Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A continuous contact electrical connector for installation in a vehicular steering wheel assembly comprising: an annular housing exhibiting a fixed contact path disposed in an annular bottom trough of said housing; a cover mounted to rotate with a steering wheel exhibiting a ring contact disposed in an annular groove aligned with said contact path; a plurality of springs located between said ring contact and said cover, in said annular groove, biasing said ring contact downward against said contact path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
79 words
A continuous contact electrical connector for installation in a vehicular steering wheel assembly comprising: an annular housing exhibiting a fixed contact path disposed in an annular bottom trough of said housing; a cover mounted to rotate with a steering wheel exhibiting a ring contact disposed in an annular groove aligned with said contact path; a plurality of springs located between said ring contact and said cover, in said annular groove, biasing said ring contact downward against said contact path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A connector according to claim 1, wherein said contact ring is a comb-type ring exhibiting spherically rounded comb tips disposed against said contact path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A connector according to claim 2, further comprising a plurality of spring biased contact rings arranged in annular grooves and aligned with corresponding contact paths arranged concentrically in the annular housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
A connector according to claim 2, wherein the contact ring is metal graphite.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A connector according to claim 4, further comprising a plurality of spring biased contact rings arranged in annular grooves and aligned with corresponding contact paths arranged concentrically in the annular housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A connector according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of spring biased contact rings arranged in annular grooves and aligned with corresponding contact paths concentrically arranged in the annular housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
79 words
A connector according to claim 1 further comprising: an annular guide groove in said cover; annular lands disposed on said annular housing and aligned with said annular guide groove; a plurality of nose clips disposed on said cover arranged to overlap said annular housing; wherein said annular housing, said contacts and said cover are dimensioned so that said cover and said housing are compressed, during mounting of a steering wheel hub, against said springs thereby releasing said nose clips.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A connector according to claim 7, wherein said annular guide groove and said annular lands exhibit mutually corresponding tapered shapes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A connector according to claim 7 wherein said contact ring is a comb-type ring exhibiting spherically rounded comb tips disposed against said contact path.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A connector according to claim 9, wherein said annular guide groove and said annular lands exhibit mutually corresponding tapered shapes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
A connector according to claim 9 wherein the contact ring is metal graphite.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A connector according to claim 11, wherein said annular guide groove and said annular lands exhibit mutually corresponding tapered shapes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A connector according to claim 7 further comprising a plurality of spring biased contact rings arranged in annular grooves and aligned with corresponding contact paths concentrically arranged in said annular housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A connector according to claim 13, wherein said annular guide groove and said annular lands exhibit mutually corresponding tapered shapes.