Receptacle sockets for twist-lock connectors
First Claim
1. A twist-lock connector that receives a set of male electrical contacts, the twist-lock connector comprising:
- a set of female electrical receptacles that correspond to the set of male electrical contacts, the set of female electrical receptacles sized and dimensioned to receive the set of male electrical contacts, and the set of female electrical receptacles are physically engageable with the set of male electrical contacts when each of the male electrical contacts in the set of male electrical contacts are inserted into respective ones of the female electrical receptacles in the set of female electrical receptacles and rotated;
a primary printed circuit board that has a first face and an opposing second face, the first face directed towards the female electrical receptacles; and
a set of electrical connectors that correspond to the set of male electrical contacts, each of the electrical connectors positioned on respective ones of a set of flexible portions of the primary printed circuit board, each of the flexible portions resiliently deform responsive to one of the male electrical contacts contacting and exerting a force on the electrical connector positioned on the flexible portion to provide a biasing force that urges the electrical connector toward the male electrical contact.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A twist-lock connector that includes a printed circuit board component with one or more flexible portions is disclosed. The flexible portions may be formed within an interior portion of the printed circuit board by routing or otherwise removing a portion of the printed circuit board to create one or a plurality of side for each flexible portion. One or more electrical contacts may be positioned on each flexible portion and arranged to be electrically coupled with male electrical contacts that are part of a corresponding twist-lock plug, thereby deflecting the flexible portions. When deflected, the flexible portions exert an opposing, biasing force in the direction of the male electrical contacts to maintain contact there between. One or more of a mounting base and a support base may be clamped to either or both sides of the printed circuit board to provide further stability for the flexible portions.
202 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A twist-lock connector that receives a set of male electrical contacts, the twist-lock connector comprising:
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a set of female electrical receptacles that correspond to the set of male electrical contacts, the set of female electrical receptacles sized and dimensioned to receive the set of male electrical contacts, and the set of female electrical receptacles are physically engageable with the set of male electrical contacts when each of the male electrical contacts in the set of male electrical contacts are inserted into respective ones of the female electrical receptacles in the set of female electrical receptacles and rotated; a primary printed circuit board that has a first face and an opposing second face, the first face directed towards the female electrical receptacles; and a set of electrical connectors that correspond to the set of male electrical contacts, each of the electrical connectors positioned on respective ones of a set of flexible portions of the primary printed circuit board, each of the flexible portions resiliently deform responsive to one of the male electrical contacts contacting and exerting a force on the electrical connector positioned on the flexible portion to provide a biasing force that urges the electrical connector toward the male electrical contact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of physically coupling a twist-lock connector with a twist-lock plug, the twist-lock plug including a plurality of male electrical contacts, the twist-lock connector including a plurality of female electrical receptacles and a primary printed circuit board that includes a set of flexible portions, such flexible portions including an electrical contact and aligning with respective ones of the female electrical receptacles, the method comprising:
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inserting each of the male electrical contacts of the twist-lock plug into respective ones of the female electrical receptacles, the female electrical receptacles guide the male electrical contacts towards the electrical contacts on respective ones of the flexible portions; twisting the twist-lock plug with respect to the twist-lock connector, such twisting which securely engages the male electrical contacts with the respective ones of the female electrical receptacles; and deforming at least one of the flexible portions by the male electrical contacts into a deformed position responsive to one of the male electrical contacts contacting and exerting a force on the electrical contact positioned on the flexible portion. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of manufacturing a twist lock connector that includes a mounting base, a support base, and a primary printed circuit board, the mounting base which includes at least one female electrical receptacle, the method comprising:
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routing one or more portions of the primary printed circuit board to form one or more cut out sections, each cut out section surrounding a respective flexible portion of the primary printed circuit board in which each respective flexible portion resiliently deforms responsive to a force being applied to the flexible portion; mounting the primary printed circuit board between the mounting base and the support base; and clamping the mounting base, the primary printed circuit board, and the support base such that each of the at least one female electrical receptacles is aligned with respective ones of the flexible portions of the primary printed circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification