US5790660A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shunted modular jack
Assignee: Whitaker LLC
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Filing: 1996-08-08
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Granted: 1998-08-04
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Expires: 2016-08-08
Abstract
Abstract A shunted modular jack is provided with a shunting module mounted against a rear face of the modular jack. The shunting module comprises a housing and shunting contacts having pairs of shunting contact portions. The shunting contacts are mounted to the housing at different levels to enable a large plurality of shunting combinations, and easy and cost-effective alteration of shunting configurations without alteration of the modular jack housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric Vlaeminck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 06:36
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/66; H01R13/70; H01R13/703; H01R13/7031; H01R13/7032; H01R24/00; H01R24/60; H01R24/62; H01R24/64
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
An electrical modular jack assembly for coupling to a standardized modular plug, the assembly comprising a modular jack having an insulative housing and a terminal module with a plurality of juxtaposed resilient terminals mounted in a cavity of the housing adapted to receive said modular plug therein, further comprising a shunting module engaging and interconnecting free ends of the terminals when the assembly is in the uncoupled state, wherein the shunting module comprises an insulative housing and one or more shunt contacts having a base portion and a pair of contact portions extending from either end of the base portion mounted securely thereto where it is possible to mount the shunt contacts in a number of different positions to provide shunting modules with different shunting configurations, the shunting module being a separate component from the modular jack but securely mountable thereto as a single unit and wherein a plurality of said shunt contacts are mounted in the insulative housing of the shunting module at different levels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
An electrical modular jack assembly for coupling to a standardized modular plug, the assembly comprising a modular jack having an insulative housing and a terminal module with a plurality of juxtaposed resilient terminals mounted in a cavity of the housing adapted to receive said modular plug therein, further comprising a shunting module engaging and interconnecting free ends of the terminals when the assembly is in the uncoupled state, wherein the shunting module comprises an insulative housing and one or more shunt contacts having a base portion and a pair of contact portions extending from either end of the base portion mounted securely thereto where it is possible to mount the shunt contacts in a number of different positions to provide shunting modules with different shunting configurations, the shunting module being a separate component from the modular jack but securely mountable thereto as a single unit and wherein a plurality of said shunt contacts are mounted in the insulative housing of the shunting module at different levels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein the shunt contacts are made of wire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein the shunt contacts are mounted to the shunting module housing by overmoulding of the housing over the shunting contacts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein the shunt contacts are stitched to cavities of the shunting module housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein the shunting module housing comprises a plurality of shunt contact receiving cavities arranged in a plurality of rows to form a matrix of holes, for receiving the shunt contacts at different levels and for different pairs of modular jack terminals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
181 words
An electrical modular jack assembly for coupling to a standardized modular plug, the assembly comprising a modular jack having an insulative housing and a terminal module with a plurality of juxtaposed resilient terminals mounted in a cavity of the housing adapted to receive said modular plug therein, further comprising a shunting module interconnecting free ends of the terminals when the assembly is in the uncoupled state, wherein the shunting module comprises an insulative housing and one or more shunt contacts mounted securely thereto where it is possible to mount the shunt contacts in a number of different positions to provide shunting modules with different shunting configurations, the shunting module being a separate component from the modular jack but securely mountable thereto as a single unit and wherein a plurality of said shunt contacts are mounted in the insulative housing of the shunting module at different levels each shunt contact comprising a base portion and a pair of contact portions extending from either end of the base portion and a pair of contact portions extending from either end of the base portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
181 words
An electrical modular jack assembly for coupling to a standardized modular plug, the assembly comprising a modular jack having an insulative housing and a terminal module with a plurality of juxtaposed resilient terminals mounted in a cavity of the housing adapted to receive said modular plug therein, further comprising a shunting module interconnecting free ends of the terminals when the assembly is in the uncoupled state, wherein the shunting module comprises an insulative housing and one or more shunt contacts mounted securely thereto where it is possible to mount the shunt contacts in a number of different positions to provide shunting modules with different shunting configurations, the shunting module being a separate component from the modular jack but securely mountable thereto as a single unit and wherein a plurality of said shunt contacts are mounted in the insulative housing of the shunting module at different levels each shunt contact comprising a base portion and a pair of contact portions extending from either end of the base portion and a pair of contact portions extending from either end of the base portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The assembly of claim 6 wherein the shunt contacts are made of wire.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The assembly of claim 6 wherein the shunt contacts are mounted to the shunting module housing by overmoulding of the housing over the shunting contacts.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The assembly of claim 6 wherein the shunt contacts are stitched to cavities of the shunting module housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The assembly of claim 6 wherein the shunting module housing comprises a plurality of shunt contact receiving cavities arranged in a plurality of rows to form a matrix of holes, for receiving the shunt contacts at different levels and for different pairs of modular jack terminals.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5312273A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-03 | 2002-02-02 | 2002-08-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-03 | 2006-02-02 | 2006-08-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-03 | 2010-02-02 | 2010-08-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |