Patent US3809969A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3809969A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Probe connector receptacle device for area type electrical distribution system
Assignee: DOLE ELECTRO SYS INC US
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Filing: 1973-01-30
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Granted: 1974-05-07
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Expires: 1993-01-30
Abstract
Abstract A receptacle device for use with an area type electrical power and/or signal distribution system that utilizes a laminated structure having conductive layers spaced apart by dielectric layers comprises a generally planar base unit for supporting a plurality of probe elements in an upright and spaced apart arrangement to enable them to be simultaneously driven into the laminated structure of said system. A housing unit removably attached to the base unit includes an electronics package with connector pins in contact with said probe elements that are connected to internal circuit means secured within the package, and a resilient, shock-absorbing cover means surrounding the electronics package. The housing unit also supports exterior plug-in receptacle means connected to the circuit means and adapted to receive conventional plug-in connectors so that when the probe elements are installed within a laminated structure in contact with said conductive layers an electrical path is provided through them to said connector pins, through said circuit means and to said exterior receptacle means to its plugin connector.
Inventors
- 👤 L Williams
- 👤 G Williams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 13:10
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/648; H01R13/658; H01R13/6591; H01R13/6596; H01R25/00; H01R25/006; F; F16; F16B; F16B2200/00; F16B2200/93; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/925
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A receptacle device for use with an area type electrical power and/or signal distribution system that utilizes a laminated structure having conductive layers spaced apart by dielectric layers, said device comprising: a plurality of probe elements; a generally planar base unit and support means thereon for retaining said probe elements in an upright position and in a spaced apart arrangement to enable them to be simultaneously driven into said laminated structure of said system; a housing unit removably attached to said base unit including fixed electrical connector pins in contact with said probe elements; an electronics package comprising circuit means having a plurality of elements connected to said connector pins and cover means extending around said electronics package; and exterior receptacle means connected to said circuit means for receiving conventional plug-in connectors, whereby when said probe elements are installed within said laminated structure in contact with said conductive layers an electrical path is provided through them to said connector pins, through said circuit means and to said receptacle means to its plug-in connector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A receptacle device for use with an area type electrical power and/or signal distribution system that utilizes a laminated structure having conductive layers spaced apart by dielectric layers, said device comprising: a plurality of probe elements; a generally planar base unit and support means thereon for retaining said probe elements in an upright position and in a spaced apart arrangement to enable them to be simultaneously driven into said laminated structure of said system; a housing unit removably attached to said base unit including fixed electrical connector pins in contact with said probe elements; an electronics package comprising circuit means having a plurality of elements connected to said connector pins and cover means extending around said electronics package; and exterior receptacle means connected to said circuit means for receiving conventional plug-in connectors, whereby when said probe elements are installed within said laminated structure in contact with said conductive layers an electrical path is provided through them to said connector pins, through said circuit means and to said receptacle means to its plug-in connector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The receptacle device as described in claim 1 wherein said cover means comprises a thin walled shell attached by resilient means to said electronics package and having sidewalls spaced outwardly from the sides of said electronics package.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The receptacle device as described in claim 2 wherein said resilient means comprises a pad of elastomeric material fixed to the top of said electronics package and to the inside top surface of said shell, whereby impact blows on said housing unit are absorbed by said shell and not by said base unit and probe elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The receptacle device as described in claim 1 wherein said sidewalls of said cover means are sloped outwardly from its top portion and are sloped away from the sidewalls of said electronics package.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The receptacle device as described in claim 3 wherein said pad is made of a cellular elastomeric material that is resiliently compressible so that said cover means will move relative to said electronics package in any side direction as well as downwardly when struck by an outside force.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The receptacle device as described in claim 1 wherein said support means on said base unit retains four said probe elements that are spaced apart at four corners of a rectangle and extend through openings in said base unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The receptacle device as described in claim 1 wherein each said probe element comprises a lower shank portion having a pointed tip at its lower end and an upper tubular portion having a larger diameter than said shank portion and a cavity open at its upper end for receiving a said electrical connector pin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
93 words
The receptacle device as described in claim 7 wherein each said probe element has a passage in its shank portion extending axially from said cavity to its lower end, a tip member seated in and temporarily sealing the lower end of said shank portion, a quantity of flowable sealant in said passage and filling part of said cavity, and a movable piston means above said sealant within said cavity for forcing said sealant out of the lower end of the probe element when acted upon by a relatively downward force within said cavity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
The receptacle device as described in claim 6 wherein said base unit comprises a main body of a rigid sheet material and inverted channel members fixed to said main body at its opposite ends, said channel members having spaced apart openings, each surrounding an upper tubular portion of a said probe element with a vertically aligned opening in said main body slightly larger than and surrounding the shank portion of the probe element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
The receptacle device as described in claim 9 including a hollow guide member for the shank portion of each said probe element projecting below and axially aligned with each said opening in said main body, each said guide member having a lower tubular portion adapted to form an electrical contact with a conductive layer of a laminated structure and a larger upper portion above said tubular portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The receptacle device as described in claim 10 wherein said larger upper portion of each said guide member has a conical shape for use on carpet covered laminated structures.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The receptacle device as described in claim 10 wherein said larger upper portion of each said guide member has a cylindrical shape forming a shoulder with said lower tubular portion for use on tile covered laminated structures.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
The receptacle device as described in claim 9 including a cup shaped insulating retainer for supporting the upper tubular portion of each probe element between a said channel member and said main body and a tubular insulator extending downwardly from the upper end of said upper tubular portion and bonded to said retainer, thereby forming an insulating protective cover around the upper end of each probe element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The receptacle device as described in claim 1 wherein said electronics package of said housing unit comprises a rigid outer shell containing a molded block of potting compound surrounding said circuit means, said block having recesses surrounding said connector pins.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The receptacle device as described in claim 14 wherein said circuit means comprises a circuit board for supporting its electrical elements and said connector pins in the same spaced apart relationship as said probe elements on said base member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The receptacle device as described in claim 15 wherein said exterior receptacle means comprises a first receptacle for furnishing power only to conventional plug-in connectors and a second receptacle for furnishing signal energy to plug-in connectors on communication equipment.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The receptacle device as described in claim 16 wherein said first receptacle for power only is mounted on said cover means and said second receptacle for signal energy is mounted on said electronics package.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
83 words
The receptacle device as described in claim 15 wherein said circuit means includes first conductor means on said circuit board connected to said connector pins and extending to a said plug-in connector adapted to furnished power only; low pass filter means in said first conductor means; second conductor means connected to said first conductor means on said circuit board and extending to a said plug-in connector adapted to furnish signal energy to communication equipment; high pass filter means in said second conductor means.
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) | 1977-05-06 | 1977-11-05 | 1978-05-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-06 | 1981-11-05 | 1982-05-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-06 | 1985-11-05 | 1986-05-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |