US3701964A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flat cable electrical wiring system
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp
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Filing: 1970-09-04
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Granted: 1972-10-31
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Expires: 1990-09-04
Abstract
Abstract A flat cable electrical wiring system including a number of flat electrical cables and a terminal junction assembly electrically connecting selected cable conductors. The terminal junction assembly has a terminal board mounting projecting electrically isolated terminal pins receiving apertured terminals on the cable conductors and retaining means for retaining the terminals on the terminal pins. Two cable configurations are disclosed, one having flat conductors whose terminals are attached in a fixed geometric pattern directly to one end of the flat cable sheath and the other having round conductors whose terminal ends extend beyond the ends of the cable sheath. A variety of terminal junction assemblies are disclosed including one in which selected cable conductors are electrically connected by a flexible programmable circuit member or plug having terminal pins engaging elements electrically connected by programmable circuit means in a manner which permits wiring changes without major modification of the basic wiring system by substitution of one program circuit member for another. In another disclosed terminal junction assembly, selected cable conductors are electrically connected by engagement of their terminals over common terminal pins. The junction assemblies may be arranged for electrical interconnection of flat-to-flat or flat-to-round conductor cables, electrical interconnection of flat cable and existing conventional wiring systems, and for testing and monitoring of the individual wiring circuits entering the junction.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael J Cronin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:01
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/77; H01R12/771; H01R12/774; H01R12/79; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/0286; H05K3/00; H05K3/36; H05K3/361
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A flat-cable electrical wiring system comprising: first and second flat multiconductor electrical cables wherein the electrical conductors of each of said cables are disposed in side-by-side relationship and have apertured terminal means on the ends thereof; a terminal board mounting a set of projecting terminal pins engaging said conductor terminal means, the conductor terminal means of said first flat cable being engaged over a first group of said terminal pins and the conductor terminal means of said second flat cable being engaged over a second group of said terminal pins; an interchangeable programmable circuit means mounting a first group of electrically conductive elements engaging said first group of terminal pins and a second group of electrically conductive elements engaging said second group of terminal pins; circuit conductor means electrically connecting selected elements of said element groups; and, retaining means releasably retaining said terminal means on said terminal pins.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
A flat-cable electrical wiring system comprising: first and second flat multiconductor electrical cables wherein the electrical conductors of each of said cables are disposed in side-by-side relationship and have apertured terminal means on the ends thereof; a terminal board mounting a set of projecting terminal pins engaging said conductor terminal means, the conductor terminal means of said first flat cable being engaged over a first group of said terminal pins and the conductor terminal means of said second flat cable being engaged over a second group of said terminal pins; an interchangeable programmable circuit means mounting a first group of electrically conductive elements engaging said first group of terminal pins and a second group of electrically conductive elements engaging said second group of terminal pins; circuit conductor means electrically connecting selected elements of said element groups; and, retaining means releasably retaining said terminal means on said terminal pins.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
A flat-cable electrical wiring system as defined in claim 1 including: a third flat cable having conductor terminal means engageable over the terminal pins of both said pin groups in a manner such that the conductors of said first cable are electrically connected to certain conductors of said third cable and the conductors of said second cable are electrically connected to other conductors of said third cable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
A flat cable electrical wiring system as defined in claim 1 wherein: said retaining means comprises a relatively firm resilient compression pad overlying said terminal board, and means for pressing said pad toward said terminal board to retain said conductor terminal means in firm electrical contact with said terminal pins.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A flat cable electrical wiring system as defined in claim 3 wherein: said compression pad includes electrically conductive sockets receiving said terminal pins, and said sockets are exposed at the outer side of said pad to provide terminal connections for external circuit monitoring instruments.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
A flat-cable electrical wiring system as defined in claim 3 wherein: said programmable circuit means comprises a programmed circuit member between said terminal board and said compression pad for electrically interconnecting selected terminal pins, said cable conductor terminals are disposed between said programmed circuit member and said compression pad so that said programmed circuit member is urged toward said terminal board to retain said conductor terminals in firm electrical contact with said terminal pins.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
A flat cable electrical wiring system as defined in claim 5 wherein: said terminal pins extend through and beyond the side of said programmed circuit member remote from said terminal board; and, said compression pad includes electrically conductive sockets receiving the extending ends of said terminal pins and providing terminals for external circuit monitoring means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A flat cable electrical wiring system as defined in claim 3 wherein: said compression pad seats directly against said terminal board and cable conductor terminals for retaining the latter in firm electrical contact with said terminal pins.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
A flat cable electrical wiring system as defined in claim 7 wherein: the side of said compression pad facing said terminal board has projecting annular shoulders about said terminal pins which bear against said cable conductor terminal means and provide intervening clearance spaces for conventional wiring having terminals engageable over said terminal pins.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
158 words
A flat-cable electrical wiring system comprising: first and second flat multiconductor electrical cables wherein the electrical conductors of each of said cables are disposed in side-by-side relationship and have apertured terminal means on the ends thereof; a terminal board mounting a set of projecting terminal pins engaging said conductor terminal means, the conductor terminal means of said first flat cable being engaged over a first group of said terminal pins and the conductor terminal means of said second flat cable being engaged over a second group of said terminal pins; an interchangeable program circuit means mounting a first group of terminal pin sockets receiving said first group of terminal pins and a second group of terminal pin sockets receiving said second group of terminal pins; circuit conductor means electrically connecting selected sockets of said socket groups; and, junction retaining means for releasably clamping said terminal board and said program circuit means together with said conductor terminals positioned therebetween.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
158 words
A flat-cable electrical wiring system comprising: first and second flat multiconductor electrical cables wherein the electrical conductors of each of said cables are disposed in side-by-side relationship and have apertured terminal means on the ends thereof; a terminal board mounting a set of projecting terminal pins engaging said conductor terminal means, the conductor terminal means of said first flat cable being engaged over a first group of said terminal pins and the conductor terminal means of said second flat cable being engaged over a second group of said terminal pins; an interchangeable program circuit means mounting a first group of terminal pin sockets receiving said first group of terminal pins and a second group of terminal pin sockets receiving said second group of terminal pins; circuit conductor means electrically connecting selected sockets of said socket groups; and, junction retaining means for releasably clamping said terminal board and said program circuit means together with said conductor terminals positioned therebetween.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
132 words
A flat-cable electrical wiring system comprising: first and second flat multiconductor electrical cables wherein the electrical conductors of each of said cables are disposed in side-by-side relationship and have apertured terminal means on the ends thereof; a terminal board mounting a set of projecting terminal pins engaging said conductor terminal means, the conductor terminal means of said first flat cable being engaged over a first group of said terminal pins and the conductor terminal means of said second flat cable being engaged over a second group of said terminal pins; and, an externally accessible, interchangeable programming plug including a first group of programming pins engaging said first group of terminal pins, a second group of programming pins engaging said second group of terminal pins, and circuit means electrically connecting selected programming pins.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
132 words
A flat-cable electrical wiring system comprising: first and second flat multiconductor electrical cables wherein the electrical conductors of each of said cables are disposed in side-by-side relationship and have apertured terminal means on the ends thereof; a terminal board mounting a set of projecting terminal pins engaging said conductor terminal means, the conductor terminal means of said first flat cable being engaged over a first group of said terminal pins and the conductor terminal means of said second flat cable being engaged over a second group of said terminal pins; and, an externally accessible, interchangeable programming plug including a first group of programming pins engaging said first group of terminal pins, a second group of programming pins engaging said second group of terminal pins, and circuit means electrically connecting selected programming pins.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
76 words
A flat-cable electrical wiring system as defined in claim 10 including: a junction box enclosing said terminal board; and wherein: said programming plug comprises a housing mounting said programming pins and enclosing said circuit conductor means; said junction box has wall openings through which said programming pins are insertable to engage said terminal pins; and, said plug housing has a removable cover which is removable to provide access to said circuit conductor means for reprogramming thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
113 words
A flat-cable electrical wiring system for interfacing with a conventional separate, round-conductor, wiring system, comprising: a flat electrical cable comprising a plurality of ribbon-like electrical conductors disposed in side-by-side relationship, and having apertured terminals on the ends of each of said conductors; a terminal junction means comprising a terminal board mounting a set of terminal pins which project beyond opposite sides of the board to provide at one side of the board flat cable terminal pins over which engage said cable conductor terminals and at the opposite side of the board, terminal pins for connection to said conventional round-conductor wiring; and, retaining means retaining said cable conductor terminals on said cable terminal pins.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
113 words
A flat-cable electrical wiring system for interfacing with a conventional separate, round-conductor, wiring system, comprising: a flat electrical cable comprising a plurality of ribbon-like electrical conductors disposed in side-by-side relationship, and having apertured terminals on the ends of each of said conductors; a terminal junction means comprising a terminal board mounting a set of terminal pins which project beyond opposite sides of the board to provide at one side of the board flat cable terminal pins over which engage said cable conductor terminals and at the opposite side of the board, terminal pins for connection to said conventional round-conductor wiring; and, retaining means retaining said cable conductor terminals on said cable terminal pins.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
A flat cable electrical wiring system as defined in claim 12 wherein: said cable terminal pins comprise smooth cylindrical pins and said conventional wiring conductor terminal pins comprise threaded studs.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
78 words
A terminal junction assembly for a flat cable wiring system comprising: a terminal board mounting projecting electrically isolated terminal pins; a resilient compression pad overlying said terminal board; means foR urging said compression pad into engagement with said terminal board; a program circuit member interposed between said terminal board and said compression pad; electrically conductive sockets carried by said program circuit member for receiving said terminal pins; and, circuit means electrically interconnecting selected sockets and corresponding terminal pins.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
78 words
A terminal junction assembly for a flat cable wiring system comprising: a terminal board mounting projecting electrically isolated terminal pins; a resilient compression pad overlying said terminal board; means foR urging said compression pad into engagement with said terminal board; a program circuit member interposed between said terminal board and said compression pad; electrically conductive sockets carried by said program circuit member for receiving said terminal pins; and, circuit means electrically interconnecting selected sockets and corresponding terminal pins.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
A terminal junction assembly as defined in claim 14 wherein: said terminal pins extend through and beyond the side of said program circuit member remote from said terminal board; and, said compression pad includes electrically conductive sockets receiving the extending ends of said terminal pins.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
A terminal junction assembly for a flat cable wiring system comprising: a terminal board mounting projecting electrically isolated terminal pins; and, a programmable interchangeable circuit means comprising a plurality of electrically conductive elements engaging corresponding terminal pins, and a plurality of circuit conductors electrically interconnecting corresponding elements and terminal pins.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
A terminal junction assembly for a flat cable wiring system comprising: a terminal board mounting projecting electrically isolated terminal pins; and, a programmable interchangeable circuit means comprising a plurality of electrically conductive elements engaging corresponding terminal pins, and a plurality of circuit conductors electrically interconnecting corresponding elements and terminal pins.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
A terminal junction assembly as defined in claim 16 wherein: said conductive elements comprise sockets receiving said terminal pins.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
A terminal junction assembly as defined in claim 16 wherein: said interchangeable means comprises a programming plug and said conductive elements comprise projecting pins on said plug engageable with said terminal pins.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
80 words
A terminal junction assembly as defined in claim 18 including: a junction box enclosing said interchangeable circuit means and having wall openings aligned with said terminal pins; a housing containing said circuit means and having a cover which is removable to provide access to said circuit means for changing the programmed electrical connection of said plug pins; and wherein said projecting pins on said plug are insertable through said junction box wall openings into electrical contact with said terminal pins.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
59 words
A programming plug for a flat cable wiring system, comprising: a housing; pins projecting externally from one wall of said housing; circuit means within said housing electrically connecting selected pins; and, a cover on said housing which is removable to provide access to said circuit means for rearranging said circuit means to interconnect pins other than said selected pins.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
59 words
A programming plug for a flat cable wiring system, comprising: a housing; pins projecting externally from one wall of said housing; circuit means within said housing electrically connecting selected pins; and, a cover on said housing which is removable to provide access to said circuit means for rearranging said circuit means to interconnect pins other than said selected pins.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-31 | 1976-05-01 | 1976-10-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-31 | 1980-05-01 | 1980-10-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-31 | 1984-05-01 | 1984-10-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |