Coating displacement electrical connecting device and related methods
AssigneeKd&E Solar, LLC.
InventorPaul Kovalov
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrical connecting apparatus and related systems and methods are provided. The electrical connecting apparatus includes a substantially flat body having a top surface and a bottom surface. At least one electrically conductive tooth is positioned on the body, the at least one tooth having at least one puncture point positioned beyond at least one of the top and bottom surfaces, respectively. A coating is positioned on the at least one tooth. In use, when the electrical connecting apparatus is compressed, the at least one puncture point on the at least one tooth pierces through the coating thereon.
Claims20
An electrical connecting apparatus comprising:
- a substantially flat body having a top surface and a bottom surface;
- at least one electrically conductive tooth positioned on the body, the at least one tooth having at least one puncture point positioned beyond at least one of the top and bottom surfaces, respectively;
- and
- a coating positioned on the at least one tooth.
A system for providing an electrical connection comprising:
- a first metal structure;
- a second metal structure removably connected to the first metal structure with a fastener;
- and
- an electrical connecting apparatus positioned between the first and second metal structures, the electrical connecting apparatus comprising:
- a substantially flat body with a top surface and a bottom surface;
- at least one electrically conductive tooth positioned on the body, the at least one tooth having at least one puncture point positioned beyond at least one of the top and bottom surfaces, respectively;
- and
- a coating positioned on the at least one tooth.
A method of electrically connecting at least two metal structures together, the method comprising the steps of:
- connecting a first metal structure to a second metal structure with a fastener, wherein an electrical connecting device having a coating over at least one tooth is positioned between the first and second metal structures;
- and
- biasing the fastener to compress the at least one tooth between the first and second metal structures, thereby compressing at least one puncture point on the at least one tooth against at least one of the first and second metal structures, wherein the at least one puncture point displaces the coating on the at least one puncture point.
An electrical connecting device comprising:
- a serrated tooth star washer having a plurality of teeth;
- and
- a coating positioned over the plurality of teeth, wherein when the serrated tooth star washer is compressed, at least one puncture point on each of the plurality of teeth pierces through the coating thereon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.