Helically Coiled Spring Forms Securing Part Patents (Class 439/840)
  • Patent number: 7489140
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems improve spark testing of insulated cables. According to embodiments described herein, a spark tester includes a conductive housing having an entryway, an exit, and a test chamber therebetween. The spark tester utilizes spring electrodes connected to an adjustment ring at one end of the housing and to a fixed structure at the opposite end of the housing. The adjustment ring is rotated such that the spring electrodes wrap around the test cable, contacting the test cable on all sides throughout the test chamber. The housing also includes an electrical contact for receiving and distributing a voltage across the housing and the spring electrodes. As the test cable is drawn through the spring electrodes, the grounded conductors within the test cable are monitored for a voltage spike, indicating an insulation defect that allowed a discharge from the spring electrodes to a test cable conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Southwire Company
    Inventors: Cyrus Scott Butterworth, Wilber Freeman Powers, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090011662
    Abstract: A surface mount contact member includes a metal base and a conductive coil spring. The metal base is provided with a nozzle suction surface to be sucked by a suction nozzle and a soldering surface that can be soldered. The soldering surface is faced downward when the nozzle suction surface is faced upward. The conductive coil spring is attached to the metal base in an electrically conductive manner with the nozzle suction surface being exposed to an inner peripheral side of the coil spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: KITAGAWA INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo YUMI, Kenji KONDA
  • Patent number: 7458862
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrical power system comprising a plurality of battery modules in series connection between adjacent battery modules, wherein each of the battery modules comprises a positive male terminal, a negative male terminal, and a socket corresponding to each of the positive male terminals and the negative male terminals. The connectors connecting the adjacent battery modules include a sequence tab that provides an irreversible engagement sequence of the connectors into the sockets of the adjacent battery modules. The irreversible engagement sequence positions an insulating portion of the connectors housing on each positive male terminal of the battery modules that are in series connection in order to isolate the positive male terminals from human contact. The present invention also provides a female terminal including a canted coil spring positioned within a stamped groove that may be housed within the above-described connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Alcoa Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Weiping Zhao, Stefano Spadoni, Ankoor Bagchi
  • Patent number: 7429198
    Abstract: A laser block assembly (LBA) gas fill process device with improved cathode electrode connectors. An example device includes a gas fill component that attaches to an LBA under test and electrical connectors that receive a voltage bias from a voltage source and apply the voltage bias to cathodes of the LBA. The electrical connectors include an end having a torsion spring that is sized based on the cathodes of the LBA. Also, the electrical connectors may include a strain relief spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: James K. Baxter, Robert M. Bowman, Kenneth W. Lillemo, Lloyd C. Meissner
  • Patent number: 7316593
    Abstract: A female electrical connector and method of using same includes a body having a bore therethrough for receiving electrical plug and a helical groove formed in the bore. A canted coil spring is disposed in the helical groove and protrudes therefrom for providing both electrical connection to the plug and retention of the plug within the bore and a connecting lug embedded into the body, surrounding the bore and interconnected with the spring includes a wire segment extending exterior to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Bal Seal Engineering Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Peter J. Balsells
  • Patent number: 7274964
    Abstract: A medically implantable electrical connector includes a housing having a bore with an internal groove therein along with a pin sized for insertion into the housing bore. A film removing spring is disposed in the housing groove dynamic loading of the spring in the groove by the pin causing scraping of film from the groove and pin surfaces to provide lowered electrical resistance therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Bal Seal Engineering Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Peter J. Balsells
  • Patent number: 7229327
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrical power system comprising a plurality of battery modules in series connection between adjacent battery modules, wherein each of the battery modules comprises a positive male terminal, a negative male terminal, and a socket corresponding to each of the positive male terminals and the negative male terminals. The connectors connecting the adjacent battery modules include a sequence tab that provides an irreversible engagement sequence of the connectors into the sockets of the adjacent battery modules. The irreversible engagement sequence positions an insulating portion of the connectors housing on each positive male terminal of the battery modules that are in series connection in order to isolate the positive male terminals from human contact. The present invention also provides a female terminal including a canted coil spring positioned within a stamped groove that may be housed within the above-described connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Alcoa Fujikura Limited
    Inventors: Weiping Zhao, Stefano Spadoni, Ankoor Bagchi
  • Patent number: 7033232
    Abstract: An electric plug connector has two separate contact members. Each of the contact members has a first pair of parallel elongate webs spaced from each other and a second pair of elongate webs that extend in the same plane perpendicular to the first pair of webs. The first and second contact members are assembled so that the first pairs of webs of both contact members are aligned to define a first flat plug-in channel and the second pairs of webs of both contact members are spaced from each other and face each other to define a second flat plug-in channel perpendicular to and crossing the first plug-in channel. The two separate contact members are held in an assembled condition by a holding member tightly surrounding the contact members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Joachim Korherr, Karl Friedrich Brodbeck
  • Patent number: 6966802
    Abstract: The invention is embodied in a plug connector having first and second plug contacts, a conductive connecting member and a receiving element. The conductive connecting member is formed as a spring and is positioned between the first and second plug contacts to form an electrical contact between an inner surface of the first plug contact and an outer surface of the second plug contact. The receiving element houses the connecting member between the first and second plug contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Tyco Electroncis AMP GmbH
    Inventors: Brigitte Hielscher, Rolf Jetter, Alexander Schmid
  • Patent number: 6887085
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a terminal for a spiral contactor performing an electrical connection with an electronic component. The terminal is constituted including a peripheral frame and a contact portion contacting a connection end terminal. One end of the contact portion is fixed on the peripheral frame and the other end of the contact portion is provided spirally extended toward a center of an opening of the peripheral frame so as to universally move in a perpendicular direction for an opening face of the peripheral frame. And a thickness of the contact portion becomes thinner as the contact portion proceeds from one end toward the other end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Advanced Systems Japan, Inc.
    Inventor: Yukihiro Hirai
  • Patent number: 6817893
    Abstract: The invention relates to a plug connector for making an electrical connection with a battery terminal. The plug connector comprises a housing formed by joining an upper shell and a lower shell with a contact lying within the housing. The contact has a helical spring contact and a contact strip bent to form a cylindrical region. The upper shell and the lower shell each have a holding element extending within the cylindrical region formed by the contact strip, in order to form a recess for holding the helical spring contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics AMP GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Schmid, Rolf Jetter, Antonio Lehner
  • Patent number: 6773312
    Abstract: An electrical pressure contact includes a housing sleeve with an end facing the contact and an end facing away from the contact, a contact pin axially slidably supported in the housing sleeve, which pin extends out of the housing sleeve at the side facing the contact, which pin is a pushable into the housing sleeve against the biasing force of the a biasing element arranged in the housing sleeve, and through the conductive body of which pin the electrical contact is made, a terminal piece for fastening to an electrical supply conductor at the end of the housing facing away from the contact, and an axially flexible electrical conductor arranged in the housing sleeve between the terminal piece and the contact pin. The flexible electrical conductor is at its end facing the contact clamped into an axial bore formed in the end of the contact pin facing away from the contact and at its end facing away from the contact is clamped in an axial bore formed in the end of the terminal piece facing the contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: era-contact GmbH
    Inventors: Monika Bauer, Frank Moskob, Robert Dost, Bernd Schumann, Andreas Kainz, Jürgen Veit
  • Patent number: 6749358
    Abstract: A tooless electrical connector includes a housing having a bore with a groove disposed on an inside surface of the bore with the groove establishing a shoulder between a groove bottom and a bore inside surface. A flat spring is provided and disposed in the groove for defining a spring cavity between the flat spring and the shoulder and a circular canted coil spring is disposed in the spring cavity. A pin having a circumferential groove is provided for receiving the coil spring upon insertion of the pin into the bore and a plurality of primary radial fingers formed in the flat spring retain the coil spring in the cavity before insertion of the pin. A plurality of secondary radial fingers formed in the flat spring prevent axial movement between the housing and the pin with the coil spring within the pin groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Bal Seal Engineering Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Peter J. Balsells
  • Patent number: 6666690
    Abstract: A coil spring contact connector (C) includes a plurality of coil spring contacts (1) and an insulating holder (2) holding the coil spring contacts arranged at intervals. Each coil spring contact has a pair of end contact coils (10) to be brought into contact with a terminal electrode (6c), and middle contact coils (12) radially offset relative to the end contact coils (10) so as to be brought into contact with another terminal electrode (5c). The holder is provided with openings through which contact parts of the end and the middle contact coils project outside, respectively, restrains each coil spring contact (1) from axial deformation and axial movement, and allows each coil spring contact (1) to be deformed in an offset direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Yokowo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Ishizuka, Kenji Endo
  • Patent number: 6659778
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrical contact comprising a first member having spring properties and a second member wrapped around at least a portion of the first member wherein the second member has a greater electrical conductivity than the first member. In one embodiment, a conductor is wrapped around at least a portion of a spring. In another embodiment, the spring is formed into a coil or helix with a wire wrapped around at least a portion of the helical spring. In one form of this embodiment, the spring has a plurality of turns and the wire is wrapped around at least two of the turns. In another form of this embodiment, the spring has a plurality of turns and the wire is wrapped around all of the turns. An interposer connector is also provided having a frame including a top surface and a bottom surface and a plurality of apertures arranged in a pattern and opening onto the top and bottom surfaces of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: High Connection Density, Inc
    Inventor: Che-Yu Li
  • Publication number: 20030157846
    Abstract: A medically implantable electrical connector includes a housing having a bore with an internal V-groove or a flat bottom groove therein along with radial garter spring disposed in the V-groove or an axial garter spring disposed in the flat bottom groove. A pin is provided and sized for insertion in the housing bore. The housing, spring and pin are formed from a combination of medically implantable materials in order to control electrical resistivity between the housing, the garter spring and the pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Daniel Poon, Peter J. Balsells
  • Patent number: 6565395
    Abstract: An electrical connection between a vibratory rotation sensor and a hermetic header which makes use of a local interference fit to provide a high degree of mechanical isolation between the sensor and the header. The electrical connection includes an electrical pin extending from the header which is connected to the sensor through a coil spring. The pin includes an enlarged portion having a maximal dimension greater than an inner diameter of the coil spring to provide an interference fit between the coil spring and the pin. The degree of interference is variable controlled by selecting the dimensions of the enlarged portion of the pin and the coil spring. The degree of mechanical isolation between the header and sensor can also be chosen by selecting the location of the enlarged portion along a length of the pin. This provides a reliable electrical connection which maintains a high degree of mechanical isolation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Schwarz
  • Publication number: 20030049974
    Abstract: An electrical pressure contact includes a housing sleeve with an end facing the contact and an end facing away from the contact, a contact pin axially slidably supported in the housing sleeve, which pin extends out of the housing sleeve at the side facing the contact, which pin is a pushable into the housing sleeve against the biasing force of the a biasing element arranged in the housing sleeve, and through the conductive body of which pin the electrical contact is made, a terminal piece for fastening to an electrical supply conductor at the end of the housing facing away from the contact, and an axially flexible electrical conductor arranged in the housing sleeve between the terminal piece and the contact pin. The flexible electrical conductor is at its end facing the contact clamped into an axial bore formed in the end of the contact pin facing away from the contact and at its end facing away from the contact is clamped in an axial bore formed in the end of the terminal piece facing the contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: Monika Bauer, Frank Moskob, Robert Dost, Bernd Schumann, Andreas Kainz, Jurgen Veit
  • Patent number: 6472599
    Abstract: An electrical interface arrangement includes a buss bar having a longitudinal edge that is substantially smooth and free of conductive tabs. A conductive member is arranged adjacent to the longitudinal edge of the buss bar, and contacts the buss bar with at least 40 A-spots per inch, along substantially an entire length of the buss bar. A circuit board having a plurality of internal planes is provided, with at least one of the internal planes being an internal power plane, and with at least another one of the internal planes being an internal wiring plane having a plurality of conductive wirings. The circuit board further has an arrangement for electrically connecting the conductive member to the internal power plane without interfering with a placement of the conductive wirings, so that the circuit board and the buss bar are in electrical communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Barry Lee Shepherd
  • Patent number: 6439894
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrical contact comprising a first member having spring properties and a second member wrapped around at least a portion of the first member wherein the second member has a greater electrical conductivity than the first member. In one embodiment, a conductor is wrapped around at least a portion of a spring. In another embodiment, the spring is formed into a coil or helix with a wire wrapped around at least a portion of the helical spring. In one form of this embodiment, the spring has a plurality of turns and the wire is wrapped around at least two of the turns. In another form of this embodiment, the spring has a plurality of turns and the wire is wrapped around all of the turns. An interposer connector is also provided having a frame including a top surface and a bottom surface and a plurality of apertures arranged in a pattern and opening onto the top and bottom surfaces of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: High Connection Density, Inc.
    Inventor: Che-Yu Li
  • Patent number: 6416330
    Abstract: A canted coiled spring is used as a highly conductive, high current electrode between a printed circuit board and a conductive strip connected to a selected voltage. A conductive channel member has fixed therein a coil spring made of a highly conductive, metallic material. The canted coiled spring is fixed at each end so that it may be easily slid along an adjacent electrode of the power strip. The channel member holding the canted coiled spring is coupled to a printed circuit board with a clamped, highly conductive contact surface. The use of the coil spring in a channel member connected to a printed circuit board permits the printed circuit board to be easily slid into, and out of electrical contact with power carrying electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Cray Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander I. Yatskov, Stephen V. R. Hellriegel, Richard K. Kunze
  • Patent number: 6388885
    Abstract: A user-friendly controller provides a special dynamic interconnect which reliably connects terminals of electronic device, such as solenoids, to a circuit board to enhance vehicle performance and help obtain a smoother more comfortable ride. The special interconnect comprises a coil spring contact. The coiled spring contact can have an enlarged head which can be soldered to a contact on the circuit board. The central portion of the spring contact provides a terminal-receiving opening to slidably receive the terminal of the electronic device. The smaller end portion of the spring contact can compressively engage and dynamically contact the terminal of the electronic device. A cover can be provided to environmentally protect and cover the circuitry and circuit board. The cover can have chambers for receiving and engaging the spring contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew D. Alexander, Heather L. Havlicsek, Kevin C. Loewe, Donald J. Zito
  • Patent number: 5990458
    Abstract: An electrical contact assembly for a roller (10) having at least one single-bevel end portion (13) has a first electrical contact formed by a thermally sprayed band (29) of a nickel alloy, a second electrical contact (30) formed by an annular contact structure (57, 37, 38, 30) assembled to the roller (10) and a bridging contact formed by an extension coil spring (33) which extends around the tapered end (24) of the roller (10) in a location where it will make bridging contact between the first electrical contact (29) and the second electrical contact (30) and provide spring pressure to maintain such contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: American Roller Company
    Inventors: Bruce E. Hyllberg, Robert G. Langley
  • Patent number: 5941739
    Abstract: An electrical connection system for electrically connecting a full erase head assembly to a power source in a video cassette recorder includes a main printed circuit board having a terminal connected to the power source, conductive connecting members for electrically connecting the full erase head assembly to the terminal, and a base for fixing the full erase head assembly to the deck, the base having at least a connecting hole for permitting the conductive connecting members to reach the terminal. The connecting members may comprise conductive and elastic springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Hyo-Jong Yoo
  • Patent number: 5708234
    Abstract: An insulating outer shell includes structure forming a first opening in a first end of the outer shell, and structure forming a second opening in a second end of the outer shell. A conductive inner shell having a closed end and an open end is fitted inside the outer shell such that the closed end is oriented toward the first end of the outer shell and the open end is oriented toward the second end of the outer shell. A first conductor extends through the first opening of the outer shell. One end of the first conductor is welded to the closed end of the inner shell. The first conductor has a free end. A spring for engaging at least one second conductor within the inner shell is welded to the inside of the inner shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Inventor: Joseph Frontierro
  • Patent number: 5584723
    Abstract: The invention provides a connection assembly for a rechargeable battery, including a connector and connector receptacle assembly to connect the battery to the device. The connection assembly allows a battery to be inserted and removed from the device with minimal effort for recharging or use. The connector includes an insulator block with positive and negative electrical contact plates mounted therein, which contact the respective positive and negative contact plates of the connector receptacle. The connector is mounted to a battery, and the connector receptacle is mounted to an electrical device, such as a lawn mower or a charge unit if recharging is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Trim-a-Lawn Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Sutliff, Dallas W. Jones
  • Patent number: 5531618
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for connecting and terminating electrical conductors. The apparatus provides an electrical connector-terminal, which includes a conductive coiled spring construction that is adapted for selectively retaining and releasing a wire lead arrangement. The electrical connector-terminal further includes a terminal arrangement that is constructed and arranged for selective engagement with an electrical terminal. The method relates to a method of connecting and terminating a conductor element or wire lead arrangement to an electrical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Inventor: Roger A. Market
  • Patent number: 5468164
    Abstract: A female contact, in particular for a high tension section switch, the female contact comprising two interleaved thimbles, a metal first thimble made by extruding a block of metal and then machining it, said first thimble having metal contact fingers designed for co-operating electrically with a male contact, the other thimble including fingers of an insulating material, the insulating fingers limiting the displacement of the metal contact fingers in a radial direction and in a lateral direction to predetermined values that are less than the elastic limit of deformation of the metal contact fingers, and serving in particular to prevent contact between the metal contact fingers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: GEC Alsthom T & D, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Demissy
  • Patent number: 5468153
    Abstract: A rotatable electrical connector or swivel is used in a substantially vertical subterranean portion of a drill string within a drill pipe. The swivel has an enclosed oil filled chamber having a first shaft concentrically mounted therein. The first shaft protrudes from the chamber and is electrically connected to one end of a wireline which is used for electrical connection between the surface and instruments located downhole. Within the interior of the oil filled chamber the first shaft is attached to a first member disposed within the complementary surface of a second member concentrically aligned with the first member. The second member includes a second shaft which protrudes from the oil filled chamber and is connected to the other end of the wireline. One of the two shafts is rotatably mounted in bearing within the chamber so that the complementary surfaces of the first and second members are in the relationship of a rotor and stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Drilling Measurements, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Brown, John D. Holodnak, Gene McBride, Demmie L. Mosley
  • Patent number: 5454735
    Abstract: Male and female radio frequency cable connectors 64 and 13 have corresponding circumferential grooves 80 and 44 which are aligned and face each other when the connectors 64 and 13 are in a connected state so as to form a channel. The connectors 64 and 13 are held together by a canted-coil spring 11 residing in the channel formed by the two aligned and facing circumferential grooves 80 and 44. Deformation of the canted-coil spring 11 residing in the channel allows the male and female counterpart RF cable connectors 64 and 13 to resist separation as well as provide a primary electrical contact between the two connectors. If a substantial tensile force is placed on the cables 12 and 85, the spring 11 will deform sufficiently to allow separation of the two connectors 64 and 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Radio Frequency Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: James W. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5439393
    Abstract: A coupler of the zero insertion force (ZIF) type for connecting two coaxial cables. A first embodiment includes a pair of opposed (inner) cylindrical receptacles, electrically connected, each formed from two lengths of helically coiled, interleaved wire, which each receive and grip a cable center-conductor. A pair of opposed (outer) cylindrical receptacles, electrically connected, each formed from two lengths of helically coiled, interleaved wire ribbon, each receive, contact, and grip a cable outer-conductor. The first embodiment further includes means for concurrently enlarging or contracting each (inner, outer) receptacle pair, and means for maintaining receptacle contraction. A second embodiment includes a pair of opposed (inner) cylindrical receptacles, electrically connected, each formed from a length of helically coiled wire, which each receive, contact and grip a cable center-conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Inventor: Troy M. Watson
  • Patent number: 5383798
    Abstract: A VCR terminal connector which includes a metal contact casing connected to the outside conductor of a coaxial cable by punching, a shell covered around the metal contact casing, a coil spring retained to the shell around the coaxial cable, a metal contact center rod retained inside the metal contact casing by insulator bushings and connected to the central conductor of the coaxial cable by punching, and a layer of insulating shield formed through an injection molding process and covered over the metal contact casing and the central conductor and outside conductor of the coaxial cable and filled up the gaps between the metal contact center rod and the metal contact casing to protect the connector against moisture and dust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Inventor: Lark Lin
  • Patent number: 5368491
    Abstract: This invention hereof is directed to a high density electrical connector utilizing a flexible film having etched circuitry thereon for electrically interconnecting to conductive traces or pads on at least a pair of planar electronic devices. The connector includes a pair of opposed housing members, where each housing member comprises a plurality of aligned housing segments. The segments are characterized by a pair of end walls and at least a pair of planar sides containing plural, parallel grooves for receiving coiled springs therein, where the springs are positioned to apply a normal force to the overlying flexible film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald P. Locati
  • Patent number: 5342225
    Abstract: An improved electrical connector for use in pyrotechnic displays. The connector uses a single piece conductor pin, a clamp and a spring. Wires from a pyrotechnic projectile are attached to the connector by pushing down on the clamp and compressing the spring, providing an opening in which bare wire may be placed. Releasing the clamp causes the spring to extend, thereby securing the wire between the head of the conductor pin and the clamp by spring tension. After the projectile has been launched, a wire may simply be pulled out by the operator without pushing down on the clamp. The improved connector is especially useful where the pyrotechnic devices and associated electric circuitry are mounted on or near the water. Because of its primarily stainless steel structure, the connector is corrosion-resistant. It also provides a watertight seal, preventing the introduction of water to the firing control system circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: The Walt Disney Company
    Inventor: Raymond C. Farr
  • Patent number: 5340323
    Abstract: In an insertion and engagement operation of a coil spring into the high tension terminal, the insertion end portion of the coil spring is inclined so that the projection portions may be located at upper and lower positions, and the outer diameter of the projection portions is approximately the same diameter as the outer diameter of the coil spring. The engagement portion of the high tension terminal includes an engagement hole, so that it can be visually confirmed that the insertion terminal portion of the coil spring has been engaged, the insertion end portion of the coil spring having been inclined in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisao Imanishi, Keiichi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 5328393
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical contact system, in particular for a circuit-breaker, for establishing electrical contact between the respective ends of two conductive tubes (1) and (3) by fitting them together so that the end of one tube is inserted into the end of the other tube. According to the invention, one of the tubes (1), (3) includes a cavity (4) at its end, the cavity having an opening facing the other tube (3), (1) over at least a portion of the periphery of the tube, and a conductive component (2) is held in said cavity (4) which component is in part deformable radially relative to the tube, the conductive component coming into contact with the bottom of the cavity, and projecting out from the opening in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: GEC Alsthom T & D SA
    Inventors: Michel Perret, Renaud David
  • Patent number: 5322454
    Abstract: A connector for connecting to helically corrugated conduit comprises a bolt member having a passageway therethrough and a connector body having a hollow end portion that receives the bolt member. The connector includes a collet clamp within the passageway that has a grooved gripping surface adapted to be received within the helical corrugations of the conduit. The collet clamp includes a plurality of fingers each having a radially inward directing gripping surface and a wedge-shaped outer surface. A bushing having a frustoconically shaped bore is advanced over the fingers of the collet clamp when the bolt member is attached to the connector body in order to force the fingers radially inward into gripping contact with the corrugated conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Specialty Connector Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L. Thommen
  • Patent number: 5310359
    Abstract: A connector backshell assembly is provided for strain relief mounting to an electrical cable. The assembly includes a backshell having forward and rearward ends and an axially extending cable-receiving aperture therethrough. A toroidally configured, radially compressible strain relief coil spring surrounds the cable and is disposed near the rearward end of the backshell. A compression nut is engageable with the backshell for selective rotational and axial movement relative thereto. The compression nut includes a forwardly facing concave cam surface for engaging and radially compressing the coil spring into strain relief engagement with the cable. An interference surface is operatively associated with the backshell and non-rotatably engageable with the strain relief coil spring to prevent rotation of the coil spring with the compression nut relative to the backshell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard Chadbourne, Scott D. Magovern, Robert A. Miller
  • Patent number: 5260534
    Abstract: A rocker switch includes a casing composed of a lower base and an upper cover, an input terminal and an output terminal, respectively connected with an input electrical cord and an output electrical cord, and embedded in two sockets disposed in two opposite sides in the lower base, a pair of electrically conductive helical springs each spring retained in each socket for resiliently clamping either input or output cord with either spring and either terminal and for resiliently retaining each terminal in each socket, and an electrical insulative rocker switching device seesawly mounted in the casing for operatively separating two contactor blades respectively protruded from the two terminals for disconnecting a power supply, or for contacting the two contactor blades of the two terminals for connecting the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Inventor: Chien-Lin Chung
  • Patent number: 5211566
    Abstract: A docking assembly including a guide housing (2) and camming assembly (38, 54 and 40) for mechanically interfacing a modular component (46) with a circuit board to thereby complete and protect multiple electrical connections therebetween. An interfacing connector (80) is also disclosed for providing an electrical and mechanical interface between a circuit board and a disk drive (82). The interfacing connector (80) allows high-density multiple electrical interconnections to the circuit board by the use of canted coil springs (100) for direct electrical contact with individual traces and/or contact pads on the circuit board. The interfacing connector (80) may also include a docking assembly (130) with guide channels (136) for guiding insertion of a circuit board to thereby insure the integrity of the electrical interconnections therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: Warren A. Bates, Frederick R. Deak, David C. Johnson, Robert M. Renn, Keith L. Volz
  • Patent number: 5207599
    Abstract: An electric socket comprises an insulative housing having two cavities formed therein, an elongate generally pantile shaped terminal plate in each cavity, and a helical spring element secured snugly against each terminal plate. The prongs of an electrical plug can be inserted between the terminal plates and spring elements in respective cavities, wherein the blade type prongs are firmly wedged between associated spring elements and terminal plates so as to be in reliable electrical communication therewith. The housing can be further provided with a third, central cavity having a similar spring element disposed therein and a grounding plate of conforming curvature secured to a lower portion of the spring element. An additional rod type prong on an electrical plug can be inserted into the central cavity between adjacent turns of the spring element whose pitch distance is less than the diameter of the prong and received through a cooperating aperture on the grounding plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Inventor: Chien-Lin Chung
  • Patent number: 5174763
    Abstract: A contact assembly is provided for connecting pairs of terminals of two circuits, which allows terminals to be positioned at high densities with minimum crosstalk, selected impedances, and minimum inductances for fast pulse rise times. The apparatus includes a dielectric frame (30, FIG. 2) having multiple miniature cavities (46), and an extendable contact assembly (26) lying in each cavity and having a pair of probes (32, 34) projecting from opposite faces of the frame. The two probes of each contact assembly are slideably engaged and are biased apart by a spring (70), the spring being constructed of dielectric material to avoid inductances and to allow for a high characteristic impedance. The frame can include a body (104, FIG. 6) having multiple plated through holes or cavities (106), and end wall structures (114) having dielectric bushings (122) shorter than the body holes and fitting into the body cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: ITT Corporation
    Inventor: Albert H. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5158357
    Abstract: A battery powered pocket flashlight has a noncorrosive and electrically nonconductive case containing a restrictive aperture for the projection of light from the lamp source and a resilient color filter attached externally upon the end of the case by integral stub axles extending inward into the case for an axis of rotation intersecting perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flashlight for operation by the user in the selection of unfiltered light of the lamp source or a light at a color of the visible spectrum of colors. The filter is secured to the case by resilience of the filter material and by its shape in the form of an acute sector of a sphere. The electrical subsystem is completely removable from the case for servicing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Inventor: Kevin McDermott
  • Patent number: 5061191
    Abstract: An interposing connector for interconnecting a pattern of conductive areas of opposing spaced apart surfaces. The connector includes a housing having one or more openings therethrough. A plurality of canted coil springs are positioned within the housing so that outer coil portions are exposed to engage the conductive areas of the opposing surfaces to thereby establish the electrical interconnection. The canted coil springs are secured to the housing by retaining means, such as a retainer strip extending through the springs and secured to the housing. The springs may also be secured by heat staking or laser welding a portion thereof to the housing. The canted coil springs have a relatively constant compliance over a range of radial deflection. The springs also produce contact wipe over the conductive areas and establish redundant contact points therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: Albert Casciotti, Frederick R. Deak, Ronald A. Dery, David B. Wrisley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5059143
    Abstract: The present disclosure sets forth a unique contact structure for a separable electrical connector for carrying relatively high levels of current at high frequency in a high temperature environment. The contact utilizes a high loading spring design which permits a relatively low resistance and low inductance contact element. The contact element takes either of two forms. One form being a multiple wire spring formed in an open helical pattern and the other being a number of c-shaped contact elements arranged in concentric circles on a thin disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventor: Dimitry G. Grabbe
  • Patent number: 5030109
    Abstract: An area array connector (10) for electrically interconnecting circuit pads (18,20) on spaced apart, substrates (22,24) is disclosed. The connector (10) includes a carrier plate (12) having canted coil spring contacts (16) positioned in openings (14) for electrically interconnecting corresponding circuit pads (18,20) on the respective substrates (22,24) between which the connector (10) is placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventor: Ronald A. Dery
  • Patent number: 4998182
    Abstract: A connector is provided for a highly miniaturized integrated circuit imager that is supported in a sealed package that has a transparent distal plate and a plurality of connector pins that extend proximally from the package. The connector pins are trimmed short and metal coil springs are disposed on each of these pins. The connector includes tubular sockets mounted onto an elongated ceramic capacitor which serves to smooth power that is applied between the power and ground pins of the imager. A canister is situated over the imager to retain the same with the springs compressed against their respective sockets. Deflectable legs that extend proximally from the canister are bent inward and bound with a coil of fishline or other suitable cord to retain the canister in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.
    Inventors: Allan I. Krauter, Robert L. Vivenzio
  • Patent number: 4966564
    Abstract: Electrical connection is established between the lead electrodes and the pacemaker terminals whereby a straight length of coil spring is placed within a hole transverse to the lead hole. A portion of the transverse hole intersects the lead hole so that a portion of coil spring extends transversely into the lead hole. The ends of the coil spring section are welded on opposite sides of the terminal. Electrical connection is made as the spring contacts the ring electrode on the lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Assignee: Telectronics, N.V.
    Inventor: Roger M. L. Foote
  • Patent number: 4948224
    Abstract: A spirally wound resilient cylindrical or tubular connecting element adapted to connect or terminate pressure sensitive or brittle elongated conducting elements in either supporting or end-to-end conductive relationship. In one embodiment, the connecting element is comprised of a generally resilient cylindrical member having a hollow internal passageway therethrough adapted to receive said conducting elements in end-to-end relationship, said cylindrical member having integrally associated therewith a second, smaller, cylindrical member defining a second hollow passageway therethrough, said second hollow passageway adapted to receive an expansion strand or rip wire, said expansion strand having an outside diameter slightly larger than the internal diameter of said second hollow cylindrical passageway, wherein when said expansion strand is disposed within said second hollow cylindrical passageway the internal diameter of said first hollow cylindrical passageway is expanded beyond its equilibrium diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Inventor: Henry J. Modrey
  • Patent number: 4911367
    Abstract: A continuous electrical connection between a high voltage power source and a paint charging electrode in an electrostatic spray gun. The electrode is mounted on a valve needle which is reciprocated by a trigger mechanism as the spray gun is operated. A novel spring establishes and maintains the electrical connection from a stationary contact on the gun barrel to the moving valve needle. The spring may be mounted on a spacer tube mounted coaxially about the valve needle. The spacer tube can move in an axial direction to exert a force on a seal between the barrel and the valve needle without affecting the electrical connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: The DeVilbiss Company
    Inventor: Charles T. Lasley