Stephen D Gherardini

US Patent:

6632102, Oct 14, 2003

Filed:

Sep 4, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/235967

Inventors:

Stephen Daniel Gherardini - Harrisburg PA

Assignee:

ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

H01R 13627

US Classification:

439352

Abstract:

An optical fiber connector assembly includes a body ( ) with passages ( ) that hold optical fibers and a backshell ( ) that can be removed and slid along the optical fiber cable to provide access to the fibers so a selected fiber can be removed while the rest of the fibers continue to carry signals. The removable backshell carries a mechanism ( ) that can be manually operated to unlatch the connector from a housing ( ), despite removeability of the backshell. The mechanism includes a cam ( ) rotatable about the cable-receiving aperture ( ) in the backshell and a cam follower ( ) that is pushed forwardly by rotation of the cam. The cam follower presses forwardly against a pair of release elements ( ) in the body to cause them to deflect a pair of latch arms ( ) out of engagement with shoulders ( ) of the body so the body can be pulled rearwardly out of the housing.

US Patent:

6776533, Aug 17, 2004

Filed:

Feb 19, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/079799

Inventors:

Stephen Daniel Gherardini - Harrisburg PA

Assignee:

ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

G02B 638

US Classification:

385 59, 385 56, 385 86

Abstract:

An optical fiber connector system includes first and second mateable connectors ( ) with fiber blocks ( ) that hold optical fiber termini ( ), wherein forward (F) movement of the second connector housing ( ) toward the first housing ( ) results in automatic latching together of the fiber blocks with the latches taking the forces of termini springs that have been partially compressed. The second fiber block ( ) can slide within the second housing ( ) between front and rear positions, and is held in the front position by a cam ( ) that engages a free end ( ) of a cam follower arm ( ) of the second housing. As the connectors mate, a rigid second fiber block latch ( ) deflects a resilient first housing latch end ( ) and rides forward of it until faces of the blocks are close together. The second housing continues to be pushed forward until a latch blocker ( ) of the second housing prevents the first housing latch from deflecting to release the second fiber block, to thereby hold the fiber blocks close together. When the cam follower ( ) on the second housing deflects around the cam ( ) on the second block, the second block is released and it moves rearwardly a small distance so the second fiber block latch abuts the first housing latch to take the forces of the partially compressed springs.

US Patent:

6874945, Apr 5, 2005

Filed:

Sep 8, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/658235

Inventors:

Stephen Daniel Gherardini - Harrisburg PA, US

Assignee:

ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

G02B006/38
G02B006/00

US Classification:

385 59, 385139

Abstract:

An optic fiber connection system in which a first connector () on a daughter board () can slide towards a second connector () on a mother board () until the daughter board is latched and the connectors are fully mated, which assures proper mating despite overtravel or undertravel of the daughter board. The first connector has a frame () fixed to the daughter board and a first connector body () that is slideable within the frame (), against the biasing of body springs (), so the body does not have to move further forward while the frame and daughter board continue to move forward to a fully installed daughter board position.

US Patent:

6945702, Sep 20, 2005

Filed:

Nov 21, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/719729

Inventors:

Stephen Daniel Gherardini - Harrisburg PA, US

Assignee:

ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

G02B006/38

US Classification:

385 55, 385139

Abstract:

A fiber optic connector system in which two fiber optic connectors () mate within a cabinet () and each one can be withdrawn for cleaning. Each connector is part of a connector assembly () that includes a mounting bracket () fixed to a corresponding daughterboard (). A motherboard structure () is mounted in the cabinet and has holes. Each daughterboard is slid into an opposite end of the cabinet until its connector passes partially through a motherboard hole and mates to the other connector. A pair of standoffs () coupled to each connector limits inward movement of each connector to a position at which the tips of mating termini each lies halfway through an alignment sleeve.

US Patent:

7156668, Jan 2, 2007

Filed:

Dec 2, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/292529

Inventors:

Stephen D. Gherardini - Harrisburg PA, US

Assignee:

ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

H01R 12/00

US Classification:

439 761, 439325

Abstract:

A circuit board () is installed and locked in place in a connector housing () which has a board-receiving slot () defined by side guides () that closely engage upper and lower surfaces of the board during its forward insertion into the slot. The front portion of the board has a through aperture (), and the housing has a ramp () that can fit into the aperture. As the forwardly-sliding board approaches a fully installed position, the ramp bends the front portion of the board as it rides up the ramp, until the aperture walls snap around the ramp and the board front portion unbends. The board can be slid backward out of the slot, only by bending up the board front portion and sliding it rearward.

US Patent:

7195513, Mar 27, 2007

Filed:

Jun 28, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/427125

Inventors:

Stephen D. Gherardini - Harrisburg PA, US
Christopher G. Daily - Harrisburg PA, US

Assignee:

Tyco Electronics Corporation - Middletown PA

International Classification:

H01R 11/20

US Classification:

439401, 439402

Abstract:

A solar grounding connector for capturing a wire. The connector includes a base and a stuffer. The base is made from a conductive metal and includes a base plate. The base plate includes means for assembling the base to a solar panel. A pair of opposed sidewalls extend at an angle from the base plate, each sidewall including a slot of preselected size. The stuffer is pivotably mounted to the base. The stuffer includes a top surface, and a pair of opposed sidewalls extending from the stuffer top surface toward the base plate. Each stuffer sidewall has a slot corresponding to the slot in the base sidewall, each opposed stuffer sidewall being adjacent to a base sidewall when engaged. The slot in the stuffer sidewalls urge a wire against the corresponding slots in the base sidewalls, exerting a force on the wire sufficient to establish electrical contact between the wire and the base. The grounding connector also includes means for fastening the stuffer with respect to the base. The solar grounding connector is attached to a solar panel frame, while the wire has one end connected to ground.

US Patent:

7244146, Jul 17, 2007

Filed:

Jul 6, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/481637

Inventors:

Stephen Daniel Gherardini - Harrisburg PA, US

Assignee:

ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

H01R 33/945

US Classification:

439585

Abstract:

A coaxial connector has inner and outer contacts () connected to inner and outer conductors () of a coaxial cable (), in a contact arrangement of small diameter (A), so each coax contact arrangements can carry high frequency signals. The outer contact has a rear portion () lying within the cable outer conductor () and locked in place by a crimp sleeve (), and the outer contact has a front portion () that projects forward of a housing front face () and that has laterally opposite sides () that are exposed to be contacted. The housing has a forward projection () with projection portions () that lie on longitudinally (M) opposite sides of the outer contact front portion and that have projection front ends that merge and support the center contact () at a location forward of the outer conductor.

US Patent:

7422491, Sep 9, 2008

Filed:

Oct 19, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/550828

Inventors:

Stephen D. Gherardini - Harrisburg PA, US

Assignee:

Tyco Electronics Corporation - Middletown PA

International Classification:

H01R 9/22

US Classification:

439721, 439212

Abstract:

A low-profile electrical connector having a connector body with a bussing interconnection. The bussing interconnection includes a first receptacle and a second receptacle. The first receptacle is in electrical communication with the second receptacle. The connector body also includes an alignment mechanism configured to align and retain a corresponding plug. At least one of the first receptacle or the second receptacle includes a receptacle body having a plurality of arms configured to apply a contact force in the direction of an opposing plate.