The present invention relates to electrical power connectors that are useful in circuit board or backplane interconnection systems. Connectors of the present invention include a safety feature that restricts access to hot AC power contacts housed within the connectors.
There has been significant evolution in the area of electrical connectors, with improvements including multi-function consolidation within a single connector housing, and employment of features for effective heat dissipation generated from electrical power transmission. For example, Clark et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,319,075, discloses an electrical connector including both power and signal contacts within a single insulative housing, thereby eliminating the need for two separate connectors. Preferred power contacts disclosed in the '075 patent employ a “dual-mass” principle that provides a greater surface area available for heat dissipation, as compared to “single-mass” designed contacts, such as, for example, those having a circular or pin-like cross section.
Electrical connectors similar to those above may further comprise an AC power cable port and AC power contacts for direct connection with an external power supply. Examples of such connectors are commercially available from FCI Electronics, Inc. FCI's PWRBLADE brand connector series includes a receptacle connector that consists of AC power contacts, DC power contacts, signal contacts, and a shrouded AC cable port. Each of the power contacts includes two contact walls with a space therebetween to facilitate heat dissipation. Two patent applications owned by the assignee of the instant application and generally related to power distribution connectors, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/160,900 filed Sep. 25, 1998 and Ser. No. 09/944,266 filed Aug. 31, 2001, are currently pending in the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, and are incorporated by reference herein.
Power distribution connectors that are engaged with an AC power cable plug when the mating face is unconnected to a complementary connector, may provide access of foreign objects to engaging portions of the hot AC power contacts. Accordingly, there is room for improvement in the art.
The present invention is related to electrical connectors having contacts for transmitting electrical power and electrical signals in a single connector. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there has now been provided an electrical connector comprising an insulative housing including a connector mating face, and an AC power contact disposed in the insulative housing. The connector mating face comprises an aperture to provide access to an engaging portion of the AC power contact, and a guard for preventing direct human touching of the engaging portion.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there has now been provided an electrical connector comprising an insulative housing, and an AC power contact disposed in the insulative housing. The power contact includes an engaging portion comprising two spaced apart contact walls. The insulative housing includes a mating face having an aperture therein to provide access to the AC power contact, and a guard proximate a perimeter of the aperture to define an electrical shock safety gap of at least about 5 mm between a human digit that is directed towards the aperture and the engaging portion of the AC power contact.
In accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there has now been provided an electrical connector comprising an insulative housing having a mating face, a plurality of AC power contacts, a plurality of DC power contacts, and a plurality of signal contacts. The mating face comprises a plurality of spaced apart apertures to provide access to a mating portion of a power or signal contact, and at least one outwardly directed projection extending along at least a portion of a perimeter defined by each of the apertures corresponding to the plurality of AC power contacts.
These and various other features of novelty, and their respective advantages, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of aspects of the invention, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments.
The present invention is believed to be best understood through the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers indicate like features. Referring to FIG. 1, an electrical receptacle connector 10 is shown including an insulative housing 12 having a mating face 20 for receiving a complimentary header connector (not shown). Mating face 20 contains a plurality of apertures that provide access to electrical contacts disposed in insulative housing 12. Apertures 30 provide access to engaging portions of signal contacts 100, apertures 31 provide access to engaging portions of DC power contacts 80 (shown in FIG. 7), and apertures 32 provide access to engaging portions of AC power contacts 70 (shown in FIG. 6). Although the number and arrangement of the various apertures is identical in all of the figures herein, connectors covered by the appended claims may have any number of contacts and corresponding apertures that are arranged in various configurations.
A shrouded AC cable port 40 extends from a top portion 21 of housing 12. An external power supply is provided by way of an AC power cable plug 41, which is shown partially inserted within AC cable port 40. Preferred connectors may alternatively be configured so that AC cable port 40 extends from a bottom portion or rear portion of housing 12. AC power cable plug 41 engages vertically-oriented AC power contacts 70 (shown in FIG. 6). An anti-shock guard 50 is employed to restrict direct operator access (that is, direct human touching without the aid of a tool) to the hot AC power contacts 70 during times when AC power cable plug 41 is engaged and receptacle connector 10 is disconnected from a complementary header connector.
Preferred exemplary embodiments of anti-shock guard 50 will be described with reference to
Now referring to
As can be seen in
Housing 12, AC cable port 40, and anti-shock guard 50 are preferably molded or formed from a glass-filled high temperature nylon or other materials known to one having ordinary skill in the art. AC cable port 40 and anti-shock guard 50 may be integrally molded with housing 12, or alternatively, be manufactured separately and then coupled to housing 12.
Power circuits can undergo changes in electrical properties because of the relatively high current flows, for example, on the order of 30 amps or more in certain electronic equipment. Preferred power contacts are designed to dissipate heat generated from power transmission so that changes in circuit characteristics are minimized. A preferred AC power contact 70 is shown in
Referring now to
Power contacts 70 and 80 are preferably loaded into housing 12 from the rear. The contact walls and/or bridging element of the AC and DC power contacts 70, 80 may contain notches or other female elements, and/or tangs or other male elements for retaining the power contacts in housing 12. Preferred power contacts 70 and 80 are stamped or otherwise formed as single piece from suitable materials such as phosphor bronze alloys or beryllium copper alloys. Signal contacts 100 (shown in
It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Accordingly, changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of features within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/352,531 filed Jan. 28, 2003, now abandoned the contents of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2430011 | Gillentine | Nov 1947 | A |
3208030 | Evans et al. | Sep 1965 | A |
3286220 | Marley et al. | Nov 1966 | A |
3497850 | Gallo, Sr. | Feb 1970 | A |
3538486 | Shlesinger, Jr. | Nov 1970 | A |
3596235 | Teurlings | Jul 1971 | A |
3669054 | Desso et al. | Jun 1972 | A |
3748633 | Lundergan | Jul 1973 | A |
3750092 | Bury | Jul 1973 | A |
3789348 | Lenaerts et al. | Jan 1974 | A |
3871015 | Lin et al. | Mar 1975 | A |
3910671 | Townsend | Oct 1975 | A |
3942856 | Mindheim et al. | Mar 1976 | A |
3944312 | Koenig | Mar 1976 | A |
4005923 | Davis, Jr. | Feb 1977 | A |
4073564 | Davis, Jr. | Feb 1978 | A |
4076362 | Ichimura | Feb 1978 | A |
4082407 | Smorzaniuk et al. | Apr 1978 | A |
4136919 | Howard et al. | Jan 1979 | A |
4159861 | Anhalt | Jul 1979 | A |
4224486 | Zimmerman, Jr. et al. | Sep 1980 | A |
4227762 | Scheiner | Oct 1980 | A |
4260212 | Ritchie et al. | Apr 1981 | A |
4288139 | Cobaugh et al. | Sep 1981 | A |
4322120 | Rilling | Mar 1982 | A |
4371912 | Guzik | Feb 1983 | A |
4383724 | Verhoeven | May 1983 | A |
4402563 | Sinclair | Sep 1983 | A |
4473113 | Whitfield et al. | Sep 1984 | A |
4500160 | Bertsch | Feb 1985 | A |
4505529 | Barkus | Mar 1985 | A |
4533187 | Kirkman | Aug 1985 | A |
4536955 | Gudgeon | Aug 1985 | A |
4545610 | Lakritz et al. | Oct 1985 | A |
4560222 | Dambach | Dec 1985 | A |
4626637 | Olsson et al. | Dec 1986 | A |
4659158 | Sakamoto et al. | Apr 1987 | A |
4669801 | Worth | Jun 1987 | A |
4685886 | Denlinger et al. | Aug 1987 | A |
4709976 | Nakama et al. | Dec 1987 | A |
4717360 | Czaja | Jan 1988 | A |
4767344 | Noschese | Aug 1988 | A |
4776803 | Pretchel et al. | Oct 1988 | A |
4780088 | Means | Oct 1988 | A |
4782893 | Thomas | Nov 1988 | A |
4790763 | Weber et al. | Dec 1988 | A |
4790764 | Kawaguchi et al. | Dec 1988 | A |
4801271 | Piper | Jan 1989 | A |
4815987 | Kawano et al. | Mar 1989 | A |
4818237 | Weber | Apr 1989 | A |
4820169 | Weber et al. | Apr 1989 | A |
4820175 | Hasegawa et al. | Apr 1989 | A |
4838809 | Mouissie | Jun 1989 | A |
4845592 | Himes, Jr. et al. | Jul 1989 | A |
4867713 | Ozu et al. | Sep 1989 | A |
4875865 | Demler, Jr. et al. | Oct 1989 | A |
4878611 | LoVasco et al. | Nov 1989 | A |
4881905 | Demler, Jr. et al. | Nov 1989 | A |
4900271 | Colleran et al. | Feb 1990 | A |
4907990 | Bertho et al. | Mar 1990 | A |
4915641 | Miskin et al. | Apr 1990 | A |
4917625 | Haile | Apr 1990 | A |
4941830 | Tkazyik et al. | Jul 1990 | A |
4950186 | Kaley et al. | Aug 1990 | A |
4954090 | Shimochi | Sep 1990 | A |
4963102 | Gettig et al. | Oct 1990 | A |
4965699 | Jorden et al. | Oct 1990 | A |
4968263 | Silbernagel et al. | Nov 1990 | A |
4973271 | Ishizuka et al. | Nov 1990 | A |
4974119 | Martin | Nov 1990 | A |
4975084 | Fedder et al. | Dec 1990 | A |
4979074 | Morley | Dec 1990 | A |
4990099 | Marin et al. | Feb 1991 | A |
5016968 | Hammond et al. | May 1991 | A |
5024610 | French et al. | Jun 1991 | A |
5046960 | Fedder et al. | Sep 1991 | A |
5052953 | Weber | Oct 1991 | A |
5066236 | Broeksteeg | Nov 1991 | A |
5077893 | Mosquera et al. | Jan 1992 | A |
5082459 | Billman et al. | Jan 1992 | A |
5094634 | Dixon et al. | Mar 1992 | A |
5107328 | Kinsman | Apr 1992 | A |
5108301 | Torok | Apr 1992 | A |
5137959 | Block et al. | Aug 1992 | A |
5139426 | Barkus et al. | Aug 1992 | A |
5151056 | McClune | Sep 1992 | A |
5152700 | Bogursky et al. | Oct 1992 | A |
5158471 | Fedder et al. | Oct 1992 | A |
5173063 | Barkus et al. | Dec 1992 | A |
5174770 | Sasaki et al. | Dec 1992 | A |
5194480 | Block et al. | Mar 1993 | A |
5207591 | Ozaki et al. | May 1993 | A |
5213868 | Liberty et al. | May 1993 | A |
5214308 | Nishiguchi et al. | May 1993 | A |
5238414 | Yaegashi et al. | Aug 1993 | A |
5238416 | Dickie | Aug 1993 | A |
5254012 | Wang | Oct 1993 | A |
5274918 | Reed | Jan 1994 | A |
5281168 | Krehbiel et al. | Jan 1994 | A |
5286212 | Broeksteeg | Feb 1994 | A |
5295843 | Davis et al. | Mar 1994 | A |
5298791 | Liberty et al. | Mar 1994 | A |
5302135 | Lee | Apr 1994 | A |
5321582 | Casperson | Jun 1994 | A |
5358422 | Schaffer et al. | Oct 1994 | A |
5362249 | Carter | Nov 1994 | A |
5376012 | Clark | Dec 1994 | A |
5400949 | Hirvonen et al. | Mar 1995 | A |
5403206 | McNamara et al. | Apr 1995 | A |
5427543 | Dynia | Jun 1995 | A |
5431578 | Wayne | Jul 1995 | A |
5435876 | Alfaro et al. | Jul 1995 | A |
5457342 | Herbst, II | Oct 1995 | A |
5458426 | Ito | Oct 1995 | A |
5475922 | Tamura et al. | Dec 1995 | A |
5481442 | Dickie et al. | Jan 1996 | A |
5490040 | Gaudenzi et al. | Feb 1996 | A |
5511987 | Shinchi | Apr 1996 | A |
5512519 | Hwang | Apr 1996 | A |
5533915 | Deans | Jul 1996 | A |
5549480 | Cheng | Aug 1996 | A |
5558542 | O'Sullivan et al. | Sep 1996 | A |
5564952 | Davis et al. | Oct 1996 | A |
5582519 | Buchter | Dec 1996 | A |
5588852 | Puerner | Dec 1996 | A |
5590463 | Feldman et al. | Jan 1997 | A |
5605489 | Gale et al. | Feb 1997 | A |
5609502 | Thumma | Mar 1997 | A |
5618187 | Goto | Apr 1997 | A |
5622511 | Jarrett | Apr 1997 | A |
5637008 | Kozel | Jun 1997 | A |
5643013 | Weidler et al. | Jul 1997 | A |
5664968 | Mickievicz | Sep 1997 | A |
5667392 | Kocher et al. | Sep 1997 | A |
5691041 | Frankeny et al. | Nov 1997 | A |
5702255 | Murphy et al. | Dec 1997 | A |
5716234 | Phillips | Feb 1998 | A |
5727963 | LeMaster | Mar 1998 | A |
5730609 | Harwath | Mar 1998 | A |
5741144 | Elco et al. | Apr 1998 | A |
5741161 | Cahaly et al. | Apr 1998 | A |
5742484 | Gillette et al. | Apr 1998 | A |
5743009 | Matsui et al. | Apr 1998 | A |
5745349 | Lemke | Apr 1998 | A |
5746608 | Taylor | May 1998 | A |
5749746 | Tan et al. | May 1998 | A |
5755595 | Davis et al. | May 1998 | A |
5772452 | Aoyama | Jun 1998 | A |
5782644 | Kiat | Jul 1998 | A |
5785557 | Davis | Jul 1998 | A |
5787971 | Dodson | Aug 1998 | A |
5795191 | Preputnick et al. | Aug 1998 | A |
5810607 | Shih et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
5817973 | Elco et al. | Oct 1998 | A |
5827094 | Aizawa et al. | Oct 1998 | A |
5831314 | Wen | Nov 1998 | A |
5865651 | Dague et al. | Feb 1999 | A |
5872046 | Kaeriyama et al. | Feb 1999 | A |
5874776 | Kresge et al. | Feb 1999 | A |
5876219 | Taylor et al. | Mar 1999 | A |
5876248 | Brunker | Mar 1999 | A |
5879198 | Sekimori et al. | Mar 1999 | A |
5882214 | Hillbish et al. | Mar 1999 | A |
5883782 | Thurston et al. | Mar 1999 | A |
5888884 | Wojnarowski | Mar 1999 | A |
5904594 | Longueville et al. | May 1999 | A |
5908333 | Perino et al. | Jun 1999 | A |
5919050 | Kehley et al. | Jul 1999 | A |
5923995 | Kao et al. | Jul 1999 | A |
5924899 | Paagman | Jul 1999 | A |
5930114 | Kuzmin et al. | Jul 1999 | A |
5937140 | Leonard et al. | Aug 1999 | A |
5955888 | Frederickson et al. | Sep 1999 | A |
5961355 | Morlion et al. | Oct 1999 | A |
5971817 | Longueville | Oct 1999 | A |
5975921 | Shuey | Nov 1999 | A |
5980321 | Cohen et al. | Nov 1999 | A |
5984726 | Wu | Nov 1999 | A |
5993259 | Stokoe et al. | Nov 1999 | A |
6012948 | Wu | Jan 2000 | A |
6027360 | Jenkins | Feb 2000 | A |
6036549 | Wulff | Mar 2000 | A |
6041498 | Hillbish et al. | Mar 2000 | A |
6050862 | Ishii | Apr 2000 | A |
6059170 | Jimarez et al. | May 2000 | A |
6062911 | Davis et al. | May 2000 | A |
6063696 | Brenner et al. | May 2000 | A |
6066048 | Lees | May 2000 | A |
6068520 | Winings et al. | May 2000 | A |
6071152 | Achammer et al. | Jun 2000 | A |
6089878 | Meng | Jul 2000 | A |
6095827 | Dutkowsky et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
6123554 | Ortega et al. | Sep 2000 | A |
6125535 | Chiou et al. | Oct 2000 | A |
6139336 | Olson | Oct 2000 | A |
6146157 | Lenoir et al. | Nov 2000 | A |
6146202 | Ramey et al. | Nov 2000 | A |
6146203 | Elco et al. | Nov 2000 | A |
6152756 | Huang et al. | Nov 2000 | A |
6174198 | Wu et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6178106 | Umemoto et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6180891 | Murdeshwar | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6183301 | Paagman | Feb 2001 | B1 |
6190213 | Reichart et al. | Feb 2001 | B1 |
6190215 | Pendleton et al. | Feb 2001 | B1 |
6196871 | Szu | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6202916 | Updike et al. | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6206722 | Ko et al. | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6210197 | Yu | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6212755 | Shimada et al. | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6215180 | Chen et al. | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6219913 | Uchiyama | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6220884 | Lin | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6220895 | Lin | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6220896 | Bertoncini et al. | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6238225 | Middlehurst et al. | May 2001 | B1 |
6257478 | Straub | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6259039 | Chroneos, Jr. et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6261132 | Koseki et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6269539 | Takahashi et al. | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6272474 | Garcia | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6280230 | Takase et al. | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6293827 | Stokoe | Sep 2001 | B1 |
6299492 | Pierini et al. | Oct 2001 | B1 |
6319075 | Clark et al. | Nov 2001 | B1 |
6322377 | Middlehurst et al. | Nov 2001 | B2 |
6328602 | Yamasaki et al. | Dec 2001 | B1 |
6335224 | Peterson et al. | Jan 2002 | B1 |
6347952 | Hasegawa et al. | Feb 2002 | B1 |
6350134 | Fogg et al. | Feb 2002 | B1 |
6358094 | Belopolsky et al. | Mar 2002 | B1 |
6359783 | Noble | Mar 2002 | B1 |
6360940 | Bolde et al. | Mar 2002 | B1 |
6362961 | Chiou | Mar 2002 | B1 |
6363607 | Chen et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6371773 | Crofoot et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6379188 | Cohen et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6386924 | Long | May 2002 | B2 |
6394818 | Smalley, Jr. | May 2002 | B1 |
6402566 | Middlehurst et al. | Jun 2002 | B1 |
6409543 | Astbury, Jr. et al. | Jun 2002 | B1 |
6431914 | Billman | Aug 2002 | B1 |
6435914 | Billman | Aug 2002 | B1 |
6450029 | Sakai et al. | Sep 2002 | B1 |
6461183 | Ohkita et al. | Oct 2002 | B1 |
6461202 | Kline | Oct 2002 | B2 |
6471523 | Shuey | Oct 2002 | B1 |
6471548 | Bertoncini et al. | Oct 2002 | B2 |
6472474 | Burkhardt et al. | Oct 2002 | B2 |
6488549 | Weller et al. | Dec 2002 | B1 |
6489567 | Zachrai | Dec 2002 | B2 |
6506081 | Blanchfield et al. | Jan 2003 | B2 |
6511329 | Yi-Tsung | Jan 2003 | B2 |
6514103 | Pape et al. | Feb 2003 | B2 |
6537111 | Brammer et al. | Mar 2003 | B2 |
6551112 | Li et al. | Apr 2003 | B1 |
6554046 | Bryan et al. | Apr 2003 | B1 |
6554647 | Cohen et al. | Apr 2003 | B1 |
6572410 | Volstorf et al. | Jun 2003 | B1 |
6575774 | Ling et al. | Jun 2003 | B2 |
6575776 | Conner et al. | Jun 2003 | B1 |
6592381 | Cohen et al. | Jul 2003 | B2 |
6604967 | Middlehurst et al. | Aug 2003 | B2 |
6629854 | Murakami | Oct 2003 | B2 |
6652318 | Winings et al. | Nov 2003 | B1 |
6663426 | Hasireoglu et al. | Dec 2003 | B2 |
6665189 | Lebo | Dec 2003 | B1 |
6669514 | Wiebking et al. | Dec 2003 | B2 |
6672884 | Toh et al. | Jan 2004 | B1 |
6672907 | Azuma | Jan 2004 | B2 |
6692272 | Lemke et al. | Feb 2004 | B2 |
6702594 | Lee et al. | Mar 2004 | B2 |
6705902 | Yi et al. | Mar 2004 | B1 |
6712621 | Li et al. | Mar 2004 | B2 |
6716068 | Wu | Apr 2004 | B2 |
6740820 | Cheng | May 2004 | B2 |
6743037 | Kassa et al. | Jun 2004 | B2 |
6746278 | Nelson et al. | Jun 2004 | B2 |
6769935 | Stokoe et al. | Aug 2004 | B2 |
6776635 | Blanchfield et al. | Aug 2004 | B2 |
6776649 | Pape et al. | Aug 2004 | B2 |
6780027 | Allison | Aug 2004 | B2 |
6790088 | Ono et al. | Sep 2004 | B2 |
6796831 | Yasufuku et al. | Sep 2004 | B1 |
6810783 | Larose | Nov 2004 | B1 |
6811440 | Rothermel et al. | Nov 2004 | B1 |
6814590 | Minich et al. | Nov 2004 | B2 |
6829143 | Russell et al. | Dec 2004 | B2 |
6835103 | Middlehurst et al. | Dec 2004 | B2 |
6843687 | McGowan et al. | Jan 2005 | B2 |
6848886 | Schmaling et al. | Feb 2005 | B2 |
6848950 | Allison et al. | Feb 2005 | B2 |
6869294 | Clark et al. | Mar 2005 | B2 |
6884117 | Korsunsky et al. | Apr 2005 | B2 |
6890221 | Wagner | May 2005 | B2 |
6905367 | Crane, Jr. et al. | Jun 2005 | B2 |
6947012 | Aisenbrey | Sep 2005 | B2 |
6975511 | Lebo et al. | Dec 2005 | B1 |
6994569 | Minich et al. | Feb 2006 | B2 |
7001189 | McGowan et al. | Feb 2006 | B1 |
7059892 | Trout | Jun 2006 | B1 |
7059919 | Clark et al. | Jun 2006 | B2 |
7065871 | Minich et al. | Jun 2006 | B2 |
7070464 | Clark et al. | Jul 2006 | B2 |
7097465 | Korsunsky et al. | Aug 2006 | B1 |
7101228 | Hamner et al. | Sep 2006 | B2 |
7104812 | Bogiel et al. | Sep 2006 | B1 |
7114963 | Shuey et al. | Oct 2006 | B2 |
RE39380 | Davis | Nov 2006 | E |
7137848 | Trout et al. | Nov 2006 | B1 |
7168963 | Minich et al. | Jan 2007 | B2 |
7182642 | Ngo et al. | Feb 2007 | B2 |
7204699 | Stoner | Apr 2007 | B2 |
D542736 | Rico | May 2007 | S |
7220141 | Daily et al. | May 2007 | B2 |
7258562 | Daily et al. | Aug 2007 | B2 |
7273382 | Igarashi et al. | Sep 2007 | B2 |
7303427 | Swain | Dec 2007 | B2 |
7335043 | Hgo et al. | Feb 2008 | B2 |
7384289 | Minich | Jun 2008 | B2 |
7425145 | Ngo | Sep 2008 | B2 |
7458839 | Ngo | Dec 2008 | B2 |
7476108 | Swain et al. | May 2009 | B2 |
20010000498 | Watanabe et al. | Apr 2001 | A1 |
20010003685 | Aritani | Jun 2001 | A1 |
20010049229 | Pape et al. | Dec 2001 | A1 |
20020106930 | Pape et al. | Aug 2002 | A1 |
20020142676 | Hosaka et al. | Oct 2002 | A1 |
20020159235 | Miller et al. | Oct 2002 | A1 |
20020193019 | Blanchfield et al. | Dec 2002 | A1 |
20030013330 | Takeuchi | Jan 2003 | A1 |
20030119378 | Avery | Jun 2003 | A1 |
20030143894 | Kline et al. | Jul 2003 | A1 |
20030219999 | Minich et al. | Nov 2003 | A1 |
20030220021 | Whiteman, Jr. et al. | Nov 2003 | A1 |
20030236035 | Kuroda et al. | Dec 2003 | A1 |
20040147177 | Wagner | Jul 2004 | A1 |
20040183094 | Caletka et al. | Sep 2004 | A1 |
20050112952 | Wang et al. | May 2005 | A1 |
20060003620 | Daily et al. | Jan 2006 | A1 |
20060128197 | McGowan et al. | Jun 2006 | A1 |
20060228927 | Daily | Oct 2006 | A1 |
20060228948 | Swain | Oct 2006 | A1 |
20060281354 | Ngo et al. | Dec 2006 | A1 |
20070197063 | Ngo | Aug 2007 | A1 |
20070202748 | Daily | Aug 2007 | A1 |
20070275586 | Hgo | Nov 2007 | A1 |
20070293084 | Ngo | Dec 2007 | A1 |
20080038956 | Swain | Feb 2008 | A1 |
20080248670 | Daily et al. | Oct 2008 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
23 50 834 | Apr 1975 | DE |
34 41 416 | May 1986 | DE |
40 01 104 | Jul 1991 | DE |
0 465 013 | Jan 1992 | EP |
0 724 313 | Jul 1996 | EP |
0 951 102 | Oct 1999 | EP |
1091449 | Sep 2004 | EP |
2 699 744 | Jun 1994 | FR |
2 168 550 | Jun 1986 | GB |
05344728 | Dec 1993 | JP |
06068943 | Mar 1994 | JP |
07169523 | Jul 1995 | JP |
08096918 | Apr 1996 | JP |
09 055 245 | Feb 1997 | JP |
09199215 | Jul 1997 | JP |
13135388 | May 2001 | JP |
2003217785 | Jul 2003 | JP |
100517561 | Sep 2005 | KR |
WO 200016445 | Mar 2000 | WO |
WO 2002103847 | Dec 2002 | WO |
WO 2005065254 | Jul 2005 | WO |
WO 2007064632 | Jun 2007 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 10352531 | Jan 2003 | US |
Child | 11227666 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 11227666 | Sep 2005 | US |
Child | 11862464 | US |