US2724808A - Electrical connector comprising a receptacle and cap having interlocking contacts - Google Patents

Description

2,724,808 CEPTACLE Nov- 2. 1955 J. SCHMIER ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR COMPRISING A RE AND CAP HAVING INTERLOCKING CONTACTS Flled July 11 1952 INVENTO R Jaggb Saw/er ATTO EY Z u w United States Patent ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR COMPRISING A RE- CEPTACLE AND CAP HAVING INTERLOCKING CONTACTS Jacob Schmier, Allentown, Pa., assignor to Rodaie Manufacturing Company, Inc, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 11, 1952, Serial No. 298,384

2 Claims. (Cl. 339-76) My invention relates to a quick detachable electrical connector of either the two or three wire type which may be used for carrying a heavy current load for household and commercial devices such as electric dryers, or the like, or for industrial devices such as heavy power machinery.

The connector which forms the basis of this invention is one wherein the cap and receptacle are joined to each other by a straight insertion and then locked together by a twisting motion relative to each other so that it is necessary to give the parts a counter-twisting motion relative to each other before they can be separated. This is to prevent separation of the parts which otherwise would cause the electric circuit to be disrupted. Both the cap body and the receptacle body of my invention are made entirely of soft rubber rather than of the usual rigid type of resin, this soft rubber being less costly than a combination rubber and a rigid disc such as Bakelite inserted into the rubber.

It is an object of my invention to provide a quick detachable electrical connector wherein the cap and the receptacle may be locked against separation by direct terminal engagament of each member while in use, and the body of insulation is unbreakable. H

Another object of my invention is to provide a quick detachable electrical connector to prevent an accidental or casual strain from disconnecting the terminals.

Another object of my invention is to provide a quick detachable electrical connector wherein only the electrical terminals interlock (l) to limit rotary motion and (2) to prevent the terminals from being pulled apart in a rectilinear direction.

Another object of my invention is to provide a quick detachable electrical connector wherein a twist of the terminals into contact position locks the terminals (1) to limit rotary motion and (2) to prevent the terminals 0 from being pulled apart in a rectilinear direction.

Another object of my invention is to provide a quick detachable electrical connector wherein the insulated portion of the connector is made entirely of flexible, soft rubber which is relatively inexpensive when contrasted to connectors made of rigid resins and wherein the contact terminals are directly interlocked.

Another object of my invention is to provide an electrical receptacle having a separable sleeve of unbreakable flexible rubber wherein the sleeve completely envelopes the receptacle terminals and wherein the separable sleeve is attached or detached from the main body portion of the receptacle in order to provide for the ready attachment of a conductor to each terminal.

Another object of my invention is to provide a receptacle which is easy to wire by having an all flexible rubber insulated body and sleeve which will not crack, break or chip.

Other objects of my invention are to provide an improved device of the character described that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly effective in operation.

Patented Nov. 22, 1955 With the above and related objects in view, my invention consists in the details of construction and combina ,tion of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded view of the connector showing a cap, a receptacle insulating sleeve and a receptacle separate from each other.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the receptacle before the insulating sleeve is mounted thereon.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view showing the receptacle connected to the cap and showing the sleeve in outline.

Fig. 4 is a front end view of the receptacle.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a receptacle terminal.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts. I show a quick connector comprising an electrical cap, generally designated as A, which is adapted to be attached or connected to a complementary receptacle, generally designated as B. A flexible insulating sleeve of soft rubber, generally designated as C, may easily be attached or detached from the receptacle B, in order to easily attach the wires to the receptacle. The receptacle and the cap are adapted to be joined together to serve as electrical conductors in an electrical circuit.

The cap A comprises a cylindrical body 10 made of flexible insulating material such as soft rubber which is unbreakable. A plurality of terminals, each designated D, have one of their ends connected to the unbreakable cap body by suitable bolts or screws (not shown) while the other end 12 which is free, serves as an electrical contact. The cap terminals D are slightly arcuate in crosssection so that they provide a good electrical contact when turned. A flange hook portion 14 is provided on the free end'of each of the terminals, these hook portions 14 extending laterally from one edge of the terminal. Each of these hook portions is also arcuate and combines with its respective terminal to form a continuous arcuate surface, A soft rubber insulating cover 15 closes the front end of the cap A.

The complementary receptacle B comprises a cylindrical body 16 made of flexible material such as unbreakable soft rubber, and a bore 18 extends centrally therethrough for the purpose of allowing electrical lead wires to pass through a bore in the receptacle body 16 and to be connected to binding screws 19 provided in the electrical conducting holding plates 20 set in the receptacle body. A plurality of electrical receptacle terminals, generally designated as E, corresponding in number and position to the electrical terminals D are connected at one of their ends to the plate 20 and the other ends of these terminals are free and serve as electrical contacts. The terminal E has a main portion 21 and an olf-set portion 22 is formed on each of these free ends of each terminal, and integral with but perpendicular to each off-set portion 22 is a flange or hook portion 24; hence, the flange 24 extends from one edge of the off-set portion of the terminal. A plurality of spring members 26 are connected at one end to the receptacle body 16 and extend parallel with and adjacent to the terminals E, each spring member being parallel with and adjacent to a respective terminal E.

The flexible rubber sleeve C is provided with a plurality of longitudinal openings 28 which extend through the length of the sleeve, and these openings are adapted to receive the receptacle terminals E and their respective spring members 26 as the sleeve is connected to the plug body 16. This sleeve extends beyond the terminals E and springs 26, completely enclosing them and are adapted to completely enclose the terminals D when the cap A is connected to the plug B, thereby acting as an insulator for both sets of terminals. Suitable holding screws (not shown) passv through the sleeve to hold it to the plug body.

The sleeve C may be easily removed to wire the receptacle and. this is done by removing the. holding screws, attaching the wires inplace, and then re-attaching the sleeve,

In operation, the cap A is connected to receptacle B by inserting the terminals D between the terminals E and. the: springs 26, the springs acting to hold the terminals D against the/terminals- E, The cap is then turned or twisted relative to the receptacle and, this causes hook portions, 14 and hook portions 24' to interlock so that neither the cap nor the receptacle can. be pulled axially away from one another without twisting them so as to unlock the hook portions.

The flange 14 of terminal Dis adapted to engage the shoulder of flange 24 of terminal E to prevent rectilinear pulling apartv of the capA and receptacle B. The flange 24,, extending at right angles to the offset 22 and being integrally formed therewith serves to, engage a side of the main body portion 12 of the terminal D to limit rotary action of the terminals D and E when the terminals are incontact engaging position.

The all flexible rubber plug and terminal to terminal locking contacts. possesses the following advantages: (1) is unbreakable; (2) is easier to manufacture and assemble; (3.) is easier for the electrician to wire; and (4), carries a large current.

Although my invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

I claim as my invention:

1, 'An electrical connector comprising a receptacle and a' cap, said receptacle having a body portion and a plurality of receptacle electrical terminals, each of said receptacle terminals being connected to said body portion and'having a free end, a plurality of cap terminals, each of said cap terminals being connected to said cap and having a free end, a removable sleeve made of insulating material surrounding said receptacle terminals and detachably joined to said body portion, said sleeve extending beyond and enveloping said receptacle terminals and being adapted to envelop said cap terminals when said cap is connected to said receptacle, each of said receptacle terminals having an ofl-set portion adjacent its free end and a right-angle flange projecting from said off-set portion, each of said cap terminals having a flanged hook adjacent its free end and extending at right angles thereto whereby the flanged hook is adapted to engage said flange on said receptacle terminal.

2. An electrical connector comprising a receptacle and a cap, said receptacle having a body portion and a plurality of receptacle terminals, each of said receptacle terminals being connected at one end to said body portion and having a free end, a plurality of cap terminals, each of said cap terminals being connected at one end to said cap and having a free end, a removable insulated sleeve having longitudinal slots therein, said sleeve surrounding said receptacle terminals extending beyond the free ends and being detachably connected to said receptacle body portion, the longitudinal slots on said sleeve being adapted to receive said cap terminals when said cap is connected to said receptacle, each of said receptacle terminals having an off-set portion adjacent its free end and a right angle flange projecting therefrom, a spring adjacent each of said receptacle terminals extending parallel thereto and spaced therefrom, each of said cap terminals having an arcuate hook adjacent its free end, said arcuate hook being adapted to be engaged between said receptacle terminal and said spring when said cap terminals are longitudinally inserted and twisted rotationally within said receptacle terminals.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,771,729 Hubbell, Jr. July 29, 1930 1,918,070 Watts July 11, 1933 2,002,558 Von Holtz -a May 28, 1935 2,123,422 Kautz July 12, 1938 2,281,739 Wright May 5, 1942 2,284,392 Heiser May 26, 1942 2,626,168 Macy Jan. 30, 1953

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