US6196879B1 — Surface-mountable modular electrical connector as…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 148 words

A connector assembly for surface mounting on a substrate, comprising a jack comprising a housing defining a plug-receiving receptacle, and contact/terminal members having a contact portion situated in said receptacle, a terminal portion extending from said housing and adapted to be surface mounted to the substrate, and an intermediate portion between said contact portion and said terminal portion, said contact/terminal members having a substantially straight portion including said terminal portion, said straight portion having an upper surface contacting said housing at a first location adjacent the terminal portion and a lower surface contacting said housing at a second location spaced from said first location such that said contact/terminal members are entrapped by said housing by virtue of contact between said contact/terminal members and said housing at said first and second locations and said terminal portions of said contact/terminal members extend rearward from said housing in a common plane.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 148 words

A connector assembly for surface mounting on a substrate, comprising a jack comprising a housing defining a plug-receiving receptacle, and contact/terminal members having a contact portion situated in said receptacle, a terminal portion extending from said housing and adapted to be surface mounted to the substrate, and an intermediate portion between said contact portion and said terminal portion, said contact/terminal members having a substantially straight portion including said terminal portion, said straight portion having an upper surface contacting said housing at a first location adjacent the terminal portion and a lower surface contacting said housing at a second location spaced from said first location such that said contact/terminal members are entrapped by said housing by virtue of contact between said contact/terminal members and said housing at said first and second locations and said terminal portions of said contact/terminal members extend rearward from said housing in a common plane.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 23 words

The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein said housing comprises channels in which said intermediate portions of said contact/terminal members are received.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 34 words

The connector assembly of claim 2 , wherein said channels are arranged such that said terminal portions extend downward from said housing and thus at an angle to a bottom surface of said housing.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 65 words

The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein said intermediate portions of said contact/terminal members each include a first intermediate portion substantially parallel to and spaced from a lower surface of said housing and a second intermediate portion extending at an angle relative to said first intermediate portion and a bottom surface of said housing, said terminal portion being situated adjacent said second intermediate portion.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 28 words

The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein said housing comprises an outer housing part and an inner housing part arranged in connection with said outer housing part.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 40 words

The connector assembly of claim 5 , wherein said inner and outer housing parts cooperate to entrap said intermediate portions in said housing at at least two locations and thereby fix all of said contact/terminal members in the same position.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 25 words

The connector assembly of claim 5 , wherein said inner housing part comprises channels in which said intermediate portions of said contact/terminal members are received.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 28 words

The connector assembly of claim 7 , wherein said inner housing part has a bottom surface, said channels being arranged at an oblique angle to said bottom surface.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 78 words

The connector assembly of claim 7 , wherein said inner housing part includes a bottom surface, a rear surface and a forward facing surface substantially parallel to said rear surface, said channels having a first opening in said forward facing surface and a second opening formed at a corner between said bottom surface and said rear surface such that said second opening has a first portion in said bottom surface and a second portion in said rear surface.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 40 words

The connector assembly of claim 9 , wherein said channels have a first section adjacent said forward facing surface having a first depth and a second section adjacent said rear surface having a second depth less than said first depth.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 80 words

The connector assembly of claim 5 , wherein said outer housing part includes a slot, said inner housing part including a front portion insertable into a slot in said outer housing part, first channels arranged on a lower surface of said front portion, a rear portion situated rearward of said front portion, second channels arranged in said rear portion in alignment with said first channels, said intermediate portion of said contact/terminal members being arranged in said first and second channels.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 29 words

The connector assembly of claim 11 , wherein said outer housing part includes a bottom wall having said slot for receiving said front portion of said inner housing part.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 47 words

The connector assembly of claim 11 , wherein said outer housing part includes a bottom wall having a rear edge including third channels in alignment with said first and second channels of said inner housing part, said intermediate portions of contact/terminal members extending through said third channels.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 57 words

The connector assembly of claim 5 , wherein said intermediate portion has a first surface contacting a surface of one of said inner and outer housing parts at a first location and a second surface opposite to said first surface contacting a surface of the other of said inner and outer housing parts at a second location.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 53 words

The connector assembly of claim 5 , wherein said inner housing part comprises guide channels formed at a front edge of said inner housing part and said outer housing part comprises tongues formed in alignment with said guide channels such that said contact/terminal members are retained between said guide channels and said tongues.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 62 words

The connector assembly of claim 5 , wherein said outer housing part includes a top wall, side walls and a bottom wall, said top wall and side walls extending beyond a rear edge of said bottom wall to thereby define a cavity at a rear of said outer housing part, said inner housing part being situated at least partially in said cavity.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 40 words

The connector assembly of claim 5 , wherein said outer housing part includes a front face having a plug aperture, said outer housing part and said inner housing part cooperating to define said receptacle in alignment with said plug aperture.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 20 words

The connector assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a shield arranged around at least a portion of said jack.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 50 words

The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein said intermediate portion of each of said contact/terminal members extends entirely between said terminal portion and said contact portion, said intermediate portions of said contact/terminal members being fixed in position by said housing such that movement of said intermediate portions is prevented.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 199 words

A connector assembly for surface mounting on a substrate, comprising a jack comprising a housing defining a plug-receiving receptacle, said housing comprising an outer housing part and an inner housing part arranged in connection with said outer housing part, and contact/terminal members having a contact portion situated in said receptacle, a terminal portion extending from said housing and adapted to be surface mounted to the substrate, and an intermediate portion between said contact portion and said terminal portion, said intermediate portions of said contact/terminals members being entrapped in said housing and fixed in position such that said terminal portions of said contact/terminals members extend rearward from said housing in a common plane, said inner housing part comprising channels in which said intermediate portions of said contact/terminal members are received, said inner housing part including a bottom surface, a rear surface and a forward facing surface substantially parallel to said rear surface, said channels having a first opening in said forward facing surface and a second opening formed at a corner between said bottom surface and said rear surface such that said second opening has a first portion in said bottom surface and a second portion in said rear surface.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 199 words

A connector assembly for surface mounting on a substrate, comprising a jack comprising a housing defining a plug-receiving receptacle, said housing comprising an outer housing part and an inner housing part arranged in connection with said outer housing part, and contact/terminal members having a contact portion situated in said receptacle, a terminal portion extending from said housing and adapted to be surface mounted to the substrate, and an intermediate portion between said contact portion and said terminal portion, said intermediate portions of said contact/terminals members being entrapped in said housing and fixed in position such that said terminal portions of said contact/terminals members extend rearward from said housing in a common plane, said inner housing part comprising channels in which said intermediate portions of said contact/terminal members are received, said inner housing part including a bottom surface, a rear surface and a forward facing surface substantially parallel to said rear surface, said channels having a first opening in said forward facing surface and a second opening formed at a corner between said bottom surface and said rear surface such that said second opening has a first portion in said bottom surface and a second portion in said rear surface.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 40 words

The connector assembly of claim 20 , wherein said channels have a first section adjacent said forward facing surface having a first depth and a second section adjacent said rear surface having a second depth less than said first depth.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 191 words

A connector assembly for surface mounting on a substrate, comprising a jack comprising a housing defining a plug-receiving receptacle, said housing comprising an outer housing part and an inner housing part arranged in connection with said outer housing part, and contact/terminal members having a contact portion situated in said receptacle, a terminal portion extending from said housing and adapted to be surface mounted to the substrate, and an intermediate portion between said contact portion and said terminal portion, said intermediate portions of said contact/terminals members being entrapped in said housing and fixed in position such that said terminal portions of said contact/terminals members extend rearward from said housing in a common plane, said outer housing part including a slot and said inner housing part including a front portion insertable into said slot in said outer housing part, said inner housing part further including first channels arranged on a lower surface of said front portion, a rear portion situated rearward of said front portion, second channels arranged in said rear portion in alignment with said first channels, said intermediate portion of said contact/terminal members being arranged in said first and second channels.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 191 words

A connector assembly for surface mounting on a substrate, comprising a jack comprising a housing defining a plug-receiving receptacle, said housing comprising an outer housing part and an inner housing part arranged in connection with said outer housing part, and contact/terminal members having a contact portion situated in said receptacle, a terminal portion extending from said housing and adapted to be surface mounted to the substrate, and an intermediate portion between said contact portion and said terminal portion, said intermediate portions of said contact/terminals members being entrapped in said housing and fixed in position such that said terminal portions of said contact/terminals members extend rearward from said housing in a common plane, said outer housing part including a slot and said inner housing part including a front portion insertable into said slot in said outer housing part, said inner housing part further including first channels arranged on a lower surface of said front portion, a rear portion situated rearward of said front portion, second channels arranged in said rear portion in alignment with said first channels, said intermediate portion of said contact/terminal members being arranged in said first and second channels.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 47 words

The connector assembly of claim 22 , wherein said outer housing part includes a bottom wall having a rear edge including third channels in alignment with said first and second channels of said inner housing part, said intermediate portions of contact/terminal members extending through said third channels.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 161 words

A connector assembly for surface mounting on a substrate, comprising a jack comprising a housing defining a plug-receiving receptacle, said housing comprising an outer housing part and an inner housing part arranged in connection with said outer housing part, and contact/terminal members having a contact portion situated in said receptacle, a terminal portion extending from said housing and adapted to be surface mounted to the substrate, and an intermediate portion between said contact portion and said terminal portion, said intermediate portions of said contact/terminals members being entrapped in said housing and fixed in position such that said terminal portions of said contact/terminals members extend rearward from said housing in a common plane, said intermediate portions having a first surface contacting a surface of one of said inner and outer housing parts at a first location and a second surface opposite to said first surface contacting a surface of the other of said inner and outer housing parts at a second location.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 161 words

A connector assembly for surface mounting on a substrate, comprising a jack comprising a housing defining a plug-receiving receptacle, said housing comprising an outer housing part and an inner housing part arranged in connection with said outer housing part, and contact/terminal members having a contact portion situated in said receptacle, a terminal portion extending from said housing and adapted to be surface mounted to the substrate, and an intermediate portion between said contact portion and said terminal portion, said intermediate portions of said contact/terminals members being entrapped in said housing and fixed in position such that said terminal portions of said contact/terminals members extend rearward from said housing in a common plane, said intermediate portions having a first surface contacting a surface of one of said inner and outer housing parts at a first location and a second surface opposite to said first surface contacting a surface of the other of said inner and outer housing parts at a second location.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 151 words

A connector assembly for surface mounting on a substrate, comprising a jack comprising a housing defining a plug-receiving receptacle, said housing comprising an outer housing part and an inner housing part arranged in connection with said outer housing part, and contact/terminal members having a contact portion situated in said receptacle, a terminal portion extending from said housing and adapted to be surface mounted to the substrate, and an intermediate portion between said contact portion and said terminal portion, said intermediate portions of said contact/terminals members being entrapped in said housing and fixed in position such that said terminal portions of said contact/terminals members extend rearward from said housing in a common plane, said inner housing part comprising guide channels formed at a front edge, said outer housing part comprises tongues formed in alignment with said guide channels such that said contact/terminal members are retained between said guide channels and said tongues.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 151 words

A connector assembly for surface mounting on a substrate, comprising a jack comprising a housing defining a plug-receiving receptacle, said housing comprising an outer housing part and an inner housing part arranged in connection with said outer housing part, and contact/terminal members having a contact portion situated in said receptacle, a terminal portion extending from said housing and adapted to be surface mounted to the substrate, and an intermediate portion between said contact portion and said terminal portion, said intermediate portions of said contact/terminals members being entrapped in said housing and fixed in position such that said terminal portions of said contact/terminals members extend rearward from said housing in a common plane, said inner housing part comprising guide channels formed at a front edge, said outer housing part comprises tongues formed in alignment with said guide channels such that said contact/terminal members are retained between said guide channels and said tongues.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-03-05	2004-09-04	2005-03-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-03-05	2008-09-04	2009-03-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-03-05	2012-09-04	2013-03-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Surface-mountable modular electrical connector assemblies having co-planar terminals

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