EP0797273A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connecting apparatus
Assignee: Alps Alpine Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1997-03-14
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2017-03-14
Abstract
Abstract An external connector mounted on a printed circuit board of a steering system is composed of a first movable carriage to which flexible terminals are secured, a second movable carriage for guiding the first movable carriage in the X direction, and a support carriage for guiding the second movable carriage in the Y direction so that the first and second movable carriages can move in the X and Y directions, respectively, with respect to the support carriage. In connecting a fixed direct coupler of a rotary connector is connected to the thus constructed external connector, if the fixed direct coupler is displaced with respect to the external connector, the first and second movable carriages of the external connector move in the X and Y directions, respectively, with respect to the support carriage, whereby the relative displacement between the fixed direct coupler and the external connector can be absorbed.
Inventors
- 👤 Hironori Kato
- 👤 Kimihiro Furuichi
- 👤 Masanori Nakao
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 14:22
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R35/00; H01R35/04; B; B60; B60R; B60R16/00; B60R16/02; B60R16/023; B60R16/027; H01R13/00; H01R13/62; H01R13/629; H01R13/631; H01R13/6315; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/712; H01R12/716; H01R35/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
An electrical connecting apparatus, comprising: a first device having a direct coupler; and a second device having an external connector to which said first device is mounted at a predetermined position, and connected to said direct coupler, characterized in that at least one of said direct coupler and said external connector are provided with a movable mechanism for absorbing the relative displacement therebetween.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electrical connecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said movable mechanism includes a pair of movable carriages controlled to move in directions perpendicular to each other, and flexible terminals held by said movable carriages.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
An electrical connecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said movable mechanism includes a support carriage for supporting a flexible cable, and movable carriages movably connected to said support carriage through said flexible cable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electrical connecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said movable mechanism includes a movable carriage movably connected to a support carriage through elastic members, and flexible terminals held by said movable carriage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electrical connecting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said elastic members are three dimensionally deformable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
An electrical connecting apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said first device is a rotary connector for providing continuity between a pair of rotatably connected housings through the flexible cable, and said second device is a handle of a steering system of an automobile, or a device at the side of a vehicle body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
An electrical connecting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein insertion guides for fitting said rotary connector are provided on said handle, or the device at the side of the vehicle body, and a displacement correction portion is provided between said direct coupler and said external connector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
78 words
An electrical connecting apparatus, comprising: a rotary connector for providing continuity between a pair of rotatably connected housings, said rotary connector having a direct coupler; and a handle of an automobile steering system, or a device at the side of a vehicle body having an external connector connected to said direct coupler, characterized in that at least one of said direct coupler and said external connector are provided with a movable mechanism for absorbing the relative displacement therebetween.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electrical connecting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein insertion guides for fitting said rotary connector are provided on said handle or the device at the side of the vehicle body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
100 words
An electrical connecting apparatus, comprising: a rotary connector for providing continuity between a pair of rotatably connected housings, said rotary connector having a direct coupler; and a handle of an automobile steering system, or a device at the side of a vehicle body having an external connector connected to said direct coupler, characterized in that at least one of said direct coupler and said external connector are provided with a movable mechanism for absorbing the relative displacement therebetween, and insertion guides for fitting said rotary connector are provided on said handle, or device at the side of the vehicle body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electrical connecting apparatus according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein a displacement correction portion is provided between said direct coupler and said external connector.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4909748A
Cited
US5385481A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.