Back to results
US 8,096,520 B2Granted
Connector system
OwnerCheryl L. Sohn, Douglas C. Sohninventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An array of U-shaped flanged brackets and flange tipped posts attached to a supporting surface providing a mechanical connection with an object that is provided with corresponding posts and brackets. The brackets and posts can include electrical contacts or fiber optic contacts for transferring power or signals between connected objects. Various objects can be mounted on the array of brackets and posts to provide positioning flexibility.
Claims25
A connector system comprising:
- a plurality of U-shaped flanged brackets and flange-tipped posts, the plurality of U-shaped flanged brackets and plurality of flange-tipped posts being attached to a supporting surface forming a first array, wherein each U-shaped flanged bracket of the first array is spaced apart from each flange-tipped post of the first array;
- and
- a second array comprising a plurality of U-shaped brackets and a plurality of flange-tipped posts arranged to respectively engage with corresponding flange-tipped posts and corresponding U-shaped flanged brackets of said first array;
- wherein the flange-tipped posts include:
- a stem extending directly from and perpendicularly to the supporting surface;
- and
- a flange extending directly from the stem, wherein a sidewall of the flange is perpendicular to the stem;
- and wherein the U-shaped flanged brackets include:
- a U-shaped sidewall extending directly from and perpendicularly to the supporting surface;
- a flange extending directly from and perpendicular to the sidewall;
- and
- a recess defined by the support surface, a concave part of the U-shaped sidewall and the flange.
9 more elements
A connector system comprising:
- a repeating pattern of U-shaped flanged brackets and flange-tipped posts forming an array, wherein each of the U-shaped flanged brackets of the array is spaced apart from each of the flange-tipped posts of the array;
- and
- a mating pair of U-shaped flanged brackets and flange-tipped posts that engage with the corresponding brackets and posts in said array;
- wherein the flange-tipped posts include:
- a stem extending directly from and perpendicularly to a supporting surface upon which the flange-tipped posts are disposed;
- and
- a flange extending directly from the stem, wherein a sidewall of the flange is perpendicular to the stem;
- and wherein the U-shaped flanged brackets include:
- a U-shaped sidewall extending directly from and perpendicularly to a supporting surface upon which the U-shaped flanged brackets are disposed;
- a flange extending directly from and perpendicular to the sidewall;
- and
- a recess defined by the supporting surface, a concave part of the U-shaped sidewall and the flange.
9 more elements
A connector panel comprising a pattern of connector elements repeating in two dimensions, the connector elements comprising U-shaped flanged brackets and flange-tipped posts, wherein each of the U-shaped flanged brackets is spaced apart from each of the flange-tipped posts;
- wherein the flange-tipped posts include:
- a stem extending directly from and perpendicularly to the connector panel;
- and
- a flange extending directly from the stem, wherein a sidewall of the flange is perpendicular to the stem;
- and wherein the U-shaped flanged brackets include:
- a U-shaped sidewall extending directly from and perpendicularly to the connector panel;
- a flange extending directly from and perpendicular to the sidewall;
- and
- a recess defined by the connector panel, a concave part of the U-shaped sidewall and the flange.
6 more elements
A shelf mounting system comprising:
- a shelf mounting bracket with a first surface and a second surface perpendicular to each other and with at least one flanged bracket and at least one flange-tipped post attached to each of the first surface and the second surface;
- and
- a connector panel, said connector panel being provided with a plurality of flanged brackets and a plurality of flange-tipped posts located to correspond to said flanged brackets and flange-tipped posts on said first surfaces of said shelf mounting bracket, wherein each of the flanged brackets of the connector panel is spaced apart from each of the flange-tipped posts of the connector panel;
- wherein the flange-tipped posts include:
- a stem extending directly from and perpendicularly to the first or second surface upon which the flange-tipped post is disposed;
- and
- a flange extending directly from the stem, wherein a sidewall of the flange is perpendicular to the stem;
- and wherein the U-shaped flanged brackets include:
- a U-shaped sidewall extending directly from and perpendicularly to the first or second surface upon which the U-shaped flanged bracket is disposed;
- a flange extending directly from and perpendicular to the sidewall;
- and
- a recess defined by the first or second surface, a concave part of the U-shaped sidewall and the flange.
9 more elements
A connector system comprising:
- a planar supporting surface;
- at least one U-shaped flanged bracket attached to the supporting surface and at least one flange-tipped post attached to the supporting surface, wherein each U-shaped flanged bracket is disposed so that the U-shape lies parallel to the plane of the supporting surface;
- and
- a second surface comprising at least one U-shaped bracket and at least one flange-tipped post arranged to respectively engage with a corresponding at least one flange-tipped post and a corresponding at least one U-shaped flanged brackets of the supporting surface;
- wherein the flange-tipped posts include:
- a stem extending directly from and perpendicularly to the supporting surface;
- and
- a flange extending directly from the stem, wherein a sidewall of the flange is perpendicular to the stem;
- and wherein the U-shaped flanged brackets include:
- a U-shaped sidewall extending directly from and perpendicularly to the supporting surface;
- a flange extending directly from and perpendicular to the sidewall;
- and
- a recess defined by the support surface, a concave part of the U-shaped sidewall and the flange.
10 more elements
A connector system comprising:
- a plurality of U-shaped flanged brackets and flange-tipped posts, the plurality of U-shaped flanged brackets and plurality of flange-tipped posts being attached to a supporting surface forming a first array, wherein each U-shaped flanged bracket of the first array is spaced apart from each flange-tipped post of the first array;
- a second array comprising a plurality of U-shaped brackets and a plurality of flange-tipped posts arranged to respectively engage with corresponding flange-tipped posts and corresponding U-shaped flanged brackets of said first array;
- a first fiber optic cable passing through at least one flange-tipped post of the first array;
- and
- a second fiber optic cable passing through at least one U-shaped flanged bracket of the second array;
- wherein the at least one flange-tipped post of the first array is engaged with the at least one U-shaped flanged bracket of the second array, and the first fiber optic cable and the second fiber optic cable are aligned such that an optical signal is transmitted between the first fiber optic cable and the second fiber optic cable.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.