Patent ID: 6394851
Filing Date: 2002-05-28
Classification: B60N,H01R,H05K

Abstract:
An adapter for establishing an electrical connection between electrical power system of a vehicle and an electronic device situated within an interior portion of the vehicle, said vehicle having a cigarette lighter receptacle and the vehicle power system having a hot contact and a ground contact associated with said cigarette lighter receptacle, the adapter comprising:an elongated housing, the adapter housing having a body portion and a barrel portion sized to fit within said cigarette lighter receptacle, the adapter housing having an internal cavity extending between said body and barrel portions; a circuit board disposed within said housing, the circuit board having a connecting circuit disposed thereon for providing a connection between said electronic device and said vehicle power system, said connecting circuit including a hot portion and a ground portion; a first contact member disposed in said adapter housing barrel portion in opposition to said cigarette lighter receptacle hot contact, said first contact member being connected to said connecting circuit hot portion; and a second contact member disposed in said adapter housing barrel portion in opposition to said cigarette lighter receptacle ground contact; said second contact member including a clip portion and a pair of terminal portions; said clip having a pair of legs and an interconnecting spine portion; each said leg having a free end opposite said spine portion so that said free ends cooperatively define an entrance to a passageway; said terminal portions each including a tail portion, a body portion, a contact arm portion, and a free end for interconnecting said vehicle power system ground contact and said circuit board ground connecting circuit; each said tail portion formed normal to said leg as part of and coplanar with one of said legs; said contact arm portion extending from said body portion which interconnects said tail portion and said contact arm portion for engaging said adapter housing; said passageway engaging said circuit board such that said clip is biased into a first tensioned position wherein a point on said leg between said free end and said tail portion contacts said circuit board and said connecting circuit ground portion thereof; and said contact arm portions disposed in opposing alignment with each other on opposite sides such that forces they exert upon said circuit board generally balance each other to thereby avoid the imposition of detrimental unbalanced stress on said circuit board.