US3042738A

US3042738A - Antenna connector clip

Info

Publication number: US3042738A
Application number: US802207A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul J Tebay
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-03-26
Filing date: 1959-03-26
Publication date: 1962-07-03
Anticipated expiration: 1979-07-03

Description

July 3, 1962 P. J. TEBAY ANTENNA CONNECTOR CLIP Filed March 26, 1959 INVENTOR R J. TEBAY ATTORNEY United states Patent 50 3,942,738 ANTENNA CONNECTOR CLIP Paul J. Tebay, Alpena, S. Dak. Filed Mar. 26, 1959, Ser. No. 802,207 1 Claim. (ill. 174-52) This invention relates to communications apparatus such as radio and television receivers, and more par-' ticularly to connectors or conductors by means of which leads to antenna are attached.

In recent years, it has become the practice of television manufacturers to employ an antenna clip mounted on the removable back panel of television sets in such a manner that the antenna must be disconnected when the back panel-is removed for servicing. Under these conditions, the owner or service man, who desires to test the operation of the set and make necessary adjustments with the back panel removed, must connect an auxiliary antenna or make a temporary connection between the antenna and tuner leads. This has delayed the servicing and repair of such apparatus and in some instances has proven unsatisfactory because the set could not be tested under actual conditions due in partto faulty or loose connections.

Furthermore, in some instances, the antenna, or a portion thereof, has been mounted on or built into the set, and it is sometimes desirable to supplement such antenna or to substitute another which is more suitable to the conditions of use. In such circumstances it is frequently necessary to go to considerable trouble and expense to remove the antenna leads from the built-in antenna and to connect it to an external antenna.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a relatively simple and inexpensive clip-type connector having terminals to which the receivers tuner leads and antenna leads may be quickly and easily connected, and which may be easily slipped oil of the back of the set without disconnecting the leads when the back is removed, thereby permitting use of the antenna during servicing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cliptype connector for a television receiver having external terminals to which various'antenna leads may be quickly and easily connected and disconnected.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevation of a television set illustrating one method of mounting the connector of the present invention;

FIG. 2, an enlarged fragmentary detail of a portion of FIG. 1; I

FIG. 3, a perspective view of a connector constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4, a plan view of the connector of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5, a section on the line 55 of FIG. 4.

Briefly stated, the invention is embodied in 1a flexible, spring-like elongated clip member having closely spaced connected opposed portions which may be spread apart to engage a sheet member such as the back panel of a television receiver, the frictional force and springlike action holding the member in position. The member includes a pair of spaced conductors which are insulated from each other and which extend in parallel relationship from approximately one end of the member to the other. Suitable terminal clips or mounting posts are provided at the end of each conductor, to'which tuner and antenna leads may be connected.

With particular reference to the drawings, a receiving set is illustrated having a housing consisting of a cabinet 11 and a back panel 12. Mounted on the back panel are a pair of conventional slip-type connectors 13 to which antenna leads 14 and tuner leads 15 may be connected. When it is desired to remove the back panel,

the tuner leads 15 first must be removed from the connectors 13 and allowed to pass through an opening 16 in the back panel when such panel is removed.

The construction described thus far is found in many conventional receivers.

In order to obviate the necessity of disconnecting the tuner leads upon the removal of the back of the receiver,

the present invention provides a connector clip 18 having a substantially U-shaped body in which the free ends are in closer proximity than the bight portion. The body of the clip is preferably of flexible one-piece construction and includes relatively flat, elongated front and rear por-

' tions

19 and 20 connected by a bight portion 21. 'A pair 0f conductors 22 and23 are imbedded in or mounted on the body of the clip and extend in spaced relation from a position adjacent to the free end of the front portion around the bight to a position adjacent to the free end of the rear portion. The conductors may consist of a printed circuit or of suitable wire adapted to conduct the incoming signal to the set and are appropriately spaced for minimum line loss.

At each end of the conductors, terminals are mounted on the connector clip for the reception of the antenna leads on one end and the tuner leads on the opposite end. Those illustrated on the outer side or front of the connector are terminal posts and nuts 25 and on the inner side or back of the connector are terminal clips 26, although various types of terminals may be used.

In a preferred embodiment, the connector clip 18 is formed from non-conducting material such as a plastic and the conductors are molded into the connector during its manufacture. Various plastics may be used, such as a vinyl resin which can be formed into a relatively hard, springlike, member. If desired, other materials such as metal may be used, it being necessary, however, to insure adequate insulation of the conductors from each other and of the connector clip to avoid disruption of signal voltages through contact with other conducting parts with which it might come in contact. In the use of the connector it is contemplated that the terminal clips 26 be connected to the two leads from the tuner which is adapted to receive the signals from the antenna. Preferably, a little slack is provided in the tuner leads in order that the back of the set may bemoved slightly away from the set to facilitate removal and attachment of the connector clip to the back. vThe external antenna leads are connected to the posts 25 of the connector. When the back of the set is removed, the connector clip 18 may be easily slipped off of the back without disconnecting the leads, and this will permit the reception of signals under actual operating conditions even though the back is removed.

In servicing a receiver of the nature described, the service man may disconnect the tuner and antenna leads from the 'back panel and attach them to the connector clip of the present invention. This will simplify his testing of the set while having access to its interior.

Similarly, if the timer or antenna leads or terminals of the set or on the back of the set are damaged, substitute connections may be easily and simply provided by means of the connector clip described.

In cases in which antenna is built into the set, either on the cabinet or on the back, and the user desires to have a simple means for connection to a substitute external antenna, the present connector is well adapted to meet such need by simply clipping it onto the back of the set and attaching the tuner leads to the clips 26, thus providing easily accessible terminal posts 25 to which external antenna may be connected.

aoaarse Accordingly, it will be understood that the present invention includes a simple springlike connector clip which may be easily mounted on the back panel of the receiver or attached to any relatively thin member, and has terminals for internal and external connection to the tuner and antenna leads of the receiver.

Not only is the invention useful in the repair and servicing of receivers, hat it may be made a part of the set by the manufacturer in order to facilitate servicing and repair and. the connection of various types of antenna by both the user and the service man.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in the embodiment of the invention described, without departing from its spirit and scope, and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification but only as appears in the accompanying claim.

What is claimed is:

In combination a cabinet for containing apparatus with an electrical connection between the interior and the exterior, and a removable panel for providing access to the interior of the cabinet, means whereby said panel nection to the interior of said cabinet, a pair of conductors carried by the connector clip and extending therealong from the interior to the exterior portion, the conductors being insulated from each other, and a plurality of terminal attaching means carried by the clip, one being connected to each end of each conductor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,791,666 Finn Feb. 10,1931

2,654,870 Miller Oct. 6, 1953 2,854,502 Richter Sept. 30, 1958 2,872,857 Rich et a1. Feb. 10, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 201,859 Great Britain Aug. 9, 1923