Multi-lead keyhole connector
First Claim
1. A connector for making an electrical connection between a flexible circuit and a separate electronic device comprised of:
- a female plug having a top and bottom surface wherein the plug has at least one keyhole-shaped slot;
a flexible circuit, having at least one conductor, that is attached to the female plug wherein the flexible circuit contains a keyhole corresponding to a keyhole slot in the female plug, wherein the conductor is exposed around at least a portion of the keyhole slot, each slot having a portion of wider diameter that opens into a slot of narrower diameter for entirely enclosing at least one corresponding pin on the body of a separate electronics device; and
a male connector body having at least one pin where said at least one pin is comprised of a head, body and base attached to the surface of the male connector body, the head being sized to fit through the large diameter portion of the keyhole-shaped slot and a narrow conductive body sized to be slidingly received within the narrow diameter of the keyhole-shaped slot such that when the keyhole-shaped slot is slid over the pin from the wider to narrower portion, the wide head locks the conductive body inside said plug thereby making an electrical contact between said male connector body and said female plug.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical connector for providing a watertight electrical connection between a flat, single or multi-traced, rigid and/or flexible printed circuit and a separate electronics unit. The electrical connector is comprised of a plug having one or more keyhole-shaped slots which serve to mechanically secure the connection between the one or more traces of the circuit and one or more fixed pins on the body of the separate electronics unit. The plug is placed over the one or more pins such that the pins are inserted up through the wider portion of the slots and in a push or pull action, the pins are slid into the narrower portion of the slot such that the pins are locked into place. The conductive traces are then secured into contact with the electrical contacts of the separate electronics device.
108 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A connector for making an electrical connection between a flexible circuit and a separate electronic device comprised of:
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a female plug having a top and bottom surface wherein the plug has at least one keyhole-shaped slot; a flexible circuit, having at least one conductor, that is attached to the female plug wherein the flexible circuit contains a keyhole corresponding to a keyhole slot in the female plug, wherein the conductor is exposed around at least a portion of the keyhole slot, each slot having a portion of wider diameter that opens into a slot of narrower diameter for entirely enclosing at least one corresponding pin on the body of a separate electronics device; and a male connector body having at least one pin where said at least one pin is comprised of a head, body and base attached to the surface of the male connector body, the head being sized to fit through the large diameter portion of the keyhole-shaped slot and a narrow conductive body sized to be slidingly received within the narrow diameter of the keyhole-shaped slot such that when the keyhole-shaped slot is slid over the pin from the wider to narrower portion, the wide head locks the conductive body inside said plug thereby making an electrical contact between said male connector body and said female plug. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A water resistant connector for an electrical connection between a flexible, printed circuit and a separate electronics device comprised of:
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a nonconducting plug having a dome-shaped top surface and a flat bottom surface wherein the nonconducting plug has at least one keyhole-shaped slot; a single or multi-traced flexible circuit attached to the plug wherein the flexible circuit has at least one electrical trace corresponding to the at least one keyhole-shaped slot in the nonconducting plug, each slot having a portion of wider diameter that opens into a slot of narrower diameter for entirely enclosing at least one corresponding pin on a recessed portion of the body of a separate electronics device; and at least one pin attached to the surface of said body having a wide head sized to fit through the wider diameter portion of the keyhole-shaped slot and a narrow body sized to be slidingly received within the narrow diameter of the keyhole-shaped slot such that when the keyhole-shaped slot is slid over the pin from the wider to narrower portion, the wide head locks the pin inside said plug in a single orientation and makes an electrical contact between said circuit and electrical contacts located in the body of a separate electronics device; and a rubber gasket applied to the surface of said body where said at least one pin is attached such that a watertight seal is formed between said body and said plug when connected. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A connector for electrical connection between a single or multi-traced circuit and a separate electronic device comprised of:
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a nonconducting plug having a flat surface having at least one keyhole-shaped slot; a single or multi-traced flexible circuit attached to the plug wherein the flexible circuit has at least one electrical trace corresponding to the at least one keyhole-shaped slot in the nonconducting plug, each slot having a portion of wider diameter that opens into a slot of narrower diameter for entirely enclosing at least one corresponding pin on the body of a separate electronics device; at least one pin attached to the surface of the body having a wide head sized to fit through the wider diameter portion of the keyhole-shaped slot and a narrow body sized to be slidingly received within the narrow diameter of the keyhole slot such that when the keyhole slot is slid over the pin from the wider to narrower portion, the wide head locks the pin inside said plug in a single orientation and makes an electrical contact between said circuit and electrical contacts located in the body of a separate electronics device. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification