Continuity tester adaptors

• US 7,830,154 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2008
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert D. Gale
• Original Assignee: Robert D. Gale
• Inventors: Gale, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): NATALINI, JEFF WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US12/047,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20080150546A1
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: 324/538, 439/445, 439/676
• US Class Current: 324/538
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/0416 Connectors, terminals G01R1/0425 and G01R1/0433 take precedence; with measurement function for battery poles G01R31/364
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/54 Testing for continuity
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/542 Adapters
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/62 Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

An electrical continuity tester adaptor for attaching to a conventional continuity tester comprising first, second and third members. The first member is operably configured to engage a female F-type connector. The second member is operably configured to engage a female RJ series type connector. The third member includes a plurality of electrical connections and a printed circuit board to facilitate the electrical connectivity between the first and second members.

Claims

1. A continuity tester adaptor comprising;

a first member having a first end, a second end with a hollow body and an electrical ground, wherein the second end of the first member is operably configured to engage a first type of electrical receptacle;

a second member having a first end with a plurality of channels and a second end with a chamber and the plurality of channels extend to the chamber, wherein the first end of the second member is operably configured to engage a second type of electrical receptacle, and the second end of the second member is disposed adjacent to the first end of the first member; and

,

a third member comprising a first connector, a second connector, a plurality of electrical contacts, and a printed circuit board (PCB) having a first and second surface, wherein the first connector extends from the first surface in a first direction;

wherein the first and second connector are attached to the first surface of the PCB and the PCB is disposed between the first member and second member such that the first connector is disposed in the hollow body of the second end of the first member and the second connector is engaged with the electrical ground of the first member;

wherein the plurality of electrical contacts are fixedly attached to the second surface of the PCB and a plurality of the plurality of electrical contacts are in electrical communication with the first connector, and the remaining contacts of the plurality of electrical contacts are in electrical communication with the second connector, and wherein the plurality of contacts extend from the second surface in a second direction opposing the first direction; and

,

wherein the plurality of electrical contacts are disposed in the plurality of channels of the second member.

2. The continuity tester adaptor, as recited in claim 1, wherein the second end of the first member is a male F-type series connector and the first connector of the third member is a male pin in the male F-type series connector and the combination of the second end and the first connector arc operably configured to engage a female F-type series receptacle.

3. The continuity tester adaptor, as recited in claim 2, wherein the plurality of electrical connectors in the third member have an equal number of positive and negative contacts, and the PCB is operably configured to electrically connect the positive contacts to the first connector and the negative contacts to the second connector.

4. The continuity tester adaptor, as recited in claim 1, wherein the second end of the second member is a male RJ-series type connector and is operably configured to engage a female RJ-series receptacle.

5. The continuity tester adaptor, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a light emitting diode (LED) disposed on the PCB, and wherein the PCB includes dial tone circuitry electrically connected to the LED and wherein the dial tone circuitry is operably configured to detect at least one of an on-hook and an off-hook voltage in a telephone line when the tester adaptor is in use with testing a phone line.

6. The continuity tester adaptor, as recited in claim 5, wherein the LED has a first color for the on-hook voltage and a second color for the off-hook voltage.

7. The continuity tester adaptor, as recited in claim 1, wherein the first member is constructed out of a non-conductive material and further comprising a conductive insert in the second end.

8. The continuity tester adaptor, as recited in claim 1, wherein the second member is constructed out of a transparent non-conductive material.

9. The continuity tester adaptor, as recited in claim 1, wherein the first end of the first member further includes a cavity and the PCB and the second end of the second member are disposed in the cavity.

10. The continuity tester adaptor, as recited in claim 1, wherein the first member and the second member each have an axis, which are substantially parallel and the first and second surfaces of the PCB are substantially perpendicular to the axes.

11. A printed circuit board for an electrical continuity tester adaptor comprising:

a first surface and second surface;

a first connector disposed on the first surface, and operably configured to engage a positive contact on a first type of electrical receptacle, wherein the first connector extends from the first surface in a first direction;

a second connector disposed on the first surface and operably configured to engage a ground contact on the first type of electrical receptacle;

a plurality of contacts having a plurality of positive and negative contacts being disposed on the second surface and operably configured to engage a second type of electrical receptacle, wherein the plurality of contacts extend from the second surface in a second direction opposing the first direction;

a first conducting path operably configured to complete an electrical connectivity between the first connector and the plurality of positive contacts; and

,

a second conducting path operably configured to complete an electrical connectivity between the second connector and the plurality of negative contacts.

12. The printed circuit board for an electrical continuity tester adaptor, as recited in claim 11, wherein the first connector is a male pin for an F-type connector and the second connector engages a ground on the F-type connector.

13. The printed circuit board for an electrical continuity tester adaptor, as recited in claim 11, further comprising a light emitting diode (LED) disposed on the printed circuit board and a dial tone circuitry electrically connected to the LED, wherein the dial tone circuitry is operably configured to detect at least one of an on-hook and an off-hook voltage in a telephone line when the tester adaptor is in use with testing a phone line.

14. The printed circuit board for an electrical continuity tester adaptor, as recited in claim 13, wherein the LED has a first color for the on-hook voltage and a second color for the off-hook voltage.