Connector adapter
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A connector adapter comprising:
- a subassembly comprising;
a first housing portion having a first number of passages and forming a raised surface;
a first number of contact pins spaced having a first pitch, each having a contacting end and a tail end, each located in a passage in in the first housing portion;
a second housing portion having the first number of passages; and
a first number of spring-loaded contacts spaced having a second pitch, the first pitch different from the first pitch, each having a contacting end and a tail end, each located in a passage in the second housing portion, wherein a tail end of each first number of contact pins is electrically and directly connected to a tail end of a corresponding one of the first number of spring-loaded contacts;
an outer housing at least substantially surrounding the subassembly and having a front opening and a back opening;
an attraction plate fit into the front opening of the outer housing and having an opening to provide access to the contacting ends of the spring-loaded contacts; and
a face plate fit into the back opening of the outer housing and having an opening to provide access to the contacting ends of the contact pins.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Connector adapters that may allow contacts in a connector insert to form electrical connections with contacts in an incompatible connector receptacle. One example may provide a connector adapter for providing a connection between a connector insert and an incompatible connector receptacle. The connector adapter may be a magnetic connector providing a magnetic connector receptacle at a first end to accept a connector insert having an attraction plate. This connector adapter may further provide a connector insert having an attraction plate at a second end to insert into a magnetic connector receptacle on an electrical device.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A connector adapter comprising:
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a subassembly comprising; a first housing portion having a first number of passages and forming a raised surface; a first number of contact pins spaced having a first pitch, each having a contacting end and a tail end, each located in a passage in in the first housing portion; a second housing portion having the first number of passages; and a first number of spring-loaded contacts spaced having a second pitch, the first pitch different from the first pitch, each having a contacting end and a tail end, each located in a passage in the second housing portion, wherein a tail end of each first number of contact pins is electrically and directly connected to a tail end of a corresponding one of the first number of spring-loaded contacts; an outer housing at least substantially surrounding the subassembly and having a front opening and a back opening; an attraction plate fit into the front opening of the outer housing and having an opening to provide access to the contacting ends of the spring-loaded contacts; and a face plate fit into the back opening of the outer housing and having an opening to provide access to the contacting ends of the contact pins. - View Dependent Claims (8, 19, 20)
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2. A connector adapter comprising:
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a subassembly comprising; a first housing portion having a first number of passages and forming a raised surface; a first number of contact pins, each having a contacting end and a tail end, each located in a passage in in the first housing portion; a second housing portion having the first number of passages; and a first number of spring-loaded contacts, each having a contacting end and a tail end, each located in a passage in the second housing portion, wherein a tail end of each first number of contact pins is electrically and directly connected to a tail end of a corresponding one of the first number of spring-loaded contacts; an outer housing at least substantially surrounding the subassembly and having a front opening and a back opening; an attraction plate fit into the front opening of the outer housing and having an opening to provide access to the contacting ends of the spring-loaded contacts; and a face plate fit into the back opening of the outer housing and having an opening to provide access to the contacting ends of the contact pins. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 15, 18)
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9. A method of assembling a connector adapter comprising:
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forming a subassembly to be inserted into an outer housing for the connector adapter by; receiving a plurality of contact pins, each having a contacting end and a tail end; forming a first housing portion around the plurality of contact pins, the first housing portion including a raised surface; receiving a plurality of spring-loaded contacts, each having a contacting end and a tail end; receiving a second housing portion; inserting the plurality of spring-loaded contacts into the second housing portion; electrically connecting a tail end of each of the plurality of contact pins to a tail end of a corresponding one of the plurality of spring-loaded contacts; and fitting a face plate into an opening of the outer housing. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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16. A connector adapter comprising:
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a receptacle side having a first plurality of contacts, each having a contacting portion and a tail portion; an insert side having a second plurality of contacts, each having contacting portion and a tail portion, wherein a first lateral spacing between at least two of the first plurality of contacts is different than a second lateral spacing between at least two of the second plurality of contacts, wherein a tail portion of each contact in the first plurality of contacts electrically connects to a tail portion of a corresponding contact in the second plurality of contacts; wherein to compensate for a difference between the first lateral spacing and the second lateral spacing, a tail portion of a first contact in the first plurality of contacts electrically connects to a tail portion of a first contact in the second plurality of contacts at a first lateral position and a second contact in the first plurality of contacts electrically connects to a tail portion of a second contact in the second plurality of contacts at a lateral second position the first lateral position different than the second lateral position, wherein a tail portion of a third contact in the first plurality of contacts connects to a tail portion of a third contact in the second plurality of contacts at a first depth that is different than a second depth that a fourth contact in the first plurality of contacts connects to a tail portion of a fourth contact in the second plurality of contacts, such that a contacting portion of the third contact in the second plurality of contacts extends beyond a contacting portion of the fourth contact in the second plurality of contacts. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification