SELF-CLEANING CONNECTOR
First Claim
1. A connector, comprising:
- at least one tunnel having a first portion and a second portion; and
at least one pin, wherein at least a portion of said pin is positioned within said tunnel;
wherein said first portion of said tunnel has a first inner surface, wherein said first inner surface runs alone an axis that is at a predetermined non-zero degree angle with respect to a vertical axis of said tunnel wherein said first inner surface forces at least a portion of said pin to move along a portion of a corresponding connector in at least a first direction as said connector engages a the corresponding connector, whereby contaminants are at least partially removed from at least one of said portion of said pin and the portion of the corresponding connector as said first inner surface forces said portion of said pin to move along the portion of the corresponding connector in said first direction.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention concerns a connector (110). The connector includes at least one tunnel (124) having a first portion (126) and a second portion (128) and at least one pin (120). At least a portion of the pin is positioned within the tunnel. The first portion of the tunnel has a first inner surface (140). The first inner surface forces at least a portion of the pin in at least a first predetermined direction as the connector engages a corresponding connector (112). Contaminants are at least partially removed from at least one of the pin and the corresponding connector as the first inner surface forces the pin in the first predetermined direction.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A connector, comprising:
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at least one tunnel having a first portion and a second portion; and
at least one pin, wherein at least a portion of said pin is positioned within said tunnel;
wherein said first portion of said tunnel has a first inner surface, wherein said first inner surface runs alone an axis that is at a predetermined non-zero degree angle with respect to a vertical axis of said tunnel wherein said first inner surface forces at least a portion of said pin to move along a portion of a corresponding connector in at least a first direction as said connector engages a the corresponding connector, whereby contaminants are at least partially removed from at least one of said portion of said pin and the portion of the corresponding connector as said first inner surface forces said portion of said pin to move along the portion of the corresponding connector in said first direction. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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2. (canceled)
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18. A system for cleaning contacts of corresponding connectors, comprising:
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a first connector including at least one tunnel having a first portion and a second portion and at least one pin, wherein at least a portion of said pin is positioned within said tunnel; and
a second connector;
wherein said first portion of said tunnel has a first inner surface, wherein said first inner surface runs along an axis that is at a predetermined non-zero decree angle with respect to a vertical axis of said tunnel, wherein said first inner surface forces at least a portion of said pin to move along a portion of said second connector in a first direction as said first connector is engaged with said second connector;
wherein contaminants on at least one of said portion of said pin and said portion of said second connector are at least partially removed as said first inner surface forces said portion of said pin to move along said portion of said second connector in said first direction. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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19. (canceled)
Specification