Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090088023 | Locking Receptacle For Engaging A USB Device - A locking receptacle for engaging a USB device is provided. The locking receptacle comprising a four sided header with a top opening at the top of the header and a bottom opening at the bottom of the header, the top opening and the bottom opening for USB connections; the header connected to a pivotable locking tip on one side, the pivotable locking tip located to engage a standard opening on a side of a USB plug of a USB device when the USB plug is fully inserted in the locking receptacle; and the pivotable locking tip connected to a lever for pivoting the locking tip. | 04-02-2009 |
20100009113 | IN-SITU MOLDED FASTENER - A method forming a fastener in-situ for fastening two parts at abutting surfaces. A through hole may be formed on each of the first and second parts such that the diameters of the through holes at the abutting surfaces are smaller than the diameters at opposing surfaces. The first and second parts are abutted with the through hole on the first part in fluid communication with the through hole on the second part. A flowable and hardenable material is injected into the first through hole while closing flow out of the second through hole. The flowable and hardenable material contained within the through holes is allowed to harden, thus forming a unitary fastener that fastens the parts. | 01-14-2010 |
20100079936 | TOOL-LESS BACKPLANE RETENTION FOR COMPUTER HARDWARE - An apparatus is provided and includes a housing, including a housing mating device, through which an installation path for an assembly is defined with a space in which a first part is positioned, a backplane body having opposing faces on which a second part and a backplane mating device are respectively disposed, and a hub, in which a hub mating device is defined, and from which a two-stage mating device extends, the two-stage mating device including first and second elastically coupled stages. The hub and the backplane body are coupled to form the assembly and the assembly is installed/removed in/from the space with the second stage of the two-stage mating device elastically hooked by the housing mating device or released from the housing mating device and the first and second stages of the two-stage mating device biasing the hub and the backplane body to remain coupled. | 04-01-2010 |
20100311283 | LOCKING CONNECTOR FOR ENGAGING A USB RECEPTACLE - A locking connector for engaging a Universal Serial Bus (“USB”) receptacle, including: a connector housing having a locking cam opening on one side of the connector housing, the connector housing split along a longitudinal axis of the locking connector forming a connector housing gap on the same side of the connector housing as the locking cam opening; a locking cam surface positioned within the locking cam opening in contact with the connector housing; and a pivotable locking cam actuating lever connected to a top of the locking cam surface, the locking cam actuating lever having a locked position and an unlocked position, the locking cam surface in a rotated position expanding the connector housing when the cam actuating lever is in the locked position, the locking cam surface in a relaxed position with the connector housing not expanded when the cam actuating lever is in the unlocked position. | 12-09-2010 |
20120255153 | TOOL-LESS BACKPLANE RETENTION FOR COMPUTER HARDWARE - An apparatus is provided and includes a housing, including a housing mating device, through which an installation path for an assembly is defined with a space in which a first part is positioned, a backplane body having opposing faces on which a second part and a backplane mating device are respectively disposed, and a hub, in which a hub mating device is defined, and from which a two-stage mating device extends, the two-stage mating device including first and second elastically coupled stages. The hub and the backplane body are coupled to form the assembly and the assembly is installed/removed in/from the space with the second stage of the two-stage mating device elastically hooked by the housing mating device or released from the housing mating device and the first and second stages of the two-stage mating device biasing the hub and the backplane body to remain coupled. | 10-11-2012 |
20120279646 | SYSTEM FOR FASTENING PARTS - A system for fastening two parts at abutting surfaces by forming an in-situ fastener. A device selectively forms variable width through holes on two parts to be fastened, such that the width of each through hole is larger on the first surface than the opposing second surface. Opposing first and second platens selectively urge the second surfaces of the two parts into engagement while the through holes of the two parts are in fluid communication with each other. An injection system includes a flow passage through the first platen to the through hole on the part engaged by the first platen, and a pressurizing mechanism for urging the flowable and hardenable material through the flow passage and into the first and second through holes between the first and second platens under pressure. Pressure is maintained while the flowable and hardenable material hardens within the through holes. | 11-08-2012 |
20140034589 | SHELVING AND KIOSK SYSTEM - Described herein are a robotic distribution apparatus, system and method. The robotic distribution system may include a Package Delivery Kiosk (PDK), associated front end and back end package delivery management systems, portals for the consumer and the retailer, portals for the common carrier, sender, and recipient, a package inventory management system, integrated retailer access, a real and automated retailer bidding system and a kiosk for distribution. The PDK includes a distribution kiosk and shelving system. The kiosk and shelving system includes configurable shelves and dividers to enable access to the packages. The shelving system handles packages from a robotic placement mechanism and includes shelves that have receiving apertures. The shelving system further includes dividers that fit into the receiving apertures. Each of the dividers has a receiving slot that allows a robotic gripper arm to grab or handle a package with respect to a slot between a pair of dividers. | 02-06-2014 |
20140034727 | AUTOMATIC PACKAGE DELIVERY AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM - Described herein are an automatic package delivery and retrieval apparatus, system and method. The automatic package delivery and retrieval includes a Package Delivery Kiosk (PDK), associated front end and back end package delivery management systems, portals for the consumer and the retailer, portals for the common carrier, sender, and recipient, a package inventory management system, integrated retailer access, a real and automated retailer bidding system and a kiosk for distribution. In one embodiment, a system for automated package retrieval and delivery includes a kiosk, package retrieval apparatus, and various computing systems for running the systems. A method for providing packages to customers includes providing a notification with a code to a user that a package is available for retrieval. The method includes storing a package in the kiosk. The method further includes receiving the code from a user at the kiosk and retrieving the package with the automatic retrieval mechanism. | 02-06-2014 |
20140037404 | PACKAGE DELIVERY KIOSK INCLUDING INTEGRATED ROBOTIC PACKAGE LIFTING ASSEMBLY WITH SHELVING SYSTEM - Described herein is a package delivery kiosk (PDK) including an integrated robotic package lifting assembly and shelving system. The system includes a PDK, associated front end and back end package delivery management systems, including portals for the consumer, retailer, common carrier, sender, and recipient, a package inventory management system, integrated retailer access, and a real and automated retailer bidding system. The shelving system has shelves with receiving apertures and dividers configured to fit into the receiving apertures, where the dividers each have a receiving slot. A package retrieving apparatus includes a base, a vertical support interconnected with the base, and a package picker module. The package picker module is oriented to move up and down on the vertical support. The package picker module includes grippers configured to surround and grip the object. A kiosk includes a kiosk body having a package delivery slot and an interface slot. | 02-06-2014 |
20140037417 | ROBOTIC PACKAGE LIFTING ASSEMBLY AND METHOD - Described herein are a robotic distribution apparatus, system and method. The robotic distribution system may include a Package Delivery Kiosk (PDK), associated frontend and backend package delivery management systems, a package inventory management system. The PDK includes a Robotic Package Lifting Assembly which may be configured to remember the location of packages and slots and provide for automated retrieval and placement of the packages. In an embodiment, a package retrieving apparatus includes a track, a base slidably interconnected with the track, and a vertical support interconnected with the base. The apparatus includes a package picker module oriented on the vertical support to vertically move on the vertical support. The package picker module including a conveyer belt oriented in a plane parallel to the ground and first and second grippers oriented parallel to the conveyer belt to surround and grip an object beyond the surface of the conveyer belt. | 02-06-2014 |
20140039998 | ON DEMAND KIOSK COMMERCE SYSTEM AND METHOD - Described herein are an on demand kiosk commerce system and method. The on demand kiosk commerce system and method may include a Package Delivery Kiosk (PDK), associated front end and back end package delivery management systems, portals for the consumer and the retailer, portals for the common carrier, sender, and recipient, a package inventory management system, integrated retailer access, a real and automated retailer bidding system and a kiosk for distribution. | 02-06-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080232057 | Method For Docking An Electronic Circuit Board - A method of docking an electronic circuit board. The method includes securing the electronic circuit board to a mounting plate that is mechanically linked to a rigid guide plate, wherein the electronic circuit board has a first connector. The rigid guide plate is inserted in a linear insertion direction between guides that are positioned adjacent a second connector configured to receive the first connector. The rigid guide plate insertion stops in a position where the first connector of the electronic circuit board is aligned with the second connector. Actuating a positioning handle that is accessible from a trailing edge of the guide plate causes rotation of a rotatable plate relative to the guide plate. Accordingly, rotation of the rotatable plate causes linear movement of the mounting plate in a second linear direction that is substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction, wherein the linear movement of the mounting plate causes the first connector of the electronic circuit board to be received into the second connector. | 09-25-2008 |
20090049685 | METHODS FOR INSERTION AND RETRACTION OF A CONNECTOR - Methods for inserting and/or removing a connector with a remote connector agent are disclosed. Embodiments may include inserting a connector into a remote connector agent to form a remote connector system and pushing the remote connector into a header of a board to insert the connector into the header. Embodiments may also include pulling the remote connector system to retract the remote connector from the header. In some embodiments, inserting the connector into the remote connector agent further comprises pushing back one or more insertion snap pushers to allow insertion of the connector. In some embodiments, pulling the remote connector system further comprises releasing a snap of the connector with a snap release actuator before retracting the remote connector system from the header. | 02-26-2009 |
20090103270 | APPARATUS FOR SECURING HEAT SINKS TO A DEVICE UNDER TEST - Apparatus and method for securing a heat sink to a heat-generating device on a circuit board. The apparatus clamps onto the heating-generating device and the circuit board in a manner that avoids bending of the circuit board. The apparatus includes a retention module having a plurality of retention features that extend through openings in the circuit board disposed about the perimeter of the heat-generating device, such as a processor. The apparatus also includes a heat sink having a heat sink base for contacting the heat-generating device in order to dissipate heat produced by the device. The heat sink is selectively securable to the retention features of the retention module using levers, such as a wire module, having a spring clip to engage the retention features and clamp the heat sink and retention module together. | 04-23-2009 |
20090176399 | Connector with a Dismount Latch Configured to Separate Unlatching From Cable Separation and Method of Release - A connector with a dismount latch configured to separate unlatching from cable separation and method of release. A connector includes a housing having an interconnect end and a rear end, the front end configured for interfacing with a reciprocal connector in a linear motion to engage and disengage the reciprocal connector. A latch is held by the housing, wherein the latch includes support arms extending at the rear end of the housing and engaging ends proximate the interconnect end for maintaining the housing relative to the reciprocal connector when in an engaged position. An actuator is rotatably mounted within support arms of the latch for translating a force transverse to the direction of the linear motion and applying the translated force to the latch to move the engaging ends of the latch. | 07-09-2009 |