US5522738A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connector jack
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1994-09-18
•
Granted: 1996-06-04
•
Expires: 2014-09-18
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector jack for a conventional two-conductor electrical connector plug; the plug is inserted into the jack in a given direction to connect a signal source to an amplifier with minimal or no noise when the connection is made. The plug has concentric electrically isolated tip and ring electrodes, with the tip projecting beyond the ring in the direction of insertion. The jack includes two signal contacts (one may be grounded) engageable individually with the tip and ring electrodes of the plug when the plug is fully inserted into the jack; these signal contacts are electrically connected to a signal source such as a guitar pickup. A shorting contact engages and interconnects the tip and ring electrodes until the plug is fully inserted. The signal contacts and the shorting contact may have a common insulator support.
Inventors
- 👤 Melvin A. Lace
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 16:22
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R24/00; H01R24/58; H01R2103/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
An electrical connector jack that receives an electrical connector plug inserted into the jack in a given direction to connect an amplifier and speaker to a signal source, the plug including aligned electrically conductive tip and ring plug electrodes electrically isolated from each other, the tip plug electrode projecting beyond the ring plug electrode when the plug is aligned with the jack in the given direction, the jack comprising: an insulator support; first and second electrically conductive signal contacts, mounted on the support, for engaging the tip and ring plug electrodes, respectively, in electrically conductive contact when the plug is fully inserted into the jack; connector means for electrically connecting the signal contacts to an external signal source; and an electrically conductive shorting contact mounted on the support in position to engage and interconnect both plug electrodes as the plug is initially inserted into the jack; the shorting contact maintaining the plug electrodes electrically interconnected until the plug is fully inserted into the jack and the plug electrodes engage the signal contacts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
An electrical connector jack that receives an electrical connector plug inserted into the jack in a given direction to connect an amplifier and speaker to a signal source, the plug including aligned electrically conductive tip and ring plug electrodes electrically isolated from each other, the tip plug electrode projecting beyond the ring plug electrode when the plug is aligned with the jack in the given direction, the jack comprising: an insulator support; first and second electrically conductive signal contacts, mounted on the support, for engaging the tip and ring plug electrodes, respectively, in electrically conductive contact when the plug is fully inserted into the jack; connector means for electrically connecting the signal contacts to an external signal source; and an electrically conductive shorting contact mounted on the support in position to engage and interconnect both plug electrodes as the plug is initially inserted into the jack; the shorting contact maintaining the plug electrodes electrically interconnected until the plug is fully inserted into the jack and the plug electrodes engage the signal contacts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
An electrical connector jack for use with a connector plug, according to claim 1, in which one of the signal contacts is a resilient metal member, mounted on the support.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electrical connector jack for use with a connector plug, according to claim 1, in which each signal contact is a resilient metal contact member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
An electrical connector jack for use with a connector plug, according to claim 1, in which the shorting contact of the jack includes a plural finger resilient metal shorting contact member which engages both the tip and ring plug electrodes during insertion of the plug into the jack.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
An electrical connector jack for use with a connector plug, according to claim 4, in which the shorting contact further includes a conductive sleeve engaging and guiding the plug into the jack, in the given direction, and an electrical connection between the conductive sleeve and the shorting contact member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electrical connector jack for use with a connector plug, according to claim 1, in which the support of the jack is mounted on a musical instrument and the signal source is a musical instrument pickup.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electrical connector jack for use with a connector plug, according to claim 6, in which the musical instrument is a guitar.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
168 words
An electrical connector jack that receives an electrical connector plug inserted into the jack in a given direction to connect an amplifier and speaker to a signal source, the plug including aligned electrically conductive tip and ring electrodes electrically isolated from each other, the tip plug electrode projecting beyond the ring electrode when the plug is aligned with the jack for insertion, the jack comprising: first and second electrically conductive signal contacts, for engaging the tip and ring electrodes of the plug, respectively, in electrically conductive contact when the plug is fully inserted into the jack; connector means for electrically connecting the signal contacts to an external signal source; and an electrically conductive shorting contact positioned to engage and interconnect the tip and ring electrodes of the plug as the plug is initially inserted into the jack; the shorting contact maintaining the tip and ring electrodes of the plug electrically interconnected until the plug is fully inserted into the jack and the plug electrodes engage the signal contacts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
168 words
An electrical connector jack that receives an electrical connector plug inserted into the jack in a given direction to connect an amplifier and speaker to a signal source, the plug including aligned electrically conductive tip and ring electrodes electrically isolated from each other, the tip plug electrode projecting beyond the ring electrode when the plug is aligned with the jack for insertion, the jack comprising: first and second electrically conductive signal contacts, for engaging the tip and ring electrodes of the plug, respectively, in electrically conductive contact when the plug is fully inserted into the jack; connector means for electrically connecting the signal contacts to an external signal source; and an electrically conductive shorting contact positioned to engage and interconnect the tip and ring electrodes of the plug as the plug is initially inserted into the jack; the shorting contact maintaining the tip and ring electrodes of the plug electrically interconnected until the plug is fully inserted into the jack and the plug electrodes engage the signal contacts.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electrical connector jack for use with a connector plug, according to claim 8, in which one of the signal contacts is a flexible resilient, electrically conductive member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electrical connector jack for use with a connector plug, according to claim 8, in which each signal contact is a flexible, resilient electrically conductive metal contact member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
An electrical connector jack for use with a connector plug, according to claim 8, in which the shorting contact of the jack includes a plural finger resilient metal shorting contact member which engages both the tip and ring electrodes of the plug during insertion of the plug into the jack.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
An electrical connector jack for use with a connector plug, according to claim 11, in which the shorting contact further includes a conductive sleeve engaging and guiding the plug into the jack, in the given direction, and an electrical connection between the conductive sleeve and the shorting contact member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electrical connector jack for use with a connector plug, according to claim 8, in which the jack is mounted on a musical instrument and the signal source is a musical instrument pickup.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electrical connector jack for use with a connector plug, according to claim 13, in which the musical instrument is a guitar.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-06-04 | 1999-12-04 | 2000-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-06-04 | 2003-12-04 | 2004-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-06-04 | 2007-12-04 | 2008-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |