The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 13, 1987
Filed:
Nov. 22, 1985
John B Gillett, Kingston, NY (US);
John A Miraglia, West Hurley, NY (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A connector mechanism for electrically connecting two structures 22, 24 carrying conducting lines 26, comprises fixed contacts 28 on one of the structures and floating contacts 30 on the other of the structures, the floating contacts being free to move towards and away from the fixed contacts and across the fixed contacts as independent motions, under the control of a common actuator 50, 52, 54, each floating contact being an electrically integral part, carried by the actuator, of a flexible conductive film 34. The provision of a shroud 46 on the fixed contact structure carrying markings 48A, 48B registered with the fixed contacts 28 and engaging the actuator provides coarse location, while the flexibility of the web and the mounting of the floating contacts on a resilient pad 38 on a carriage 50 provided with cam followers 54 riding on a multi-throw linear cam 52, together comprising the actuator permits independent locating and wiping motions, independently of each other and at selected pressures, including zero pressure on insertion, making the connector mechanism an effective ZIF connector.