IP Library Granted Patent US 9,166,327
Granted Patent B2
US 9,166,327 · App. 13/940,853 · Granted Oct 20, 2015

Circuit board connector system

Inventor: Scott S. Yu (Tiburon, CA)
Assignee: Vode Lighting LLC
H01R13/46H01R9/096H01R12/732H01R13/04H01R24/84H01R31/06H01R43/18Y10T29/49147
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,166,327
App. No.
13/940,853
Granted
Oct 20, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An inline connector is coupled to a first substrate and operable to receive at least one prong. A second receptacle is coupled to a second substrate and operable to receive the prong. A plug having an elongated prong that, when inserted through the first receptacle and into the second receptacle operates to provide electrical connections between the substrates. The substrates may be circuit boards and the receptacle may be mounted along the edges of the circuit board to allow for easier installation. Some embodiments may provide for identical receptacle providing for lower costs and easier installation.

Claims (22)

1. A device including:

a first receptacle disposed on a first substrate, said first receptacle including a through-hole extending from a first surface of the first receptacle to a second surface of the first receptacle;

a second receptacle disposed on a second substrate, said second receptacle including a receiver portion;

a connector, said connector including an insulated portion said insulating portion formed to encapsulate one end of a prong said prong extending from one surface of the insulated portion,

wherein the prong is slidably disposed completely through the through-hole and at least partially disposed into the receiver portion such that the insulated portion abuts the first surface of the first receptacle and is not interposed between the first receptacle and the second receptacle.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the prong is electrically conductive and operates to provide electrical conductivity from the first receptacle to the second receptacle.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the first receptacle is disposed along an edge of the first substrate.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the first substrate is a circuit board.

5. A method including:

disposing a first receptacle on a first substrate, said first receptacle including a through-hole extending from a first surface of the first receptacle to a second surface of the first receptacle

disposing a second receptacle on a second substrate, said second receptacle including a receiver portion, said receiver portion disposed to abut the second surface of the first receptacle, and

disposing at least one prong through the first receptacle and into the second receptacle, said prong including an insulated portion, said insulating portion enclosing an end of a conductive portion,

wherein said insulated portion, abutting the first surface of the first receptacle and not interposed between the first receptacle and the second receptacle.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the prong is electrically conductive and operates to provide electrical conductivity from the first receptacle to the second receptacle.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the first receptacle is disposed along an edge of the first substrate.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the first substrate is a circuit board.

9. A device including:

a first receptacle disposed substantially near an edge of a first substrate, said first receptacle including a through-hole extending from a first surface of the first receptacle to a second surface of the first receptacle;

a second receptacle disposed substantially near and edge of a second substrate, said second receptacle including a receiver portion;

a connector, said connector including an insulated portion which encapsulated one end of a prong disposed to extend from one surface of the insulated portion;

said first receptacle and said second receptacle further disposed to substantially abut and to substantially align the through-hole with the receiver portion,

wherein the prong is slidably disposed completely through the through-hole and at least partially disposed into the receiver portion such that the insulated portion abuts the first surface of the first receptacle, said insulating portion not interposed between the first receptacle and the second receptacle.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 27, 2026
From: NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA, AS AGENT
To: VODE LIGHTING LLC
Reel/Frame 075805/0072 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 11, 2026
From: ROYNAT CAPITAL INC., AS AGENT
To: VODE LIGHTING LLC
Reel/Frame 075608/0585 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 19, 2023
From: VODE LIGHTING LLC
To: ROYNAT CAPITAL INC.
Reel/Frame 064339/0741 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 19, 2023
From: VODE LIGHTING LLC
To: NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA
Reel/Frame 064339/0757 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 3, 2013
From: YU, SCOTT S.
To: VODE LIGHTING LLC
Reel/Frame 030938/0005 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61671031 · Jul 12, 2012
Related Publication 20140017945A1 · Jan 16, 2014