US6468097B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical discharge of a plug
Assignee: Bel Fuse Inc
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Filing: 2000-07-18
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Granted: 2002-10-22
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Expires: 2020-07-18
Abstract
Abstract A connector is provided with grounding contacts electrically connected to the host device's ground. The grounding contacts are positioned in the insertion path of a plug that is connected to a cable. The grounding contacts momentarily electrically contact the electrical contacts on the plug to discharge electrostatic charges in the cable to ground. A jack behind the grounding contacts in the housing receives the inserted plug. The jack includes jack contacts that are intended for making electrical contact with the plug contacts when the plug is fully inserted. Electrical connection between the plug contacts and the grounding contacts established as the plug is first inserted in the connector is broken prior to the electrical connection between the plug contacts and the jack contacts being established.
Inventors
- 👤 Elliot Bernstein
- 👤 John Chen
- 👤 Robert G. Schilling
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:56
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/648; H01R13/6485; H01R24/00; H01R24/60; H01R24/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
An electrical connector comprising: an electrical jack including a housing with an interior, and a base having an outside face; an electrical port opening into said housing; at least one jack contact in said housing interior for making electric contact with at least one plug contact of a plug which is inserted into said jack housing; said housing having an opening for entry of said plug into said housing interior, said plug contact being insertable into electrical contact with said at least one jack contact along a linear path extending from said opening to said at least one jack contact; and at least one grounding contact supported on said housing, extending into said housing interior and positioned in the path of said at least one plug contact to electrically contact said plug contact when said plug is inserted into said jack, but before said plug is inserted sufficiently that said plug contact contacts said jack contact; said at least one grounding contact being so shaped and spaced from said at least one jack contact that said plug contact breaks contact from said grounding contact before said plug contact makes electrical contact with said at least one jack contact upon further insertion of said plug.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
An electrical connector comprising: an electrical jack including a housing with an interior, and a base having an outside face; an electrical port opening into said housing; at least one jack contact in said housing interior for making electric contact with at least one plug contact of a plug which is inserted into said jack housing; said housing having an opening for entry of said plug into said housing interior, said plug contact being insertable into electrical contact with said at least one jack contact along a linear path extending from said opening to said at least one jack contact; and at least one grounding contact supported on said housing, extending into said housing interior and positioned in the path of said at least one plug contact to electrically contact said plug contact when said plug is inserted into said jack, but before said plug is inserted sufficiently that said plug contact contacts said jack contact; said at least one grounding contact being so shaped and spaced from said at least one jack contact that said plug contact breaks contact from said grounding contact before said plug contact makes electrical contact with said at least one jack contact upon further insertion of said plug.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 , further comprising a resistance between said at least one grounding contact and a ground.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 , further comprising a shield that is connected to ground and said at least one grounding contact is connected to said shield.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein there is a plurality of said grounding contacts to engage a corresponding plurality of said plug contacts of said plug.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein said at least one grounding contact is mounted on said base and along said port opening into said jack housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrical connector of claim 3 , further comprising a resistance between said at least one grounding contact and said shield.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The electrical connector of claim 3 , further comprising discharge bar, said discharge bar being connected to said shield, and said at least one grounding contact is connected to said discharge bar.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrical connector of claim 7 , further comprising a resistance between said grounding bar and said shield.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrical connector of claim 4 , wherein each said grounding contact in said plurality of grounding contacts is a coil of a wound spring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electrical connector of claim 5 , wherein a plurality of said grounding contacts are positioned to make electrical contact with a corresponding plurality of said plug contacts.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
The electrical connector of claim 10 , wherein said plurality of grounding contacts are shaped and positioned and of such material as to bend as said plug is inserted into said jack housing past said grounding contacts and to spring back when said plug is not present in said jack housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical connector of claim 11 , wherein said plurality of grounding contacts are mounted along said opening in said jack housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The electrical connector of claim 11 , further comprising a shield folded over said grounding contacts to mount said grounding contacts onto said housing by folding part of said grounding contacts over said outside face of said jack housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The electrical connector of claim 12 , wherein said mounting of said grounding contacts comprises a projection on said jack housing and a corresponding hole in said grounding contacts through which said projection protrudes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
188 words
An electrical connector comprising: an electrical jack including a housing with an interior, and a base having an outside face; an electrical port opening into said housing; at least one jack contact in said housing interior for making electric contact with at least one plug contact of a plug which is inserted into said jack housing; said housing having an opening for entry of said plug into said housing interior; and at least one grounding contact supported on said housing, extending into said housing interior and positioned in the path of said at least one plug contact to electrically contact said plug contact when said plug is inserted into said jack, but before said plug is inserted sufficiently that said plug contact contacts said jack contact; said at least one grounding contact being so shaped and spaced from said at least one jack contact that said plug contact breaks contact from said grounding contact before said plug contact makes electrical contact with said at least one jack contact upon further insertion of said plug, wherein said at least one grounding contact is a coil of a wound spring.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
188 words
An electrical connector comprising: an electrical jack including a housing with an interior, and a base having an outside face; an electrical port opening into said housing; at least one jack contact in said housing interior for making electric contact with at least one plug contact of a plug which is inserted into said jack housing; said housing having an opening for entry of said plug into said housing interior; and at least one grounding contact supported on said housing, extending into said housing interior and positioned in the path of said at least one plug contact to electrically contact said plug contact when said plug is inserted into said jack, but before said plug is inserted sufficiently that said plug contact contacts said jack contact; said at least one grounding contact being so shaped and spaced from said at least one jack contact that said plug contact breaks contact from said grounding contact before said plug contact makes electrical contact with said at least one jack contact upon further insertion of said plug, wherein said at least one grounding contact is a coil of a wound spring.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
182 words
An electrical connector comprising: an electrical jack including a housing with an interior, and a base having an outside face; an electrical port opening into said housing; a plurality of jack contacts in said housing interior for making electric contact, respectively, with a plurality of plug contacts of a plug which is inserted into said jack housing; said housing having an opening for entry of said plug into said housing interior; and a plurality of grounding contacts supported on said housing, extending into said housing interior and positioned in the path of said plurality of plug contacts to electrically contact, respectively, said plug contacts when said plug is inserted into said jack, but before said plug is inserted sufficiently that said plug contact contacts said jack contact; said plurality of grounding contacts being so shaped and spaced from said jack contacts that said plug contacts break contact from respective ones of said grounding contacts before said plug contacts make electrical contact with said jack contacts upon further insertion of said plug, wherein each grounding contact is a coil of a wound spring.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
182 words
An electrical connector comprising: an electrical jack including a housing with an interior, and a base having an outside face; an electrical port opening into said housing; a plurality of jack contacts in said housing interior for making electric contact, respectively, with a plurality of plug contacts of a plug which is inserted into said jack housing; said housing having an opening for entry of said plug into said housing interior; and a plurality of grounding contacts supported on said housing, extending into said housing interior and positioned in the path of said plurality of plug contacts to electrically contact, respectively, said plug contacts when said plug is inserted into said jack, but before said plug is inserted sufficiently that said plug contact contacts said jack contact; said plurality of grounding contacts being so shaped and spaced from said jack contacts that said plug contacts break contact from respective ones of said grounding contacts before said plug contacts make electrical contact with said jack contacts upon further insertion of said plug, wherein each grounding contact is a coil of a wound spring.
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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) | 2005-10-21 | 2006-04-22 | 2006-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-10-21 | 2010-04-22 | 2010-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-10-21 | 2014-04-22 | 2014-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |