Latching rotary connector system
First Claim
1. A rotary connector device for making a plurality of electrical connections in a mating arrangement between two components, the device comprising:
- a male component with a large diameter end part transitioning to a slope-stepped part having a surface defined by outer sidewalls of alternating male conducting rings and male insulating rings, wherein each of the male conducting rings is connectable to an electrical line; and
a female component having a central bore configured to retain a series of alternating female conducting springs and female insulating rings, wherein each of the female conducting springs makes conductive contact with a corresponding male conducting ring of the male conducting rings when the mating arrangement is made, wherein each of the female conducting springs is connectable to an electrical line,wherein the male conducting rings and the female conducting springs have contact surfaces with complementary shapes that engage each other in a latching mechanism when the mating arrangement is made;
wherein the male conducting rings each have circumferential indentations and the conducting springs provide convex surfaces complementary to the indentations of the male conducting rings, wherein mating of the convex surfaces to the indentations provides a compression force for the latching mechanism.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A rotary connector device for making a plurality of electrical connections in a mating arrangement between two components includes a male component with a large diameter end part transitioning to a slope-stepped part having a surface defined by outer sidewalls of alternating male conducting rings and male insulating rings and a female component having a central bore configured to retain a series of alternating female conductor rings and insulating rings. Each of the male conducting rings is connectable to an electrical line and each of the female conducting rings is connectable to an electrical line. Each of the female conducting rings makes direct or indirect conductive contact with a corresponding male conducting ring of the male conducting rings when the mating arrangement is made. The male conducting rings and the female conducting rings, or separate conducting components associated therewith, have contact surfaces with complementary shapes that engage each other in a latching mechanism when the mating arrangement is made.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A rotary connector device for making a plurality of electrical connections in a mating arrangement between two components, the device comprising:
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a male component with a large diameter end part transitioning to a slope-stepped part having a surface defined by outer sidewalls of alternating male conducting rings and male insulating rings, wherein each of the male conducting rings is connectable to an electrical line; and a female component having a central bore configured to retain a series of alternating female conducting springs and female insulating rings, wherein each of the female conducting springs makes conductive contact with a corresponding male conducting ring of the male conducting rings when the mating arrangement is made, wherein each of the female conducting springs is connectable to an electrical line, wherein the male conducting rings and the female conducting springs have contact surfaces with complementary shapes that engage each other in a latching mechanism when the mating arrangement is made; wherein the male conducting rings each have circumferential indentations and the conducting springs provide convex surfaces complementary to the indentations of the male conducting rings, wherein mating of the convex surfaces to the indentations provides a compression force for the latching mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A rotary connector device for making a plurality of electrical connections in a mating arrangement between two components, the device comprising:
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a male component having an underlying body for holding a series of alternating male conducting rings and separate male insulating rings, the outer sidewalls of the male conducting rings and insulating rings providing an outer surface defining a large diameter end part transitioning to a slope-stepped part; and a female component having a central bore configured to retain a series of alternating female conductor rings and separate female insulating rings, wherein each of the female conducting rings makes direct or indirect conductive contact with a corresponding male conducting ring of the male conducting rings when the mating arrangement is made, wherein each of the female conducting rings is connectable to an electrical line, wherein the male conducting rings and the female conducting rings, or separate conducting components associated therewith, have contact surfaces with complementary shapes that engage each other in a latching mechanism when the mating arrangement is made. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A rotary connector device for making a plurality of electrical connections in a mating arrangement between two components, the device comprising:
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a male component having a surface defined by outer sidewalls of alternating male conducting rings and male insulating rings, wherein each of the male conducting rings is connectable to an electrical line; and a female component having a central bore configured to retain a series of alternating female conductor rings and female insulating rings, wherein each of the female conducting rings makes direct or indirect conductive contact with a corresponding male conducting ring of the male conducting rings when the mating arrangement is made, wherein each of the female conducting rings is connectable to an electrical line, wherein the male conducting rings and the female conducting rings, or separate conducting components associated therewith, have contact surfaces with complementary shapes that engage each other in a latching mechanism when the mating arrangement is made, and wherein the male component has a conducting extension configured to enter a matched recess in an insulating ring at the central bore'"'"'s back end, and wherein entry of the conducting extension into the matched recess serves to centralize the male component to provide consistent circumferential contact of the male conducting rings with corresponding female conducting springs. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification