US6537083B1 — Electrical connector assembly for printed circuit…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 154 words

An electrical connector comprising: a rigid casing adapted for mounting on an electrical device; an elongated flexible electrical conductor having a plurality of exposed electrodes at either end thereof and interconnected by corresponding electrical traces, a first set of the exposed electrodes adjacent one end of the conductor oriented with respect to one surface of the rigid casing; a resilient pressure pad positioned between the casing and the first set of electrodes; a positionable shuttle having a plurality of electrical contacts with each of the contacts coupled to one of the exposed electrodes adjacent another end of the signal path; and an electrical conductor guide defining a channel extending from the casing and projecting toward the positionable shuttle and the one surface of the rigid casing adjacent to the first set of the exposed electrodes at one end of the signal path, including first and second cooperating guide portions defining the channel between them.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 154 words

An electrical connector comprising: a rigid casing adapted for mounting on an electrical device; an elongated flexible electrical conductor having a plurality of exposed electrodes at either end thereof and interconnected by corresponding electrical traces, a first set of the exposed electrodes adjacent one end of the conductor oriented with respect to one surface of the rigid casing; a resilient pressure pad positioned between the casing and the first set of electrodes; a positionable shuttle having a plurality of electrical contacts with each of the contacts coupled to one of the exposed electrodes adjacent another end of the signal path; and an electrical conductor guide defining a channel extending from the casing and projecting toward the positionable shuttle and the one surface of the rigid casing adjacent to the first set of the exposed electrodes at one end of the signal path, including first and second cooperating guide portions defining the channel between them.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 24 words

The electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein the rigid casing further comprises a rigid stiffener bar joined to a relatively flexible casing.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 22 words

The electrical connector according to claim 1 , further comprising a shuttle housing slidably engaging the shuttle between two opposing surfaces thereof.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 66 words

The electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein: the casing further comprises a plurality of alignment prongs projecting from the one surface adjacent to the first set of the exposed electrodes; and the electrical conductor further comprises a plurality of registration holes oriented with respect to the first set of the exposed electrodes adjacent one end thereof and sized to mate with the alignment prongs.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 50 words

The electrical connector according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of rounded support ridges projecting from a surface of the casing between the one surface of the casing having the first set of exposed electrodes adjacent thereto and a second surface of the casing opposite the one surface.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 50 words

The electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein: one of the first and second cooperating guide portions further comprises a cowling portion projecting from the lid; and another of the first and second cooperating guide portions further comprises a support member projecting from the casing adjacent to the lid.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 116 words

The electrical connector according to claim 1 , further comprising a lid clamped to the casing; and wherein the conductor further comprises: a first flexible electrical conductor having the first set of the exposed electrodes adjacent one end and a plurality of exposed electrodes adjacent another end thereof; a second flexible electrical conductor having the shuttle coupled thereto and a plurality of exposed electrodes adjacent another end thereof; and a circuit board coupling the exposed electrodes at the end of the first conductor opposite from the first set of exposed electrodes and the exposed electrodes at the end of the second conductor opposite from the shuttle, the circuit board clamped between the lid and the casing.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 23 words

The electrical connector according to claim 7 , further comprising a second resilient pressure pad positioned between the lid and the circuit board.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 34 words

The electrical connector according to claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of second flexible electrical signal paths each having a shuttle coupled thereto and a plurality of exposed electrodes adjacent another end thereof.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 139 words

A connector assembly comprising: an elongate connector casing comprising a recess formed in a first surface thereof; an elongate and flexible conductor strip having a plurality of electrically conductive traces coupling electrodes at a first end thereof to electrodes at a second end thereof, which are oriented relative to the first surface of the casing; a compression pad, partially encased in the recess, and fixed between the electrodes at the second end of the flexible conductor strip and the first surface of the casing; a substantially rigid stiffener bar at least partially encased in the connector casing, the stiffener bar providing stiffness and alignment of the connector casing to the flexible conductor strip; and a plurality of apertures for receiving fasteners for extending through the connector casing and through the stiffener bar to provide a united, rigid connector assembly.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 139 words

A connector assembly comprising: an elongate connector casing comprising a recess formed in a first surface thereof; an elongate and flexible conductor strip having a plurality of electrically conductive traces coupling electrodes at a first end thereof to electrodes at a second end thereof, which are oriented relative to the first surface of the casing; a compression pad, partially encased in the recess, and fixed between the electrodes at the second end of the flexible conductor strip and the first surface of the casing; a substantially rigid stiffener bar at least partially encased in the connector casing, the stiffener bar providing stiffness and alignment of the connector casing to the flexible conductor strip; and a plurality of apertures for receiving fasteners for extending through the connector casing and through the stiffener bar to provide a united, rigid connector assembly.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 54 words

The connector assembly recited in claim 10 , wherein the casing further comprises an alignment prong projecting from the first surface thereof; and the flexible conductor strip further comprises a registration hole oriented relative to the electrodes at the second end thereof, the registration hole sized to register the electrodes with the alignment prong.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 50 words

The connector assembly of claim 10 wherein the elongate connector casing comprises a support ridge projecting from a second surface thereof and a conductor guide projecting from a third surface thereof, and wherein the flexible conductor strip is looped over the support ridge and partially encased within the conductor guide.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 66 words

The connector assembly of claim 10 wherein: the connector casing has a first tolerance in its physical dimensions; the stiffener bar has a second tolerance in its physical dimensions, the second tolerance being tighter than the first tolerance so that the combined assembly of the connector casing and stiffener bar has an alignment tolerance that is more precise than the tolerance of the connector casing alone.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 202 words

A connector, comprising: a plastic casing having a cavity and having first and second casing apertures passing from within the cavity to an outside surface of the casing; a circuit board having first and second apertures; a rigid bar sized to fit snugly within the cavity, the bar having first and second bar apertures at first and second ends of the bar, respectively, the bar apertures positioned to align with the casing apertures; first and second alignment posts on the outside surface of the casing and integral therewith, positioned at first and second ends of the casing; first and second fasteners, each of the fasteners configured, at a first and thereof, to engage the bar at a respective bar aperture, and pass through a respective one of the first and second casing apertures and through corresponding respective board apertures in the circuit board to engage a fastening member on a side of the circuit board opposite the casing, to draw the bar and casing toward the circuit board; and an electrical conductor strip positioned between the casing and the circuit board which is held in electrical contact with the circuit board by the combination of the casing, the bar and the fasteners.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 202 words

A connector, comprising: a plastic casing having a cavity and having first and second casing apertures passing from within the cavity to an outside surface of the casing; a circuit board having first and second apertures; a rigid bar sized to fit snugly within the cavity, the bar having first and second bar apertures at first and second ends of the bar, respectively, the bar apertures positioned to align with the casing apertures; first and second alignment posts on the outside surface of the casing and integral therewith, positioned at first and second ends of the casing; first and second fasteners, each of the fasteners configured, at a first and thereof, to engage the bar at a respective bar aperture, and pass through a respective one of the first and second casing apertures and through corresponding respective board apertures in the circuit board to engage a fastening member on a side of the circuit board opposite the casing, to draw the bar and casing toward the circuit board; and an electrical conductor strip positioned between the casing and the circuit board which is held in electrical contact with the circuit board by the combination of the casing, the bar and the fasteners.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 110 words

The connector of claim 14 , wherein the electrical conductor strip includes a plurality of contacts on a surface facing the circuit board, and further including first and second conductor apertures configured and positioned to mate with the first and second alignment posts, respectively, and maintaining, thereby, a positional relationship between the plastic casing, the conductor and the circuit board such, that the features on the casing bear against the electrical conductor strip directly opposite each of the plurality of contacts thereon, and that the each of the plurality of contacts on the conductor make electrical contact with the respective one of the plurality of contacts on the circuit board.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 37 words

The connector of claim 14 wherein the features on the outside surface of the casing comprise a resilient member configured to bear against the first surface of the conductor, opposite the plurality of contacts on the conductor.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 179 words

The connector of claim 14 , further comprising a fastening member, the fastening member including: a second plastic casing substantially identical to the first plastic casing, including features configured to bear against a first surface of a second flexible conductor, causing a plurality of contacts on a second surface thereof to make electrical connections with respective ones of a plurality of contacts on a second surface of the circuit board; a second rigid bar substantially identical to the first rigid bar; and third and fourth alignment posts, substantially identical to the first and second alignment posts, respectively, the first and fourth alignment posts configured to interlock with each other while mating, from opposing sides of the circuit board, with the first board aperture, and the second and third alignment posts configured to interlock with each other while mating, from opposing sides of the circuit board, with the second board aperture; and wherein the first and second fasteners are configured, at second ends thereof, to pass through and engage third and fourth bar apertures, respectively, in the second metal bar.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2006-03-24	2006-09-23	2007-03-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2010-03-24	2010-09-23	2011-03-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2014-03-24	2014-09-23	2015-03-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Electrical connector assembly for printed circuit boards

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