US2881273A

US2881273A - Connector-switch

Info

Publication number: US2881273A
Application number: US700396A
Authority: US
Inventors: Shaler David
Original assignee: Faximile Inc
Current assignee: Faximile Inc
Priority date: 1957-12-03
Filing date: 1957-12-03
Publication date: 1959-04-07
Anticipated expiration: 1976-04-07

Description

April 7,- 1959 D. SHALER CONNECTOR-SWITCH Filed Dec. 3, 1957 k rrfgz INVENTOR. DAVID SHALER Q. (b. Mb

ATTORNEY United States Patent CONNECTOR-SWITCH David Shaler, Astoria, N.Y., assignor to Faximile, Inc.,

' New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 3, 1957, Serial No. 700,396 12 Claims. (Cl. 20016) This invention relates to the art of electrical connectors and particularly concerns an electrical connector having fixed and movable contacts adapting the connector to serve as a switch.

A principal object of the invention is to provide an electrical connector in which a plurality of circuits can be completed simultaneously between fixed and movable contacts.

A further object is to provide a connector for completing a plurality of circuits simultaneously, and wherein fixed contacts are embedded in a receptacle provided with grooves for guiding flexible movable contact members of a plug into contact with the fixed contacts.

A still further object is to provide a connector-switch with a plurality of rows of fixed connectors disposed in a spaced array and arranged so that movement of a plurality of movable contacts thereover simultaneously opens 0r closes a plurality of electrical circuits.

,A still further object is to provide a receptacle for a connector in which open grooves are provided to receive the contacts of an associated plug.

A still further object is to provide a plug for a connector in which a plurality of flexible connector members are disposed in a spaced array and provided with bent ends for contacting a plurality of fixed contact elements in a receptacle.

The invention will be best understood from the following detailed description taken together with the drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a connector-switch including a receptacle and plug according to the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the receptacle and plug of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on lines 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on lines 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4 of another form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the form of device shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4 of still another form of connector-switch embodying the invention. In Figs. 1-4 there is shown a plug 20 employed in the connector-switch. The plug includes a block 21 of insulation material. Embedded in the block and extending therethrough are a plurality of wires 22. The wires are uniformly spaced in a coplanar array in the block. Flexible portions 23 of the wires extend from the block 21. These portions are formed with upwardly bent terminations 24. The curved points 25 (which may be more rounded than shown) serve as contact surfaces of the flexible contact members 23 in the connector-switch. The flexible members 23 are arranged to make contact with

conductive elements

28 and 29. These elements are rectangular metal plates arranged in a coplanar array and are embedded in block 30 of receptacle 31.

I Block 30 is made of insulation material, such as plastic or ceramic and holds embedded therein a plurality of pairs of

coplanar plates

28, 29 in spaced arrays corre-' ends of

plates

28 and 29 are separated by portions 33 of the block which serve as spacers.

Electric circuit wires

35 and 36 are connected to ends of the

respective plates

28 and 29 and pass through opposite ends of block 30. A ridge 38 having a face inclined to the upper face of block 30 is formed transversely across block 30 at one end thereof. Another ridge 39 having a face inclined to the upper face of block 30 is formed near the other end of block 30. This block is securely mounted on a base plate 40.

A pair of

upstanding plates

42 and 43 are attached to the base plate. A bar 44 joins

plates

42, 43. A shaft 45 extends between the

plates

42, 43. On this shaft is pivoted a pair of

levers

46, 47. Attached to the upper ends of the levers are springs 48. Block 21 is mounted between

levers

46, 47, by means of arms 49 which terrminate at the levers and are embedded in the sides of the block. A cylindrical cam 50 is eccentrically mounted on shaft 58 which is driven by motor 59. The cam r0- tates in contact with the edges of the

levers

46, 47 causing them to pivot against tension in springs 48. As the cam rotates the block moves back and forth so that members 23 move in the grooves between ridges 34 and alternately

contact plates

28 and 29. This accomplishes a repetitive switch action between the plug and the separate circuits in which

wires

35 and 36 connect. During their movement the flexible members 23 maintain effective contact with the flat upper surfaces of

plates

28 and 29 during movement. The sliding movement of the contact points 25 serves to keep the surfaces S clean and bright to maintain effective electrical contact at all positions of the members 23 on the

plates

28, 29.

The

ridges

38 and 39 may serve as circuit breaking elements between members 23 and

plates

28, 29. During the forward sliding movement of the flexible members 23 they can be advanced over plates 29 to the point where the bent terminations 24 ride up on the inclined face of ridge 39, thus breaking the electrical contact between curved points 25 of members 23 and plates 29. During the rearward movement of members 23 they can be retracted until the elongated inclined bodies of members 23 ride up on the inclined face of ridge 38, thus breaking the electrical contact between the curved points 25 of members 23 and plates 28. During the forward and rearward movements of the members 23 if the points 25 are not raised above the tops of ridges 34 disengagement of the members 23 with the grooves in the block 30 will be prevented so that reestablishment of the electrical contacts on the reverse movements of the members 23 will be facilitated.

If desired the positions of the

blocks

21 and 30 may be reversed, with block 21 secured to base plate 40 and block 30 movably carried by arms 49. The plug 20 would then remain stationary while the receptacles 31 or 31a were moved to effect the switching action described.

In Fig. 7 receptacle 310 includes a block 30a in which more than two fixed contact plates are provided in each switch channel. In addition to

plates

28 and 29 there are provided

plates

60 and 61. The latter plates have connecting

circuit wires

62, 63 extending through the bottom of block 30a. As many additional contact plates as described may be similarly provided in spaced coplanar alignment between the ridges 34 in receptacle 31a.

In Fig. 5 the block 30b of receptacle 31b is provided with only a single spaced row of contact plates 29. Each r. plate is coextensive in length with the ridge 34a which Patented Apr. 7, 1959 v extendsbetween

ridges

38 and 39 Only a single connecting circuit wire 36 is required for each plate 29. Contact is made between the individual plates 29 and contact members 23 under spring tension therein. This form of the invention serves primarily as a connector and lacks the automatic switching features provided by the rows'of plates 28-29 shown in Figs. 4 and 7.

To operatively assemble the plug 21'and receptacle 31, it is preferred that levers 47 be initially disengaged from arms 49 so that the members 23 can be fitted into the grooves in block 30.

The channels formed by the ridges 34 serve as guides for entry of the contacting points 25 of contact members 23. When the members 23 are inserted into the receptacle to contact the fixed conductive plates, ridges 34 assist in guiding the members 23 into the desired grooves. If members 23 have a spacing of the order of thirty or more to the inch simultaneous contact between the flexiblemembe rs 23 and the contact plates in the respective grooves is made by placing each of the contact ends 25 onone of the ridges adjacent the conductive plate to be contacted. A slight transverse shaking movement of the plug will cause the members 23 to drop into place in the grooves under tension to effect simultaneous contact on the several parallel contact plates. This quick contacting feature of the invention is characteristic of each of the embodiments shown in the drawing. After the contact points 25 of members 23 are lodged in the grooves, levers 47 may be attached to arms 49 to hold the plug in a desired angular position with respect to the receptacle.

What is claimed and sought to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

I. In an electrical connector, a receptacle adapted for cooperation with a plug having a plurality of spaced parallel flexible contact members, comprising a block of insulation material, a plurality of fixed contact plates embedded in a spaced parallel array in the block, said plates having smooth top edges recessed within one face of the block, said face having spaced parallel ridges formed of said insulation material defining grooves with said edges of the plates to receive said contact members, said block having a pair of other ridges disposed transversely across the block at opposite ends of the grooves, said'other ridges being raised above said spaced parallel riclges for supporting said members out of contact with said plates, and a plurality of electrical circuit Wires respectively connected to each of the plates and extending out of the block.

2. In an electrical connector, a receptacle comprising a block of insulation materiaLa plurality of conductive contact plates embedded in a spaced parallel array in the block, said plates having smooth top edges recessed within one face of the block, said face having a first plurality of ridges formed of said insulation material defininggrooves with said edges, said face having a pair of other ridges disposed transversely across the block atopposite ends of the grooves, said other ridges having faces inclined toward said grooves, and a plurality of electrical circuit wires respectively connected to each of the plates and extending out of the block. 7

3. In an electrical connector, a receptacle adapted for cooperation with a plug having a plurality of spaced parallel flexible contact members, comprising ablock of insulation material, a plurality of rows of fixed contact plates embedded in a spaced parallel array in the block, the plates in each row being disposed in coplanar alignment and being separated from each other at their adjacent ends, said plates having smooth top edges recessed within one face of the block and exposed thereat, said face having a plurality of spaced parallel ridges formed of said insulation material defining grooves with said top edges to receive said members said block having a'pair of other ridges disposed transversely across the block abopposite ends of the grooves, said other ridges being raised above said spaced parallel ridges for supporting said members out of contact with said plates, and a plurality of electrical wires respectively connected to each of the plates and extending out of the block.

4. In an electrical connector, a receptacle comprising a block of insulation material, a plurality of rows of fixed contact plates embedded in a spaced parallel array in the block, the plates in each row being disposed in coplanar alignment and being separatedfrom each other at their adjacent ends, said plates having smooth top edges exposed at one face of the block said facing having" movement of said members in fixed paths'on said plates,

in the receptacle.

5. In an electrical connector, a receptacle comprising a block of insulation material, a plurality of fixed contact plates embedded in a spaced parallel array in the block, said plates having smooth top edges recessed within one face of the block and exposed thereat, said face hav ing ridges formed of insulation material defining spaced grooves with said edges of the plates, and a plurality of electrical circuit wires respectively connected to eachof the plates and extending out of the block; and a plug comprising another block of insulation material, another plurality of wires embedded in said other block and having flexible contact members extending therefrom in a spaced parallel array corresponding to the spacing of said grooves, each of said contact members-having an upwardly bent end portion, said members being respectively slidably fitted in the grooves and contacting said exposed edges of the fixed contact plates at intermediate points of said portion Where the contact members are bent upwardly.

6. In an electrical connector, a receptacle comprising a block of insulation material, a plurality of rows of fixed contact plates embedded in a spaced parallel array in the block, the plates in each row being disposed in coplanar alignment and being separated from each other at their adjacent ends, said plates having smooth top edges recessed within one face of the block and exposed thereat,

said face having a first plurality of ridges formed of said insulation material defining straight spaced grooves with said top edges, said face having another pair of ridges disposed transversely across the block ridges at opposite ends of the grooves, said other ridges having faces inclined toward said grooves, and a plurality of electrical circuit wires respectively connected to each of the plates and extending out of the block; and a plug comprising another block of insulation material, another plurality of wires carried by said other block and having flexible contact members extending therefrom in a spaced parallelarray corresponding to the spacing of the grooves, each of said contact members having a curved end portion,

said members being respectively slidably fitted in the grooves and contacting said exposed edges of the fixed contact plates at said curved end portions.

7. In an electrical connector, a receptacle comprising.

a first block of insulation material, a plurality of fixed contact plates embedded in a spaced parallel array in,

theblock, said plates having smooth top edges recessed I within one face of the block and exposed thereat, said face having ridges formed of insulation material defining spaced grooves with said edges of the plates, and a plurality of electrical circuit wires respectively connected to each of the plates and extending out of the block; and

a plug comprising another block of insulation materiah another plurality of wires embedded in said other block and having flexible contact members extending therefrom in a spaced parallel array corresponding to the spacing of said grooves, each of said contact members having an upwardly bent end portion, said members being respectively slidably fitted in the grooves and contacting said exposed edges of the fixed contact plates at intermediate points of said portions Where the contact members are bent upwardly, said first block being provided with means to guide said contact members into said grooves into contact with said edges.

8. In an electrical connector, a receptacle comprising a block of insulation material, a plurality of rows of fixed contact plates embedded in a spaced parallel array in the block, the plates in each row being disposed in coplanar alignment and being separated from each other at their adjacent ends, said plates having smooth top edges recessed within one face of the block and exposed thereat, said face having a first plurality of ridges formed of said insulation material defining straight spaced grooves with said top edges, said face having another pair of ridges disposed transversely across said first ridges at opposite ends thereof, said other ridges having faces inclined toward said grooves, and a plurality of electrical circuit wires respectively connected to each of the plates and extending out of the block; a plug comprising another block of insulation material, another plurality of wires carried by said other block and having flexible contact members extending therefrom in a spaced parallel array corresponding to the spacing of the grooves, each of said contact members having a curved end portion, said members being respectively slidably fitted in the grooves and contacting said exposed edges of the fixed contact plates at said curved end portions, and means for moving said other block to slide said contact member in said grooves from one group of parallel plates to another group of parallel plates in the receptacle.

9. In an electrical connector, a receptacle comprising a block of insulation material, a plurality of rows of fixed contact plates embedded in a spaced parallel array in the block, the plates in each row being disposed in coplanar alignment and being separated from each other at their adjacent ends, said plates having smooth top edges recessed in grooves within one face of the block, a plug comprising another block of insulation material, another plurality of wires carried by said other block and having flexible contact members extending therefrom in a spaced parallel array corresponding to the spacing of the plates, each of said contact members having a curved end portion, said members being respectively slidably fitted in the grooves with the curved end portions of said members contacting the top edges of the fixed contact plates at said curved end portions, and means for moving said other block to slide said contact members from one group to another group of parallel plates in the receptacle.

10. In an electrical connector, a receptacle comprising a block of insulation material, a plurality of fixed contact plates embedded in a spaced parallel array in the block, said plates having smooth top edges exposed at one face of the block, said face having ridges defining spaced grooves with said top edges of the plates, a plug comprising a plurality of Wires, and a holder supporting said Wires in a spaced array corresponding to the spacing of the plates, said other wires having flexible contact members projecting from the holder into said grooves, said receptacle being provided with means for guiding said members into simultaneous contact with said edges of the plates upon interfitting of the plug and receptacle.

11. In an electrical connector, in combination, a plurality of conductive plates, a first holder carrying the plates in a plurality of spaced parallel grooves, the plates in each groove being disposed in coplanar alignment and being separated from each other at their adjacent ends, a plurality of wires, a second holder supporting said wires in a spaced array corresponding to the spacing of the grooves, each of said wires having a flexible contact member, the several contact members being respectively disposed in contact with the upper edge of one plate in each groove, and means for moving one of the holders in an oscillating motion while the other holder remains stationary so that the contact members and said plates move relative to each other with the contact members alternately contacting one group and then another group of said plates.

12. In an electrical connector in combination, a first block of insulation material, a plurality of spaced rows of fixed contact plates embedded in a spaced parallel array between parallel ridges in the block, the plates in each row being disposed in coplanar alignment and being separated from each other at their adjacent ends, said plates having smooth top edges exposed at one face of the block, said face having ridges defining spaced grooves with said top edges of the plates, a plurality of Wires, a second block of insulation material supporting the Wires in another spaced array corresponding to the spacing of the rows of plates, said wires having flexible contact members projecting from said second block into said grooves, and means for oscillating one of the blocks so that said members and said plates move relative to each other with the contact members alternately contacting the exposed edges of one group and then another group of said plates, said ridges guiding said members so that said relative movement is confined to fixed paths between the ridges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 776,120 Draper Nov. 29, 1904 2,136,612 Dunbar Nov. 15, 1938 2,696,570 Pandapas Dec. 7, 1954 2,708,264 McBoyd May 10, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 48,756 Sweden Feb. 1, 1919