Patent US3610933A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3610933A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Coupling device for transmitting electromagnetic energy from floor covering
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1968-08-08
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Granted: 1971-10-05
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Expires: 1988-08-08
Abstract
Abstract A coupling device for penetrating a laminated floor covering, carrying electromagnetic energy and thereby transmitting power or signal or both from the floor covering to a receiving unit located on the covering. The coupling device has an enlarged upper body with a probe portion extending downwardly therefrom having a tapered conductive tip and an upper conductive member above the tip and separated therefrom by an insulating member. When the coupling is properly inserted in the floor covering, the tip and the upper conductive member on the probe due to their predetermined spacing automatically contact conductive layers of the floor covering. In a composite version of the coupling, a microwave signal receiving rod embedded within the probe portion between its tip and its upper conductive member becomes automatically located within a microwave signal propagation layer of the floor covering that is provided between conductive layers. A coupling device with a plurality of probe legs for providing multiple signal and power pickups is also provided.
Inventors
- 👤 John A Shaver
- 👤 Edwin K Dole
- 👤 Robert S Osmond
- 👤 Thomas G Morrissey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 15:48
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B5/00; G09B5/08; G09B5/12; A; A47; A47C; A47C7/00; A47C7/62; A47C7/72; A47C7/723; A47C7/727; H; H01; H01R; H01R24/00; H01R24/58; H04; H04B; H04B13/00; H04B3/00; H04B3/54; H01R2103/00; H04B2203/00; H04B2203/54; H04B2203/5404; H04B2203/5416; H04B2203/5462; H04B2203/5483
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
For use in combination with an information dissemination system including a laminated floor covering having spaced-apart electrically conductive layers above and below a nonconductive layer through which electromagnetic wave energy is transmitted, a coupling device adapted for connection to a receiving unit and adapted to penetrate said floor covering to receive or transmit modulated wave signals through the nonconductive layer, said device comprising: a rigid probe member having an end portion including a signal sensing means; stop means for controlling the amount of penetration so that said end portion is located within said nonconductive layer of the floor covering when the coupler probe is forced generally vertically into it; and means connected to the upper end of said rigid probe member for transmitting signal energy to or from audio or video components of said receiving unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
For use in combination with an information dissemination system including a laminated floor covering having spaced-apart electrically conductive layers above and below a nonconductive layer through which electromagnetic wave energy is transmitted, a coupling device adapted for connection to a receiving unit and adapted to penetrate said floor covering to receive or transmit modulated wave signals through the nonconductive layer, said device comprising: a rigid probe member having an end portion including a signal sensing means; stop means for controlling the amount of penetration so that said end portion is located within said nonconductive layer of the floor covering when the coupler probe is forced generally vertically into it; and means connected to the upper end of said rigid probe member for transmitting signal energy to or from audio or video components of said receiving unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The coupler probe as described in claim 1 wherein said rigid member includes a wave guide pipe; a probe tip providing said signal sensing means attached to the side of said guide pipe and insulated from it; and a solid plastic material surrounding said probe tip and forming said tapered end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
97 words
The coupler probe as described in claim 1 where said rigid member is formed as a rod of relatively hard, clear, glasslike material having a beveled surface at its lower end comprising said sensing means; a coating a light reflective material on said rod above said beveled surface; a curved outer surface of a predetermined curvature extending rearwardly from said beveled surface; and light reflective material on said curved surface; whereby coherent light waves impinging on said beveled surface and against said curved reflective convex surface are directed upwardly through said rod and to said receiving unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
125 words
A coupling device connected to a receiving unit and adapted to penetrate a floor coVering having a layer of dielectric material between layers of conductive material for transmitting electromagnetic energy from the covering to the receiving unit, said device comprising: an enlarged upper portion with a lower transverse surface forming a stop; probe means extending downwardly from said upper portion and tapered to a point at its lower end, a lower conductive member and an upper conductive member on said probe portion; insulation means separating said upper and lower conductive members; separate lead means extending within said upper portion and connected to said upper and lower conductive members; and microwave pickup means spaced downwardly from said upper portion between said upper and lower conductive members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
125 words
A coupling device connected to a receiving unit and adapted to penetrate a floor coVering having a layer of dielectric material between layers of conductive material for transmitting electromagnetic energy from the covering to the receiving unit, said device comprising: an enlarged upper portion with a lower transverse surface forming a stop; probe means extending downwardly from said upper portion and tapered to a point at its lower end, a lower conductive member and an upper conductive member on said probe portion; insulation means separating said upper and lower conductive members; separate lead means extending within said upper portion and connected to said upper and lower conductive members; and microwave pickup means spaced downwardly from said upper portion between said upper and lower conductive members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The device as described in claim 4 wherein said lower conductive member of said probe means comprises a central core of conductive material and said upper conductive member comprises a conductive sleeve separated from said core by an insulating sleeve and terminating above the tapered end of said core.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device as described in claim 4 wherein said lower conductive member of said probe means is a tapered tip member, said upper conductive member is a sleeve of conductive material spaced above said tip member and an insulating member between said tip member and said sleeve member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The coupling device of claim 6 wherein said microwave pickup means is secured within said insulating member and extending upwardly through said upper conductive sleeve member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
The coupling device of claim 7 including a coaxial cable extending into its said enlarged upper portion having a central conductor connected to the upper end of said microwave pickup means, shield means around said central conductor, and means for clamping said shield means and securing said coaxial cable within the enlarged upper portion of the device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
199 words
A coupling device adapted to penetrate a laminated floor covering having a pair of conductive layers separated by a dielectric material for simultaneously transmitting electrical power and signal energy from the floor covering to a receiving unit thereon attached to the coupling device, comprising: an enlarged upper portion; a rigid signal probe member attached to and extending downwardly from said upper portion and including a signal sensing means at its lower end; said upper portion including stop means for controlling the amount of penetration so that said end portion is located at a predetermined location within the floor covering when said signal probe member is forced generally vertically into it; means connected to the upper end of said rigid probe member for transmitting signal energy to or from audio or video components of said receiving unit; and power probe means attached to and extending downwardly from said upper portion of said coupling device and spaced from said signal probe member, said probe means including a plurality of elongated, spaced-apart conductive members having conductive portions located above and below said end portion of said signal probe member so as to penetrate and contact the conductive layers of the floor covering.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
199 words
A coupling device adapted to penetrate a laminated floor covering having a pair of conductive layers separated by a dielectric material for simultaneously transmitting electrical power and signal energy from the floor covering to a receiving unit thereon attached to the coupling device, comprising: an enlarged upper portion; a rigid signal probe member attached to and extending downwardly from said upper portion and including a signal sensing means at its lower end; said upper portion including stop means for controlling the amount of penetration so that said end portion is located at a predetermined location within the floor covering when said signal probe member is forced generally vertically into it; means connected to the upper end of said rigid probe member for transmitting signal energy to or from audio or video components of said receiving unit; and power probe means attached to and extending downwardly from said upper portion of said coupling device and spaced from said signal probe member, said probe means including a plurality of elongated, spaced-apart conductive members having conductive portions located above and below said end portion of said signal probe member so as to penetrate and contact the conductive layers of the floor covering.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-04 | 1975-04-05 | 1975-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-04 | 1979-04-05 | 1979-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-04 | 1983-04-05 | 1983-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |