US2152647A - Electrical receptacle - Google Patents

Description

April 4, 1939. H. HUBBELL, JR

ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 30, 1936 y INVENTOR ATTORNEYS April 4, 1939. I H. HUBBELL, JR

ELECTRICAL RECEPTACL'E Filed Jan. 50, 1956 2 sheets-sheet 2 F6915 1 159.77 Fzyz; 72g 21 iz zz jZ Z2 Ill/9'16 Fig. 1a Fjyza E 22 F6974 7 INVENTOR Wk 179W ATTO R N EYS Patented Apr. 4,1939

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

provements in electrical receptacles or connectors.

An object of the invention is to provide an 5 electrical receptacle or connector adapted to 7 take or receive a wide variety of blade contacts. Another object is to provide a receptacle or connector as indicated in the preceding paragraph wherein provision is made for locking cer- 10 tain types of blade contacts against casual withdrawal from the receptacle 'or connector. I

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the 15 accompanying drawings wherein satisfactory embodiments of the invention are shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as Fig. 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section as indicated by the line 2- in Fi 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the plane of the line 3-3- oi Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the receptacle of Fig. l but with parts broken away toshow *9 interior construction; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially along the line E-d of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail view taken as though looking from the right in Fig. 5; as Fig. '7 is an enlarged plan view of a receptacle contact and in section showing a curved blade contact in engagement with the receptacle contact;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing 59 one of a pair of parallel blade contacts in engagement with a receptacle contact;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a receptacle contact and showing in section a parallel blade contact 56 in engagement therewith;

This invention relates to new and useful im- Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane of the line Iii-l of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of a modified construction of receptacle a part being broken away to show contact construction;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the plane of the line |2-l2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a detail view showing a curved blade contact in engagement with a contact of the receptacle of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line "-14 of Fig. 13; Figs. 15 through 24 are detail views showing various forms of attachment plug cap contact 15 blades.

Referring in detail to the drawings and at first particularly to Figs. 15 through 24, at ill in Figs. 15 and 16 there is shown a portion oi.

a standard attachment plug cap having parallel contact blades H provided in the usual manner with holes or openings l2. Figs. 17 and 18 show a portion l3 of a plug cap including transversely curved contact blades l4 and Ila also provided with openings iii. The lower portions of these blades are laterally expanded providing portions It the upper edges ll of which are straight across. It is also noted that one of the blades as blade Ma is expanded toward one side as shown at idb so that it is wider than the other blade so the cap is polarized, and if desired the opposite side or edge may be inclined as at It.

Figs. 19 and 20 show a cap portion is carrying contact blades 20 each including a wing or plate-like extension 2i arranged angularly with relation to the vertical or main body portion of its blade. This type of blade is more or less special and in this specification and in the annexed claims is referred to as an angular contact blade. In Figs. 21 and 22 there is shown a portion 22 of a cap including aligned or tandem contact blades 23 each as usual provided with an opening 26. It is noted that the blades 23 while flat as in the case of the blades ll are arranged at right angles to the blades ii. Figs. 23 and 24 show a portion 25 of a cap including T-shaped contact blades 2511 having openings 24c therein and blades 25a are in effect a combination of the parallel and aligned blades above referred to. The caps of Figs. 15, 16 and Figs. 21 and 22 are standard caps, while the others were originally designed for use with special receptacles.

Referring now to Figs. 1 through 10, at 2B is shown the insulating body of a double or du- 55 plex receptacle. This is shown merely by way of example as the invention is equally adaptable to a single receptacle. Within the body adjacent each of its ends are pairs of recesses 27 and 28 separated by partitions 28. Contacts 88 are arranged in the recesses 21 while similar contacts 3| are arranged in the recesses 28. A mounting strap 32 of conducting material has the contacts 38 mounted thereon while a similar strap 33 mounts the contacts 8|. Screws 34 pass through the straps 82 and 33 and the body 28 and plates 35 at the front side of the body and serve to secure the straps in place and function in like manner for the plates 35 which carry binding post 88 as shown.

The recesses 21 and 28 open through the rea of the body 28 and after the contacts 38 and 8| are in place a sheet 31' of insulating material is positioned to cover the straps 32 and 33 and to close the inner ends of the recesses. Such sheet is guided by pins.38 passing through the sheet and the sheet is held in place by a separable screw fastener 39 (see Fig. 3) passing through the sheet, a receptable mounting strap 48, and the receptacle body 28.

As here shown the receptacle body 28 includes an integral front wall 4|. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such a construction as the body may include a removable front cover member having contact blade entrance slots therein.

In its front wall 4| the receptacle is provided with slots 42 and 43 leading into the recesses 21 and 28 respectively and it-is noted that the slots are so arranged that one slot 42 and one slot 43 together constitute a pair. Each of the mentionedslots includes a curved portion 44 and a short branch 45 entering the curved portion through the convex side thereof. These slots comprise entrance openings for the insertion of contact blades into engagement with the contacts 38 and 3| within the receptacle.

Thecurved portions 44 of a pair of slots are so located relatively and are of such length as to permit of the insertion through them of plug cap blades which are parallel, curved'or angular as shown in Figs. 15 through 20. Branches 45 of the slots are so located as to provide for the insertion of aligned plug cap blades shown in Figs. 21 and 22, and such branches together with the adjacent parts of the curved portions of the slots provide for the insertion of the T-shaped contact blades shown in Figs. 23 and 24. It will 1 therefore be apparent that the slots constructed as shown are adapted to take a variety of blades in addition to the blades of the standard caps of Figs. 15 and 16, and Figs. 21 and 22.

The contacts 38 and 3| are of the same construction but when mounted in the body are reversed with respect to one another, and it is thought that-a detailed description of one will be sufllcient for both. Taking contact 38 as an example and referring particularly to Figs. 5, 6 and 7 it is seen that the contact comprises a loop including a pair of arms 48 and 41 connected by a portion 48 and having their upper portions 49 and 58 extending in opposed or parallel relation whereby to receive a contact blade between them. On their inner edges the portions 49 and 58 carry curved wings and 52 respectively. These.

wings are preferably struck from the'same center and extend away from one another as most clearly shown in Fig. '7.

Each receptacle contact also includes an arm 83 having a portion 84 extending between the arms 48 and 41 and disposed on thebefore mentioned connecting portion 48. A rivet 58 secures the arm 53 to the connecting portion 48 and secures both parts of the contact to the carrying bar 32. The upper portion 88 of arm 53 is laterally extended and is curved, and as shown best in Fig. '7 is arranged opposite the wings 5| and 52 and particularly the latter, although as shown it extends to overlap both of them and thus extends across the gap between them.

The curved contact part 58 is spaced from the wings 8| and 52 thereby providing a curved space for the reception of a blade contact. Both portions of the receptacle contact are of spring metal so that an inserted blade will be yieldingly engaged by both of the portions 49 and 58 or the portion 58 and either or both of the wings 5| and 82, depending on the shape of the inserted blade. Curved contact portion 58 carries a lug or protuberance 51,, which as shown in Fig. is lanced and pressed therefrom, extending in the direction of the wing 5|. For a reason later to be described such lug has rounded sides, but its lower edge 58 is substantially straight across forming a shoulder.

The contact containing recesses in the body 28 are larger than the slots leading into them so that portions of the front wall 4| of the body form ledges or shoulders 59 beyond the ends of the slots. This construction enters into the locking of the curved and angular type of contact blades in the receptacle, in engagement with the contacts therein, whereby to prevent casual with drawal of such blades from the receptacle as will later be fully set forth.

When using the receptacle with a cap having curved blades the latter are inserted through the curved portions 34 of the entrance slots and enter between the contact portion 58 and the wings BI and 52 (see Figs. 5, 6 and 7). Thereafter on turning the cap on the receptacle the. extensions t8 of the blade 64 are shifted to dispose their upper edges or shoulders I! under the shoulders or ledges 59 at the underside of the front wall of the receptacle body so that to withdraw the blades from the receptacle body it is necessary to turn the cap back in the opposite direction to align its blades with the entrance slots and then draw the blades out of the receptacle. 'llhe curved portions of the slots are longer than the width of the upper portion of the blade contacts (0, Fig. 17, or 28a, Fig. '19) so as to permit this relative turning movement between the cap and the receptacle and to permit the blade contacts to slide relative to the receptacle contacts as shown by the dotted and full line positions of Fig. '7. The dotted position shows the position of the blades when inserted into the receptacle and before the turning movement, while the full line position is the position they take after the turning movement and which is the locked position.

In unlocking them they are turned back to the dotted position from which they may be withdrawn from the receptacle by pulling straight-out on the cap.

I Also as shown in Fig. 7 when the blades are in the locked positions just described the lugs 51 enter the openings l5 in the blades. Since thesides of the lugs are rounded the blades when being turned may engage and cam the lugs and portions 58 outwardly so that the blades may pass in either direction laterally of thelugs. However, the lower edges 58 of the lugs'are straight across or abrupt and any attempt to pull the blades out will be resisted by the lower edges of the lugs engaging the lower walls of the holes in the blades.

A parallel blade cap may be connected with the receptacleby inserting its blades into the curved portions 44 of the entrance slots either midway the ends of such portions or toward either end thereof. It the blades are inserted in the dotted position of Fig. 9 and then the cap turned on the receptacle to shift the blades to the full line position of Figs. 8, 9 and 10 the lugs 57 will enter the holes l2 of the parallel blades to secure them in the receptacle. Turning movement of the cap in the opposite direction will shift the blade to the dotted line position of Fig. 9 and the blades may then be drawn out of the receptacle, the blade in each case having a camming action on the curved or inclined side walls of the lug 5'! to push it laterally to permit these movements. The curved portions 64 of the entrance slots are wider than the contact blades to permit this movement. These straight blades of the standard cap may be forced directly into the locked position but in ordinary operation as they are inserted into the slots the curved walls of the lugs 5i tend to direct them to one side or to the unlocked position shown. in dotted lines and if it is desired to lock them the cap is then given the turning movement.

A cap having the angular blades 26 may also be used with the receptacle 26, and after such angular blades are inserted through the curved portions of the slots the cap may be turned to carry the wing-like extensions 2i of the blades under the shoulder 59 of the overhanging front wall of the receptacle to secure or look the blades in the receptacle as in the case of the blades It of cap 53.

The receptacle having the slots 42 and 43 will also take the aligned blades 23 and the T-shaped blades 25a. The aligned blades enter through the branches 55 of the slots and pass between and into engagement with the contact portions :39 and 5D. In like manner the aligned portions of the T-shaped blades enter the branches 35 of the slots and between the portions 39 and of the receptacle contacts, while the parallel portions of such blades enter the curved slot portions M at the juncture of the branches therewith and engage portions tit, 52 and of the receptacle contacts.

With reference to Fig. 1 it will be noted that the curved portion of slot 62 is somewhat longer than the corresponding portion of slot 63. Likewise in Figs. 17 and 18 the expanded portion Mb of one blade Ma is larger than that of the other as previously stated. In this way polarization may be effected as the wider blade lab cannot be inserted in the shorter slot 53.

Referring to the modification of Figs. 11 through 14, at 66 is shown the insulating body of a single receptacle. Said body is provided with spaced recesses 6i within which are located contacts 62 mounted on straps 63 secured by screws 65 of which one engages 2. lug 6F: carrying a binding post 66. The contacts are passed into the recesses through the inner ends thereof, and in the front wall of the body are a pair of slots 6? leading to the respective contacts 62.

Each slot 67 includes a main or elongated portion 68, bent intermediate its ends so as to include angularly related parts, and a branch 69 enters the portion 68 but is directed outwardly thereof. The contacts 62 each include a metal strip bent to provide an intermediate connecting portion 10 and upwardly or outwardly directed arms H and 12 having their upper or outer end portions turned in and providing blade contact engaging portions 13 and I4.

An arm 15 (Fig. 13) has a portion against the connecting portion I0 above mentioned and a rivet 16 passing through said portions and the strap 63 secures them together and to the strap. Arm "includes an upwardly or outwardly extending portion 'l'l the end of which is inturned providing a spring contact blade engaging portion 18 arranged opposite the inner edges of the portions 13 and 14.

From one vertical edge of the portion 18 a wing-like portion or member 19 extends in angular relation to said portion. It is noted in Fig. 14 that the angular relationship between portion 18 and the wing 19 corresponds to the angular relationship between the parts of the elongated slot portion 68.

The contacts 62 are so arranged within the body that the space between the contact portions l3 and l t aligns'with the branches 69 of the entrance slots while the portions l8 and the wing 19 are located in alignment with the angular portions 68 of the slot to be engaged by blade contacts inserted through this angular portion 58 of the slots. As shown best in Fig. 12 contact portion 13 has a small portion or bump 80 pressed therefrom and extending toward the portion M.

In the use of the receptacle parallel blades it may. be inserted through either part of the angular slot portion 68 either to engage the wings 69 of the respective contacts or to engage the contact portions 78 together with the portions I3 and W. The curved blades M may be inserted to engage the contact portions 13, M, 18 and 19 as shown best in Fig. 14 and after such blades are inserted the cap may be turned on the receptacle to bring the upper edges ll of the blade extensions I6 under the front wall of the receptacle body to lock the blade against casual removal from the receptacle, the angular portions $8 being of sumciently greater length than the width of the upper portions of the blades to permit this.

Also the angular blades 26 may be inserted through the angular slot portions 68 to engage all of the contact portions '33, it, 78 and 59. After insertion of the blades 20 cap it may be turned on the receptacle to bring the upper edges of the blade extensions 2i under the front Wall of the receptacle to lock the cap and receptacle together, as the slots are of greater length than the width of the upper portion of these blades.

The aligned blades 23 may be inserted through the branches 69 of the slots and when so inserted enter between and are engaged by the contact portions 73 and it. When such blades 23 are in the receptacle the lugs or bumps 80 on the portions '13 enter the openings Ed in the blades. The T-shaped blades 25a are inserted as shown in Fig. 12 and their aligned portions function as the aligned blades 23 while their parallel portions function as do the parallel blades it.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. An electrical receptacle comprising an in arranged to coact with aligned contact blades inserted through the said lateral portions 0! the slots and also laterally yieldable curved portions to coact with any one of parallel, curved and angular attachment cap contact blades inserted through the crooked portions of the slots, said curved portions of the contacts being provided with lugs having inclined sides and a shoulder to engage a side of an opening in the blade contacts to lock the blades against casual separation from the contacts, and said crooked portions of the slots being 01 suflicient length to permit sliding movement of the blades on the contacts on relative turning movement of the cap and receptacle and by camming action on the sides of the lugs to remove said shoulders from the blades to unlock them.

2. An electrical receptacle comprising an insulating body, contacts within the body, said body having a pair of spaced contact blade-entrance slots leading to said contacts, said slots each comprising a curved portion and a straight amass? through the curved portions of the slots, said 7 curved portions of the contacts being provided with lugs having inclined sides and a. shoulder to engage a side of an opening in the blade contacts to lock the blades against casual separation from the contacts, and said curved portions oi the slots being of sumcient length to permit sliding movement of the blades on the curved portion or the contacts on relative turning movement of the cap and receptacle and by camming action on the sides of the lugs to remove said shoulders from the blade openings.

HARVEY HUBBEL'L, 5h.

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