US1913072A

US1913072A - Plug for electrical connections

Info

Publication number: US1913072A
Application number: US473663A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert W Dunlap
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1930-08-07
Filing date: 1930-08-07
Publication date: 1933-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 1950-06-06

Description

\ J P'J EZ W,

June 6, 1933. R, w. DUNLAP 1,913,072

PLUG FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS Filed Aug. '7, 1930 ATTORN EY Patented June 6, 1933 UNITED STATES ROBERTW. pUnLAr, or WASHINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA- PLUG FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS Application filed August 7, 1930. Serial No. 473,663.

This invention relates to plugs for electrical connections. I

Great difiiculty has been experienced in finding the correct position of the prong terminals of an electric cord for application to a pair of passages in a plug which has been screwed into the usual socket in a baseboard of a room and this is particularly true where the light is insufficient to make the openings or passages suificiently distinct. An object of the present invention is to provide some means on the plug and terminal which will indicate to-the operator the correct position of the prongs for insertion into the passages in the plugs.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a plug and terminal having prongs for insertion into openings in the plug with flattened portions on both the plug and the terminal which may be grasped by the fingers in order that the terminal may be held in such a position that the prongs will be readily forced into the openings in the plug.

This invention Wlll be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, in view of the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification; nevertheless it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, being asusceptible of such changes and modifications which shall define no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a view in perspective of the plug and terminal constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention applied to a socket, and

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of a plugand terminal showing the method for ready application of the terminals to the plug.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, it will be seen that anordinary plug 10 is employed which has the usual beading 11 at its outer end and which is ordinarily grasped by the finger in screwing the plug into the usual socket 12 formed in the Wall 13 of a room. This socket is embraced by an opening 14 formed in a plate 15 which is connected to the wall in any approved manner. The plug has the usual openings '16 in which are located metal contact members 17.

It will be noted that the beading 11 is provided at diametrically opposite points with flattened portions adapted to be engaged by the fingers and this will indicate to the operator the position of the opening 16. Instead of the flattened portions 20 any form of indicating means may be employed for the purpose.

As shown in Fig. 2 these indicating members 20 are located at diametrically opposite points and in a line which is at right angles to a line passing through the openings 7 A terminal 25 of the usual type is connected to wires mounted in a sheath 26 and the wires are connected between the prongs 27 and 28 and some electrical fixture.

The terminal is formed of insulated material and has a rim 30 with portions 31 flattened to correspond to the portions 20 of the plug 10 so that when the members 20 and 31 are aligned the prongs 27 and 28 will be aligned with the opening '16 in the plugs It will be noted by this construction that no difiiculty will be experienced in applying the prongs 27 and 28 to the openings 16'.

since it is only necessary that the flattened portions 31 which are grasped by the fingers of the right hand and the flattened portions 20 which are grasped by the fingers of the left hand will be properly aligned so thatthe prongs 27 and 28 Wlll move into the openings 16 in the plug 10.

It will be appreciated that while the flattened portions 'or indicating members 31 and 20 are located in lines which are parallel to lines passing respectively through the prongs 27 and 28 and the opening 16, these indicators may be located in planes which are at right angles to the position illustrated. It is merely sufiieient, however, that the registering indicators be so positioned that r 20 which are 60 when they are aligned the prongswill be in the proper position to be received by the' openings 16.

Instead of the members 10 and 30 of the electrical connection having opposite portions flattened, a single flattened portion or indicating means may be formed on each I member so that when the indicating means on said members have been aligned the prongs 27 and 28 will be in proper position to be received within the passages 17. on the other hand the flattened portions may be applied only to the member 30 so that when said member has been grasped, the operator will know the position of the prongs and will be able to readily insert the prongs Within the passages 17 1 I claim:

A combined plug and terminal connection for electrical fixtures, the plug having spaced passages, the. terminal having prongs adapted to be inserted into the passages, the plug. and terminal being provided with flattened portions on the outer surfaces for alinement to determine the positions of the prongs relative to the passages for facilitating the insertion of the prongs into the passages, the flattened portions being located inwardly of the contour of the plug and terminal in order to neatly receive the fingers of the operator.

ROBERT W. DUNLAP.