US5899753A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spring-loaded ball contact connector
Assignee: Raytheon Co
•
Filing: 1997-04-03
•
Granted: 1999-05-04
•
Expires: 2017-04-03
Abstract
Abstract A spring-loaded ball contact device having a housing, a spring disposed in the housing, a moveable plunger disposed in the housing that contacts the spring, a freely moveable ball contact disposed at an end of the plunger, and a lubricant stored within the housing for lubricating the ball contact. A rotary connector using the spring-loaded ball contact devices has first and second printed wiring boards that rotate relative to each other that are electrically interconnected using a plurality of spring-loaded ball contact devices disposed on the first printed wiring board. The spring-loaded ball contact devices are used to transfer electrical signals or power to conductive contacts formed on the second printed wiring board.
Inventors
- 👤 Tse E. Wong
- 👤 Harold M. Cohen
- 👤 Mohi Sobhani
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 15:30
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/22; H01R13/24; H01R13/2407; H01R13/2421; H01R39/00; H01R39/64; H01R39/643
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
57 words
A spring-loaded ball contact device for use in a rotary connector, said contact device comprising: a housing; a spring entirely disposed within the housing; a moveable plunger disposed in the housing that contacts the spring; a ball contact disposed at an end of the plunger; and a lubricant stored within the housing for lubricating the ball contact.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
57 words
A spring-loaded ball contact device for use in a rotary connector, said contact device comprising: a housing; a spring entirely disposed within the housing; a moveable plunger disposed in the housing that contacts the spring; a ball contact disposed at an end of the plunger; and a lubricant stored within the housing for lubricating the ball contact.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 1 wherein motion of the plunger is stopped by a radial flange and internal step in the housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the spring is disposed between an end of the plunger and an internal surface of the housing distal from the ball contact.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The device of claim 2 wherein the spring is disposed around an exterior surface of the plunger and one end contacts a surface of the radial flange while the other end contacts an internal surface of the housing distal from the ball contact.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising a lubrication reservoir disposed adjacent to the ball contact.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the housing, plunger, spring and ball contact comprise brass.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the housing, plunger, spring and ball contact comprise beryllium copper.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the housing, plunger, spring and ball contact comprise high purity gold.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
173 words
A rotary connector comprising: an enclosure; a rotatable shaft disposed through the enclosure; a disk extending radially outward from the shaft; a collar extending radially outward from the shaft; first and second bearings coupled to the shaft on opposite sides of the disk and the collar; a first printed wiring board secured to the disk having a plurality of conductive contacts that are electrically connected to a plurality of spring-loaded ball contact devices, and wherein each of the plurality of spring-loaded ball contact devices comprises: a housing; a spring entirely disposed within the housing; a moveable plunger disposed in the housing that contacts the spring; a ball contact disposed at an end of the plunger; and a lubricant stored within the housing for lubricating the ball contact; a connector electrically connected to the plurality of conductive contacts and spring-loaded ball contact devices; and a second printed wiring board coupled to the enclosure that has a plurality of electrically isolated conductive traces disposed thereon that respectively contact the plurality of spring-loaded ball contact devices.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
173 words
A rotary connector comprising: an enclosure; a rotatable shaft disposed through the enclosure; a disk extending radially outward from the shaft; a collar extending radially outward from the shaft; first and second bearings coupled to the shaft on opposite sides of the disk and the collar; a first printed wiring board secured to the disk having a plurality of conductive contacts that are electrically connected to a plurality of spring-loaded ball contact devices, and wherein each of the plurality of spring-loaded ball contact devices comprises: a housing; a spring entirely disposed within the housing; a moveable plunger disposed in the housing that contacts the spring; a ball contact disposed at an end of the plunger; and a lubricant stored within the housing for lubricating the ball contact; a connector electrically connected to the plurality of conductive contacts and spring-loaded ball contact devices; and a second printed wiring board coupled to the enclosure that has a plurality of electrically isolated conductive traces disposed thereon that respectively contact the plurality of spring-loaded ball contact devices.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The rotary connector of claim 9 further comprising a spacer disposed between the first and second printed wiring boards.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The rotary connector of claim 9 wherein the first printed wiring board is secured to the disk by means of adhesive.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The rotary connector of claim 9 wherein the first printed wiring board is secured to the disk by means of a layer of double sided adhesive tape.
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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) | 2002-05-03 | 2002-11-02 | 2003-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-05-03 | 2006-11-02 | 2007-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-05-03 | 2010-11-02 | 2011-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |