US5277606A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fully programmable connector
Assignee: ABB Installation Products International LLC
•
Filing: 1993-01-19
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Granted: 1994-01-11
•
Expires: 2013-01-19
Abstract
Abstract A fully programmable connector is provided in which selected ones of the connector contacts can be electrically shorted within the same connector housing body. The housing body includes a plurality of identical cells each containing an electrical contact and each configured to contain a shorting clip. One or more shorting clips are retained in intended cells of the housing body to short circuit the corresponding contacts.
Inventors
- 👤 David C. Giroux
- 👤 David W. Mendenhall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 13:04
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R31/00; H01R31/08; H01R29/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A fully programmable connector receiving shorting clips that provide electrical interconnection between selected two or more contacts, comprising: at least two contacts; at least one shorting clip configured to electrically engage said at least two contacts; a housing having a top face and a bottom face and a plurality of cells terminating in respective openings through at least one of the top face and the bottom face of the housing through which pins of a mating connector are received; at least some of said plurality of cells receiving and retaining a respective said contact, said housing including at least one first channel receiving a portion of said at least one shorting clip and supporting said shorting clip within said housing in position to electrically short-circuit selected ones of said at least two contacts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A fully programmable connector receiving shorting clips that provide electrical interconnection between selected two or more contacts, comprising: at least two contacts; at least one shorting clip configured to electrically engage said at least two contacts; a housing having a top face and a bottom face and a plurality of cells terminating in respective openings through at least one of the top face and the bottom face of the housing through which pins of a mating connector are received; at least some of said plurality of cells receiving and retaining a respective said contact, said housing including at least one first channel receiving a portion of said at least one shorting clip and supporting said shorting clip within said housing in position to electrically short-circuit selected ones of said at least two contacts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The connector of claim 1 wherein the shorting clip is disposed to short contacts aligned in an adjacent pair of cells.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The connector of claim 1 wherein the connector is a multiple row connector and the shorting clip is disposed to short contacts aligned in adjacent cells of a single row to electrically connect at least two contacts of the row.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The connector of claim 1 wherein the connector is a multi-row connector and wherein the shorting clip is disposed to short contacts in adjacent cells of multiple rows to electrically connect at least two contacts of the multiple rows.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The connector of claim 1, wherein said housing is comprised of transversely-spaced, longitudinally-extending and generally-planar vertical walls, and wherein said at least one first channel includes vertically extending shorting clip supporting members formed in longitudinally-spaced relation along said transversely-spaced, longitudinally-extending and generally-planar vertical walls of said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The connector of claim 5, wherein said shorting clip supporting members are confronting pairs of ribs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
10 words
The connector of claim 6, wherein said ribs have rounded-tops.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The connector of claim 1, wherein said housing further includes at least one second channel formed by plural, spaced apart walls defining contact shorting clip receiving cavities that are substantially orthogonally disposed with respect to said at least one first channel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The connector of claim 5, wherein said shorting clip supporting members are formed by transversely spaced confronting ribs.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The connector of claim 1, wherein said connector is a DIN connector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The connector of claim 1, wherein each of said at least one shorting clip comprises at least two clip portions and an interconnecting bridging portion.
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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) | 1997-01-10 | 1997-07-12 | 1998-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-01-10 | 2001-07-12 | 2002-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-01-10 | 2005-07-12 | 2006-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |