US3564343A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer programming apparatus
Assignee: Reliance Electric Co
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Filing: 1968-09-24
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Granted: 1971-02-16
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Expires: 1988-09-24
Abstract
Abstract A computer patchbay formed by the front edges of a plurality of etched circuit boards spaced apart from each other in a plurality of planes parallel to each other, with resilient spring contacts adapted to snap on the front edges of the circuit boards and extend forwardly therefrom. Each resilient spring contact includes a cylindrical bar with a plurality of slots which facilitate accurate alignment and uniform alignment of the contacts. Improved techniques for shielding conductors connected to the spring contacts from each other are disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan J Guest
- 👤 Jay B King
- 👤 Edward O Gilbert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:32
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06G; G06G7/00; G06G7/06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/18; H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/72; H01R12/722; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/18; H01R12/75; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A selective connection assembly adapted to resiliently engage a removAble patchboard having rows and columns of patchholes with patchcord tips extending through a plurality of said patchholes, comprising, in combination: a row of circuit cards fixedly spaced from each other in mutually parallel planes with a front edge of each of said cards terminating in a front plane perpendicular to the plane of each of said cards, and with a plurality of etched circuit conductors extending rearwardly from a location adjacent the front edge of each card, each of said cards including a plurality of slots spaced along its front edge; and a plurality of resilient metallic spring contacts each comprising a resilient forwardly-extending contact arm having a contact portion adapted to be resiliently contacted and flexed by a patchcord tip, and a hollow generally cylindrical rear portion having a longitudinally-extending slot open at the rear cooperating with a slot on one of said cards, with the sides of said longitudinallyextending slot resiliently gripping said card within said contact slot.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
A selective connection assembly adapted to resiliently engage a removAble patchboard having rows and columns of patchholes with patchcord tips extending through a plurality of said patchholes, comprising, in combination: a row of circuit cards fixedly spaced from each other in mutually parallel planes with a front edge of each of said cards terminating in a front plane perpendicular to the plane of each of said cards, and with a plurality of etched circuit conductors extending rearwardly from a location adjacent the front edge of each card, each of said cards including a plurality of slots spaced along its front edge; and a plurality of resilient metallic spring contacts each comprising a resilient forwardly-extending contact arm having a contact portion adapted to be resiliently contacted and flexed by a patchcord tip, and a hollow generally cylindrical rear portion having a longitudinally-extending slot open at the rear cooperating with a slot on one of said cards, with the sides of said longitudinallyextending slot resiliently gripping said card within said contact slot.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
An assembly according to claim 1 in which said longitudinally-extending slot extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of said generally-cylindrical rear portion, and having a second slot open at the rear edge of said cylindrical rear portion and extending forwardly therefrom, a first portion of said second slot extending at an acute angle to said longitudinal axis and a second portion of said second slot extending parallel to said longitudinal axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
An assembly according to claim 1 in which each of said cards includes a plurality of holes, and in which each of said spring contacts has a further slot having an edge portion adapted to extend through one of said holes to rigidly affix each of said spring contacts on said cards.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
An assembly according to claim 1 in which each of said circuit cards comprises a multilayer laminated card having electrical conductors on both of its outer sides adapted to be engaged by opposite edges of one of said spring contacts, and means connecting said electrical conductors to a further electrical conductor extending between the layers of said laminated card.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
An assembly according to claim 1 in which each of said circuit conductors extends to a further edge of its respective circuit card to connect to a detachable connector means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
An assembly according to claim 1 in which at least one of said circuit cards carries a plurality of electronic circuit components and in which at least one of said circuit conductors extends to and connects to one of said circuit components.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
An assembly according to claim 1 in which each of said circuit cards includes a second front edge portion adapted to engage a circuit card connector, and in which a plurality of said circuit conductors extend to said second front edge portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
An assembly according to claim 1 in which each of said cards includes a plurality of holes, and in which each of said spring contacts includes a tubular portion having a slot, one side of which slot extends from the rear of said tubular portion for a first distance at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of said tubular portion and then extends perpendicular to said axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
101 words
An assembly according to claim 1 in which each of said resilient spring contacts includes a resilient forwardly-extending contact arm having a contact portion adapted to be contacted by a patchcord tip and a hollow tubular rear portion having first and second slots angularly spaced from each other substantially diametrically across from each other and extending forwardly from the rear end of said tubular rear portion, said second slot having a first edge portion which extends at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of said tubular rear portion and a second edge portion which extends perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
80 words
An assembly according to claim 1 in which said longitudinally-extending slot in each of said spring contacts has a front edge portion substantially the same width as the thickness of the circuit caRd upon which a respective spring contact is mounted, and a rearward portion of lesser width than said thickness, whereby installation of each spring contact on its respective circuit cards causes said rearward portions of its respective slot to resiliently grip opposite sides of its respective circuit card.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
An assembly according to claim 1 in which the front end of each of said contact slots is adapted to engage the rear end of a respective one of said slots on said cards to fixedly locate said spring contacts on said circuit cards.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
An assembly according to claim 2 in which said first portion of said second slot extends from the rear end of the cylindrical rear portion to the second portion of said second slot, and in which said first portion includes a rearmost portion having one edge arranged at an acute angle to said longitudinal axis and an opposite edge extending parallel to said longitudinal axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
An assembly according to claim 2 wherein the centerline of said second portion of said second slot is located diametrically across said cylindrical rear portion from the centerline of said first slot.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
An assembly according to claim 2 wherein said second portion of said second slot includes a central portion laterally offset from a longitudinal plane extending through the centerlines of said first and second slots, and a front portion centered on said longitudinal plane.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
An assembly according to claim 3 in which each of said closed holes comprises an elongated slot having at least one edge which extends rearwardly on its respective circuit card in a direction parallel to an edge of the slot along the front edge of the card which is engaged by the same spring contact.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
An assembly according to claim 4 in which said outer sides of said laminated card facing a portion of said further electrical conductors are covered with electrical shielding to shield said further conductor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1974-02-15 | 1974-08-17 | 1975-02-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-15 | 1978-08-17 | 1979-02-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-15 | 1982-08-17 | 1983-02-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |