US6537111B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric contact plug with deformable attributes
Assignee: ZF CV Systems Hannover GmbH
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Filing: 2001-05-22
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Granted: 2003-03-25
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Expires: 2021-05-22
Abstract
Abstract An electric contact plug receives a tip jack input at a plug-in zone, and completes the electrical connection via a connection zone to an electronic component, such as a printed circuit board. The electric contact plug also includes an intermediate zone, connected between the plug-in zone and the connection zone. The intermediate zone is designed to deform mechanically when the plug-in zone is subjected to vibrational stresses, as typically occur in a motor vehicle. As a result, the tip jack is held securely within the plug-in zone, while the intermediate zone absorbs the effects of the vibrational stresses. Thus, the inventive electric contact plug avoids the problems of friction and corrosion within the plug-in zone. Moreover, this electric contact plug is compatible with thick-wire bonding, and can be manufactured economically.
Inventors
- 👤 Christian Brammer
- 👤 Peter Homann
- 👤 Werner Dreyer
- 👤 Bernd Kiel
- 👤 Jens Gröger
- 👤 Stefan Klik
- 👤 Oliver Gründker
- 👤 Stefan Knoke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:42
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/10; H01R13/11; H01R13/112; H01R13/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
An electric contact plug, for receiving a tip jack input device at a first end, and for connecting to an electronic component at a second end, comprising: a) a plug-in zone at said first end, located within an L-shaped area of said electric contact plug, for receiving said tip jack input device, b) a connection zone at said second end, for connecting to said electronic component, c) an intermediate zone, located between said plug-in zone and said connection zone, wherein said intermediate zone comprises at least a first form-changing area, having less resistance to form change than other areas of said intermediate zone, said first form-changing area enabling said plug-in zone to move in a plug-in direction, as said intermediate zone is deformed, d) wherein said intermediate zone includes a second form-changing area with reduced resistance to form change, said second form-changing area having a deformation direction along an axis that is parallel to an axis of deformation direction of said first form-changing area.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
An electric contact plug, for receiving a tip jack input device at a first end, and for connecting to an electronic component at a second end, comprising: a) a plug-in zone at said first end, located within an L-shaped area of said electric contact plug, for receiving said tip jack input device, b) a connection zone at said second end, for connecting to said electronic component, c) an intermediate zone, located between said plug-in zone and said connection zone, wherein said intermediate zone comprises at least a first form-changing area, having less resistance to form change than other areas of said intermediate zone, said first form-changing area enabling said plug-in zone to move in a plug-in direction, as said intermediate zone is deformed, d) wherein said intermediate zone includes a second form-changing area with reduced resistance to form change, said second form-changing area having a deformation direction along an axis that is parallel to an axis of deformation direction of said first form-changing area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electric contact plug of claim 1 , wherein said intermediate zone is configured at an angle between said first form-changing area and said second form-changing area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electric contact plug of claim 1 , wherein said intermediate zone is configured as one or more angles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electric contact plug of claim 1 , wherein said connection zone attaches said electric contact plug mechanically to said electronic component.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electric contact plug of claim 1 , wherein said plug-in zone receives said tip jack input device in the form of a contact tongue.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The electric contact plug of claim 1 wherein said first form-changing area and said second form-changing area have material cross-sections that are smaller than said other areas of said intermediate zone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electric contact plug of claim 6 , wherein said first form-changing area has a thinner material thickness than said other areas of said intermediate zone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electric contact plug of claim 6 , wherein said second form-changing area has a thinner material thickness than said other areas of said intermediate zone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The electric contact plug of claim 1 , wherein said plug-in zone comprises at least two receiving tongues to receive said tip jack input device, said receiving tongues having outer contours which are tapered in a direction away from said intermediate zone, when said tip jack input device is not plugged in.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electric contact plug of claim 9 , wherein at least part of the cross-sectional surface of each of said receiving tongues changes in a linear manner.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electric contact plug of claim 1 , wherein said electric contact plug is configured as a single unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
135 words
An electric contact plug, for receiving a tip jack input device at a first end, and for connecting to an electronic component at a second end, comprising: a) a plug-in zone at said first end, located within an L-shaped area of said electric contact plug, for receiving said tip jack input device, b) a connection zone at said second end, for connecting to said electronic component, c) an intermediate zone, located between said plug-in zone and said connection zone, wherein said intermediate zone comprises at least a first form-changing area, having less resistance to form change than other areas of said intermediate zone, said first form-changing area enabling said plug-in zone to move in a plug-in direction, as said intermediate zone is deformed, d) wherein said connection zone is configured as one or more angles.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
135 words
An electric contact plug, for receiving a tip jack input device at a first end, and for connecting to an electronic component at a second end, comprising: a) a plug-in zone at said first end, located within an L-shaped area of said electric contact plug, for receiving said tip jack input device, b) a connection zone at said second end, for connecting to said electronic component, c) an intermediate zone, located between said plug-in zone and said connection zone, wherein said intermediate zone comprises at least a first form-changing area, having less resistance to form change than other areas of said intermediate zone, said first form-changing area enabling said plug-in zone to move in a plug-in direction, as said intermediate zone is deformed, d) wherein said connection zone is configured as one or more angles.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
142 words
An electric contact plug, for receiving a tip jack input device at a first end, and for connecting to an electronic component at a second end, comprising: a) a plug-in zone at said first end, located within an L-shaped area of said electric contact plug, for receiving said tip jack input device, b) a connection zone at said second end, for connecting to said electronic component, c) an intermediate zone, located between said plug-in zone and said connection zone, wherein said intermediate zone comprises at least a first form-changing area, having less resistance to form change than other areas of said intermediate zone, said first form-changing area enabling said plug-in zone to move in a plug-in direction, as said intermediate zone is deformed, d) wherein said connection zone includes a bonding area, for connection to said electronic component by means of bonding.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
142 words
An electric contact plug, for receiving a tip jack input device at a first end, and for connecting to an electronic component at a second end, comprising: a) a plug-in zone at said first end, located within an L-shaped area of said electric contact plug, for receiving said tip jack input device, b) a connection zone at said second end, for connecting to said electronic component, c) an intermediate zone, located between said plug-in zone and said connection zone, wherein said intermediate zone comprises at least a first form-changing area, having less resistance to form change than other areas of said intermediate zone, said first form-changing area enabling said plug-in zone to move in a plug-in direction, as said intermediate zone is deformed, d) wherein said connection zone includes a bonding area, for connection to said electronic component by means of bonding.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electric contact plug of claim 13 , wherein said connection zone is coated with aluminum in said bonding area.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electric contact plug of claim 13 , wherein said connection zone is galvanically coated in said bonding area.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
181 words
An electric contact plug, for receiving a tip jack input device at a first end, and for connecting to an electronic component at a second end, comprising: a) a plug-in zone at said first end, located within an L-shaped area of said electric contact plug, for receiving said tip jack input device, b) a connection zone at said second end, for connecting to said electronic component, c) an intermediate zone, located between said plug-in zone and said connection zone, wherein said intermediate zone comprises at least a first form-changing area, having less resistance to form change than other areas of said intermediate zone, said first form-changing area enabling said plug-in zone to move in a plug-in direction, as said intermediate zone is deformed, d) wherein a receiving device is used to house said electric contact plug, said receiving device having an internal holding means for immobilizing said connection zone of said electric contact plug within said receiving device, e) wherein said receiving device further comprises a motion limitation means for limiting the movement of said plug-in zone within said receiving device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
181 words
An electric contact plug, for receiving a tip jack input device at a first end, and for connecting to an electronic component at a second end, comprising: a) a plug-in zone at said first end, located within an L-shaped area of said electric contact plug, for receiving said tip jack input device, b) a connection zone at said second end, for connecting to said electronic component, c) an intermediate zone, located between said plug-in zone and said connection zone, wherein said intermediate zone comprises at least a first form-changing area, having less resistance to form change than other areas of said intermediate zone, said first form-changing area enabling said plug-in zone to move in a plug-in direction, as said intermediate zone is deformed, d) wherein a receiving device is used to house said electric contact plug, said receiving device having an internal holding means for immobilizing said connection zone of said electric contact plug within said receiving device, e) wherein said receiving device further comprises a motion limitation means for limiting the movement of said plug-in zone within said receiving device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electric contact plug of claim 16 , wherein said motion limitation means of said receiving device limits the deformability of said intermediate zone within said receiving device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electric contact plug of claim 17 , wherein said receiving device comprises two parts, which have a separation plane that is essentially perpendicular to said axis of deformation direction of said first form-changing area.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electric contact plug of claim 17 , wherein said receiving device comprises two parts, which have a separation plane that is essentially parallel to said axis of deformation direction of said first form-changing area.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electric contact plug of claim 16 , wherein said receiving device can be fixed within an electrical device by means of extrusion-coating.
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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) | 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 |