US2028367A - Electric connecter - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 21, 1936. H. H. WERMINE 2,028,367

l v ELECTRIC CONNECTER Filed sept.r 4, 1929 2 sheets-sheet i Jan. 2l, 1936. H. H. WERMINE 2,28,367

' ELECTRIC CONNECTER Filed Sept. 4, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hugof Wernu'fw W *faggi/5.

Patented Jan. 21, 1936 UNITED ISTATES PATENT CF1-ICE lELECTRIC CONNECTER Hugo 1I. Wermine., Villa Park, lll., assignor to Belden Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application September 4, 1929,Serial No. 390,322'

9 Claims. (Cl. 173-361) This invention relates to electric connccters such as separable electric connecters and the principal objects of the invention are to provide a strong and durable connecter structure which will be practically unbreakable and which will be particularly adapted for heavy duty service as, for instance, in shops and other industrial applications. 'I

Other objects and advantages of the invention will b e understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying two sheets ,of drawings in which I have illustrated a connecter embodying a selected form of my invention, certain modifications or adaptations being also shown.'

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the axis of a connecter, the section being taken in a plane extending through the contact prongs.

Fig. 2 is also a sectional 'view taken through the axis of the connecter but on a plane at right angles tothe plane of the section of Fig. 1, and certain parts being .shown in elevation to facilitate illustranon. e I

Figs. 3 and 4 are sections on the lines 3-3 and 4,-4 respectively of Fig. 1.- l

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate the connecter of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive as modified to form a three contact connecter such as is required for three wire circuits, Fig. being an end elevation, Fig. 6 an axial section similar to Fig. 2,.a`nd Fig. 7 a section on the line 1--1 of Fig. 6.

Figs.v 8 and 9 are sectional illustrations similar to Figs. 1 and 2 of a female connecter structure embodying the principles of my invention, and

Referring now to the drawings, amale connecter plug embodying the features of my invention is shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive and includes a main body part ,I 2 whichgincludes a rear or shank part I3 and a front, casing or housing part I4. The shankpart I3 is tubular as shown, and provided with an openin I5 at its end which is adapted to snugly fit a conductor cord I6. In

r the present instance, I contemplate using a rubber or like covered cord I6 which is substantially circular in cross-section and will snugly fit the opening I5. i y y The front part of the main body member I2 is in the nature of a recessed or hollowed out enlargement of the shank which forms an out .ardly facing shoulder Il at the bottom of the recess, i. e. where the enlarged recessv inthe housing portion meets the bore of the shank. The shoulder portion of the main body part I2 is provided with sockets suchas I8 for receiving the inner ends I9 of contact prongs 20T-20. The inner ends of the contact prongs are -thus positioned with respect to the main body partand also with respect toieach other.

The Contact prongs 20 are provided with longitudinally spaced ears2| and 22 which extend laterally inwardly from the respective prongs as clearly shown in Fig. 4. Binding posts or screws 23 engage threaded apertures in the respective contact prongs, preferably between the ears 2| of each of the prongs, these binding posts serving to facilitate connection of electric conductors such as 24 to the respective prongs.

Because of the desirable width of the conductor receiving bore in the shank, the inner end portions of the Contact prongs are spaced apart somewhat more than the standard spacing of contact prongs. In order that the outer end portions of ,the prongs be spaced the said standard distance apart, the contactfprongs are offset inwardly or towards each other as indicated at 25 so that the outer end portions 26 thereof are brought into the desired position relative to each other.

For ,further supporting the contact prongs, I provide an auxiliary body member 2l which is in the form of a plug adapted to t in the bore or recess of the casing part Il of the main body member, the said plug part being provided with suitable recesses for receiving parts of the contact prongs and with openingsy for permitting the contact prongs to' project outwardly from the` outer end of the plug. lAs shown in Figs. 1' to 4 inclusive, the-plug 21 is in the form of a cylindrical lower or inner part 28 and an enlarged outer or top part 29 which is further provided with an annular rib'30. The rib 30 fits into a groove 3| provided in the outer end of the main body part so that the two body parts are interlocked, one with the other and thus maintained against separation. Oneof the body parts is made of resilient material such as rubber so as to be capable o'f being distorted to permit assembling of said parts, or both parts may be made of such resilient material. In the present instance, I have shown both body parts as being made of resilient Above the comparatively wide recess 32, the plug part 29 is provided with narrower recesses 34, ap-

proximately the same width as the width of the contact prongs. The recesses 34 terminate short of the outer end of the plug part so as to leave a comparatively thin end wall portion 35, the latter being provided' with openings 36 through which the prongs 20-20 extend outwardly beyond the end of the plug. 'Ihe reduced width recess 34 communicateswith the wide recess 32, incidently forming inwardly or downwardly facing shoulders such as 31 which are adapted to be engaged by the upper edges of the ears 2l of the contact prong, to thereby limit outward endwise displacement of the said contact prong. The lower or inner contact prong ears 22 are seated on `the shoulder I1 so as to prevent inward endwise displacement of the prongs and also to prevent the extreme inner'ends of the contact prongs from gradually and continuallycutting further and further into the shank.

` The spaced arrangement of the ears 2| and 22 serves to'provide convenient means for securing the conductor and contact prongs together. As shown in F'igs. 1 and 2, the conductors separate upon leaving the main portion of the conductor, each extending upwardly and through the respective plug recesses inside of the respective contact prongs. The conductor is brought outwardly between the said ears and across the front of the contact prong, and then turned inwardly and upwardly where it is secured to the 'contact prong through the agency of the binding the outer and inner body parts is effectively prevented.

In the triple prong connecter structure shown in Figs. 5 to 'I inclusive, theinner or plug body portion 21a is provided with three recesses 32 which lreceive contact prongs in substantially the same manner as the contact prongs are received in the plug part 21 of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive.v However, in a triple prong connecter, two of thel prongs 26a a.nd.26b are arranged with theinwidths extending, transversely of 'radii or parallel with tangents of theplug, and the third contact prong 26 isA arranged with its width extending radially of the plug. The contact prong 26 is twisted intermediate its length and preferably above the upper ears as indicated at 39 so that the lower or inner portion ofthe contact prong has the same relation to the plug body as the inner portions oi the other contact prongs. As shown in Fig. 7, the ears 2li* whichcorrespond to the ears 2l in the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 4, may be bent inwardly'to'ilt snugly in the recesses 32a and they may be made of such length that they will serve to position the prongs transversely by engaging the bottom ofthe respective recesses.

In Figs. 8 to l0 inclusive, I have'shown a female connecter structure which includes an outer body "part 40 similar in general characteristics to the outer body part I2 of the male connecter'.

structure, contacts of a different type are provided. In this instance, the contacts are in the form of clips which are formed of like but oppositely facing resilient members 42 and 43, the

' lower end portions 'of which are preferably flat spring clips which will grip the prongs of a male connecter to form ygood electrical `connection therewith. The fiat lower end portions of the clip members 42 and 43 are permanently held in assembled relation bybeing disposed against a rigid metal piece 44 which is' provided with ears 45 which are bent inwardly' across the thicknesses of the clip members and then transversely across the inside face thereof as best shown in Fig.y 8. Binding post screws such as 46, threadedly engaging the rigid metal plate pieces 44 also serve to hold the clip members in assembled relation as will be readily understood from inspection of Figs. 8 and 10.`

'Ihe plug body 4| is provided with recesses 41 for receiving the respective clips, and the outer end of the plug is provided with openings such as 48 through which the prongs of a male connecter are adapted to be inserted into the recesses 41 and between the clip members. 'I'he conductors 49-49 of a duplex conductor cord are respectively connected to the clips in the recesses 41-41, the

conductors being separated initially by means of a spreader'pa-rt 5D formed integral with the plug body and then passed upwardly into recesses such as 5l at opposite sides of the plug, from which 'I recesses the conductors communicate with the recesses 41-41 through apertures 52--52 as clearly shown in Fig. 10.

For preventing disassembling of the plug part 4I and body part 40, the said parts are provided with interlocking connection which may conveniently consist oi an'annular flange or rib-like part 53 on the plug 4I, and an inwardly projecting annular flange or rib-like part 54 inthe mouth of the main body 40. One or both of the body parts may be made of resilient insulating machored against outward displacement by being seated at theirinner ends on the shoulder 51 in the main body part 40 and against outward endwise displacement, partly by engagement at their outer ends with the inside face of the plug wall,.55

adjacent the openings 48. For further preventing endwise displacement of the Contact elements,

the respective contact elements, after which thelatter are positioned in the recesses of the plug.

vThe plug, with the clip members in its recesses,

is then pressed inwardly into the housing part of the main body, the annular ribs or iianges 54 and 56 yielding suiliciently to permit the rib 53 of the` plug and outwardly projecting lips 55 to pass Vthe' same.

From the above description, it will be seen that I have provided a plug structure in which the parts are firmly supported, and in which there is practically no danger of breakage due to any contemplated l,are ordinarily subjected. I amv aware that changes may be made in the above described structure without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which should be determined by reference to the following claims, construing the same as broadly as possi-A ble consistent with the state ofthe art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an electric connecter, the combination of inner and outer body parts, the outer part having a recess for receiving the inner part, said parts having interlocking engagement maintaining the 'same in assembled relation` and oneI of said body parts being-made of resilient material so as to be distortable to perrit assembling of said parts in said interlocked relation, said inner body part having a longitudinally extending recess in its inner end portion and an opening in its outer end yportion communicating with said recess, and a contact member disposed in said recess and provided with means engaging said inner body part at the outer end of said recess and said outer body part at the bottom of the recess therein, thereby to prevent endwise displacement of the contact.

2. In an electric connecter, the combination of inner and outer body parts, the outer part having a recess for receiving the inner part, said parts having interlocking engagement for maintaining the same in assembled relation, one of said body parts being made of resilient material `so as to be distortable to permit assembling of said parts in said interlocked relation, said inner body part having a longitudinallyextending recess in its inner end portion` and aopening in its outer end -portion communicatingwith said recess, a contact member tting in the recess in said inner body part and communicating with the outside of the connecterthrough said opening, said con- 'tact member having a .pair of longitudinally ofsaid-parts insaid'interlocking engagement,

said plug part being provided with aA longitudinally extending recess in its inner end portion and an opening in'its outer end portion through which said recess communicates with the' outside of the plug, a portion of'said recess being lof tending recesses in its inner end portion and a pair of openings in its outer end portion spaced inwardly from the periphery of the plug part and communicating respectively with said recesses, a pair of contact prongs tting respectively in said recesses and extending outwardly through said openings, said plug part being of materially greater length than the spacing. of said outwardly extending prong portions and said contact prongs having inner end portions projecting beyond the inner end of said plug, and said body part being provided with recesses for receiving said projecting contact prong inner end portions, said contact prongs being supported by said plug and body parts respectively at' points spaced materially longitudinally of the contact prongs, whereby lateral movement of the prongs toward and from each other is effectivelyresisted. y v

5. In an electric connecter, the combination of a main body member having a conductor receiving opening and a portion having a socket therein spaced laterally from said opening, a contact prong seated in said socket and projecting thereform, an auxiliary body member interlocked with said main body member and provided with a portion spaced longitudinally from said socket containingmain body POrtion and provided with an opening through which said contact prong projects outwardly, said prong being thereby supported at longitudinally spaced points, one of said body parts being of resilient material and being capable o1' being distorted to permit interlocking of said parts, and lmeans within said interlocked body parts for preventing outward endwise displacement of said contact prong, said means comprising longitudinally spaced, laterally extending ears carried by said i prong, said auxiliary ybody part being provided with an inwardly facing shoulder engaging yone of said ears and said main body part having an outwardly facing portion engaging the other ear.

6. In an electric connecter, the combination of a main body part including a'rear or shank part v and a front or housing part, -said shank part being apertured to receive a conductor cord and said housing part having an internal diameter greater than the diameter of said.r cord receiving opening, whereby an outwardly facing shoulder is formed in said main body part, a socket in said"shou1der part, a contact prong having its inner .end portion tting in said socket whereby said inner end portion is maintained in predeterg mined position, an auxiliary body part constitut- 4 ing a plug fitting in said main body housing part,

greater width than the adjacent upper portion means 'for preventing inward displacement of said contactl members.

4. In an electric connecter, the combinationv of an outer body part of resilient` insulating material, said part having a recess in one end, an inner body or plug part fitting inthe recess of said outer body part and having interlocking engagement therewith, said plug part being provided with a pair of relatively'spaced and diametrically oppositely disposed,l longitudinally exsaid ,plug being provided with -a longitudinally extending recess extending from the inner end yo! the plug to a point adjacent the outer end thereof and with 'an opening in its `outer end portion communicating with said recess, said recess and opening serving to receive the prong, and the outer end'portion of the prong extending outwardly through said opening, said main and auxiliary body parts beingV provided with interlocking means and one of said parts being of resilient material so as to be capable of being v distorted to permit assembling thereof in said interlocking engagement, and means carried :byi

said contact prong, engaging said main and auxiliary body parts and located rnl said auxiliary 70 body part `recess for preventing endwisedisplace-` ment of said prongs.

'7. IIn a device of the class. described, the comv bination of a main cup-shaped body. part having an aperture at'the base-thereof for the passage *75d of a conductor and having a plurality of relatively spaced sockets also in the base thereof spaced laterally from said aperture, a'plurality of contact prongs having their respective inner.

end portions seated in said sockets and thereby supported against lateral movement toward and from each other, and an auxiliary body part removably seated in and interlocked with said main body part adjacent the rixn thereof, one of said body parts being formed of resilient material so as to be capable ofbeing distorted to permit assembly of said body parts intosaid interlocked relation, and said auxiliary body part having a plurality of apertures therein spaced inwardly from' its periphery and aligned respectively with said sockets, said prongs extending outwardly through said apertures in spaced, substantially parallel relation to each other and. be-

ing maintained against relative spreading and contraction by the cooperative eiect lof said main body lsupport for the inner` end prong portions and said auxiliary body supporti adjacent said outwardly extending portions.

8. In a connecter plug of the class described, the combination of an outer body or casing part, an inner body part tting inside said casing, said body parts being provided with interlocking means and one of said parts being made of resilient material capable of being -distorted to permit assembling of said interlocking parts, said inner body part being provided with a pair of relatively spaced openings fextending longitudinally through said part, the forward end por\ riphery of the inner body part and the rearwardv portions of said openings being transversely enlarged relative to the forward end portions, an'd, contact members disposed in said openings and projecting forwardly from said inner body 5 i of a main body member having a conductor receivjing opening and a socket therein spaced laterally from said opening, a contact prong having an end portion seated in said socket and 15 projecting therefrom, an auxiliary'body member interlocked with said main`body member and having an opening extending longitudinally therethrough the rearward portion of said opening being transversely enlarged'relative to the 20 forward portion so as to provide a rearwardly facing shouldery in said opening, said contact prong being disposed in said opening and extending forwardly through said opening and projecting beyond the front end of the auxiliary 25 body part and. having a laterally extending ear engaging said rearwardly facing shoulder to prevent outward endwise displacement of the prong. O ne of said` body parts being of resilient material and being capable,of being distorted 80 to permit the assembly of said parts into interlocked relation.`

HUGO H. WERMINE.

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