The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 19, 2001
Filed:
Mar. 17, 1997
Ernest H. Lindsay, Jr., Manhattan, IL (US);
Jon M. Patterson, Mokena, IL (US);
Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US);
Abstract
A novel method and apparatus for indicating a degree of manufacture of an insert molded component useable in an end use assembly by forming a removable appendage protruding from the insert molded component, or article, manufactured to an intermediate degree, the insert molded component having a lead frame at least partially embedded in a molded housing member, and the removable appendage coupled to at least one or both of the lead frame and the molded housing member, the lead frame having at least two electrical conductors coupled separably by a tie member, the removable appendage removable upon or after electrical isolation of the electrical conductors in a subsequent processing step, whereby the presence of the removable appendage is indicative that the electrical conductors are not electrically isolated, or that the insert molded component has not been tested or inspected subsequent to electrical isolation of the electrical conductors, and whereby the removable appendage is configured to prevent use of the article manufactured to the intermediate degree in the end use assembly.