# US 2019/0211627 A1 · Shelf electrical signal connector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0211627 A1 - Document ID: US20190211627A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/242,223 - Filed: 2019-01-08 - Published: 2019-07-11 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-10 - Assignees: Sub-Zero, Inc. - Applicants: Sub-Zero, Inc. - Inventors: Keith R. Wanta; Colin M. Hasburgh; Sean T. Petersen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190211627A1 ## CPC - E06C 9/02: rigidly mounted - H01R 4/023: {between cables or wires and terminals} - H01R 13/17: with spring member on the pin - H01R 13/24: resilient; resiliently-mounted - H01R 25/167: {Connecting locations formed by staggering mounted apparatus} - E06C: LADDERS (E04F11/00 takes precedence; step-stools A47C12/00; adaptation of ladders to use on ships B63B, to use on aircraft B64; scaffolding E04G) - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract A shelf electrical signal connector is provided that includes a ladder connector and a shelf connector. The ladder connector mounts to a ladder of a shelving system and includes a spring-loaded contact pin formed of an electrically conductive material and electrically connected to a first wire configured to carry an electrical signal. The shelf connector mounts to a shelf bracket and includes a contact pad formed of an electrically conductive material that is connected to a second wire. The contact pad abuts and rests on the spring-loaded contact pin to electrically connect the first wire to the second wire when the shelf bracket is mounted to the ladder of the shelving system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A shelf electrical signal connector comprising: a ladder connector configured to mount to a ladder of a shelving system, wherein the ladder connector comprises a spring-loaded contact pin electrically connected to a first wire configured to carry an electrical signal, the spring-loaded contact pin formed of an electrically conductive material; and a shelf connector configured to mount to a shelf bracket, wherein the shelf connector includes a contact pad connected to a second wire, the contact pad formed of an electrically conductive material, wherein the contact pad abuts and rests on the spring-loaded contact pin to electrically connect the first wire to the second wire when the shelf bracket is mounted to the ladder of the shelving system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The shelf electrical signal connector of claim 1, wherein the first wire is electrically connected to a controller and wherein the second wire is connected to an electrical device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The shelf electrical signal connector of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to communicate a data signal to the electrical device through the first wire and the second wire. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The shelf electrical signal connector of claim 1, wherein the ladder connector further comprises a second spring-loaded contact pin electrically connected to a third wire configured to carry a second electrical signal, the second spring-loaded contact pin formed of the electrically conductive material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The shelf electrical signal connector of claim 4, further comprising a second shelf connector configured to mount to the shelf bracket, wherein the second shelf connector includes a second contact pad connected to a fourth wire, the second contact pad formed of the electrically conductive material, wherein the second contact pad abuts and rests on the second spring-loaded contact pin to electrically connect the third wire to the fourth wire when the shelf bracket is mounted to the ladder of the shelving system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The shelf electrical signal connector of claim 1, wherein the ladder connector further comprises a connector body and a cone, wherein the cone extends up from the connector body, wherein the spring-loaded contact pin extends up through and above a center of the cone, wherein the cone is formed of an insulating material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The shelf electrical signal connector of claim 1, further comprising: a second ladder connector configured to mount to a second ladder of the shelving system, wherein the second ladder connector comprises a second spring-loaded contact pin electrically connected to a third wire configured to carry a second electrical signal, the second spring-loaded contact pin formed of the electrically conductive material; and a second shelf connector configured to mount to a second shelf bracket, wherein the second shelf connector includes a second contact pad connected to a fourth wire, the second contact pad formed of the electrically conductive material, wherein the second contact pad abuts and rests on the second spring-loaded contact pin to electrically connect the third wire to the fourth wire when the second shelf bracket is mounted to the second ladder of the shelving system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The shelf electrical signal connector of claim 7, wherein the ladder connector further comprises a third spring-loaded contact pin electrically connected to a fifth wire configured to carry a third electrical signal, the third spring-loaded contact pin formed of the electrically conductive material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The shelf electrical signal connector of claim 8, further comprising a third shelf connector configured to mount to the shelf bracket, wherein the third shelf connector includes a third contact pad connected to a sixth wire, the third contact pad formed of the electrically conductive material, wherein the third contact pad abuts and rests on the third spring-loaded contact pin to electrically connect the fifth wire to the sixth wire when the shelf bracket is mounted to the ladder of the shelving system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The shelf electrical signal connector of claim 1, wherein the ladder connector further comprises a connector body, wherein the first wire is wound around a portion of the connector body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The shelf electrical signal connector of claim 1, wherein the ladder connector further comprises a connector body, wherein the first wire is connected to a solder post mounted to the connector body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The shelf electrical signal connector of claim 1, wherein the shelf connector has a hook shaped portion, wherein the contact pad is mounted to a bottom surface of the hook shaped portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The shelf electrical signal connector of claim 1, wherein the second wire is connected to the contact pad within a body of the shelf connector. ### Claim 14 A shelf power system comprising: a ladder; a ladder connector mounted to the ladder, wherein the ladder connector comprises a spring-loaded contact pin electrically connected to a first wire configured to carry an electrical signal, the spring-loaded contact pin formed of an electrically conductive material; a shelf comprising a shelf plate; a shelf brace, wherein the shelf plate is mounted to the shelf brace; and a shelf bracket, wherein the shelf bracket extends from the shelf brace; and a shelf connector mounted to the shelf bracket, wherein the shelf connector includes a contact pad connected to a second wire, the contact pad formed of an electrically conductive material, wherein the contact pad abuts and rests on the spring-loaded contact pin to electrically connect the first wire to the second wire. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The shelf power system of claim 14, further comprising: a second ladder; a second ladder connector configured to mount to the second ladder, wherein the second ladder connector comprises a second spring-loaded contact pin electrically connected to a third wire configured to carry a second electrical signal, the second spring-loaded contact pin formed of the electrically conductive material; and a second shelf connector configured to mount to a second shelf bracket, wherein the second shelf connector includes a second contact pad connected to a fourth wire, the second contact pad formed of the electrically conductive material, wherein the second contact pad abuts and rests on the second spring-loaded contact pin to electrically connect the third wire to the fourth wire when the second shelf bracket is mounted to the second ladder of the shelving system, wherein the shelf further comprises a second shelf brace and a second shelf bracket, wherein the shelf plate is further mounted to the second shelf brace, wherein the second shelf bracket extends from the second shelf brace. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The shelf power system of claim 15, wherein the ladder connector further comprises a third spring-loaded contact pin electrically connected to a fifth wire configured to carry a third electrical signal, the third spring-loaded contact pin formed of the electrically conductive material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The shelf power system of claim 14, wherein the ladder connector further comprises a connector body and a cone, wherein the cone extends up from the connector body, wherein the spring-loaded contact pin extends up through and above a center of the cone, wherein the cone is formed of an insulating material, wherein the spring-loaded contact pin is depressed into the cone when the second shelf bracket is mounted to the second ladder of the shelving system. ### Claim 18 A shelving system comprising: a ladder; a plurality of ladder connectors mounted to the ladder, wherein each ladder connector of the plurality of ladder connectors comprises a spring-loaded contact pin electrically connected to a first wire configured to carry an electrical signal, the spring-loaded contact pin formed of an electrically conductive material; a shelf comprising a shelf plate; a shelf brace, wherein the shelf plate is mounted to the shelf brace; and a shelf bracket, wherein the shelf bracket extends from the shelf brace; and a shelf connector mounted to the shelf bracket, wherein the shelf connector includes a contact pad connected to a second wire, the contact pad formed of an electrically conductive material, wherein the contact pad abuts and rests on the spring-loaded contact pin of a single ladder connector to electrically connect the first wire to the second wire. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The shelving system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of ladder connectors are connected in series, wherein each ladder connector further comprises a connector body, wherein the first wire is wound around a portion of the connector body of each ladder connector. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The shelving system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of ladder connectors are connected in series by a third wire, wherein each ladder connector further comprises a connector body, wherein the first wire is connected to a solder post mounted to the connector body, wherein the first wire of each ladder connector is split from the third wire.