GB1393999A - Electrical connectors - Google Patents

Abstract

1393999 Two part couplings FUTTERS (LONDON) Ltd 26 April 1973 [22 May 1972] 24013/72 Heading H2E A plug to grip resiliently the walls of a socket comprises a longitudinally grooved shank 50 carrying a bow spring 54 projecting outwardly from the groove 70 and held in place by insertion into a diagonal hole 72 at the entering end of the plug, and by a transverse hole 76 at the other end. The spring 54, made of stainless steel wire, is shaped so that after insertion in hole 72, it must be flexed with pliers before its other end can be inserted into hole 76, where it is initially retained by friction. Shank 50 is made integral with body 56, and after insertion of the spring in the shank, end 74 is inserted into the mouth of insulating housing 58, and is pushed home so that the shank protrudes and shoulder 66 abuts the rim of aperture 68 in the housing. The spring is flexed inwardly in the groove during its passage through the aperture, afterwards springing outward, although remaining trapped by the end of the housing. A cable can be inserted into the base of the body 56 and clamped by a screw (not shown) in hole 60, aligned with hole 61 in the housing. A second transverse hole 63 in body and housing allows the insertion of a similar transverse plug to further connexion of circuits. A second embodiment (Fig. 1, not shown) allows for insertion of the second plug from the rear. Other embodiments allow for the retention of the spring at the entering end of the shank by insertion of the spring into a hole parallel to the shank, either from end face 74 or within a deepened groove stopping short of the end. One embodiment shows the other end of the spring trapped tightly between the shank and the internal wall of a non-integral metal body into which the shank and spring are forced. In all embodiments the spring is deformed out of its natural shape in the course of insertion into the plug.