Patent Description:
The invention is set out in the claims <NUM> and <NUM>.

Principal features of the current disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following drawings, the detailed description, and the appended claims.

Illustrative embodiments will be described referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals denote like elements.

In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the system and/or methodology may be practiced without these details and that numerous variations or modifications from the described embodiments may be possible.

As described herein, various techniques and technologies can be associated with using one or more flex slots in a mating curvature of a spring contact to create two or more contacting lengths capable of moving relative to one another as they come into contact with a male plug inserted into a female jack. Allowing movement of the contacting lengths in this manner can result in both an increased number of contacts, and an increased area of surface contact, between the spring contact in the female jack and the male plug inserted therein.

<FIG> illustrates a system <NUM> including a female jack <NUM> and a corresponding male plug <NUM>, in accordance with one possible implementation. Female jack <NUM> can include any type of jack known in the art, including, for example, a jack configured to be used with audio equipment (including musical equipment (such as guitars, keyboards, music amplifiers, speakers, musical effect devices, etc.), headphones, amplifiers, microphones, computing devices, communication devices, and so on). In <FIG>, female jack <NUM> is depicted as a mono jack, with one spring contact <NUM> configured to communicate with plug <NUM>. It will be understood, however, that jack <NUM> is not limited to any single configuration. Rather, jack <NUM> can be configured to communicate any number of electric signals between itself and plug <NUM>. Thus jack <NUM> can be a stereo jack, a jack communicating three or more signals to and/or from plug <NUM>, etc. Moreover, jack <NUM> can come in any size known in the art, including a <NUM> inch female jack.

Similarly, male plug <NUM> can include any type of plug known in the art, including, for example, a plug to convey information, such as audio information, to and/or from audio equipment. Male plug <NUM> can come in any size known in the art.

Spring contact <NUM> can be made of any conductive material known in the art, including, for example, copper, steel, etc. Spring contact <NUM> can also be made of a material and/or constructed in such a way as to have elasticity such that it can elastically bend or spring when placed in contact with plug <NUM>.

Spring contact <NUM> includes a mating curvature <NUM> configured to receive and contact plug <NUM> when plug <NUM> is inserted into a reception aperture <NUM> of jack <NUM>. In this way, once mated plug <NUM> is mated to jack <NUM>, an electric signal can be passed from plug <NUM> to mating curvature <NUM> (and thus jack <NUM>). In one implementation, the electric signal is passed from a tip <NUM> of plug <NUM> contacting mating curvature <NUM>. In another possible implementation, the electric signal may be passed from one or more rings <NUM> (if present) on plug <NUM> contacting mating curvature <NUM>.

Mating curvature <NUM> can be configured in any fashion known in the art. For example, in one possible implementation, mating curvature <NUM> can include a simple curve to contact plug <NUM> - such as at tip <NUM>, ring <NUM>, etc. - in order to communicate an electric signal between jack <NUM> and plug <NUM>. Alternately, in another possible implementation (as shown in <FIG>), mating curvature <NUM> can include a securing geometry <NUM> including a ridge <NUM> and basin <NUM> configured to contact and secure tip <NUM> of plug <NUM> when plug <NUM> is inserted in jack <NUM>. In yet another possible implementation, mating curvature <NUM> can be placed on spring contact <NUM> to a contact ring <NUM>, if present, on plug <NUM>.

Spring contact <NUM> also includes a plurality of contacting lengths <NUM> configured to move relative to one another.

<FIG> depicts contacting lengths <NUM> on spring contact <NUM> in greater detail. Spring contact <NUM> has two or more contacting lengths <NUM> separated from one another by flex joints <NUM>. In one possible implementation, flex joints <NUM> can comprise slots extending through an entire thickness of spring contact <NUM>. In such an implementation, contacting lengths <NUM> can move relative to one another in any of several directions. In another possible implementation, flex joints <NUM> can comprise scores, such as grooves, extending through a portion of the thickness of spring contact <NUM>, forming hinges between contacting lengths <NUM>. In yet another possible implementation, flex joints <NUM> can comprise a combination of the above described slots and scores.

Flex joints <NUM> can run along any length of spring contact <NUM>. For example, flex joints <NUM> can run from a terminal end <NUM> of spring contact <NUM> through any length of mating curvature <NUM>. In another possible implementation, flex joints <NUM> can run from terminal end <NUM> through mating curvature <NUM> into some or all of a body <NUM> of spring contact <NUM>. Additionally, in another possible implementation, flex joints <NUM> can start in mating curvature <NUM> (i.e. not at terminal end <NUM>) and extend any length into mating curvature <NUM> and/or body <NUM> of spring contact <NUM>. Additionally, individual flex joints <NUM> on spring contact <NUM> can have different lengths, including having different starting and ending points on spring contact <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts female jack <NUM> in an alternate stereo configuration. As illustrated, jack <NUM> includes a second spring contact <NUM> comprising a second mating curvature <NUM>, which can be configured in any fashion known in the art, including all of the possible configurations described above in conjunction with mating curvature <NUM>. In the stereo configuration illustrated in <FIG>, jack <NUM> is able to receive two signals from plug <NUM>, including two separate signals. For example, when plug <NUM> is mated to jack <NUM>, a first signal from jack plug <NUM> can be received from tip <NUM> of plug <NUM> by mating curvature <NUM> of spring contact <NUM>. A second signal from jack plug <NUM> can be received from ring <NUM> of plug <NUM> by second mating curvature <NUM> of second spring contact <NUM>.

It will be understood that signals between jack <NUM> and plug <NUM> can travel in any possible directions. For example, in one possible implementation, electric signals can travel from plug <NUM> to jack <NUM>. In another possible implementation, electric signals can travel from jack <NUM> to plug <NUM>. In another possible implementation, electric signals can be communicated between jack <NUM> and plug <NUM> in any possible direction.

<FIG> depicts a male plug <NUM> secured in female jack <NUM> in accordance with one possible implementation. In operation, when plug <NUM> is inserted into reception aperture <NUM> of jack <NUM>, a sloped forefront <NUM> of tip <NUM> encounters a first sloped surface <NUM> of mating curvature <NUM> on spring contact <NUM>. As plug <NUM> moves further into jack <NUM>, a protrusion <NUM> of tip <NUM> encounters and then clears ridge <NUM> on mating curvature <NUM>. Protrusion <NUM> can then settle into basin <NUM> of mating curvature <NUM>.

In one implementation, spring contact <NUM> is at least somewhat elastic, such that ridge <NUM> compresses toward body <NUM> when tip <NUM> contacts spring member <NUM>. In such a manner, when ridge <NUM> contacts a depression <NUM> of plug <NUM>, mating curvature <NUM> (including ridge <NUM>) exerts a contact force against plug <NUM>. The contact force can establish electrical communication between plug <NUM> and spring member <NUM>. The contact force can also help to secure plug <NUM> to mating curvature <NUM> of spring contact <NUM> by resisting movement of tip <NUM> toward reception aperture <NUM>. In one possible embodiment, a body <NUM> of plug <NUM> has a diameter exceeding the diameter of reception aperture <NUM>, thus limiting how far tip <NUM> can be inserted into jack <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the placement of body <NUM> on plug <NUM> can allow tip <NUM> to be inserted into jack <NUM> far enough to mate with mating curvature <NUM> of spring contact <NUM>. In another possible embodiment, body <NUM> can be placed farther away from tip <NUM> on plug <NUM>, such that tip <NUM> can be inserted farther into jack <NUM>. In such a case body <NUM> can be placed to allow tip <NUM> to travel far enough into jack <NUM> such that ridge <NUM> makes electrical contact with ring <NUM>. Such a configuration may be used by second mating curvature <NUM> on second spring contact <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>) to make electrical contact with ring <NUM> on plug <NUM> while mating curvature <NUM> on spring contact <NUM> simultaneously makes electrical contact with tip <NUM>, allowing communication of two separate signals between jack <NUM> and plug <NUM>.

Depending on the number of signals being communicated between jack <NUM> and plug <NUM>, any number of terminals <NUM> can be included on jack <NUM>, in any configuration known in the art. For instance, in one possible implementation, if one signal is being communicated between jack <NUM> and plug <NUM>, one terminal <NUM> can be connected to spring member <NUM> and another terminal can be configured to be connected to ground. In another possible implementation, if two signals are being communicated between jack <NUM> and plug <NUM>, one terminal <NUM> can be connected to spring member <NUM>, another terminal <NUM> can be connected to second spring member <NUM>, and still another terminal <NUM> can be configured to be connected to ground.

<FIG> depict a plurality of contacting lengths <NUM> contacting male plug <NUM> in accordance with several illustrative embodiments. As illustrated, contacting lengths <NUM> are separated by flex joints <NUM> running through an entire thickness <NUM> of spring member <NUM>. Flex joints <NUM> can have any desirable width, and can enable contacting lengths <NUM> to move with respect to each other in several directions, including along axes <NUM>, <NUM> and any combination thereof.

When contacting lengths <NUM> come into contact with plug <NUM> (such as when contacting lengths <NUM> come into contact with tip <NUM> and/or rings <NUM> of plug <NUM> as described in the various embodiments above), contacting lengths <NUM> are free to move separately in order to contact several areas <NUM> of plug <NUM>. This stands in contrast to a scenario in which only one contacting length is used. In such a scenario only one contact area would exist.

In one possible implementation, use of multiple contacting lengths <NUM> can increase a number of electric contacts between spring contact <NUM> and plug <NUM> and/or a total area of contact between spring contact <NUM> and plug <NUM>. Moreover, because of the independence of movement of contacting lengths <NUM>, if plug <NUM> moves relative to jack <NUM> (such as for example, due to movement of jack <NUM>, plug <NUM>, or equipment with which jack <NUM> and/or plug <NUM> are associated) there is an increased chance that at least one of the contacting lengths <NUM> will maintain electrical contact with plug <NUM> during the movement, thus preventing a loss of signal between jack <NUM> and plug <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a behavior of rigid contacting lengths <NUM> in which movement occurs in direction <NUM>, but little or no movement occurs in direction <NUM>. Rigid contacting lengths can result, for example, when a rigid material is used to create spring contact <NUM>, when flex joints <NUM> have a short length along spring contact <NUM>, etc. In such a scenario, contacting lengths <NUM> can establish contact areas <NUM> as shown.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, <FIG> illustrates a behavior of less rigid contacting lengths <NUM> in which movement occurs in both directions <NUM> and <NUM>. Less rigid contacting lengths <NUM> can result, for example, when a less rigid material is used to create spring contact <NUM>, when flex joints <NUM> have a greater length along spring contact <NUM>, etc. In such a scenario, contacting lengths <NUM> can move and rotate relative to one another to establish contact areas <NUM> as shown.

It will be understood that a combination of behaviors shown in <FIG> can result, such as when contacting lengths <NUM> are of medium rigidity and/or have flex joints <NUM> of medium length along spring contact <NUM>. Moreover, as noted above, lengths and widths of flex joints <NUM> can vary, such that some contacting lengths can be less rigid than others. Thus any combination of the behaviors of contacting lengths <NUM> shown in <FIG> can be seen across the various contacting lengths <NUM>.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, <FIG> depicts a plurality of contacting lengths <NUM> contacting male plug <NUM>. As illustrated, contacting lengths <NUM> are separated by flex joints <NUM> comprising scores running through a portion of thickness <NUM> of spring member <NUM>. Flex joints <NUM> thus enable contacting lengths <NUM> to move with respect to each other by pivoting relative to one another.

Thus, when contacting lengths <NUM> come into contact with plug <NUM> (such as when contacting lengths <NUM> come into contact with tip <NUM> and/or rings <NUM> of plug <NUM> as described in the potential embodiments above), contacting lengths <NUM> are free to pivot in order to contact several areas <NUM> of plug <NUM>.

As noted above, any combination of flex joints <NUM> can be used in conjunction with contacting lengths <NUM>. Thus one or more flex joints <NUM> comprise scores running through a portion of thickness <NUM> of spring member <NUM>, while one or more other flex joints <NUM> may comprise flex slots running through an entire thickness <NUM> of spring member <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A female jack (<NUM>) comprising:
a reception aperture (<NUM>) configured to accept a male plug (<NUM>);
one or more terminals (<NUM>);
a first spring contact (<NUM>); characterized in that
the first spring contact (<NUM>) including:
a first mating curvature (<NUM>) configured to contact the male plug (<NUM>) and maintain electrical contact between the male plug (<NUM>) and the female jack (<NUM>); and
one or more flex joints (<NUM>) running at least a portion of a length of the first spring contact (<NUM>), and
two or more contacting lengths (<NUM>) separated from one another by the one or more flex joints (<NUM>),
wherein the one or more flex joints (<NUM>) comprise one or more scores extending through a portion of a thickness (<NUM>) of the first spring contact (<NUM>) forming hinges between the two or more contacting lengths (<NUM>) extending the portion of the length of the first spring contact (<NUM>), enabling the two or more hinged contacting lengths (<NUM>) to move with respect to each other by pivoting relative to one another such that each contacting length (<NUM>) can contact the male plug(<NUM>) at a different point along a circumference of the male plug (<NUM>).