US2240614A - Socket and plug switch - Google Patents

Description

May 6, 1941. P. FUCHS SOCKET AND PLUG SWITGH Filed Sept. 23, 1938 INVENTOR Patented May 6, 194 1 Philip Fuchs, Detroit, Mich, assignor of twelve and one-half per cent to Howard H. McLain, Detroit, and twelve and one-half per cent to Jack H. Miller, Walled Lake, Mich.

Application September as, 1938, Serial No. 231,446

. 1 Claim.

My invention relates to electrical connections and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved socket and plug switch.

An object of my invention is to provide a socket and plug combination in which the parts are so devised as to facilitate connection. Means are in corporated Ior yieldingly latching the two parts into connected relation so as to prevent accidental disconnection. In addition, the socket and plug embody a novel switch which may be opened or closed through mere rotation of one part relatively to the other part to the end that the circuit may be opened or closed with the two parts in connected relation. The socket is characterized by a bore for the reception of the plug prong provided with contacts 'for connection ,with an electric cord with the bore and the prong so designed as to facilitate'insertion oi the prong into the bore. I provide means for indicating the on and off position of the plug.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a. longitudinal sectional view iilus trating the socket and plug in connected relation;

Figure 2 is a similar view with the socket and plug rotated 90 about their longitudinal axes;

Figure 3 is an end view of the plug;

Figure 4 is an end view of one part of the socket;

Figure 5 is a sectional view alongthe line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an end view of the fore-end oi the socket;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the socket contact strip; and c Figure 8 is a perspective view 'of one of the contact strips associated with the plug.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate my invention, I make use of a socket Ill provided with a screw contact sleeve l2 adapted for connection with conventional lock sockets. Socket III is provided with slots H and I8 for the reception of contact strips l8 and 20, respectively. Contact strip 20 is provided with a hook 22 which hooks over the end of the wall 24, which wall is recessed at 26 and 28 for accommodating the hook. I recess the outer face of the socket in at 30 for partly housing the sleeve l2 and one end of the sleeve abuts the shoulder 32.

Contact strip 20 is bowed at '34 to extend ears arranged in electrical conducting relation with the contact 20, see Fig. 1. Socket It includes a bore 46 for slidably receiving the prong 40. Cone tact strip l8 includes a reach 48 extending across the face 50 of the socket l0 and provided with an opening for the reception of a screw 52 molded in the end wall 54 of the socket. A cap 56 is bored at 58 for the reception of a nut 60 having threaded relation with the screw 52. One end of the nut 60 presses the reach 48 against the face for securing the contact l8, while the nut includes a flange 82 which presses the cap 56 against the endo! the socket III for securing the two parts in connected relation. Flange 62 constitutes an electrical contact.

Contact I8 is bowed at 84 to extend through a slot 88 in the wall 68 for bringing the contact into conducting relation with the contact strip 10 anchored to the prong l0.

Screw-52 includes a head 12 positioned inside a,

split cup 14 arranged to have frictional connection with the head I6 of a shank 18 molded in the prong 40. The screw 52 extends through an opening in the split cup I4 and the head 12 of the screw holds the cup against the wall 54 for for anchoring purposes. Head 76 is aligned with the split cup 14 and enters therein as the plug 40 is pushed home in the bore 48. Theirictional' relation between the split cup and the head is such as to efl'ectively hold the plug 42 in connected relation with the socket It to prevent accidental disconnection of the two parts.

Contact strips 38 and 10 are molded into the I prong 40 and include keys 80 molded into the material of the prong. Each contact strip 88 and 10 includes a right-angular bend 82 provided with an opening 84 for the reception oi. a screw 86 threaded into a sleeve 88 molded into the rib 80 of the cap 82 of the plug. These contact,

strips are identical in construction and are made secure in the same manner. Tightening of the screws 86 press the right-angular bends 82 firmly against the faces 94 of the ribs for connecting the prong 48 with the cap 62. Screws 86 also constitute connecting means for the electric wires of the conventional plug which is threaded 7 through the opening 96 in the cap 82.

Referring to Figure 5, the contact strips 38 and I0 lie within the cross sectional contour of the plug 40 and have depressions I08 for the reception of ribs 98 formed in the bows 34 and 64 of the contact strips l8 and 20. Contacts 38 and 10 are positioned at diametrically opposite points on the prong 40, while the prong is provided with diametrically opposite recesses I02 for the reception of the ribs I on the contacts I0 and 20 when the plug 42 is rotated 90 relatively to the socket I0. Contacts I0 and 20 are associated as to have pressure relation with the prong 40.

' Thus the ribs I00 will snap into the depressions 00 in one position of the cap 92. In another position of the cap 92, the ribs I00 will snap into the recesses I02. With the prong 40 rotated suificiently tarto bring the recesses I02 into registration with the ribs Il0 the circuit will be broken.

Rotation of the cap 02 sufflciently far to bring the strips II and 20 into contacting relation with the strips 30 and will close the circuit. The circuit may be brokenby pulling the plug 42 out of connected relation with the socket. I0 in lieu of breaking the circuit through rotation of the plug. Figure 1 illustrates the socket I0 as including a small projection I04 and thecap 82 provided with a similar projection I06. Rotation of the plug 42 for bringing the projection I00 into registration with the projection I04 indicates a closed circuit. When the plug 42 is rotated suiflciently far to bring the ribs 90 into registration with the recesses I02, resistance against further rotation will indicate a broken circuit. The position oi the prong I06 at this time provides a visual indicator for determining a broken circuit.

Prong 40 fits snugly'inside the bore 40 but may be withdrawn easily after the head I0 has been pulled out of connected relation with the split cup 'I4.-- The split cup I4 has such holding relation with the head I0 as to prevent the assembly of Figure 1 to be positioned vertically with no danger oi the socket I0 separating from the plug 42 under normal loads. Socket ID as well as the plug 42 is formed of insulating material. a

In the face I00 or the socket I0 I provide a circular groove I I0 tor the reception of a ring H2 which has illuminating properties to provide location means .in. the dark. Face I08 includes a gentle curvature 4 for directing the head I0 into the bore 40. My invention embodies a socket and plug combination characterizedby a single prong which may easily be inserted in the one bore 46. In the dark, positioning of the head I8 inside the illuminated circle II2 facilitates insertion of the prong 40.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim: 1

In a socket and plug switch, a socket part having a. bore and contacts for connection with a source of current and extending into said bore, a plug part having a prong provided with contact strips each having a terminal for connection with a wire of an electric cord, said contact strips being arranged to engage said first-named contacts when said prong ispushed home in said bore, said prong fitting snugly in said bore but being rotatable therein for bringing the contact strips into and out'oi engagement with saidflrstnamed contacts, said prong being movable longitudinally oi the bore to permit connection and disconnection of said socket part and the plug part, said contact strips lying within the crosssectional contour of the pron! to permita snug fit between the wall of said bore and the prong, said bore at its prong entrance and being flared to facilitate insertion oi. the prong, and an 11- lumination means arranged concentrically the flared end of said bore.

Y PHILIP FUCHS.

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