US5073123A — Self terminating tap connector

Claim 1

Independent Claim 159 words

A shielded electrical connector assembly comprising; an electrical conductor having an elongated conductive end portion and a conductive tap portion for intimate disconnect coupling to a corresponding electrical connector within the wall of a panel; a dielectric support for the conductor having dielectric portions encircling respective ones of said elongated conductive end portions and said tap portion; a hollow conductive shell having individual sleeve portions abutting one another and encircling respective said dielectric portions of the dielectric support; wherein the electrical conductor comprises a conductive switch contact connected to a corresponding signal terminating conductor, said switch contact being carried by the dielectric support for disconnect connection to an electrical contact inserted into the hollow conductive shell, and an electrical circuit element in contact with the shell constructed for disconnect coupling with the switch contact upon withdrawal of the electrical contact from within the conductive shell, whereby the switch contact is terminated electrically to the shell through the circuit element.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 159 words

A shielded electrical connector assembly comprising; an electrical conductor having an elongated conductive end portion and a conductive tap portion for intimate disconnect coupling to a corresponding electrical connector within the wall of a panel; a dielectric support for the conductor having dielectric portions encircling respective ones of said elongated conductive end portions and said tap portion; a hollow conductive shell having individual sleeve portions abutting one another and encircling respective said dielectric portions of the dielectric support; wherein the electrical conductor comprises a conductive switch contact connected to a corresponding signal terminating conductor, said switch contact being carried by the dielectric support for disconnect connection to an electrical contact inserted into the hollow conductive shell, and an electrical circuit element in contact with the shell constructed for disconnect coupling with the switch contact upon withdrawal of the electrical contact from within the conductive shell, whereby the switch contact is terminated electrically to the shell through the circuit element.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 35 words

A shielded electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the improvement comprises; said circuit element includes a resistive material between conductive surface contacts, one of the surface contacts being engaged against the shell.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 36 words

A shielded electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the improvement comprises; the switch contact is deflected by the electrical contact to interrupt an electrical circuit between the switch contact and the circuit element.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 66 words

A shielded electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the improvement comprises; an electrical conductor having a conductive second switch contact engaged against the circuit element and becoming engaged against the first recited switch contact upon withdrawal of the electrical contact from the shielded connector, and the switch contacts become disengaged from each other by insertion of the electrical contact in the shielded connector.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 63 words

A shielded electrical connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the electrical conductor comprises; an elongated leaf spring portion, with a forward sloped end and a curved contact and a conductive tap portion, of said leaf spring portion formed by stamping a substantially T-shaped blank from a flat metal sheet and bending said tap portion 90 degrees to the plane of the stamped blank.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 24 words

A shielded electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the improvement comprises; said sleeve portions of the shielded connector being connected together.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 159 words

A shielded electrical connector assembly, comprising: a conductive shell, a dielectric support in the shell, a conductive first switch contact in the shell carried by the dielectric support, a conductive second switch contact in the shell carried by the dielectric support, an electrical circuit element in the shell engaging the shell and being held against the shell by the second switch contact, the first switch contact being constructed for deflection to disengage from the second switch contact, the first switch contact being constructed for deflection upon uncoupling from a plug type connector to engage the second switch contact and establish a self terminating coupling to the shell through an impedance of said circuit element, the first switch contact having a projecting signal terminal for establishing an electrical connection with a circuit board, and the shell being fitted with a conductor pin projecting in the same direction as the signal terminal for establishing an electrical connection with a circuit board.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 159 words

A shielded electrical connector assembly, comprising: a conductive shell, a dielectric support in the shell, a conductive first switch contact in the shell carried by the dielectric support, a conductive second switch contact in the shell carried by the dielectric support, an electrical circuit element in the shell engaging the shell and being held against the shell by the second switch contact, the first switch contact being constructed for deflection to disengage from the second switch contact, the first switch contact being constructed for deflection upon uncoupling from a plug type connector to engage the second switch contact and establish a self terminating coupling to the shell through an impedance of said circuit element, the first switch contact having a projecting signal terminal for establishing an electrical connection with a circuit board, and the shell being fitted with a conductor pin projecting in the same direction as the signal terminal for establishing an electrical connection with a circuit board.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 23 words

A shielded electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein, the second switch contact is in pressure engagement with said circuit element.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 22 words

A shielded electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein, said circuit element is in a recess of said dielectric support.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 23 words

A shielded electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein, the second switch contact is in a pocket of the dielectric support.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 38 words

A shielded electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein, the first and second switch contacts extend along a cavity of the dielectric support, and the first switch contact is constructed for said deflection in the cavity.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-12-16	1995-06-17	1995-12-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-12-16	1999-06-17	1999-12-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-12-16	2003-06-17	2003-12-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Self terminating tap connector

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