US1694239A - Electrical binding post - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 4, 1928. 1,694,239

0. H. THONSEN ELECTRICAL BINDING POST Filed May 2 9, 1925 mm! EHWZSEIZ Patented Dec. 4, 1928.

"UNITED STATES CHARLES H. TI-IONSEN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ELECTRICAL BINDING POST.

Application filed May 29, 1925. Serial No. 33,?l2.

This invention relates to improvements in electrical binding posts. The principal object of the invention resides in a binding post or connector, to which an electrical wire may be quickly attached or removed. 7

Another object resides'in a binding post which includes a stationary part and a movable spring pressed part normally eoacting with the stationary part to clamp a conductor wire therebetween, and a means for holding the movable part against the action of the spring and out of clamping engagement with the stationary part to allow a person to use both hands for positioning the wire for connection. Heretofore, in binding posts of this type it has been necessary to hold the movable part with one hand and apply the wires to the binding post with the other hand.

A further object is the provision of abinding post which is simple in construction cheap of manufacture and easy of operation.

. With these and other objects in View, the

invention resides in certain novel construction and combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter fully described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved binding post showing the manner of locking an electric conductor thereto.

Figure 2 is a similar view but showing the clamping member locked in a raised position.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View therethrough showing the parts in the same position as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional View on the line H of Figure 1 with the conductor removed.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a slightly modified form of locking means.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the reference numeral 10 designates my improved binding post in its entirety and which includes a stationary part 11 and a co-acting movable part 12.

The stationary part 11 comprises a post 13 provided with a head 1 1 at one end and an annular flange 15 fixed thereto at its other end. The flange 15 is adapted to rest flat against a support 16, when applied for use and is held thereagainst by a screw 17 c0- acting with the threads of a recess 18 in the lower end of the post, and which screw passes through a support 16. A conductor wire 19 has one of its ends held between the head of the screw and the adjacent surface of the support and which constitutes one of the pair of conductor wires adapted to be electrically connected. The post 13 and the screw 17 areof a conducting material for transmitting the current to a readily removable wire 20, the free end of which passes through a horizontally disposed opening 21 in the post 13 disposed above the flange 15. If desired, the wires may be twisted about the post when making the connection but this is optional.

The wire 20 is held in clamped position with the stationary part by the movable part and which latter includesa clamping member 22 of insulating material and which is slidable over the post. 13. The member is cup shaped in cross section and has its inner walls cylindrical for receiving the annular head 14. The member is normally held in clampingengagement with the wire 20 by an expansion spring 23 which encircles the post 13 and is interposed between the head 14 and the lower end wall of the member. The clamping member 22 is held under pressure against the wire 20 when the connection has been effected and prevents the wire 20 from accidentally becoming separated from the post.

In order to hold'the clamping member 22 in a raised position against the action of the spring 28, I provide the head 14 of the post with an outwardly projecting pin 24, movable in a cam shaped slot 25 formed in the side wall. of the member. The walls of the slot are disposed diagonally with respect to the vertical axis of the clamping member, while a relatively horizontal slot 26 communicates with the cam slot 25 for receiving and holding the pin after the cap member has been moved to a raised position. It will be seen that by applying rotary movement of the cap member in one direction, the inclined walls of the cam slot will cause the member to rise against the action of the spring and upon the limit of the turning movement, the pin will be disposed in the horizontal slot 26, thus locking the member in an elevated positiomto-permit the wire 20 to be inserted or removed from the post 13 without requiring the use of one hand of the operator in holding the member in a raised position, while grasping the wire with the other hand.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that when the clamping member is in a lowered position, the wire 20 is securely fastened to the post and assures a positive connection of the wire which prevents the same from working loose.

In Figure 5 of the drawings, I have shown a slightly modified form of locking means, which is quite similar to that shown in the preferred form, but wherein the pin 24 enters a bayonet slot 27 formed in the side wall of the clamping member. In this form, it is necessary to lift the clamping member vertically until the pin aligns with the horizontal portionoi' the bayonet slot and then impart a slight turning movement thereto. It will be remembered that in the preferred form, it was necessary to impart only a rotary movement to the clamping member which automatically causes the raising of the clamping member.

\Vhile I have described whatI deem to be the most desirable embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that many of the details may be varied without in any way departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore do not limit myself to the exact details of construction herein set forth nor to anything less than the whole of my invention limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is i 1. An electrical connector comprising a post having a head, attaching means for securing said post to a support, a clamping member slidable over said post, said post provided with an opening for the reception of one end of the wire to be connected, a spring interposed between said head and one end of said clamping member, and co-acting means between said head and said clampin member for automatically lifting and holding said clamping member in a raised position against the action of the spring upon rotation of said clamping member, said co-acting means including an inclined slot provided in said clamping member and disposed at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said post, and a pin carried by said post and extending into said slot, said slot having an angular ofi'set at one endthereof.

A binding post for electrically connecting the ends of a pair of conductor wires comprising a post having a head, attaching means for securing said post to a support and b which one of the wires is adapted to be hel a clampin member slidable over said post and rotatable thereon, said post having a wire receiving opening therein for the other of the wires to be connected, an expansion spring interposed between said head and one end of said clamping member, andco-acting means between said head and said clamping member for locking said clamping member in a raised position against the action of said spring upon the manual movement of said clamping member to the limit of its outward movement and upon partial rotation thereof.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

CHARLES H. THONSEN.

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