to a vehicle body and causes no failure or breakage of wires. The connector has a connector housing, including a front socket portion and a rear socket portion. Upon attaching the connector to the vehicle body, it is easy to position the rear socket portion thereby making installation efficient and hence inexpensive. There is no need for assembling a subharness. Since a transfer portion is provided in the connector housing, there is no breakage or damage of wires during attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshikazu Saba
  • Patent number: 5449298
    Abstract: This invention relates to a latching system for a pair of intermatable electrical connectors, such as a plug and receptacle, which incorporates a mechanism for unlatching same by the application of a maximum predetermined separating force, such as may be the result of an accident, to the plug and receptacle. The system comprises a first electrical connector having a pair of flexible arms projecting axially therefrom, where the free ends of the arms include slot means for engaging complementary arms within the second electrical connector. The second electrical connector includes a forward ramp surface against which the flexible arms initially ride to effect mating of the connectors, a rearward surface slightly angled, i.e. on the order of about 4.degree. to 10.degree., from a base toward the ramp surface, and a metal spring arm mounted within the second electrical connector in close proximity to the base of the rearward surface. In the mated condition the spring arm engages the slot means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Fetterolf, Sr., Harold W. Kerlin, Jason M. Reisinger
  • Patent number: 5429527
    Abstract: A connector includes a pair of connector housings each having a front half portion for accommodating a terminal and which are coupled with each other in a coupling direction. A locking mechanism is provided and includes a cantilever-like resilient locking member having a leading end and disposed on one of the pair of connector housings, and a locking portion disposed on the other connector housing, in which the leading end of the cantilever-like resilient locking member of the one of the pair of connector housings first interferes with the locking portion of the other connector housing so as to be flexed away from a normal state, and is then restored to its normal state so as to be brought into engagement with the locking portion after a lapse of predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Nozaki, Masamitsu Chishima
  • Patent number: 5403199
    Abstract: A low insertion force, high current connector terminal for vehicular applications. The terminal includes a receptacle connector member having means for varying the inside diameter of a socket thereof, and a pin connector member insertable therein. The receptacle connector member includes an outboardly displaceable resilient finger having a first stop surface engageable with a second stop surface formed on the pin connector member to prevent accidental axial displacement of the two connector members. A slot and mating guide are disposed on, respectively, the receptacle connector member and the pin connector member, said slot and guide serving as both a guide means when the members are connected and also as an indexing means to prevent the connection of two non-mating connector members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignees: Electrical Mechanical Products Inc., Chrysler Corp
    Inventors: Dewey Mobley, James P. Burgess, Frank R. VanWulfen, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5400215
    Abstract: A structure for detachably supporting a vehicle-data recorder has (a) a station attachable to a vehicle and including a first port for communicating with a data-detecting device for a vehicle employing the vehicle-data recorder and an opening and (b) a cassette insertable in the station through the opening and comprising a second port for communicating with the port of the station. The station has (a) a top, (b) a bottom, (c) a front wall in which the opening is formed, (d) a rear wall on which the first port is mounted, (e) two lateral walls comprising two positioning blocks facing each other, each of the positioning blocks having a front wedge surface and a recess behind the wedge surface, and (f) a bearing plate mounted opposite the top and comprising two leave springs supporting two casters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Inventor: Pao-Lang Chung
  • Patent number: 5395262
    Abstract: An electrical connector is provided which can readily fix a metal latch member to a housing. A groove is provided in the housing of the connector to allow a daughter board to be inserted therein. A pair of resin latch members are provided one at each end of the groove to hold the daughter board in a predetermined latched position. A pair of metal latch members are provided one at each end of the housing to hold the daughter board in a sandwiched relation with the resin latch members interposed. The metal latch members are fixed to the housing by fitting their fixing section over the housing with openings of the fixing section fitted over the projections provided on the opposite side surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours & Company
    Inventor: Nai H. Lwee
  • Patent number: 5391083
    Abstract: A computer card apparatus for interconnecting with and securely retaining a removable plug. The computer card's circuitry and components encapsuled within an insulating material, a sheet of metal superimposed over the insulating material and a plastic housing encompassing the sheet, insulating material, components and circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: R. A. Tool & Die, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph V. Roebuck, Charles A. Centofante, Rudolf Albrecht, Henry A. Jupille
  • Patent number: RE36695
    Abstract: In a computer chassis having a wall, an interiorly-positioned card cage associated with the wall, and the card cage having a card guide slot therein, a card guide retaining device. In a preferred embodiment, the card guide retaining device has a retainer having (1) a first end extending to within the computer chassis through a retainer aperture in the wall, the retainer aperture corresponding to the card guide slot, and (2) a second end extending to without the retainer aperture exterior to the computer chassis. The first end includes a gripping surface to engage and retain a card guide positioned about the card guide slot. The gripping surface may be a generally rectangular planar member extendable over a retaining tab portion of the card guide to thereby secure the card guide against a card guide ledge of the card cage. The second end has a flanged portion to contact an exterior surface of the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Dell U.S.A., L.P.
    Inventor: George T. Holt