Staggered contact
AssigneeLeviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
InventorsCharles R Bragg, Ross Goldman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical contact suitable for use within data connectivity applications in which both power and data are conveyed over the same pair of conductors is configured with a staggered profile geometry that isolates the location of high-current disconnects while maintaining a surface that remains free of electrical arcing and erosion. The electrical contact is designed with two points of contact, and the staggered geometry ensures that only one of the two points of contact is exposed to electrical arcing when the connector is disconnected while under power, thereby protecting the other point of contact from arc-related surface damage.
Claims20
An electrical contact, comprising:
- a base section;
- a first arm that extends from the base section;
- and
- a second arm that extends from the base section in a same direction as the first arm,
- wherein
- the electrical contact has a planar profile,
- the first arm and the second arm define a gap configured to receive a mating electrical contact, and
- a first length of the first arm is greater than a second length of the second arm.
An electrical connector, comprising:
- a connector housing;
- and
- an electrical contact mounted within the connector housing and configured to engage with a corresponding mating electrical contact of another electrical connector, other than the electrical connector, or a port, wherein the electrical contact comprises:
- a first arm that extends from a base section of the electrical contact;
- and
- a second arm that extends from the base section in a same or substantially same direction as the first arm,
- wherein
- the electrical contact has a planar construction,
- the first arm and the second arm define a gap configured to receive the mating electrical contact while the electrical connector is engaged with the other electrical connector or the port, and
- a first length of the first arm is greater than a second length of the second arm.
A first connector, comprising:
- a pair of electrical contacts housed within a connector housing of the first connector, wherein the first connector conducts power and communicates via a single pair of wires, and, wherein an electrical contact of the pair of electrical contacts comprises:
- a base section configured to electrically connect to a cable wire, and
- a first arm that that extends from the base section in a direction, and
- a second arm that extends from the base section in the direction,
- wherein
- the electrical contact is substantially planar,
- the first arm and the second arm have different lengths;
- and
- a gap between the first arm and the second arm is configured to receive a mating electrical contact of a second connector or a port while the first connector is engaged with the second connector or the port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.