IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,591,249
Granted Patent B2
US 8,591,249 · App. 13/210,888 · Granted Nov 26, 2013

Flexible breakaway connector

Inventors: Scott David Harnish (Lancaster, PA); Timothy Wickard (Carlisle, PA)
Assignee: Souraiu USA, Inc.
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,591,249
App. No.
13/210,888
Granted
Nov 26, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A connector which has a flexible portion which allows the connector to bend in response to non-axial forces applied thereto. When off-axis forces are applied to the connector or a mating connector, the off-axis forces do not cause oblique loading on the connector or mating connector.

Claims (27)

1. A connector assembly that automatically disengages at a predetermined breakaway force, the connector assembly comprising:

a receptacle;

an overmolded flexible portion which allows the connector to move relative to a feed-through member, the flexible portion being overmolded to a portion of the receptacle;

the feed-through member extending from a first end of the flexible portion, the flexible portion being overmolded to a portion of the feed-through member;

the flexible portion bends in response to non-axial forces applied thereto, wherein when off-axis forces are applied to the connector assembly or a mating connector assembly, the flexible portion bends to convert the off-axis forces into axial forces, wherein the off-axis forces do not cause oblique loading on the connector assembly or a mating connector.

2. The connector assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the feed-through member has a housing with an opening to allow a cable to extend therethrough, a first end of the housing has threads for mounting to a panel, a second end has at least one member provided thereon to cooperate with the flexible portion.

3. The connector assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the flexible portion has at least one recess provided therein, the at least one recess allows the flexible portion to maintain its strength in the axial direction while allowing the flexible portion to bend and twist in a non-axial direction.

4. The connector assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the feed-through member extends from a first end of the flexible portion and the receptacle extends from a second end of the flexible portion.

5. The connector assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein the flexible portion cooperates with the feed-through member and the receptacle to provide sealing therebetween.

6. The connector assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein the flexible portion allows the receptacle to move and flex about the feed-through member as the force is applied to the connector or mating connector, the force having an axial component and a transverse component, whereby the flexible portion is bent in the direction of the transverse component, allowing the force to align with the adjusted axis of the receptacle and the mating connector, allowing the mating connector to be pulled from the receptacle in line with the adjusted axis, and preventing the mating connector from being pulled from the receptacle at an angle.

7. The connector assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein the receptacle has a retaining ring mounted in a recess.

8. The connector assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein the retaining ring extends by more than 180 degrees about an axis of the receptacle, the retaining ring configured to expand within the recess.

9. A breakaway connector that automatically disengages at a predetermined force for mating with a mating connector, the breakaway connector comprising:

a first end having a receptacle and a second end having a feed-through member, the receptacle configured to mate with the mating connector;

an overmolded flexible portion positioned between the first end and the second end, the flexible portion being overmolded to a portion of the receptacle and to a portion of the feed-though member, the flexible portion allowing the second end and the feed-through member to move relative to the first end and the receptacle;

whereby when off-axis forces are applied to the connector or a mating connector, the flexible portion bends to move the second end of the connector and the feed-through member to convert the off-axis forces into axial forces to allow the mating connector to be properly disengaged from the second end even if off-axis forces are applied to the mating connector.

10. The breakaway connector as recited in claim 9 wherein the flexible portion cooperates with the feed-through member and the receptacle to provide sealing therebetween.

11. The breakaway connector as recited in claim 9 wherein the flexible portion has at least one recess provided therein, the at least one recess allows the flexible portion to maintain its strength in the axial direction while allowing the flexible portion to bend and twist in a non-axial direction.

12. The breakaway connector as recited in claim 9 wherein the flexible portion allows the receptacle to move and rotate about the feed-through member as the force is applied to the connector or mating connector, the force having an axial component and a transverse component, whereby the flexible portion is bent in the direction of the transverse component, allowing the force to align with the adjusted axis of the receptacle and the mating connector, allowing the mating connector to be pulled from the receptacle in line with the adjusted axis, and preventing the mating connector from being pulled from the receptacle at an angle.

13. The breakaway connector as recited in claim 9 wherein the receptacle has a retaining ring mounted in a recess.

14. The breakaway connector as recited in claim 13 wherein the retaining ring extends by more than 180 degrees about an axis of the receptacle, the retaining ring configured to expand within the recess.

15. A connector for mating with a mating connector, the connector automatically disengages from the mating connector at a predetermined breakaway force, the connector comprising:

an overmolded flexible portion provided between a first end and a second end of the connector, the first end having a receptacle and the second end having a feed-through member, the flexible portion being overmolded to a portion of the receptacle and to a portion of the feed-though member, the flexible portion configured to bend in response to non-axial forces, allowing the second end to move relative to the first end;

whereby the mating connector can be mated or unmated to the second end at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the unflexed connector without damaging the connector or the mating connector, when off-axis forces are applied to the connector or the mating connector, the flexible portion bends to convert the off-axis forces into axial forces, wherein the off-axis forces do not cause oblique loading on the connector or the mating connector allowing the connector to be disengaged from the mating connector without binding.

16. The connector as recited in claim 15 wherein the flexible portion allows the receptacle to move and rotate about the feed-through member as the force is applied to the connector or mating connector, the force having an axial component and a transverse component, whereby the flexible portion is bent in the direction of the transverse component, allowing the force to align with the adjusted axis of the receptacle and the mating connector, allowing the mating connector to be pulled from the receptacle in line with the adjusted axis, and preventing the mating connector from being pulled from the receptacle at an angle.

17. The connector as recited in claim 15 wherein the flexible portion cooperates with the feed-through member and the receptacle to provide sealing therebetween.

18. The connector as recited in claim 15 wherein the flexible portion has at least one recess provided therein, the at least one recess allows the flexible portion to maintain its strength in the axial direction while allowing the flexible portion to bend and twist in a non-axial direction.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT RECORDED APRIL 3, 2019 AT REEL/FRAME 048788/0581 Recorded Jun 6, 2024
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS TRUSTEE
To: TRANSDIGM INC.; TRANSDIGM GROUP INCORPORATED; AEROSONIC LLC; MOUNTAINTOP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; AIRBORNE SYSTEMS NORTH AMERICA OF NJ INC.; SHIELD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, INC.; AMSAFE, INC.; ARKWIN INDUSTRIES, INC.; AVIONIC INSTRUMENTS, INC.; AEROSONIC CORPORATION; AVTECHTYEE, INC.; BREEZE-EASTERN LLC; BRUCE AEROSPACE INC.; CEF INDUSTRIES, LLC; CHAMPION AEROSPACE LLC; DATA DEVICE CORPORATION; DUKES AEROSPACE, INC.; PURE TECHNOLOGIES LTD.; HARCO LABORATORIES, INC.; HARCO LLC; HARCO TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; CORRPRO COMPANIES, INC.; HARCO CORPORATION; HARTWELL CORPORATION; MARATHONNORCO AEROSPACE, INC.; PNEUDRAULICS, INC.; SCHNELLER LLC; SEMCO INSTRUMENTS, INC.; TACTAIR FLUID CONTROLS, INC.; TEAC AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TELAIR INTERNATIONAL GMBH; TELAIR INTERNATIONAL AB; NORDISK AVIATION PRODUCTS AS; TURNTIME TECHNOLOGIES AB; AEROCONTROLEX GROUP, INC.; TRANSICOIL INC.; SOUTHCO, INC.; WHIPPANY ACTUATION SYSTEMS, LLC; YOUNG & FRANKLIN INC.; ARMTEC COUNTERMEASURES CO.; ADVANCED INPUT DEVICES, INC.; ARMTEC DEFENSE PRODUCTS COMPANY; JOSLYN SUNBANK COMPANY LLC; LEACH INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; SOURIAU USA, INC.; NMC GROUP, INC.; TA AEROSPACE CO.; MASON ELECTRIC CO.; KORRY ELECTRONICS CO.; PALOMAR PRODUCTS, INC.; ROLLS-ROYCE PLC; MEMTRON TECHNOLOGIES CO.; CHELTON, INC. (N/K/A CHELTON AVIONICS, INC.); SIMPLEX MANUFACTURING CO.; APICAL INDUSTRIES, INC.; AERO-INSTRUMENTS CO., LLC; AIRBORNE SYSTEMS NA, INC.; HARCOSEMCO LLC; HARCO, LLC (N/K/A HARCOSEMCO LLC); PEXCO AEROSPACE, INC.; TELAIR US LLC; CALSPAN AERO SYSTEMS ENGINEERING, INC.; CALSPAN SYSTEMS, LLC; ADAMS RITE AEROSPACE, INC.; ACME AEROSPACE, INC.; SCHNELLER, INC.; CEF INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 067640/0237 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2019
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT
To: JOSLYN SUNBANK COMPANY, LLC; SOURIAU USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 051343/0276 →
NOTICE OF RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Dec 20, 2019
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
To: JOSLYN SUNBANK COMPANY, LLC; SOURIAU USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 051381/0874 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2019
From: SOURIAU USA, INC.; LEACH INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; TA AEROSPACE CO.; ADVANCED INPUT DEVICES, INC.; MASON ELECTRIC CO.; NMC GROUP, INC.; PALOMAR PRODUCTS, INC.; KORRY ELECTRONICS CO.; MEMTRON TECHNOLOGIES CO.; JOSLYN SUNBANK COMPANY, LLC; ARMTEC DEFENSE PRODUCTS CO.; ARMTEC COUNTERMEASURES CO.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG
Reel/Frame 048788/0719 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2019
From: SOURIAU USA, INC.; LEACH INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; TA AEROSPACE CO.; ADVANCED INPUT DEVICES, INC.; MASON ELECTRIC CO.; NMC GROUP, INC.; PALOMAR PRODUCTS, INC.; KORRY ELECTRONICS CO.; MEMTRON TECHNOLOGIES CO.; JOSLYN SUNBANK COMPANY, LLC; ARMTEC DEFENSE PRODUCTS CO.; ARMTEC COUNTERMEASURES CO.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 048788/0581 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 15, 2019
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: ADVANCED INPUT DEVICES, INC.; ARMTEC DEFENSE PRODUCTS CO.; KIRKHILL-TA CO.; KORRY ELECTRONICS CO.; LEACH INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; MASON ELECTRIC CO.; NMC GROUP,INC.; PACIFIC AEROSPACE & ELECTRONICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 048609/0901 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2015
From: ADVANCED INPUT DEVICES, INC.; ARMTEC DEFENSE PRODUCTS CO.; KIRKHILL-TA CO.; KORRY ELECTRONICS CO.; LEACH INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; MASON ELECTRIC CO.; NMC GROUP, INC.; PACIFIC AEROSPACE & ELECTRONICS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 035676/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 16, 2011
From: HARNISH, SCOTT DAVID; WICKARD, TIMOTHY
To: SOURIAU USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 026759/0058 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61374483 · Aug 17, 2010
Related Publication 20120045924A1 · Feb 23, 2012