Patent US5139862A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5139862A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Pultruded electronic device
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1991-12-11
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Granted: 1992-08-18
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Expires: 2011-12-11
Abstract
Abstract An electronic device for conducting electric current has two contacting components at least one of which is a nonmetallic electronic contact in the form of a pultruded composite member made of a plurality of small generally circular cross section conductive fibers in a polymer matrix, the fibers being oriented in the matrix in a direction substantially parallel to the axial direction of the pultruded composite member and being continuous from one end of the member to the other to provide a plurality of electrical point contacts at each end of the member.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph A. Swift
- 👤 Stanley J. Wallace
- 👤 Wilbur M. Peck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:52
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H1/00; H01H1/02; H01H1/021; H01H1/029; H01B; H01B1/00; H01B1/20; H01B1/24; H01R; H01R39/00; H01R39/02; H01R39/18; H01R39/24; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249924; Y10T428/24994; Y10T428/249942; Y10T428/249945; Y10T428/26; Y10T428/268; Y10T428/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
An electronic device for conducting electric current comprising two contacting components at least one of said components being a nonmetallic electronic contact comprising a pultruded composite member comprising a plurality of small generally circular cross section conductive fibers in a polymer matrix said plurality of fibers being oriented in said matrix in a direction substantially parallel to the axial direction of said member and being continuous from one end of said member to the other to provide a plurality of potential electrical point contacts at each end of said member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
An electronic device for conducting electric current comprising two contacting components at least one of said components being a nonmetallic electronic contact comprising a pultruded composite member comprising a plurality of small generally circular cross section conductive fibers in a polymer matrix said plurality of fibers being oriented in said matrix in a direction substantially parallel to the axial direction of said member and being continuous from one end of said member to the other to provide a plurality of potential electrical point contacts at each end of said member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said conductive fibers are carbon fibers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said carbon fibers are carbonized polyacrylonitrile fibers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the fibers are generally circular in cross section have a diameter of from about 4 micrometers to about 50 micrometers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 4 wherein the fibers have a diameter of from about 7 micrometers to about 10 micrometers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the fibers have a DC volume resistivity of from about 1×10 -5 ohm-cm to about 1×10 10 ohm-cm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 6 wherein the fibers have DC volume resistivity of from about 1×10 -4 ohm cm to about 10 ohm-cm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one of said components comprises at least 5% by weight fibers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said at least one of said components comprises at least 50% by weight fibers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 9 wherein said at least one of said components comprises about 90% by weight fibers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said device is a low energy device using low voltages and low currents.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said pultruded member has from about 1×10 5 to about 1×10 7 point contacts per cm 2 .
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said polymer matrix is a structural thermoplastic or thermosetting resin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 11 wherein said resin is a polyester or epoxy.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said polymer is a crosslinked silicone elastomer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said pultruded member is a rigid mechanical member as well as an electrical component.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1 wherein both of said components are pultruded members.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 17 wherein said conductive fibers of both of said components are carbon fibers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 17 wherein at least one of said pultruded members is a mechanical member as well as an electrical component.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 17 wherein both of said pultruded members are mechanical members.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said pultruded member has at least one mechanical feature incorporated therein.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 16 wherein said pultruded member has at least one mechanical feature incorporated therein.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said two components are maintained in contact by a flexible fastener.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
A switch, sensor or connector as defined by the device of claim 1.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
112 words
A machine including a plurality of electrical components each requiring the supply of electrical current for proper functioning, said machine including at least one electronic device for conducting electric current comprising two contacting components at least one of said components being a nonmetallic electronic contact comprising a pultruded composite member comprising a plurality of small generally circular cross section conductive fibers in a polymer matrix said plurality of fibers being oriented in said matrix in a direction substantially parallel to the axial direction of said member and being continuous from one end of said member to the other to provide a plurality of electrical point contacts at each end of said member.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
112 words
A machine including a plurality of electrical components each requiring the supply of electrical current for proper functioning, said machine including at least one electronic device for conducting electric current comprising two contacting components at least one of said components being a nonmetallic electronic contact comprising a pultruded composite member comprising a plurality of small generally circular cross section conductive fibers in a polymer matrix said plurality of fibers being oriented in said matrix in a direction substantially parallel to the axial direction of said member and being continuous from one end of said member to the other to provide a plurality of electrical point contacts at each end of said member.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
The machine of claim 25 wherein said conductive fibers are carbon fibers.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The machine of claim 26 wherein said carbon fibers are carbonized polyacrylonitrile fibers.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The machine of claim 25 wherein the fibers have a diameter of from about 4 micrometers to about 50 micrometers.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The machine of claim 28 wherein the fibers have a diameter of from about 7 micrometers to about 10 micrometers.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The machine of claim 25 wherein the fibers have a DC volume resistivity of from about 1×10 -5 ohm-cm to about 1×10 10 ohm-cm.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The machine of claim 30 wherein the fibers have DC volume resistivity of from about 1×10 -4 ohm-cm to about 10 ohm-cm.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
The machine of claim 25 wherein said at least one of said components comprises at least 5% by weight fibers.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
The machine of claim 32 wherein said at least one of said components comprises at least 50% by weight fibers.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
The machine of claim 33 wherein said at least one of said components comprises about 90% by weight fibers.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
The machine of claim 25 wherein said pultruded member has from about 1×10 5 to about 1×10 7 point contacts per cm 2 .
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
The machine of claim 26 wherein said polymer matrix is a structural thermoplastic or thermosetting resin.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
13 words
The machine of claim 36 wherein said resin is a polyester or epoxy.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
13 words
The machine of claim 25 wherein said polymer is a crosslinked silicone elastomer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
20 words
The machine of claim 25 wherein said pultruded member is a rigid mechanical member as well as an electrical component.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
13 words
The machine of claim 25 wherein both of said components are pultruded members.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
17 words
The machine of claim 25 wherein said conductive fibers of both of said components are carbon fibers.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
23 words
The machine of claim 41 wherein at least one of said pultruded members is a mechanical member as well as an electrical component.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
14 words
The machine of claim 41 wherein both of said pultruded members are mechanical members.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
17 words
The machine of claim 25 wherein said pultruded member has at least one mechanical feature incorporated therein.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
17 words
The machine of claim 39 wherein said pultruded member has at least one mechanical feature incorporated therein.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
17 words
The machine of claim 25 wherein said two components are maintained in contact by a flexible fastener.
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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) | 1995-08-18 | 1996-02-17 | 1996-08-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-08-18 | 2000-02-17 | 2000-08-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-08-18 | 2004-02-17 | 2004-08-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |