US2166897A - Spring socket for electric plug couplings - Google Patents

Description

y 13, 1939- s. WAGSTAFF 2,166,397

SPRING SOCKET FOR ELECTRIC PLUG COUPLINGS Filed June 2, 1956 17710672707: George Zz/aysfaff 9 M li f Patented July is, 1939 I I 7 v 2,166,897

UNITED. STAT'ES'FPATENT OFFICE srame sooner ron nmc'rnrc PLUG COUPLINGS George Wagstai'f, Beeston, Nottingham, England,

minor to Carr Fastener CompanyLimited, Stapleford, Nottingham, England Application June 2, 1936, Serial Ne. 83,005 In Great Britain July 24, 1935 v 6 Claims. (Cl. 173-328) This invention relates to an improved spring Fig. 6 is a part sectional elevation shewing two socket for electric plug couplings. The object of sockets of; modified construction secured in posithe invention is to produce a spring socket which tion between two plates, and I gives a firm gripping contact on the inserted Fig. 7 is a plan view of the blank for forming plug or the like and at the same time returns to one of the sockets.

its normal dimensions after the plug or the like Referring to Figs. 1-5, the spring socket illus- -has been removed and thus does not become detrated is formed from a single piece of suitable formed in use. metal and comprises a top portion having a. hole According to the invention the socket is de- I I and four down-turned spring fingers 8, 8, 9, 9,

I signed with two sets of spring members. One set a lug III for, attachment to an electric conductor 10 engage the inserted plug or the like to make the nd wo ups n ng l s H f r fix he s cket electric contact while the other set are arranged to a holder or the like. The fingers 8 have a to bear on the'first set to reinforce them, incurved cross section (Fig. 3) and are shaped and creasing the grip on the plug and at the same time bent to grip' the inserted plug while the fingers is preventing the socket from splaying. The head 9 are formed with lateral extensions l2 so that of the socket may be formed with lugs for fixing they en ge e Outside O the fingers 8 d t e it to a thermionic valve holder for example. The ex ensions 12 are bent to embrace the fingers 8 socket is also provided with a lug or tag for atas clearly shewn in Thlls e Spring fingers tachment to a conductor or lead. 9 act as reinforcements to the fingers 8, increas- In the preferred form the socket is made from ing the grip on the inserted plug and at the same 20 a single piece of suitable metal by a. stamping time prev nt n t e s k t fr sp yi h process. Such a one-piece socket may comprise socket a s v s shape e y e e p u a top portion having a hole for the reception of r is removed. The s cket is shewn as fixed in a the plug or the like, and integral with this top holder P t 13 the Plate having 8 hole portion are for example, four down-turned e p d n to the hole 7111 the socket t p the lugs 26 spring fingers, a lug or tag for attachment to an H being Passed through holes n e p a e adelectrical conductor or lead and preferably two jeeent t0 the h d their e s tur e Over upstanding lugs for fixing the socket to a holder OH to e P e indicated in Figs- 1 and The or the like. lug i0 is preferably provided with a hole l5 for 30 Two of the aforesaid spring fingers are shaped the attachment of the electric conductor. 30 and bent to grip the inserted plug or the like and 5 SheWS a P e Of t e b ank for formthe other two spring fingers act as reinforcements ing e Socket shewn in Figs- 1 d 2 and it will and are formed with lateral extensions for exbe understood that the blank i8 bent'ehd p d ample so that they engage the outside of the firsty a suitable P s p r ion into the finished mentioned fingers. Thus when a plug or the like ferm- 35 is inserted into the socket, the first-mentioned Figs. 6 and '7 shew a socket similar to that fingers yield and grip the plug and at the same shewn in Figs. 1-5 with the exception that the time these fingers meet the extensions on the relugs for securing the socket to a holder are inforcing spring fingers and thus the grip on the omitted. In this case the socket is intended to be 40 plug is increased and at the same time the extra gripped between two plates which are secured o spring resistance prevents the socket from being together to form a holder. splayed. The socket also recovers shape readily As shewn in Fig. 6 the socket is inserted into when the plug'is removed. a hole l 6 in the lower plate H, the lug l0 passin To enable the invention to-be fully understood through another hole in the plate. The upper it will nowbedescribed by reference to the accomplate [8 of the holder has a hole l9 registering 45 panying drawing in which: 'with the hole in the top of the socket and the Fig. 1 is an elevation of a socket made accordtwo plates l1, l8 are secured together in known ing to one form of the invention shewn attached manner by the eyelet 20. In the example illusto a plate, and trated two sockets are shewn in the holder but Fig. 2 is an elevation thereof from a 'difierent obviously any desired number of sockets may be 50 angle. inserted. In this case the socket is formed from Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 Fig. 2 and a the blank shewn in Fig. 7, the blank being identi- Fig. 4 is a plan view of the socket. cal with that of Fig. 5 except that the lugs II are Fig. 5 is a plan view of a blank for forming the omitted.' fl socket shewn in Figs. 1-4. It will be understood that the socket may com- 55 prise any desired number of spring fingers and the reinforcing fingers may be variously shaped or arranged to engage the other fingers.

While the socket according to the invention is particularly adapted for use with thermionic valves it will be understood that it is also applicable ior use with various kinds of electrical apparatus.

I claim:

l. A one-piece spring socket member for electric plug couplings formed from a single piece oi. metal and comprising a head, downwardly converging spring contact fingers extending from spaced portions of said head and presenting between them a,plug-receiving socket, and downwardly extending yieldable members extending from said head intermediatesaid fingers, said yieldable members having formed at their ends lateral extensions substantially embracing said fingers to reinforce said fingers and restrain spreading thereof.

2. A one-piece spring socket member for elec tric plug couplings formed from a single piece of metal and comprising a head, downwardly converging spring contact fingers extending from spaced portions of said head and presenting between them a plug-receiving socket, and downwardly extending yieldable members extending from said head intermediate said fingers, said yieldable members having formed at their ends lateral extensions substantially embracing said fingers to reinforce said fingers and restrain spreading thereof, and a conductor attaching lug extending from said head between one finger and one yieldable member and arranged to extend downwardly therefrom in spaced relation to said socket.

3. A one-piece spring socket member for electric plug couplings formed from a single piece of metal and comprising a head, downwardly converging spring contact fingers extending from spaced portions of said head and presenting between them a plug-receiving socket, and downwardly extending yieldable members extending from said head intermediate said fingers, said yieldable members having formed at their ends lateral extensions substantially embracing said fingers to reinforce said fingers and restrain spreading thereof, and a pair of oppositely disposed attaching lugs extending from said head intermediate said fingers and yieldable members.

4. A spring socket member for electric plug couplings formed from a single sheet metal stamping, said socket member comprising a head, a pair of opposed fingers extending from opposite sides of said head and bent relative thereto to provide a plug receiving socket between them, and a pair of opposed yieldable members extending from opposite sides of said head intermediate said fingers and bent to a position adjacent the fingers, said yieldable members having lateral projections at their ends substantially embracing and reinforcing said fingers.

5. A spring socket member for electric plug couplings formed from a single sheet metal stamping, said socket member comprising a head, a pair of opposed fingers extending from opposite sides of said head and bent relative thereto to provide a plug receiving socket between them, and a pair of opposed yieldable members extending from opposite sides of said head intermediate said fingers and bent to a position adjacent the fingers, said yieldable members having T-shaped ends substantially embracing and reinforcing said fingers.

6. A spring socket member as defined in claim 4 characterized in that a pair of opposed integral attaching lugs extend from said head adapted to be clinched over a supporting part.

GEORGE WAGSTAF'F.

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