Electrical connectors – With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in... – Retaining means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-10
2001-04-03
Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...
Retaining means
C439S354000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06210201
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to an insertion connection assembly for mobile equipment, in particular for a mobile telephone set. The mobile telephone set may thus be a handset for use both in a GSM context and also domestically. More generally, the invention relates to any equipment that needs to be simple to connect at will, e.g. any equipment that is put back on a stand in order to recharge its battery.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to solve a problem that arises in insertion connection assemblies. In the field of connectors, there are two families. A first family comprises insertion connectors, and the second family comprises pressure connectors. In both cases, a plug and a socket of an outlet must be brought together. The plug and the outlet have terminations for establishing contact, and electrical cables connected to said terminations. In the pressure connection mode, the contact between conductive portions (normally metal portions) of the plug and corresponding conductive portions of the socket serves to limit the extent to which the socket and the plug can be brought together. The conductive portions of the two parts are brought together “head on”, i.e. they are disposed on the “front” ends of said parts in the direction in which they are brought together.
In the insertion contact mode, the plug must be inserted into a cavity in the socket, the contact between the conductive zones of the plug and of the socket generally being established by sliding. The contact force is then lateral, i.e. it acts perpendicularly to the direction in which the plug and the socket are brought together. In the insertion connection mode, the metal portions can be subjected to wear as a result of them sliding against one another. To avoid such wear, “press-down” connectors may be provided. In such connectors, the plug advancing into the socket causes the conductive zones of the socket to move perpendicularly so that, at the end of the stroke, they come into contact with the metal zones on the plug. Pressure connection assemblies may be considered to be press-down devices whose angle of approach is large.
Pressure connectors are ill-suited to use in outlets but they are very useful for chargers and kits for vehicles. Insertion connectors are ill-suited to use in chargers and kits for vehicles, but they are well suited to use in outlets.
It is also known that it is possible to manufacture combined connectors, i.e. connectors whose sockets are suitable for receiving either pressure contact plugs or insertion contact plugs. In this field, PCT Patent Application WO-A-97/36350 describes a connector that can be used in two manners. In a connector of that type, the metal pressure-connection zones may be extended electrically into metal insertion-connection zones. To hold and guide the plugs in that socket, guide studs are provided on either side of a row of metal zones, which studs engage in or are locked in cavities.
The development in the use of electrical equipment, in particular in the field of telephony, has led to research into sockets having a variety of functions. For example, consideration has been given to a socket to be installed in a vehicle. In which case, the socket may serve to receive a mobile telephone in order to recharge the battery of the mobile telephone while it rests in the socket. In addition, in the same use, consideration has been given to cause the fact of placing the mobile telephone in the socket to switch over the audio channels (the loudspeaker and the microphone) either to a headset that may be worn by the driver of the vehicle, or to a loudspeaker-phone set installed in the vehicle facing the driver, so as to enable the driver to use the telephone in hands-free mode. Similarly, consideration has been given to connecting a buzzer for the driver, the buzzer replacing audible ringing for the purpose of alerting the wearer of the buzzer that the mobile telephone is receiving a call. Consideration has also been given to using the socket to relay transmission of messages forwarded by the mobile telephone. Such relaying is performed, for example, via a radio link at domestic frequency (e.g. 27 MHz). Finally, for data transmission, and in particular for facsimile transmission, provision is made to connect a microcomputer to the socket which is itself connected to the mobile telephone so as to use said mobile telephone as means for transmitting digital data. As has been observed, mobile telephone connection needs can be very varied. In addition, it has become necessary to organize simultaneous use of links of different types. In which case, the presence of side guide studs is inconvenient.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention solves that problem and, at the same time, can take advantage of the existence of combined pressure-and-insertion connectors to enable at least two connections to be made simultaneously from the socket to two different items of equipment. In the invention, it is possible to connect both a pressure plug and an insertion plug to the socket simultaneously. In which case, in preferred manner only the insertion connection is really locked, while the pressure connection remains free. As a result, rather than placing the lock of the pressure connection assembly on the sides of the connector, it is placed on the top thereof. It is shown below that it is thus possible to place other connectors on the sides, thereby increasing options for connecting different items of equipment.
The invention provides an insertion connection assembly, in particular for a mobile telephone, the assembly comprising a socket provided with a cavity, a contact flank of the cavity receiving a set of first metal zones juxtaposed across a ridge transversely to an insertion direction, and a plug provided with second metal zones on a contact face, provision being made for the first metal zones to come into contact with the second metal zones by the plug being inserted into the socket, wherein a retaining flank of the cavity, which flank is opposite the contact flank, and a retaining face of the plug, which face is opposite from the contact face, are provided with a resilient mechanism for engagement perpendicular to the retaining flank and to the retaining face.
REFERENCES:
patent: 923327 (1909-01-01), Burton
patent: 2486195 (1949-11-01), Munsey
patent: 5044977 (1991-09-01), Vindigni
patent: 5052943 (1991-10-01), Davis
patent: 5234353 (1993-08-01), Scholz et al.
patent: 5338231 (1994-08-01), Wilhite
patent: 5415570 (1995-05-01), Sarkissian
patent: 5554042 (1996-09-01), Denninger
patent: 5718596 (1998-02-01), Inaba et al.
patent: 5879199 (1999-03-01), Belopolsky
patent: 5904597 (1999-05-01), Doi et al.
patent: 5993231 (1999-11-01), Hoolhorst
patent: 6048228 (2000-04-01), Aso
patent: 678 777 A5 (1991-10-01), None
patent: 196 11 423 C1 (1997-05-01), None
patent: 0 591 723 A2 (1994-04-01), None
patent: 0 701 303 A2 (1996-03-01), None
patent: WO 96/28865 (1996-09-01), None
patent: WO 97/36350 (1997-10-01), None
Alcatel
Gilman Alexander
Paumen Gary F.
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
LandOfFree
Insertion connection assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Insertion connection assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Insertion connection assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2530942