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:
Mar. 25, 2003
Filed:
Oct. 11, 2001
Paul Alan Dunham, Milton Keynes, GB;
William Jordan Siegel, Bethesda, MD (US);
John Franklin Wood, New Windsor, MD (US);
Gary Silas Sines, Woodbine, MD (US);
Dung T. Le, Silver Spring, MD (US);
David L. Gilbert, Laurel, MD (US);
Jeffrey Alan Snell, Abingdon, MD (US);
Pace, Incorporated, Annapolis Junction, MD (US);
Abstract
A self-grounding soldering tip having a spring which serves for connecting the soldering tip to a heater bobbin for establishing a secure grounding of the soldering tip. A bobbin tube extends within the heater bobbin for removably retaining the soldering tip within the bobbin. The connection between the spring and bobbin tube provide tip-to-ground continuity. Moreover, the contact surfaces of the spring and bobbin tube are wiped clean upon plug-in and plug-out. The spring and bobbin tube are located in a cooler area of the soldering iron to slow down the rate of oxidation. Also, the spring and bobbin tube are made of the same or compatible materials, e.g., stainless steel, to prevent reactions that normally occur between incompatible metals.