IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,244,108
Granted Patent B2
US 12,244,108 · App. 17/115,449 · Granted Mar 4, 2025

Ground portion for maintaining a ground path in a coaxial cable connector

Inventors: Eric Purdy (Constantia, NY); Noah P. Montena (Syracuse, NY); Jeremy Amidon (Waxhaw, NC)
Assignee: PPC BROADBAND, INC.
H01R24/40H01R9/05H01R9/0521H01R9/0524H01R13/622H01R13/6592H01R24/38H01R2103/00Y10T29/49117Y10T29/49123Y10T29/49208
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 12,244,108
App. No.
17/115,449
Granted
Mar 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A ground portion for maintaining a ground path in a coaxial cable connector includes a coupler ground contact portion configured to be biasingly maintained in contact with a rearward facing coupler surface of a coupler of a connector when the connector is assembled and during operation of connector and a post ground contact portion configured to be located rearward from the rearward facing coupler surface of the coupler of the connector so as to extend in a space formed between a forward facing body surface of a body of the connector and a rearward facing post surface of a post of the connector when the connector is assembled and when the coupler engages the interface port so as to maintain physical and electrical grounding contact with the rearward facing post surface during operation of the connector.

Claims (45)

1. A ground portion for maintaining a ground path in a coaxial cable connector having a coupler with a rearward facing coupler surface, a body with a forward facing body surface, and a post with a rearward facing post surface comprising:

a coupler ground contact portion configured to be biasingly maintained in contact with the rearward facing coupler surface of the coupler of a connector when the connector is assembled and during operation of the connector; and

a post ground contact portion configured to be located rearward from the rearward facing coupler surface of the coupler of the connector so as to extend in a space formed between the forward facing body surface of a body of the connector and the rearward facing post surface of a post of the connector when the connector is assembled and when the coupler engages an interface port so as to maintain physical and electrical grounding contact with the rearward facing post surface during operation of the connector.

2. The ground portion of claim 1 , wherein the post ground contact portion is configured to maintain continuous physical and electrical grounding contact with the rearward facing post surface of the post at all times during operation of the connector.

3. The ground portion of claim 1 , wherein the coupler ground contact portion comprises:

a first flexible portion having a first arcuate portion extending between a first end portion and a second end portion of the first flexible portion, the first and second end portions of the first flexible portion integrally connecting the first arcuate portion to the post ground contact portion, wherein the first flexible portion is raised above a plane of the post ground contact portion and is configured to be biasingly maintained in contact with the rearward facing coupler surface of the coupler;

a second flexible portion having a second arcuate portion extending between a first end portion and a second end portion of the second flexible portion, the first and second end portions of the second flexible portion integrally connecting the second arcuate portion to the post ground contact portion, wherein the second flexible portion is raised above the plane of the post ground contact portion and is configured to be biasingly maintained in contact with the rearward facing coupler surface of the coupler; and

wherein the first arcuate portion and the second arcuate portion of the coupler ground contact portion are arched portions.

4. The ground portion of claim 1 , further comprising a first arcuate slot and a second arcuate slot formed between the coupler ground contact portion and the post ground contact portion, and wherein the first flexible portion is symmetrically arranged radially opposite of the second flexible portion.

5. The ground portion of claim 3 , wherein the first and second end portions of the first flexible portion are configured to exert symmetrical spring-like forces against the first arcuate portion such that the first flexible portion is configured to resiliently engage the rearward facing coupler surface of the coupler, and

wherein the first and second end portions of the second flexible portion are configured to exert symmetrical spring-like forces against the second arcuate portion such that the second flexible portion is configured to resiliently engage the rearward facing coupler surface of the coupler when the connector is assembled and during operation of the connector.

6. The ground portion of claim 1 , wherein the forward facing body surface of the body comprises a forward most surface of the body relative to a forward direction toward the interface port when the coupler engages the interface port.

7. The ground portion of claim 1 , wherein the post ground contact portion comprises a post contact surface that is configured to face a forward direction toward the interface port when the coupler engages the interface port, and wherein the post contact surface is configured to be oriented parallel to the rearward facing post surface of the post when the connector is assembled, before the coupler of the assembled connector is engaged with the interface port, before the body has engaged a coaxial cable, and during operation of the connector.

8. The ground portion of claim 1 , wherein the post ground contact portion is configured to maintain a continuous, non-intermittent, and not momentary ground path with the rearward facing post surface of the post at all times during operation of the connector.

9. The ground portion of claim 8 , wherein the continuous, non-intermittent, and not momentary ground path remains continuous during operation of the connector even when the post and the coupler are spaced away from, and are not in electrical contact with, one another during operation of the connector.

10. The ground portion of claim 1 , wherein the post includes a flange portion, the rearward facing post surface comprises a first rearward facing flange surface of the flange portion, the flange portion includes a second rearward facing flange surface spaced away from the first rearward facing flange surface and an intermediate surface between the first and second rearward facing flange surfaces, and wherein the first rearward facing flange surface is configured to face toward the forward facing body surface when the connector is assembled and while the first rearward facing flange surface is maintained in contact with a post contact surface of the post ground contact portion during operation of the connector.

11. The ground portion of claim 1 , wherein the post includes an outwardly facing post portion rearwardly spaced away from the rearward facing post surface of the post relative to the rearward direction, and further comprising a collar post ground contact portion that rearwardly extends away from the rearward facing post surface of the post relative to the rearward direction so as to encircle the outwardly facing post portion of the post.

12. The ground portion of claim 1 , wherein the coupler ground contact portion comprises a portion of a member that is separate and distinct component from the coupler, the body, and the post of the connector.

13. The ground portion of claim 1 , wherein the post ground contact portion comprises a portion of a member that is separate and distinct component from the coupler, the body, and the post of the connector.

14. Ground member for maintaining a ground path in a coaxial cable connector having a coupler with a rearward facing coupler surface, a body with a forward facing body surface, and a post with a rearward facing post surface comprising:

coupler ground contact means for biasingly maintaining contact with the rearward facing coupler surface of the coupler of a connector when the connector is assembled and during operation of the connector; and

post ground contact means for maintaining physical and electrical grounding contact with the rearward facing post surface during operation of the connector, the post ground contact means being located rearward from the rearward facing coupler surface of the coupler of the connector and extending in a space formed between the forward facing body surface of a body of the connector and the rearward facing post surface of a post of the connector when the connector is assembled and when the coupler engages an interface port.

15. The ground member of claim 14 , wherein the post ground contact means maintains continuous physical and electrical grounding contact with the rearward facing post surface of the post at all times during operation of the connector.

16. The ground member of claim 14 , wherein the coupler ground contact means comprises:

first flexible means for biasingly maintaining contact with the rearward facing coupler surface of the coupler, the first flexible means having a first arcuate portion extending between a first end portion and a second end portion of the first flexible means, the first and second end portions of the first flexible portion integrally connecting the first arcuate portion to the post ground contact means, wherein the first flexible portion is raised above a plane of the post ground contact means;

a second flexible means for biasingly maintaining contact with the rearward facing coupler surface of the coupler, the second flexible means having a second arcuate portion extending between a first end portion and a second end portion of the second flexible portion, the first and second end portions of the second flexible portion integrally connecting the second arcuate portion to the post ground contact means, wherein the second flexible portion is raised above the plane of the post ground contact means; and

wherein the first arcuate portion and the second arcuate portion of the coupler ground contact means are arched portions.

17. The ground member of claim 14 , further comprising a first arcuate slot and a second arcuate slot formed between the coupler ground contact means and the post ground contact means, and wherein the first flexible means is symmetrically arranged radially opposite of the second flexible means.

18. The ground member of claim 17 , wherein the first and second end portions of the first flexible means are configured to exert symmetrical spring-like forces against the first arcuate portion such that the first flexible means is configured to resiliently engage the rearward facing coupler surface of the coupler, and

wherein the first and second end portions of the second flexible means are configured to exert symmetrical spring-like forces against the second arcuate portion such that the second flexible means is configured to resiliently engage the rearward facing coupler surface of the coupler when the connector is assembled and during operation of the connector.

19. The ground member of claim 14 , wherein the forward facing body surface of the body comprises a forward most surface of the body relative to a forward direction toward the interface port when the coupler engages the interface port.

20. The ground member of claim 14 , wherein the post ground contact means comprises a post contact surface that is configured to face a forward direction toward the interface port when the coupler engages the interface port, and wherein the post contact surface is configured to be oriented parallel to the rearward facing post surface of the post when the connector is assembled, before the coupler of the assembled connector is engaged with the interface port, before the body has engaged a coaxial cable, and during operation of the connector.

21. The ground member of claim 14 , wherein the post ground contact means is configured to maintain a continuous, non-intermittent, and not momentary ground path with the rearward facing post surface of the post at all times during operation of the connector.

22. The ground member of claim 21 , wherein the continuous, non-intermittent, and not momentary ground path remains continuous during operation of the connector even when the post and the coupler are spaced away from, and are not in electrical contact with, one another during operation of the connector.

23. The ground member of claim 14 , wherein the post includes a flange portion, the rearward facing post surface comprises a first rearward facing flange surface of the flange portion, the flange portion includes a second rearward facing flange surface spaced away from the first rearward facing flange surface and an intermediate surface between the first and second rearward facing flange surfaces, and wherein the first rearward facing flange surface is configured to face toward the forward facing body surface when the connector is assembled and while the first rearward facing flange surface is maintained in contact with a post contact surface of the post ground contact means during operation of the connector.

24. The ground member of claim 14 , wherein the post includes an outwardly facing post portion rearwardly spaced away from the rearward facing post surface of the post relative to the rearward direction, and further comprising a collar post ground contact portion that rearwardly extends away from the rearward facing post surface of the post relative to the rearward direction so as to encircle the outwardly facing post portion of the post.

25. The ground member of claim 14 , wherein the coupler ground contact means comprises a portion of a member that is a separate and distinct component from the coupler, the body, and the post of the connector.

26. The ground member of claim 14 , wherein the post ground contact means comprises a portion of a member that is a separate and distinct component from the coupler, the body, and the post of the connector.

27. Ground member for maintaining a ground path in a coaxial cable connector having a coupler with a rearward facing coupler surface, a body with a forward facing body surface, and a post with a rearward facing post surface comprising:

a coupler ground contact surface configured to be biasingly maintained in contact with the rearward facing coupler surface of the coupler of a connector when the connector is assembled and during operation of the connector; and

a post contact surface configured to be located rearward from the rearward facing coupler surface of the coupler of the connector so as to extend in a space formed between the forward facing body surface of a body of the connector and the rearward facing post surface of a post of the connector when the connector is assembled and when the coupler engages an interface port so as to maintain physical and electrical grounding contact with the rearward facing post surface during operation of the connector.

28. The ground member of claim 27 , wherein the post contact surface is configured to maintain continuous physical and electrical grounding contact with the rearward facing post surface of the post at all times during operation of the connector.

29. The ground member of claim 27 , wherein the post contact surface is configured to face a forward direction toward the interface port when the coupler engages the interface port, and wherein the post contact surface is configured to be oriented parallel to the rearward facing post surface of the post when the connector is assembled, before the coupler of the assembled connector is engaged with the interface port, before the body has engaged a coaxial cable, and during operation of the connector.

30. The ground member of claim 27 , wherein the post contact surface is configured to maintain a continuous, non-intermittent, and not momentary ground path with the rearward facing post surface of the post at all times during operation of the connector.

31. The ground member of claim 30 , wherein the continuous, non-intermittent, and not momentary ground path remains continuous during operation of the connector even when the post and the coupler are spaced away from, and are not in electrical contact with, one another during operation of the connector.

Continuity (6)
Continuation 15601967 · May 22, 2017
Continuation 14134892 · Dec 19, 2013
Continuation 13652073 · Oct 15, 2012
Continuation 12633792 · Dec 8, 2009
Provisional Application 61180835 · May 22, 2009
Related Publication 20210091516A1 · Mar 25, 2021
References Cited (400)
US 1371742A · Dringman · 1921 [cited by applicant]
US 1667485A · MacDonald · 1921 [cited by applicant]
US 1766869A · Austin · 1930 [cited by applicant]
US 1801999A · Bowman · 1931 [cited by applicant]
US 1885761A · Peirce, Jr. · 1932 [cited by applicant]
US 2013526A · Schmitt · 1935 [cited by applicant]
US 2102495A · England · 1937 [cited by applicant]
US 2258737A · Browne · 1941 [cited by applicant]
US 2325549A · Ryzowitz · 1943 [cited by applicant]
US 2480963A · Quinn · 1949 [cited by applicant]
US 2544654A · Brown · 1951 [cited by applicant]
US 2549647A · Turenne · 1951 [cited by applicant]
US 2665729A · Terry · 1954 [cited by applicant]
US 2694187A · Nash · 1954 [cited by applicant]
US 2694817A · Roderick · 1954 [cited by applicant]
US 2754487A · Carr et al. · 1956 [cited by applicant]
US 2755331A · Melcher · 1956 [cited by applicant]
US 2757351A · Klostermann · 1956 [cited by applicant]
US 2762025A · Melcher · 1956 [cited by applicant]
US 2805399A · Leeper · 1957 [cited by applicant]
US 2816949A · Curtiss · 1957 [cited by applicant]
US 2870420A · Malek · 1959 [cited by applicant]
US 3001169A · Blonder · 1961 [cited by applicant]
US 3015794A · Kishbaugh · 1962 [cited by applicant]
US 3091748A · Takes et al. · 1963 [cited by applicant]
US 3094364A · Lingg · 1963 [cited by applicant]
US 3103548A · Concelman · 1963 [cited by applicant]
US 3184706A · Atkins · 1965 [cited by applicant]
US 3194292A · Borowsky · 1965 [cited by applicant]
US 3196382A · Morello, Jr. · 1965 [cited by applicant]
US 3245027A · Ziegler, Jr. · 1966 [cited by applicant]
US 3275913A · Blanchard et al. · 1966 [cited by applicant]
US 3278890A · Cooney · 1966 [cited by applicant]
US 3281757A · Bonhomme · 1966 [cited by applicant]
US 3292136A · Somerset · 1966 [cited by applicant]
US 3320575A · Brown et al. · 1967 [cited by applicant]
US 3321732A · Forney, Jr. · 1967 [cited by applicant]
US 3336563A · Hyslop · 1967 [cited by applicant]
US 3348186A · Rosen · 1967 [cited by applicant]
US 3350677A · Daum · 1967 [cited by applicant]
US 3355698A · Keller · 1967 [cited by applicant]
US 3373243A · Janowiak et al. · 1968 [cited by applicant]
US 3390374A · Forney, Jr. · 1968 [cited by applicant]
US 3406373A · Forney, Jr. · 1968 [cited by applicant]
US 3430184A · Acord · 1969 [cited by applicant]
US 3448430A · Kelly · 1969 [cited by applicant]
US 3453376A · Ziegler, Jr. et al. · 1969 [cited by applicant]
US 3465281A · Florer · 1969 [cited by applicant]
US 3475545A · Stark et al. · 1969 [cited by applicant]
US 3494400A · McCoy et al. · 1970 [cited by applicant]
US 3498647A · Schroder · 1970 [cited by applicant]
US 3501737A · Harris et al. · 1970 [cited by applicant]
US 3517373A · Jamon · 1970 [cited by applicant]
US 3526871A · Hobart · 1970 [cited by applicant]
US 3533051A · Ziegler, Jr. · 1970 [cited by applicant]
US 3537065A · Winston · 1970 [cited by applicant]
US 3544705A · Winston · 1970 [cited by applicant]
US 3551882A · O'Keefe · 1970 [cited by applicant]
US 3564487A · Upstone et al. · 1971 [cited by applicant]
US 3587033A · Brorein et al. · 1971 [cited by applicant]
US 3601776A · Curl · 1971 [cited by applicant]
US 3629792A · Dorrell · 1971 [cited by applicant]
US 3633150A · Swartz · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3646502A · Hutter et al. · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3663926A · Brandl · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3665371A · Cripps · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3668612A · Nepovim · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3669472A · Nadsady · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3671922A · Zerlin et al. · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3678444A · Stevens et al. · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3678445A · Brancaleone · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3680034A · Chow et al. · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3681739A · Kornick · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3683320A · Woods et al. · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3686623A · Nijman · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3694792A · Wallo · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3706958A · Blanchenot · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3710005A · French · 1973 [cited by applicant]
US 3739076A · Schwartz · 1973 [cited by applicant]
US 3744007A · Horak · 1973 [cited by applicant]
US 3744011A · Blanchenot · 1973 [cited by applicant]
US 3778535A · Forney, Jr. · 1973 [cited by applicant]
US 3781762A · Quackenbush · 1973 [cited by applicant]
US 3781898A · Holloway · 1973 [cited by applicant]
US 3793610A · Brishka · 1974 [cited by applicant]
US 3798589A · Deardurff · 1974 [cited by applicant]
US 3808580A · Johnson · 1974 [cited by applicant]
US 3810076A · Hutter · 1974 [cited by applicant]
US 3835443A · Arnold et al. · 1974 [cited by applicant]
US 3836700A · Niemeyer · 1974 [cited by applicant]
US 3845453A · Hemmer · 1974 [cited by applicant]
US 3846738A · Nepovim · 1974 [cited by applicant]
US 3854003A · Duret · 1974 [cited by applicant]
US 3858156A · Zarro · 1974 [cited by applicant]
US 3870978A · Dreyer · 1975 [cited by applicant]
US 3879102A · Horak · 1975 [cited by applicant]
US 3886301A · Cronin et al. · 1975 [cited by applicant]
US 3907399A · Spinner · 1975 [cited by applicant]
US 3910673A · Stokes · 1975 [cited by applicant]
US 3915539A · Collins · 1975 [cited by applicant]
US 3936132A · Hutter · 1976 [cited by applicant]
US 3953097A · Graham · 1976 [cited by applicant]
US 3960428A · Naus et al. · 1976 [cited by applicant]
US 3963320A · Spinner · 1976 [cited by applicant]
US 3963321A · Burger et al. · 1976 [cited by applicant]
US 3970355A · Pitschi · 1976 [cited by applicant]
US 3972013A · Shapiro · 1976 [cited by applicant]
US 3976352A · Spinner · 1976 [cited by applicant]
US 3980805A · Lipari · 1976 [cited by applicant]
US 3985418A · Spinner · 1976 [cited by applicant]
US 4017139A · Nelson · 1977 [cited by applicant]
US 4022966A · Gajajiva · 1977 [cited by applicant]
US 4030798A · Paoli · 1977 [cited by applicant]
US 4045706A · Daffner et al. · 1977 [cited by applicant]
US 4046451A · Juds et al. · 1977 [cited by applicant]
US 4053200A · Pugner · 1977 [cited by applicant]
US 4059330A · Shirey · 1977 [cited by applicant]
US 4079343A · Nijman · 1978 [cited by applicant]
US 4082404A · Fiatt · 1978 [cited by applicant]
US 4090028A · Vonlobel · 1978 [cited by applicant]
US 4093335A · Schwartz et al. · 1978 [cited by applicant]
US 4106839A · Cooper · 1978 [cited by applicant]
US 4109126A · Halbeck · 1978 [cited by applicant]
US 4125308A · Schilling · 1978 [cited by applicant]
US 4126372A · Hashimoto et al. · 1978 [cited by applicant]
US 4131332A · Hogendobler et al. · 1978 [cited by applicant]
US 4150250A · Lundeberg · 1979 [cited by applicant]
US 4153320A · Townshend · 1979 [cited by applicant]
US 4156554A · Aujla · 1979 [cited by applicant]
US 4165911A · Laudig · 1979 [cited by applicant]
US 4168921A · Blanchard · 1979 [cited by applicant]
US 4173385A · Fenn et al. · 1979 [cited by applicant]
US 4174875A · Wilson et al. · 1979 [cited by applicant]
US 4187481A · Boutros · 1980 [cited by applicant]
US 4193655A · Herrmann, Jr. · 1980 [cited by applicant]
US 4194338A · Trafton · 1980 [cited by applicant]
US 4213664A · McClenan · 1980 [cited by applicant]
US 4225162A · Dola · 1980 [cited by applicant]
US 4227765A · Neumann et al. · 1980 [cited by applicant]
US 4229714A · Yu · 1980 [cited by applicant]
US 4250348A · Kitagawa · 1981 [cited by applicant]
US 4280749A · Hemmer · 1981 [cited by applicant]
US 4285564A · Spinner · 1981 [cited by applicant]
US 4290663A · Fowler et al. · 1981 [cited by applicant]
US 4296986A · Herrmann et al. · 1981 [cited by applicant]
US 4307926A · Smith · 1981 [cited by applicant]
US 4322121A · Riches et al. · 1982 [cited by applicant]
US 4326769A · Dorsey et al. · 1982 [cited by applicant]
US 4339166A · Dayton · 1982 [cited by applicant]
US 4346958A · Blanchard · 1982 [cited by applicant]
US 4354721A · Luzzi · 1982 [cited by applicant]
US 4358174A · Dreyer · 1982 [cited by applicant]
US 4359254A · Gallusser · 1982 [cited by applicant]
US 4373767A · Cairns · 1983 [cited by applicant]
US 4389081A · Gallusser et al. · 1983 [cited by applicant]
US 4400050A · Hayward · 1983 [cited by applicant]
US 4407529A · Holman · 1983 [cited by applicant]
US 4408821A · Forney, Jr. · 1983 [cited by applicant]
US 4408822A · Nikitas · 1983 [cited by applicant]
US 4412717A · Monroe · 1983 [cited by applicant]
US 4421377A · Spinner · 1983 [cited by applicant]
US 4426127A · Kubota · 1984 [cited by applicant]
US 4444453A · Kirby et al. · 1984 [cited by applicant]
US 4452503A · Forney, Jr. · 1984 [cited by applicant]
US 4456323A · Pilcher et al. · 1984 [cited by applicant]
US 4462653A · Flederbach et al. · 1984 [cited by applicant]
US 4464000A · Werth et al. · 1984 [cited by applicant]
US 4464001A · Collins · 1984 [cited by applicant]
US 4469386A · Ackerman · 1984 [cited by applicant]
US 4470657A · Deacon · 1984 [cited by applicant]
US 4484792A · Tengler et al. · 1984 [cited by applicant]
US 4484796A · Sato et al. · 1984 [cited by applicant]
US 4490576A · Bolante et al. · 1984 [cited by applicant]
US 4506943A · Drogo · 1985 [cited by applicant]
US 4515427A · Smit · 1985 [cited by applicant]
US 4525017A · Schildkraut et al. · 1985 [cited by applicant]
US 4531790A · Selvin · 1985 [cited by applicant]
US 4531805A · Werth · 1985 [cited by applicant]
US 4533191A · Blackwood · 1985 [cited by applicant]
US 4540231A · Forney, Jr. · 1985 [cited by applicant]
US RE31995E · Ball · 1985 [cited by applicant]
US 4545637A · Bosshard et al. · 1985 [cited by applicant]
US 4575274A · Hayward · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4580862A · Johnson · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4580865A · Fryberger · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4583811A · McMills · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4585289A · Bocher · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4588246A · Schildkraut et al. · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4593964A · Forney, Jr. et al. · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4596434A · Saba et al. · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4596435A · Bickford · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4597621A · Burns · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4598959A · Selvin · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4598961A · Cohen · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4600263A · DeChamp et al. · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4613199A · McGeary · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4614390A · Baker · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4616900A · Cairns · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4632487A · Wargula · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4634213A · Larsson et al. · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4640572A · Conlon · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4645281A · Burger · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4650228A · McMills et al. · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4655159A · McMills · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4655534A · Stursa · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4660921A · Hauver · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4668043A · Saba et al. · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4673236A · Musolff et al. · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4674818A · McMills et al. · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4676577A · Szegda · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4682832A · Punako et al. · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4684201A · Hutter · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4688876A · Morelli · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4688878A · Cohen et al. · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4690482A · Chamberland et al. · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4691976A · Cowen · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4703987A · Gallusser et al. · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4703988A · Raux et al. · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4717355A · Mattis · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4720155A · Schildkraut et al. · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4734050A · Negre et al. · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4734666A · Ohya et al. · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4737123A · Paler et al. · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4738009A · Down et al. · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4738628A · Rees · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4739126A · Gutter et al. · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4746305A · Nomura · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4747786A · Hayashi et al. · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4749821A · Linton et al. · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4755152A · Elliot et al. · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4757297A · Frawley · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4759729A · Kemppainen et al. · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4761146A · Sohoel · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4772222A · Laudig et al. · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4789355A · Lee · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4789759A · Jones · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4795360A · Newman et al. · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4797120A · Ulery · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4806116A · Ackerman · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4807891A · Neher · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4808128A · Werth · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4813886A · Roos et al. · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4820185A · Moulin · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4834675A · Samchisen · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4835342A · Guginsky · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4836801A · Ramirez · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4838813A · Pauza et al. · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4854893A · Morris · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4857014A · Alf et al. · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4867706A · Tang · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4869679A · Szegda · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4874331A · Iverson · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4892275A · Szegda · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4902246A · Samchisen · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4906207A · Banning et al. · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4915651A · Bout · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4921447A · Capp et al. · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4923412A · Morris · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4925403A · Zorzy · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4927385A · Cheng · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4929188A · Lionetto et al. · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4934960A · Capp et al. · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4938718A · Guendel · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4941846A · Guimond et al. · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4952174A · Sucht et al. · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4957456A · Olson et al. · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4973265A · Heeren · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4979911A · Spencer · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4990104A · Schieferly · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 4990105A · Karlovich · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 4990106A · Szegda · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 4992061A · Brush, Jr. et al. · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5002503A · Campbell et al. · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5007861A · Stirling · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5011422A · Yeh · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5011432A · Sucht et al. · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5021010A · Wright · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5024606A · Ming-Hwa · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5030126A · Hanlon · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5037328A · Karlovich · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5046964A · Welsh et al. · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5052947A · Brodie et al. · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5055060A · Down et al. · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5059747A · Bawa et al. · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5062804A · Jamet et al. · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5066248A · Gaver, Jr. et al. · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5073129A · Szegda · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5080600A · Baker et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5083943A · Tarrant · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5120260A · Jackson · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5127853A · McMills et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5131862A · Gershfeld · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5137470A · Doles · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5137471A · Verespej et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5141448A · Mattingly et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5141451A · Down · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5149274A · Gallusser et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5154636A · Vaccaro et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5161993A · Leibfried, Jr. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5166477A · Perin, Jr. et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5169323A · Kawai et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5181161A · Hirose et al. · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5183417A · Bools · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5186501A · Mano · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5186655A · Glenday et al. · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5195905A · Pesci · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5195906A · Szegda · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5205547A · Mattingly · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5205761A · Nilsson · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5207602A · McMills et al. · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5215477A · Weber et al. · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5217391A · Fisher, Jr. · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5217393A · Del Negro et al. · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5221216A · Gabany et al. · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5227587A · Paterek · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5247424A · Harris et al. · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5269701A · Leibfried, Jr. · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5283853A · Szegda · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5284449A · Vaccaro · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5294864A · Do · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5295864A · Birch et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5316494A · Flanagan et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5318459A · Shields · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5321205A · Bawa et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5334032A · Myers et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5334051A · Devine et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5338225A · Jacobsen et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5342218A · McMills et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5354217A · Gabel et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5362250A · McMills et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5371819A · Szegda · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5371821A · Szegda · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5371827A · Szegda · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5380211A · Kawaguchi et al. · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5389005A · Kodama · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5393244A · Szegda · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5397252A · Wang · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5413504A · Kloecker et al. · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5431583A · Szegda · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5435745A · Booth · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5435751A · Papenheim et al. · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5439386A · Ellis et al. · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5444810A · Szegda · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5455548A · Grandchamp et al. · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5456611A · Henry et al. · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5456614A · Szegda · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5466173A · Down · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5470257A · Szegda · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5474478A · Ballog · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5490033A · Cronin · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5490801A · Fisher, Jr. et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5494454A · Johnsen · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5499934A · Jacobsen et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5501616A · Holliday · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5509823A · Harting et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5516303A · Yohn et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5525076A · Down · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5542861A · Anhalt et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5548088A · Gray et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5550521A · Bernaud et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5564938A · Shenkal et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5571028A · Szegda · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5586910A · Del Negro et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5595499A · Zander et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5598132A · Stabile · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5607325A · Toma · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5620339A · Gray et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5632637A · Diener · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5632651A · Szegda · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5644104A · Porter et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5651698A · Locati et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5651699A · Holliday · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5653605A · Woehl et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5667405A · Holliday · 1997 [cited by examiner]
US 5681172A · Moldenhauer · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5683263A · Hsu · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5702263A · Baumann et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5722856A · Fuchs et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5735704A · Anthony · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5746617A · Porter, Jr. et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5746619A · Harting et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5769652A · Wider · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5775927A · Wider · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5863220A · Holliday · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5877452A · McConnell · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5879191A · Burris · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5882226A · Bell et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5897795A · Lu et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5921793A · Phillips · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5938465A · Fox, Sr. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5944548A · Saito · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5951327A · Marik · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5957716A · Buckley et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5967852A · Follingstad et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5975949A · Holliday et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5975951A · Burris et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5977841A · Lee et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5997350A · Burris et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 6010349A · Porter, Jr. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6019635A · Nelson · 2000 [cited by applicant]