US2609416A - Electric connector - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 2, 1952 H. D. couslNs ELECTRIC CONNECTOR Filed April 28, 1951 INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 2, 1952 Harry Dl- Cousins, Chicago; Ill. AppIication ApriILZS, 1951, Serial N o. 223,619..

This invention. relates to electricronnectors and more specifically to that'part of the connector commonly refered to as the plug and which is. adapted to be detachably connectedto the other part of'the connector commonly referred'tof as the,socket.

An object ofmy invention isto provide a plug of'the character hereinafter described having a minimum number of'parts in which'the conductorwire aresecurely connected'to the prongs of: the plug without the employment of solder, screws or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a plug of the character. hereinafter described a novel arrangement for securely connecting the conductorwires to the prongs of the plug in a manner such that the wires can notbe easily disconnected .from the-prongs and one wherein such wires. are securely connected to the prongs by a simple operation without the employment of theusual tools for such purpose.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

Theinvention consists in'the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyin drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the prongs;

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view similar to Fig. 3 but showing certain parts in diiferent positions; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view similar to Fig. 5 but showing certain parts thereof in difierent positions.

The plug comprising my invention is shown in its prefered form of construction in the accompanying drawings. In this connection the plug comprises a body In which may be molded in a single operation from suitable insulating material or, if desired, in two similar half sections. In the latter case, the sections are secured together by a suitable adhesive material. In either case the plug II] at its outer end portion l l provides a counterbore [2 preferably of a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of an electric cord l3 and of a depth to permit the end portion 14 of such cord to be projected a substantial distance into the bore l2 for safety purposes. This cord [3 comprises two conductor wires I5 bound teams.- (01. 173-361) 2 and insulated from each other in -'a"well'-fknown manner. In the'present instance these wiresare each made up of a plurality of fine wire strands.

The interior of the body i0 is provided with parallel passages 16 separated from each 'otherby a central web [1. These passages l6-communficate with the bore and are adapted to have projected therein the endportions I8 of the wires [5 The end portions l'Qorthe passage ['6 curve-' outwardly from each other and traverse spaced? slots 20 formed in thebody- |0.- 'These-slots fl extend in a direction parallel with the long" axis of the plug and are adapted to'have' projected therein theshank's 2i of-pron'gs' 2'2 these-prongs 22 is provided with an elongated slot 23'. The end portion 24 ofth s-lot- 23 1s shaped to conform to the cross-sectional' shape'; and sizeof the end portions l9 ofthe passages- IB and toregister therewith. Opposite thisend portion the prong provides a finger 25 sub stantially triangular in plan view, with its-apex directed in the directiontowarc'l the end portion .24- of the slot 23.

Each of the prongs 22 at itsend portion op-- posite the slot 23 is turned back upon itself to provide a yieldable latching finger 26. These prongs are formed of conductive spring material.

Prior to the connection of the prongs to the wire end portions [8 the prongs are projected in the slots 20 so as to bring the end portions 24 of the slots 23 in registration with the end portions of the passages It. The wire lengths are then fed into the passages to project their end portions 20 through the end portions 24 of the slots 23. Upon this accomplishment, the prongs are then moved outwardly from the plug body In to penetrate the fingers 25 into the wire end portions 20 and to press the wire end portions 20' against adjacent walls of the passage portions l9.

After this operation has been accomplished, the latching fingers 26 are fiexed toward the shanks of the prongs 22 to latch their end portions 21 to the rear of keeper beads28, thereby to securely latch the prongs in position upon the plug body It with the fingers 25 securely connecting the wires l5 to the prongs.

From this description it is apparent that my improved plug may be assembled by one other than a skilled mechanic andwith ease and the minimum amount of labor. Should it be desired to replace the wires (5, such wires may be disconnected from the prongs and replacement. Wires can be connected to the respective prongs by carrying out the simple operation hereinbefore set forth.

Each of- My im roved plug may be manufactured at an economical cost and may be manufactured of such material as will best serve the purpose.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into efiect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, butdesire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An electric plug comprising a body having formed in one end portion a counterbore, into which an end portion of an electric cord having two conductor wires is projected, said body having spaced passages formed therein with corresponding end portions of the passages communicating with the counterbore and with opposite end portions of the passages curved in an outward direction with respect to each other, said body having spaced slots formed therein in the direction of its long axis extending beyond and bisecting the curved end portions of said passages, a pair of prongs having shank portions projected into said slots, each of said shank portionshaving an elongated slot formed therein with one end portion of the slot formed to register with the curved portion of the passage when said shank is projected the depth of the firstmentioned slots and having at the end opposite thereof a penetrating finger adapted to penetrate a wire length positioned in an adjacent curved passage, said shank portions each having an integral yieldable latching finger, and keeper beads formed on said plug adjacent said shank receiving slots and adapted to be engaged by said latching fingers to secure said fingers in close parallel relation with respect to said shanks and to latch said prongs in wire penetrating position with respect to said wire lengths.

2. An electric plug comprising a body having formed in one end portion a counterbore into which an end portion of an electric cord having two conductor wires is projected, said body having spaced passages formed therein with corresponding end portions of the passages communicating with the counterbore and with opposite end portions of the passages curved in an outward direction with respect to each other, said passages being separated by a web provided within said body, said body having spaced slotsformed therein in the direction of its long axis extending beyond and bisecting the curved end portions of said passages, a pair of prongs having shank portions of a length less than the depth of the slots and adapted to be slidably projected into said slots, each of said shank portions having an elongated slot formed therein with one end portion of the slot formed to register with the curved portion of the passage when said shank is projected the length of the first-mentioned slots and having at the end opposite thereof a penetrating finger adapted to penetrate a wire length positioned in an adjacent curved passage, said shank portions each having an integral yieldable latching finger, and keeper beads formed on said plug adjacent said shank receiving slots and adapted to be engaged bysaid latching fingers to secure said fingers in close parallel relation with respect to said shanks and to latch said prongs in wire penetrating position with respect to said wire lengths.

HARRY D. COUSINS.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,991,045 Becket Feb. 12, 1935 2,068,486 Gilbert Jan. 19, 1937 2,301,919 Petry Nov. 1'7, 1942 2,360,444 Pollock Oct. 17, 1944

Images