US6135786A — Removable modular connector for connecting an ele…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 98 words

A removable modular connector for connecting an electronic device to a communication card, comprising: a removable connector housing that is sized and configured to be positioned within the communication card; a printed circuit board disposed within said connector housing, said printed circuit board including an elongated finger having a length, a width, an upper surface and a lower surface; one or more electrical leads disposed on said elongated finger, one or more of said leads extending generally the entire length of said elongated finger; and a slidable member disposed on said elongated finger of said printed circuit board.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 98 words

A removable modular connector for connecting an electronic device to a communication card, comprising: a removable connector housing that is sized and configured to be positioned within the communication card; a printed circuit board disposed within said connector housing, said printed circuit board including an elongated finger having a length, a width, an upper surface and a lower surface; one or more electrical leads disposed on said elongated finger, one or more of said leads extending generally the entire length of said elongated finger; and a slidable member disposed on said elongated finger of said printed circuit board.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 48 words

The modular connector as in claim 1, further comprising one or more runners attached to said slidable member, wherein at least one of said runners is in electrical communication with one of said electrical leads to allow electrical communication between said slidable member and said printed circuit board.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 31 words

The modular connector as in claim 1, further comprising a frame at least partially surrounding said printed circuit board, said frame including at least one surface that contacts said sliding member.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

The modular connector as in claim 3, further comprising a locking mechanism that releasably locks said slidable member to said frame.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

The modular connector as in claim 1, wherein said slidable member includes a body with a generally rectangular first portion and a generally rectangular second portion.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 26 words

The modular connector as in claim 5, wherein said first generally rectangular portion is generally orthogonally intersected at one corner by said second generally rectangular portion.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 43 words

The modular connector as in claim 6, further comprising a frame at least partially surrounding said printed circuit board, said frame including an edge that contacts said first portion of said body and a rail that contacts said second portion of said body.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 29 words

The modular connector as in claim 1, further comprising a communication port connected to said slidable member, said communication port being sized and adapted to receive a communication plug.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 16 words

The modular connector as in claim 1, further comprising a jack connected to said slidable member.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 20 words

The modular connector as in claim 1, further comprising a multiple-pin socket disposed proximate an end of said connector housing.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 21 words

The modular connector as in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of leads disposed proximate an end of said connector housing.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 22 words

The modular connector as in claim 1, further comprising a light source attached to said printed circuit board proximate said sliding member.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 16 words

The modular connector as in claim 1, further comprising a coupling connected to said slidable member.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 23 words

The modular connector as in claim 1, wherein said slidable member is removably attached to said elongated finger of said printed circuit board.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 139 words

An apparatus which allows electrical communication to be established between a communication card and an electronic device, comprising: a communication card including a body with an upper surface and a lower surface; a connector housing at least partially disposed within said body of the communication card; a frame attached to said connector housing; a printed circuit board attached to said frame, said printed circuit board including an elongated finger with a length, a width, and an outer surface; one or more leads on said outer surface of said elongated finger, at least one of said leads extending generally the entire length of said elongated finger; and a member including one or more runners, at least one of said runners being in electrical communication with one of said leads to allow electrical communication between said communication card and said member.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 139 words

An apparatus which allows electrical communication to be established between a communication card and an electronic device, comprising: a communication card including a body with an upper surface and a lower surface; a connector housing at least partially disposed within said body of the communication card; a frame attached to said connector housing; a printed circuit board attached to said frame, said printed circuit board including an elongated finger with a length, a width, and an outer surface; one or more leads on said outer surface of said elongated finger, at least one of said leads extending generally the entire length of said elongated finger; and a member including one or more runners, at least one of said runners being in electrical communication with one of said leads to allow electrical communication between said communication card and said member.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus as in claim 15, further comprising a communication port connected to said member, said communication port being sized and configured to receive a communication plug.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus as in claim 15, further comprising a coupling connected to said member, said coupling being adapted and configured to allow communication with said communication card.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus as in claim 15, further comprising a jack connected to said member, said jack being adapted and configured to allow communication with said communication card.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 51 words

The apparatus as in claim 15, further comprising an edge of said frame located proximate a first side of said elongated finger and a rail of said frame located proximate a second side of said elongated finger, wherein said edge and said rail are sized and configured to contact said member.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 42 words

The apparatus as in claim 19, wherein said member includes a body with a first portion and a second portion, said edge being sized and configured to contact said first portion, said rail being sized and configured to contact said second portion.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus as in claim 15, further comprising a locking mechanism that releasably locks said member to said frame.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus as in claim 15, further comprising a coupling attached to said connector housing, said coupling being sized and configured to allow communication with said communication card.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said member is removably attached to said printed circuit board of said communication card.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 46 words

The apparatus as in claim 15, further comprising a connector attached to an end of said printed circuit board, said connector electrically connected to to said communication card to allow electrical communication between said printed circuit board disposed within said connector housing and said communication card.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 31 words

The apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said member includes a body that is at least partially translucent to allow light to pass through at least that portion of the housing.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 16 words

The apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said member is slidably disposed on said elongated finger.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 16 words

The apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said member is integrally attached to said elongated finger.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 43 words

The apparatus as in claim 15, further comprising a connector attached to an end of said connector housing, said connector electrically connected to said communication card to allow electrical communication between said printed circuit board disposed within said housing and said communication card.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 16 words

The apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said member is integrally formed with a cable body.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 96 words

A modular connector for connecting an electronic device to an electronic communication card, comprising: a connector housing that is sized and configured to be positioned within the communication card; a frame generally positioned inside said connector housing; a printed circuit board disposed within said frame, said printed circuit board including an elongated finger with a length, a width and an outer surface; one or more electrical leads disposed on said outer surface of said printed circuit board; and a slidable member in electrical communication with one or more of said leads disposed on said elongated finger.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 96 words

A modular connector for connecting an electronic device to an electronic communication card, comprising: a connector housing that is sized and configured to be positioned within the communication card; a frame generally positioned inside said connector housing; a printed circuit board disposed within said frame, said printed circuit board including an elongated finger with a length, a width and an outer surface; one or more electrical leads disposed on said outer surface of said printed circuit board; and a slidable member in electrical communication with one or more of said leads disposed on said elongated finger.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 45 words

The modular connector as in claim 30, further comprising one or more runners attached to said slidable member, wherein at least one of said runners is in communication with one of said leads to allow communication between said slidable member and said printed circuit board.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 37 words

The modular connector as in claim 30, wherein said frame has a generally U-shaped configuration with an edge proximate a first side of said elongated finger and a rail proximate a second side of said elongated finger.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 115 words

A removable modular connector, comprising: a printed circuit board including an elongated finger, said printed circuit board and said elongated finger including a generally planar upper surface and a generally planer lower surface, said elongated finger having a width and a length; one or more leads disposed on said outer surface of said elongated finger, at least one of said leads extending generally the entire length of said elongated finger; and a slidable member disposed on said elongated finger, said slidable member including one or more runners, at least one of said runners being in electrical communication with one of said leads to allow electrical communication between said printed circuit board and said slidable member.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 115 words

A removable modular connector, comprising: a printed circuit board including an elongated finger, said printed circuit board and said elongated finger including a generally planar upper surface and a generally planer lower surface, said elongated finger having a width and a length; one or more leads disposed on said outer surface of said elongated finger, at least one of said leads extending generally the entire length of said elongated finger; and a slidable member disposed on said elongated finger, said slidable member including one or more runners, at least one of said runners being in electrical communication with one of said leads to allow electrical communication between said printed circuit board and said slidable member.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 49 words

The modular connector as in claim 33, further comprising a generally U-shaped frame surrounding said printed circuit board, an edge of said frame being located proximate a first side of said elongated finger and a rail of said frame being located proximate a second side of said elongated finger.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 25 words

The removable modular connector as in claim 34, further comprising a housing, said frame and said printed circuit board being substantially disposed within said housing.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 19 words

The removable modular connector as in claim 34, further comprising means for locking the slidable member to the frame.

Claim 41

Independent Claim 108 words

An apparatus that allows electrical communication to be established with an electronic device, comprising: a housing; a U-shaped frame generally positioned within said housing; a printed circuit board substantially disposed within said U-shaped frame, said printed circuit board including an elongated finger with a length, a width and an outer surface; one or more leads located on said outer surface of said elongated finger; and a slidable member disposed on said elongated finger, said slidable member including one or more runners, at least one or said runners being in electrical communication with one of said leads to allow electrical communication between said electronic device and said slidable member.

Claim 42

Independent Claim 108 words

An apparatus that allows electrical communication to be established with an electronic device, comprising: a housing; a U-shaped frame generally positioned within said housing; a printed circuit board substantially disposed within said U-shaped frame, said printed circuit board including an elongated finger with a length, a width and an outer surface; one or more leads located on said outer surface of said elongated finger; and a slidable member disposed on said elongated finger, said slidable member including one or more runners, at least one or said runners being in electrical communication with one of said leads to allow electrical communication between said electronic device and said slidable member.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus as in claim 37, further comprising a locking mechanism that releasably locks said slidable member in communication with said elongated finger.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-10-24	2004-04-24	2004-10-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-10-24	2008-04-24	2008-10-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-10-24	2012-04-24	2012-10-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Removable modular connector for connecting an electronic device to a communications card

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