Electrical connectors – With magnet
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-29
2001-09-04
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With magnet
C439S039000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283766
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of electromagnetic compliance (EMC) testing and, more particularly, to a device for grounding EMC test equipment in a quick and efficient manner.
Electromagnetic compliance testing is typically done in a specially constructed room having a metal floor which is connected to earth ground. The test equipment must itself be grounded and for that purpose typically is provided with an outer conductive flange which is placed flat against the metal floor and secured thereto. In the past, such grounding has been accomplished either by using a conductive copper tape or by providing a direct mechanical connection. While effective, these ways of grounding the test equipment have proven to be time consuming and the use of copper tape has also proven to cause injuries to test personnel. It would therefore be desirable to have a device which can be used to quickly and effectively ground the conductive flange of the test equipment to the ground plane (i.e., the metal floor).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a device for grounding a conductive flange to a metallic ground plane. The device comprises a top plate and a pair of spaced apart magnet assemblies secured to a first side of the top plate. A bar is provided and mounting structure secures the bar to the top plate between the pair of magnet assemblies. The mounting structure is effective to provide a force which yieldably biases the bar away from the top plate first side. The device is adapted to be placed so that the bar overlies the flange and the pair of magnet assemblies contact the ground plane while straddling the flange. Accordingly, magnetic attraction holds the device to the ground plane and the force applied to the bar by the mounting structure maintains the flange in conductive engagement with the ground plane.
In accordance with an aspect of this invention, the mounting structure includes a rod secured to the bar. The rod extends through an aperture in the top plate so as to be axially slidable therethrough and a helical compression spring surrounds the rod between the bar and the top plate.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention, the device further comprises an operator actuable release mechanism secured to the top plate and adapted, when actuated, to apply a force to the top plate which is directed away from the ground plane. Illustratively, the release mechanism includes an eccentric cam rotatably mounted to the top plate about an axis parallel to the top plate, and a handle coupled to the cam.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4445732 (1984-05-01), Wafer
patent: 5829987 (1998-11-01), Fritsch et al.
patent: 5931683 (1999-08-01), Pinel
patent: 6007363 (1999-12-01), Renk
patent: 6030229 (2000-02-01), Tsutsui
Brady Glenn M.
Canzonier James V.
Donnelly Thomas F.
Ruduski Michael S.
Davis David L.
Lucent Technologies - Inc.
Prasad Chandrika
Sircus Brian
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