US2965870A

US2965870A - Electrical connector plug

Info

Publication number: US2965870A
Application number: US712032A
Authority: US
Inventors: Howard O Kuehn
Original assignee: Rodale Manufacturing Co Inc
Current assignee: Rodale Manufacturing Co Inc
Priority date: 1958-01-29
Filing date: 1958-01-29
Publication date: 1960-12-20
Anticipated expiration: 1977-12-20

Description

United States Patent ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR PLUG Howard 0. Kuehn, Emmaus, Pa., assignor to Rodale Manufacturing Co. Inc., Emmaus, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Jan. 29, 1958, Ser. No. 712,032

1 Claim. (Cl. 339-62) My invention relates to electrical connector plugs such as are used for detachable insertion in a convenience outlet, and more particularly relates to plugs having a body or casing made of soft flexible rubber-like material.

It is well known that prongs in an electrical plug which are forced-fit within cooperating recesses of a soft rubber casing have a tendency to become misaligned as a result of hard usage and rough handling which the plug necessarily encounters. Misalignment of the prongs from a vertical plane as a result of twisting or lateral movement thereof not only makes for uncertainty in proper electrical contact but also frequently makes impossible the insertion of the plug into a female receptacle. This condition in the past has occurred in both two and three prong connectors.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide an electrical connector plug wherein the prongs thereof will remain in proper alignment in a vertical plane without becoming misaligned as a result of abuse.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for positively positioning prongs within a male type electrical connector having a soft rubber body.

Another object of my invention is to provide a male electrical connector plug, having a soft rubber body, whereby prongs forced-fit therein will be secure from twisting movement without the use of rivet or screw locking means.

Another object of my invention is to provide a male connector with prongs which are capable of being applied and removed instantly from a soft rubber female electrical connector but which are rigidly maintained in position when inserted.

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 efiicient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, my invention consists in the details of construction and combination 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 a top plan view of an electrical connector plug embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along linm 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an exploded view showing the prongs prior to insertion within the casing.

Fig. 5 is a modification of my invention wherein a projecting ear eliminates the tilting or twisting of the prong when it is riveted to the body of the quick detachable plug.

a 2,965,870 Patented .Dec. 20, 19 0 rubber-like material, and a plurality of prongs, generally designated as B, for force-fit positioning therein.

The rubber-like body A is of conventional molded construction having a central bore 10 therein through which the lead wire or cord passes. The lower portion of the body is recessed at 12 as shown and defines an interior shoulder for supporting the longitudinal positioning of the prongs B. Blind slots Hand 16 extend parallel to the hole 10 on either side thereof substantially normal to the surface recess 12. Adjacent each of the

slots

14 and 16 is a circular hole 14a and 16a respectively for accommodating the projection of the customary lead wire screws. Each of the contact prongs B are of identical construction and only one will be described. The prong B has an outer end 30 for making electrical contact with a cooperating female receptacle terminal as is usual in the art, and a body penetrating portion 32 having lateral barbs 34 on each side thereof and coplanar therewith. Intermediate the outer and penetrating portions is an integrally formed wire receiving ring 36 which is twisted at right angles to the plane of the prong and defines a shoulder for bearing against the recessed surface 12. Oppositely positioned from the wire receiving ring 36 and coplanar with the body of the prong is a projecting ear 38 which cooperates with the wire receiving ring 36 and the side walls of the recess 12 to prevent the prongs B from twisting after insertion within the

respective slots

14 and 16. The wire receiving ring 36 has a tapped hole for accommodating screw 37 and a lip 40 which interfits with a complementary relieved portion of the periphery of the recess 12. It is also to be observed that a relief 42 is provided in the penetrating end 32 to enable air pressure expansion as the prongs are pressed into their respective

blind slots

14 and 16.

In assembling the plug, prongs B are positioned relative to the body A and by forcing the penetrating portion 32 into a respective blind slot, the barbs will engage snugly therein. When thus positioned the wire receiving portion will engage the shoulder surface 12 in a flat position and the combination of the wire receiving ring 36, its lip 40, and the projecting ear 3-8, will prevent the prong from twisting within the slot because of the resistance offered by the peripheral walls of the recess 12 to the projecting ear and wire receiving portion. The prongs are thus capable of being applied and assembled almost instantly but are rigidly maintained in position when secured as described herein.

In Fig. 5 is shown a plug prong, generally designated as B2, which has a receptacle engaging prong 30 which has a body 44 that extends at right angles to the outwardly extending prong 30. The body 44 lies upon the recessed surface 12 and an opening 46 enables a holding drive screw (not shown) to pass therethrough to enable the prong to be fastened to the body A.

A wire holding screw 37 is adapted to retain one end of a lead wire and is located at one end of the body 44 and at the other end 38B of the body 44 is the projecting ear portion which will prevent the prong 30 fromtilting or twisting. The free end 38B and the body 44 prevent twisting of the prong in both a vertical plane or in a horizontal plane.

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:

An electrical connector plug comprising a substantially solid, resilient body, a front face on said body, a recess in said front face, a central bore extending through said body, said bore intersecting said recess at the central area thereof, said recess having a pair of oppositely disposed pockets, each pocket being provided with an elongated extension, said extensions extending at'opposite angles 'to each other toward the outer periphery of said body, an opening in each of said pockets, a pair of slots in said body, each of said openings being positioned between a corresponding extension and a corresponding slot, said slots being substantially parallel to each otherand positioned one on one side and one on the opposite'side of said bore, said slots intersecting said recess, aprong secured in each of said slots, each'of said prongs having a portion extending outside of the corresponding slot and forwardly of the front face of said body, each of said prongs being provided with an internally threaded wire receiving ring extending laterally therefrom, each of said rings being twisted into an ofiset position relative to its 15 2,231,

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Lieberum July 5, 1932 Reutter Feb. 11, 1941 1. M a A