US2457520A - Plug connector - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 28, 1948. G. B. BENANDYER PLUG CONNECTOR Original Filed March 24, 1943 ml, e d y mw r H o Y e b e Patented Dec. 28, 1948 PLUG CONNECTOR George B. Benander, Oaklawn, R. I., assignor to Monowatt lncorporated, a corporation of Connecticut Original application March 24, 1943, Serial No.

Divided and this application September 8, 1945, Serial No. 615,136

' 1 Claim. 1

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 480.348, filed March 24, 1943-Electrical connector.

The invention relates to plug connectors and is especially applicable to plug connectors comprising a number of contact prongs or contact pins arranged in relatively close proximity to each other, although the invention is not limited to such use.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved plug connector which is simple in structure, reliable in operation, and capable of being manufactured at low cost.

A further object of the invention is to provide a plug connector wherein the contacts may be quickly and firmly positioned and fastened in the base and held against turning movement therein.

For a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the following specification and to the claim appended thereto.

In the drawing. Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a plug connector embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the improved plug conhector with a portion broken away to better illustrate the construction, Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a partially completed contact pin, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a completed contact pin.

Referring to the drawing, the connector comprises a molded base or block I formed from suitable insulating material and provided with a plurality of uniformly spaced, axially extending openings 2 extending therethrough for receiving and holding in position the prongs or conformed on a rod 6. The upper end of the rod is rounded in known manner and the lower end portion is cut away and provided with a bore 1 to form a semicylindrical recess for receiving a conductor 8, the bared end of which is connected thereto. On diametrically opposite sides portions of the collars 4 and 5 are cut away to form fiat parallel surfaces 9 and I0 aligned with each other. The surfaces 9 extend along the entire length of the collar 5 whereas the surfaces I0 are formed only along a portion of the collar 4 adjacent to the collar 5, thus providing shoulders II and leaving a portion of collar 4 cylindrical.

The upper and lower ends of the openings 2 in base I are round and are of a diameter equal to that of the collars 4 and 5. The intermediate portions of openings 2 are in the form of slots I2 of a contour corresponding to that of collars 4 and 5 after being cut away to form the surfaces 9 and I0. When inserted into an opening 2 on the block I, the cylindrical collar portion of the pin fits into the lower end of the opening 2 with the shoulders II engaging a shoulder I3 at the lower end of opening 2. The other portion of the collar 4 with the flat surfaces I0 fits into the intermediate slot l2. The collar 5 with the parallel surfaces 9, when the pin is inserted into the opening l, is located above the slotted portion I2 with its lower surface in alignment with the end surface I4 atthe upper end of slot Ill. Viewed from another aspect, the collar 5 when cut away leaves projecting wings or lugs on the pin 3 above collar 4.

During assembly, each prong 3 is inserted into an opening 2 from the lower end thereof to bring the shoulders I I into engagement with the shoulders I3 and thereafter the prong portion between the collars 4 and 5 is given a quarter twist by turning one end of the prong relatively to the other so that the two pairs of parallel surfaces 9 are rotated through an'angle of the order of relative to the surfaces I0 to lock the prong firmly in position, forming a permanent bayonet connection with the base. It will be seen that if the base is held stationary with a prong in one of the openings, the lower end of the prong is held stationary by reason of the flat surfaces It] being positioned in the slot I2. Now, if the upper end of the projecting pin portion of the contact is turned, the wings or lugs formed by the cut-away portions of collar 5 are rotated until they stand over the shoulders I4. Preferably, the two ends of the contact are twisted relatively to each other by about 90. Each prong is positioned circumfcrentially ,by the flat surfaces l0 positioned in the slot I2. From another viewpoint, each prong is provided with axially spaced projections and upon insertion into opening 2 in the block I', an end portion of the prong with one of the projections is given a twist to engage a shoulder in the opening so as to fix the prong against axial movement in the base I. In the present instance. seven prongs are indicated. Six of the prongs are located on a circle and positioned on the block with their lower cut-away lug portions I facing radially outward to facilitate soldering of the bare ends of the wires to the lug portions.

By the above-described arrangement, I provide a plug which is simple in structure and one wherein the contacts can be quickly and easily assembled and fastened in position without the use of additional parts. Accordingly, the construction is' capable of being manufactured at low cost. At the same time, however, a strong, reliable construction is obtained.

What I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States is:

A plug comprising a base of insulating material having an axially extending opening therethrough an, intermediate portion of which is non.. circular in cross section and end portions oi which are round and of a diameter such that they define shoulders at the ends of the intermediate portion, and a prong having an intermediate portion shaped to flt the non-circular portion of said opening and flanges spaced apart axially a distance equal to the distance between said shoulders for engagement with said shoulders, one of said flanges being'spaced from the non-circular portion of said prong to provide a prong portion between said non-circular portion and said flange of a size in cross section less than said non-circular portion and capable of being distorted by twisting, and said one flange having a contour such that it will pass through said opening whereby a prong may be inserted from one end of the opening and then twisted to bring such flange into tight engagement with the adjacent shoulder to secure the prong in the opening.

GEORGE B. BENANDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS the

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