US2145949A

US2145949A - Plug and jack structure

Info

Publication number: US2145949A
Application number: US205420A
Authority: US
Inventors: Obszarny Thedore
Original assignee: Guardian Electric Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Guardian Electric Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1938-05-02
Filing date: 1938-05-02
Publication date: 1939-02-07
Anticipated expiration: 1956-02-07

Description

Feb. 7, 1939. T. OBSZARNY PLUG AND JACK STRUCTURE Filed May 2, 1958 INSULATION jeq/qre 0552 INSULATION az zzy I Z15 #273472 ey Patented Feb. 7, 1939 PATENT. OFFICE PLUG AND JACK STRUCTURE Thedorc Obszarny,

Chicago,

111., assignor to Guardian Electric Mfg. 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application May 2, 1938, Serial No. 205,420

2 Claims.

This present invention relates to plug and jack constructions of the type especially suitable for use in multiple units, including banks or groups, for simultaneously completing or breaking por- 5 tions of a plurality of different electrical circuits, for controlling a wide variety of electrical devices or apparatus. The invention, more particularly, is directed to certain novel improvements in plug constructions and mountings, and in the cooperative relation of the respective elements carrying the plugs and the jacks.

It has been common practice in the manufacture of plug and jack constructions of a certain type, to form theplug of a piece of tubular metal stock with an annular shoulder, intermediate its length, and adjacent one end so as to be seated close to the face of the mounting panel of insulating material, The end portion of the plug, beyond the shoulder, extends through an aperture in the mounting panel, and is riveted over in one of several conventional practices for securing the plug in place.. To provide for connection of the plug to a conductor wire, a terminal clip having an annular body is mounted on the tubular plug intermediate the shoulder and the mounting panel, and said annular body is formed with a laterally extending arm, whichserves as a terminal, to which the conductor wire is attached, as by soldering. It frequently happens that the terminal clips are not tightly gripped, thus permitting them to swivel about the plug, and this is especially true when the clips become heated, as when soldering the conductor wires thereto. This condition is highly objectionable because it frequently happens, that the soldering flux, such as resin, may inadvertently flow around the shoulder and clip, resulting in forming an insulating body between said plug and the clip, While this condition may not be readily apparent at the time it occurs, it will frequently manifest itself when the plug and jack structures are completely assembled with other apparatus. Furthermore, the time and expense entailed in locating and correcting the trouble may be substantial.

Plug and jack units are frequently made up as multiple units, including large banks or groups, and due to the manner that such devices were heretofore made, there is a possibility of improper connection of the units; in other words, a bank of jacks may be misaligned and engaged with improper jacks; or the panel carrying the jacks may inadvertently be reversed end for end.

The present invention is directed to an improved construction which obviates the foregoing objections and difflculties, and has for one of its objects the provision of a novel and improved form of plug, made as a single element, and formed to provide a direct terminal connection for a conductor wire.

.Another object is to provide an improved plug construction which assures positive circuit connection at all times, when the conductor wire is properly connected or soldered thereto.

A further object is to provide an improved plug construction that is economical to manufacture and which results in substantial saving of material and time in assembling on a mounting panel.

Still another object is to provide an improved multiple plug and jack unit which assures proper alignment and engagement of the plugs with their cooperating jacks.

And a still further object is to provide an improved multiple plug and jack unit which assures exact alignment of plugs with their cooperating jacks, and which is characterized by the provision of means which permits rockin movement of the panel carrying the plugs during the process of disengagement with the jacks, to facilitate separation of the plugs and jacks.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a multiple plug and jack unit assembly, embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the plug-carrying element in the process of being rocked out of co-operative engagement with the jack-carrying element.

Fig, 3 is an end view of the connected plug and jack elements.

Fig. ,4 is a vertical section through the elements, in disconnected relation, taken substantially as indicated at line 4-4 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section through my improved form of plug construction, shown secured in a mounting panel.

In the drawing I have shown a unit comprising a plurality of sets of plugs and jacks, arranged in two banks. It is to be understood, however, that devices of this type may be made up of various numbers of sets of plugs and jacks in a bank or group, as desired. The device is composed of two detachably connectible units, A and B, one carrying the plugs and the other the jacks respectively. The unit A carrying the plugs, includes a panel I0 of insulating material, from which projects at right angles, as seen in the drawing, a plurality of elongated plugs H arranged in two parallel, spaced-apart banks or rows. These plugs, preferably, are of cylindrical, tubular form, each having an annular shoulder l2 intermediate its length, seated firmly and directly against one face of the panel Ill with the end portion above the shoulder projecting through an aperture in the panel, and terminating a substantial "distance above the other face of said panel. Said projecting end portion of the plug is swaged fiat and enlarged in crosssectional area, as indicated at IS, in relatively close proximity to said other face of the panel, to serve as a head, and thereby firmly secure the plug in the panel, as may be seen in the drawing. Said swaged portion I5 is formed with an aperture I6 to provide for connection of an electrical conductor wire, in the usual manner, as by soldering. The lower end of said plugs is rounded slightly to facilitate their entrance into the cooperating jacks. It will now be apparent that'by virtue of this construction, a substantial saving in both time and material is effected in fabricating and assembling the plugs in the panel, while at the same time assuring a positive electrical connection of the plugs, proper with electrical conductor wires.

The unit B carrying the jacks, includes two spaced-apart, substantially parallel co-extensive panels i8 of insulating material, disposed on edge,

and supported at their opposite ends on metal bracket supports, including upright legs l9 each of which is formed with a foot 20 adapted to be secured to a suitable mounting, as by screws or bolts. The legs IQ of the brackets and panels l8 are rigidly connected together by rivets 22 with a panel 23 of insulating material interposed between the respective pairs of legs l9 and substantially co-extensive with the panels l8.

Mounted on the outer face of each panel I8 is a plurality of jacks 25 in the form of stampings, spaced apart a distance corresponding substantially to the spacings of the plugs ll, with the jacks on the opposite panels aligned in pairs. The jacks herein disclosed constitute part of the patentable subject matter of my co-pending application Serial No. 149,380, filed June 21, 1937, and they will not, therefore, be herein described in detail. Each jack includes a pair of cooperating, spaced-apart, yieldable fingers '26 forming an upwardly opening mouth for receiving and firmly embracing the plug H. The spring fingers 26 are of substantial length and are attached at their lower ends to the body of the jack, and thus will accommodate substantial deflection by encounter with the plugs in the process of connection and disconnection of the units A and B. The upper ends of said fingers are curved outwardly to facilitate insertion of the plug l I. The lower ends of the jacks are formed with cars 28 for suitable connection with electrical conductr\ wires, as by soldering, to complete the circuit, including the plugs and lacks;

One end of the panel III of plug unit A is formed with an elongated opening l0 located for alignment and registration with an upstanding lug l9 constituting an upright extension of one of i the legs IQ of jack unit B. By virtue of this arrangement it is impossible to misalign the plugs II with their cooperating jacks 25 nor is it possible to indavertently connect units A and B by end-to-end reversal of unit A because the panel l0 must be positioned with its opening lll 'in exact registration with the lug IQ of unit B. The opening I0 desirably is of a size which will permit bodily rocking movement of unit A carrying the plugs during the process of disconnection of the units, as seen in Fig. 2. Such movement facilitates the disconnecting operation, as the frictional resistance of the jacks 25 embracing the plugs II is gradually overcome by gradually rockit is capable of modification and re-arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. I do not, therefore, wish to be understood as limiting this invention to the precise embodiment herein disclosed, except as I.

may be so limited in the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. In an electrical device of the character described, the combination with a multiple jack and plug unit comprising two detachably connectible elements, one of said elements including a panel of insulating material and a plurality of jacks mounted in a bank on said panel, and

the other of said elements including a panel of insulating material, adapted to be disposed perpendicularly to the other panel when the elementsare connected, and a plurality of elongated plugs arranged in a bank and projecting at right angles from said panel, and adapted to engage said jacks to complete portions of a plurality of different electrical circuits; of means connected to opposite ends of said panel carrying said jacks and serving to support said panel on a mounting, and an upwardly projecting lug constituting an extension of the support means and adapted to extend into an opening formed in the panel of the other element carrying the plugs, whereby to assist and assure proper registration of the plugs with their cooperating jacks, when the elements are in the process of being connected.

2. In an electrical device of the character described, the combination with a multiple jack and plug unit comprising two detachably connectible elements, one of said elements including a panel of insulating material and a plurality of jacks mounted in a bank on said panel with their openings extending in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the panel, and the otherv of said elements including a panel of insulating material, adapted to be disposed perpendicularly to the other panel when the elements are connected, and a plurality of elongated plugs arranged in a bank and projecting at right angles from said panel, and adapted to engage said jacks to complete portions of a plurality of diflferent electrical circuits; of means connected to opposite endsof said panel carrying said jacks for supporting said panel on a mounting; and an upwardly projecting lug carried by said last-mentioned element'and adapted to extend into an elongated opening formed in the panel of the other element carrying the plugs, said elongated opening being dimensioned toprovide adequate clearance for accommodating rocking movement of the element carrying the plugs when said element is being disconnected from the other element.

'I'HEDORE OBSZARNY.

It will be apparent that,