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:
Dec. 22, 1998
Filed:
Jun. 07, 1995
Robert A Glowasky, Webster Grove, MO (US);
Jack H Jacobs, St. Louis, MO (US);
Bruce E McIlroy, Florissant, MO (US);
Matthew M Thomas, Madison, IL (US);
McDonnell Douglas Corporation, St. Louis, MO (US);
Abstract
A composite structure having an externally accessible electrical device embedded therein includes at least one tube disposed within the composite structure and extending from a first end which is electrically connected to an electrical lead of the electrical device to a second end which opens through the edge surface of the composite structure to thereby define an externally accessible electrical port. By plugging a corresponding connector into the electrical port, electrical contact can be established via the electrical lead with the electrical device embedded within the composite structure. By extending through the edge surface of the composite structure, the electrical ports can be accessed during the fabrication of the composite structure such that the operations of the embedded electrical device can be monitored. In addition, the edge surface of the resulting composite structure can be machined or cut so as to render the respective second ends of any embedded tubes flush with the machined edge of the composite structure to more precisely define the respective electrical ports.