US3115378A

US3115378A - Multiple light socket arrangement for christmas trees and the like

Info

Publication number: US3115378A
Application number: US53774A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gelles William
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-09-02
Filing date: 1960-09-02
Publication date: 1963-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 1980-12-24

Description

Dec. 24, 1963 w, GELLES 3,115,378

MULTI LIGHT SOCKET ARRANGEMENT FOR C STMAS TREES AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 2, 1960 INVENTOR. WI LIJI AM GELLES BY 3,115,378 RANGEMENT FOR THE LIKE Dec. 24, 1963 w. GELLES MULTIPLE LIGHT SOCKET AR CHRISTMAS TREESVAND 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 2. 1960 INVENTOR. WILLIAM GELLES ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,115,378 MULTIPLE LIGHT SOCKET ARRANGEMENT FOR CHRISTMAS TREES AND THE LEKE William Geiles, 46 Cardin St., Staten Island, N.Y. Filed Sept. 2, 196%, Ser. No. 53,774 1 Claim. (Cl. 339-20) This invention relates to a safety electric receptacle block whereby electric current may be readily distributed from a main supply source to a plurality of outlet circuits plugged into the block.

The invention is particularly applicable in connection with a display such as a Christmas tree and provides a current distributing device which lends itself for ready incorporation or mounting in the display, and it is also applicable for all types or" commercial and industrial uses.

One object of the invention is to provide a safety electrical connector block having sturdy, durable and economical construction, and adapted to be assembled quickly and easily.

Another object is to provide a connector block having a generally fiat body with annular conductive contact members disposed in a groove in the underside of the body for receiving prongs of a plurality of electric plugs, the body being formed with tubular projections above and below for supporting Christmas tree decorations and for mounting the body on a Christmas tree.

Still another object is to provide a connector block with a plurality of grooves retaining annular contact members therein for receiving a multiplicity of electric plugs connected to external circuits.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector or receptacle embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional View on an enlarged scale taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

.FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the device on the same scale as FIG. 3.

HG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of annular contact rings and support ring employed in the device.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating an embodiment of the invention.

In FIGS.14, there is shown an electrical receptacle 19 according to the invention. This device includes an insulated plastic block 12 with a generally rounded top 14 and a fiat bottom 16. A depending, annular rim 18 may be provided at the bottom of the block. The block is formed with a tapered axial passage 20 which extends through a tapered, tubular axial projection 22' at the top of the block and a wider tapered tubular axial projection 24 at the bottom of the block. The top portion of a Christmas tree may be fitted into the bottom projection 24 as indicated by dotted lines at T in FIG. 1, and a support S of a decoration 25 may be inserted in and supported by the tubular projection 22.

At the underside of the block 12 is a circular groove 28. In this groove may be inserted a ring 39 made of insulation material such as plastic, ceramic, pressed fiber, composition material or the like. The ring is provided with spaced holes 32 best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, which may receive the shanks of screws 34 screwed into threaded holes 35 in the block for holding the ring in the groove 23. The sides 37, 39 of the ring are spaced from the

sides

41, 43 of the groove to define concentric 360 slots 3,115,378 Patented Dec. 24, 1963 S1, S2. Two

annular ledges

36 and 36 are formed at the inner and outer sides of the ring at the bottom thereof. Annular metal, spring contact

conductive rings

38 and 40 abut sides 37, 39 of the ring respectively. The rings are bowed outwardly from the sides of the ring 30 to overhang the ledges 36, 36. These bowed portions are visible in slots S1, S2 at the underside of the block. as viewed in plan in FIG. 4.

An axial passage 42 is formed in the block and opens into a radial groove 44 formed in the block at the inner side of groove 28. Electric cable 45 fits in and extends through passage 42. One wire 46 of the cable is connected to ring 38 and the other wire 48 is connected to ring '40. The cable terminates in a plug 50 which can be inserted into a convenience outlet for supplying electric power to the device It).

Plugs 52 shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 can be plugged into the device 10. One prong 53 will contact ring 38 and the other prong '55 will contact ring 413. Wires 56 connected to plugs 52 can terminate at sockets 58 for lighting lamps 60 mounted therein. Due to spaced concentric circular arrangement of the contact rings 38, 4G, a plurality of plugs 52 can be inserted into the block 12 anywhere around the device It When the device is in the upright position shown in FIGS. 1-4, the body of the block and the annular rim 1S overhangs the plugs 52. The circular slots 81 and S2 defined between

ledges

36, 36 and

walls

41, 43 are protected from falling tinsel or other debris. The 360 arrangement of the contact rings makes it possible to insert a plug 5 2 at any point around the tree. This facilitates dressing the tree. The arrangement of wires 56 can be shorter than usual and neater and more easily concealed than has hitherto been possible.

The several parts of the device can be molded by well known, high speed, mass production methods and machinery, at low cost.

In assembling the device, insulation ring 30 will be removed and cable will be threaded through passage 42 and groove 44. The wires '46, 48 will be attached by soldering or equivalent means to the rings 38 and 49, which will then be placed upon ring 30. The assembly of

rings

30, 38, 40 will then be inserted in groove 23 and screws 34 will be inserted through the ring 39 and screwed into the block. This simple procedure completes the assembly.

In FIG. 6 is shown another electrical receptacle 13 similar to receptacle 10 and corresponding parts are identically numbered. An additional groove 59 is formed in the bottom 16 of block 121 and receives another insulation ring 61 having a bottom annular ledge 63 held by screws 34. On this ledge and abutting the side 67 of the ring 61 is another metal ring 69. Groove 44* extends radially up to groove 59. An extension lead wire 48 is connected to ring 69 in parallel with wire 48 which is connected to ring 40. Plug 5% has its prongs 53 55 contacting

rings

38 and 69, respectively. This arrangement permits the single ring 38 to serve as a contact member for plugs 52 inserted in slots S1 and S2, and also as a contact member for plugs 52 inserted in slots S1 and S3. If radial distance D2 between slots S1, S3 is made larger or smaller than the radial separation D1 of slots S1, S2, prongs 53 55 of plugs 52* may have greater or lesser spacing respectively than the spacing of

prongs

53, 55 of plugs 52.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent An electrical connector comprising a solid block of insulation material with an endless groove formed in one side of said block, an insulation ring removably disposed in said groove and having sides spaced from opposed sides of said groove, said insulation ring having annular ledges formed at bottom edges of the sides thereof, annular conductive rings abutting opposite sides of the insulation ring, said conductive rings having outwardly bowed portions overhanging said ledges, said ledges and adjacent sides of said grove defining concentric slots extending through 360 at said one side of the block, said block being formed with passages receiving wires connected to said conductive rings, said wires extending out of the block for connection to an external source of electric power, said block having tubular extensions formed on opposite sides thereof, a tapered passageway extending through said block and said extensions for receiving a support for said block, said block having another groove concentric with the first-named groove, another insulation ring removably disposed in the other groove, and another conductive ring abutting one side of said other insulation ring, said other insulation ring having a bottom ledge with the adjacent sides of the other groove defining another slot concentric with the first-named slots, whereby doublepronged plugs of external power consuming circuits may be selectively inserted into the first-named slots and into one of the firstnamed slots and said other slot for contacting the conductive rings therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS