Protective members for an electrical interface assembly

• US 8,450,609 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2010
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Clifton, Christopher, Jones, Dean L., Mitchell, Philip S., Myers, David, Pruett, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoa C
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, BINH BACH THANH
• Application Number:
  US12/696,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20110155446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50, 174/58, 174/59, 174/520, 174/559, 174/480, 174/66, 174/67, 439/535, 248/906, 220/4.02, 333181-185, 312/223.2, 312/223.3, 312/223.6, 361/600, 361/724, 361/730, 361/752
• US Class Current: 174/59
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1235 Collapsible supports; Means for erecting a rigid antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0004 comprising several parts forming a closed casing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49194 Assembling elongated conductors, e.g., splicing, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49959 Nonresilient fastener

Abstract

A signal interface includes a support structure having a pivotally supported cover and side wings. A latching mechanism is provided to secure the cover to the side wings in both stowed and deployed positions.

Claims

1. A signal interface assembly comprising:

a support;

a first movable member, wherein the first movable member comprises a cover and being rotatably movable between a first position and a second position;

a first hinge coupled to a first portion of said support and a side area of said first movable member, said first hinge further comprises a structure that includes a spring or lever detent structure which releasably locks said first hinge assembly in a plurality of releasable locking positions;

at least one latching mechanism coupled to said first movable member;

at least one second movable member;

a second hinge coupled to a second portion of said support and to said at least one second movable member, said second hinge further comprise a spring or lever to respectively bias the at least one second movable member outwardly from a stowed position to a deployed position;

wherein said second movable member comprises a first edge and a second edge of said second moveable member substantially having a triangular relationship between them, wherein said second edge is formed with a lip or flange and a cut-out notch, wherein said cut-out notch provides clearance for said latching mechanism to couple said first and second members in said stowed position by engaging an edge of said lip or flange defined by said notch or cut-out;

wherein said at least one latching mechanism is configured to secure said at least one second movable member to said first moveable member in at least two different relative configurations.

2. The signal interface assembly of claim 1, wherein said first movable member is substantially planar, and said second movable member is substantially planar.

3. The signal interface assembly of claim 1, wherein the support includes an inner frame and an outer frame positioned in spaced relation to the inner frame and defining a chamber therebetween.

4. The signal interface assembly of claim 3, further comprising an inner electrical interface panel supported by the inner frame, and an outer electrical interface panel supported by the outer frame.

5. The signal interface assembly of claim 4, further comprising a releasable coupler securing the outer electrical interface panel to the outer frame.

6. The signal interface assembly of claim 3, further comprising an electromagnetic interference gasket received intermediate the outer electrical interface panel and the outer frame.

7. The signal interface assembly of claim 3, wherein the outer frame includes an upper frame member coupled to a lower frame member, the upper frame member angled relative to the lower frame member.

8. The signal interface assembly of claim 7, wherein the outer frame further includes a deflector operably coupled below the lower frame member and angled relative thereto.

9. The signal interface assembly of claim 1, wherein the support includes a mounting flange configured to be secured to a vertical support surface.

10. The signal interface assembly of claim 1, further comprising a flexible upper shield extending over the first hinge.

11. The signal interface assembly of claim 1, further comprising a flexible side shield extending between the support structure and the second movable member.

12. The signal interface assembly of claim 11, further comprising a fluid supply, wherein the flexible side shield includes an air bladder fluid coupled to the fluid supply.

13. The signal interface assembly of claim 11, wherein the flexible shield includes a foldable curtain.

14. The signal interface assembly of claim 13, further comprising a retractor operably coupled to the foldable curtain.

15. The signal interface assembly of claim 1, wherein the first movable member extends substantially parallel to the second moveable member in said stowed position to provide a flush outer surface to the support.

16. The signal interface assembly of claim 15, wherein the first movable member extends at an acute angle relative to the support in the deployed position.

17. The signal interface assembly of claim 1, wherein the first hinge includes the detents, the detents including a spring biased pin.

18. The signal interface assembly of claim 1, further comprising a standoff between the support and the second hinge defining a space for receiving a portion of the second movable member in a deployed position.

19. An electrical interface assembly comprising:

a support;

a cover operably coupled to the support for pivoting movement about a horizontal axis between a stowed position and a deployed position, said cover includes a spring or lever detent structure which releasably locks said cover in a plurality of releasable locking positions;

a first side wing operably coupled to the support which is adapted to bias or apply an extension force between said support and said first side wing for pivoting movement about a vertical axis between a stowed position and a deployed position; and

a coupler configured to secure the cover to the first side wing in the stowed position and in the deployed position;

wherein said first side wing comprises a first edge and a second edge, said first side wing substantially having a triangular relationship between the first and second edges, wherein said second edge is formed with a lip or flange and a cut-out notch, wherein said cut-out notch provides clearance for said coupler to couple said cover and said first side wing in said stowed position by engaging an edge of said lip or flange defined by said notch or cut-out.

20. The electrical interface assembly of claim 19, wherein the coupler includes a latch pivotably supported by the cover, the latch engaging a first section of the first side wing in the stowed position and a second section of the first side wing in the deployed position.

21. The electrical interface assembly of claim 19, further comprising:

a first hinge coupled to the cover and to the support at an upper end of the cover; and

a second hinge coupled to the first side wing and the support at a side of the first side wing.

22. The electrical interface assembly of claim 21, further comprising a spring operably coupled to the first side wing to bias the first side wing in the deployed position.

23. The electrical interface assembly of claim 19, further comprising an electrical interface coupled to the support.

24. The electrical interface assembly of claim 19, further comprising an outer electrical interface panel, wherein the support includes an inner frame and an outer frame positioned in spaced relation to the inner frame and defining a chamber therebetween, the outer electrical interface panel being supported by the outer frame.

25. The electrical interface assembly of claim 24, further comprising a releasable coupler securing the outer electrical interface panel to the outer frame.

26. The electrical interface assembly of claim 25, further comprising an electromagnetic interference gasket received intermediate the outer electrical interface panel and the outer frame.

27. The electrical interface assembly of claim 24, wherein the outer frame includes an upper frame member coupled to a lower frame member, the upper frame member angled relative to the lower frame member.

28. The electrical interface assembly of claim 27, wherein the outer frame further includes a deflector adapted to provide a water barrier against water impinging on said deflector, said deflector is operably coupled below the lower frame member and angled relative thereto.

29. The electrical interface assembly of claim 19, wherein the cover includes a side flange and being movable between said stowed position and said deployed position, and the first side wing includes a first edge and a second edge and being movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the first edge of the first side wing being positioned adjacent the side flange of the cover in the stowed position, and the second edge of the first side wing being positioned adjacent the side flange in the deployed position.

30. The electrical interface assembly of claim 19, wherein the support includes a mounting flange configured to be secured to a vertical support surface.

31. The electrical interface assembly of claim 21, further comprising a flexible upper shield extending over the first hinge.

32. The electrical interface assembly of claim 19, further comprising a flexible side shield extending between the support and the first side wing.

33. The electrical interface assembly of claim 32, further comprising a fluid supply, wherein the flexible side shield includes an air bladder fluid coupled to the fluid supply.

34. The electrical interface assembly of claim 32, wherein the flexible shield includes a foldable curtain.

35. The electrical interface assembly of claim 34, further comprising a retractor operably coupled to the foldable curtain.

36. The electrical interface assembly of claim 19, wherein the cover extends substantially parallel to the first side wing in said stowed position to provide a flush outer surface to the support.

37. The electrical interface assembly of claim 36, wherein the cover extends at an acute angle relative to vertical in said deployed position.

38. The electrical interface assembly of claim 19, further comprising a standoff between the support and the second hinge defining a space for receiving a portion of the second movable member in a deployed position.