US2522341A - End plug connection to cord - Google Patents

Description

sept. 12, 195o a P. Baus 2,522,341

END PLUG CONNECTION T0 CORD Filed June 21, 1948 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Sept. 12, 950

This invention has to do with electric plugs and particularly with end plug vconnectors for extension cords and the like, the primaryobject .being to provide a plug that is quickly and easily manu. factured and extremely efficient frorntle-V Standpoint of thefcomponent parts thereof being rigidlyjandvirtually irremovably connected. 4 ;3 l Themost, important object of this invention. is the provision of an end plug connectorhaving a pair of relativelytelescoped sections, one of the sections-,receiving the contact prongs, which prongs extend into the interior ,ofi the outermost section throughcorresponding openings,` said prongsre'ach having a perforation formed therein thatisdisposed within the opening for the' prong, said perforations` receiving the conductorsI in clamping relationship withinthe openings. Another important `object of thisy invention is the provision of an endplug connectorhavinga pair '.,of spaced apart contact prongs;` extending intoA a. hollow body` through thehcorresponding openings formed in said body, the prongs* each having a perforation formed therein and disposed within. the corresponding body opening to the. end lthat asa conductor wire is threaded through the perforation of theprong, such wire is tightly clamped withinsaid opening. f if: Another object ,of this invention is the provision ofiaconnector plug having contact prongs provided withl a. perforationv and av slot spaced from the Iperforation, A'the conductor wire passing UNITED, STATES PATENT oFFlcE- I I y ENnrLUGC'oNNEcToro CoD p Emile 5P. Bres, Kansas city, M0.

v 1 Appiiatian June. ai, 194s, sensi N6. 34,244 l 'g "tenias" (ci. 17s-,3511)]y thein clmgs'tol the end that the prongs are held rigidly against movement relative to the body.

Many minor objects referring to details of con#v struction will be made clear or become apparent as the, followingspecication progresses, refer.- ence,being had to the accompanying drawing,

y tact prongs ,per se and f =.Figa6. is-:an inverted plan view ofthe inner.-v m'ostaof the twoA body sections showing the same 1 entirely removedfrom other parts of theplug.-

through the perforation and extending-'finto the f slot in loop 4fashion to theend that the conductors maybe easily and quickly connected to the prongs withoutithe vnecessity of using screws, bolts an the; like in the .conventional manner. -1

-A furtherobjectof this inventionis the provisiony of a connector plug formedfrom readily rigid material to the end that as the looped end Y of v.tlf-ie conductors is disposed in clamping relationship yas rabove described, the rigidity of: the material itself will prevent relative movement between the wires and their respectiveprongs.

Q'I still further object of this l:invention is the provision of a .plug of the aforementioned characvter having a pair ofl body sections interconnected by proj ,ecting4 ear and cavity assemblies, to .the end ,that when the sections are assembledbya snap-fit action, theycan. be separated onlybya vstrongv prying action impartedlfthereto.

An additional object f th l, nvention is toprvideaplugas abovedescribed whereinr one o f the sections isforimolwithl a pair of spaced apart projettent. prec'iselywmoured to. .nt @belonen Ysection and bearing directly against a Yportion of y .lt isicommon knowledge that electricendplug connectorsy have heretofore been made Ain a large number-off different ways resulting in a highly competitive eldyandne'cessitating the -production off aiu-plug having all the necessary advantages thereof -andat the same time being inexpensive to manufacture, to the 'end that 'constantprice cutting-*canbe met. f Y 'f -Accordinglythe plugabout to `be described, has beenproduced to -'permit quick and easyfassem# bling-bythe' 'manufacturer primarily 'to the en'd that'- tliecstfcf production thereof can be ap'- prec'iablyf decz'r'eased.A "Obviously, lwhile cutting such'fcst of f production, it is still necessary -to havea'ri 'eflicient plug"v and, asv will hereinafter ber 'come' apparent, ay great v"advancement I'has also vb'eeynmade particularly with respect to the plug maintaining-itself in an Aassembled condition leven aftr'lalong periodof continued use'. Inbther words, one of the inherent'defects cfjrriostplug's zon the markettodayfliesin the fact'that'after the samehasbeen' placed' in use, theprongs` thereof nd/or' the conductorsv become .broken loose anduoftentimesresults in discardingl ofthe ennnfplua: 5 i' jthefd'rawing, a Sectional bcdy'bro'adly ,des-f igjnateifbythehumeral IIL'has ya main bodylporl''and alsecondaryV body portion I4' telef# ithin'fthe body portion 12..: ll`heY outer 'body portionfrv section l2 hasa co tinuous il lgitudinal bore' I6" formed there-v through.A section I8. of this `bore l is relal tlv-6.15 Smalll'andi's of such size as to receive an ir'isilated` extension cord or the likel 20. This cord 20 has a pair of insulated conductors 22 and 24, the free ends whereof are bare and devoid of insulation.

Another section 26 of the bore I6 communicates with section I8 and is of an appreciably greater cross sectional area than section I8 of bore I6 for receiving the body section I4. As clearly illustrated in Figs. l and 3, this section 26 of bore I6 is elliptical as is the section I4 which is tightly tted tl'ierei-n.l Obviously however, L,theprecise cross sectional 'contour of the sections-I2 `Fand Ill.,`

of section l2 in the usual manner, whereasfthe opposite end of body section I4 is irregular andl until such ears reach the cavities 40 and snap into place.

The sections I2 and I4 can be separated by prying action but it is contemplated that no separation become necessary and certainly with such formation the sections I2 and I4 will not become readily displaced. Obviously, theparticular disposition of the cavities 40 and the ears 42 is of no great importance and it is understood that they jmay beformed inwardly .from the end of theaflug near the fingers 28 of section lIii and if desired, can be shifted to the end walls of sections I2 and I4 rather than along the side walls thereof. Furthermore, any number of such ear- -cvity assemblies can be utilized if desired or if ,y such .should become necessary. Each of the provided with a pair of opposed projections '28' and an intermediate projection 3U.' Y i As illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing, the side walls of the body sectionl 2 and consequently the Section` I4, are substantially straight, but, as shown 'in 'Figf2 of the drawing, 'the end walisf both 'sections M and I2 are slightly arcuate.' -Consequently the 'proj ec-tionsor fingers ci the *body section f4, curve inwardly `aloi'ig Vtheir "outermost faces as the lowerrnost ends thereof are ap'- prached. The 'section'l26 of the bore Iiefeirtends inwardly beyond the innermost end of the section Y Wardly from the i-nnernistend of vsection I8 of bore I6 in overlappmg' relationship 'toa lportion of bore section I8. 1

Fig. l2 vof the idrawin'g, clearly illustrates the manner in which the innermost ree ends of the two iingers 2-8 extend 'into the respective cavities 32 of body section I2.. pairof spaced. Lapart openings 34 are 'formed'in the body section-1I Alin-ext adjacent the ngers 28 and communicate :at their innermostfe'nds with the section 26 of bore'IIi. In other words, there is an openingoid between the central projection 36 of section I4 and each of thefnngers 228 thereof. The openings 34:'are'polygonai in Icross sectional contour to conform to prongs 36 .having the form Aand contour .illustrated :in Fig. 5. VThese two prongs 36 extend into the 'openings -34 'of section' 'I4 andextend beyond both ends 'of the respective vopenings 34. The innermost free end of.V each of the prongs 361s provided with a laterally projecting portion 38 and when -th'e component parts of the plug are assembled as illustrated in Fig. 2, this portion 38 of the prongs extends into the respective cavities 32 -of body section I'2.v Since the cavities'f .exe tend at an angle substantially thesarnegas the angularity of :portion 38 of prongs 36, a'tightxit is presented with the .innermost freeends of the ngers '2-8 bearing tightly against theportions l3B of ,prongs 36. Thus, when assembled, `tlrieprongs 36 .cannot move longitudinally ineitherfdirection since the two sections t2 'andI cooperate' in preventing'such movement, f I

A .pair `of Opposed relatively small. cavities 4U are 'formed in the innermost ffaces'.- fftliev side Walls of body section I2 near the uppermost end thereof. Corresponding side walls 'of 'the body section I4 are provided with outturned 'ears 4:2 that t within the cavities 40 whenY th sections 1I2 and 'I4 are assernbl'edtogether. Iti'sjcntemplated that the sections IA2 and I4 ofbo'dy "lf'be 4formed from a relatively hard `and substantially -lil rigid "material such as plastic. fsuchin'aterial ly permitting' passage 'of the cute-turned 'ears l42 prongs 36 Vis vprovided with a pair .of spaced apart perforations, one of which constitutes a small ho1e 44 adjacent the laterally extending portion 38 thereof, whereas the other perforation extends at an angle in the form of a slot 46. The slo-t '4-6 communicates at4 its open end with one edge fof the 'flat prong 36 and ifs-spaced toward the norrnally outermost end of the respective prong 36. `As noted in Fig. f2 of the drawing, the innermost end volf both of vthe openings :34 in body-section 14, `are enlarged "as at 48, When the .prongs 36 are disposed Within 'the openings 34., the slot v46 thereof is within Athis :enlarged .portion fait of the openings y34.

The conductors 22 and -24 :ext-end into the section 26 of bore I6 between the projection 36 and the 'proximal prong 536. rlheluninsulated portion of conductors 22 and `212i 'then pass into slot A416 and 'are looped inwardly, one leg vthereof passing along 'the outermost 'face of the respectiveprong 36 and 1in-to the hole '44 lof vsuchprongs 36. Since the slots 4S are within 4rthe yportions 43 `,of opene ings the-'bight `'ancla portion yof 'the legs of the loop formed in the :conductors 2.2 and y24 are within this ienlarged :portion 48 of `'openings y34. Thisover=all width oi vthis :enlarged portion 481s less -than'the-'combined thicknesses of the prong 36 :and the two "legs'of the loop 'of ' conductors 22 and 24, vall to the end that `when the conductors 22 v:and .24 and their yprongs 36 :are Iforced 'into fthe enlarged portion 43 of vopenings 3'4, 'a 'squeezing and clamping action |.will be impartedto the'conductors :22 and `24. Since the prongs 36 fcannot move inwardly ltoward veac-h otherbecause of :the

, presence vof Ia portion fof the `conductors -22 'and 24 4disposed between the prongs and the `innerL most vwall forming 'enlarged openings 48, afclamp ing action will be limparted to the conductors -2'2 and 24 throughout that portion of the legs th-ere-` of extending *between the Slot *46 and the h'ole 44. In other words, this portion 'of the -loopiis disposed between innermost -t'ace fof "the .ngers `23 and theproximalsface of the prongs 133.

iManif'estly, when all fof the component parts of A-tlzle `plug are asseifnbled relationship, "abs'o lutely trof-movement iis possible between the I-sec'- tons iM 'and l 2 fol? 'the -b'ody "1F11, .nor'` between 'the prongs 36, thev conductors 22 and 2f4 fand the'body il). The Vconductors '22 `afn'd` 2f4 belin'gio'oped over a"prtien oi the 'prong 36 `ate'r passing the slet W6 Tenders it positively impossible te se' arate cord 20 v'and the plugfitselff lby'pullinfgoltwa'idly on 4the cord 2i). 'If `such outward -move= ment 'is imparted A'to `the cordf relative 'to the plug itself, vthe Vv'conductor Iwires 22 'and 24 -will bresil; beforetlre loops thereof pull I-throhgh"fthe slot 46 and hole-44. 'By'th'e Same token, the com nee'tor Vpri-ings 36 cannot rnoveinwardly or out-- wirdly l'with respe'tto the body A'sln'ztio'n "I4 vand ly because of the fingers 23 bearing against the portions 33 of prongs 36, nor outwardly because of the ears 42 and their interlocking engagement with cavities 40.

In addition to the plug being highly efiicient from the stand-point of rigidinterconnection between its component parts, the assembling itself is relatively simple and easy. The operator simply threads the cord 20 into the section I3 of bore I6 to a point where the free ends of conductors 22 and 24 are beyond the innermost end of bore section i8. The free, uninsulated ends of the conductors 22 and 24 are then inserted into the holes 44 of the respective prongs 33 and then quickly and easily looped over and into the slots 43. The body section i4 can then be moved over the contact prongs 33 to a, point where the enlarged openings 48 thereof embrace and receive a portion of theconductors 22 and 24. l't is to be noted that the prongs 33 are provided with the usual outwardly7 bowed and downwardly extending stamped tongues 5G, serving primarily to yieldably hold the contact prongs 35 in an electric outlet. Since the prongs 33 are made from resilient material, these tongues 5d will readily yield to the openings 34 when prongs 33 are inserted therein. Inasmuch as the prongs 33 have suiiicient means for preventing displacement thereof withv respect to body section I4, it is not necessary that these tongues 50aid in that respect as is common in many types of devices of tion, the central projection thereof will readily separate the two conductors 22 and 24 and maintain the same `in separated condition throughout the life of the plug. Consequently, the uninsulated portions of the conductors 22 and 24 will never come into mutual contact causing an electrical short. After the conductors 22 and 24, together with the prongs 33 and the body section I4 are all interconnected, section 4 is moved into the bore section 20 to a point where the ears 42 thereof snap into place. It is readily apparent that these steps can be performed very quickly and with a minimum amount of skill, and actual practice has proved that the number of plugs which can be assembled by an individual operator in a given length of time, is tremendously increased through formation of a plug as above described.

All of the advantages initially set forth herein are, therefore, attained by the plug forming the subject matter hereof and while only one embodiment thereof has been illustrated and described, any changes and modifications as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims are contemplated hereby.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

k 1.k An end plug connection comprising a pai of body sections, one of said body sections having a cavity for receiving the other of said body sections and a bore communicating at one end thereof with said cavity and adapted to receive a pair of electrical conductors, said other body section having a pair of spaced openings, each registering at one end thereof with said cavity; and an elongated prong within each opening respectively of the other body section, one end of each prong extendingoutwardly beyond said other body section, the opposite end of each prong being within said cavity and wedged between proximal parts of the body sections, each prong being provided with a pair of spaced perforations in that portion thereof within the cavity adapted to receive a corresponding conductor with the latter extending through one perforation in one direction and thence through theother perforation in the opposite direction, said prongs and said one body section having complementary, inclined, interengaging parts for forcing the prongs in one direction toward the other body section, whereby `to clamp a portion of the conductors in place.

2. An end plug connection comprising a pair having a pair of spaced openings, each registering at one end thereof with said cavity; anelongated prong Within each opening respectively of the other body section, one end of each prong extending outwardly beyond said other body section, the opposite end of each prong being within said l cavity and wedged between proximal parts of the body sections, each prong being provided with a pair of spaced perforations in that portion thereof within the cavity adapted to receive a corresponding conductor with the latter extending throughone perforation in one direction and thence through the other perforation in the opposite direction; and means forming a part of said one body section adjacent the cavity thereof for forcing the innermost ends of the prongs apart, that portion of each conductor extending from one perforation to the other perforation being disposed between its corresponding prong and the other section, and being clamped therebetween when the prongs are forced apart.

EMILE P. BEUS.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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