Electrical connectors – With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in... – Including compound movement of coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-25
2003-12-02
Gushi, Ross (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...
Including compound movement of coupling part
C439S265000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06655977
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains to methods and apparatus for electrically connecting one object with another.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains to methods and apparatus for electrically connecting two or more electronic or electrical components together for the passing of electrical signals or power there between. One type of application in which the invention can be used is that of electronic devices such as, but not limited to, digital equipment and the like. A specific example of digital equipment in which the invention can be used is that of computers, and related equipment. The invention can be used in digital equipment to electrically connect various components which make up the equipment. These components include, but are not limited to, disk drives, printed circuit boards (PCA's), and power sources, etc.
Generally, prior art electrical and electronic equipment, including digital equipment, is made up of various electrical components which are electrically connected together. Generally, electrical signals and power are passed between the components. Usually, the components are supported on some type of support structure such as a rack. Occasionally, any one of the components will need to be removed from the rack and replaced with another component. In order to facilitate the removal and replacement of the various components of the equipment, electrical connectors are generally used to electrically connect the components to one another. The term “electrical connector” generally refers to a type of electrical coupling which can be coupled and uncoupled relatively easily and conveniently without special tools or procedures. Usually, an electrical connector will include at least two portions which are configured to matingly engage each other to form an electrical connection between both portions. One portion of the connector is typically permanently supported on a first component while a mating portion of the connector is permanently supported on a second component which is to be electrically connected to the first component. As mentioned above, one important function of an electrical connector is to facilitate the convenient removal and replacement of various electrical and electronic components which are electrically connected to one another. To this end, electrical connectors are typically produced in one of many standardized configurations so that any one of a number of different electrical components may be replaced with another electrical component with relative ease.
Typical prior art electrical connectors are configured in what can be described as a “plug and socket” configuration. In this configuration, one portion of the electrical connector is configured as a male plug and the mating portion of the electrical connector is configured as a female socket. Typically, each portion of a plug and socket electrical connector is made up of a body, or some type of suitable support, with a plurality of connector pads supported thereon. Referring to
FIG. 1
, a typical prior art plug and socket type of electrical connector is shown. As shown in
FIG. 1
, a male plug portion
10
is rigidly supported on a first component
20
. Likewise, a female socket portion
11
is rigidly supported on a second component
21
, and is configured to be electrically connected with the male portion
10
.
As can seen from
FIG. 1
, connector pads
12
are supported on the male plug portion
10
. Likewise, connector pads
13
are supported on the female socket portion
11
. As is evident from
FIG. 1
, the connector pads
12
of the male portion
11
are configured to contact the connector pads
13
of the female portion
11
. Also, the connector portions
10
,
11
are configured such that the connector pads
12
,
13
do not come into contact with one another until after the male plug portion
10
has been inserted into the female socket portion
11
. This configuration helps ensure proper alignment of the connector pads
12
with the connector pads
13
when the first and second components
20
,
21
are electrically connected.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, either connector portion
10
,
11
follows a substantially straight path of movement, represented by the line marked
17
, when the connector portions
10
,
11
are brought together to be connected. In order to properly connect the male portion
10
to the female portion
11
, the first electrical component
20
should be moved along the path of movement
17
toward the second electrical component
21
in the direction represented by the arrow marked
18
. Alternatively, the second electrical component
21
could be moved along the path of movement
17
toward the first electrical component
20
in the direction marked
19
, which is substantially opposite the direction
18
. Likewise, to disconnect the first component
20
from the second component
21
, the first component
20
should be moved along the path of movement
17
away from the second component
21
in the direction represented by the arrow marked
19
. In the alternative, the first and second components
20
,
21
could be disconnected by moving the second component along the path of movement
17
away from the first component
20
in the direction
18
. It should be noted that the path of movement
17
passes through both connector portions
10
,
11
.
Now referring to
FIG. 2
, a side elevation view of a prior art assembly of electrical components
20
,
21
is shown. As can be seen, each of several first electrical components
20
are shown to be connected to one of several second electrical components
21
by respective electrical connector portions
10
,
11
. As further shown in
FIG. 2
, each electrical component
20
,
21
is supported in respective fixed positions on a rack
25
. Supporting the components
20
,
21
in this manner on the rack
25
allows each first electrical component
20
to be connected to, and disconnected from, the respective second electrical component
21
by a single movement along the respective path
17
. Likewise, each second component
21
can be installed and removed from its respective fixed position on the rack
25
in the same manner. This configuration is advantageous because it allows the electrical components
20
,
21
to be placed adjacent to one another in close proximity as shown in FIG.
3
. This facilitates relatively efficient use of space and materials.
As is further evident from a study of
FIG. 2
, the rack
25
has a first side
26
and an opposite second side
27
. Each first electrical component
20
is supported on the first side
26
of the rack
25
and each second component
21
is supported on the second side
27
of the rack
25
. Further study of
FIG. 2
will show that, in order to remove either of the electrical components
20
,
21
from the rack
25
, access must be available to each respective side
26
,
27
of the rack
25
. For example, in order to remove one of the first electrical components
20
from the rack
25
, access must be available on the first side
26
of the rack
25
. The access on the first side
26
of the rack
25
must be sufficient to allow removal of the first component
20
from the rack
25
along the respective path of movement
17
in the direction
19
. Similarly, in order to remove one of the second electrical components
21
from the rack
25
, access must be available on the second side
27
of the rack
25
. The access on the second side
27
of the rack
25
must be sufficient to allow removal of the second component
11
from the rack
25
along the path of movement
17
in the direction
18
.
Oftentimes, electrical components
20
,
21
must be housed in specially-outfitted rooms with precisely controlled atmospheric conditions. Generally, available floor space in these rooms for additional racks
25
and components
20
,
21
is severely limited. Thus, racks
25
and components
20
,
21
such as that shown in
FIG. 2
are often placed side-by-side in rows. However, because access is needed to both sides thereof as explained above, the ro
Ives Thomas W
Petersen, III Holger A.
Poulter Darrel
No associations
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for electrically connecting two objects does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for electrically connecting two objects, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for electrically connecting two objects will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3107540