US4470657A — Circumferential grounding and shielding spring fo…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 202 words

A combination shielding and grounding device formed from resilient conductive sheet material for installation in an annular groove of predetermined axial dimension within overlapping conductive body portions of a pair of mating electrical connector subassemblies, comprising: a ring portion adapted to extend substantially continuously about the circumference of said groove, said ring portion having an axial dimension less than said groove axial dimension, said ring portion having opposite edges; a first set of spaced fingers integral with one of said edges of said ring portion and extending axially therefrom; and a second set of spaced fingers integral with the other of said edges of said ring portion and folded substantially 180° against said ring portion so as to extend axially in the same direction as said fingers of said first set, said fingers of said first set being spaced apart a distance only slightly greater than the width of the fingers of said second set, said first and second finger sets interleaving to minimize the circumferential clearance between adjacent fingers to form a continuous bracelet, said fingers being bowed in axial cross-section whereby the fingers are adapted to contact radially opposite surfaces of said body portions of said mating electrical connector subassemblies.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 202 words

A combination shielding and grounding device formed from resilient conductive sheet material for installation in an annular groove of predetermined axial dimension within overlapping conductive body portions of a pair of mating electrical connector subassemblies, comprising: a ring portion adapted to extend substantially continuously about the circumference of said groove, said ring portion having an axial dimension less than said groove axial dimension, said ring portion having opposite edges; a first set of spaced fingers integral with one of said edges of said ring portion and extending axially therefrom; and a second set of spaced fingers integral with the other of said edges of said ring portion and folded substantially 180° against said ring portion so as to extend axially in the same direction as said fingers of said first set, said fingers of said first set being spaced apart a distance only slightly greater than the width of the fingers of said second set, said first and second finger sets interleaving to minimize the circumferential clearance between adjacent fingers to form a continuous bracelet, said fingers being bowed in axial cross-section whereby the fingers are adapted to contact radially opposite surfaces of said body portions of said mating electrical connector subassemblies.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 16 words

The invention device according to claim 1 in which said bracelet is of conductive spring metal.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

The device according to claim 1 in which said ring portion is fabricated as a strip with its ends joined to form said bracelet.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 51 words

The device according to claim 1 in which said fingers of said second finger set are folded in a radially outward relationship with respect to said ring portion and are bowed to substantially the same curvature as said fingers of said first set as they extend axially from said ring portion.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 194 words

An electrical connector comprising: a pair of mating electrical connector members having telescopically assembled conductive shells providing adjacent circumferential surfaces; a continuous groove of predetermined axial dimension in one of said surfaces; and a shielding and grounding device mounted in said groove, said device comprising: a ring portion extending substantially continuously around said groove, said ring portion having an axial dimension less than said predetermined axial dimension, said ring portion having opposite edges; a first set of spaced fingers integral with one of said edges of said ring portion and extending axially therefrom within said groove; and a second set of spaced fingers integral with the other of said edges of said ring portion and folded substantially 180° against said ring portion so as to extend axially in the same direction as said fingers of said first set, said fingers of said first set being spaced apart a distance only slightly greater than the width of the fingers in said second set, said first and second finger sets interleaving to minimize the circumferential clearance between adjacant fingers to form a continuous bracelet within said groove, said fingers engaging said circumferential surfaces of said shells.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 194 words

An electrical connector comprising: a pair of mating electrical connector members having telescopically assembled conductive shells providing adjacent circumferential surfaces; a continuous groove of predetermined axial dimension in one of said surfaces; and a shielding and grounding device mounted in said groove, said device comprising: a ring portion extending substantially continuously around said groove, said ring portion having an axial dimension less than said predetermined axial dimension, said ring portion having opposite edges; a first set of spaced fingers integral with one of said edges of said ring portion and extending axially therefrom within said groove; and a second set of spaced fingers integral with the other of said edges of said ring portion and folded substantially 180° against said ring portion so as to extend axially in the same direction as said fingers of said first set, said fingers of said first set being spaced apart a distance only slightly greater than the width of the fingers in said second set, said first and second finger sets interleaving to minimize the circumferential clearance between adjacant fingers to form a continuous bracelet within said groove, said fingers engaging said circumferential surfaces of said shells.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 67 words

A device according to claim 5 in which said ring portion is in electrical contact with the bottom of said groove and substantially adjacent to one axial end of said groove, said fingers extending substantially to the other axial end of said groove, said fingers being bowed thereby producing a point of contact against the other of said surfaces at a location intermediate between said axial ends.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 125 words

An electrical connector comprising: a pair of mating electrical connector members having telescopically assembled conductive shells providing adjacent circumferential inner and outer surfaces; a continuous circumferential groove in said outer surface; and a shielding and grounding device mounted in said groove, said device comprising: a ring portion in said groove, said ring portion having opposite circumferential edges; a plurality of integral, resilient fingers extending axially in the same direction in said groove from said ring portion, said fingers being immediately adjacent to each other so that there is essentially no space between said fingers; alternative ones of said fingers being joined to one of said edges while the remaining fingers are joined to the other of said edges; said fingers electrically engaging said outer surface.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 125 words

An electrical connector comprising: a pair of mating electrical connector members having telescopically assembled conductive shells providing adjacent circumferential inner and outer surfaces; a continuous circumferential groove in said outer surface; and a shielding and grounding device mounted in said groove, said device comprising: a ring portion in said groove, said ring portion having opposite circumferential edges; a plurality of integral, resilient fingers extending axially in the same direction in said groove from said ring portion, said fingers being immediately adjacent to each other so that there is essentially no space between said fingers; alternative ones of said fingers being joined to one of said edges while the remaining fingers are joined to the other of said edges; said fingers electrically engaging said outer surface.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 34 words

A connector as set forth in claim 7 wherein: said ring portion is cylindrical; and said remaining fingers are folded substantially 180° relative to said ring portion so as to overlap said ring portion.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 28 words

A connector as set forth in claim 8 wherein: said fingers are bowed outwardly at a location spaced axially from said ring portion for engaging said inner surface.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1987-09-11	1988-03-12	1988-09-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1991-09-11	1992-03-12	1992-09-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1995-09-11	1996-03-12	1996-09-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Circumferential grounding and shielding spring for an electrical connector

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