US1796742A - Electric connecter - Google Patents

Description

17, 1931. E" BALTZLEY 1,796,742

ELECTRIC CONNECTER Filed March 17, 1928 INVEN TOR.

I X TTORNEY Patented Mar.'17, 1931 PATENT OFFICE LOUIS E. BALTZLEY, F GLEN RIDGE, NEW JERSEY ELECTRIC CONNECTER Application filed March 17, 1928.

I This invention relates particularly to quick detachably connecters of the cord plug type, in which separation can be effected-by a pull on the cord. The detachment of the plug inthis fashion places 'a strain on the electrical conductors, tends to loosen the binding posts and in some cases results in injury to the receptacle or other apparatus with which the-plug is connected.

Special objects of the invention are to overcome these objections and to make it possi ble to quickly and positively effect the separation of the plug from'the companion circuit member without straining the parts and, in the case of portable apparatus, such as an electric percolator, pressing iron or. the, like,

by a single handed operation and without disturbing or displacing'such apparatus.

The foregoing and other desirable objects are attained by certain'novel features of construction, combinations and relations of parts, as illustrated in' the accompanying drawing and broadly covered in the follow-' ing specification and claims.

y In the drawing several diiferent embodiments of the invention are illustrated, but it will be understood that thestructure may be modified and changed without departure from the true spirit and basic scope of the invention. I

-Figure 1 is a plan and part sectional view of'a form of the invention embodied in a plug such as used with an electric coffee percolator or the like. v

Figure 2 is a sectional View as on line 55 of Figure 1, illustrating the .ejector or separator in the position'it occupies after effecting separatio Figure 3 is a part sectional view taken as on the central line of separation of the plug and illustrating the thrust piece in the form of a sliding ribbon guided in a curved path between the upperand lower members of the plug body.

4 Figure 4 is a sectional viewlofflthe latter Serial No. 262,433.

of the type employed with electric percolators and the like and are shown as made up of companion insulating base sections 23 secured together by screws 24: and containing spring contact socket members 25, 26, set in correspondingly shaped recesses 27 between the insulating blocks in position to receive the pro ecting contact pins 28 on the percolator or other electrical device 29 which forms the companion connecting element of the plug.

In these particular forms of the invention, the separating means is made in two parts, positioned to act against the contact pins of the other member of the coupling and actuated by push buttons positioned to be gripped between a thumb and finger of one hand. i

The separating devices shown in Figures 1 and 2 consist of narrow blades or bars 30 of generally triangular shape, each pivoted in one corner on a pin 31 and having one end projecting inwardly with a rounded cam surface 32 to engage the tip of thecontact'pin and a shorter arm 33 slidingly engaging a .slot '34 in the head 35 at the inner end of a push button 36. These push buttons project from opposite sides of the plug, being guided in cooperating concavities 37 formed in the meeting faces of the blocks. The separating levers 30 are similarly guided in flat cooperating recesses 38 in the opposing faces of the blocks and the pivot pins 31 may simply be loose pins extending through the levers into seats formed in the opposing faces of 85 the blocks.

The pin ejecting arm of the lever is guided and at the same time frictionally retained in position by extending in between the two spring socket members 25, 26 of the contact. As the plug is engaged with the member with which it is designed to cooperate, it will be .seenthat the contact pins will. push back the separating levers into the position indicated in Figure 1 with the push buttons fully exposed at the sides of the plug and that to separate the plug it is simply necessary to pinch the push buttons together between the thumb and forefinger of one hand, this-action rocking the levers and causing them by en? gagement with the ends of the pins to, positively push the plug away from the other member of the circuit.

In the form ofthe invention shown in Figures 3 and 4, the separating members are inthe form of ribbons or strips 39, working in curvilinear guide-slots 40, extending inwardly from opposite sides of the plug and thence longitudinally so as to bring the ends each spring contact 41 is split longitudinally at 42 and slotted longitudinally at 43 to provide spring contact tongues 44 for gripping the contact pins each at 'four difi'erent substantially equally spaced points or lines of contact. The slots 42 also provide a passageway for the inner ends of the strips or ,flexible plungers. The intermediate curved por- 'tionsof these plungers are longitudinally slotted as indicated at 45 to receive the base or shank portions of the contacts 41.

In the described forms of the invention, the separatingmechanism is entirely housed Within the plug structure and can be incorporated in the plug, without materially adding tot-he weight or bulk of the plug. The

parts also arequite inexpensive and easily assembled. Inthe form shown in Figures 1 and 2, where the separating arm of the thrust lever slides between the opposing socket contacts, said contacts are kept clean and bright by such wiping action.

The opposed push buttonsprovide a convenient-grip for handling the plug and as they sink into thesides of the plug, let the fingers which actuate them, come ,to rest against the solid side portions of the plug.

What is claimed is:

' 1 1. In electric connecters, a plughaving cord terminals and. contacts, substantially oppositely disposed actuators on said .plug and means operated thereby to positively'shift said plug away from a companion member with which the pl is engageable.

2. A cord termi al plug having a circuitcontact, a plug shifting lever pivoted in said plug to exert thrust in one direction against part of a cooperating member with which the plug may be engaged and a push button operating at an angle to the direction of thrust of said lever for positively operating said lever" to thrust said plug away from the member "with which it cooperates.

3. As a new article of manufacture, an electric connector plug body, a manually operable push button guided for movement in said plug body, a separator mounted in the plug body for operation'by said push button and a contact mounted in the plug body and guiding said separator for movement in a direction to exert a separating thrust against a portion of a member with which said connector plug is designed to cooperate.

4. As an article of manufacture, an electric connector plug having a separator movably mounted therein and provided with external operating means and a contact in the plug having a guiding engagement with said separator and directing said separator in a line of travel to exert a separating thrust against a portion of a member with which the plug is intended to cooperate.

5. As anew article of manufacture, an electric connector plug having an exposed push button, an ejector operating within the plug and positioned to be actuated by said push button and a contact in the plug guiding said ejector to exert a separating thrust against a portion of a member with which the plug is designed to cooperate.

6. As a new article of manufacture, an electric connector plug having push buttons exposed at opposite sides of the same in position to be pinched between the fingers of one hand and plug separating means actuated by said push buttons to exert a separating thrust against-a portion'of a companion member to which .the plug is intended to be coupled.

7. In apparatus of the character disclosed, the combination with a member having a contact and a detachable plug member having a companion contact and separating means'carried by said plug member positioned and operating in said plug member to exert a positive separating thrust against the contact of the first member to effect separation of the plug from said first member.

8. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a member having pin ,contacts, a detachable 'plug having sockets to receive said pin contacts and carrying cooperating contacts in said sockets and plug separating means positioned and operating in the plug member to exert a positive endwise separating thrust against the pin contacts when thelatter are entered in the sockets of the plug.

9. In apparatus-of the character disclosed, a member having pin contacts; a detachable plug having sockets to receive said pin contacts and carrying cooperating contacts in said sockets and plug separating means positioned and operating in the plug to engage the pin contacts when the latter are entered in the sockets 'of the plug and exposed-push;

buttons on the plug for actuating said plug separating means.

10. A detachable cord plug having electric contact means for engagement with compan- ,contact means for engagement with comjpamon contact means of a member with which said plug is designed to cooperate, a separator operable in the plug to exert a longitudinal thrust against a portion of said cooperating member and transversely operable grip devices projecting at opposite sides of the plug and connected to operate said longitudinally thrusting separating means thereby enabling the separation of the plug to .be effected by a transverse pinching force such as would be exerted by the fingers of a hand encircling the plug, said separating vert a transverse movement thereon into a longitudinal thrust against the projecting contact.

15. In combination with an electrical device, having projecting contact pins, a separable connector plug socketed to engage over said contact pins and having contact elements to cooperate with said pins, movable separator means guided in the plug to engage the ends of said contact pins when the latter are entered in the plug and exposed actuating means for said separator means, said ejector means including rocking levers pivoted in the plug and angled to convert transverse movements thereon into longitudinal thrust movements against the contact ends.

16. A separable connector plug, comprising a plug body having contacts for engagement with cooperating contacts of an electrical device and angled levers pivoted in said plug body and provided with finger pieces at their outer ends and adapted to exert longitudinal separating thrusts at their inner ends.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LOUIS E. BALTZLEY.

means being guided and housed within the V plug at all times, the plug having a contact socket to receive a projecting contact of the cooperating device and said ejecting means being guided for movement in line with said contact socket to thereby engage a projecting contact entered in said contact socket.

12. In combination with an electrical device having a projecting contact, a separable connector plug socketed to receive said projecting contact and having a contact element to cooperatively engage the projecting contact when the latter is entered in the socket of the plug, a separator guided in the plug for engagement with the projecting contact when the latter is entered in the plug socket and exposed operating means for said separator. V

' 13. In'combination with an electrical device, havingprojecting contact pins, a separable connector plug socketed to engage over said contact pins and having contact el'e mentsto cooperate with said pins, movable separator means guided-in the'plug to en gage the ends of said contact pins when the latter are entered in the plug and exposed actuating means for said separator means. 7 14. In combination with an electrical device having a projecting contact, a separable connector plug socketed to receive said projecting contact and having a contact element to cooperatively engage the projecting contact when the latter is entered in the socket of the plug, a separator guided in the plug for engagement with the projecting contact when the latter is entered in the plug socket and exposed.operating means for said separator, said separator including a rocking lever pivoted in the plug and angled to con-

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