US2227123A

US2227123A - Electric connection and the like

Info

Publication number: US2227123A
Application number: US229465A
Authority: US
Inventors: Victor H Christen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1938-09-12
Filing date: 1938-09-12
Publication date: 1940-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 1957-12-31

Description

31,1940. 7 V H CHRISTEN 2 ,227,123

ELECTRIC CONNECTION AND THE LIKE 2 Filed Sept. 12, 1938 424 a a I INVENIOR I 3 1 2 yz'cfor ff. Cir-155 Patented Dec. 31, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC CONNECTION AND 'rnn LIKE Victor H. Christen, Detroit, Mich.

Application September 12, 1938, Serial No. 229,465

vc Claims. (01. 173-334) The present invention relates to electric connector means and particularly relates to electric light connections for Christmas trees and the like.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide an improved socket construction which is adapted to separately receive and retain therein circuit contact elements in an improved manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved multiple socket which is adapted to receive a plurality of pairs of conductor elements whereby the individual pairs are in parallel.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved electric contact terminal element associated with an electric lead wire.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved socket which is adapted to separabiy receive conductor elements and in which cam or wedging means are provided for wedging the conductor elements into positive electric contact with associated contact elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bulb socket construction in. which a cap is provided over the bottom and extends up along and, resiliently engages the sides of the socket.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved Christmas tree lights having a plurality of separable, multiple sockets and separable wire sockets connectable thereto, in which the wires may be of different lengths and in which the circuits are in parallel.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved clamping means associated with the lead wires, instead of the socket, whereby an economical construction is provided and in which the socket may be placed on top of a branch of a tree rather than on the side thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved manner of fastening sockets on the tree trunk of Christmas trees.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, the drawing relating thereto and from the claims 4.5 hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing, in which like numerals are used to designate like parts in the several views throughout:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a Christmas tree having electric connections according to the present invention associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the multiple sockets with an associated conductor separated therefrom according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and showing the conductors in position within the socket;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and also show- 5 ing the conductors within the socket;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevational view with parts broken away showing parts in cross-section of an improved form of connection construction for the conductors according to the present 10 invention;

Figs. 6 and 7 are views similar to Fig. 5 illustrating modified forms thereof;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the lamp socket, the bottom cover ther- 15 for, the conductor extending into the socket, and the clamping means for the wire, all according to the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8; 20

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the cover means illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9;

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line ll-ll of Fig. 8;

Fig. 12 is a front elevatlonal view with parts 2 broken away illustrating parts in cross-section of an electrical connection adapted for use as a wall plug according to the present invention; and,

Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line I3--l3 of Fig. 12. 30

Referring to the drawing, in Fig. 1 the top portion of a Christmas tree I0 is illustrated having multiple sockets generally indicated at l2, according to the present invention, attached thereto. 35

In Figs. 2 to 5 a socket and conducting wires according to the present invention, are illustrated in detail. The socket includes a housing I4 formed of suitable insulating material such as Bakelite or the like; and such socket is provided 40 Q with a pair of longitudinally extending substantially parallel recesses it which are preferably circular in cross-section. Such recesses it may be formed through the top wall of the housing and extend downwardly toward the bottom but 45 terminate short of the bottom thereof to provide The circuit includes a plurality of conductors 55 23 each having a pair of conducting wires 24 which are covered with insulating material 26. The pairs of wires are joined together, by the insulating material, over substantially their entire length but are separated adjacent their ends in the form of a fork as shown in Fig. 2,. Each wire extends beyond the insulation 26, as best shown in Fig. 5, and this extending end portion is adapted to be fixed in electrical contact with an en- Iarged terminal member 28.

In Fig. 5 the enlarged terminal member is in the form of a hollow ball or head having diametmaterial 26 extends up against the portion of the terminal member 28 surrounding the opening 30 so that-the member 28 forms an enlargement over the conductors formed by the wire 24 with the surrounding insulating material 26.

A conductor 38 having a pair of wires and insulation similar to theconductors 23 is also provided and such conductor is adapted .to extend to a suitable source of electric current. The con- I ductor 38 has enlarged ball members 28 disposed on one end of each of the wires in the same man-. ner as those described above.

In order to dispose the conductors within the housing l2 the two wires having the insulating material thereon forming the conductor 38 are inserted through openings 40 in the rear wall of the housing l2, one of such openings 40 being provided for each of the grooves 46. The ends of the wires of the conductor 38 are forked or separated a greater distance along the length thereof than the conductor 23 so that the ends of the wires may extend forwardly through the enlarged openings 22. The enlarged terminal elements 28 may then be attached to the exposed ends of the wires of the conductor 38 in the manner described above. Such enlarged terminals 28 may then be moved through the enlarged openings 22 to positions within the recesses IS. The

terminals 28 of the conductor 38 are adapted to be placed lowermost within the recesses 46 and nal elements 48 have been received within the recesses such terminal members contact with each other and with the member 28 of the conductor 38 so that allof theterminal members 28:within each of-the recesses are in contact with each other.

When the terminal members 28 are in the position indicated the insulated wires extend through the slots20 and such terminal members 28 may not be laterally displaced due to the fact that the slot- 20 is of less width than the width of the recesses l6 and the width of the terminal members 28.

In order to prevent longitudinal displacement of the terminal members 28. so that such members may notmove outwardly through the enlarged opening 22, and to retain such terminal members in contact with each other, a wedging and closure means is provided. Such closure means includes a plate member 44 having integral legs 46 formed on the rear face thereof. The legs 46 are adapted to be received within the slots'22 and within the recesses l6 and aligned openings are provided in such portions 46 which are adapted to pivotally receive a pivot pin 48. The pivot pin 48 may be fixed in the end walls of the housing 16 so that the member 44 with the projecting legs 46 may be pivoted relative to the housing. A forward projection 50 may be provided on the. front face of the member 44 to provide a convenient means for grasping the plate member 44 to pivot the same about the pivot pin 48. The leg portions 46 are so constructed and arranged and are preferably curved as indicated at 52 so that as the member 44 is pivoted the leg portions 46 engage and wedge the terminal members 28 downwardly within the recesses l6 and resiliently'against the springs 42. The plate member .44 covers the enlarged openings 22 so that the terminal members 28 may not be displaced therethrough. This construction assures contact between the members 28 and also prevents accidental or unintentional displacement of the terminal members 28 from within the hous- The conductor members 23 may be of non-uniform length and the outer ends of the wires may be placed in electrical contact with' bulb socket members as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. 'Such bulb socket members include an outer housing member 54 which is generally cylindrical in shape and which is open through the top. A metallic contact member 56 which is adapted to threadably receive the base of a bulb 51 is fixed within the housing 54 by means of suitable insulating material 58. An insulated base 60 is disposed within the base of the member 56 and receives a contact element 62 therethrough which is insulated from the member 56. One of the wires 24 is adapted to be fixed to the member 62 in electrical contact therewith. The other wire 24 is adapted to be fixed'to the member 56. The circuit is then through the bulb in the usual way.

So that the bolt socket 54 may be placed on a Christmas tree branch in an upright position, a lateral opening 64 is provided through the wall of the member 54 adjacent the lower end there- The conductor 23 is adapted 'to extend through this lateral opening so that the base of the socket'may rest upon the top of a branch,

.andthebulb be positioned within the socket in an upright position as shown in Fig. 1.

In order to cover the base and provide adeco- -;.rative appearance, a cup-shaped member 66 having a circular base portion 68 and upstanding resilient fingers 18 is provided. Suchcup member may be disposed over the lower end of the member 54 with the, fingers l resiliently engaging the outer walls of the member 54 to resiliently retain the cap in place.

This cap member prevents accidental chipping orbreaking of the inmember 12 is provided which is preferably formed Such 'clip' of a resilient strip metal member. v member is bent to embrace the conductor 23, as best shown in Figs. 8 and 11 and is provided with a reversely bent resilient portion 1.4. Such reversely bent resilient portion I4 is bent inwardly asindicated at 16 to preferably form broken edges 18 which are adapted to bite into the branch of the Christmas tree in order to retain the bulb socket in position. The clip 12 is placed closely adjacent to the juncture of the conductor element 23 with the socket 54, and the resilient portion I4 extends under the conductor 23 so that the conductor and bulb socket- 54 may be disposed onthe top of one of the branches. may also be placed on other portions of the conductor element if desired so as to further fix the conductor element on the branches.

A plurality of the multiple sockets I! may be placed on the Christmas tree in which event only one of such sockets need be provided with a wall plug 80. Such wall plug 80 is fixed to one of the conductor elements 38. The other conductor elements 38 may be formed at each end with the enlarged terminal members 28 so that one end of the conductor 38 may be placed within one of the housings H as shown in Fig. 3 while the other end may be placed within another socket l2 in the same manner as the conductor element 23. In this wayany number of such multiple sockets may be used to accommodate any number of lights.

An improved and simplified manner of attaching the multiple socket to the Christmas tree is provided which includes a plate member 82 which is bent adjacent the lower end to extend under the member l2 as indicated at 83 and extends upwardly along one side thereof. The top end of the member 82 may be fixed to the housing by means of a tack or rivet 84. A plurality of'tacks 86 are disposed through openings in the member 82 so that the heads thereof lie behind the member 82 with. the sharp points projecting outwardly therefrom. Such sharp points may be readily .driven into the trunk of the Christmas tree to attach the members l2 thereto.

In Fig. 6 a modified form of terminal element is provided which includes a substantially solid metal ball member 90. Such ball member 90 has an opening 92 therethrough through which the extending end of the wire 2% projects. A tapped opening 9d is provided through the member 80 and is adapted to threadably receive therein a screw member 96. The end of the wire at lies within the recess provided by the tapped opening 94 and the wire may be fixed to ball member 90 by screwing the member 96 against the wire 2 2. This construction provides a ready means by which the terminal members 90 may be removed when desired.

In Fig. 7 another-modified form of terminal member .is provided in'the form of a solid cylinder 98. Such cylinder is provided with an opening 99 therethrough through which the wire as extends. A recess I! is provided in the member 98 and the extreme end of the wire 24 extends within this recess. The wire may then be fixed to the member 98 by means of solder I02 which is disposed within the recess IN. V

In Figs. 12 and 13 a modified form'of the present invention is illustrated in which the invention is adapted foruse on wall outlets. Such wall outlets generally involve the removal of plaster from the wall providing an opening and the insertion of a metal shell I04 within such opening. Such metal shell is provided with inwardly disposed angle brackets I06 having tapped openings therethrough for the reception of screws I08. Such-screws I08 are adapted to be received through suitable openings in the housing of the socket member in order to removably retain such socket member in place.

Such clip According to the present invention an insulated housing H0 is provided having an outwardly disposed flange H2 therearound with oppositely disposed openings therethrough for the reception of the screws I08 in order to removably fix the housing to the brackets M6. The housing M0 is generally formed in the same manner as the housing described above in that it is provided with longitudinally extending recesses I I2 which correspond to the recesses l6 above described. Longitudinally extending slots H4 having en larged portions H6, corresponding to the slots 20 and the enlarged portions 22 above described, are also provided through the front face of the housing i In. The terminal members 28 are adapted to be received through the enlarged por tions H6 and seat within the recesses M2 with the insulated wires extending through the slots I It in the same relation as the corresponding ele ments described above.

The terminal members 28 are adapted to seat upon metal contact members H0 in the form of inverted cups which in turn rest upon spring elements I20. The spring elements 928 bear against metal contact members H22 which are disposed across the lower open ends of the recesses H2. The contact members I22 are angle shaped so that one side'thereof extends along the side of housing H0. Suitable screws 82 i are disposed within the housing H0 and extend through openings in the members M2 to fix these members in place on the housing. Suitable lead wires I26 are electrically connected to the respective contact members i22 through nuts E28 on the screw members 824 in the usual way.

The ball members are retained within a slot M2 by means generally similar to the plate member Ed above described. Such means include a plate member R30 which extends across the front face of the housing H9 and is provided with rearwardly disposed legs 832 which extend Within the slots lid. The slots lid extend upwardly to a position adjacent the top of the housing and are connected by a communicating slot 836. The portions E32 are pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 0% which extends transversely of the housing and may be fixedto the end walls thereof. A

. forwardly projecting handle M0 may be formed integral with the member i30 on the front face thereof so that the member 830 may be readily pivoted from the position shown in broken lines to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 13. When the handle is in its uppermost position the enlarged openings H6 are exposed so that the ter-' minal members 28 may be inserted therethrough or removed therefrom. When in the position shown in full lines the lower edge of the members I32, which are preferably cam shaped in order to provide a wedging action, urge the terminal member 28 downwardly against the cup members H8. I i

A rectangular frame member l40'ma'y be disposed around-the peripheral edge of the housing H0 and in overlapping relation to the shell i436 for decorative purposes if desired.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit and substance of the invention, the'scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is: l

1. An electric connector means comprising, in combination, a pair of insulated conducting wires having enlarged metallic contact elements at their terminals, an insulated housing having a rower than said'co-ntact elements so that said contact elements are, retained within said recesses with said wires extending through said slots; other contactelements disposed within said housingengaging. said first named contact ele ments for establishing an electrical connection therebetween, and a movable meansv covering the enlargedportions of said slots movable into engagement with said first named contact elements to hold said first named contact elements in contact with said other contact elements.

'2. An electric connector means comprising, in combination, a pair of insulated conducting wires having enlarged metallic contact elements at theirterminals, an insulated housing having a pair of elongatedrecesses therein, said recesses openingithroughnarrow elongated slots in one face of said housing, said slots having enlarged portions for the reception of said contact elements, the major portion of said slots being narrower than said contactelements so that said contact elements are retained within said recesses with said wires extending through said slots, other contact elements disposed within said housing engaging said first named contact elements for establishing an electrical connection therebetween, and movable means having wedging surfaces pivotally mounted on said housing, said last named means being so constructed and arranged as to cover the enlarged portions or" said slots and to engage and wedge said first named contact elements downwardly within said recesses when said movable means is in one position into contact with said other contact elements.

3. An electric connectormeans comprising, in combination, a plurality of pairs or" insulated conducting wires each having enlarged metallic contact elements at their terminals, an insulated housing having a pair of elongated recesses therein, said recesses opening through narrow elongated slots in one face of said housing, said slots having enlarged portions for the reception of said contact elements so that said pairs of contact elements are received in contact and in superimposed relation to each other within said recesses, the major portion of said slots being narrower than said contact elements so that said contact elementsare retained within said re- .cesses with said wires extending through said slots, and movable means engaging said'contact elements to prevent longitudinal displacement of said elements along said recesses.

4. .An electric connector means comprising, in combination, a plurality of pairs of insulated conducting wires each having enlarged metallic contact elements at their terminals, an insulated housing having a pair of elongated recesses therein, said recesses opening through narrow elongated slots in .oneiace of said housing, said slots.

having enlarged portions for the reception, of said contact elements, sothatthe contact elements for said pairs of conducting wires are arranged in contact and in superimposed relation to each other within said recesses, the major portion of said slots being narrower than said contact elements so that said contact elements are retained within said recesses with the wires extending through said slots, and movable means having wedging surfaces pivotally mounted adjacent said enlarged portions of said slotsso as to cover said slots and engage said contact elements to prevent displacement of said elements along said. recesses.

5. An electric connector means adapted for use on a Christmas tree, comprising, in combination, a plurality of pairs of insulated conducting wires, said pairs of wires being of different lengths, each of said wires having enlarged metallic contact elements at theirterminals, an insulated housing having a pair of elongated recesses therein, said recesses opening through narrow elongated slots in one face of said housing, said slots being enlarged for the reception of said contact elements so that said contact elements are received within said recesses and arranged so that said pairs of conducting wires are in parallel circuit, the major portion of said slots being narrower than said contact elementsso that said contact elements are retained within said recesses with said wires covering the enlarged portion of said slots.

6.. An electrical connector means comprising, in

combination, a pair of. insulated conducting wires 1 having enlarged metallic contact elements at their terminals, an insulated housing having a pair of elongated slots in one face of said housing, said slots having enlarged portions for the reception of said contact elements, the major portion of said slots being narrower than said contact elements so that said contact elements are retained within said recesses with said wires extending through said'slots, other contact elements disposed within said housing engaging said first named contact elements for establishe ing an electrical connection therebetween, and means engaging said first named contact elements to hold said first named contact elements in contact with said other contact elements.

VICTOR H.- CHRISTEN;