Beta Phase, Inc.

The Beta Group, Inc.

Michael D Perry

Gary Yasumura

John F Krumme

William H Humphries

Thomas W Duerig

Gerald J Selvin

Russell G Larsen

Wayne McNinch

A fastener useful for attaching components of an eyeglass frame together. The fastener includes a pin having a smooth or fluted shank and a retainer having a hole for receiving the shank, the hole being sized to provide an interference fit with the shank. The retainer is made from a titanium nickel shape memory alloy in an optimized elastic condition. The optimized elastic condition is provided by work hardening a tube or wire of Ni--Ti and cutting the retainer out of the tube/wire. The retainer accommodates wear in moving parts held together by the retainer and pin assembly.

Optimized elastic fastener useful in eyeglass frames

A connector assembly for a electrically interconnecting two printed circuit board like members comprises a connector member for being mounted on a first printed circuit board like member. The connector member includes generally parallel-spaced electrical conductors for being electrically connected to electrical circuitry positioned on the first printed circuit board like member when the connector member is mounted on the first printed circuit board like member. The electrical conductors are positioned along at least one side of an opening which extends along the connector member and which is adapted to receive a second printed circuit board like member having electrical circuitry thereon. The connector member and/or the second printed circuit board like member are configured in such a way that the second printed circuit board like member can be rotated relative to the connector member during insertion into and withdrawal from the opening in the connector member without breaking or otherwise damaging the connector member or the second printed circuit board like member. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, an alignment block is mounted on the connector member and is positionable in a slot in the second printed circuit board like member upon insertion of the second printed circuit board like member into the opening in the connector member.

Connector assembly

A fastener useful for attaching components of an eyeglass frame together. The fastener includes a pin having a smooth or fluted shank and a belleville washer having a hole for receiving the shank, the hole being sized to provide an interference fit with the washer. The washer is made from a titanium nickel shape memory alloy in an optimized elastic condition. The optimized elastic condition is provided by work hardening a sheet of Ni-Ti and cutting or stamping the washer out of the sheet. The washer is also plastically deformed into a conical shape.

Optimized elastic belleville fastener useful in eyeglass frames

A high-performance, multi-row contact matrix electrical connector having a spring element in the form of an elongated hollow split tube with a mechanical actuator operatively connected to the tube and including first and second sets of parallel spaced conductors terminating at least at one end thereof in a first and second matrix of contact pads, the matrices and the pads being positioned within the split, movement of the mechanical actuator overcoming the spring element to open and close the connector.

High density and high signal integrity connector

A high-performance, multi-row contact matrix electrical connector having a spring element in the form of an elongated hollow split tube with a heat-recoverable member of shape-memory alloy positioned within the tube and including first and second sets of parallel spaced conductors terminating at least at one end thereof in a first and second matrix of contact pads, the matrices and the pads being positioned within the split, a change in temperature changing the shape-memory alloy from one metallurgical state to another, causing movement of the heat-recoverable member and the spring means to open and close the connector.

Growing community of inventors

Woodside, CA, United States of America

Michael D Perry