US3110538A

US3110538A - Mounting means for an electrical connector

Info

Publication number: US3110538A
Application number: US175707A
Authority: US
Inventors: Glyn T Rees; Robert E Fanson
Original assignee: HH Robertson Co
Current assignee: HH Robertson Co
Priority date: 1962-02-26
Filing date: 1962-02-26
Publication date: 1963-11-12
Anticipated expiration: 1980-11-12

Description

Nov. 12, 1963 T. REES ETAL 3,110,533

MOUNTING MEANS FOR AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Feb. 26, 1962 lrwwww r INV EN TOR 5' 6L m 7.- REES y ROBE/P7 E/74/V50/V Unite The present invention relates to a mounting meansfor an electrical connector. More particularly, the present invention relates to a mounting means for maintaining an electrical connector in a substantially fixed position.

The present invention provides a novel mounting means for an electrical connector having a plurality of threepiece units with transverse passageways. According to the present invention, a bar extends through the transverse passageways and maintains the three-piece units in side-by-side alignment. Bar-receiving means is provided on the opposite sides of the electrical connector which receive the ends of the bar. The ends of the bar are rigidly secured within the bar-receiving means whereby the electrical connector is maintained in a substantially fixed position.

The principal objects of this invention include:

To provide a novel mounting means for rigidly securing an electrical connector in a substantially fixed position;

To provide a novel mounting means wherein a plurality of three-piece units, each comprising an electrical connector, are maintained in side-by-side relation;

To provide a novel mounting means whereby an electrical connector may be rapidly and easily secured in a fixed position; and

To provide a novel mounting means whereby an electrical connector may be rapidly and easily removed from the fixed position.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a base portion of an enclosure housing an electrical connector which is secured therein by means of the present mounting means;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1 and further illustrating the enclosure, the electrical connector and the present mounting means;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded, fragmentary, isometric view illustrating a preferred embodiment of a bar-receiving means of the present invention; and

FIGURES 4 and 5 are exploded, fragmentary, isometric views, similar to FIGURE 3, illustrating alternative embodiments of a bar-receiving means of the present invention.

In FIGURES 1 and 2 there is illustrated an enclosure 19 housing an electrical connector 11 which is secured therein by a mounting means 12 of the present invention.

Enclosure The enclosure 10 as herein illustrated represents a convenient means for housing the electrical connector 11 and to which the mounting means 12 may be easily adapted. The enclosure 10 includes a base portion 13 and a cover portion 14.

The base portion 13, as seen in FIGURE 1, comprises side walls 15, an end wall 16 and a front wall 17 having an arcuate lip 13 formed therein in the central upper edge thereof. The base portion 13 also includes a bot- Sstates Patent G tom wall portion 19 having a first cable aperture 20 provided therein.

The cover portion 14, as seen in FIGURE 2, comprises side walls 15a, end wall 16a, and a front wall 17a having an arcuate lip 18a formed in the central lower edge thereof. When the cover portion 14 is placed over the base portion 13, the

side walls

15, 15a; the

end walls

16, 16a; and the front walls 17, 17a are in registry whereby they form the enclosure 10. Further the arcuate lips 18, 18a also are in registry thereby forming a second cable aperture 21.

A pair of lugs 22 is provided on upstanding arms 23 extending from the front wall 17 of the base portion 13. The lugs 22 engage lug-receiving apertures 24- provided in the front wall 17a of the cover portion 14.

The end wall 16a (see FIGURE 2) extends downwardly in engagement with the end wall 16 of the base port-ion 13. A fastener such as screw 25- extends through the end wall 16 and is threadedly engaged in the end wall 16.2. In this manner the cover portion is secured to the base portion 13.

The base portion 13 may be secured to a base cup 26, embedded in a concrete floor 27, by means of screws 28. The base cup 26 provides communication between the enclosure 10 and an electrical raceway (not shown) beneath the surface of .the concrete floor 27.

Electrical Connector 1] Referring still to FIGURES 1 and 2, the electrical connector 11 comprises a plurality of three-piece units 29. Each of the three-piece units 29 comprises a male confronted faces in spaced relation.

A flange 34 is provided on one end of each

plug

30, 31. The flanges 34 are a continuation of the confronted faces 32 and extend in opposite directions from each other. Fastener means such as bolts 35 extend through each flange 34 and into the plug opposite thereto. The bolts 35 maintain the male and

female plugs

30, 31 in engagement.

As can be seen in FIGURE 2, the three piece units 29 have a pair of transverse passageways 36 each being defined by the flange 34, the bolt 35, one end of the spacer member 33 and the face opposite the flange 34.

The male plugs 3% have cables 30a extending therefrom which unite to form a running cable 37. The runn-ing cable 37 passes through the first cable aperture 20 and into the base cup 26. The female plugs 31 also have cables 31a extending therefrom which unite to form a mounting cable 38. The mounting cable 38 passes through the second aperture 21 and out of the enclosure 16*.

Mounting means 12 The preferred embodiment of the mountingrneans 12 is illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 as adapted to the enclosure 10 and in FIGURE 3 on an enlarged scale.

The mounting means 12 preferably comprises a pair of bars 40 having ends 4-1 which project beyond the sides of the electrical connector 11 and bar-receiving means 42 on the opposite side walls 15 of the base portion 13.

The bars 40 prefer-ably are flat bars which extend through the transverse passageways 36 of the three-piece units 29. The bars 40 thus maintain the three-piece units in side-by-side alignment. It should be evident that a single bar '40 may be used to secure the electrical connector 11 to the enclosure 10.

The bar-receiving means 42, as shown in FIGURE 3, comprises a boss element 43 extending inwardly firom each side wall 15 and has a longitudinal slot 44 formed therein. The ends 41 of the bars 4-0 are inserted in the slot 44- and are disposed in tight fitting engagement therewith. If desired a fastener such as self tapping screw 45 may be threadedly engaged in opposed recesses -46 provided in the walls of the slot 44. The self-tapping screw 45 abuts and secures the end 4 1 within the slot 44. The end 41 may be notched, as indicated at 47, to accommodate the length of the self-tapping screw 45 without increasing the height of the boss element 43.

Hence to secure the electrical connector 11 in a substantially fixed position within the enclosure the bars 4-0 are inserted through the transverse passageways 36 and the ends 41 are inserted into the slots 44. If desired, at least one of the self-tapping screws 45 may be threaded into the opposed recesses 46 of one of the slots 44 to secure one of the ends 41 of each of the bars 40'. As can be seen, the installation and hence the removal of the electrical connector 11 is accomplished in a rapid and easy manner.

Bar-Receiving Means, Alternative Embodiments Alternative embodiments of the bar-receiving means 42 are illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5. Corresponding numerals are employed to identify corresponding parts already described.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 4, the face of the end 41 of the bar 40 is provided with a raised dimple 48. The dimple 48 serves to increase the thickness of the end 41 so that a tight fitting engagement is assured when the end 4-1 is inserted into the slot 44- of the boss element 43.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 5, two bars 40 are required whose ends 41 rest within a U-shaped boss element 50. As in the previous embodiments the U-shaped boss element 50 extends inwardly from each side wall of the enclosure if}. An elongated wedge 51 is wedged between the ends 41 of the bars 40 so that it is in tight fitting engagement therewith. i

It should be evident from the foregoing detailed description, that the present invention provides a novel mounting means (a) for securing an electrical connector in a substantially fixed position; ([1) wherein a plurality of three-piece units, comprising an electrical connector, are maintained in side-by-side alignment; and (c) whereby an electrical connector may be installed or removed in a rapid and easy manner.

We claim:

1. In a housing for an electrical connector element,- the said electrical connector element comprising at least one three-piece unit, said three-piece unit comprising a male plug and a female plug having confronted faces, a spacer member positioned intermediate the ends of one said face, said spacer member maintaining the said confronted faces in spaced relation, a flange on one end of each said plug, said flanges being a continuation of the said confronted faces and extending in opposite directions, fastener means extending through each said flange and into the plug opposite thereto, each said fastener means and said flange and one end of said spacer member and the face opposite the said flange defining a transverse passageway, and said housing comprising sidewalls, end Walls and a top wall, an improved mounting means for securing the said electrical connector element within the said housing comprising:

a flat bar extending through one said transverse passageway With its end projecting beyond the sides of said electrical connector; and

bar-receiving means on the said side walls of the said housing, said ends of said flat bar being secured within the said bar-receiving means whereby the said 4 electrical connector is maintained in a substantially fixed position.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the said barreceiving means comprises:

a boss element extending inwardly from each of said side walls of said housing, each said boss element having a longitudinal slot therein, said ends of said fiat bar being disposed in tight fitting engagement in said slot.

3. The improvement of claim 2 including:

at least one screw threadedly engaged in one of said slots, said screw abutting the said end of said flat bar and thereby rigidly securing the said flat bar within the said slot.

4. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the said barreceiving means comprises:

a boss element extending inwardly from each of said side walls of said housing, each said :boss element having a longitudinal slot therein; and

a dimple on the face of said ends of said flat bar, said ends and thesaid dimple being disposed within the said slot whereby the said ends are engaged in tight fitting relation with said slot.

5. The improvement of claim 1 including a second flat bar extending through the other of said transverse passageway, said bar-receiving means comprising:

a U-shaped boss element extending inwardly from each of the said side walls of said housing, said ends of the said flat bars resting within the said U-shaped boss element; and a an elongated wedge positioned between the said ends of said flat bars, said elongated wedge being disposed therein in tight fitting engagement within said boss element.

6. Apparatus for rigidly mounting an electrical connectorelement, the said electrical connector element comprising a plurality of three piece units, each of said three piece units comprising a male plug and a female plug having confronted faces, a spacer member positioned intermediate the ends of one said plug, said spacer member maintaining the said confronted faces in spaced relation, a flange on one end of each said plug, said flanges being a continuation of said confronted faces and extending in opposite directions, fastener means extending through each said flange and into the plug opposite thereto, each said fastener means and said flange and one end of said spacer member and the face opposite the said flange defining a transverse pasageway, said apparatus for rigidly mounting an electrical connector element comprising:

a bar extending through one said transverse passageway of each of said three-piece units whereby the said three-piece units are maintained in a side-by-side relation, said bar having ends which project beyond the sides of said electrical connector element; and

bar-receiving means adjacent to the sides of said electrical connector element, said ends of said bar being secured within the said bar-receiving means whereby the said electrical connector element is maintained in a substantially fixed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,302,137 Cook Apr. 29, 1919 2,730,685 Sperzel Jan. 10, 1956 2,790,153 Arson Apr. 23, 1957 2,904,771 Burtt et al. Sept. 15, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 715,983 Germany Jan. 10, 1942 717,901 Germany Feb. 25, 1942 149,015 Sweden Mar, 1,1955

Claims

6. APPARATUS FOR RIGIDLY MOUNTING AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ELEMENT, THE SAID ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ELEMENT COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF THREE PIECE UNITS, EACH OF SAID THREE PIECE UNITS COMPRISING A MALE PLUG AND A FEMALE PLUG HAVING CONFRONTED FACES, A SPACER MEMBER POSITIONED INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF ONE SAID PLUG, SAID SPACER MEMBER MAINTAINING THE SAID CONFRONTED FACES IN SPACED RELATION, A FLANGE ON ONE END OF EACH SAID PLUG, SAID FLANGES BEING A CONTINUATION OF SAID CONFRONTED FACES AND EXTENDING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, FASTENER MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH EACH SAID FLANGE AND INTO THE PLUG OPPOSITE THERETO, EACH SAID FASTENER MEANS AND SAID FLANGE AND ONE END OF SAID SPACER MEMBER AND THE FACE OPPOSITE THE SAID FLANGE DEFINING A TRANSVERSE PASSAGEWAY, SAID APPARATUS FOR RIGIDLY MOUNTING AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ELEMENT COMPRISING: A BAR EXTENDING THROUGH ONE SAID TRANSVERSE PASSAGEWAY OF EACH OF SAID THREE-PIECE UNITS WHEREBY THE SAID THREE-PIECE UNITS ARE MAINTAINED IN A SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATION, SAID BAR HAVING ENDS WHICH PROJECT BEYOND THE SIDES OF SAID ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ELEMENT; AND BAR-RECEIVING MEANS ADJACENT TO THE SIDES OF SAID ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ELEMENT, SAID ENDS OF SAID BAR BEING SECURED WITHIN THE SAID BAR-RECEIVING MEANS WHEREBY THE SAID ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ELEMENT IS MAINTAINED IN A SUBSTANTIALLY FIXED POSITION.