US1297179A - Separable plug. - Google Patents

Description

J. J. KENNEY.

SEPARABLE PLUG.

APPLICATIION men AUGJ. me.

1 ,297,179. Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

4 'FIG.1 7

FIG-.3

WITNESSES INVENTOR UNTTED "STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. KENNEY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO BEST ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYL VANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

SEPARABLE PLUG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

Application filed August 7, 1916. Serial No. 113,508.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. KENNEY, a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in separable Plugs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to separable attachment plugs, such as are used for making connections from a portable lamp, electric iron, or other device, to a lamp socket, or any similar source of current. The object of th invention is to provide a separable plug comprising the usual base member, and a cap, which, when coupled together, are held securely, but which may be easily disengaged by an outward or lateral pull on the cap,.without injury to'the plug or detachment of the cords. A further object of the invention is to providea separable attachment plug whose members are held to ether by means of resilient contact memers which can be readily freed from connection to each other .when desired. A further object of-the invention is to provide a separable attachment plug the two parts of which may be easily engaged by direct longitudinal movement together, and easily disengaged by any movement from each other. A further object is to furnish means for attaching the two parts of the separable plug together comprising spring contact members adapted to form conducting terminals, and also means for engaging the conducting parts, and holding them under spring pressure. Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, and will be apparent to those familiar .with such devices.

In the drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a vertical central section through the entire plug, the parts being in engaged position; Fig. 2 is an under view of the cap; Fig. 3 is an under view of the base; Fig. 4: is a partial ver-' tical section on the line 4-4, Fig.1; Fig. 5 is an end view of the threaded shell contact member.

The plug comprises the usual cap member 1, and base member 2. To the cap member is secured by means of screws 3 conducting metal plates 4, which carry binding posts 5 for the ordinary conductor Wires. These plates are'spaced apart sufliciently to be in sulated from each other.

Clampedunder the plates 4 are metal-terminal members 6, preferably made of a material having considerable resiliency, but beerably of a material which may be easilyv molded, is of the proper shape andv size to fit into the ordinary socket. It is formed .with a central axial bore 10, and with two other openings, 11 and 12, extending longitudinally through the base, on diametric sides of the central bore, preferably rectan gular, and adapted '09 receive the spring members 6 extended downward therein from the cap. Fixed to the lowerend of the base in a manner described below and extending upwardly through the openings 11 and 12. are two spring contact members 13 and 14, which are made of fiat metal strips, of substantially the same width as the members 6, and having their upper ends slotted, as shown in Fig. 4, to form parallel projections 15, which are bent inward at their ends, as shown in Fig. 1. At the ends of the slots 16, the members are bent to form shoulders 17.

By this construction of the spring contact .members, when the cap is forced into enso forms a resilient locking engagement of p the tongue and slot, as will be obvious. By

this means the cap and base are held securely together under normal conditions, but the cap may 'be readily released by overcoming the resilient spring engagement described. This ma be done not only by a direct longitudinawithdrawing movement, but also by a lateral pull, causing the cap to rise on one edge as a fulcrum. The

springs are adapted to release by a pull from either side. This construction is particularly adapted for electric fixtures used on a. dining table, etc., Where the plug is frequently disconnected by merely giving the wires a pull, or by knocking it out of a floor soclret With the foot. V fith the present arrangement this is readily done Without danger or injury to the plug or of detaching the conductor wires.

()n the base 2 a metal threaded shell con tact member 18 is mounted. This is pressed out of any suitable sheet metal, and is cupshaped, to slip onto the end of the base. The bottom is punched out, to form a central opening, as shown in Fig. 5. This opening is enlarged at one end, so as to give good clearance for passage of the conducting member l i therethrough. The other end of the opening is rectangular, and a portion of the metal punched out, in the form of a strip 19, is bent around the base into the opening 11, forming a clamp to s -uirely hold the spring member 13, which is bent around and under the base, all as shown in l. The other terminal memher 1%, is extended beyond the base, and has its end clamped under the central terminal rivet 20. After the shell 18 is in position on the base, an insulating disk 21 is placed over its end. his disk has an opening 22, through which the conductor 14 passes to make contact With the central rivet 20. It also has a central hole through which the rivet 20 passes, and there may also be provided an additional insulating dish 23., and a central metal Washer 2%. All of these parts are held in position by the rivet 20, which extends through the axial bore 10.

Tn the construction above described, the plug consists of a cap carrying the conducting terminals and binding posts, all in an integral form. The base has spring contact members adapted to engage the conducting terminals of the cap, and to connect With an outer shell contact and a central terminal contact, as is usual in such plugs. ofthe parts on the base lined in position by a rivet or screw, need never voe dis- All assembled. The two parts of the plug are? adapted to engage and to form the neccs sary contacts by a single longitudinal move v ment. The means provided are sufiicient to give a strong locking action, and yet there is no dii'liculty in separating the cap from the base by most any Withdrawing movement. lVhen the cap is removed the binding posts and conductor wires carried thereon are completely exposed, and in position for adjustment or disconnection. The convenience and eliiciency of construction Wlll be apparent to those familiar With the art.

1. An attachment plug having a separable cap and base, terminals carried by one of said members, said terminals having a.

curved end tongue, contacts carried by the other member, said contacts having a notch in the end thereof, and an inclined end, whereby said terminals and contacts engage and disengage by relative movement to lock the cap and base together.

2. An attachment plug having a separable cap and base, terminals carried by the cap and contacts carried by the base, said terminals being formed of resilient metal and having a hump in the end thereof, said contacts being formed of resilient material and having a slotted oiiset portion at the end thereof adapted to engage said hump, whereby the terminal and contact member engage to lock the cap and base together.

3. An attachment plug having a separable cap and base, terminals carried by the and contact members carried by the base, said terminal members being formed with raised tongues in the ends thereof, and said contact members being formed with inclined slotted ends and an ofiset portion at the end of the slot, adapted, to engage said humps on the terminal members, whereby to lock the cap and base by enment of the conducting members.

estimony whereof I have hereunto set V Trtnesses C. O. Erma. F. JV. 1/ ENTER.

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