EP1763115A2 - Connecteurs électrique sans fil - Google Patents

Connecteurs électrique sans fil Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1763115A2
EP1763115A2 EP06254593A EP06254593A EP1763115A2 EP 1763115 A2 EP1763115 A2 EP 1763115A2 EP 06254593 A EP06254593 A EP 06254593A EP 06254593 A EP06254593 A EP 06254593A EP 1763115 A2 EP1763115 A2 EP 1763115A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
connector
contact
leaf spring
mounting member
cordless
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP06254593A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1763115A3 (fr
Inventor
Michael James Scott
Iain Fenna
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Strix Ltd
Original Assignee
Strix Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Strix Ltd filed Critical Strix Ltd
Publication of EP1763115A2 publication Critical patent/EP1763115A2/fr
Publication of EP1763115A3 publication Critical patent/EP1763115A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • H01R24/38—Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure having concentrically or coaxially arranged 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
    • H01R2103/00—Two poles

Definitions

  • This invention relates to certain improvements in cordless mains electrical connectors such as are found in small domestic appliances, particularly those in which electrical connection may be made irrespective of the relative angular orientation of the two connector parts, i.e. so-called 360° connectors.
  • the present invention provides a cordless electrical connector comprising a connector housing and at least one contact assembly for making electrical contact with a terminal member of a complementary connector part, the contact assembly comprising a leaf spring for making the electrical contact with the terminal member and a metal mounting member, wherein the leaf spring is mounted to the mounting member and the mounting member is mounted to the connector housing.
  • the connector can be made more compact as compared to known connectors. This has several advantages. Firstly, it gives rise to a saving in material costs, both for the connector itself and also the complementary connector part, especially if this is integrated into a control unit. Secondly, because it allows such a control unit to be smaller it allows a greater freedom to design such controls, particularly for use in smaller appliances. Thirdly, the more compact appearance of the connector can be considered to have an enhanced visual appeal.
  • Another advantage which may be realised in accordance with the invention is that the provision of a metal mounting member means that positioning of the leaf spring within its required tolerance is less dependent upon the tolerance of the connector housing which is usually a plastic moulding. This also helps to reduce cost since it is expensive to mould plastic to a tight tolerance.
  • a third advantage of the claimed connector is that if the leaf spring should overheat for any reason there is less danger that it will melt the connector housing locally and stick to it, thereby rendering the connector unusable.
  • the metal mounting member may simply play a mechanical role in mounting and supporting the leaf spring contact. Preferably however it serves also to provide electrical connection to the leaf spring.
  • the mounting member comprises a spade terminal for connecting a corresponding spade connector.
  • the leaf spring contact may simply be connected to the mounting member at one end i.e. a proximal or root end.
  • the mounting member is arranged also partially to pre-load the leaf spring - that is to hold the leaf spring away from its natural rest position. This gives rise to a greater contact force and also means that the leaf spring is more accurately positioned within the connector.
  • the mounting member comprises a restraint portion acting on the leaf spring at a point spaced from the point at which the leaf spring is attached to the mounting member.
  • the leaf spring contact could be arranged to make a point or end-on contact with the corresponding terminal member.
  • the connector parts are 360° connector parts the terminal member will either be arcuate or fully circular and the contact could be made against the arcuate or circular edge.
  • the leaf spring contact is arranged so as to contact a radially facing surface of the terminal member i.e. a so-called side-swipe contact.
  • a so-called side-swipe contact This is advantageous because it lessens the tolerance to which the appliance as a whole must conform and therefore reduces the burden on the appliance manufacturer.
  • the electrical contact is not dependent upon the vertical positioning of the terminal member relative to the leaf spring which can be affected by either of the vessel body or cordless base mouldings not being sufficiently flat.
  • the connector part of the invention may be provided either in the appliance proper or the cordless base or both.
  • both appliance and base connector parts could have contact assemblies as claimed.
  • Preferably at least the base connector part has such a contact assembly since this is the most prone to the ingress of water.
  • the connector may have a single contact assembly of the type claimed - for example other spring contacts may be provided in the complementary connector part or may be of known type.
  • the connector part is provided with two such contact assemblies, preferably corresponding to the mains live and neutral poles. Most preferably the two contact assemblies are identical. This is beneficial as reducing the number of different parts reduces manufacturing costs.
  • the leaf spring contact and metal mounting member may be made of any suitable materials consistent with those constraints.
  • the leaf spring is made substantially of copper, although the actual contact point may be coated e.g. with silver or even provided with a separately fixed contact member.
  • the mounting member is preferably substantially of brass.
  • the Figures show a cordless electrical connector arrangement comprising a female base part 2 (Fig. 1) for fitting into a cordless power base and a male connector part 4 (Fig. 2) which is integrated into a control unit for a liquid heating vessel (details of the control unit are not required for an understanding of the present invention).
  • the connection arrangement is one which permits electrical connection to be made at any relative angular orientation - i.e. it is a so-called 360° connection arrangement.
  • the female connector part 2 broadly comprises an approximately cylindrical upper portion 6 which in use stands proud of the upper surface of the cordless base (not shown) and a lower portion 8 which is concealed from view within the base housing. As may be seen particularly from Figs. 1 and 6, the female connector part 2 has two apertures defined in its upper surface - namely a circular central aperture 10 and a concentric annular aperture 12. Projecting from an aperture in the side wall of the connector is an earth contact tab 14.
  • the corresponding terminals of the complementary male connector part 4 may be seen in Figure 2.
  • a central terminal pin member 16 and a concentric annular terminal member 18 which are received in use into the circular and annular apertures 10,12 respectively.
  • a contact member 22 is provided beneath the central aperture 10 for engaging the central pin terminal member 16; and another contact member 24 is provided beneath the annular aperture for engaging the annular contact member 18.
  • the earth tab contact 14 may also be seen in this view. All three contacts 14,22,24 are of the side swipe variety so that they engage the corresponding radially facing surface of the respective contact members 16,18,20.
  • Each contact assembly comprises a leaf spring contact 14,22,24 mounted to a respective metallic mounting member 32,34,36.
  • the connector members 14,22,24 are made of copper and are broadly L-shaped with a rounded kink portion at the lower end which forms the actual point of contact between the contact member and the corresponding terminal member.
  • the kinked portions face radially inwardly in the case of the two current carrying contact members 22,24 and radially outwardly in the case of the earth contact member 14.
  • All three contact members 14,22,24 are staked to their respective mounting members 32,34,36 by means of pins 38.
  • any other form of fixing can be used such as soldering, brazing, riveting, crimping, clipping, twist-locking etc.
  • the two current carrying contact assemblies 28,30 are in fact identical which reduces the cost of manufacture. In fact, including the connector housing moulding shown in Fig. 5, only five different pieces are required to make the connector and only seven pieces in total.
  • the mounting members 34,36 have a stepped portion in which an aperture 34a,36a is defined.
  • the corresponding contact members 22,24 pass through the respective apertures 34a,36a.
  • the contact members 22,24 are shaped prior to being fixed to the mounting members 34,36 such that they must be bent in the acute direction in order to pass through the apertures 34a,36a and be staked at the top by the pins 38. This means therefore that the front portions 34b,36b of the respective mounting members bear against the leaf springs 22,24 so as to pre-load them from their natural shape. This helps to locate the contacts within the connector housing more accurately.
  • the earth contact assembly 26 is somewhat similar to the current carrying contact assemblies 28,30 but in reverse so that the contact member 14 is pre-loaded away from a more acute natural shape by the vertical arm of the L-shaped mounting member 32.
  • the ends of the mounting members 32,34,36 are each formed as spade terminals 40 to facilitate rapid and secure connection to the mains electrical supply.
  • the vertically extending side edges 32c,34c,36c of the respective mounting members are each formed with serrations which engage in corresponding pairs of vertical slots 42,44,46 formed in the moulded plastics connector housing (see Fig. 5) which allows the respective contact assemblies 26,28,30 simply to be pressed into the underside of the connector housing and thereafter to be securely retained in the slots.
  • the contact leaf springs 14,22,24 are rated from the brass mounting members 32,34,36 rather than directly from the plastics housing, the tolerance requirement placed on the moulding is less stringent. It can also be seen that there is no direct path from the top of the connector housing through the apertures 10,12 to the current carrying contacts 22,24 which means that the risk of water tracking is very much reduced.
  • the connector part is showing as being that for a cordless base, but equally it could be provided on the appliance proper. Indeed, contact assemblies of the kind described may be provided on both connector parts.
  • a 360° connector is shown the principles of the invention are equally applicable to non-360° cordless connectors.
  • the connector has been described in the context of a cordless liquid heating vessel it may equally be used in other cordless appliances.

Landscapes

  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
EP06254593A 2005-09-09 2006-09-04 Connecteurs électrique sans fil Withdrawn EP1763115A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB0518339.7A GB0518339D0 (en) 2005-09-09 2005-09-09 Cordless electrical connectors

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1763115A2 true EP1763115A2 (fr) 2007-03-14
EP1763115A3 EP1763115A3 (fr) 2007-03-21

Family

ID=35221128

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP06254593A Withdrawn EP1763115A3 (fr) 2005-09-09 2006-09-04 Connecteurs électrique sans fil

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1763115A3 (fr)
CN (1) CN1937328A (fr)
GB (1) GB0518339D0 (fr)

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9220361B1 (en) 2013-12-03 2015-12-29 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Dual-voltage lighted artificial tree
US9441823B1 (en) 2011-12-09 2016-09-13 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular lighted artificial tree
US9439528B2 (en) 2013-03-13 2016-09-13 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular tree with locking trunk and locking electrical connectors
US9484687B1 (en) 2010-09-23 2016-11-01 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular lighted tree
EP3101740A1 (fr) * 2015-06-02 2016-12-07 Wang, Pei-Lun Prise de courant
US9526286B2 (en) 2012-05-08 2016-12-27 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular tree with electrical connector
US9572446B2 (en) 2012-05-08 2017-02-21 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular tree with locking trunk and locking electrical connectors
US9648919B2 (en) 2012-05-08 2017-05-16 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular tree with rotation-lock electrical connectors
US9664362B2 (en) 2011-11-14 2017-05-30 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Lighted artificial tree with multi-terminal electrical connectors for power distribution and control
US9671074B2 (en) 2013-03-13 2017-06-06 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular tree with trunk connectors
US9677749B2 (en) 2011-11-14 2017-06-13 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Conformal power adapter for lighted artificial tree
US9883566B1 (en) 2014-05-01 2018-01-30 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Control of modular lighted artificial trees
US9883706B2 (en) 2011-05-20 2018-02-06 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Multi-positional, locking artificial tree trunk
US9894949B1 (en) 2013-11-27 2018-02-20 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Lighted artificial tree with improved electrical connections
US10206530B2 (en) 2012-05-08 2019-02-19 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular tree with locking trunk
US10683974B1 (en) 2017-12-11 2020-06-16 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Decorative lighting control
EP3722916A3 (fr) * 2019-03-19 2021-01-27 Eichenauer Heizelemente GmbH & Co. KG Dispositif d'actionnement doté d'un élément extensible et dispositif soupape

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102891407B (zh) * 2012-08-01 2015-12-30 董晓波 具有身份识别功能的电器用耦合器
CN104979725A (zh) * 2015-07-27 2015-10-14 罗新平 插座排

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1995008204A1 (fr) 1993-09-16 1995-03-23 Strix Limited Appareils electriques sans fil et leurs connecteurs

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2209633A (en) * 1987-09-08 1989-05-17 Strix Ltd Shuttered electrical connectors
GB2221104B (en) * 1988-05-13 1992-08-05 Strix Ltd Electrical connectors
AU651957B2 (en) * 1990-01-31 1994-08-11 Otter Controls Limited Improvement relating to electrical appliances
GB9020308D0 (en) * 1990-09-17 1990-10-31 Strix Ltd Cordless electrical appliances
GB2374735B (en) * 2001-04-20 2003-10-08 Kettle Solutions Ltd Electrical connector

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1995008204A1 (fr) 1993-09-16 1995-03-23 Strix Limited Appareils electriques sans fil et leurs connecteurs

Cited By (28)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10070675B2 (en) 2010-09-23 2018-09-11 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular lighted tree with internal electrical connection system
US9484687B1 (en) 2010-09-23 2016-11-01 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular lighted tree
US9861147B1 (en) 2010-09-23 2018-01-09 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular lighted tree
US9887501B2 (en) 2010-09-23 2018-02-06 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular artificial lighted tree with decorative light string
US9883706B2 (en) 2011-05-20 2018-02-06 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Multi-positional, locking artificial tree trunk
US9664362B2 (en) 2011-11-14 2017-05-30 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Lighted artificial tree with multi-terminal electrical connectors for power distribution and control
US9677749B2 (en) 2011-11-14 2017-06-13 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Conformal power adapter for lighted artificial tree
US9441823B1 (en) 2011-12-09 2016-09-13 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular lighted artificial tree
US9441800B1 (en) 2011-12-09 2016-09-13 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular lighted artificial tree
US9526286B2 (en) 2012-05-08 2016-12-27 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular tree with electrical connector
US10206530B2 (en) 2012-05-08 2019-02-19 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular tree with locking trunk
US9648919B2 (en) 2012-05-08 2017-05-16 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular tree with rotation-lock electrical connectors
US9572446B2 (en) 2012-05-08 2017-02-21 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular tree with locking trunk and locking electrical connectors
US10010208B2 (en) 2012-05-08 2018-07-03 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular tree with electrical connector
US9671074B2 (en) 2013-03-13 2017-06-06 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular tree with trunk connectors
US10098491B2 (en) 2013-03-13 2018-10-16 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular tree with locking trunk and locking electrical connectors
US9439528B2 (en) 2013-03-13 2016-09-13 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular tree with locking trunk and locking electrical connectors
US9894949B1 (en) 2013-11-27 2018-02-20 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Lighted artificial tree with improved electrical connections
US9677748B1 (en) 2013-12-03 2017-06-13 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Dual-voltage lighted artificial tree
US9220361B1 (en) 2013-12-03 2015-12-29 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Dual-voltage lighted artificial tree
US9883566B1 (en) 2014-05-01 2018-01-30 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Control of modular lighted artificial trees
US9905967B2 (en) 2015-06-02 2018-02-27 Pei-Lun Wang Socket outlet with expansion module
KR101801469B1 (ko) 2015-06-02 2017-11-27 페이-룬 왕 소켓 아울렛
EP3101740A1 (fr) * 2015-06-02 2016-12-07 Wang, Pei-Lun Prise de courant
US11353176B1 (en) 2017-12-11 2022-06-07 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Decorative lighting control
US10683974B1 (en) 2017-12-11 2020-06-16 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Decorative lighting control
US10989374B1 (en) 2017-12-11 2021-04-27 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Decorative lighting control
EP3722916A3 (fr) * 2019-03-19 2021-01-27 Eichenauer Heizelemente GmbH & Co. KG Dispositif d'actionnement doté d'un élément extensible et dispositif soupape

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1763115A3 (fr) 2007-03-21
GB0518339D0 (en) 2005-10-19
CN1937328A (zh) 2007-03-28

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