US2632034A - Insulated multiple connector - Google Patents

Description

March 17, 1953 LEE INSULATED MULTIPLE CONNECTOR Filed June 11, 1949 INVENTOR. Marvin Lee BY MMLM/ ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INSULATED MULTIPLE CONNECTOR Marvin Lee, Rye, N. Y., assignor to Burndy Engineering Co. Inc., a corporation of New York 1 Claim.

My invention relates to insulated multiple electrical connectors and more particularly to a connector provided with an insulating cover separable from the metallic connector body.

As disclosed. in my earlier Patent 2,087,384, my present invention being an improvement thereof, the insulating covers were previously formed over the metal body of a predetermined size. The size of the connector body and the number of outlets extending therefrom determined the size of the mold into which the body was positioned and around which the cover was molded to provide the covered connector.

I have now found that such a construction necessitates a large number of molds and connector bodies. Additionally, a considerable inventory was required for both the manufacturer and the utility company which resulted in a higher cost per unit.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an insulating cover havin a large number of connection outlets for use with an electrical body of corresponding size, both provided with means whereby each may be cut to the desired number of outlet connections without destroying the remainder of the parts from which they are taken, or any of the pre-located outlet connections in the original parts.

I accomplish these and other objects and obtain my new results as will be apparent from the device described in the following specification, particularly pointed out in the claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a side elevation of an insulation cover partly in section, having a, large number of outlets.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a connector body corresponding thereto.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of an insulated body section made from sectioned-01f parts of the original insulating cover and connector body.

Fig. 4 is a cross section view taken in the plane 4-4 of Fig. 3.

In the drawing numeral l designates my preformed insulating cover made of flexible Or rigid material such as rubber, Bakelite or the like, suitable for insulating a metal connector body II.

The insulating cover is illustrated with sixteen lateral extending projections l2, eight on each side, which corresponds to the maximum number of outlets which a connector body of the size and weight illustrated can structurally handle with safety.

Each projection or outlet is preferably cylindrically shaped to facilitate insulating the electrical joint to be established thereon. The insulating cover and projections are hollow as at l 3 and M, to receive the connector body and cable connections, respectively.

The projections extend transversely from the cover I!) a suificient distance to enable a clamping member or other overlapping means to be applied for establishing a sealed joint for the electrical connection to be made at each outlet. For a purpose hereinafter explained, the distance between longitudinally spaced outlets, as measured from the nearest surfaces, should be approximately twice the distance that the projection extends from the cover. That is, the distance a should be twice the distance bf Thus if the cover I0 is severed at the plane c-c, midway the projections, the new projections l5 and I6 so formed would extend from the cover, a distance (1 equal to one-half of distance "a or equal to projection distance b. The projections I5 and I6 form two additional end outlets which may be utilized in every respect as the other existing outlets.

In Fig. 2, I have illustrated the metal connector body II, which may be formed of rod material, rectangular in cross-section to provide a flat surface for the recesses 20 laterally positioned thereon, and for preventing rotation inside the cover. These recesses are spaced apart the same distance as the outlets on the insulating cover to permit alignment when assembled.

The connector body may also be made hollow, as at 2|, which reduces the weight considerably and will, if the hollowed portion is circular in cross-section, provide end recesses 22, which when threaded will permit the attachment of connecting plugs, not shown, which are used as cable socket connecting devices, as shown in Fig. 8 of my early patent.

If it is desired to remove from my original insulating cover and connector body. a suflicient length to permit four lateral outlets and two end outlets, shown as li a and Ila respectively in Fig. 3, I can cut the original cover along the plane c--c, following peripheral niches H, which may be molded therein, for this purpose, producing a length suitable for my structure. The connector body, similarly cut may then be slightly shortened at the ends to provide a similar overlap of insulating cover, as occurs at the lateral outlets.

If more or less lateral outlets are needed, a greater or less section is cut from both cover and body.

End. plugs I8 are preferably used as closures for unused outlets, the surface junction of plug and cover being sealed with insulating tape or covered with a sealing and cementing compound well known in the art for moisture-proofing the connection.

I have thus described my invention, but I desire it understood that it is not confined to the particular forms or uses shown and described, the same being merely illustrative, and that the invention may be carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, therefore, I claim broadly the right to employ all equivalent instrumentalities coming within the scope of the appended claim, and by means of which, objects of my invention are attained and new results accomplished, as itv is obvious that the particular embodiments herein shown and described are only some of the many that can be employed to attain these objects and accomplish these results.

I claim:

In combination, avconnector body and. an insulatingcover therefor provided with a plurality of longitudinal tubular projections spaced apart a distance not substantially less than twice the distance that said tubular projections extend from the cover; said cover being provided with molded markings midway between projections for indicating the points of peripheral severance whereby the cover may be divided into a plurality of selected units each provided with tubular side projections at the sides and at the ends thereof, and means for securing a conductor to said connectorbody at each of said tubular projections.

MARVIN LEE.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,338,989 Lang May 4, 1920 2,087,384 Lee July 20, 1937 2,449,450 Carlson Sept. 14, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 587,574 France Jan. 20, 1925

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