US1858197A

US1858197A - Electric plug connecter

Info

Publication number: US1858197A
Application number: US261780A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hugo H Wermine
Original assignee: Belden Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Belden Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1928-03-15
Filing date: 1928-03-15
Publication date: 1932-05-10
Anticipated expiration: 1949-05-10

Description

, May 10, 1932. H. H. WERMINE. 1,858,197

ELECTRIC PLUG CONNECTER Filed March 15, 1928 Patented May 10, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE A,

HUGO H. WERMINE, OF VILLA PARK,ILLINOIS, ASSIGN '10 BELIDEN MANUFACTUR- ING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS ELECTRIC PLUG YCONNEGIEB This invention relates to electric plug connecters and particularly to a portable separable plug connecter such as is used for connecting an electrical device to an electric current supply line.

One object of the invention is to provide a practically unbreakable connecter plug of simple construction which can be economically manufactured at a low cost. Another object is to provide a connecter of the above described type which formed of but a few parts of relatively simple constriwtion and which may be easily assembled to form the complete plug. Still another object of this invention is to provide means in a plug connccter of the type above mentioned for preventing displacement of the contact elements, and to prevent accidental short circuits within the connecter plug.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a connector plug in which the connections between the conducters and contacts are entirely enclosed within the plug. Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which drawings I have illustrated my invention as applied to a male plug connecter.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the front end .of the connecter.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section through the main body portion of the plug and corresponds to the section shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section on an enlarged the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an elevation showing a step in the assembly of the connector plug.

Fig. 7 is an elevation on an enlarged scale scale on of an element of the plug, and

Fig. 8 is asection on the line 8--8 of Fig.7.

Referring now to the drawings, my improved electric plug connector includes a main body member 10 eferably of resilient insulating material sudhas' rubber, a closure plug 11 also preferably of rubber, and a pair of

contact prongs

12 and 13. The main body member 10 is preferably formed with an enlarged front end portion 14 and an elon ated shank portion 15, through which hea and shank portions an aperture 16 extends. The front end of the aperture 16 is preferably enlarged as at 17 so as to provide a forwardly facing annular seat 18. The wall 19 of the enlarged portion 17 of the aperture is preferably undercut as shown at 20 so as to provide an annular shoulder 21 adjacent the front end of the body member, the front end of the shoulder 21 being preferably beveled as shown at 22 for a purpose which will presently appear.

T 1e parallel inner end portions of the

contact prongs

12 and 13 respectively fit in long narrow parallel recesses 24 and 25 provided in the front end portion of the body member 10. The recesses 24 and 25 are located in the seat 18 and are preferably spaced radially outwardly away from the aperture 16 and are disposed substantially diammetrically opposite each other.

Portions

26 and 27 of the body member are disposed intermediate the aperture 16 and the respective receses, and t we portions are notched as shown at 28 and 29 for facilitating connection of electricconductors to the respective contact prongs. Each of the contactprongs is preferably provided with means in the form of

screws

30 and 31 having relatively large heads and threaded into the respective contact members so that the ends of the

conductors

32 and 33 may be clamped against the contact prongs.

The portions of the

conductors

32 and 33 adjacent the respective contact prongs extend through the

notches

28 and 29 so that the conductors may be connected to the prongs without sharply bending the former. The conductors are preferably enclosed in a tubular casin or sheathing 34 of weatherproof insulating material such as rubber, thereby forming a du lex conductor cord and the same is preferab y built up so as to be substantially round in cross section, so that the aperture 16 in the body member will be practically filled by the cord. The

thin wall ortions

26 and 27 are supported or reinorced by the interposed end portions of the duplex cord. The shank 15 may be provided adjacent its outer or rear end with an annular inwardly pro'ecting shoulder 35, which shoulder will be e active to fit snugly about the duplex cord and serve to produce a practically weatherproof joint between the rear end of the shank and the cord.

The closure plug 11 is made to fit snugly within the enlarged portion 20 ofthe aperture in the body member, the sides 'of the plug being tapered so as to form an enlarged end portion 36 which will fit behind the annular shoulder 21 of the body member so that the plug or closure is interlocked with the body member. Thus, the parts are locked and maintained in assembled relation by reason of the su erior transverse dimension of a portion of t e body part 11 relative to the corresponding dimension of the front .end of the enlarged aperture portion 20. The closure is, in the present instance, provided with

grooves

37 and 38 on opposite sides which cooperate with grooves 39 and 40 which extend through the shoulder 21 of the body member, to receive the contact prongs. The grooves 39 and 40 in the body member are in effect continuations of the recesses 24 and 25 of the body member. The plug thus serves to close the grooves or recesses 39 and 40 and to cooperate therewith in positioning the re.-

spective prongs. The plug is also preferably provided with recesses 41 and 42 which receive the heads of the

bindin screws

30 and 31 which project inwardly rom the inner faces of the contact prongs 12 and 13. The body member 10 may also be recessed as indicated at 43 and 44 to receive the outer ends of the

binding post screws

30 and 31. A rib or fin 45 depending from the bottom of the closure lug 11 is provided for separating the con uctors as best shown in Fig. 2.

Recesses

46 and 47 are provided in the seat 18 of the plug to receive the opposite ends of the rib so that the conductors cannot work ast the ends of the rib, and thereby possi- Ely contact with each other within the connecter plug body.

It will be apparent that the closure plug 11 may be seated in the enlarged portion 17 of the aperture inthe body member because of the fact that the body member is, as above noted, formed of resilient materialsuch as rubber. Accordin to the present invention, I refer to make tie closure plug 11 alsoof ru her so that both' the closure and body por-.

tion are relatively distortable and assembling of the two parts is thereby facilitated. Obviously either part alone might be made of resilient or distortable material, while the other part is of firm or hard material. When the closure plug 11 is assembled or interlocked with the body member, it will be understood that the closure plug will not readily come out of its place. The contact prongs 12'and 13 are incidentally locked in place, that is, held against withdrawal from the plug because of the seating of the

heads

30 and 31 of the binding post screws in the recesses 41 and 42 of the closure plug.

It will be observed that the two

parts

10 and 11 when assembled, constitute a housing for the connection between the conductors and the prongs. The recesses in part 10 or the recesses in part 11, depending upon the method of assembly, serve to initially osition the pron s prior to the assembly 0 the two parts of t e housing.

'I am aware that changes may be made in the form construction and proportion of parts used in constructing a plug according to my invention without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which.

should be determined by reference to the following claims which I desire to have construed as broadly as possible consistent with the state of the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a connecter of the class described, the combination of a body member having an aperture extending therethrough and a recess in the front end of said body member, said recess being spaced radially outwardly and separated fromsaid aperture by a portion of the body member, a contact prong having its inner end portion seated in said recess, and its outer end portion projecting outwardly from the front end of the body member, a

conductor disposed in said aperture and connected to said contact prong and a closure member for the front end of said aperture,

serving with the body member to enclose the Ill) connection between the conductor and prong,

said closure member having interlocking engagement with the body member and said body member and closure member being relatively distortible so as topermit such inter locking parts to be so assembled.

2. In a connecter of the class described, the combination of a body member having an aperture extending therethrough and a recess in the front end of the body member, said recess extending longitudinally of the bodv member and being spaced radially outwardly and separated from said aperture by a portion of the body member, a substantially straight contact prong having its inner end portion seated in said recess and its outer end portion projecting outwardly beyond the rent end of the body member, an electric conductor extending thorugh said. aperture and having its inner end connected to said' contact prong, a closure member interlocked with said body member for closing the front end of said aperture, serving with said body member to enclose the connection between the conductor and prong, said closure member and body member being relatively distortible'so as to permit said'interlockmg parts to be so assembled. I v a 3. In a connecter of the class described, the combination of a body member having an being spaced radially outwardly and sepa-' rated from said aperture by a portion of the body member, a contact pron having its in nor end portion seated in sai recess, and its outer end portion projecting outwardly from the front end of the body member, a conductor disposed in said aperture, and connected to said contact prong, and a closure member for the front end of said aperture, secured to said body member and serving with the latterto enclose the connectioii" between said conductor and contact prong.

4. In a connecter of the class described, the combination of a body member having an aperture extending therethrough and a recess extending substantially parallel with said aperture and openin to the front end of said body member, said recess being separated from the aperture in the body member by 'a portion of the latter, a contact prong having its inner end portion-seated in said recess, a conductor disposed in said aperture, means projecting from the contact prong for connecting the forward end of said conductor to said contact prong, and a closure for the front end of said aperture, said closure being secured to said body member and provided-with a recess for receiving said connecting means and thereby serving to prevent endwise'displacement of the contact prong.

5. n a connecter of the class described, the combination of a body member of resilient insulating material, said body member having an aperture extending therethrough and a forwardly opening recess in its front end portion, said. recessextending lengthwise of the body member and being separated from said aperture by a portion of said body member intermediate the recess and aperture, a contact prong having its inner end portion removably seated in said recess and having its outer end portion projecting outwardly from the front end of the body member, a conductor disposed in said aperture and connectedto said contact prong, and'means interlocked with said body member, serving to prevent displacement of said contact prong.

6. In a connecter of the class described, the combination of a body member having an aperture extending .therethrough, the front end portion of said body member being provided with an undercut annular shoulder substantially concentric with the front end of said aperture, and said body member also being rovided with a recess disposed substantia ly parallel with said aperture, opening towards the front end of the body member, and separted from the aperture by a portion of the body member disposed intermediate the recess and aperture, a contact prong having its inner, end portiondisposed in said recess and its outer end portion projecting outwardly from the front end of the body member, a conductor disposed in said aperture and connected to said prong, and a closure for the front end of said aperture interlocked with said undercut annular shoulder, said body member and closure being relatively distortible and thereby permitting said interlocked parts to be assembled.

7. In a connecter of the class described, the combination of a body member havin an aperture extending therethrough, the ront end portion of said body member being provided with an undercut annular shoulder substantially concentric with the front end of said aperture, and said body member also being provided with a recess disposed substan-' tially parallel with said aperture, opening towards the front end of the body member, and a separated from the aperture by a portion of the body member disposed intermediate the recess and aperture, a contact prong having its inner end portion disposed in said recess and its outer end portion projecting outwardly from the front end of the body member,fa conductor disposed in said aperture, means projecting radially inwardly from said contact prong for connecting the front end of said conductor to said contact prong, and a closure for the front end of said aperture interlocked with said undercut annular shoulder and provided with a recess for receiving said connecting means, thereby locking said contact prong against outward endwise displacement, said body member and closure being relatively distortible and thereby permit-ting said interlocked parts to be assemled. 8. In a connecter of the class described, the combination of a body member having an aperture extending therethrough, an undercut annular shoulder adjacent the front end of the body member and a forwardly facing annular seat spaced rearwardly from said shoulder, said bodymember being providedwith a recess extending substantially parallel no i with said aperture and opening forwardly through said annular seat, said recess being separated from the aperture by a portion of. the body member disposed intermediate said aperture and recess, a contact prong having its inner end portion seated in said'recess and its outer portion projecting forwardly ,from the front end of said body member, a

conductor disposed in said aperture and having its front end connected to said cont-act prong, a closure for the front end of said aperture comprising a member adapted to be seated on said outwardly facing seat and interlocked with said undercut shoulder, the latter being efi'ective to maintain the closure seated on said annular seat and said closure and body member being relatively distortible so as to permit said interlocked parts to be SO assembled.

lie

9. In a connecter of the class described the combination of a body member of resilient insulating material, said body member having an aperture extending therethrough and a pair of diametrically oppositely disposed re cesses adjacent the front end of the body member and spaced radially outwardly from said aperture, a relatively thin wall of material being disposed intermediate eac the same, the adjacent ends of'the conductors of sa-id duplex cord being respectively connected to said contact prongs, and a closure J for the front end of said aperture, interlocked with said bodymember and serving with said body member to enclose the connections between said conductors and contact prongs.

walls so as to support bodyh opening on opposite sides thereof for receiving inner end portions of said contact prongs, said body parts cooperating to maintain said prongs in operative position.

12. In a connecter' of the class described, the combination of a body member of resil ient insulating material, said body, member aving an aperture extending therethrou h and a pair of diametrically, oppositely dlsposed recessesspaced rearwardly from the front end of the body member and spaced laterally outwardly from said aperture, contact prongs having inner end portions respectively seated in said recesses, and outer end portions projecting forwardly from the front end of the body member, a duplex conductor 'cord disposed in said aperture and having its front ends connected to said contact 10. In a connector of the class described,

the combination of a body member having an aperture extending therethrough, an undercut annuular shoulder adjacent the front end of the body member and a forwardly recesses adjacent the from the front end of the bod contact to maintain such I assembly an 3 body being provided wit an 0 and receiving a duplex electric facing seat spaced rearwardly from said shoulder, said body beingprovided with a pair of diametrically oppositely disposed front end of thebody member and aperture, contact prongs having inner end portions respectively seated in said recess and outer end portions-projecting forwardly y membe pair of conductors disposed in said aperture and having their front ends respectivel conspaced outwardly from -said said prongs, and a closure for the frontend of aperture, interlocked with said body member and serving therewith to enclose the connection between said conductors and contact prongs.

' HUGO .H. WERMINE; I no 'r, a I

nected to said-contact prongs within the body member,

and a, closure for the; front end'of said aperture, seated on said outward- 1y facing seat and interlocked with said annular shoulder, said closure being provided Witha 'fin extending inwardly therefrom for preventing contacting of the front ends of the respective conductors, and said body member being provided 'with o positely disposed recesses opening to sai seat for receiving opposite end portions of said fin, I .11. Anelectric plug connecter comprisin a body and a pair of independent, space" prongs projecting from the front end of said body, said body including'a plurality of independent parts, one of which is an outer member formed of resilient, substantially" non-breakable, insulating material, and ar-" ranged to interlockwith another body part the resilient art disassembl of said parts, said pening fitting and with seats spaced radially from said parts in assembled relation, eing distortible to permit conductor