Appeal 2007-2577
Application 90/006,344
Claim 9
Claim 9 defines the invention as follows—
9. A ropelight connector for connecting a first
ropelight with a second ropelight, comprising:
a first connecting member having a first member head
portion and a first member tail portion, said first member head
portion and first member tail portion being formed as a single,
unitary structure,
said first member tail portion being molded to an end of
said first ropelight in a permanent, airtight connection,
said first connecting member including a pair of parallel
locking sockets longitudinally formed on said first member
head portion and electrically coupled by a pair of conductors to
respective wires inside said first ropelight;
a second connecting member having a tubular shelter, a
second member head portion, and a second member tail portion,
said tubular shelter, second member head portion and second
member tail portion being formed as a single, unitary structure,
said second member tail portion being molded to an end
of said second ropelight in a permanent, airtight connection,
said tubular shelter extending coaxially from said second
member head portion and having an inside diameter sufficient
to receive a forward portion of the first connecting member
head portion,
said tubular shelter having external threads thereon,
said second connecting member including a pair of
conductive terminals extending from said second member head
portion and being electrically connected to respective wires
inside said second ropelight,
said conductive terminals extending outwardly from said
second member head portion and being configured to be
inserted into said parallel locking sockets, thereby electrically
connecting said first and second ropelights together;
a sleeve locker movable axially along said first
connecting member, said sleeve locker having a diameter
slightly larger than a diameter of said tubular shelter, said
sleeve locker having inside threads configured to engage said
outside threads of said tubular shelter so that said sleeve locker
17
Page: Previous 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Next
Last modified: September 9, 2013