Electrical connector for a cylindrical member
First Claim
1. A connector for electrical connection to a cylindrical metal member having at least one electrical terminal surface and a longitudinal axis comprising:
- a metal element having an opening for receiving the member therethrough;
at least one resilient electrical contact extending from the element and overlying said opening, the member for passing through the opening in an insertion direction along said axis, the member at least one electrical terminal surface for slidable releasable ohmic engagement with the at least one resilient electrical contact with negligible damage to said at least one electrical terminal surface; and
an electrical terminal connected to the element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical connector is for use with a cylindrical member having an electrically conductive coating which can be damaged. The connector comprises a steel stamped ring with a terminal extending from the ring. Three like contacts overly the central opening of the ring and are bent for abutting the received cylindrical member in resilient sliding ohmic engagement regardless of the insertion or withdrawal direction of the member without destructive damage to the member coating. The contacts are relatively stiff to provide vibration resistant engagement with the member. The ring is supported in a slot in a housing to further stiffen the connector and the contact engagement with the member which completes a circuit which if broken is sensed and transmitted as a tampered condition.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A connector for electrical connection to a cylindrical metal member having at least one electrical terminal surface and a longitudinal axis comprising:
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a metal element having an opening for receiving the member therethrough;
at least one resilient electrical contact extending from the element and overlying said opening, the member for passing through the opening in an insertion direction along said axis, the member at least one electrical terminal surface for slidable releasable ohmic engagement with the at least one resilient electrical contact with negligible damage to said at least one electrical terminal surface; and
an electrical terminal connected to the element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An electronic seal comprising:
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an electrically operated seal device including an electrical connector and a circuit coupled to the connector for generating signals manifesting a seal tampered state and a seal closed locked state; and
a cylindrical member including electrically conductive means, the member for locking engagement with the device to place the device in the locked state, the electrically conductive means for causing the circuit to be energized for generating said signals after the member is placed in said locked state, said electrically conductive means when severed for opening the circuit to cause the circuit to generate said tampered state, the electrically conductive means when damaged for making the circuit inoperative;
the electrical connector for electrically connecting the cylindrical member to the circuit in the locked state, the connector comprising;
at least one metal element having an opening for receiving the cylindrical member therethrough;
at least one electrical contact extending from the at least one element and overlying said opening for resiliently slidably receiving the cylindrical member extending through the opening and for slidable releasable engagement with the member in the member insertion engaging direction with negligible damage to said electrically conductive means; and
an electrical terminal connected to the element, said at least one contact and said terminal for connection to said circuit to enable said causing. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification