IP Library Granted Patent US 10,654,616
Granted Patent B2
US 10,654,616 · App. 16/142,673 · Granted May 19, 2020

Data connector assembly for a movable platform and actuating attachment

Inventors: Mark Bradley (Fort Smith, AR); Stonie Hopkins (Fort Smith, AR); Jefferson Maldonado (Fort Smith, AR); Doug Hutchens (Fort Smith, AR); Jerry Wade (Fort Smith, AR)
Assignee: INNOVATIVE LOGISTICS, INC.
B65D19/42B62B3/002B65D19/003B65D88/12B65D88/129B65D2519/00273B65D2519/00781B65D2519/00786
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,654,616
App. No.
16/142,673
Granted
May 19, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein is a data connector assembly for a movable platform. The data connector assembly comprises a female data connector assembly having a recess with a data connector port at a center of the recess. A face plate is used to couple the female data connector assembly to the movable platform. A spring connector movable couples the housing of the female data connector assembly to the face plate.

Claims (42)

1. A data connector assembly for a movable platform comprising:

a female data connector assembly comprising:

a housing;

a recess formed in a front surface of the housing

a data connector port located at a center of the recess;

a face plate for coupling the female data connector assembly to the movable platform;

a first spring connector for movably coupling a rear face of the housing to a front face of the face plate; and

a data connector immovably coupled to a front surface of the face plate,

wherein a front portion of the data connector extends into the data connector port.

2. The data connector assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a rear surface of the face plate abuts a front surface of the movable platform when the data connector is coupled to the movable platform.

3. The data connector assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the recess comprises:

a plurality of walls angled inward from the front surface of the housing.

4. The data connector assembly according to claim 1 , wherein compression of the spring connector causes the front portion of the data connector to extend further into the data connector port.

5. The data connector assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first spring connector comprises:

a first spring connector port extending through the face plate;

a first cylinder extending through the spring connector port from the front surface of the face plate through a rear surface of the face plate;

a second spring connector port located in the housing;

a second cylinder coupled to a rear face of a front surface of the housing,

wherein a first end of the second cylinder extends through the second spring connector port and through both ends of the first cylinder;

a cap coupled to the first end of the second cylinder for preventing disengagement of the first cylinder and the second cylinder; and

a spring surrounding a portion of the second cylinder,

wherein a first end of the spring abuts the rear face of the front surface of the housing, and

wherein a second end of the spring abuts the front surface of the face plate.

6. The data connector assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the first spring connector is located on a first side of the data connector, and

wherein the female data connector assembly further comprises:

a second spring connector located on a second side of the data connector opposite the first side.

7. The data connector assembly according to claim 6 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the first spring connector, a longitudinal axis of the second spring connector, and a longitudinal axis of the third spring connector are coplanar and parallel.

8. The data connector assembly according to claim 5 , wherein a diameter of the spring is greater than a diameter of the first cylinder and the second cylinder.

9. The data connector assembly according to claim 1 ,

wherein the cap is circular, and

wherein a diameter of the cap is the same as a diameter of the first cylinder.

10. The data connector assembly according to claim 1 , where the data connector is configured to provide a power connection and a data connection to a plurality of sensors arranged on the movable platform.

11. The data connector assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the female data connector is coupled to the movable platform immediately adjacent a drawbar of the movable platform utilized to actuate the movable platform.

12. The data connector assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a male data connector assembly coupled to an actuating attachment.

13. The data connector assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the male data connector assembly comprises:

a connector housing shaped to be fully inserted into the recess;

a second data connector located on a front surface of the connector housing.

14. The data connector assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the male data connector assembly further comprises:

a mounting plate for coupling the male data connector to the actuating attachment; and

a plurality of springs for coupling a rear surface of the connector housing to a front surface of the mounting plate.

15. The data connector assembly according to claim 13 , wherein a plurality of connectors of the second data connector are configured to mate with a plurality of connectors of the data connector.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 26, 2018
From: BRADLEY, MARK; HOPKINS, STONIE; MALDONADO, JEFFERSON; HUTCHENS, DOUG; WADE, JERRY
To: INNOVATIVE LOGISTICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 046981/0502 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15799194 · Oct 31, 2017
Provisional Application 62414952 · Oct 31, 2016
Related Publication 20190031395A1 · Jan 31, 2019