CA2058693C - Electrical connector with adaptable external ground and indicia display - Google Patents
Electrical connector with adaptable external ground and indicia displayInfo
- Publication number
- CA2058693C CA2058693C CA 2058693 CA2058693A CA2058693C CA 2058693 C CA2058693 C CA 2058693C CA 2058693 CA2058693 CA 2058693 CA 2058693 A CA2058693 A CA 2058693A CA 2058693 C CA2058693 C CA 2058693C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- body member
- contact element
- recess
- housing
- connector
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 230000013011 mating Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 21
- 239000012777 electrically insulating material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 claims description 18
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 abstract description 2
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 15
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 15
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 15
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002452 interceptive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002372 labelling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006467 substitution reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R24/00—Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure
- H01R24/28—Coupling parts carrying pins, blades or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable
- H01R24/30—Coupling parts carrying pins, blades or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable with additional earth or shield contacts
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/648—Protective earth or shield arrangements on coupling devices, e.g. anti-static shielding
- H01R13/652—Protective earth or shield arrangements on coupling devices, e.g. anti-static shielding with earth pin, blade or socket
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R2103/00—Two poles
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R24/00—Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure
- H01R24/20—Coupling parts carrying sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable
- H01R24/22—Coupling parts carrying sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable with additional earth or shield contacts
Landscapes
- Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
- Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
Abstract
A groundable electrical connector comprising a housing formed of electrically insulating material and a contact element having a longitudinal mating axis, mounted to the housing. The connector is engageable with a mating connector by relative movement along a path parallel to the mating axis, the housing having an elongated recess formed in the outer surface thereof, the recess being aligned parallel to the mating axis for receiving a grounding strip therein. An electrically conductive grounding element is mounted to the housing and has an exposed surface positioned within the recess. The grounding element has means for separably securing a grounding strip thereto.
Description
c`
2~692 O~1/2010/90 Electrical Connector with Adaptable External Ground And Indicia Display * * * * *
BAC~GROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to separable electrical connectors, and more specifically to an improved connector having provision for a separable and removable grol~n~; ng strip to achieve electrical grol~n~; ng and mechanical coupling with a mating device independently of the current-carrying electrical contacts associated with the connector, and also having provision for conveniently labeling the connector with desired identifying indicia.
Electrical connectors with grounding contact members are well known in this art. It is common in such connectors, to provide one or more grol~n~ing contact elements which engage and disengage from mating connectors in a manner identical to the current-carrying contact elements. Such gro~ln~; ng contacts do not perform any significant additional mechanical coupling functions; and, by their nature, they must be engaged and disengaged simultaneously with the current-carrying contacts.
In various electrical connector applications, there is a need to separate the grol~n~; ng function connections from the current-carrying connections, for such purposes as: completing these connections independently of each other; or dispensing with the grounding connection entirely; or providin~ grounding for circuit elements which are not readily connectable through the interior of the connector. In addition, it may be desirable in some applications to combine the grol~n~;ng connection with a mechanical coupling of the connector to a mating connector or utilization device, independently of the current-carrying function. In connectors such as these, which are capable of diverse coupling arrangements, it may be necessary or desirable to provide a means for informing users and operators about specific coupling arrangements or other unique aspects of particular applications.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an electrical connector having the capability of being electricallY
grounded and mechanically coupled to a mating device independently of the current-carrying function of the connector.
.~
205869~
According to the invention there is provided a groundable, separable electrical connector which includes a body member formed of electrically insulating material with at least one contact element having a longitudinal mating axis. The body member has an elongated flat-bottomed recess of substantially rectangular cross-section formed in the outer surface thereof. At least part of the recess is aligned parallel to the mating axis for receiving therein a grounding conductor in the form of a strip of conductive material having a substantially rectangular cross-section. A
grounding conductor anchor element is mounted to the body member within the recess and has its outer most surface substantially flush with the bottom surface thereof. The grounding conductor anchor element has a threaded aperture therein to receive a mating threaded screw for separably securing the grounding conductor strip thereto. An information display area is integrally formed in the body member and is characterized by a substantially flat, planar base surface recessed below the outer surface of the body member, and by a circumscribing, integrally formed upstanding sidewall completely encircling the base surface and extending between the base surface and the outer surface. The integrally formed base surface is treated in known manner to render it readily erasable and readily markable using conventional writing and marking instruments. The information display area is positioned on the body member in substantially close proximity to a contact element mounted on the housing for permitting convenient observation of the base surface of the display and the contact element at substantially the same time.
Theqe and other and further objects, features and advantages of this invention will be made apparent to those having skill in this art, by reference to the following description and to the accompanying drawings, in which:
BRIBF D~SCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 i5 an exploded pictorial representation of one embodiment of this invention, showing a male connector with a straight-line grounding strip aligned for coupling to the connector.
Figure 2 is a pictorial representation of the invention, in the form of a female connector, aligned for coupling with a grounding strip having a right angle configuration.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INV~NTION
Referring now more specifically to Figure 1 of the drawings, it may be seen that the male connector 10, comprises a housing or body member 12 having a pair of male contact elements 14 extending ':~
6q3 therefrom in a well-known form of construction. The contacts 14 may be coupled to the body 12 in any known manner; for example: by being molded in place when the housing is formed from molten plastic. Although male contact elements 14 are shown in Figure 1, this invention is readily adaptable to any form of contact element;
for example, in Figure 2, a different embodiment is illustrated, incorporating female contact elements 14' disposed substantially entirely within a housing 12'.
Referring again to Figure 1, the contacts 14 are seen to be provided with terminal portions 16 on housing 12, for attachment to external conductors (not shown) such as electrical wires. The illustrated terminals are threaded apertures 18 which receive screw fasteners 20, to capture a conductor under the head of the screw in a well-known manner, so as to form an electrical connection between the conductor and the contacts 14. It should be noted that any suitable form of terminal coupling may be used for this purpose.
Because it may be desirable in some applications of electrical connectors to protect the connections at terminals 16 from exposure to unintended contact with operators or electrically conductive surfaces, housing 12 is provided with a removable cover member 44.
The cover 44 may be configured as desired to accommodate passage of wire conductors to terminals 16 from the exterior of the housing, and to capture parts such as grounding element 30 between the cover and the housing.The purpose and function of gro~n~; ng element 30 will be described fully, below. Cover 44 may be coupled to the housing 12 in any suitable manner, as, for example, by screw 46.
In accordance with this invention, an open-sided grounding recess 22 is formed in one side of the housing 12. The recess includes a floor surface 24 and a pair of opposed, spaced-apart side walls 26, which support and position a grounding strip 28 formed of conductive material. Strip 28 is provided with and end portion dimensioned to be received within the recess. The open-sided configuration of the recess facilitates attaching the grounding strip to the housing, and accordingly facilitates substitution and exchange of strips having various sizes, configurations and mating coupling characteristics. One end of the recess is open, as at 25, 25', to permit smooth, continuous emergence of the strip from the recess. However, it should be recognized that a strip may be configured to accommodate a transverse obstruction across the width of the recess so as to provide added resistance to longitudinal displacement of the strip.
The obstruction in such case may occupy the full depth and width of the recess, or any part thereof.-Further in accordance with this invention, an electricalgrounding element 30 is mounted to the housing in position to be accessible for connection with a grounding strip received within recess 22. As shown, the grounding element is set flush within the floor surface 22. A threaded aperture 34 in element 30 is provided to receive a screw 36 which serves to mechanically and electrically ~0~86 93 c~ple a grounding strip 28 to the grounding element 30 within recess 22. The gro~m~;ng element 30 may be integrally formed with, or attached to a grounding structure or circuit of any desired configuration and known design, to achieve satisfactory ground protection for a connector. Subject to the design configuration of the gro~n~;ng structure or elements in housing 12 to which element 30 is coupled, element 30 may be mounted to the housing in any convenient manner. For example, in Figure 1, element 30 may be slidably received in a suitable slot or recess in housing 12 and retained in that position by engagement with a suitable abutting surface or surfaces on cover member 40 when the cover is secured in mating relationship with the housing. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, grounding element 30' may be integrally molded in position when the housing 12' is formed from molten plastic.
Gro~lnd; n~ strips suitable for uæe with this invention may extend from the recess 22 in any desired configuration for engaging another connector or a utilization device, and may be formed of any suitable conductive material. For the purpose of illustrating another gro~m~;ng strip configuration, Figure 2 shows a grounding strip 28', having a right angle configuration, and a projecting stud 40 for electrical and mechanical coupling with a mating ground device. Gro~n~; ng strips of any suitable configuration such as 28, 28', are provided with access holes 38, 38' to receive gro~n~;n~ screws 36, 36' for coupling the strip to a grounding element 30, 30' within the recess. Screws such as 36, 36' represent a convenient and economical form of separable connection for joining a strip to the gro~n~;ng element 30. It will be recognized readily that other forms of separable couplings or fasteners my be substituted readily for the screw threaded fasteners illustrated in these embodiments. Similarly, although strips of uniform width have been illustrated for use with these embodiments of this invention, it will be recognized that only the end portion of the strip 28, 28' which is received within the recess should have a uniform shape consistent with the recess; the end of a strip remote from the recess, which is coupled to a mating connector or utilization device, may have any desired configuration and coupling means consistent with the structure or structures to which it will be attached.
Referring now to Figure 2, an alternative form of a connector in accordance with this invention is shown to embody female contact elements 14' disposed substantially within the housing 12'. In this embodiment, the housing 12' is molded in one piece, with contacts 14' embedded in place. Terminal portions 16' extend through the outer wall of the housing 12' where they are accessible for engagement by screws 20' for electrically coupling wire conductors to the contacts 14' in the manner previously described.
If desired, an opening 42 extending through to another surface of the housing may be provided. By passing external wire conductors through the opening 42 one or more times, the wires may be more securely coupled to the housing to relieve mechanical stress on the coupling formed by terminal screws 20'.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, grounding strip 28' is shown having a right-angle configuration, as previously explained. It should be understood that the capability of accommodating a given connector housing to a wide variety a grounding applications by permitting use of grolln~;ng strips having numerous different sizes, shapes and configurations, is an important feature of this invention.
To provide a means for displaying indicia concerning the connector and/or a particular application in accordance with an object of this invention, the housing 12 includes a display window 50, as shown in figure 1. the window comprises a base surface 52 surrounded by upgtan~; ng side walls 54, In the embodiment illustrated in figure 1, surface 52 is recessed below the outer surface of housing 12, and sidewalls 54 extend between surface 52 and the outer surface of the housing. It should be apparent, however, that the sidewalls 54 could be formed as a wall exte~ing outwardly from the surface of the housing 12, with base surface 52 flush with or even raised above the outer surface of the housing.
regardless of the relative positions of base surface 52 and the outer surface of housing 12, the upgt~n~; n~ sidewalls 54 serve to protect the ba~e surface 52 from inadvertent wiping motions which might tend to dislodge or deface indicia positioned on that surface.
Suitable indicia such as letters, numbers, symbols or combinations thereof may be positioned on surface 52 by affixing written or printed labels thereto or by marking directly on the surface. For this purpose, the surface may be textured or otherwise treated in any well known manner to facilitate marking as well as removal of undesired markings. And, it will be understood that the surface is preferably of planar configuration for most convenient use.
To further facilitate use of the display window 50 an opposed pair of sidewalls 54 may be provided with grooves 56 opening toward each other, to capture a flexible display card or clear protective window between them, in a well known manner. the display card may have indicia affixed or marked thereon directly, to avoid the need for marking on surface 52. It will also be appreciated that the base surface 24 (24') of gro~n~;n~ recess 22 (22') may be used as a display window when it is not being used for its intended grolln~; ng function as well as when it is being used for its gro~n~;ng function. To use recess 22 (22') as a display window in accordance with this invention, the sidewalls 26 may be provided with opposed grooves as previously explained to retain a suitable display card or clear protective window. And, it will be obvious that the surface 24 (24') may be treated to permit marking and removal of indicia without in any way interfering with the grolln~; ng function herein described.
The specification and drawings herein set forth clearly and fully describe a preferred embodiment of this invention, but it should be readily apparent to those having skill in this art that other forms, embodiments and variations thereof may be conceived and constructed without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.
BAC~GROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to separable electrical connectors, and more specifically to an improved connector having provision for a separable and removable grol~n~; ng strip to achieve electrical grol~n~; ng and mechanical coupling with a mating device independently of the current-carrying electrical contacts associated with the connector, and also having provision for conveniently labeling the connector with desired identifying indicia.
Electrical connectors with grounding contact members are well known in this art. It is common in such connectors, to provide one or more grol~n~ing contact elements which engage and disengage from mating connectors in a manner identical to the current-carrying contact elements. Such gro~ln~; ng contacts do not perform any significant additional mechanical coupling functions; and, by their nature, they must be engaged and disengaged simultaneously with the current-carrying contacts.
In various electrical connector applications, there is a need to separate the grol~n~; ng function connections from the current-carrying connections, for such purposes as: completing these connections independently of each other; or dispensing with the grounding connection entirely; or providin~ grounding for circuit elements which are not readily connectable through the interior of the connector. In addition, it may be desirable in some applications to combine the grol~n~;ng connection with a mechanical coupling of the connector to a mating connector or utilization device, independently of the current-carrying function. In connectors such as these, which are capable of diverse coupling arrangements, it may be necessary or desirable to provide a means for informing users and operators about specific coupling arrangements or other unique aspects of particular applications.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an electrical connector having the capability of being electricallY
grounded and mechanically coupled to a mating device independently of the current-carrying function of the connector.
.~
205869~
According to the invention there is provided a groundable, separable electrical connector which includes a body member formed of electrically insulating material with at least one contact element having a longitudinal mating axis. The body member has an elongated flat-bottomed recess of substantially rectangular cross-section formed in the outer surface thereof. At least part of the recess is aligned parallel to the mating axis for receiving therein a grounding conductor in the form of a strip of conductive material having a substantially rectangular cross-section. A
grounding conductor anchor element is mounted to the body member within the recess and has its outer most surface substantially flush with the bottom surface thereof. The grounding conductor anchor element has a threaded aperture therein to receive a mating threaded screw for separably securing the grounding conductor strip thereto. An information display area is integrally formed in the body member and is characterized by a substantially flat, planar base surface recessed below the outer surface of the body member, and by a circumscribing, integrally formed upstanding sidewall completely encircling the base surface and extending between the base surface and the outer surface. The integrally formed base surface is treated in known manner to render it readily erasable and readily markable using conventional writing and marking instruments. The information display area is positioned on the body member in substantially close proximity to a contact element mounted on the housing for permitting convenient observation of the base surface of the display and the contact element at substantially the same time.
Theqe and other and further objects, features and advantages of this invention will be made apparent to those having skill in this art, by reference to the following description and to the accompanying drawings, in which:
BRIBF D~SCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 i5 an exploded pictorial representation of one embodiment of this invention, showing a male connector with a straight-line grounding strip aligned for coupling to the connector.
Figure 2 is a pictorial representation of the invention, in the form of a female connector, aligned for coupling with a grounding strip having a right angle configuration.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INV~NTION
Referring now more specifically to Figure 1 of the drawings, it may be seen that the male connector 10, comprises a housing or body member 12 having a pair of male contact elements 14 extending ':~
6q3 therefrom in a well-known form of construction. The contacts 14 may be coupled to the body 12 in any known manner; for example: by being molded in place when the housing is formed from molten plastic. Although male contact elements 14 are shown in Figure 1, this invention is readily adaptable to any form of contact element;
for example, in Figure 2, a different embodiment is illustrated, incorporating female contact elements 14' disposed substantially entirely within a housing 12'.
Referring again to Figure 1, the contacts 14 are seen to be provided with terminal portions 16 on housing 12, for attachment to external conductors (not shown) such as electrical wires. The illustrated terminals are threaded apertures 18 which receive screw fasteners 20, to capture a conductor under the head of the screw in a well-known manner, so as to form an electrical connection between the conductor and the contacts 14. It should be noted that any suitable form of terminal coupling may be used for this purpose.
Because it may be desirable in some applications of electrical connectors to protect the connections at terminals 16 from exposure to unintended contact with operators or electrically conductive surfaces, housing 12 is provided with a removable cover member 44.
The cover 44 may be configured as desired to accommodate passage of wire conductors to terminals 16 from the exterior of the housing, and to capture parts such as grounding element 30 between the cover and the housing.The purpose and function of gro~n~; ng element 30 will be described fully, below. Cover 44 may be coupled to the housing 12 in any suitable manner, as, for example, by screw 46.
In accordance with this invention, an open-sided grounding recess 22 is formed in one side of the housing 12. The recess includes a floor surface 24 and a pair of opposed, spaced-apart side walls 26, which support and position a grounding strip 28 formed of conductive material. Strip 28 is provided with and end portion dimensioned to be received within the recess. The open-sided configuration of the recess facilitates attaching the grounding strip to the housing, and accordingly facilitates substitution and exchange of strips having various sizes, configurations and mating coupling characteristics. One end of the recess is open, as at 25, 25', to permit smooth, continuous emergence of the strip from the recess. However, it should be recognized that a strip may be configured to accommodate a transverse obstruction across the width of the recess so as to provide added resistance to longitudinal displacement of the strip.
The obstruction in such case may occupy the full depth and width of the recess, or any part thereof.-Further in accordance with this invention, an electricalgrounding element 30 is mounted to the housing in position to be accessible for connection with a grounding strip received within recess 22. As shown, the grounding element is set flush within the floor surface 22. A threaded aperture 34 in element 30 is provided to receive a screw 36 which serves to mechanically and electrically ~0~86 93 c~ple a grounding strip 28 to the grounding element 30 within recess 22. The gro~m~;ng element 30 may be integrally formed with, or attached to a grounding structure or circuit of any desired configuration and known design, to achieve satisfactory ground protection for a connector. Subject to the design configuration of the gro~n~;ng structure or elements in housing 12 to which element 30 is coupled, element 30 may be mounted to the housing in any convenient manner. For example, in Figure 1, element 30 may be slidably received in a suitable slot or recess in housing 12 and retained in that position by engagement with a suitable abutting surface or surfaces on cover member 40 when the cover is secured in mating relationship with the housing. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, grounding element 30' may be integrally molded in position when the housing 12' is formed from molten plastic.
Gro~lnd; n~ strips suitable for uæe with this invention may extend from the recess 22 in any desired configuration for engaging another connector or a utilization device, and may be formed of any suitable conductive material. For the purpose of illustrating another gro~m~;ng strip configuration, Figure 2 shows a grounding strip 28', having a right angle configuration, and a projecting stud 40 for electrical and mechanical coupling with a mating ground device. Gro~n~; ng strips of any suitable configuration such as 28, 28', are provided with access holes 38, 38' to receive gro~n~;n~ screws 36, 36' for coupling the strip to a grounding element 30, 30' within the recess. Screws such as 36, 36' represent a convenient and economical form of separable connection for joining a strip to the gro~n~;ng element 30. It will be recognized readily that other forms of separable couplings or fasteners my be substituted readily for the screw threaded fasteners illustrated in these embodiments. Similarly, although strips of uniform width have been illustrated for use with these embodiments of this invention, it will be recognized that only the end portion of the strip 28, 28' which is received within the recess should have a uniform shape consistent with the recess; the end of a strip remote from the recess, which is coupled to a mating connector or utilization device, may have any desired configuration and coupling means consistent with the structure or structures to which it will be attached.
Referring now to Figure 2, an alternative form of a connector in accordance with this invention is shown to embody female contact elements 14' disposed substantially within the housing 12'. In this embodiment, the housing 12' is molded in one piece, with contacts 14' embedded in place. Terminal portions 16' extend through the outer wall of the housing 12' where they are accessible for engagement by screws 20' for electrically coupling wire conductors to the contacts 14' in the manner previously described.
If desired, an opening 42 extending through to another surface of the housing may be provided. By passing external wire conductors through the opening 42 one or more times, the wires may be more securely coupled to the housing to relieve mechanical stress on the coupling formed by terminal screws 20'.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, grounding strip 28' is shown having a right-angle configuration, as previously explained. It should be understood that the capability of accommodating a given connector housing to a wide variety a grounding applications by permitting use of grolln~;ng strips having numerous different sizes, shapes and configurations, is an important feature of this invention.
To provide a means for displaying indicia concerning the connector and/or a particular application in accordance with an object of this invention, the housing 12 includes a display window 50, as shown in figure 1. the window comprises a base surface 52 surrounded by upgtan~; ng side walls 54, In the embodiment illustrated in figure 1, surface 52 is recessed below the outer surface of housing 12, and sidewalls 54 extend between surface 52 and the outer surface of the housing. It should be apparent, however, that the sidewalls 54 could be formed as a wall exte~ing outwardly from the surface of the housing 12, with base surface 52 flush with or even raised above the outer surface of the housing.
regardless of the relative positions of base surface 52 and the outer surface of housing 12, the upgt~n~; n~ sidewalls 54 serve to protect the ba~e surface 52 from inadvertent wiping motions which might tend to dislodge or deface indicia positioned on that surface.
Suitable indicia such as letters, numbers, symbols or combinations thereof may be positioned on surface 52 by affixing written or printed labels thereto or by marking directly on the surface. For this purpose, the surface may be textured or otherwise treated in any well known manner to facilitate marking as well as removal of undesired markings. And, it will be understood that the surface is preferably of planar configuration for most convenient use.
To further facilitate use of the display window 50 an opposed pair of sidewalls 54 may be provided with grooves 56 opening toward each other, to capture a flexible display card or clear protective window between them, in a well known manner. the display card may have indicia affixed or marked thereon directly, to avoid the need for marking on surface 52. It will also be appreciated that the base surface 24 (24') of gro~n~;n~ recess 22 (22') may be used as a display window when it is not being used for its intended grolln~; ng function as well as when it is being used for its gro~n~;ng function. To use recess 22 (22') as a display window in accordance with this invention, the sidewalls 26 may be provided with opposed grooves as previously explained to retain a suitable display card or clear protective window. And, it will be obvious that the surface 24 (24') may be treated to permit marking and removal of indicia without in any way interfering with the grolln~; ng function herein described.
The specification and drawings herein set forth clearly and fully describe a preferred embodiment of this invention, but it should be readily apparent to those having skill in this art that other forms, embodiments and variations thereof may be conceived and constructed without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.
Claims (3)
1. A groundable, separable electrical connector comprising:
a body member formed of electrically insulating material with at least one contact element having a longitudinal mating axis;
said body member having an elongated flat-bottomed recess of substantially rectangular cross-section formed in the outer surface thereof, at least part of said recess being aligned parallel to said mating axis for receiving therein a grounding conductor in the form of a strip of conductive material having a substantially rectangular cross-section;
a grounding conductor anchor element mounted to said body member within said recess and having its outer most surface substantially flush with the bottom surface thereof;
said grounding conductor anchor element having a threaded aperture therein to receive a mating threaded screw for separably securing the grounding conductor strip thereto;
an information display area integrally formed in said body member, said display area being characterized by a substantially flat, planar base surface recessed below the outer surface of said body member, and by a circumscribing, integrally formed upstanding sidewall completely encircling said base surface and extending between said base surface and said outer surface;
said integrally formed base surface being treated in known manner to render it readily erasable and readily markable using conventional writing and marking instruments;
said information display area being positioned on said body member in substantially close proximity to a contact element mounted on said housing for permitting convenient observation of said base surface of said display, and said contact element, at substantially the same time.
a body member formed of electrically insulating material with at least one contact element having a longitudinal mating axis;
said body member having an elongated flat-bottomed recess of substantially rectangular cross-section formed in the outer surface thereof, at least part of said recess being aligned parallel to said mating axis for receiving therein a grounding conductor in the form of a strip of conductive material having a substantially rectangular cross-section;
a grounding conductor anchor element mounted to said body member within said recess and having its outer most surface substantially flush with the bottom surface thereof;
said grounding conductor anchor element having a threaded aperture therein to receive a mating threaded screw for separably securing the grounding conductor strip thereto;
an information display area integrally formed in said body member, said display area being characterized by a substantially flat, planar base surface recessed below the outer surface of said body member, and by a circumscribing, integrally formed upstanding sidewall completely encircling said base surface and extending between said base surface and said outer surface;
said integrally formed base surface being treated in known manner to render it readily erasable and readily markable using conventional writing and marking instruments;
said information display area being positioned on said body member in substantially close proximity to a contact element mounted on said housing for permitting convenient observation of said base surface of said display, and said contact element, at substantially the same time.
2. The groundable connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein said contact element is an elongated male prong, and said body member includes an opening to the exterior thereof allowing said prong to extend outwardly therefrom along a path substantially parallel to said mating axis.
3. The groundable connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein said contact element is an elongate female receptacle disposed within said body member in substantial parallel alignment with said mating axis, and said body member includes an opening from the exterior to the interior thereof aligned with and allowing access to the interior of said contact element for insertion of a mating contact element.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US63935591A | 1991-01-16 | 1991-01-16 | |
| US07/639,355 | 1991-01-16 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2058693A1 CA2058693A1 (en) | 1992-07-17 |
| CA2058693C true CA2058693C (en) | 1995-12-19 |
Family
ID=24563764
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2058693 Expired - Lifetime CA2058693C (en) | 1991-01-16 | 1992-01-02 | Electrical connector with adaptable external ground and indicia display |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2058693C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE4200737A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2671669B1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2251985B (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE19802984C2 (en) * | 1998-01-27 | 2001-09-20 | Wilfried Poellet | Removable multi-pin electrical connector |
| DE102016109266A1 (en) * | 2016-05-06 | 2017-11-09 | Rosenberger Hochfrequenztechnik Gmbh & Co. Kg | Plug connection device with at least one connector |
| US10971861B2 (en) * | 2017-02-24 | 2021-04-06 | Michael S. Gzybowski | Polarized electrical plug and adaptor with modular orientation verification |
Family Cites Families (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE494615C (en) * | 1930-03-26 | Brown George Rudston | Plug with earthing device | |
| GB570714A (en) * | 1943-10-04 | 1945-07-19 | Fritz Siegfried Loebl | Improvements in or relating to electrical connectors and like fittings |
| GB580216A (en) * | 1944-06-19 | 1946-08-30 | George Turnock Ltd | Improvements relating to plug and socket connectors for use in flexible electric current leads |
-
1991
- 1991-12-18 GB GB9126857A patent/GB2251985B/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1992
- 1992-01-02 CA CA 2058693 patent/CA2058693C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-01-14 DE DE19924200737 patent/DE4200737A1/en active Granted
- 1992-01-15 FR FR9200360A patent/FR2671669B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FR2671669B1 (en) | 1995-01-06 |
| GB2251985B (en) | 1994-10-05 |
| FR2671669A1 (en) | 1992-07-17 |
| DE4200737A1 (en) | 1992-07-23 |
| DE4200737C2 (en) | 1993-04-01 |
| CA2058693A1 (en) | 1992-07-17 |
| GB9126857D0 (en) | 1992-02-19 |
| GB2251985A (en) | 1992-07-22 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |