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US5401178A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Integrated foldable electric plug connector

Assignee: Delta Electronics Inc
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Filing: 1993-09-03
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Granted: 1995-03-28
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Expires: 2013-09-03
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Abstract

Abstract The present invention comprises an integrated electric connector for connecting an electrical circuit to a power supply. The integrated electric connector comprises an insulating and enclosure means for enclosing and insulating the electric circuit. The electric connector further includes a foldable connection and attachment means for securely attaching to the insulating and enclosure means and for making electrical connection between the electric circuit and the power supply. And, the foldable connection and attachment means further includes a pair of external power connection plugs each being pivotally connected via a rivet means to a corresponding internal circuit connection means wherein the external power connection plug being pivotally foldable while maintaining constant electric connection between the external power connection plugs and the internal circuit connection means.

Inventors

  • 👤 Shane Liu

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 12:57
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R35/00; H01R35/04

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 487 words
An integrated electric connector for connecting an electrical circuit to a power supply comprising: an insulating and enclosure means for enclosing and insulating said electric circuit; a foldable connection and attachment means for securely attaching to said insulating and enclosure means and for making electrical connection between said electric circuit and said power supply; said foldable connection and attachment means further including a pair of external power connection plugs each being pivotally connected via a rivet means to a corresponding internal circuit connection means wherein said external power connection plug being pivotally foldable while maintaining constant electric connection between said external power connection plugs and said internal circuit connection means; said internal circuit connection means is securely attached to said insulating and enclosure means without requiring movements during said pivotal foldable operations of said external power connection plugs; said insulating and enclosure means further includes a concave storage confinement for confining and storing said external power connection plugs when said external power connection plugs are folded; said foldable connection and attachment means further includes a locking and stabilizing means for securely locking said foldable connection and attachment means; said locking and stabilizing means further includes a rotatable transverse rod, an engaging block and an asserting spring; said rotatable transverse rod transversally engages near said rivet means between and pivotally rotate together with said pair of external power connection plugs; said engaging block engages said rotatable transverse rod for stabilizing said pivot rotation of said rotatable transverse rod and said external power connection plugs; and said asserting spring engages said engaging block for asserting a force pushing said engaging block to tightly engage said rotatable transverse rod; said rotatable transverse rod includes a semi-circular surface along a longitudinal direction of said rod for rotatably engaging said engaging block; said rotatable transverse rod further includes two ends each includes a coupling and locking means for coupling and locking to one of said pair of external power connection plugs; said semi-circular surface of said rotatable transverse rod further has a plurality of engaging grooves and said engaging block further has an engaging ridge to fit said engaging grooves whereby said rotatable transverse rod with said pair of external power connection plugs can be stably maintained at fix positions when said engaging ridge engages one of said engaging grooves; each of said pair of internal circuit connection means further includes an engaging locking means and said concave storage confinement further include a corresponding engaged locking means; and each of said engaging locking means is a pair of outwardly extending locking tongues and each of said engaged locking means is a corresponding pair openings on said concave storage confinement wherein each of said locking tongues extends outwardly from said opening and each of said locking tongues is further pushed by said asserting spring, said engaging block and said rotatable transverse rod to tightly engage and securely locked to said concave storage confinement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 487 words
An integrated electric connector for connecting an electrical circuit to a power supply comprising: an insulating and enclosure means for enclosing and insulating said electric circuit; a foldable connection and attachment means for securely attaching to said insulating and enclosure means and for making electrical connection between said electric circuit and said power supply; said foldable connection and attachment means further including a pair of external power connection plugs each being pivotally connected via a rivet means to a corresponding internal circuit connection means wherein said external power connection plug being pivotally foldable while maintaining constant electric connection between said external power connection plugs and said internal circuit connection means; said internal circuit connection means is securely attached to said insulating and enclosure means without requiring movements during said pivotal foldable operations of said external power connection plugs; said insulating and enclosure means further includes a concave storage confinement for confining and storing said external power connection plugs when said external power connection plugs are folded; said foldable connection and attachment means further includes a locking and stabilizing means for securely locking said foldable connection and attachment means; said locking and stabilizing means further includes a rotatable transverse rod, an engaging block and an asserting spring; said rotatable transverse rod transversally engages near said rivet means between and pivotally rotate together with said pair of external power connection plugs; said engaging block engages said rotatable transverse rod for stabilizing said pivot rotation of said rotatable transverse rod and said external power connection plugs; and said asserting spring engages said engaging block for asserting a force pushing said engaging block to tightly engage said rotatable transverse rod; said rotatable transverse rod includes a semi-circular surface along a longitudinal direction of said rod for rotatably engaging said engaging block; said rotatable transverse rod further includes two ends each includes a coupling and locking means for coupling and locking to one of said pair of external power connection plugs; said semi-circular surface of said rotatable transverse rod further has a plurality of engaging grooves and said engaging block further has an engaging ridge to fit said engaging grooves whereby said rotatable transverse rod with said pair of external power connection plugs can be stably maintained at fix positions when said engaging ridge engages one of said engaging grooves; each of said pair of internal circuit connection means further includes an engaging locking means and said concave storage confinement further include a corresponding engaged locking means; and each of said engaging locking means is a pair of outwardly extending locking tongues and each of said engaged locking means is a corresponding pair openings on said concave storage confinement wherein each of said locking tongues extends outwardly from said opening and each of said locking tongues is further pushed by said asserting spring, said engaging block and said rotatable transverse rod to tightly engage and securely locked to said concave storage confinement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 275 words
An integrated electrical connector for connecting an electrical circuit to a power supply comprising: an insulating and enclosure means for enclosing and insulating said electric circuit; a foldable connection and attachment means for securely attaching to said insulating and enclosure means and for making electrical connection between said electric circuit and said power supply; said foldable connection and attachment means further including a pair of external power connection plugs each being pivotally connected via a rivet means to a corresponding internal circuit connection means wherein said external power connection plug being pivotally foldable while maintaining constant electric connection between said external power connection plugs and said internal circuit connection means; said internal circuit connection means is securely attached to said insulating and enclosure means without requiring movements during said pivotal foldable operations of said external power connection plugs; said insulating and enclosure means includes a concave storage confinement for confining and storing said external power connection plugs when said external power connection plugs are folded; said foldable connection and attachment means further includes a locking and stabilizing means for securely locking said foldable connection and attachment means; said locking and stabilizing means further includes a rotatable transverse rod, an engaging block and an asserting spring; said rotatable transverse rod transversally engages near said rivet means between and pivotally rotate together with said pair of external power connection plugs; said engaging block engages said rotatable transverse rod for stabilizing said pivot rotation of said rotatable transverse rod and said external power connection plugs; and said asserting spring engages said engaging block for asserting a force pushing said engaging block to tightly engage said rotatable transverse rod.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 275 words
An integrated electrical connector for connecting an electrical circuit to a power supply comprising: an insulating and enclosure means for enclosing and insulating said electric circuit; a foldable connection and attachment means for securely attaching to said insulating and enclosure means and for making electrical connection between said electric circuit and said power supply; said foldable connection and attachment means further including a pair of external power connection plugs each being pivotally connected via a rivet means to a corresponding internal circuit connection means wherein said external power connection plug being pivotally foldable while maintaining constant electric connection between said external power connection plugs and said internal circuit connection means; said internal circuit connection means is securely attached to said insulating and enclosure means without requiring movements during said pivotal foldable operations of said external power connection plugs; said insulating and enclosure means includes a concave storage confinement for confining and storing said external power connection plugs when said external power connection plugs are folded; said foldable connection and attachment means further includes a locking and stabilizing means for securely locking said foldable connection and attachment means; said locking and stabilizing means further includes a rotatable transverse rod, an engaging block and an asserting spring; said rotatable transverse rod transversally engages near said rivet means between and pivotally rotate together with said pair of external power connection plugs; said engaging block engages said rotatable transverse rod for stabilizing said pivot rotation of said rotatable transverse rod and said external power connection plugs; and said asserting spring engages said engaging block for asserting a force pushing said engaging block to tightly engage said rotatable transverse rod.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 58 words
The electrical connector of claim 2 wherein: said rotatable transverse rod includes a semi-circular surface along a longitudinal direction of said rod for rotatably engaging said engaging block; and said rotatable transverse rod further includes two ends each includes a coupling and locking means for coupling and locking to one of said pair of external power connection plugs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 66 words
The electrical connector of claim 3 wherein: said semi-circular surface of said rotatable transverse rod further has a plurality of engaging grooves and said engaging block further has an engaging ridge to fit said engaging grooves whereby said rotatable transverse rod with said pair of external power connection plugs can be stably maintained at fix positions when said engaging ridge engages one of said engaging grooves.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 65 words
The electrical connector of claim 4 wherein: each of said pair of internal circuit connection means further includes an engaging locking means and said concave storage confinement further include a corresponding engaged locking means wherein each of said engaging locking means is securely locked to said engaged locking means whereby each of said internal circuit connection means is securely attached to said concave storage confinement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 81 words
The electrical connector of claim 5 wherein: each of said engaging locking means is a pair of outwardly extending locking tongues and each of said engaged locking means is a corresponding pair openings on said concave storage confinement wherein each of said locking tongues extends outwardly from said opening and each of said locking tongues is further pushed by said asserting spring, said engaging block and said rotatable transverse rod to tightly engage and securely locked to said concave storage confinement.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1386884A Cited
US3027507A Cited
FR1364711A Cited
US4075458A Cited
US4467263A Cited
US4697070A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1998-03-27 1998-09-26 1999-03-28 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2002-03-27 2002-09-26 2003-03-28 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2006-03-27 2006-09-26 2007-03-28 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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