text: a probe adapter 10 according to the present invention is best seen in fig3 - 5 as it could be used in conjunction with a conventional logic probe 11 of the type shown in fig1 and 2 . more specifically , the probe adapter 10 includes an elongate body 12 having a nose section 14 , a tail section 16 , and an elongate slot 18 for receiving the logic probe 11 . in one preferred embodiment , the slot 18 is configured to receive a conventional logic probe 11 of the type shown in fig1 and 2 in the manner best seen in fig5 . alternatively , the slot 18 could be configured to receive other types of probes . in one preferred embodiment , the main body 12 of probe adapter 10 may also include strain relief section 36 comprising a plurality of strain relief bosses 24 , 26 , and 28 to grip the signal lead 15 of logic probe 11 . the strain relief section 36 thus helps to prevent the logic probe 11 from being accidently pulled loose from the probe adapter 10 . strain relief section 36 also provides a convenient way to hold the signal lead 15 away from the main body 12 to help prevent the signal lead 15 from becoming entangled with the probe adapter 10 and / or ground wire 54 . the main body 12 of probe adapter 10 may also include a pair of pads 32 , 34 which frictionally engage the male connector 52 of ground wire 54 to help prevent it from being accidently pulled loose . the pads 32 , 34 also enhance the user &# 39 ; s ability to grip and maneuver the probe adapter 10 and provide additional mechanical protection for the logic probe 11 . a probe tip assembly 20 attached to the nose section 14 of main body 12 provides the means for electrically connecting the signal input terminal 19 of logic probe 11 ( fig2 ) to the desired point on the electrical circuit or device ( not shown ) being tested . in one preferred embodiment , the probe tip assembly 20 includes a &# 34 ; pogo &# 34 ; tip assembly 42 ( fig7 ), an electrically conductive sleeve 40 , and a male connector pin 22 . the &# 34 ; pogo &# 34 ; tip assembly 42 ( fig7 ) includes a spring loaded , axially moveable probe tip 30 and is designed to be slidably received by sleeve 40 . the male connector pin 22 ( fig4 and 5 ), which is electrically connected to the sleeve 40 , in turn engages the female signal terminal 19 ( fig2 ), thereby electrically connecting the female signal terminal 19 to the probe pin 30 . the probe adapter 10 according to the present invention may be used by first mounting the logic probe 11 to the adapter 10 by sliding the female signal input terminal 19 onto the male connector pin 22 . see fig5 . if a ground connection is desired or required , the male connector 52 of a separate ground wire 54 may be connected to the female ground terminal 21 ( fig2 ) of logic probe 11 , as is also best seen in fig5 . the logic probe 11 may then be used to probe various electronic components and devices ( not shown ) by contacting the probe pin 30 with the desired places on the circuit . since the probe pin 30 is electrically connected to the female signal input terminal 19 on the logic probe 11 , the testing device ( not shown ) connected to the signal lead 15 of logic probe 11 will sense the electronic signal in the same manner as if the logic probe 11 were connected directly to the circuit point . alternatively , the logic probe 11 can be turned around within the adapter 10 to engage the female ground terminal 21 with the male connector pin 22 . in this manner , the probe adapter 10 can be used to probe ground points on the electronic circuit or device . a significant advantage of the probe adapter 10 according to the present invention is that it allows the logic probe 11 to be used to probe a wide range of electronic circuits and devices regardless of whether they include male connector pins that are configured to receive the female signal input connector 19 of logic probe 11 . the probe adapter 10 also allows the logic probe 11 to be quickly and easily connected to any portion of the electronic circuit or device that can physically accommodate the probe pin 30 . the pencil - like shape of the probe adapter is also considerably easier to manipulate than is the relatively small logic probe 11 . another advantage of the probe adapter 10 is that the logic probe 11 can be easily removed to allow it to be used in the conventional manner , yet be readily converted for hand - held use by simply reinserting it into the logic probe adapter 10 . the probe adapter 10 can also be used to probe ground points as well as signal points by simply reversing the position of the logic probe 11 so that the ground terminal 21 is engaged with the male connector pin 22 . also , the relatively small size of the probe tip assembly 20 will not adversely affect the high frequency performance of the logic probe 11 . still another advantage is that the present invention allows a separate ground wire lead 54 and associated connector 52 to be connected to the logic probe 11 without interfering with its use in the probe adapter 10 . other advantages are associated with the pogo tip assembly 42 . for example , the spring - loaded probe pin 30 ensures a reliable electrical connection and provides enhanced tactile feel . the pogo tip assembly 42 is also removable , allowing it to be easily replaced in the event it becomes damaged or otherwise unserviceable . having briefly described the probe adapter 10 as well as some of its more significant features and advantages , the probe adapter according to the present invention will now be described in detail . referring now to fig3 - 5 simultaneously , the probe adapter 10 may comprise an elongate main body 12 having a nose section 14 , a tail section 16 , and an elongate slot 18 for receiving the logic probe 11 . the elongate main body 12 may also include a pair of pads 32 , 34 to frictionally engage the male connector 52 of ground wire 54 , thus help prevent it from being accidently pulled loose from the logic probe 11 . the pads 32 , 34 also provide a convenient means for gripping the main body 12 and additional mechanical protection for the logic probe 11 . see fig5 . the tail end 16 of main body 12 may include a strain relief section 36 comprising three strain relief bosses 24 , 26 , and 28 positioned on opposite sides of the slot 18 in the manner best seen in fig3 and 4 . when the signal lead 15 is routed between the bosses 24 , 26 , and 28 , the strain relief section 36 helps to prevent the logic probe 11 from being pulled loose from the probe adapter 10 . strain relief section 36 also provides a convenient way to route the signal lead 15 away from the probe adapter 10 to help prevent it from becoming entangled with the probe adapter 10 or ground wire 54 . referring now to fig5 the nose section 14 of main body 12 includes a bore 38 sized to receive a sleeve 40 which is in turn sized to slidably receive and frictionally retain the &# 34 ; pogo &# 34 ; tip assembly 42 shown in fig7 . the male connector pin 22 is electrically connected to the sleeve 40 and may be mechanically attached to the sleeve 40 by any convenient means , such as by crimping or by welding . alternatively , the sleeve 40 and male connector pin 22 may comprise a single , integral part . it is also preferred , but not required , that the external surfaces of the sleeve 40 and male connector pin 22 be plated with a highly conductive , non - corrosive material , such as gold , to ensure reliable electrical contact and maximum signal transfer . as was described above , the main body 12 of probe adapter 10 may include a pair of pads 32 , 34 to frictionally engage the male connector 52 of ground wire 54 . the pads 32 , 34 also allow a user to more easily grip and maneuver the logic probe adapter 10 . see fig6 . in one preferred embodiment , the pads 32 , 34 are integral with the main body 12 and are positioned substantially midway between the nose section 14 and tail section 16 . a space 56 ( fig6 ) between the pads 32 , 34 is sized to frictionally engage the ground wire connector 52 , as best seen in fig5 . the &# 34 ; pogo &# 34 ; tip assembly 42 is best seen in fig7 and comprises an external housing 44 having a central bore sized to slidably receive the probe pin 30 so that the probe pin 30 is free to move back and forth within the housing 44 between an extended position 46 and a retracted position 48 , i . e ., generally in the directions indicated by arrows 50 . a biasing device , such as a spring ( not shown ) contained within housing 44 may be used to bias the probe pin 30 in the extended position 46 . it is preferred , but not required , that the probe pin 30 be gold plated to ensure maximum signal transfer . since such pogo tip assemblies are well - known and readily commercially available , the particular pogo tip assembly 42 used in the present invention will not be described in further detail . however , by way of example , the pogo tip assembly 42 may comprise a model number s25ut - 8 - g probe tip available from interconnect devices , inc . of kansas city , kans ., although other probe tip assemblies may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention . as was described above , the sleeve 40 contained within the bore 38 of nose section 14 should be sized to slidably receive and frictionally retain the housing 44 of pogo tip assembly 42 so that electrical contact is established and maintained between the sleeve 40 and housing 44 of pogo tip assembly 42 . the sliding fit between the sleeve 40 and housing 44 will also allow the pogo tip assembly 42 to be replaced in the event it is damaged or otherwise becomes unserviceable . alternatively , the pogo tip assembly 42 may be non - removable . it is preferred , but not required , that the main body 12 of probe adapter 10 be molded as a single unitary piece from a non - conductive plastic material , such as nylon , although other materials could also be used . in one embodiment , the main body 12 is formed by an injection molding process and is &# 34 ; overmolded &# 34 ; on the sleeve 40 and male connector pin 22 so that the same are fixedly attached to and captured by the main body 12 . however , other fabrication techniques are known and may be used in the alternative to fabricate the main body 12 and to incorporate therein the sleeve 40 and male connector pin 22 . the probe adapter 10 may be used by first mounting the logic probe 11 to the adapter 10 by sliding the female signal input terminal 19 onto the male connector pin 22 , as is best seen in fig5 . if a ground connection is desired or required , the male connector 52 of a separate ground wire 54 may be connected to the female ground terminal 21 ( fig2 ). alternatively , if it is desired to probe ground points , the position of the logic probe 11 can be reversed and the female ground terminal 21 inserted onto the male connector pin 22 . in any event , the logic probe 11 may then be used to probe various points by contacting the probe pin 30 of probe adapter 10 with the desired places on the circuit . since the probe pin 30 is electrically connected to the female signal input terminal 19 ( or the female ground terminal 21 ) on the logic probe 11 , the testing device ( not shown ) connected to the signal lead 15 of logic probe 11 will sense the electronic signal in the same manner as if the logic probe 11 were connected directly to the circuit point . this completes the detailed description of the probe adapter 10 according to the present invention . while a number of specific components were described above for the preferred embodiments of this invention , persons having ordinary skill in this art will readily recognize that other substitute components or combinations of components may be available now or in the future to accomplish comparable functions to the apparatus described herein . for example , while the probe adapter 10 is shown and described herein as it could be used with a specific type of logic probe ( i . e ., logic probe 11 ), other types of logic probes or even other types of probes could be accommodated by making the appropriate changes to the probe adapter 10 and / or elongate slot 18 to accept different probe configurations . still other modifications are possible . for example , while the present invention incorporates a pogo tip assembly 42 having a spring loaded probe pin 30 , a fixed , non - moveable probe pin could also be used . likewise , the various male and female connectors , e . g ., the probe pin 30 , sleeve 40 , and male connector pin 22 , need not be gold plated but instead could be plated with any of a wide variety of materials suitable for use with the expected application . therefore , it is contemplated that the inventive concepts herein described may be variously otherwise embodied and it is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments of the invention except insofar as limited by the prior art .