DE7508166U - Electrical device, such as a hair dryer, hair dryer or the like - Google Patents

Description

1 ■ Λ V E N T Λ N V / X L ι 'E

PROF. DR. DR. .1 RLfIISTOTT [IR

DR.-ING. WOLFRAM BUNTE

DR. WERNER KII, EBACH

Γ- BOO (I MUfJCHEN ΛΟ. BAUERSTRASSE λ FERNRUF IOD8) 37 63 Β3 · TELEX 52I52O8 ISAR D

POSTAL ADDRESS: D SOOO MUNICH 4Y. POST BOX 7BO

G 75 08 166.2 Munich, October 23, 1975

"M / 16 058

BRISTOL-MYERS COMPANY

345 Park Avenue

New York, N.Y. 10022 / USA

Electrical device such as a hair dryer, hair dryer, or the like. ^>

The invention relates to an electrical device with a novel electrical connection between the device and a power cord.

Many electrical appliances, especially beauty appliances, such as hair curlers, hair dryers, etc. are connected to electrical outlets via flexible electrical cables. Since the Devices are often operated and moved very indiscriminately by hand

j 7508166 05.0176

M / 16053

the cable and the electrical connection between the cable and the device is stressed. Perhaps the greatest stress takes place at the connection point of the cable to the device. Break on prior art devices therefore often the electrical conductors in the cable, which of course makes the associated device both unusable as also becomes insecure. In addition, many prior art devices create tensile stresses on the cable Damage to the electrical connection between the cable and the device.

These problems have been recognized in the prior art and many attempts have been made to solve them. However, none of the solutions is readily applicable to modern handheld devices, which have to be relatively cheap, light and, overall, uncomplicated.

Numerous patents describe electrical connections which, among other things, address this problem of tensile stress. Such patents are, for example, U.S. Patents 1,743,118, 1,765,330, 2,257,506, 2,459,118, 2,941,177, 3,321,728, 3,336,559, 3,387,250, 3,437,976, 3,521,220, 3,585,564, and 3,629,784. All described by these patents Connections are relatively heavy, complicated devices that are not lighter in weight, relatively inexpensive Handheld devices are suitable. None of these patents shows a constructive synthesis that allows optimal construction for a compound would achieve the purposes for which this invention is intended.

The invention is based on the object of creating an electrical connection between a cable and a device, at what tensile stresses between the cables and the device on the housing of the device instead of on the electrical

M / 16053

Contacts of the connection are transferred. The new connection is intended to allow the cable, in accordance with its natural tendency, to extend downwards from the device during use. The connection should reduce tensile and torsional stresses between the cable and the device to a minimum and be relatively cheap to manufacture . It is intended to distribute bending stresses on the cable in such a way that they are not concentrated on one cable cross-section. In particular, the connection for use on hand-held devices should have a relatively low weight and should practically not or not significantly increase the weight of the device. The connection should function reliably for many years under conditions that damage or destroy differently constructed connections.

This object is achieved by an electrical connection between a mains connection cable and one having a housing Device, which according to the invention is characterized is. that the cable has a plug attached to it, which is advantageously not removable, but with is rotatably connected to the housing. The shape of the connector is coaxial, with a first contact, expediently a contact pin is tied to a conductor of the cable, while a second contact, expediently one Koritakt sleeve, is angeoranet coaxially around the first contact and forms a contact for the other conductor of the cable. The first and second contacts are in a one-piece casting housed from insulating material, which is around the connection points between the cable ladders and the Contacts and extends along a portion of the cable. So that the plug can be rotated relative to the housing, is a rigid bushing or bearing surface around the connector insulation provided in a circular opening i ': the

7508166 O5.DZ7ß

M / 16053

End of the case. The bushing has an annular flange which rests against the edge of the opening, so that on the cable acting tensile loads are transmitted to the housing and not to the contacts of the connector. In the course of their As it extends along the cable, the connector insulation is bent at an angle with respect to the axis around which the Plug is rotatable so that the cable hangs naturally from the device, the bent portion of the Kaoels reinforced by a relatively thick layer of insulation so that the cable is only subjected to minimal bending stress at the point where it bends.

Further details and advantages of the invention emerge from the following description of a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the drawings. These show in:

. / 1 is a side view of a device, such as, for example, <_{"n Ν} Λ, ^ which is connected electrically through an inventive electrical connection to a mains connection cable of a hair curling device, Kaarg or the like;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the connection shown in FIG. 1 with a sectioned housing, in FIG which is the engagement of the contacts of the connection and the storage of the part forming part of the connection Connector are shown in the housing surrounding the device;

Fig. 3 is a side sectional view in the plane 3-3 of

Fig. 2, in which the internal construction of the plug and the connection between plug and housing are shown;

7508166 02/05/76

M / 16053

Pig. 4 is a top sectional view of the connector, in FIG which shows the electrical connection of the cable ladder with the contact pin and the contact sleeve of the plug are;

Fig. 5 is a side view showing the overall construction of plug, cable and a conventional wall plug at the other end of the cable; and

6 is a perspective view of the electrical contact point the contact sleeve of the connector.

Fig. 1 shows a generally designated by the reference numeral 11 device which is electrically connected to a device attached to it Mains connection cable, which as a whole bears the reference number 12, through a cable provided overall with the reference number 13 electrical connection is connected. The device 11 can be any type of hand-held or actuated, i.e. a hand-held device such as a hair gun, a curling iron, a hedge trimmer or the like. In particular, the device 11 can be a steam curling iron, as described in US Pat. Ser.No. 336 676, whose Subject such.? Steam curling irons are described is.

In the invention, the connection or the plug 13, as will be described below, is rotatable or pivotable with it connected to device 11 and attached to cable 12 and device 11. The connection 13 is also a bend or ain Knee 14 on, which is at an angle to the axis of rotation the connection 13 extends so that the Kc.bel 12 extends from the device 11 as a whole at an angle to the general longitudinal axis of the device, which is also the axis of rotation of the connection 13, extends. As a result, the handling of the device

7508166 02/05/75

M / 16053 ■ '

rates 11 when burning curls into the hair or when performing another function, the cable 12 does not twist when the device 11 is rotated about its axis, since the connection 13 allows the device to rotate relative to the cable tci- χ-. Since a device such as a hair is likely to be held in a horizontal position in which its power cord extends from one end and its operating part is located at the other end, the power cord extends as a result in most cases the force of gravity from the device down, regardless of the position of the wall socket into which its other end is plugged. In the present invention, the necessary tendency of the cable 12 to assume this angular position with respect to the longitudinal axis of the device 11 is taken into account by the knee 14 of the electrical connection 13. As explained below, the bending motions are reduced. of the knee of the cable 12 is restricted by the flexible insulation forming the connection, as a result of which fatigue phenomena of the cable when handling the device 11 are dramatically reduced.

From Figures 2 and 3, in which the device 11 is shown with its housing 16 in section, it can be seen that the electrical connection 13 comprises two parts, namely a plug which bears the reference number 20 as a whole, and a socket which bears the reference number 21 as a whole. the Socket 21 in this embodiment has a pair of elastic compliant contacts 22 and 23, which are mounted on an insulating washer 24. The version 21 carries a pair of conductors 26-26, which extends to the functional part (not shown) of the device 11, while the contact 23 is a pair of conductors 27-27, which also extends to the functional part of the device. The insulating washer 24 is in the Housing held by flanges 29, 31, which are spaced apart

7508166 05.0176

Μ / 16053

are arranged on the other and leave a slot 32 between them, in which the insulating washer 2k sits. The insulating washer 2k is therefore held in the housing 16 in a form-fitting manner.

The contacts 22 and 23, which form the socket 21, are fastened in a suitable manner to the insulating washer 24 by rivets 33 and have contact points 35 and 36 which are pressed against a contact pin 38 and a contact sleeve 39 of the plug 20. The contact pin 38 is expediently received in a bore 41 which goes through the insulating washer 2k in order to touch the contact point 35 of the contact 22, while the contact sleeve is touched by the contact 23 on the outside of the circumference.

The construction of the plug 20 is perhaps best seen in FIGS. 3 and k , which show that the contact pin 38 and the contact sleeve 39, which can be slotted, are in coaxial association with one another through the insulation 42 from which the plug is cast, are set; if desired, they can also be separated from one another by a separate insulating part. The contacts can be exchanged for one another. For example, the socket can have the contact pin of the connection, and the plug can have the contact sleeve. Before the insulation k2 is formed or cast around the contact pin 38 and the contact sleeve 39, the conductors 43 and 44 (see FIG. K) of the cable 12 are attached to the contact pin and the contact sleeve. This can be done in any conventional manner; In the preferred embodiment, it is done by bending over the connection points (JS and kS of the contact pin 38 and the contact sleeve 39 around the conductor 43 or 44. In order to be able to carry out this bending easily, the contact pin 38 can be hollow to accommodate the conductor 43, while the contact sleeve 39 can have a tab 48 protruding therefrom

7508166 05.0Z76

m / 16053

the conductor 44 is bent around. If desired, the connection points 45 and 4o can also be soldered or welded either instead of or in connection with bending aii be attached to the conductors 43 and 44. Instead of the tab 48, the coritact sleeve 39 can also extend radially from the contact sleeve have extending flange, with a flat portion on which the conductor 44 by soldering or welding is attached. If the insulating washer 24 has a contact pin 38 and if the plug 13 is a tubular part, then the connection can be effected by soldering or welding.

As can be seen from the figures, the conductors 43 and 44 of the cable 12 are arranged parallel to one another and held together by the web 49, which is integral with the cable insulation ZO . Because of this shape of the cable, the cable can be bent more easily transversely to the conductor layer or layer than parallel to it or in its plane. Accordingly, the knee 14 of the connection 13 in the plug 20 is arranged so that it holds the cable 12 bent in a plane which is arranged transversely to the layer or location of the conductors 43 and 44.

As can be seen from Fig. 3, the knee 14 of the plug surrounds the cable 12 at the point of bend in the cable, so that the cable cannot bend easily there. As a result, conductors 43 and 44 (see FIG. 4) fall in place their bending will not be stresses causing fatigue, but rather stresses causing material fatigue over the entire section of the conductor which is surrounded by the insulation 42 of the plug 20, distributed. To a limited To allow bending movement in the knee 14, the knee 14 is provided with a series of parallel slots or notches 51-51, which reduce the resistance to bending along the knee 14. Further

7508166 05.0176

Μ / Ίόΰ ¹

the knee 14 is tapered, as can be seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, so that the flexibility from the bend in the cable 12 gradually to the point at which the cable 12 ^{exits the knee I 1} J, increases. The combination of this conicity or other beveling with the notches 51-51 avoids abrupt changes in the flexibility of the cable 12, thereby preventing the stresses from being concentrated at any single point along the cable 12 within the knee 14. At the point at which the cable 12 emerges from the knee I ¹ J, the cross section of the knee 14 is such that the cable 12 encounters a very small resistance to bending when it tries to bend. In this way, any concentration of stresses on one point is avoided and a more reliable and longer service life is created between the device 11 and the cable.

As mentioned above in this description, the connection 13 allows the device 11 to rotate relative to the cable 12. This feature is functionally related to the stress reduction feature described above, which is accomplished by the beveled, notched knee 14 to keep the cable 12 free from torsional stresses. So that the plug 20 can rotate relative to the device 11, it is equipped with the above-mentioned coaxial contacts 38 and 39, which remain in contact with the contacts 22 and 23 when the plug is rotated. To prevent rotation of the plug? .C> to facilitate relative to the device, the housing l6 has a circular opening 53 in one of its ends, through which the plug is plugged 20, the plug whereas 20 is a stiff or rigid bushing 54 having, which forms a bearing surface which is mounted in the opening 53. In addition, the sleeve 54 has an annular flange 55, the

7508166 02/05/76

M / 16053

extends from it and rests against the rear of the inner wall 57 of the housing 16 when the plug 20 is inserted is to prevent the connector from slipping out of the housing. The sleeve 54 preferably consists of one Plastic with a low coefficient of friction, for example an acetal resin, so that it is also made of plastic manufactured housing 16 rotates easily.

In the illustrated embodiment, the insulation 42 is bound to the cable insulation 50, for example cemented, which sheaths the conductors 43 and 44, while the lizard 5 ^ is received in such a way in an annular groove 56 in the plug 20, that the socket 54 does not go lengthways on the plug. and can rule. By using this construction along the cable 12 occurring tensile stresses of added to the housing 16, since the annular flange 55 is simply pulled back and against the rear wall 57 of the housing when a train is exerted. The contacts 22 and the socket 21 and the coaxial contacts 38 and 39 of the Connector 20 are therefore not affected by stresses in the cable 12.

When attaching the plug 20 to the housing 11, in which the socket 21 is already attached in its seat, this is Housing 16 in an upper half l6a and eii.e lower half l6b divided. Before putting on the upper half of the housing on the lower half l6b, the plug 20 is inserted into the housing at an angle, with the contact pin 38 is directed into the bore ') 1. The contact point 35 of the contact 22 touches a contact pin 38 and pushes the plug 20 back and against the rear wall 57, so that the Ringflanseh rests against the rear wall. The upper half l6a of the housing is then placed on the lower half l6b and a screw 58 unites the two halves.

- 10 -

7508166 02/05/76

M / 16053

In making the plug 20, it is most convenient to slide the socket 54 over the cable 12 and then the contact pin 38 and clamp the contact sleeve 39 to the conductors 43 and 44 of the cable. This Gesaratordnung is then placed in a (not shown) form, which in a conventional manner the contact pin 38, the contact sleeve 39, holds the bushing 54 and the cable 12 in the correct relationship to one another, and which then with an elasto / neren connection, for example PVC, is filled. The PVC fills all the voids between the individual parts of the arrangement, works as an insulator and binds the cable insulation 50 of the cable to the insulation 42. With the help of this method of operation a slightly flexible plug 20 is available in a convenient and inexpensive way.

The elastomeric insulation 42 can be divided into three sections. A first section 6l separates the contact pin 38 of the contact sleeve 39, allows free access to the contact sleeve and holds the central contact pin in one opposite the contact sleeve above arrangement. A second section 62 of the connector insulation surrounds the connections between conductors 43 and 44 and connecting ends 45 and 46 of the contact pin 38 and the contact sleeve 39, and the contact sleeve still overlaps somewhat. A third section 63 has an axial section which extends a certain distance along the axis of rotation of the plug 20, and then merges into a transverse section which bends towards knee 14. As described above, that holds Knee 14 the cable 12 in the bent position shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5, while the axial section has the annular groove 56 in which the sleeve 54 is supported is.

From the above description of an embodiment "of the invention

- 11 -

7508166 02/05/76

Μ / 16053

it can be seen that the invention creates an electrical connection which is structurally simple, highly reliable, is safe and economical to manufacture.

- 12 -

7508166 O5.ü2.7ß

Claims (12)

M / 16 058 SCHÜTZ CLAIMS 1. Electrical device with an electrical connection between a cable and the housing of the device, characterized by a rotatable connector (20) for connecting two insulated conductors (50) with a fitting (21) connected to the device (11), as well as through the following parts of the plug (20): (a) a first contact (38) with a contact surface for making electrical contact with the fitting (21) and one connected to a conductor (43) Junction (45); (b) a second contact (39) which is coaxial with the first contact (38) is arranged and a contact surface for making an electrical contact with the fit (21), as well as a connection point (46) for connection to the other conductor (44); and (c) a one-piece insulation (42) touching and surrounding the cable insulation (50) of the conductors (43, 44), which has the following characteristics: (i) a first portion (61) between and in contact with the first contact (38) and the second contact (39), which the first contact (38) in co- - 13 · - 7508166 05.02.7S M / 16 058 axial arrangement and spaced from the second contact (39); (II) a second section (62) which the Connections of the first contact (38) to the one conductor (43) and the second contact (39) to the touches and surrounds another conductor (44), however, is axially offset with respect to the first section (61) to the contact surface of the second contact (39) to make accessible for a later electrical contact; and (III) a third section (63) which extends from the second section (62) around the conductors (43, 44) and the insulation thereof extends around in contact therewith and has an axial tip, which is axially aligned with the first section (61) and the second section (62). 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the third section (63) in a transverse section ends, which is transverse to the axial portion of the plug (20) and the first section (61) and the second section (62) and which has molded-in notches (51) which the Plexibi] ity to improve this transverse course in the same part uiid make it more flexible than the axial section. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the conductors (43, 44} in the transverse section in a parallel arrangement are held to each other and are in the same direction like this stretch. 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized - 14 - 7508166 05.0176 M / 16 058 -> characterized in that the transverse section has notches (51) which are parallel to one another and are transverse to the direction in which the conductors (43, 44) extend as they pass through the transverse section are held so that the transverse section and those contained therein Conductor sections at an angle to the axis of the first section (61) and the second section (62) of the insulation (42) run without being twisted about this axis. 5. Apparatus according to one of the address 1 to 4, thereby g e indicates that the first contact is a metallic contact pin (38), the second contact is a metallic contact sleeve (39) and that the plug (20) also has a rigid cylindrical sleeve (54) has, which surrounds the axial section and against axial displacement relative to the axial section is secured, the sleeve (54) serving as a bearing in which the plug relative to the housing (16) is rotatable. 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that that the sleeve (54) has an annular flange (55) which rests against the housing (16) and Forces with axial, in the direction of the first contact (38) and the first section (61) and the second Section (62) acting components on the housing (16) and not on the through the plug (20) effected electrical connection. 7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the sleeve (54) from consists of a self-locking material in order to - 15 - M / 16 058 to facilitate rotation of the plug (20) relative to the housing (16). 8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the part of the second Contact (39), to which the conductor (44) is connected, is a tab (46) which extends from the second Contact (39) extends and is bent around the conductor (44) for making an electrical connection. 9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized characterized in that the socket (21) has an insulating washer (24) with electrical thereon Contacts for making an electrical con ·? has clock with the first contact (38), and that the Insulating washer (24) has an elastically flexible, outer contact element mounted thereon for contacting the The contact surface of the second contact (39) is such that that the plug (20) remains in electrical contact with the socket (21) while facing it turns. 10. Apparatus according to claim 9 with a metallic contact pin (38) designed as a first contact and a metallic one Contact sleeve (39) formed second contact, characterized in that the The insulating washer (24) has a bore (41) extending through it for receiving the contact pin (38), and that the electrical contacts of the Fassmg (21) inner, elastically flexible, on the insulating washer (24) mount it and extend over the bore (41) Contact element (22) which, upon contact with the contact pin (38), connects the plug (20) to one of the brings the third section (63) of the insulation (42) directly adjacent to the housing (16), - 16 - 7508166 05.0176 M / 16 058 and an outer, resiliently compliant contact element (23), which extends in an approximately perpendicular direction to the inner elastic contact element (22), 11. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized that the third section (63) has a rigid sleeve (54) attached to it with an annular flange (55) 1 which by the spring force of the inner resilient contact element (22) acting on the contact pin (38) acts, on the housing (16) comes to rest, and that the housing (6) the sleeve (54) completely surrounds, such that the annular flange (55) is arranged inside the housing, and the plug (20) is thereby constantly held in the housing (16). 12. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the qu'-rlaufende part piece gradually decreases in cross-section in the course of its extension away from the axial section, in such a way that that its flexibility gradually increases in order to cope with stress accumulations or stress concentrate companies lower it to a minimum. - 17 - 7508166 05.0176