US2909615A

US2909615A - Wire-form current control device

Info

Publication number: US2909615A
Application number: US653900A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frantz Nicholas
Original assignee: CARTER PARTS CO
Current assignee: CARTER PARTS CO
Priority date: 1957-04-19
Filing date: 1957-04-19
Publication date: 1959-10-20
Anticipated expiration: 1976-10-20

Description

United States Patent Q ice WIRE-FORM CURRENT CONTROL DEVICE Nicholas Frantz, Chicago, 111., assignor to Carter Parts Company, Skokie, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 19, 1957, Serial No. 653,900

10 Claims. (Cl. 179-96) This invention relates to electrical current control devices for making and breaking electrical connections in an electrical circuit and particularly to wire-form jack switches.

A wire-form jack switch overcomes some of the undesirablecharacteristics of the conventional type of jack switch, i.e. a jack having a sleeve with a shoulder against which are positioned a series of interposed insumoving the limitation of the conventional mounting, the

area of application of jack switches is greatly expanded. One object of the invention is to provide a fwire-form jack switch wherein the wire-form parts may be reversed,

replaced and interchanged to provide varying circuitsame mounting control combinations structure.

Another object of this invention isto provide such a jack switch which may be easily assembled by unskilled personnel. r

A further object is to provide a jack switch wherein the component parts are low cost items producible with relatively small tolerance variations.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a wire-form jack switch wherein the wire-form parts have a smooth action and camming ride on the mating plug with a very low distributed electrostatic capacity between conducting circuits.

Another object of this invention is to provide a jack switch which can be constructed in very small sizes.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein likereference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings: I

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing one embodiment of the present invention with a section broken away on line 1--1 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the Fig. l embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view online 4-4 in Fig. 2.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in utilizing the 2,909,6 l 5 Patented Oct. 20, 1959 2 nology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

In the drawings there is shown an electrical jack com- ,prising a metal mounting sleeve which is provided with threads 12 for its securement on a suitable support structure (not shown). Sleeve 10 includes an annular shoulder 14 on which is received an outer insulator member 16 formed of phenolic material. Outer insula- -tor member 16 is formed of fiat annular portion 18 and upstanding annular flange 20. Positioned on one face of outer insulator member 16 within upstanding annular flange 20 is an-annular inner insulator member 22.

Inner insulator member 22 is provided with

spaced projections

24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 and 36 extending radially outward for a short distance. As best seen in Figs. 3 and 4 by sectional views of typical projection 26,

projections

24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 and 36 are undercut at 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48 and 50 to define lip portions having a convex curvature. The depth 20 ,portions ofinner insulator 22 so as to allow for the of said projections is less than the depth of the adjacent passage of wire elements.

Undercuts 42 and 46 receive the U-shaped

sections

52 and 54 of

legs

56 and 58 which form parts of a wire spring element 60.

Legs

56 and 58 extend in parallel directions through openings or passageways 62 and 64 formed by the inner surface of flange 20 and

projections

42, 44, 46 and 48 until they reach points 66. Thereafter they are arcuated and converge toward one another and toward. the axis of sleeve 10, as at 68 and 70. At points 72, legs: 56; and 58 again extend in parallel directions untilthey reach points 74. At points 74,

legs

56 and 58 are interconnected by a U-shaped Web portion 76.

.

P assageways

62, 64, 78 and 80 and undercuts 42 and 46 ,act to secure the U-shaped

secions

52 and 54. This arrangement firmly anchors spring element 60 at two spaced points. v

Spring element 60 is a current-carrying element, and it is accordingly formed with a terminal which consists of an upwardly turned section 82 and reversely turned section 84.

The upper end portions of spring element 60 contact the Web portions 86 of a second wire element 88.

Undercuts and receive the U-shaped sections 90 and 92 of legs 94 and 96 which form parts of wire element 88. Legs 94 and 96 extend through

passageways

78 and 98 in parallel directions and converge toward one another and diverge from the axis of sleeve 10. At

. points 100 legs 94 and 96 are interconnected by a straight its application to the details of construction and arrange.

Web portion 86, which engages

legs

56 and 58 of the first wire element.

Wire element 88 is also a current carrying element, and it is accordingly formed with a terminal which consistsof an upwardly turned section 102 reversely turned section 104.

- Sleeve 10 carries a fiat, annular, metal disk 106 which is equipped with a terminal-forming extension 108.

Members

10, 16, 22, 60, 88 and 106 are assembled as shown in Fig. l. The assembly is secured by staking over the end of sleeve 10 at 110.

The finally assembled device is employed with a conventional plug (not shown). Insertion of the plug causes a circuit to be made between the plug and element and a circuit to be broken between elements 60 and 88 i.e. by movement of

legs

56 and 58 out of contact with web portion 86. The camming action of the plug on elements 60 and 88 is comparatively smooth l so that the jack may be altered to accommodate different circuits by adding more elements and varying the placement of elements 60 and 88. The elements added may have different configurations than those shown.

The various wire elements are firmly anchored at their opposite ends so as to be accurately positioned in the insulated members with little or no deviation from their designated locations with respect to the plug and adjacent wire elements. The components are low cost elements capable of quick assembly together by untrained personnel. Use of the illustrated wire elements enables construction of the jack in relatively small sizes, thereby increasing its range of use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an electrical jack, a metal tube having a shoulder intermediate its ends; a fiat annular outer insulator member having an upstanding annular flange; said outer insulator member surrounding the tube and positioned on said shoulder; an annular inner insulator member surrounding the tube and having a flat undersurface seated on the outer insulator member within said flange; a plurality of spaced projections extending radially outward from the inner insulator member and in facial engagement with the inner surface of the flange; undersurface portions of the projections being cut away to define lips; and spring elements having U-shaped portions extending into openings formed by the cooperation of the projections and flange and positioned beneath the lips of the projections.

2. In an electrical jack, an outer insulator member, an inner insulator member positioned within the outer insulator member and having spaced projections on the periphery of its surface; the projections being undercut so as to define lips; and a spring element having a web portion in axial alignment with central openings in the insulator members; legs extending from said web portion into the openings between the projections and then into the cut away portions beneath the lips; the legs of said spring element being secured by the said projections and the said outer insulator.

3. In an electrical jack, a flat annular outer insulator member having an upstanding annular flange; an annular inner insulator member positioned on one face of the outer insulator and within its flange; spaced projections extending from the periphery of the inner insulator and cooperating with the inner surface of the flange to form passageways; undersurface portions of the projections being cut away to define lips; a spring element having a web portion in axial alignment with central openings in the outer insulator member and the inner insulator member; and legs extending from said web portion into the passageways and then into the cut away portions beneath the lips; the legs of said spring element being secured by the said projections and the inner wall of said flange.

4. In an electrical jack, an annular outer insulator member having a central opening therethrough and being provided wtih an upstanding annular flange; an annular inner insulator member having a central opening therethrough and positioned Within said flange on one face of the outer insulator member with the openings in registry with each other; spaced projections extending in radial directions from the periphery of the inner insulator member and cooperating with the inner surface of the flange to form passageways; undersurface portions of the projections being spaced from said one face to define a passage interconnecting adjacent ones of the aforementioned passageways; and a wire element having a web portion in axial alignment with the central openings in the insulator members, and legs extending from said web portion into spaced ones of the first passageways and then into the aforementioned interconnecting passages; the legs of said spring element being secured by said projections and outer insulator member.

5. Current control means comprising a flat annular outer insulator member having a central opening therethrough and being provided with an upstanding annular flange; an annular inner insulator member having a central opening therethrough positioned within said flange on one face of the outer insulator with said openings in registry; spaced projections extending from the periphery of the inner insulator and cooperating with the inner surface of the flange to form passageways; undersurface portions of the projections being cut away to define lips; a wire element having a web portion in axial alignment with the central openings in the outer insulator member and the inner insulator member, and leg sections extending from said web portion into the passageways and then into the cut away portions beneath the lips; a second wire element having spaced leg sections extending from other of the passageways, and an interconnecting Web portion in pressure engagement with the leg sections of the first wire element so as to be out of contact with the first spring element leg sections when the first element web portion is contacted by an actuator device inserted through the central openmgs.

6. Current control means comprising a flat annular outer insulator member having an upstanding annular flange; an annular inner insulator member positioned on one face of the outer insulator and within its flange;

'spaced projections extending radially from the periphery of the inner insulator and cooperating with the inner surface of the flange to form passageways; undersurface portions of the projections being cut away so as to define lips of a convex contour and of a less thickness than the body of the inner insulator; a spring element having a web portion in axial alignment with central openings in the outer and inner insulator members; and legs extending from said web portion into the passageways and then into the cut away portions beneath the lips; the legs of said spring element being secured by the said projections and the inner wall of said flange.

7. In an electrical jack adapted to receive a plug, an annular outer insulator member having a central opening in its base and an upstanding annular flange, an annular inner insulator member positioned against said base within said annular flange and having a central opening in registry with the opening of said outer insulator member, spaced projections extending in radial directions from the outer periphery of the inner insulator member and cooperating with the inner surface of the flange to form axially extending passageways, said projections being spaced from said base to define passageways interconnecting adjacent ones of the axially extending passageways, a wire element having a web portion in axial alignment with the central openings in said insulator members and legs extending from said Web portion into spaced ones of said passageways and then into the associated interconnecting passages, the legs of said spring element being secured by said projections and said outer insulator member, and a second wire element having leg sections mounted in other of said passageways formed between said inner and outer insulator members, the last named leg sections extending from such insulator members and being interconnected by a web section extending across and normally engaging the legs of the first wire element so as to be disengageable therefrom when the first wire element is deflected by engagement by a plug inserted through said openings.

8. In an electrical jack adapted to receive a plug, a cup-shaped insulator member having a central opening, an annular insulator member seated in said cup-shaped insulator member with its opening in registry with the opening of said cup-shaped member, said annular insulator member having a plurality of radial projections abutting against the side wall and spaced from the bottom wall of said cup-shaped member, a plurality of generally U- shaped resilient contact elements each having its leg portions extending respectively between said insulator members and around different ones of said projections, at least one of said contact elements having its mid-portion positioned generally in axial alignment with said openings to be engageable by said plug when the latter is inserted through said openings, said contact elements having the terminal end of one of their leg portions projecting from the said insulator members to function as electrical terminals, and a tubular member extending through said insulator members and clamping such members together.

9. In an electrical jack adapted to receive a plug, a cup-shaped insulator member having a central opening, an annular insulator member seated in said cup-shaped insulator member with its opening in registry with the opening of said cup-shaped member, said annular insulator member having a plurality of radial projections abutting against the side wall and spaced from the bottom wall of said cup-shaped member, a generally U-shaped resilient contact element having its leg portions extending between said insulator members and around dilferent ones of said projections and having its mid-portion positioned generally in axial alignment with said openings to be engageable by said plug when the latter is inserted through said openings, said contact element having the terminal end of one of its leg portions projecting from said insulators to function as an electric terminal, an annular electrically conductive ring positioned on the exposed side of said annular insulator member out of contact with said contact element and having a ground terminal extending therefrom, and a tubular member extending through said openings and clamping said insulator members and said annular ring together.

10. In an electrical jack adapted to receive a plug, a cup-shaped insulator member having a central opening, an annular insulator member seated in said cup-shaped insulator member with its opening in registry with the opening of said cup-shaped member, said annular insulator member having a plurality of radial projections abutting against the side wall and spaced from the bottom wall of said cup-shaped member, a generally U-shaped resilient contact element having its leg portions extending between said insulator members and around different ones of said projections and having its mid-portion positioned generally in axial alignment with said openings to be engageable by said plug when the latter is inserted through said openings, said contact element having the terminal end of one of its leg portions projecting from said insulators to function as an electric terminal, and-a tubular member extending through said openings and clamping said insulator members together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,530,640 Batchelder Mar. 24, 1925 1,620,755 Carter Mar. 15, 1927 2,022,669 Keefe Dec. 3, 1935 2,703,393 Bird Mar. 1, 1955 2,803,717 Sanda Aug. 20, 1957