US2108907A

US2108907A - Attachment plug

Info

Publication number: US2108907A
Application number: US684192A
Authority: US
Inventors: Pas Edmund J Te
Original assignee: WALTER A FRANTZ
Current assignee: WALTER A FRANTZ
Priority date: 1933-08-08
Filing date: 1933-08-08
Publication date: 1938-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 1955-02-22

Description

E. J. ATE PAS ATTACHMENT PLUG Feb. 22, 193s.

Filed Aug. 8, 1933 INVENTOR Patented Feb. 22. 193s s PATENT OFFICE ATTACHMENT PLUG Edmund J. Te Pas, Rocky River, Ohio, assigner to 1 Walter A. Frantz, Cleveland Heights, Ohio Application August 8, 1933, Serial No. 684,192

' o Claims. (01.17%322) screws 3. The body parts I and 2 may be con- This invention relates to electrical connectors as for example the terminal plug caps of attache ment plugs for electrical cords and it has f or its objects the provision` of a device lof this character which is not liable to breakage, which is not liable to electrical short circuiting, and which is not apt to become detached from the cord'or to have the electrical connection broken between the plug contacts and the conductor strands of the cord, the aforesaid objects being accomplished through the use of a simple and inexpensive form of plug cap construction which can be readily attached to an electric cord by persons unskilled and inexperienced in the construction of electrical devices and appliances.

With theseand other objects in view, the invention. consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts, hereinafter illustrated anddescribed in some of its embodi- 0 ments in the accompanying drawing, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a plug cap illustrative of one mode of practicing this invention; Figure 2 is'a sectional view taken on line 2-2, Figure 1; Figure 3.is a

plan 'view partly in section taken on line 3-3.'

Figure 2; Figure 4 is a side elevational view of another form of plug cap illustrative of the invention; Figure 5 is asectional view taken on line 5;-5, Figure 6; Figure 6 is a plan view partly in section vtaken fon line 6--6, Figure 5; Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line '|-'I, Figure 8, of yet another form lof plug cap illustrative of the invention; and Figure 8 is a sectional view of 35 the plug cap taken on line 8 8 of Figure 7.

Three forms of plug caps are shown in the drawing for the purpose of illustratingsome of the diierent ways of carrying out this invention.

The body ofthe plug cap shown in Figures 1 to 3 Loncomprises a cap I and an end part 2,' the cap f and end part being removably associated with each other and secured together in their assembled relation by means of two screws 3--3 which also serve to maintain electrical contact between 45 the plug contact terminal blades or prongs 4 and thevends ci the conductor strands 5 of an electrical cord 6.

j The body parts I and 2 of the plug cap are arranged interiorly for receiving the cord 6 and 5o also'for receiving a body of soft rubber-like niaterial 'I which normally loosely surrounds the endlsoi thev cord and which is tightly wedged in gripping relation about the cord when the body parts I and 2 'of the plug cap are drawn together 55 in .their assembled relation by means of the veniently formed from an electrically non-conducting rigid material as for example vulcanite or one of the many other materials which are `availableand commonly used for this purpose.

Threaded bushings 8 are embedded in thecap I for receiving the threaded ends of the screws 3 by means of which the conductor strands 5 are connected to the contact prongs 4. A washer 9 which may be constructed of fiber or other electrically non-conducting materials is provided to 4cover the screws 3 and to complete the assembly f of the plug.

The plug .cap just described constitutes a'simple and relatively inexpensive plug cap which may be readily attached or detached with respect to an electric cord. The connecting of the plug cap terminals to the conductor strands of the -cord serves automatically to anchor the plug cap cord and the contact prongs of the plug, these screws also serving to secure the contact prongs in proper position. The aforesaid plug parts are of simple construction and the completed plug cap forms a highly useful device for the ,purpose intended. i I

The modified form of plug cap shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6 comprises an outer sheath or shell-I0 which is formed from a soft rubber-like electrically non-conducting material beyond one end of which a pair of contact prongs II extend. The contact prongs are secured to a rigid part I2 of the plug by means of suitable rivets I3. A cooperating plug partV I4 having threaded sleeves I5 cooperates with the part I2 t'o cause a soft rubber-like body I6 to frictionally grip an electrical cord II.`

A pair of screws I8 are provided to connect the conductor strands I9 of the cord to the contact prongs II, such screwsserving at the same is wedged in gripping relation with respect to the end of the cord I'I. A suitableA washer 20 is provided to cover the screws I8 and to complete the assembly of the plug.

'I'he plug parts II, I2. I4 and I6 are constructed as separate elements of the plug which upon the completion of their manufacture may be readily assembled together whereupon the sheath flange Ilsi which nts in a suitable groove formed in the sheath and in this manner the sheath is retained in proper position on the plug cap. In this form of the invention also the screws used to secure the conductor strands to the plug have the added function of locking the plug cap to the electrical cord. l

'I'he modiiled form of plug cap shown in Figures 'l and 8 comprises a soft rubber-like body 2| in which is embedded a rigid circular plate 22 having threaded sleeves 23 for receiving apair of screws 24 by means of which the conductor strands 25. of an electrical cord 26 are secured to a .pair of suitable contact prongs 21 carried by a rigid plate 28. A suitable washer 29 is provided for covering the screws 24 and for completing the assembly of the plug. The disk 22 is provided with holes 30 to better insureits anchorage in the plug body.

In this exemplification'of the invention, when the screws 24 vare tightened in eiecting the connection between the conductor strands and the contact prongs, the soft rubber-like material of the plug which is located between the members 22 and 28 is compressed and forced into gripping relation with respect to the end of the cord 26 whereby the plug cap is firmly anchored to the end of the cord.

In the various forms of plug caps just described, the eiectingr of the connection of the conductor strands of the cord serves also to anchor the iilug cap to the end ofthe cord whereby the .danger of separation of the plug with respect to the cord, the breaking of the electricalV connection between the conductor strands o! the cord and the` contact prongs, and the short circuiting between the conductor strands of the tion and whichl may be readily clamped to thel cord is greatly lessened if not wholly oviated and a highly useful form of plug is provided which is of relatively simple and inexpensive construcend of the cord by the means which are provided for eii'ecting electrical connection between theV cord andthe contact members of the plug.

Furthermore it is to be understood that the particular forms of apparatus shown. and de' scribed, and the particular'procedure set forth are presented for purposes of explanation and that various modiiications of said apparatus and procedure can be made without' departure from this invention as described in the appended claims.

Having thus described my claim is: A 1. An attachment plug cap invention what I for use in connection with a iiexible electric cord having conductor strands comprising a body lifor'med from a 'soft rubber-like material having a central pas-v sageway for the reception Ourthe cord, a relatively rigid member embedded in said body and a second relatively rigid member spaced therefrom, contact blades carried by said last-named member,V and means engaging said embedded member for connecting the conductor strands to saidblades l' and for drawing said rigid members together whereby the relatively vsoft material ot the plug y, disk-like members with aligned apertures for receiving the cord, contact elements carriedjby -one of said members, a resilient `body surround- .7; ing said disk-like members providing a block of resilient material around the cord at the place where it ,traverses the members, and means for drawing said members toward each other for compressing the block of resilient material aboutl the cord.

3.- An attachment plug cap for use in connection with a flexible electric cord having conductor strands comprising; a pair of relatively rigid disk-like members with aligned apertures for receiving the cord, contact elements carried by one of saidv members, a block of resilient material surrounding the cord at the place where it traverses the members, and means for drawing said members toward each other for compressing the resilient body about the cord and also for effecting electrical connection between the strands of the cord and said contact elements.

4. An attachment plug cap i'or use in connection with a flexible 'electric cord having conductor strands comprising, a pair of relatively rigid disk-like'members with aligned'apertures for receiving the cord, contact elements carried by one of said members, a block of resilient material surrounding the cord at the place where it traverses the members, means for drawing said members toward each other for compressing the yresilient' body about the cord, and a body of resilient material integrally formed with said block surrounding said members.

' '.5. An attachment plug for use in connection bers for drawing them toward each other and tor compressing the interposed portion'of said body about said cord.

6. An attachment plug for use in connection` with a iiexible cord .having conductor strands comprising. a body formed from a resilient mate' rial having a central passageway for receiving the cord, relatively rigid members in said body spaced from each other by a portion of said body, contact terminal elements carried by one of said members, and means engaging said members for drawing them toward each other for compressing the interposed portion of said body about said cord and for electing 'connection of the conductor strands to said terminal members.

EDMUND J. TE PAS.