Shock isolation system having integral electrical interconnects

Claim 2

A shock isolation system for interconnecting at least two electronic devices, comprising: a shock isolator positioned between the at least two electronic devices for absorbing mechanical shocks, the shock isolator having at least one aperture formed therein; and at least one electrical interconnect disposed within the at least one aperture and extending therefrom, wherein the at least one aperture positions the at least one electrical interconnect for electrically coupling the at least two electronic devices, and wherein the at least one electrical interconnect is held, without solder, in electrical contact with the at least two electronic devices by the shock isolator when the shock isolation system is assembled; wherein the shock isolator further includes a protrusion integrally formed into a wall of the at least one aperture for securely holding the at least one electrical interconnect within the at least one aperture, where the at least one electrical interconnect is securely held in contact with the at least two electronic devices when the shock isolation system is assembled.

Claim 3

The shock isolation system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the shock isolator is formed from an elastomeric material.

Claim 4

The shock isolation system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one electrical interconnect comprises at least one conductive spring element, and wherein the at least one conductive spring element is electrically secured to the at least two electronic devices solely by the shock isolator and the pressure exerted at opposite ends of the at least one conductive spring element by the at least two electronic devices.

Claim 7

The apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein the shock isolator is formed from an elastomeric material.

Claim 8

The apparatus in accordance with claim 4, further comprising a housing for enclosing the first and second electronic devices with the shock isolation system positioned therebetween.

Claim 9

The apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein the at least one electrical interconnect comprises at least one conductive spring element, and wherein the at least one conductive spring element is electrically secured to the first and second electronic devices solely by the shock isolator and the pressure exerted at opposite ends of the at least one conductive spring element by the first and second electronic devices.

Claim 10

The apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein: the first electronic device comprises at least a first electronic component mounted on a first printed circuit board and a first printed circuit pattern formed on the first printed circuit board for interconnecting the at least a first electronic component; and the second electronic device comprises at least a second electronic component mounted on a second printed circuit board and a second printed circuit pattern formed on the second printed circuit board for interconnecting the at least a second electronic component.

Claim 11

The apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein the shock isolator is molded to conform to the first and second printed circuit boards and the at least a first electronic component and the at least a second electronic component.

Claim 12

A data communication receiver for receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal and decoding therefrom a selective call message, comprising: a first printed circuit board; a first electronic circuit comprising at least a first electronic component mounted on the first printed circuit board and a first printed circuit pattern formed on the first printed circuit board for interconnecting the at least a first electronic component; a second printed circuit board; a second electronic circuit comprising at least a second electronic component mounted on the second printed circuit board and a second printed circuit pattern formed on the second printed circuit board for interconnecting the at least a second electronic component; and a shock isolation system, comprising: an elastomeric shock isolator positioned between the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board for absorbing mechanical shocks, the shock isolator having at least one aperture formed therein; and at least one electrical interconnect disposed within the at least one aperture and extending therefrom, wherein the at least one aperture positions the at least one electrical interconnect for electrically coupling the first electronic circuit to the second electronic circuit, and wherein the at least one electrical interconnect is held, without solder, in electrical contact with the first and second electrical circuits by the shock isolator when the data communication receiver is assembled; wherein the shock isolator further includes a protrusion integrally formed into a wall of the at least one aperture for securely holding the at least one electrical interconnect within the at least one aperture, where the at least one electrical interconnect is securely held in contact with the first and second electrical circuits when the shock isolation system is assembled.

Claim 13

A data communication receiver for receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal and decoding therefrom a selective call message, comprising: a first printed circuit board; a first electronic circuit comprising at least a first electronic component mounted on the first printed circuit board and a first printed circuit pattern formed on the first printed circuit board for interconnecting the at least a first electronic component; a second printed circuit board; a second electronic circuit comprising at least a second electronic component mounted on the second printed circuit board and a second printed circuit pattern formed on the second printed circuit board for interconnecting the at least a second electronic component; and a shock isolation system, comprising: an elastomeric shock isolator positioned between the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board for absorbing mechanical shocks, the shock isolator having at least one aperture formed therein; and at least one electrical interconnect disposed within the at least one aperture and extending therefrom, wherein the at least one aperture positions the at least one electrical interconnect for electrically coupling the first electronic circuit to the second electronic circuit, and wherein the at least one electrical interconnect is held, without solder, in electrical contact with the first and second electrical circuits by the shock isolator when the data communication receiver is assembled; wherein the shock isolator further includes a protrusion integrally formed into a wall of the at least one aperture for securely holding the at least one electrical interconnect within the at least one aperture, where the at least one electrical interconnect is securely held in contact with the first and second electrical circuits when the shock isolation system is assembled.

Claim 14

The data communication receiver in accordance with claim 10, wherein the first electronic circuit comprises a controller for controlling the operation of the data communication receiver and for decoding the selective call message from the RF signal.

Claim 15

The data communication receiver in accordance with claim 11, wherein the second electronic circuit comprises an electromechanical motor for generating a sensible alert to announce to a user that the selective call message has been decoded from the RF signal, wherein the electromechanical motor is coupled to and controlled by the controller via the at least one electrical interconnect.

Claim 16

The data communication receiver in accordance with claim 10, wherein the shock isolator is molded to conform to the first and second printed circuit boards and the at least a first electronic component and the at least a second electronic component.

Claim 17

The data communication receiver in accordance with claim 10, wherein the at least one electrical interconnect comprises at least one conductive spring element, and wherein the at least one conductive spring element is electrically secured to the first and second electrical circuits solely by the shock isolator and the pressure exerted at opposite ends of the at least one conductive spring element by the first and second printed circuit boards.