US1679723A

US1679723A - Cord clamp

Info

Publication number: US1679723A
Application number: US30997A
Authority: US
Inventors: Louie E Hubbell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1925-05-18
Filing date: 1925-05-18
Publication date: 1928-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 1945-08-07

Description

Aug. 7, 1928. 1,679,723l

H. HUBBELL.

CORD CLAMP A Filed May 18, 1925 Patented Ang. 7', 19,28.

'-uNrrlsli4 STATES :HARVEY HUBBELL, oF Barnenronr, coiiwnctrrcur; LoUIn E.` HUBBELL or sm HARVEY nunnnnnpncnasnn.

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This invention relates to electrical devices which are .connected to, flexible electrlcal L cords or cables, such forinstance as are used in operatingportable electrical devices, and has for an object to provide a structure for securing the device to thev vcord or cable which will take the strain of any pull on the cord off the connections to the binding posts, so as to prevent breaking ofthese Aconnections by the strain and also to prevent the leads from breaking loose.

With the foregoing and other obJects 1n View, I have devised'the constructionf'illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a art of this specication, similar reference c aracters being employed throughout the various figures to indicate corresponding elements.v In this drawing,

Fig.` 1 is a top lan view showing my inm vention as applie to a plug cap. v

Fig.`2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3ds a section through the cap' butshowmg the clamp and cord in elevation.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the clamp and body of the cap looking from the right of Fig. 2,- but showing the shell or casing in section.' l y Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the clamp removed.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation thereof, and

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the cap on a somewhat smaller scale.

Although I have shown my improved clamp as applied to a plug cap it will, of course, beobviousthat it is not limited to use 4 therewith, but may be employed with other electrical devices which are connected to a conducting cable or cord in substantially the Same manner. In the construction shown `the cap comprises an insulating body member 10 carrying on the lower sidethereof blade contacts 1l connected with binding posts yhaving binding screws 12 for conneci tion of the lead wires 13 in the usual manner. This member is provided with an opening 14 for passage of these leads to the'binding posts,` and on the opposite side from these binding posts is provided with a pair of aligned recesses 15 placed on opposite sides of the opening 14 to receive the feet 16 of the clamping elements 17. These clamping .tion shown, have clamping applicano; and my 1s, i925. serial No. 30,997.

elements form the clamp for securinglithe device to the cord or cable 18 of whic the leads 13 are a part.V The cable shown is of a relatlvely heavy construction having a relatively heavy rubber insulation 19, and .1s used for. conducting current to portable motors and .the like.

Where the only connection between such a cable and the cap is the connection between the leads and the binding posts, it will be alppa'rent that all strains from the cable to v t 1 e cap, for example, pulling the cap from the receptacle, is borneby theselconnections, which soon breaks the connections, between them to worklloose. To remove this objection I'have provided a simple and effective clamping means connected to the cap which nay be clampedkabout the cord to take this s ram.

the leads and the binding posts or causes As indicated above, this clamp comprises i the two elements 17, which, in the construcportions 20 preferably curved to engage the curved walls of the cable, and they have feet 16 projecting at substantially right angles to these clamplng portions. These feet are seated in the recesses 15 in the end of the body member 10 and are adapted to slide in andv out Iin these recesses to allow for movement of the clamping elements as they are clamped about the cord or loosened therefrom. These feet are retained in the recesses by the end wall 21 of a metal shell or casing 22, which.

inthe present construction encloses the body member 10. It will be apparent from 3 that the feet 16 are located between the end wall 21 and the bottom of the recesses and are,.therefore, held against separation from the cap by this shell or casing, but are allowed to move toward and from the cable in tightening'and loosening the clamping screws. A convenient means of securing thls .shell to the body member is to bend over its free end 23 ovei` theopposite end of the body member, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This shell also provides a protective armor for the body of the cap to protect it against screws 25, each of which has threaded engagelnent with one of these ear's. It Will be apparent that after the connection of the leads 123 are made to the binding posts tl `e clamping elements 17 may be securely clamped about the cord or cable by tlghtening upon the screws, the proper .movement. being secured by the feet 16 sliding 1n the recesses 15. This clamp Will provide a very tight grip on the cable, eifectively taking all strain or pull on the cable and preventing it from reaching the connection between the leads and the binding posts, so that there is no chance of this strain breaking the connections or working them loose. To facilitate the insertion of the cable between the clamping elements the upper ends otl the clamping portion 20. are flared outwardly somewhat, as indicated at 26. vIt will be obvious that the clamp may be as easily released for disconnecting the cap or any other similarly connected electrical device from the cable by merely loosening the screws 25. It will also be apparent that the clamp is very simple in construction and is not liable to be easily gotten out of order.

I-Iaving thus set forth the nature ot' my invention, what I claim is:

l. In a device of the character described, an insulating body member having an opening, binding posts mounted on one side of said member, said member being provided with aligned recesses on the opposite side. a pair of clamping members having laterally extending feet slidable in said recesses, means for securing the feet to the body member, an insulated cord between the clamping members and having lead wires extentfling through said opening to the binding posts, and means for clamping the clamping members on the cord to secure the body member thereto.

2. In a device of the character described, an insulating body member, binding posts carried thereby, said body being provided with an opening leading to the binding posts and aligned recesses on opposite sides ot the opening, a pair of clamping elements having laterally extending feet mounted tol slide in said recesses, a shell secured to the body member and extending over saidfeet to retain them in the recesses. said shell having an opening and the clamping elements having clamping'portions extending through said openings, an insulating cord having leads connected to the binding posts, and means for clamping the clamping portions on opposite sides ofthe cord to secure them together.

3. In a device of the character described, an insulating body member having an opening. binding posts carried by said member, a shell or casing member enclosing the body member and having an opening in alignment with the opening in the body member, a pair of clamping elements having laterally extending feet between the body member and shell member and clamping portions adapted to engage an electric conductor cable or cord extending through said openings, means'on one of the members lforming guides for the feet to guide them for lateral reciprocation, means for clamping said portions on the cable orcord, and means for securing the shell to the body member."

4:. In a device of the character described, an insulating body member having an opening and aligned recesses on opposite sides of said opening. binding posts carried by said member, a pair of clamping elements having clamping portions and `feet extending at an angle to said portions and mounted to slide in said recesses, a shell enclosing the body member and secured thereto, said shell having an opening for said clamping portions and arranged toI retain th feet in the recesses, and screws in said clamping portions to clamp them on opposite sides of an electric conducting cable `or cord.

5. In a device of the character described, an insulating body member, binding posts carried thereby, said body having an opening leading to said posts, clamping elements having laterally extending vfeet, means on the body member forming guides for said feet t0 guide them for lateral reciprocation, and a casingconnected to the body member and arranged to secure said feet'to said member.

6. In a device of the character described, an insulating body member, binding posts carried thereby, clamping elements having laterally extending feet, means on the body member forming guides for said feet to guide them for lateral reeiprocation, and a casing connected to the body member and arranged to secure said feet to said member.

7. In a device of the character described, an insulating body member, binding posts carried thereby, said body having an opening leading to said posts, clamping elements having laterally extending feet, and a casing member connected to the body member and arranged to secure said feet to said body member, one of said members having recesses to receive said feet and in which they are slidable to permit lateral movement of the clamping members toward and from each other.

8. In a device of the character described, a body member, binding posts carried by said member, a clamp comprising separate elements having lateral extending feet, a casing member enclosing the body member and secured thereto to secure said feet to said member. one'o'f said members being provided with guides for saidfi'ieet and cooperating with the side edges thereof to guide the clamping elements for movement Ytoward yand from each other and prevent their turning relative to said member, and means for clamp'- ing said elements on opposite sides of an feet are mounted to slide, said clamping ele- 10 electric conducting cable. ments having clamping portions adapted 9. In a device ofthe character described, an to be arranged on opposite sides of an ininsulating body member, binding posts carsulating cord having leads connected to the 5 ried thereby, a pair of clamping elements binding posts, and means for clamping said having laterally extending feet, a shell memclamping portions on opposite sides of the 15 Aber secured to said body member and extendcord. e ing over said feet, one of said members being In testimony whereof I ailix m signature. provided with aligned recesses in which said HARVEY H BBELL.