US4875877A — Discrete cable assembly

Claim 1

Independent Claim 168 words

An electrical connector for connection to ground wires and signal wires of at least one corresponding cable comprising; conductive signal contacts having wire connecting portions for connection to corresponding signal wires, and wire connecting portions of a corresponding ground bus for connection to corresponding ground wires, wherein the improvement comprises; a unitary lead frame joins the ground bus and the signal contacts prior to selected ones of the signal contacts being detached from the ground bus, an insulative housing block assembled over the lead frame prior to selected ones of the signal contacts being detached from the ground bus, the wire connecting portions appear at first openings in the housing block, and means on the lead frame appear at additional openings in the housing block for detaching the signal contacts individually from the ground bus, whereby the selected ones of the signal contacts contacts are constructed for being detached from the ground bus and at least one signal contact is constructed to remain joined to the ground bus.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 168 words

An electrical connector for connection to ground wires and signal wires of at least one corresponding cable comprising; conductive signal contacts having wire connecting portions for connection to corresponding signal wires, and wire connecting portions of a corresponding ground bus for connection to corresponding ground wires, wherein the improvement comprises; a unitary lead frame joins the ground bus and the signal contacts prior to selected ones of the signal contacts being detached from the ground bus, an insulative housing block assembled over the lead frame prior to selected ones of the signal contacts being detached from the ground bus, the wire connecting portions appear at first openings in the housing block, and means on the lead frame appear at additional openings in the housing block for detaching the signal contacts individually from the ground bus, whereby the selected ones of the signal contacts contacts are constructed for being detached from the ground bus and at least one signal contact is constructed to remain joined to the ground bus.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 48 words

An electrical connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the improvement comprises; each of the first openings extends through opposite sides of the first recited housing block to receive a removable, opposed pair of welding electrodes for clamping therebetween a corresponding wire and a corresponding wire connecting portion.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 33 words

An electrical connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the improvement comprises; each of said additional openings extends from one side of the housing block to an opposite side of the housing block.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 42 words

An electrical connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the improvement comprises; each first opening is encircled by the housing block for isolation one from another said first opening, and the housing block is a solder stop off encircling each first opening.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 39 words

An electrical connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the improvement comprises; the corresponding additional openings in the housing block are between wire connecting portions of the ground bus and a corresponding signal contact, and provide solder stop offs.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 62 words

An electrical connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the improvement comprises; wire receiving channels of the housing block extend into corresponding first openings, wire gripping portions of the housing block for gripping corresponding wires extending from the wire receiving channels and across the corresponding first openings, the corresponding first openings being between the wire receiving channels and the wire gripping portions.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 75 words

An electrical connector as recited in claim 1 wherein the improvement comprises; wire receiving channels in the first recited housing block, each wire receiving channel dividing into a first channel portion communicating with a corresponding first opening and a second channel portion communicating with a corresponding first opening, and the first channel portion separates a corresponding signal wire extending along the first channel portion from a corresponding ground wire extending along the second channel portion.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 53 words

An electrical connector as recited in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, wherein the improvement comprises; the lead frame is recessed below external surfaces of the housing block, and the ground wires and the signal wires are joined within the thickness of the housing block to, corresponding wire connecting portions.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 38 words

An electrical connector as recited in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, wherein the improvement comprises; the ground bus projects from the housing block, and a conductive ground bar is joined to the ground bus.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 50 words

An electrical connector as recited in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, wherein the improvement comprises; at least a portion of the ground bus projects from the housing block, and an insulative bar separate from the housing block is joined to the portion of the ground bus.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 61 words

An electrical connector as recited in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, wherein the improvement comprises; the wire connecting portions of the signal contacts are in a first row facing a side of the housing block, and the wire connecting portions of the ground bus are in a second row facing the same side of the housing block.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 31 words

An electrical connector as recited in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, wherein the improvement comprises; said means comprise portions of the signal contacts constructed for being severed.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 47 words

An electrical connector as recited in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, wherein the improvement comprises; each signal contact remaining joined to the ground bus has a portion constructed for being severed, said portion extending across a corresponding additional opening in the housing block.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 124 words

An electrical connector assembly for connection to ground wires and signal wires comprising; conductive signal contacts having wire connecting portions for connection to corresponding signal wires, and wire connecting portions of a corresponding ground bus for connection to corresponding ground wires, wherein the improvement comprises; an insulative first housing block carrying a first ground bus and a first group of the signal contacts, selected ones of the signal contacts of the first group detached from the ground bus and at least one signal contact of the first group joined to the ground bus, an insulative second housing block carrying a second ground bus and a second group of the signal contacts, and the first ground bus and the second ground bus being joined together.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 124 words

An electrical connector assembly for connection to ground wires and signal wires comprising; conductive signal contacts having wire connecting portions for connection to corresponding signal wires, and wire connecting portions of a corresponding ground bus for connection to corresponding ground wires, wherein the improvement comprises; an insulative first housing block carrying a first ground bus and a first group of the signal contacts, selected ones of the signal contacts of the first group detached from the ground bus and at least one signal contact of the first group joined to the ground bus, an insulative second housing block carrying a second ground bus and a second group of the signal contacts, and the first ground bus and the second ground bus being joined together.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 29 words

An electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 14 wherein the improvement comprises; the first ground bus and the second ground bus project outwardly of the corresponding housing blocks.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 28 words

In an electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 14 the improvement comprising; a conductive ground bar joined to the first ground bus and the second ground bus.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 42 words

An electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 14 wherein the improvement comprises; insulative means separate from the housing blocks and for being joined to and insulatively separating the first ground bus and the second ground bus externally of the housing blocks.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 44 words

In an electrical connector assembly as recited in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, or 16, the improvement comprising; each signal wire and a corresponding ground wire are within a sheath, and each signal wire is encircled by dielectric means.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-10-23	1993-04-24	1993-10-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-10-23	1997-04-24	1997-10-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-10-23	2001-04-24	2001-10-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Discrete cable assembly

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