US5158468A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-retaining contact assembly
Assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1991-12-06
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Granted: 1992-10-27
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Expires: 2011-12-06
Abstract
Abstract An electrical contact assembly (10) comprises a housing having a bottom portion (26) and a top portion (24), the top portion having a first inverted wall section (29) and a second inverted wall section (28), the housing having at least one aperture (31 and 32), the aperture extending from the bottom of the first inverted wall section to the bottom of the second inverted wall section. The assembly further comprises a substrate (20) within the housing having at least one contact area (22), and a contact finger (11) for placement in the housing aperture, the contact finger having at least a first portion (12), a second portion (14) and a third portion (16). The first portion protrudes below the aperture and contacts the contact area (22) on the substrate. The second portion (14) clips on to opposing walls of the second inverted wall (28) and the third portion (16) protrudes from the aperture (31) forming an external contact area.
Inventors
- 👤 James H. Curtis
- 👤 Jose Villanueva, III
- 👤 William R. Williams
- 👤 II James T. Davis
- 👤 John M. Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:13
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R9/00; H01R9/16; H01R13/00; H01R13/40; H01R13/42; H01R13/428; H01R13/432; H01R12/00; H01R12/50; H01R12/51; H01R12/55; H01R12/57; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/929
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
An electrical contact assembly, comprising: a housing having a bottom portion and a top portion, said top portion having a first inverted wall section and a second inverted wall section, said housing having at least one aperture, said aperture extending from the bottom of said first inverted wall section to the bottom of said second inverted wall section; a substrate having at least one contact area located within said housing; and a contact finger for placement in said housing aperture, said contact finger having at least a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, said first portion protruding below said aperture and contacting said contact area on the substrate, said second portion clipping on to opposing walls of said second inverted wall and said third portion protruding from said aperture forming an external contact area.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
An electrical contact assembly, comprising: a housing having a bottom portion and a top portion, said top portion having a first inverted wall section and a second inverted wall section, said housing having at least one aperture, said aperture extending from the bottom of said first inverted wall section to the bottom of said second inverted wall section; a substrate having at least one contact area located within said housing; and a contact finger for placement in said housing aperture, said contact finger having at least a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, said first portion protruding below said aperture and contacting said contact area on the substrate, said second portion clipping on to opposing walls of said second inverted wall and said third portion protruding from said aperture forming an external contact area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrical contact assembly of claim 1, wherein said assembly comprises a battery charger.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrical contact assembly of claim 1, wherein said contact finger comprises nickel silver.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The electrical contact assembly of claim 1, wherein said housing has more than one aperture and contact fingers arranged so that the contact fingers can be set at variable distances from each other and at various heights to accomodate different batteries.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electrical contact assembly of claim 1, wherein said third portion of the contact finger further comprises an end portion having a tongue wider than the aperture in the housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electrical contact assembly of claim 1, wherein said first inverted wall forms part of a well for receiving a rechargeable battery having charging contacts for mating with said third portion of the contact finger.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The electrical contact assembly of claim 6, wherein said first portion of the contact finger wipes the contact area of the substrate each time the rechargeable battery is firmly placed in the well.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
117 words
An electrical contact assembly having an electrical contact for use in a housing having at least a first appending wall and a second appending wall, comprising: a contact finger substantially fitted on an inner wall of the first appending wall and on an outer wall of the second appending wall for placement in a housing aperture, said contact finger having at least a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, said first portion protruding below said aperture and contacting a contact area on a substrate located within said housing, said second portion clipping on to opposing walls of said second appending wall and said third portion protruding from said aperture forming an external contact area.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
117 words
An electrical contact assembly having an electrical contact for use in a housing having at least a first appending wall and a second appending wall, comprising: a contact finger substantially fitted on an inner wall of the first appending wall and on an outer wall of the second appending wall for placement in a housing aperture, said contact finger having at least a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, said first portion protruding below said aperture and contacting a contact area on a substrate located within said housing, said second portion clipping on to opposing walls of said second appending wall and said third portion protruding from said aperture forming an external contact area.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrical contact assembly of claim 8, wherein said assembly comprises a battery charger.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrical contact assembly of claim 8, wherein said contact finger comprises nickel silver.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrical contact assembly of claim 8, wherein said third portion of the contact finger is gold plated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electrical contact assembly of claim 8, wherein said third portion of the contact finger further comprises an end portion having a tongue wider than the aperture in the housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electrical contact assembly of claim 8, wherein said first appending wall forms part of a well for receiving a rechargeable battery having charging contacts for mating with said third portion of the contact finger.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The electrical contact assembly of claim 13, wherein said first portion of the contact finger wipes the contact area of the substrate each time the rechargeable battery is firmly placed in the well.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
80 words
A hand-insertable, hand-removable self-locking electrical contact for insertion into a housing opening in a housing having at least a first appending wall and a second appending wall formed therein, comprising a lower electrical contact portion for coupling to a contact on a substrate located within said housing; a middle electrical contact portion for clipping on to opposing walls of said second appending wall; and an upper electrical contact portion protruding from said housing opening and forming and external contact area.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
80 words
A hand-insertable, hand-removable self-locking electrical contact for insertion into a housing opening in a housing having at least a first appending wall and a second appending wall formed therein, comprising a lower electrical contact portion for coupling to a contact on a substrate located within said housing; a middle electrical contact portion for clipping on to opposing walls of said second appending wall; and an upper electrical contact portion protruding from said housing opening and forming and external contact area.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electrical contact of claim 15, wherein said electrical contact comprises nickel silver.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrical contact of claim 15, wherein said upper portion of the electrical contact is gold plated.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The electrical contact of claim 15, wherein said upper portion of the electrical contact further comprises an end portion having a tongue wider than the aperture in the housing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The electrical contact of claim 15, wherein said first appending wall forms part of a well for receiving a rechargeable battery having charging contacts for mating with said upper portion of the electrical contact.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
The electrical contact assembly of claim 19, wherein said first portion of the contact finger wipes the contact area of the substrate each time the rechargeable battery is firmly placed in the well.
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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) | 1995-10-27 | 1996-04-27 | 1996-10-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-10-27 | 2000-04-27 | 2000-10-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-10-27 | 2004-04-27 | 2004-10-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |