Patents by Inventor Lawrence J. Boland

Lawrence J. Boland has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Non-shorting pin system
    Patent number: 4598966
    Abstract: The invention is a zero insertion force printed circuit board edge connector that ensures electrical connection under a worst-case accumulation of mechanical tolerances while precluding the short circuiting of connector contact pins in the absence of a board within the connector. The contact pins of the connector are formed so that the contact regions of the contact pins lie in at least two horizontal planes. The longer pins located on one side of the connector are located opposite the shorter pins on the other side of the connector. When the connector is actuated in the absence of a printed circuit board, the short pins will move under the opposing long pins but the pins will not short circuit. During actuation, the pins will move more than half way across the connector opening thereby guaranteeing connection to any card regardless of dimensional tolerance or of card position within the connector opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1986
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence J. Boland
  • Non-shortning pin system
    Patent number: RE33831
    Abstract: The invention is a zero insertion force printed circuit board edge connector that ensures electrical connection under a worst-case accumulation of mechanical tolerances while precluding the short circuiting of connector contact pins in the absence of a board within the connector. The contact pins of the connector are formed so that the contact regions of the contact pins lie in at least two horizontal planes. The longer pins located on one side of the connector are located opposite the shorter pins on the other side of the connector. When the connector is actuated in the absence of a printed circuit board, the short pins will move under the opposing long pins but the pins will not short circuit. During actuation, the pins will move more than half way across the connector opening thereby guaranteeing connection to any card regardless of dimensional tolerance or of card position within the connector opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence J. Boland