GB1594501A - Electrical connector adaptor piece - Google Patents

Electrical connector adaptor piece Download PDF

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Publication number
GB1594501A
GB1594501A GB4445577A GB4445577A GB1594501A GB 1594501 A GB1594501 A GB 1594501A GB 4445577 A GB4445577 A GB 4445577A GB 4445577 A GB4445577 A GB 4445577A GB 1594501 A GB1594501 A GB 1594501A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
adaptor piece
plug
socket
adaptor
piece according
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
Application number
GB4445577A
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.)
Futters London Ltd
Original Assignee
Futters London 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 Futters London Ltd filed Critical Futters London Ltd
Priority to GB4445577A priority Critical patent/GB1594501A/en
Publication of GB1594501A publication Critical patent/GB1594501A/en
Expired 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
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
    • H01R13/639—Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap

Landscapes

  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)

Description

(54) ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ADAPTOR PIECE (71) We, FUTTERS (LONDON) LTD., of 16, Acton Lane, London NW10 8XA, a British Company, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to connectors, e.g., electrical connectors and pneumatic and hydraulic line connectors, and is particularly concerned with miniature multi-pole electric and audio plug and socket connectors of the kind which accord with Din specifications.
Miniature multi-pole electric and audio plug and socket connectors according with Din specifications are used extensively in relation to electrical equipment such as tape recorders, amplifiers and the like and may be of the "in-line" type used for connecting one length of electric cable with another or of the chassis-mounted type wherein one of the parts of the connector, usually the socket part, is mountable on the chassis of a tape recorder, amplifier or other piece of electrical equipment and the other part is connectable with a microphone, earphone or other accessory which requires to be electrically connected with the piece of electrical equipment.
The Din specifications for these miniature multi-pole electrical connectors are fairly strict and are rigidly adhered to by manufacturers of these components, the specifications being predominantly although not exclusively concerned with the spacing and size of the pins of the plugs and the receptive sockets therefor.
Thus different manufacturers can provide their own individual means of securing a plug to a socket whilst adhering to the necessary specifications. Thus a user of a specific piece of equipment utilizing say a socket of one manufacturer may experience difficulty in matching a plug thereto if it is essential to lock the plug and socket together and it is not possible to obtain the same manufacturer's matching plug.
It is, inter alia, an object of this invention to reduce this inconvenience to some extent by providing an adaptor piece which will enable a suitable plug, i.e. a plug having the required pin pattern, to be locked releasably to a flanged socket, or vice versa.
The present invention provides an adaptor piece of resilient material, for locking together a member and socket therefor of a two-part connector, the adaptor piece comprising a first portion whereby the adaptor piece can be mounted on either the member or the socket, a second portion arranged to extend around more than half the perimeter of the member or socket when mounted thereon, the second portion having an internal projection or aperture arranged to engage in an aperture or behind a flange or other projection respectively provided by the other part, whereby to lock the two parts together and at least one intermediate hinge portion integral with the first and second portions so that the second portion can be moved from a non-locking position to a second, locking position.
An adaptor piece according to the invention can be used for locking in-line connections between two co-operating pneumatic or hydraulic line components or between two in-line electrical plug-and-socket components provided that one of the components is provided with means arranged to co-operate with the adaptor piece mounted on the other component.
The present invention also provides an adaptor piece of resilient material, for locking together the plug and socket of a plug-andsocket connector conforming to Din specifications, the adaptor piece comprising a first portion whereby the adaptor piece can be mounted on either the plug or the socket, a second portion arranged to extend around more than half the perimeter of the plug or socket when mounted thereon, the second portion having an internal projection or aperture arranged to engage in an aperture or behind a flange or other projection respectively provided by the other component, whereby to lock the two components together and at least one intermediate hinge portion integral with the first and second portions so that the second portion can be moved from a non-locking position to a second, locking position.
The resilient material from which the adaptor piece is made may be any suitable semi-rigid plastics material, e.g. nylon, acetal resin and polypropylene, or spring steel or the like and the hinge portions thereof may be provided by neck portions of reduced crosssection or by portions which are themselves rendered more flexible than the aforesaid first and second portions of the adaptor piece.
If used with an electrical or audio plug having an -anchoring screw whereby the interior or the plug is anchored to the external housing, then the first portion of the adaptor piece according to the invention preferably provides an aperture for reception of the anchoring screw. However, the adaptor piece may if appropriate be provided with a first portion which can at least partially envelop the housing of the component on which it is to be mounted in a manner such that the adaptor piece is securely mounted thereon.
The second portion of an adaptor piece according to the invention may have a projection in the form of a continuous internal rib on the leading edge of the second portion or alternatively a number of spaced projections may be provided. Alternatively the adaptor piece may be provided with one or more apertures arranged to co-operate with corresponding projections formed on the part or component with which it is arranged to be engaged. As a specific example of an alternative embodiment, the adaptor piece may be provided adjacent the leading edge of its second portion with a number of evenly spaced elongate recesses, which, when the adaptor piece is pressed into engaging relationship with the socket, engage correspondingly positioned spaced ribs provided on the socket. As a further example of an alternative embodiment, a combination of one or more ribs or other projections and apertures may be provided on the adaptor piece to co-operate with complementary parts of the socket.
In order that the invention may be more readily understood reference will hereinafter be made by way of example to the drawings accompanying the provisional specification in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an adaptor piece according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a plug and socket connector including an adaptor piece according to the invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of an assembled plug and socket connector including an adaptor piece according to the invention; and Figure 4 is a view of an end portion of a plug showing an adaptor piece according to the invention in open or non-locking position.
The adaptor piece illustrated in Figure 1 is intended for use with an in-line miniature multi-pole plug-and-socket connector which accords wits; Din specifications. The adaptor piece is made of acetal resin as a one-piece moulding and comprises a first portion 10 which includes an aperture, not visible in the drawings, for receiving an anchoring screw 12 of the plug on which it is to be mounted. The portion 10 is integral with a 'rear' portion 14 which is of arcuate form and from which extend two intermediate portions 16 lying parallel (although they need not be) to one another and joined integrally to a second portion 18 thereby defining a cavity 20 the purpose of which is hereinafter defined. The second portion 18 of the adaptor piece is of arcuate shape and is arranged to extend around the external housing of the plug on which it is mounted, the illustrated second portion having a circumferential extent of approximately 270".
Internally the second portion has a continuous peripheral flange 22 at its leading edge, the flange 22 having an inclined lead in surface 24 for the purpose hereinafter described.
The illustrated adaptor piece is designed for use with a plug and socket of the type shown in Figure 2. This type of plug comprises a metal housing 30, an insulating body portion (not shown) mounted within the housing and comprising a number of electrical contact pins 32 and a spring latch 34 mounted on the external surface of the housing 30, the latch comprising a spring portion 36 one end of which is secured to the housing, a hook portion 38, for releasably engaging an aperture or recess in a socket housing, and a finger engaging portion 40 intermediate the spring and hook portions. The illustrated adaptor piece is mounted on the plug by the screw 12 of the plug which secures the latch 34 and the insulating body portion of the plug relative to the housing. as shown in Figure 2.
The socket shown in Figure 2 has an annular recess 42 formed between an arcuate flange 44 and the base 46 of the socket. It should be emphasised at this point that the plug shown in the drawings is not normally intended for use with such a socket but with the illustrated adaptor piece mounted thereon it can be so used. (Thus the provision of the latch 34 is not essential to assembly of the plug and socket illustrated but shows only the manner in which two such normally incompatibly lockable components can be locked together).
In assembling the plug and socket, the plug is presented to the socket in the usual manner with the adaptor piece in the position shown in Figure 2 so that the flange 22 of the second portion of the adaptor piece 18 snaps over the flange 44 of the socket and engages in the recess 42, thereby locking the plug to the socket.
To subsequently release the plug from the socket, the adaptor piece is raised to the position shown in dotted outline in Figure 3 and in full in Figure 4, and the plug withdrawn from the socket.
As can be seen from Figure 2 to 4, the purpose of the cavity 20 is to permit access to the latch 34 of the plug should this be necessary. It also allows the adaptor piece to sit firmly upon the housing of the plug.
The illustrated adaptor piece can, when in the position shown in dotted outline in Figure 3, be swivelled round through 1800 and clipped onto a rear portion of the housing when not required.
The foregoing description relates to an adaptor piece suitable for releasably locking a plug to a socket wherein, as aforesaid, the two components do not have compatible locking means. It is to be clearly understood though that an adaptor piece according to the invention can be used mounted on a plug (or a socket) which is not provided with other locking means, provided that the one component upon which the adaptor piece is not mounted is provided with means which can be engaged by the adaptor piece to ensure the two components in assembled rclationship.
It is also to be clearly~ understood that although the illustrated adaptor piece has been described in relation to the provisions set forth in the last paragraph, it may be used with a plug and socket arrangement having any pin configuration.
WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An adaptor piece of resilient material, for locking together a member and socket therefor of a two-part connector, the adaptor piece comprising a first portion whereby the adaptor piece can be mounted on either the member or the socket, a second portion arranged to extend around more than half the perimeter of the member or socket when mounted thereon, the second portion having an internal projection or aperture arranged to engage in an aperture or behind a flange or other projection respectively provided by the other part, whereby to lock the two parts together, and at least one intermediate hinge portion integral with the first and second portions so that the second portion can be moved from a non-locking position to a second, locking position.
2 An adaptor piece of resilient material, for locking together the plug and socket of a plugand-socket connector conforming to Din specifications, the adaptor piece comprising a first portion whereby the adaptor piece can be mounted on either the plug or the socket, a second portion arranged to extend around more than half the perimeter of the plug or socket when mounted thereon, the second portion having an internal projection or aperture arranged to engage in an aperture or behind a flange or other projection respectively provided by the other component, whereby to lock the two components together, and at least one intermediate hinge portion integral with the first and second portions so that the second portion can be moved from a non-locking position to a second, locking position.
3. An adaptor piece according to either one of claims 1 and 2 and made of semi-rigid plastics material.
4. An adaptor piece according to claim 3 wherein the plastics material is selected from nylon, acetal resin and polypropylene.
5. An adaptor piece according to either one of claims 1 and 2 and made of metal.
6. An adaptor piece according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the hinge portions are provided by neck portions of reduced cross-section.
7. An adaptor piece according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the hinge portions are rendered more flexible than said first and second portions.
8. An adaptor piece according to any one of the preceding claims for use with a Din plug or similar plug, which plug has an anchoring screw whereby interior components of the plug are anchored to its external housing, wherein the first portion of the adaptor piece provides an aperture for reception of the anchoring screw.
9. An adaptor piece according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said first portion thereof is shaped to at least partially envelop the housing of a plug to which it is to be mounted so as to secure the adaptor piece thereto.
10. An adaptor piece according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said second portion thereof is provided with a projection in the form of a continuous internal rib on or adjacent the leading edge of said second portion.
11. An adaptor piece according to any one of Claims 1 to 9 wherein said second portion thereof is provided with a plurality of spaced projections thereon internally of the leading edge of said second portion.
12. An adaptor piece according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the adaptor piece is provided with one or more apertures arranged to co-operate with corresponding projections formed on a part or component with which the adaptor piece is intended to engage.
13. An adaptor piece substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings accompanying the provisional specification.
14. A Din plug or socket having mounted thereon an adaptor piece according to any one of the preceding claims.
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (14)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. As can be seen from Figure 2 to 4, the purpose of the cavity 20 is to permit access to the latch 34 of the plug should this be necessary. It also allows the adaptor piece to sit firmly upon the housing of the plug. The illustrated adaptor piece can, when in the position shown in dotted outline in Figure 3, be swivelled round through 1800 and clipped onto a rear portion of the housing when not required. The foregoing description relates to an adaptor piece suitable for releasably locking a plug to a socket wherein, as aforesaid, the two components do not have compatible locking means. It is to be clearly understood though that an adaptor piece according to the invention can be used mounted on a plug (or a socket) which is not provided with other locking means, provided that the one component upon which the adaptor piece is not mounted is provided with means which can be engaged by the adaptor piece to ensure the two components in assembled rclationship. It is also to be clearly~ understood that although the illustrated adaptor piece has been described in relation to the provisions set forth in the last paragraph, it may be used with a plug and socket arrangement having any pin configuration. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:
1. An adaptor piece of resilient material, for locking together a member and socket therefor of a two-part connector, the adaptor piece comprising a first portion whereby the adaptor piece can be mounted on either the member or the socket, a second portion arranged to extend around more than half the perimeter of the member or socket when mounted thereon, the second portion having an internal projection or aperture arranged to engage in an aperture or behind a flange or other projection respectively provided by the other part, whereby to lock the two parts together, and at least one intermediate hinge portion integral with the first and second portions so that the second portion can be moved from a non-locking position to a second, locking position.
2 An adaptor piece of resilient material, for locking together the plug and socket of a plugand-socket connector conforming to Din specifications, the adaptor piece comprising a first portion whereby the adaptor piece can be mounted on either the plug or the socket, a second portion arranged to extend around more than half the perimeter of the plug or socket when mounted thereon, the second portion having an internal projection or aperture arranged to engage in an aperture or behind a flange or other projection respectively provided by the other component, whereby to lock the two components together, and at least one intermediate hinge portion integral with the first and second portions so that the second portion can be moved from a non-locking position to a second, locking position.
3. An adaptor piece according to either one of claims 1 and 2 and made of semi-rigid plastics material.
4. An adaptor piece according to claim 3 wherein the plastics material is selected from nylon, acetal resin and polypropylene.
5. An adaptor piece according to either one of claims 1 and 2 and made of metal.
6. An adaptor piece according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the hinge portions are provided by neck portions of reduced cross-section.
7. An adaptor piece according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the hinge portions are rendered more flexible than said first and second portions.
8. An adaptor piece according to any one of the preceding claims for use with a Din plug or similar plug, which plug has an anchoring screw whereby interior components of the plug are anchored to its external housing, wherein the first portion of the adaptor piece provides an aperture for reception of the anchoring screw.
9. An adaptor piece according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said first portion thereof is shaped to at least partially envelop the housing of a plug to which it is to be mounted so as to secure the adaptor piece thereto.
10. An adaptor piece according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said second portion thereof is provided with a projection in the form of a continuous internal rib on or adjacent the leading edge of said second portion.
11. An adaptor piece according to any one of Claims 1 to 9 wherein said second portion thereof is provided with a plurality of spaced projections thereon internally of the leading edge of said second portion.
12. An adaptor piece according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the adaptor piece is provided with one or more apertures arranged to co-operate with corresponding projections formed on a part or component with which the adaptor piece is intended to engage.
13. An adaptor piece substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings accompanying the provisional specification.
14. A Din plug or socket having mounted thereon an adaptor piece according to any one of the preceding claims.
GB4445577A 1978-05-26 1978-05-26 Electrical connector adaptor piece Expired GB1594501A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB4445577A GB1594501A (en) 1978-05-26 1978-05-26 Electrical connector adaptor piece

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB4445577A GB1594501A (en) 1978-05-26 1978-05-26 Electrical connector adaptor piece

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB1594501A true GB1594501A (en) 1981-07-30

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ID=10433363

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB4445577A Expired GB1594501A (en) 1978-05-26 1978-05-26 Electrical connector adaptor piece

Country Status (1)

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GB (1) GB1594501A (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2273965A (en) * 1993-01-02 1994-07-06 Bosch Gmbh Robert Coupling for hand-held machine tools with hose for removing chips
GB2274887A (en) * 1993-02-06 1994-08-10 Bardex Systems Limited Pipe connectors
GB2298975A (en) * 1995-03-15 1996-09-18 Whitaker Corp Electrical connector housing having protected release mechanism

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2273965A (en) * 1993-01-02 1994-07-06 Bosch Gmbh Robert Coupling for hand-held machine tools with hose for removing chips
GB2274887A (en) * 1993-02-06 1994-08-10 Bardex Systems Limited Pipe connectors
GB2298975A (en) * 1995-03-15 1996-09-18 Whitaker Corp Electrical connector housing having protected release mechanism
GB2298975B (en) * 1995-03-15 1999-05-12 Whitaker Corp Electrical connector housing having protected release mechanism

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PS Patent sealed
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee