GB1298758A - Improvements in or relating to electrical connector devices - Google Patents

Abstract

1298758 Two-part couplings; ceiling roses MK ELECTRIC Ltd 19 April 1971 [9 March 1970 12 June 1970] 11171/70 and 28957/70 Heading H2E An electrical connector, e.g. a ceiling rose, comprises a base to be secured to a surface, having live terminals (17, 19, Fig. 2, not shown) and an earth terminal 18 formed with resilient hook-shaped connectors 75, 76 and a resilient U-shaped connector (80) respectively, a cover 12 having terminals (42, 43, 44, Fig. 3, not shown) formed with connector pegs 88, 89, 90, and tabs (65, 66, 67, Fig. 4, not shown) on the base which interlock with pockets (72, 71, 73) on the cover to support the cover. On rotation of the cover with respect to the base the pegs engage the connectors and separation of the base and the cover in a direction normal to the plane of rotation is prevented. The base is formed of a part 10, which carries the terminals (17, 19), 18 and their associated connectors 75, 76, (80), and a part 11 which is screwed to and forms a shroud around the part 10 and has a wall 31 in which are provided apertures (81, 82, 83). Apertures (81, 82) each have a pear-shaped portion (84) and a narrow portion (85) and the aperture (83) lies over the earth connector (80). The pegs 88, 89 each comprise a shaft 92 and a pear-shaped head 91. The cover is attached to the base by passing the heads 91 through the pear-shaped portions of the apertures (81, 82) and then rotating the cover so that shafts 92 pass through the narrow portions of the apertures and heads 91 electrically contact and slightly close the hook-shaped connectors (75, 76) and mechanically engage the wall 31 thus additionally supporting the cover. Earth connector peg 90 passes through aperture (83) and electrically contacts and partially closes the U-shaped connector (80). Neither the connectors (75, 76) nor the terminals (17, 19) are directly aligned with any portion of the apertures (81, 82). In a second embodiment (Figs. 7-10, not shown) the connector pegs (104, 105) are substantially L-shaped each having arms (106, 107) and each formed of a single strip integral with its associated terminal (42, 43) respectively. Apertures (101, 102) in the wall (31) are also substantially L-shaped. Three metal plates (120) are secured to the cover (12) to define pockets (71, 72, 73), and a lead entering the cover is clamped between the members (114). The terminals are disposed unevenly around the device so that the cover will correctly fit with the base in only one position. The arrangement may be such that a relative linear motion between the cover and the base replaces the rotary motion to assemble the connector.