US5013877A — Devices for electrical connection

Claim 1

Independent Claim 179 words

An electrical switch which comprises: (a) a resilient first conductor to which a first wire can be electrically connected; and (b) a resilient second conductor to which a second wire can be electrically connected; the switch is capable of having two stable configurations in the absence of continued interaction by a third body, namely; (i) a first stable configuration in which the first and second conductors are held in electrical contact at least in part by the resilient bias of the first and second conductors; and (ii) a second stable configuration in which the first and second conductors are held apart at least in part by the resilience of the first and second conductors, configuration (ii) being reached from configuration (i) at least in part by the relaxation of said resilient bias and the rotation of at least one of said first and second conductors about an axis located between the first and second conductors in configuration (i), and wherein the axis is substantially perpendicular to the force exerted between the first and second conductors when in configuration (i).

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 179 words

An electrical switch which comprises: (a) a resilient first conductor to which a first wire can be electrically connected; and (b) a resilient second conductor to which a second wire can be electrically connected; the switch is capable of having two stable configurations in the absence of continued interaction by a third body, namely; (i) a first stable configuration in which the first and second conductors are held in electrical contact at least in part by the resilient bias of the first and second conductors; and (ii) a second stable configuration in which the first and second conductors are held apart at least in part by the resilience of the first and second conductors, configuration (ii) being reached from configuration (i) at least in part by the relaxation of said resilient bias and the rotation of at least one of said first and second conductors about an axis located between the first and second conductors in configuration (i), and wherein the axis is substantially perpendicular to the force exerted between the first and second conductors when in configuration (i).

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 20 words

A switch according to claim 1, in which in configuration (ii) the first conductor is substantially unbiased against said resilience.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 29 words

A switch according to claim 1, in which change between configurations (i) and (ii) is achieved solely by bending of the first conductor and optionally also the second conductor.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 18 words

A switch according to claim 1, in which the first and second conductors are of substantially similar shape.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 22 words

A switch according to claim 4, in which the first and second conductors each consists essentially of a strip of resilient material.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 28 words

A switch according to claim 1, which additionally comprises insulation-displacement means by means of which an insulated wire can be electrically-connected to at least one of said conductors.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 28 words

A switch according to claim 6, in which an insulation-displacement means is an integral part of each conductor, each conductor being stamped from a single piece of metal.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 85 words

A telephone junction box for interconnection of electrical wires, which comprises: (i) a housing; (ii) at least four contacts to which four wires can be connected; and (iii) at least a first and a second bi-stable switch within the housing each of which first and second switches can independently make and break a connection between a pair of contacts, wherein each bi-stable switch is capable of operating in a connected or a disconnected condition in the absence of a continued action by a third body.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 85 words

A telephone junction box for interconnection of electrical wires, which comprises: (i) a housing; (ii) at least four contacts to which four wires can be connected; and (iii) at least a first and a second bi-stable switch within the housing each of which first and second switches can independently make and break a connection between a pair of contacts, wherein each bi-stable switch is capable of operating in a connected or a disconnected condition in the absence of a continued action by a third body.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 94 words

A junction box according to claim 8 in which each said switch comprises: (a) a resilient first conductor; and (b) a second conductor; the switch having two stable configurations namely (i) in which the first and second conductors are held in electrical contact at least in part by resilient bias of the first conductor; and (ii) in which the first and second conductors are held apart at least in part by the resilience of the first conductor, configuration (ii) being reached from configuration (i) at least in part by relaxation of said resilient bias.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 45 words

A junction box according to claim 8, in which each of said switches comprises a resilient first conductor and a second conductor, change between an open and a closed configuration of each switch being achieved solely by bending of one or more of said conductors.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 26 words

A junction box according to claim 8, which additionally comprises four insulation-displacement means, by means of which insulated wires can be electrically connected to said conductors.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 30 words

A junction box according to claim 8, in which each switch comprises a first and a second conductor, each of said conductors consisting essentially of a strip of resilient material.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 60 words

A junction box according to claim 8 wherein an operation of the switch from the connected to the disconnected condition is achieved by a rotation of a pair of contacts about an axis located between the contacts in the connected condition, and wherein the axis is substantially perpendicular to the force exerted between the contacts when the switch is connected.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 20 words

A junction box according to claim 8, having a sealing material that can form an environmental seal around each switch.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 93 words

A junction box according to claim 14, in which the housing comprises: (a) a first part to which the contacts and the switches are attached; and (b) a second part that together with the first part forms an enclosure around the contacts and the switches, the sealing material being fixed to the second part such that when the first and second parts are placed together the sealing material forms an environmental seal around each switch, and when the first and second parts are separated the sealing material is substantially removed from the switches.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 21 words

A junction box according to claim 15, which additionally comprises means for maintaining the sealing material under compression around the switches.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 15 words

A junction box according to claim 14, in which the sealing material comprises a gel.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 48 words

A junction box according to claim 17, in which the gel comprises a material having a cone penetration value as measured by ASTM D217-68 at 21° C. of 100-350 (10 -1 mm) and an ultimate elongation as measured by ASTM D638-80 at 21° C. of at least 200%.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 60 words

A junction box according to claim 18 wherein an operation of the switch from the connected to the disconnected condition is achieved by a rotation of the pair of contacts about an axis located between the contacts in the connected condition, and wherein the axis is substantially perpendicular to the force exerted between the contacts when the switch is connected.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 133 words

A two-part bi-stable switch, which comprises: (a) a first resilient conductor to which a first wire can be connected; and (b) a second resilient conductor to which a second wire can be connected; said second conductor having substantially similar size and shape to the first conductor, and being positioned relative to the first conductor such that the switch has substantial planar or rotational symmetry; and the switch is capable of having two stable configurations, in the absence of a continued action by a third body, namely: (i) in which the conductors are relaxed and are not in contact with one another; (ii) in which the conductors are deformed against their resilience to cause a resulting resilient bias between a part of each conductor to be forced against a corresponding part of the other.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 133 words

A two-part bi-stable switch, which comprises: (a) a first resilient conductor to which a first wire can be connected; and (b) a second resilient conductor to which a second wire can be connected; said second conductor having substantially similar size and shape to the first conductor, and being positioned relative to the first conductor such that the switch has substantial planar or rotational symmetry; and the switch is capable of having two stable configurations, in the absence of a continued action by a third body, namely: (i) in which the conductors are relaxed and are not in contact with one another; (ii) in which the conductors are deformed against their resilience to cause a resulting resilient bias between a part of each conductor to be forced against a corresponding part of the other.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 73 words

The switch according to claim 20 in which a movement from configuration (i) to configuration (ii) or configuration (ii) to configuration (i) is achieved by a rotation of at least the first resilient conductor or the second resilient conductor about an axis located between the conductors in configuration (i), and wherein the axis is substantially perpendicular to the force exerted between the first and second conductors when the switch is in configuration (ii).

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-05-06	1994-11-05	1995-05-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-05-06	1998-11-05	1999-05-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-05-06	2002-11-05	2003-05-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Devices for electrical connection

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