US2877442A - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

- March 10, 1959 w; A. G'ETTIG ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Ju1y`27, 1956 INVENTOR W.A.GETT|Gv ATTORNEYS United safes Patente 2,877,442 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR William A. Gettig, Spring Mills, Pa. Application July 27, 1956, Serial No. 600,526

1 claim. (c|.-s39zss) This invention relates to fasteners or connectors by means of which two or more members are detachably or permanently united, and more particularly to connectors for electrical conductors by means of which transfer of electrical energy is accomplished.y

The invention relates further to electrical connectors of the type employed in the production of electronic devices especially on a large scale where saving of material, time of assembly, space, effort, andV concentra tion are important and combine to simplify the deter mination of the size, material and labor costs, time in manufacture and other important matters which require consideration in the production of any product.

In the mass production of electronic devices employing electrical connectors, desirable solid connections have not always been obtained and the assembly of the ref spective parts has involved the application of force away from the operator or pushing force with complications due to engagement or contact with other parts or objects which interfere or cause injury due to such contact.`

Accordingly, it has been found desirable to provide electrical connectors which could be coupled by application of force moving towards the operator or a pulling force, in order that contactwithan object is less likely.

It is anobject of theinvention to 'provide a type of electrical connector which is simple and inexpensive to produce, can be easily and quickly applied or removed, by means of which a path for electrical energy can be readily provided, and connection of the parts can be readily accomplished.

Another object of the invention `is to provide an -electrical connector having parts by which a solid positive electrical connection can be established and the assembly of the parts of the connector is facilitated to a very substantial degree by the configuration of the parts so that they may be connected from a sense of feel and the application of a pulling force on one or both of the members. v

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective illustrating one application of the invention with one of the members of L-shaped configuration;

Fig. 2, a further enlarged independent view of the L- shaped member of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4, further enlarged perspectives of single end complementary connectors;

Fig. 5, an enlarged section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6, a fragmentary perspective of a modified form of a complementary connector.

Briey stated, the invention comprises a connector in the form of sheetmetal plates having complementary portions by means of which they are fastened together in a manner to provide a solid electrical connection and also with means for clampingly holding electrical conductors.

The connectors may be made of relatively thin ma- 2,877,442 Patented Mar. 140, 1959 terial, one having a portion struck from its bodyand otset to provide a retaining hook, and the other having an opening so that it may be applied over and pulled beneath suchrfhook. In order to maintain the parts in assembled relation, additional cooperating elements are provided in theform of a projection and a receiving opening, the projection being on the under side of the hook and the receiving opening being in ther connector underlying such vhook so that `when.theconnectmispulled beneath the hook the projection onv the underside `of the hook will engage .the openingin the flat end of the complementary connector. While the projection in the opening is described as being particularly located it maybe located other than described, it being only necessary lto provide means of resisting movement between the two parts of the coupling so that they do not accidentally move one relative .-to the other suiciently to become disconnected, butin order to disconnect them al prescribed force is necessary; v .j

The invention also contemplates securing one .of the connector elements upon a support to retain one coupling member in definite position relative to the object to which it is applied as well as the incorporating of guiding and reinforcing portions which not only provide lateral stability and strength for the terminals but serve to assist in retaining them in fixed relation.

With continued reference to the drawing, a support 10 is adapted to receive a hollow drawn post grommet 11 by means of.which one member of an electrical connector such as the body of a terminal or tab 12 may be attached. The post 11 is drawn from the body 12 in a manner to be applied to a support much .the same as a conventional unit. It is l'square to prevent rotation. and to require only one for mounting in iixed position on a support, unlike the conventional connections that push, snap, screw or solder in place. The cooperating members of the connector may be of ysheet metal or the like and o f any desired configuration and gauge or thickness. 'Also they may be multiple or single.

As illustrated in Figs. l and Zthe terminal member is of the duplicate or multiple. end type. .The body 12 of the terminal has a couple of brass tine or spring clip portions 13 struck therefrom and oifset in a manner leaving openings 14 in the base 12.. In order to supply added strengthand lateral stability as `well as to cradle theparts against'turning one relative to the other the body 12 is provided at its edges with ribs or upturned flanges 15, 16. These flanges likewise serve as a guide for the cooperative complementary connector or tongue 17 which has an opening 18 through which the clip 13 is received and by pulling the tongue 17 its relatively flat end portion will be caused to move beneath the tab 13 to cause the parts to be properly connected.

In order to retain the parts in assembled relation the tab 13 is provided with a protuberance or projection 19 (Fig. 5) on its under side, which projection or protuberance is adapted to ride into an elongated receiving opening 20 in the tongue 17. While the projection 19 and opening 20 are illustrated and described as located in a particular manner their purpose is merely to maintain the members connected. Accordingly the invention is not limited by their being of any particular form or c0r1- fined to any particular location.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that a solid electrical connection is provided between two mating terminals and any preferred type of connection may be made between the ends of a pair of mating terminals or between two terminals and an intermediate connector. By way of illustration the complementary terminal or connector 17 may be rolled along its rear end portions to provide integral clamping lugs 21 and 22 adapted to directly engage and clamp and therefore make a good contact with a conductor 23, the lugs 22 intimately engaging and clamping the insulation 24 in which such conductor is encased.

In order to provide a simple connection between two conductors, a single member 17 and a second member 12 (Fig. 4) may be provided-member 12 may be used in lieu of member 12 and have a hook 13', opening 11i side flanges 15 and 16', projection 19' on hook 13 and conductor gripping portions 21 and 22 for engagement with an electrical conductor. In order to secure the connector to a support, the member 12 may have a grommet 11 for attachment to the support.

A modified form of complementary terminal or connector 17 may be employed as illustrated in Fig. 6 which is adapted to receive a pair of conductors. body provides elongated integral clamping lugs 21 and 22, such lugs being of sufficient length to substantially encircle and directly engage and clamp conductors 23 and insulation 24.

It will be understood from the foregoing, that the present invention contemplates the joining of multiple electrical conductors by means of complementary connectors in any desired arrangement and that these connectors are relatively inexpensive and yet elect a terial saving and other advantages by their use.

Also, in order to couple the connectors all that is necessary is to place one upon the other so that the hook or clip 13 extends through the opening 18 and then the members pull apart or member 17 pulls relative to the member 12.

The conguration of the cooperating parts which form the connectors are such that coupling them together is facilitated and made simple and easy. This is due, to a substantial degree, to the generally rectangular shape of the hook 13 and the opening 18, which opening forms in effect a guide or finder slot for the hook. rl`he fact that the connectors have parallel sides and are provided with parallel guides 15 and 16 also aids assembly.

Furthermore, the attached ends of the hooks 13 and 13 are inclined so that they facilitate the free end connecting member 17 or 17 riding over the same and the free ends of the hooks 13 and 13 are curved upwardly at 25 and 25', respectively, in such a manner that they guide the edge of the opening 1S of the member 17 beneath them.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is illustrated in the The drawing and described in the specication but only as indicated in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

An electrical connector comprising a plurality of complementary members each comprising a relatively at rectangular body of sheet metal stock, means adjacent one end of each of said bodies -for good electrical contact with an electrical conductor, means on one of said bodies for anchoring it on a support, one of said bodies being planar and having a substantially rectangular opening in its intermediate portion and another of said bodies having an offset in its intermediate portion a distance less than the thickness of the one of .said bodies and deiining a resilient clip displaceable away from the body and of a size to readily pass through said rectangular opening, said clip and opening serving to facilitate orientation oE the members when assembled, the sides of each of said members being substantially parallel and the sides of one have opposed parallel flanges extending in the same direction and below which the other is adapted to be contained so that when the offset portion is disposed'in said opening and the cooperating members are moved in opposite directions said clip can receive the edge of the other member which is adjacent said rectangular opening, and complementary fastening means engagcable between said members for retaining said members in assembled relation, said spring clip being disposed longitudinally in a direction opposite the other member to facilitate assembly of said member by pulling them longitudinally away from each other when the spring clip is engaged through said rectangular opening, said fastening means comprising a downwardly projecting detent on the resilient clip and extending below the adjacent surface of the one of said bodies, said resilient clip including an upwardly curved terminal end for guidingly receiving the edge of said rectangular opening of the other member therebeneath when the members are assembled, said resilient clip extending in said same direction as and intermediately between said parallel flanges.

References Cited in the tile of this' patent UNrrED STATES PATENTS 831,402 Austin sept. 1s, 1906 2,497,523 Warkentin Feb. 14, 1950 2,523,465 Graham Sept. 26, 1950 2,540,037 Vough et al. Jan. 30, 1951 2,668,279 Epstein Feb. 2, 1954

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