US6004146A — Grounding clip for use with an associated audio j…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 164 words

An electrical connector assembly comprising: a bracket having a cavity and at least an opening communicating in a front-to-back direction with said cavity in a vertical front plate thereof; at least a audio jack consisting of a body enclosed within the cavity of the bracket, a mating port projecting through and out of the opening of the bracket, and at least a grounding member electrically connected with a grounded circuit on a circuit board; a grounding clip received within the cavity of the bracket and generally defining a front wall located between the front vertical plate of the bracket and the body of the audio jack, and an engagement tang extending integrally from the front wall to forwardly project through and out of the opening of the bracket for electrical engagement with a panel of a computer case wherein the grounding clip directly electrically and mechanically contacts with said grounding member of the audio jack for shortening a grounding path of the audio jack.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 164 words

An electrical connector assembly comprising: a bracket having a cavity and at least an opening communicating in a front-to-back direction with said cavity in a vertical front plate thereof; at least a audio jack consisting of a body enclosed within the cavity of the bracket, a mating port projecting through and out of the opening of the bracket, and at least a grounding member electrically connected with a grounded circuit on a circuit board; a grounding clip received within the cavity of the bracket and generally defining a front wall located between the front vertical plate of the bracket and the body of the audio jack, and an engagement tang extending integrally from the front wall to forwardly project through and out of the opening of the bracket for electrical engagement with a panel of a computer case wherein the grounding clip directly electrically and mechanically contacts with said grounding member of the audio jack for shortening a grounding path of the audio jack.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 37 words

The assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said mating port of the audio jack is positioned in an upper portion of the opening, and the engagement tang is positioned in a lower portion of the opening.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 35 words

The assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said grounding clip generally defining a U-shaped cross-sectional configuration, further includes a rear wall abutting against an offset vertical plane of the body of the audio jack.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 50 words

The assembly as described in claim 3, wherein said grounding clip further includes a top wall abutting against an undersurface of the body of the audio jack whereby said grounding clip is substantially snugly embedded within a space defined between the audio jack and the vertical plate of the bracket.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 45 words

The assembly as described in claim 1, wherein at least a retention means integrally formed with the grounding clip is retainably received within a slot defined on the body of the audio jack for fastening the grounding clip to the body of the audio jack.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 21 words

The assembly as described in claim 1, wherein the grounding member of audio jack is designed to be a grounding contact.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 40 words

The assembly as described in claim 1, wherein the grounding clip includes at least an L-shaped retention leg to grasp at a corresponding shoulder on the body of the audio jack for fastening the grounding clip to the audio jack.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 71 words

The assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said grounding clip includes a main base with a U-shaped cut generally retainably covering a front vertical plane of the audio jack unit body, a pair of engagement tangs integrally extending from said main base project out of the opening of the bracket, and a spring finger rearward extends from an edge of the engagement tangs to a position adjacent the grounding contact.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 119 words

An electrical connector assembly comprising: an insulative bracket defining a downward cavity, at least a body of a connector unit being upwardly installed and received therein; said connector unit body enclosing a plurality of signal contacts and at least one grounding contact wherein said grounding contact extends downward to a board on which said electrical connector assembly is seated; a grounding clip received within the cavity of the bracket, and having therein a contact portion electrically and mechanically directly contacting with said grounding contact of the connector unit, and an engagement tang projecting out of the bracket from the cavity to electrically contact with a panel of a computer case thereby shortening a grounding path of the connector unit.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 119 words

An electrical connector assembly comprising: an insulative bracket defining a downward cavity, at least a body of a connector unit being upwardly installed and received therein; said connector unit body enclosing a plurality of signal contacts and at least one grounding contact wherein said grounding contact extends downward to a board on which said electrical connector assembly is seated; a grounding clip received within the cavity of the bracket, and having therein a contact portion electrically and mechanically directly contacting with said grounding contact of the connector unit, and an engagement tang projecting out of the bracket from the cavity to electrically contact with a panel of a computer case thereby shortening a grounding path of the connector unit.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 35 words

The assembly as described in claim 9, wherein said grounding clip further includes a retention means which is retainably located between a front vertical plate of the bracket and the body of the connector unit.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 40 words

The assembly as described in claim 10, wherein the retention means of grounding clip is snugly embedded within a slot defined on the body of the connector unit for attaching said grounding clip to the body of the connector unit.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 21 words

The assembly as described in claim 9, wherein the contact portion of grounding clip is designed to be a spring finger.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 51 words

The assembly as described in claim 9, wherein said grounding clip further includes a first wall abutting against an offset vertical plane of the body of the connector unit and integrally formed with the contact portion whereby grounding clip is received within an indent formed on the body of the connector.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 27 words

The assembly as described in claim 10, wherein said grounding clip further includes a second wall integrally formed with said first wall to form the engagement tang.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 170 words

An electrical connector assembly comprising: a bracket defined with a plurality of sidewalls and a cavity surrounded by said sidewalls; at least a connector including a body retainably enclosed with the cavity of the bracket and at least a grounding contact electrically connected with a grounded circuit on a circuit board; a grounding clip received within the cavity of the bracket and defining at least a wall thereby abutting against the body of the connector, and a retention means integrally formed with the wall and snugly embedded in at least a slot defined on the body of the connector for retainably attaching the grounding clip to the body of the connector, a contact portion located on the wall and electrically and mechanically contacting directly with the grounding contact of the connector, and an engagement tang integral with the wall extending in opposite to the contact portion to electrically contact with a panel of a computer case whereby the grounding clip is capable of shortening a grounding path of the connector.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 170 words

An electrical connector assembly comprising: a bracket defined with a plurality of sidewalls and a cavity surrounded by said sidewalls; at least a connector including a body retainably enclosed with the cavity of the bracket and at least a grounding contact electrically connected with a grounded circuit on a circuit board; a grounding clip received within the cavity of the bracket and defining at least a wall thereby abutting against the body of the connector, and a retention means integrally formed with the wall and snugly embedded in at least a slot defined on the body of the connector for retainably attaching the grounding clip to the body of the connector, a contact portion located on the wall and electrically and mechanically contacting directly with the grounding contact of the connector, and an engagement tang integral with the wall extending in opposite to the contact portion to electrically contact with a panel of a computer case whereby the grounding clip is capable of shortening a grounding path of the connector.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 29 words

The assembly as described in claim 15, wherein said bracket further includes at least an opening which communicates with said cavity in a vertical front plate of the bracket.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 23 words

The assembly as described in claim 16, wherein said connector further includes a mating port projecting out of the opening of the bracket.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 19 words

The assembly as described in claim 16, wherein said engagement tang projects out of the opening of the bracket.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 29 words

The assembly as described in claim 17, wherein said grounding clip is retainably received within an indent under the mating port of the connector which defines the slot thereon.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 26 words

The assembly as described in claim 15, wherein said grounding clip further includes a top wall abutting against an undersurface of the body of the connector.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 102 words

An electrical connector assembly comprising: a bracket defining an upper portion and a lower portion; a first connector positioned around the upper portion; a second connector position around the lower portion; said bracket further defines a front vertical plate around the lower portion with therein an opening through which a mating portion of the second connector protrudes out of the front vertical plate; and a grounding clip positioned around the lower portion with a portion contacting a grounding contact of said second connector and with another portion protruding out of the front vertical plate for contacting a panel of the computer case.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 102 words

An electrical connector assembly comprising: a bracket defining an upper portion and a lower portion; a first connector positioned around the upper portion; a second connector position around the lower portion; said bracket further defines a front vertical plate around the lower portion with therein an opening through which a mating portion of the second connector protrudes out of the front vertical plate; and a grounding clip positioned around the lower portion with a portion contacting a grounding contact of said second connector and with another portion protruding out of the front vertical plate for contacting a panel of the computer case.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-12-20	2003-06-21	2003-12-21	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-12-20	2007-06-21	2007-12-21	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-12-20	2011-06-21	2011-12-21	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Grounding clip for use with an associated audio jack

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