Patent US3706134A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3706134A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical aid
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1970-08-04
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Granted: 1972-12-19
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Expires: 1990-08-04
Abstract
Abstract An optical aid is disclosed in several embodiments employing fiber optic cable to transmit light to the side of desired insertion of an electrical lead to better and more quickly identify said site thereby achieving cost savings and greater reliability in harness making. Embodiments are included wherein the optical aid may be programmed to provide a program wiring technique.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Patrick Sweeney
- 👤 Herman Rueger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 05:46
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K13/00; H05K13/06; H05K13/065; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124; Y10T29/4913; Y10T29/49131; Y10T29/49764; Y10T29/49778; Y10T29/4978; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53087; Y10T29/5313; Y10T29/532; Y10T29/53243
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
In a method of making harnesses comprised of at least two connector halves each including a plurality of apertures into which a series of electrical leads must be inserted in a selected pattern to form a harness, the steps comprising: providing mating connector halves for said halves to be harnessed and positioning said halves to be harnessed on said mating halves with respective apertures therein in axial alignment, providing an array of light transmitting members, positioning first ends of said members within respective apertures of said mating connector halves, grouping second ends of said light transmitting members for respective connector halves for selective common illUmination of the same, selectively illuminating the second ends of a given group of said light transmitting members to illuminate given apertures in each connector half to be harnessed, and inserting ends of a lead into the illuminated apertures of each connector half to be harnessed, whereby, cessation of light from said apertures acts as a verification of proper lead connection between connector halves.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
In a method of making harnesses comprised of at least two connector halves each including a plurality of apertures into which a series of electrical leads must be inserted in a selected pattern to form a harness, the steps comprising: providing mating connector halves for said halves to be harnessed and positioning said halves to be harnessed on said mating halves with respective apertures therein in axial alignment, providing an array of light transmitting members, positioning first ends of said members within respective apertures of said mating connector halves, grouping second ends of said light transmitting members for respective connector halves for selective common illUmination of the same, selectively illuminating the second ends of a given group of said light transmitting members to illuminate given apertures in each connector half to be harnessed, and inserting ends of a lead into the illuminated apertures of each connector half to be harnessed, whereby, cessation of light from said apertures acts as a verification of proper lead connection between connector halves.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing a light transmitting member for each aperture includes providing an auxiliary light transmitting member having a first end terminating in a position to properly indicate a particular connector half to be lead connected and grouping the second end thereof commonly with the second ends of said light transmitting members to be commonly illuminated by said light source, whereby said auxiliary light transmitting member acts as an auxiliary indicator.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of connecting leads to blocks, comprising the steps of: providing a panel with a plurality of apertures, connecting an unilluminated light transmitting member between each of the apertures of said panel and a corresponding aperture of a first block, connecting another unilluminated light transmitting member between each aperture of said panel to a corresponding aperture provided in at least one other block, illuminating a selected single aperture of said panel and the light transmitting members associated with said illuminated aperture, transmitting the illumination by said transmitting members to at least one corresponding aperture in each of said blocks, and connecting an electrical lead between the illuminated apertures of said blocks, thereby to provide a conduit between said blocks.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of connecting leads to blocks, comprising the steps of: providing a panel with a plurality of apertures, connecting an unilluminated light transmitting member between each of the apertures of said panel and a corresponding aperture of a first block, connecting another unilluminated light transmitting member between each aperture of said panel to a corresponding aperture provided in at least one other block, illuminating a selected single aperture of said panel and the light transmitting members associated with said illuminated aperture, transmitting the illumination by said transmitting members to at least one corresponding aperture in each of said blocks, and connecting an electrical lead between the illuminated apertures of said blocks, thereby to provide a conduit between said blocks.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of connecting electrical leads between blocks, comprising the steps of: providing an apertured first block with a plurality of electrical leads connected to respective apertures, electrically connecting each electrical lead of said first block to an unilluminated light source, connecting said light source to a power source, providing an unilluminated light transmitting optical path member from the light source to a selected aperture of at least one other block, mechanically grasping a selected electrical lead of said first block by an electrically conducting tool electrically connected to said power source, thereby completing an electrical circuit between said power source and said light source and illuminating said light source, transmitting illumination from said light source over said discreet optical path to illuminate a selected aperture of said other block, and using said tool to insert said mechanically grasped electrical lead into the illuminated aperture of said other block, thereby providing an electrical path between said blocks.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of connecting electrical leads between blocks, comprising the steps of: providing an apertured first block with a plurality of electrical leads connected to respective apertures, electrically connecting each electrical lead of said first block to an unilluminated light source, connecting said light source to a power source, providing an unilluminated light transmitting optical path member from the light source to a selected aperture of at least one other block, mechanically grasping a selected electrical lead of said first block by an electrically conducting tool electrically connected to said power source, thereby completing an electrical circuit between said power source and said light source and illuminating said light source, transmitting illumination from said light source over said discreet optical path to illuminate a selected aperture of said other block, and using said tool to insert said mechanically grasped electrical lead into the illuminated aperture of said other block, thereby providing an electrical path between said blocks.
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) | 1975-12-19 | 1976-06-19 | 1976-12-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-19 | 1980-06-19 | 1980-12-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-19 | 1984-06-19 | 1984-12-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |