Frangible Element Patents (Class 439/475)
  • Patent number: 12107039
    Abstract: A power component configured to improve partial discharge performance includes at least one terminal that includes a first planar surface, a second planar surface opposite the first planar surface, and a curved surface extending from the first planar surface to the second planar surface. The power component may include at least one of the following: a power module or a bus bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Wolfspeed, Inc.
    Inventors: Zach Cole, Steven Ericksen
  • Patent number: 11165174
    Abstract: A fastener for connecting an electrical conductor to a connector body includes a first portion adapted to engage an opening of the connector body and a second portion engaging the first portion. The second portion includes a head, a base coupled to the first portion and including an end adapted to engage the electrical conductor, and a shearable section positioned between the head and the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: Dana Khalid Saeed
  • Patent number: 10756452
    Abstract: A fastener for connecting an electrical conductor to a connector body includes a first portion adapted to engage an opening of the connector body and a second portion engaging the first portion. The second portion includes a head, a base coupled to the first portion and including an end adapted to engage the electrical conductor, and a shearable section positioned between the head and the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: Dana Khalid Saeed
  • Patent number: 10573979
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a shearing screw for clamping an electrical conductor within a cable connector. The shearing screw comprises a screw body for engaging the cable connector, which further comprises a collar, an outer thread, a cylindrical bore and a clamping surface for clamping the electrical conductor within the cable connector. The shearing screw comprises a nut for shearing the shearing screw. The collar and the nut are adapted to be rotatable simultaneously with a sleeve for fastening the shearing screw to the cable connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: ENSTO OY
    Inventors: Antti Toivanen, Hannele Kenkkilä, Olli Kuusisto, Timo Vikman
  • Patent number: 9330813
    Abstract: A conductive path structure includes a conductor that includes a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion which are connected to each other through a cut-off facilitating portion, a first covering member that covers the first conductive portion and the cut-off facilitating portion, and a second covering member that covers the second conductive portion and the cut-off facilitating portion. The second covering member covers the cut-off facilitating portion through the first covering member. The second covering member slidably covers the first covering member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideomi Adachi, Hidehiko Kuboshima
  • Publication number: 20150011115
    Abstract: An electrical connection for an electrical component or electrically heatable honeycomb body, in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine includes an electrical conductor passing through a metallic jacket of the exhaust system, a bushing and an insulating layer and having an outer connection section with circular cross section. The connection section has a contact surface for connection to a supply line connection piece. The bushing and/or electrical conductor near the bushing can absorb torques up to 3.6, 4.5 or 7 Nm per cm2 of contact surface acting on the connection section and/or an internal or external thread in circumferential direction, by shaping the electrical conductor near the bushing or using structures and/or changes to the cross section or a form-locking construction of the electrical conductor and the bushing. Damage to electrical exhaust components due to external torques, disassembly and maintenance can thus be avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: PETER HIRTH, THOMAS HAERIG, FERDI KURTH
  • Patent number: 8853545
    Abstract: A test card includes a substrate and a goldfinger structure disposed on a side of the substrate. The goldfinger structure includes a first conductive section and a second conductive section. The first conductive section is inserted into a slot of a socket for electrically connecting to the socket. The second conductive section is connected to the first conductive section in a separable manner, and the second conductive section is inserted into the slot of the socket for electrically connecting to the socket after the first conductive section is cut for separating from the second conductive section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Kuei-Yung Cheng, Yao-Quan Hu
  • Patent number: 8425265
    Abstract: An arrangement for fastening an electrical conductor has a clamp (1) constructed as a pipe piece of metal and at least one clamping screw (2) for fastening an electrical conductor (3,4) in the clamp. The clamp has in its wall at least one throughhole provided with a thread for receiving the clamping screw. The clamping screw has a tubular contact part provided with an external thread and adapted to be screwed into the throughhole of the clamp, wherein the contact part has at its one axial end a contact surface for contacting an electrical conductor located in the clamp and along its extension with a circumferential intended breaking point a significant distance from the contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Nexans
    Inventors: Gert Stauch, Volker Markgraf, Juergen Krauss, Manfred Baesch, Martin Zapf, Rainer Seebauer
  • Patent number: 8410369
    Abstract: A breakaway mechanism for a charging cable of an electric vehicle charging station includes a retention component and a breakaway component. The retention component is secured to the charging station and the breakaway component is secured to the charging cable. The charging cable passes through the breakaway component and includes charging wires that connect to connectors on the charging station. The breakaway component is adapted to disengage from the retention component at a predetermined pull force thereby causing the charging wires to disconnect from the connectors on the charging station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Chargepoint, Inc.
    Inventors: Darren Chin-Ho Kim, Carl F. Hagenmaier, Jr., William Sauway Law, William Richardson Jones, III
  • Patent number: 8308502
    Abstract: An electrical arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a starter cable electrically connected with a vehicle battery, a terminal head conductor electrically connected with the starter cable, a terminal base conductor electrically connected with a starter motor, and an electrically nonconductive terminal enclosure defining a cavity in which the terminal head conductor and the terminal base conductor are positioned. The vehicle battery is electrically connected with the starter motor when the terminal head conductor contacts the terminal base conductor in the cavity. The terminal enclosure includes a weakened section offset from the terminal head conductor such that breaking of the terminal enclosure at the weakened section to form a free edge of the terminal enclosure and disconnection of the terminal head conductor from the terminal base conductor results in the terminal head conductor remaining in the cavity and spaced from the free edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chris Lang
  • Publication number: 20120077368
    Abstract: An electric plug-in connector, comprising a plug head on which a union nut is rotatably disposed for screwing the plug-in connector together with a mating connector, can be screwed together with the mating connector under adherence to a prescribed tightening torque even without a torque wrench if the union nut consists of a threaded sleeve with a ring which comes into engagement with the threaded sleeve by way of driving parts at least during screwing on, of which the one driving part is dimensioned in such a way that it is shorn off by the other driving part when exceeding a tightening torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: SPINNER GMBH
    Inventor: Thomas Proeckl
  • Publication number: 20110269332
    Abstract: A breakaway mechanism for a charging cable of an electric vehicle charging station includes a retention component and a breakaway component. The retention component is secured to the charging station and the breakaway component is secured to the charging cable. The charging cable passes through the breakaway component and includes charging wires that connect to connectors on the charging station. The breakaway component is adapted to disengage from the retention component at a predetermined pull force thereby causing the charging wires to disconnect from the connectors on the charging station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Darren Chin-Ho Kim, Carl F. Hagenmaier, JR., William Sauway Law, William Richardson Jones, III
  • Patent number: 8007301
    Abstract: An electrically conductive fork includes first and second arm members each having an electrical contact and a pivot portion, the pivot portion configured to receive a portion of a rod, where the first and second arm members are configured to pivot around the rod, and a connector mechanically connecting the first and second arm members in fixed relation to each other prior to insertion of a busbar between the electrical contacts, where the connector is configured to yield to a force imparted on the connector and allow the first and second arm members to pivot around the rod in response to insertion of the busbar between the electrical contacts, and the insertion of the bus bar causes the electrical contacts to separate and pivot the first and second arm members around the rod and impart the force on the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Inventors: Claus Andersen, Preben Bonde
  • Patent number: 7806711
    Abstract: An electrically conductive fork includes first and second arm members each having an electrical contact and a pivot portion, the pivot portion configured to receive a portion of a rod, where the first and second arm members are configured to pivot around the rod, and a connector mechanically connecting the first and second arm members in fixed relation to each other prior to insertion of a busbar between the electrical contacts, where the connector is configured to yield to a force imparted on the connector and allow the first and second arm members to pivot around the rod in response to insertion of the busbar between the electrical contacts, and the insertion of the bus bar causes the electrical contacts to separate and pivot the first and second arm members around the rod and impart the force on the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: Claus Andersen, Preben Bonde
  • Patent number: 7670151
    Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a dielectric housing and a plurality of conductive contacts retained in the dielectric housing. The dielectric housing comprises a pair of guiding portions and an engaging portion between the guiding portions. The engaging portion comprises an upper engaging plane, and a parallel opposite lower engaging plane. A mounting plane defined between the upper engaging plane and lower engaging plane. The guiding portion defining a lower face aligned with the mounting plane. Each the contact comprises a tail portion extending to the mounting plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Qian-Song Yang
  • Patent number: 7602667
    Abstract: A seismic cable system for joining the free ends of a seismic cable utilizing a connector which will separate when subject to a predetermined load. The system includes a first cable connector section that is rotatingly mounted directly on a first free cable end and a second cable connector section that is rotatingly mounted directly on a second free cable end. One cable connector section seats within the other cable connector section and the two sections are fixed to one another with a shear pin. The system is particularly useful when utilizing non-conducting, flexible cable or rope to deploy and retrieve a plurality of stand-alone, self-contained seismic data acquisition units secured to the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Fairfield Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: James N. Thompson
  • Patent number: 7597581
    Abstract: A connector including a housing and a contact is disclosed for electrically connecting a first electrical device to a second electrical device across the contact in such a manner that the contact is broken if the connector is removed from the second electrical device. The contact includes a press-fit connection that may be either a compliant eye-of-the-needle or a cylindrical tail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Trout, James L. Fedder, Attalee S. Taylor, Jason E. Vrenna
  • Patent number: 7581981
    Abstract: An electrical junction box has a fitting member for securing the junction box to a vehicle body. The fitting member has a breakdown accelerating portion for enhancing breakdown of the fitting member when the junction box is pulled to remove it from the vehicle body. The breakdown accelerating portion is positioned in a base side of the fitting piece. By a transverse force caused by pulling an associated wiring harness, the breakdown accelerating portion initiates breakdown of a bracket to separate the junction box from the bracket. Another fitting device has a fitting member formed on a junction box for securing the junction box to a vehicle body. The fitting member has a slot for enhancing breakdown of the fitting member when the junction box is pulled to remove the junction box from the vehicle body, and the fitting member has a compensating piece removably inserted into the slot for adjusting the breakdown of the fitting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Yamamoto, Masatoshi Egawa, Keiichi Ito, Yoshihide Tsukamoto, Masanori Wakui, Isao Yoneyama
  • Publication number: 20090124117
    Abstract: The invention relates to a plug connector (10) for the detachable connection of a number of cable pairs (97, 98) with a conductor cross-section of more than 10 mm2, in particular, for the supply of the welding current in welding robots, wherein individual contact elements (52, 60), with a conducting connection to the cables (97, 98), may be plugged into an insulated plug housing (11) with a clipping action and are detachably held in the plug housing (11) or terminal housing (12), the clipping action of the contact elements (52, 60) in the housings (11, 12) being achieved by an elastic deformation of the housings (11, 12). Manipulation is facilitated in that the housing (11, 12) is made from a material of such a hardness that the plugging in and exchange of contact elements can be achieved without the use of tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventor: Ralf Schleith
  • Patent number: 7438497
    Abstract: A plastic component is attached to a mounting structure by a fastener that extends at least into a mounting hole in the plastic component. The mounting hole is located near an edge corner of a cantilevered mounting tab that forms part of the plastic component. The mounting tab comprises a generally flat plate that has a depending flange that extends around a rounded corner near which the mounting hole is located and a depending sleeve that is contiguous with the mounting hole. The mounting tab has a break away portion so that the plastic component can be removed for recycling easily. Three variations of the breakaway portion are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc
    Inventors: Masahiro Yoshino, Thomas A. Volpone, Daniel J. Erdman
  • Patent number: 7214090
    Abstract: Male connectors (10) are accommodated in an ECU casing C, and connect with female connectors (20) connected with ends of wires (Wa). The male and female connectors (10, 20) are locked together by engaging a lock (45) on a lock arm (40) of the female connector (20) with an engaging portion (47) of the male connector (10). The fracture strength of the engaging portion (47) of the male connector (10) exceeds the fracture strength of the lock (45) of the female connector (20). Thus, an excessive force acting to separate the locked connectors (10, 20) will fracture the lock (45) of the female connector (20) first to cancel the locked state. This avoids fracturing the engaging portion (47) of the male connector (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Aihara, Eiji Kojime
  • Patent number: 7097494
    Abstract: A method and system relate to use of an alignment plate in electrical assemblies having terminal blades or other features. The alignment plate includes features for suspending the plate relative to the terminal blades for protecting the blades during assembly, transport, and other operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Bert Eakins, Camilla Sienkiewicz
  • Patent number: 7086899
    Abstract: A waterproof connector, which has a lock-releasing function without increasing the size of a connector housing thereof and has a relatively simple structure, and has a low cost without increasing the number of parts thereof, is provided. The waterproof connector includes: a waterproof sealing member mounted in a connector housing of the waterproof connector; a sealing holder for pressing the waterproof sealing member into the connector housing; and a slider slidably mounted to the connector housing, the slider including a lock-releasing part for releasing a lock between the connector housing and an opposite connector housing, wherein the sealing holder and the slider are connected integrally with each other through a breakable part and the breakable part is broken when the sealing holder is pressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Miyakawa, Kazuto Ohtaka
  • Patent number: 7070417
    Abstract: A breakable connector for connecting a vehicle to a power source includes a first fitting and a second fitting coupled to one another. The first fitting includes a radially extending flange, a plurality of radially extending ribs and an electrical connector. The second fitting includes an electrical connector and a receptacle for receiving a portion of the first fitting. The flange biasedly engages a first portion of the receptacle and the ribs engage a second portion of the receptacle. The first and second fittings are separable from one another when placed under a predetermined tensile force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Phillips & Temro Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Meleck, Gary C. Edwards
  • Patent number: 7052282
    Abstract: A cord set for connecting a vehicle to a power source includes a first cord having a first connector adapted to be selectively connected to the power source and a second cord having a second connector adapted to be selectively connected to the vehicle. In addition, the cord set includes a coupling mechanism that selectively couples the first cord to the second cord. The coupling mechanism includes a first fitting fixedly attached to the first cord having a plurality of projections and a second fitting fixedly attached to the second cord having a plurality of apertures for matingly receiving the projections of the first fitting. The projections engage the apertures to connect the first fitting to the second fitting under normal operation and disengage the apertures to disconnect the first fitting from the second fitting when the cord set is place under a predetermined tensile force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Phillips & Temro Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Meleck, Gary C. Edwards
  • Patent number: 7037128
    Abstract: An electrical connector for use with a conductor includes a housing defining a port. The port includes an entrance opening, an exit opening, and a conductor passage extending between and communicating with the entrance and exit openings. The conductor passage is adapted to receive the conductor therethrough. Sealant is disposed in the conductor passage. The sealant is adapted for insertion of the conductor therethrough such that the sealant provides a seal about the inserted conductor. A penetrable closure wall extends across the conductor passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Harry George Yaworski, Kenton Archibald Blue, Rudolf Robert Bukovnik
  • Patent number: 6932275
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a connector interface frame comprising a plurality of detachable limbs. When one or more specified limbs are detached, the connector interface frame accommodates a particular one of a plurality of host processing system connector interfaces. Depending on which limbs are detached, the frame can accommodate either a CF card or a PCMCIA card. In alternative embodiments, the frame accommodates other host processing system connector interfaces. Embodiments of the invention, therefore, allow a production run that allow the production of a standard frame kit that can be used for multiple types of host processing system connector interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Onspec Electronic Inc.
    Inventors: Sreenath Mambakkam, Arockiyaswamy Venkidu, Larry Lawson Jones, Simaly Phoukong
  • Patent number: 6854996
    Abstract: A busbar assembly for electrically connecting a plurality of conductors includes a housing defining an interior cavity and first and second ports. The first and second ports each include a conductor passage and communicate with the interior cavity. The conductor passages are each adapted to receive a conductor therethrough. An electrically conductive busbar conductor member is disposed in the interior cavity. At least one holding mechanism is provided to selectively secure each of the conductors to the busbar conductor member for electrical contact therewith. Sealant is disposed in the conductor passages of each of the first and second ports. The sealant is adapted for insertion of the conductors therethrough such that the sealant provides a seal about the inserted conductors. The sealant may be a gel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Harry George Yaworski, Kenton Archibald Blue, Rudolf Robert Bukovnik
  • Patent number: 6827597
    Abstract: A connector is disclosed for joining two cable ends. The connector includes a load transfer plug adapted to couple to a strength member in each end of the cable. A connector insert assembly is coupled to an inner portion of each load transfer plug. Conductor terminals are disposed in corresponding openings of the insert. The terminals protrude from the insert. An alignment sleeve holder is coupled to one of the insert assemblies. The alignment sleeve holder includes alignment sleeves for receiving the protruding terminals. A housing element is sealingly coupled to an exterior of each of the plugs. The housing elements are adapted to coupled to each other and to urge the connector insert assemblies into contact with each other, and to transfer axial load between the plug coupled to each end of the cable. The housing elements have rotational and axial alignment features on corresponding surfaces. The housing elements are adapted to be removed from the plugs without uncoupling the cable from the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: PGS Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Richard Metzbower, Slawomir Bielinski, Steven J. Maas, Jeffrey J. Bowlus, Andre Stenzel
  • Patent number: 6796802
    Abstract: An electrical connection box 20 is arranged rearward of and in the vicinity of a dash panel 13, and is fixed to a cowl side panel 15 via mounting members 23, 24 extended from a box body 21. The box body 21 of the electrical connection box 20 is formed with a protruding member 22 for receiving impact from the dash panel 13 before the box body 21 does upon collision of the vehicle. The mounting members 23, 24 are formed to have such a rigidity as to allow the members 23, 24 to be broken to prevent the box body 21 from being crushed when the protruding member 22 receives impact, and load exceeding a predetermined limit is applied to the box body 21. The breakage of the electrical connection box upon collision of the vehicle is thereby minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshifumi Iwata
  • Patent number: 6790071
    Abstract: A press contact terminal has a press contact blade portion pressed on an electric wire, a pair of tab portions arranged mutually in opposite directions with the press contact blade portion as a middle position, and a middle connection portion that connects the pair of tab portions to the press contact blade portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Koichi Uezono
  • Patent number: 6663397
    Abstract: An electrical connector (1) mates with a complementary connector (2) for transmitting signals. The electrical connector includes a first shell (10), a first conductive contact (12) and a first insulative housing (11) sandwiched between the first shell and the first contact for retaining the first contact. An engaging portion (102) protrudes from the first shell for engaging with the complementary connector. The engaging portion has an engaging surface (106) perpendicular to an outer surface of the first shell. The first shell includes a slot (103) defined therein and around the axes of the first shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsien-Chu Lin, Lung-Sheng Tai, Chia-Ming Kuo
  • Patent number: 6623885
    Abstract: A power source element has a positive electrode case, a negative electrode case, and a pair of connecting terminals, each having a first end portion connected to a respective one of the positive and negative electrode cases, a second end portion for connection to a circuit board, and an intermediate portion disposed between the first and second end portions. The intermediate portion of each of the connecting terminals has a weakened region so that the first end portion is separated from the second end portion along a weakened line in the weakened region upon relative movement between the first and second end portions in a give direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Shunji Watanabe, Nobuyoshi Takahashi, Hideharu Onodera, Tsugio Sakai
  • Patent number: 6520795
    Abstract: An electrical device, includes a housing having an inner bore with a longitudinal axis, and outer and inner engagement members. The outer engagement member is received in the inner bore of the housing, and is rotatable with respect to the housing about the longitudinal axis. The inner engagement member is rotatably supported within the outer engagement member, and has external threads for engaging an electrical interface of a piece of electrical equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: Roy E. Jazowski
  • Publication number: 20030027452
    Abstract: An electrical device, includes a housing having an inner bore with a longitudinal axis, and outer and inner engagement members. The outer engagement member is received in the inner bore of the housing, and is rotatable with respect to the housing about the longitudinal axis. The inner engagement member is rotatably supported within the outer engagement member, and has external threads for engaging an electrical interface of a piece of electrical equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: Roy E. Jazowski
  • Patent number: 6511341
    Abstract: A break-away apparatus for electrical and optical connectors (12) includes front and rear fittings (30, 32) with peripheries that have pairs of aligned fastener-receiving holes, and a plurality of fasteners (100) that each lies in a pair of holes and holds the peripheries of the fittings together. Each fastener is a screw with a shank having a threaded front end that engages threads in the hole of the front fitting, and includes a screw head (214) at the rear of the shank which lies against a rearwardly-facing shoulder (172) on the rear fitting, to thereby prevent fitting separation. A bore (142) extends along the axis of the shank, and a rear end portion of the shank has a groove (182), resulting in a break-away portion of the fastener that has a ring-shaped cross-section. The ring-shaped coss-section permits tightening of the screw but results in the screw breaking when a predetermined force is applied to allow separation of the fittings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Santos Finona, James Edward Novacoski
  • Publication number: 20030016917
    Abstract: A break-away apparatus for electrical and optical connectors (12) includes front and rear fittings (30, 32) with peripheries that have pairs of aligned fastener-receiving holes, and a plurality of fasteners (100) that each lies in a pair of holes and holds the peripheries of the fittings together. Each fastener is a screw with a shank having a threaded front end that engages threads in the hole of the front fitting, and includes a screw head (214) at the rear of the shank which lies against a rearwardly-facing shoulder (172) on the rear fitting, to thereby prevent fitting separation. A bore (142) extends along the axis of the shank, and a rear end portion of the shank has a groove (182), resulting in a break-away portion of the fastener that has a ring-shaped cross-section. The ring-shaped coss-section permits tightening of the screw but results in the screw breaking when a predetermined force is applied to allow separation of the fittings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Applicant: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Santos Finona, James Edward Novacoski
  • Patent number: 6431879
    Abstract: An electrical connector is shown for stacking a plurality of printed circuit boards one above the other, where some of the terminals extending from the lower portion of the housing include both printed circuit board contacts as well as mating contacts for the next adjacent connector. The connector housing includes integral stand-offs for maintaining the parallel nature of the stacked boards, as well as a precise spacing between the boards. The connector housings can include stand-off members which are frangible and can be used to maintain the parallel nature of the boards when other connector housings of a similar height are not used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Brekosky, Douglas M. Eakin, William G. Lenker
  • Patent number: 6402570
    Abstract: An automotive lamp unit includes a bus bar unit forming a circuit with a plurality of bus bars connected with each other via a bridge portion, the bus bar unit including terminals, for connection to switches and a power source, and a supporting member for supporting a lamp, the circuit serving to switch on the lamp, and a resin base member provided with the bus bar unit mounted thereon at a predetermined position, and a small hole formed in the resin base member at a position thereof associated with the bridge portion. The plurality of bus bars are separated from each other at the bridge portion which is disposed in the small hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha T AN T
    Inventors: Hisashi Soga, Kouichi Sinzawa
  • Publication number: 20020061677
    Abstract: An electrical connection box 20 is arranged rearward of and in the vicinity of a dash panel 13, and is fixed to a cowl side panel 15 via mounting members 23, 24 extended from a box body 21. The box body 21 of the electrical connection box 20 is formed with a protruding member 22 for receiving impact from the dash panel 13 before the box body 21 does upon collision of the vehicle. The mounting members 23, 24 are formed to have such a rigidity as to allow the members 23, 24 to be broken to prevent the box body 21 from being crushed when the protruding member 22 receives impact, and load exceeding a predetermined limit is applied to the box body 21. The breakage of the electrical connection box upon collision of the vehicle is thereby minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Applicant: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshifumi Iwata
  • Patent number: 6146188
    Abstract: A shear connector includes a plug connector having front and rear insert portions on opposite sides of the shear plane that are held together by a shear bolt scored to shear at a predetermined force, and which is threaded directly into openings in the rear insert in such a way as to eliminate relative movement between the shear bolts and the rear insert during shearing. Pin contact sections extending rearwardly from the front insert are scored at the shear plane to shear at a predetermined force. By varying clearances between the pin contact sections and the sides of the openings of the rear insert into which the pin contact sections extend, groups of contacts can be made to shear at different times, thereby reducing the force required to shear each group without unduly weakening the contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Amphenol Corporation
    Inventor: Gene Larry Snyder
  • Patent number: 6105872
    Abstract: An apparatus for reading chip cards includes a housing, a printed circuit board arranged in the housing and a card reader which is arranged above the printed circuit board. The housing has a slot for introduction of the chip card. The slot in the housing wall and a guide means are arranged behind the slot in the wall, for the chip card, so that the slot in the card reader is aligned with the guide means. A spacer is arranged between the printed circuit board and the card reader, and the spacer is fixedly connected to the printed circuit board, and the card reader is releasably connected to the spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventor: Reinhard Lotz
  • Patent number: 5873850
    Abstract: An iontophoretic system including a controller and a patch is provided. The controller has a receiving portion including an upper surface and a lower surface, and a member protruding from the lower surface in a ramp-like fashion toward the upper surface and terminating in a top edge near the upper surface. The patch has an interconnection tab including an opening for engaging the protruding member of the controller when the interconnection tab is inserted into the receiving portion of the controller and the opening falls over the top edge of the protruding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Ronald J. Flower, Charles M. Huck
  • Patent number: 5419714
    Abstract: A bolt-fastened connector featuring an easy securing of the bolt in the housing while making it possible to achieve a compact design with a high density of elements is achieved. The bolt-fastened connector (2) comprises first housing (10) accommodating the bolt (20) and the second housing (40) having multiple contacts. A metal member (80) having several spring blades (82) is embedded in an inner wall (58) of a bolt-insertion opening (54) of the second housing (40). When the tip of the bolt (20) retained in the first housing (10) is inserted in the bolt-insertion opening (54), the spring blades (82) snap into a recess of the bolt (20), thereby securing the bolt (20) and the first housing (10) in the second housing (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Nagamine
  • Patent number: 5286219
    Abstract: A rotary connector includes a stationary case fixed to a stationary member, a rotating case combined with the stationary case for rotation relative to the stationary case, and the rotating case having a torque transmission section for transmitting a torque from a rotating member and a junction to be connected to an external wire. A flexible flat cable having a plurality of electrical conductors coated for insulation is housed, in the form of a spiral capable of tightening and loosening, in an annular space defined by the two cases, one end of the flat cable being connected at the junction to the external wire. The torque transmission section and the junction are fractured and removed from the rotating case under first and second torques, respectively, transmitted from the rotating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi Ueno, Tetsuya Okada
  • Patent number: 4985003
    Abstract: A spacer for use in a branching electrical connector comprises two jaws and clamping device for clamping the jaws together. At least two parallel channels are defined by the jaws, the spacer being adapted to hold one of the channels temporarily at least partly open. Overridable abutment on the spacer yield when sufficient force is applied to the jaws by the clamping device to enable the temporarily open channel to be closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Assignee: S.I.C.A.M.E. Societe Industrielle de Construction d'Appareils et de Material Electrique
    Inventors: Pierre Francois, Michel H. M. F. Prodel
  • Patent number: 4863397
    Abstract: A breakaway electrical connector particularly suited for the electrical conduit providing electrical connections to a fuel dispenser reduces damage to the dispenser when the dispenser is accidentally dislodged in an accident and reduces the danger of fire and explosion. The connector includes an outer shell with a circumferential weakness at a shear plane and conductors within the shell arranged to break apart at the shear plane. The conductor breaks apart at a force less than the force required to damage other elements in the dispenser and conduit. The connector is easily removed and replaced, but cannot be reused once it separates to prevent reuse of a damaged connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Inventor: William K. Hatch, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4824396
    Abstract: An electrical connection apparatus includes a flat cable having one end secured to a fixed member and the other end secured to a movable member. The flat cable is provided with a turning portion at its fixing portion to the fixed member, and a cutter is inserted toward a folding line of the turning portion to cut the flat cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiko Sasaki, Kiichi Yamaguchi, Tsumoru Oka, Takasi Ohya, Mituaki Shinraku, Akihiro Konno, Yuichi Ida
  • Patent number: 4779341
    Abstract: An installation tool comprising an elongated shaft having a threaded section and a blunt section, the tool having a threaded opening in one end and a hex opening in the other end. The installation tool is used to assemble a loadbreak reducing tap plug including a threaded mounting bolt mounted in the threaded end of the plug, and a threaded cable connector mounted in a visible-break "T" type connector housing, by the following method. Turning the threaded mounting bolt into the threaded opening of the installation tool. Turning the tool threaded section into the cable connector. Turning the tap plug into the cable connector. And removing the tool from the cable connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Assignee: RTE Corporation
    Inventor: Paul M. Roscizewski
  • Patent number: 4776814
    Abstract: An electrical plug comprising a base having connection pins secured therein, end portions of such connection pins projecting from the front of the base and opposite end portions thereof extending through the base and being respectively connected to respective connection terminals to which respective conductors of a connection cable are also connected. The material and shape of the base are such that it bends in response to a pulling force of a magnitude less than the tensile strength of the cable, exerted in a direction approximately transverse to the connection pins between the cable and the projecting end portions of the connection pins. Further, the connection pins are so secured in the base that the force required to extract any connection pin is greater than the tensile strength of the cable. Consequently, pulling of the cable can never result in a loose connection pin being left behind in a wall socket in which the plug has been inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Inventor: Jan V. M. Geurts