US4938703A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conductive board spacer
Assignee: Kitagawa Industries Co Ltd
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Filing: 1989-08-14
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Granted: 1990-07-03
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Expires: 2009-08-14
Abstract
Abstract A conductive spacer (1) comprises a spacing member (4) and upper and lower fixing members (7,8) to secure upper and lower boards (5,6) a certain distance apart. The upper and lower fixing members (7,8) include upper and lower supporting members (9, 17a,17b) for pressing against the inner surfaces of the upper and lower boards (5,6), and upper and lower locking members (12a,12b,19a,19b) extending from the center of the upper and lower supporting members (9,17a,17b) for passing through holes (34,35) in the upper and lower boards (5,6), resiliently expanding outward, and for securing outer surfaces of the upper and lower boards (5,6). The upper and lower fixing members (7,8) and the upper and lower locking members (12a,12b,19a,19b) thus support the boards (5,6). One end of a conductive member (3) is attached to the lower supporting members (17a,17b) on the lower board (6 ), and the other end of the conductive member (3) extends to contact the upper board (5). Since the conductive member (3) thus contacts both boards (5,6), it makes a circuit and grounds the boards (5,6) to each other. By inserting the conductive spacer (1) in the holes (34,35) in the boards (5,6), the boards (5,6) are both kept a certain distance apart and grounded.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshihito Nakano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 19:59
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/14; H05K7/1417; H05K7/142
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A conductive board spacer for insertion between first and second boards comprising a body having a spacing member for maintaining a fixed distance between the first and second boards and fixing members provided on ends of the spacing member for engaging the conductive spacer with the boards; the fixing members comprising first and second supporting members for pressing against and supporting inner surfaces of the first and second boards, and locking means extending from the first and second supporting members for securely locking the first and second boards onto the first and second supporting members, respectively; the conductive spacer further including a conductive member in which a first end of the conductive member contacts the first supporting member and the inner surface of the first board when attached to the first board such that the first end of the conductive member is securely held between the first supporting member and the inner surface of the first board, and a second end of the conductive member extends towards and contacts the second board when the conductive board spacer is inserted between the first and second boards.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A conductive board spacer for insertion between first and second boards comprising a body having a spacing member for maintaining a fixed distance between the first and second boards and fixing members provided on ends of the spacing member for engaging the conductive spacer with the boards; the fixing members comprising first and second supporting members for pressing against and supporting inner surfaces of the first and second boards, and locking means extending from the first and second supporting members for securely locking the first and second boards onto the first and second supporting members, respectively; the conductive spacer further including a conductive member in which a first end of the conductive member contacts the first supporting member and the inner surface of the first board when attached to the first board such that the first end of the conductive member is securely held between the first supporting member and the inner surface of the first board, and a second end of the conductive member extends towards and contacts the second board when the conductive board spacer is inserted between the first and second boards.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A board spacer as in claim 1, in which: the body is made of nonconductive material; and the conductive member is a separate piece that can be fixed to the body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A board spacer as in claim 2 in which the first end of the conductive member has at least one branch that clips onto the first supporting member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A board spacer as in claim 3 in which a hook on the branch can be wrapped around an edge of the supporting member so that the hook lies between the supporting member and the first board adjacent to the supporting member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
A board spacer as in claim 3 in which the second end of the conductive member remote from the branch extends parallel to the axis of the spacing member so that the second end can contact the second board when the board spacer is inserted between the first and second boards.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A board spacer as in claim 3 in which the second end of the conductive member has at least one branch that clips onto the second supporting member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A board spacer as in claim 2 in which the conductive member has arms that embrace the spacing member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A board spacer as in claim 2 in which the body has button-like protrusions; and the conductive member has holes for engaging those protrusions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A board spacer as in claim 2 in which the conducting member has at least one clip that conforms to the shape of a cross-section normal to the longitudinal axis of a fixing member for clipping the conductive member to the body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A board spacer as in claim 9 in which the body has grooves that facilitate the installation of the clip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A board spacer as in claim 2 in which the conducting member has at least one clip that conforms to the shape of a cross-section normal to the longitudinal axis of the spacing member for clipping the conductive member to the body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A board spacer as in claim 11, in which the body has grooves that facilitates the installation of the clip.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A board spacer as in claim 2 in which the conductive member has at least one branch that lies between a supporting member and a board adjacent to the supporting member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
A board spacer as in claim 2 in which the body has at least one slot, and the conductive member has at least one flap that fits into the slot for securing the conductive member to the body.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
A board spacer as in claim 2 in which the body has at least one loop, and the conductive member has at least one hook for engaging the loop for securing the conductive member to the body.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
70 words
A board spacer as in claim 1 in which the second end of the conductive member contacts the second board between the second supporting member and the inner surface of the second board such that the second end of the conductive member is securely held between the second supporting member and the inner surface of the second board when the board spacer is inserted between the first and second boards.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
A board spacer as in claim 1, wherein the locking means on the first and second supporting members extend from the centers of the first and second supporting members along the longitudinal axis of the spacing member and form detents for passing through holes in the boards and securing outer surfaces of the boards.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
A board spacer as in claim 17 in which the second end of the conductive member is annular, and fits over and locks under at least one of the detents of the locking means of the first and second supporting members.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
183 words
A conductive board spacer for insertion between boards comprising a body made of nonconductive material, said body including a spacing member for maintaining a fixed distance between the boards and fixing members provided on ends of the spacing member for engaging the conductive spacer with the boards; the fixing members comprising supporting members for pressing against and supporting inner surfaces of the boards, and locking members extending from the centers of the supporting members along the longitudinal axis of the spacing member and forming detents for passing through holes in the boards and securing outer surfaces of the boards; the conductive spacer further including a conductive member, which is a separate piece that can be fixed to the body, wherein one end of the conductive member contacts a lower board where lower supporting members press the inner surface of the lower board, and the other end of the conductive member extends toward and contacts an upper board when the board spacer is inserted between upper and lower boards; wherein said body includes button-like protrusions and said conductive-member includes holes for engaging said protrusions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
183 words
A conductive board spacer for insertion between boards comprising a body made of nonconductive material, said body including a spacing member for maintaining a fixed distance between the boards and fixing members provided on ends of the spacing member for engaging the conductive spacer with the boards; the fixing members comprising supporting members for pressing against and supporting inner surfaces of the boards, and locking members extending from the centers of the supporting members along the longitudinal axis of the spacing member and forming detents for passing through holes in the boards and securing outer surfaces of the boards; the conductive spacer further including a conductive member, which is a separate piece that can be fixed to the body, wherein one end of the conductive member contacts a lower board where lower supporting members press the inner surface of the lower board, and the other end of the conductive member extends toward and contacts an upper board when the board spacer is inserted between upper and lower boards; wherein said body includes button-like protrusions and said conductive-member includes holes for engaging said protrusions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
211 words
A conductive board spacer for insertion between boards comprising a body made of nonconductive material, said body including a spacing member for maintaining a fixed distance between the boards and fixing members provided on ends of the spacing member for engaging the conductive spacer with the boards; the fixing members comprising supporting members for pressing against and supporting inner surfaces of the boards, and locking members extending from the centers of the supporting members along the longitudinal axis of the spacing member and forming detents for passing through holes in the boards and securing outer surfaces of the boards; the conductive spacer further including a conductive member, which is a separate piece that can be fixed to the body, wherein one end of the conductive member contacts a lower board where lower supporting members press the inner surface of the lower board, and the other end of the conductive member extends toward and contacts an upper board when the board spacer is inserted between upper and lower boards, one end of said conductive member having at least one branch that clips onto at least one supporting member, a section of the conductive member remote from the branch being annular, and fitting over and locking under at least one of the detents.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
211 words
A conductive board spacer for insertion between boards comprising a body made of nonconductive material, said body including a spacing member for maintaining a fixed distance between the boards and fixing members provided on ends of the spacing member for engaging the conductive spacer with the boards; the fixing members comprising supporting members for pressing against and supporting inner surfaces of the boards, and locking members extending from the centers of the supporting members along the longitudinal axis of the spacing member and forming detents for passing through holes in the boards and securing outer surfaces of the boards; the conductive spacer further including a conductive member, which is a separate piece that can be fixed to the body, wherein one end of the conductive member contacts a lower board where lower supporting members press the inner surface of the lower board, and the other end of the conductive member extends toward and contacts an upper board when the board spacer is inserted between upper and lower boards, one end of said conductive member having at least one branch that clips onto at least one supporting member, a section of the conductive member remote from the branch being annular, and fitting over and locking under at least one of the detents.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
196 words
A conductive board spacer for insertion between boards comprising a body made of nonconductive material, said body including a spacing member for maintaining a fixed distance between the boards and fixing members provided on ends of the spacing member for engaging the conductive spacer with the boards; the fixing members comprising supporting members for pressing against and supporting inner surfaces of the boards, and locking members extending from the centers of the supporting members along the longitudinal axis of the spacing member and forming detents for passing through holes in the boards and securing outer surfaces of the boards; the conductive spacer further including a conductive member, which is a separate piece that can be fixed to the body, wherein one end of the conductive member contacts a lower board where lower supporting members press the inner surface of the lower board, and the other end of the conductive member extends toward and contacts an upper board when the board spacer is inserted between upper and lower boards; said body having at least one loop, and the conductive member having at least one hook for engaging the loop for securing the conductive member to the body.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
196 words
A conductive board spacer for insertion between boards comprising a body made of nonconductive material, said body including a spacing member for maintaining a fixed distance between the boards and fixing members provided on ends of the spacing member for engaging the conductive spacer with the boards; the fixing members comprising supporting members for pressing against and supporting inner surfaces of the boards, and locking members extending from the centers of the supporting members along the longitudinal axis of the spacing member and forming detents for passing through holes in the boards and securing outer surfaces of the boards; the conductive spacer further including a conductive member, which is a separate piece that can be fixed to the body, wherein one end of the conductive member contacts a lower board where lower supporting members press the inner surface of the lower board, and the other end of the conductive member extends toward and contacts an upper board when the board spacer is inserted between upper and lower boards; said body having at least one loop, and the conductive member having at least one hook for engaging the loop for securing the conductive member to the body.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-07-02 | 1994-01-01 | 1994-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-07-02 | 1998-01-01 | 1998-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-07-02 | 2002-01-01 | 2002-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |