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:
Jun. 10, 1997
Filed:
May. 31, 1994
Alps Electric Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A clock spring connector including a movable housing rotatably connected to a fixed housing, the movable housing and fixed housings defining an annular cable accommodating area therebetween. A spacer is movably housed in the cable accommodating area. A ribbon cable is housed in the cable accommodating area and includes a first portion wound in a first direction on the fixed housing, a turned-back (U-shaped) portion extending through an opening in the spacer, and a second portion wound in a second direction on the movable housing. The spacer includes a plurality of rollers and raised portions located in gaps formed between each of the rollers, except for the opening through which the turned-back portion is passed, thereby preventing the erroneous threading of the cable when the clock spring connector is assembled. Elastic arms are positioned between the spacer and surfaces of the annular cable accommodating area to elastically bias the spacer away from these surfaces, thereby preventing noise caused by contact between the spacer and the surfaces.