GB2577864A

GB2577864A - Connector

Info

Publication number: GB2577864A
Application number: GB1815347.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Garton Stephen; Mann Rita
Original assignee: Quickwire Ltd
Current assignee: Quickwire Ltd
Priority date: 2018-09-20
Filing date: 2018-09-20
Publication date: 2020-04-15
Also published as: GB201815347D0

Abstract

A connector 1 for securing electrical cords of varying width comprises an opening (10, Fig 1) for receiving an electrical cord. A first pair of resilient blades 20a, 20b retain the outer sheath 34 of the cord 30 within the connector and a second pair of resilient blades 22a, 22b further retain the outer sheath of the cord within the connector. The distance between blades of the first pair of resilient blades is smaller than the distance between blades of the second pair of resilient blades. Further pairs of blades may also be included. The blades may be at an oblique angle to the cord.

Description

DESCRIPTION

CONNECTOR

Field

A connector is described, in particular a connector for securing electrical cords.

Background

Conventional connectors are commonly used in both domestic and commercial environments. Such connectors often form part of junction boxes or the like, and allow for a secure and relatively maintenance-free method of connecting fixed wiring for indoor applications. Said junction boxes allow for cables to be held into position using terminal connectors. Such cables are typically power cables, but data cables may also be held in this manner.

In addition to the connection between the cables and the terminal connectors, said connectors or junction boxes also typically hold the electrical cord in place to reduce strain on the terminal connectors and cables if force is applied to the cord.

One issue is that such means used to hold the electrical cord in place is either capable of accepting only a single sized electrical cable, or requires further manipulation to tighten said means to secure the cable. This either requires the correct size connector to be used, or additional time securing the cord of the cables.

The following invention aims to provide an improved connector capable of retaining cords of varying widths.

Summary

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector for securing electrical cords, said connector comprising an opening for receiving an electrical cord, said cord comprising at least one power cable encased with an outer sheath; a first pair of resilient blades for retaining the outer sheath of said cord within the connector; and a second pair of resilient blades for retaining the outer sheath of said cord within the connector, wherein a distance between blades of the first pair of resilient blades is smaller than a distance between blades of the second pair of resilient blades.

This allows electrical cords of different diameters to be retained within the connector, without the need for a different connector for securing cords of different widths. Furthermore, this also allows for quick connection and retention of electrical cords or cables by the connector, without the need for the user to separately secure the cord In use, a user can insert a cord into the connector. As the cord is inserted through the opening, provided the cord has an outer diameter substantially equal to or smaller than the distance between the second pair of resilient blades, the cord either passes between the blades or deflects the second pair of resilient blades in an outward direction to increase the distance between the blades, deflecting the blades towards the sidewall of the housing. Similarly, if the cord has an outer diameter substantially equal to the distance between the first pair of resilient blades, the cord deflects the first pair of resilient blades in an outward direction to increase the distance between the blades, deflecting the blades towards the sidewall of the housing. Due to the resilience of the blades, deflected blades are resiliently biased against the outer sheath. This retains the cord within the connector.

In an embodiment, the connector may further comprise a third pair of resilient blades for retaining the outer sheath of said cord within the connector, and wherein a distance between blades of the third pair of resilient blades is smaller than a distance between blades of the second pair of resilient blades.

In a further embodiment, the connector may further comprise at least one additional pair of resilient blades for retaining the outer sheath of said cord within the connector, and wherein a distance between blades of the at least one pair of resilient blades is smaller than a distance between blades of the third pair of resilient blades.

In another embodiment, the connector may comprise an array of terminal connections for receiving the at least one power cable.

In an example, each resilient blade may be inclined at an oblique angle away from the opening to allow cords having a diameter substantially equal to or smaller than the distance between each pair of resilient blades to pass therebetween. The resilient blades may be configured to deflect to allow cords having a diameter substantially equal to or larger than the distance between each pair of resilient blades to pass therebetween In examples, each resilient blade may be shaped to prevent cords having a diameter substantially equal to the distance between each pair of resilient blades to pass therebetween, preventing removal of said cord from within said connector.

In a further example, at least one resilient blade may be integrated in a sidewall of a housing of the connector. The resilient blade may be molded into the housing. Accordingly, each resilient blade and the housing may form a single piece.

Alternatively, at least one resilient blade may be removably mounted in a sidewall of a housing of the connector. Said resilient blade may be slotted into the sidewall of the housing. Said resilient blade may comprise a protuberance for keying engagement into a corresponding recess in the sidewall. Individual blades may then slide into guides in the side walls for anchorage.

An insert may be used, said insert may comprise each pair of resilient blades and wherein said insert may be removably mounted in a sidewall of a housing of the connector. Essentially, all blades are then tied together and mounted on the connector.

The resilient blades may be made from a different material to the housing. This is further aided when the blades are removably mounted. For instance a hard rubber or other plastic that otherwise might not be suitable for a main body moulding may be used. It can be appreciated that each pair of resilient blades may be made from materials of different resilience. This can allow a greater deflection for some pairs than others, which can aid gripping.

In a further example, at least one or each resilient blade may be directly or indirectly anchored to the or a housing of the connector solely at the or a sidewall to allow the resilient blades to each individually deflect with respect to the housing.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from, and elucidated with reference to, the embodiments described hereinafter.

Brief description of Drawings

Embodiments will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which figure 1 illustrates a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; and figure 2 illustrates the connector of figure 1, with an electrical cord secured thereto.

It should be noted that the Figures are diagrammatic and not drawn to scale. Relative dimensions and proportions of parts of these Figures have been shown exaggerated or reduced in size, for the sake of clarity and convenience in the drawings. The same reference signs are generally used to refer to corresponding or similar feature in modified and different embodiments.

Detailed description of embodiments

Figure 1 shows a connector 1, said connector comprising a housing 8. The housing 8 is typically plastic. The connector may form part of a cable junction box or other electrical connection junction. Alternatively, it can be appreciated that the connector may be used for other cabling.

The connector housing 8 comprises an opening 10 for receiving an electrical cord as will be described below. The connector comprises terminal connectors 12a-12c, with corresponding lever arched means 14a-14c for securing wires within the terminal connectors 12a-12c.

Within a sidewall 18 of the housing 8, at a lower portion of the housing, adjacent to the opening 10 is provided a series of blades or prongs 20, 22, 24. Each blade is shown in a series of pairs 20a, 20b; 22a, 22b; and 24a, 24b. The blades are resilient at least by virtue of being secured to the housing only at the sidewall 18 of the housing.

As shown, each pair 20, 22, 24 comprises opposed blades separated by a distance. The blades are inclined away from the opening 10 towards the terminal connectors 12. The angle of inclination is around 20 degrees away from the opening, but any oblique angle may be used, such as 30 degrees, 40 degrees, 45 degrees or upto 75 degrees.

Although shown with 3 pairs, it can be appreciated that two pairs may be used, or more than 3 pairs may be used. The pairs as shown are formed as 1 piece with the sidewall 18 of the housing, but the blades may be separate components that are slotted into grooves in the sidewall via protuberances in the blades (or vice-versa).

An insert may also be used that comprises the blade pairs, which is in turn arranged and secured within the housing. This allows the blade pairs to be easily selected and tailored to the size cord of cable secured and also allows the cable to be potentially secured prior to installation within the connector.

The blades are typically the same material as the housing, but may be different materials, particularly if removable from the housing. Hard plastic or metal may be used for the blades. Different materials may be used for each (pair of) blades to tailor the desired resilience.

The pairs of blades 20, 22, 24 have differing separation distances therebetween. So the first pair of blades 20a, 20b has a smaller separation distance than between blades 22a, 22b, which are in turn separated by a smaller distance than 24a, 24b Figure 2 shows the connector 1 used to secure an electrical cord 30. The cord shown has 3 power cables 32a, 32b and 32c; however, it may be appreciated that a different number or alternative types may be used for transmitting data/power. The cord 30 has an outer sheath 34, typically a plastic sheath to protect the power cables 32.

As shown in figure 2, the diameter of the cord 30 is narrower than the third pair of blades 24a, 24b, approximately equal to second pair of blades 22a, 22b and slightly larger than the first pair of blades 20a, 20b. As such, blades 20a, 20b, are slightly resiliently biased against the outer sheath 34a.

For installation, cord 30 is inserted into the housing 8 through opening 10. Given the relative diameter of the cord 30 in relation to the blades 20, 22, 24, the cord passes between the third pair of blades 24a, 24b. At the second pair of blades 22a, 22b the cord may slightly push the blades apart due to the resilience of the blades and the angle of the blades. At the first pair of blades 20a, 20b the blades must be resiliently biased away from each other in order for the cord 30 to pass therebetween.

Due to the angle of the blades and their resilience, blades 20a, 20b are biased against the outer sheath as shown at 34a. Due to the angle of the blades, the blades will act against any attempt to remove the cord 30 -this will cause the distance between blades 20a, 20b to reduce, increasing the retention force of the blades against the outer sheath 34 of the cord.

It can be appreciated that although a single pair of blades used to resiliently hold the cord 30 in place is described, the degree of retention can be tailored by altering one or more of the number of pairs of blades, their location, their angle, their resilience and/or their material.

From reading the present disclosure, other variations and modifications will be apparent to the skilled person. Such variations and modifications may involve equivalent and other features which are already known in the art of connectors, and which may be used instead of, or in addition to, features already described herein.

Although the appended claims are directed to particular combinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of the disclosure of the present invention also includes any novel feature or any novel combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalisation thereof, whether or not it relates to the same invention as presently claimed in any claim and whether or not it mitigates any or all of the same technical problems as does the present invention.

Features which are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination. The applicant hereby gives notice that new claims may be formulated to such features and/or combinations of such features during the prosecution of the present application or of any further application derived therefrom.

For the sake of completeness it is also stated that the term "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, the term "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality and reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A connector for securing electrical cords of varying width, said connector comprising: an opening for receiving an electrical cord, said cord comprising at least one cable encased with an outer sheath; a first pair of resilient blades for retaining the outer sheath of said cord within the connector; and a second pair of resilient blades for retaining the outer further retaining the outer sheath of said cord within the connector, wherein a distance between blades of the first pair of resilient blades is smaller than a distance between blades of the second pair of resilient blades.
2. A connector according to claim 1, further comprising a third pair of resilient blades for retaining the outer sheath of said cord within the connector, and wherein a distance between blades of the third pair of resilient blades is smaller than a distance between blades of the second pair of resilient blades.
A connector according to claim 2, further comprising at least one additional pair of resilient blades for retaining the outer sheath of said cord within the connector, and wherein a distance between blades of the at least one pair of resilient blades is smaller than a distance between blades of the third pair of resilient blades.
A connector according to any preceding claim, wherein the connector comprises an array of terminal connections for receiving said at least one cables.
5. A connector according to any preceding claim, wherein each resilient blade is inclined at an oblique angle away from the opening to allow cords having a diameter substantially equal to or smaller than the distance between each pair of resilient blades to pass therebetween.
6. A connector according to claim 5, wherein the resilient blades are configured to deflect to allow cords having a diameter substantially equal to or larger than the distance between each pair of resilient blades to pass therebetween 7.
A connector according to any preceding claim, wherein each resilient blade is shaped to prevent cords having a diameter substantially equal to the distance between each pair of resilient blades to pass therebetween, preventing removal of said cord from within said connector.
A connector according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one resilient blade is integrated in a sidewall of a housing of the connector.
9. A connector according to claim 8, wherein said resilient blade is molded into the housing.
10. A connector according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein each resilient blade and the housing form a single piece.
11. A connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein at least one resilient blade is removably mounted in a sidewall of a housing of the connector.
12. A connector according to claim 11, wherein said resilient blade is slotted into the sidewall of the housing.
13. A connector according to claim 12, wherein said resilient blade comprises a protuberance for keying engagement into a corresponding recess in the sidewall.
14. A connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising an insert, said insert comprising each pair of resilient blades and wherein said insert is removably mounted in a sidewall of a housing of the connector.
15. A connector according to any one of claims 1 to 8 or claims 11 to 14, wherein the resilient blades are made from a different material to the housing.
16. A connector according to claim 15, wherein each pair of resilient blades are made from materials of different resilience.
17. A connector according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one or each resilient blade is directly or indirectly anchored to the or a housing of the connector solely at the or a sidewall to allow the resilient blades to each individually deflect with respect to the housing.