US3172716A

US3172716A - Closure arrangement

Info

Publication number: US3172716A
Application number: US202515A
Authority: US
Inventors: William F Green
Original assignee: Special Devices Inc
Current assignee: Special Devices Inc
Priority date: 1962-06-14
Filing date: 1962-06-14
Publication date: 1965-03-09
Anticipated expiration: 1982-03-09

Description

March 9, 1965 w. F. GREEN 3,172,716

CLOSURE ARRANGEMENT Filed June 14, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WILL/AM F. GREEN INVENTOR.

BY EXP-MI A TTOR N57 March 9, 1965 Filed June 14, 1962 W. F. GREEN CLOSURE ARRANGEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A 77'OIQNEY United States Patent I 3,172,716 CLOSURE ARRANGEMENT William F. Green, Van Nuys, Califi, assignor to Special Devices, Inc., Newhall, Califl, a corporation of California Filed June 14, 1962, Ser. No. 202,515 14 Claims. (Cl. 339 19) This invention relates to the protective closure art and, more particularly, to an improved closure arrangement for electrically shorting and sealing male and female electrical connectors.

In many applications electrically energized devices are provided with connectors, either male or female, into which a mating part is inserted at the time of desired operation of the device. However, during the manufacture of such devices and also while the devices are being shipped, stored, and handled before the mating part is installed, it is often necessary not only to seal the connector but also short electrically the terminals in the connector. This is necessary to prevent inadvertent energization caused by stray electrical fields, radar, etc. It is a particularly acute requirement in various ordanance items such as explosive actuated devices, pyrotechnic flares, igniters, initiators, and the like.

Since shorting caps or protective closures, as they are generally called, that provide these functions are usually expendable, they must be inexpensive to manufacture and comparatively easy to install and remove. Further, they should not only provide positive electrical shorting between all the electrical leads in the connector, but also between the leads and the case as Well. In addition, when a male connector is utilized, the shorting cap should, ideally, prevent the pin leads therein from being bent and also provide a straightening action on the pin leads.

Prior arrangements, as far as applicant is aware, that have been utilized as shorting caps have not always successfully provided these desiderata. Some methods, such as plugging the end of the connector with aluminum foil or the like, actually induced bending of the pin leads while providing no electrical shorting or protection for female connectors. Other arrangements, such as using a mating electrical connector which was internally shorted and potted has been generally too costly for an expendable item.

Accordingly, it is an object of applicants invention to provide an improved protective closure for electrical connectors.

It is another object of applicants invention to provide a protective closure for electrical connectors that not only shorts all the electrical leads together and to the case but also provides a dust tight seal.

It is a further object of applicants invention to provide an inexpensive, economical protective closure that may be economically fabricated to provide a low cost unit.

These and other objects are achieved, according to one embodiment of applicants invention, by providing a protective closure that comprises a body member adapted to be inserted in an electrical connector, and having wall portions defining a slot. An electrically conductive spring clip means having a plurality of electrical shorting members disposed in a preselected array thereon has a first portion contained within the slot. A first part of the plurality of electrical shorting members contacts the electrical leads in the electrical connector. A con-tact spring means comprising a second portion of the electrically conductive spring clip means contacts the casing of the electrical connector thereby not only shorting all the leads together but also shorting the leads to the case. The first portion of the spring clip means contained within the slot includes means coupled to it to retain the spring clip 3,172,716 Patented Mar. 9, 1965 in the slot and to retain the shorting members in the preselected array.

Splines are provided on the external surfaces of the body member to engage interior portions of the electrical connector casing to prevent twisting of the protective closure after insertion in the connector. A base member is coupled to the body member and is positioned to en gage end portions of the electrical connector rafter insertion. This provides a dust and dirt tight seal around the connector.

In the embodiment of applicants invention utilized in providing a protective closure for male electrical connectors, the body member of the protective closure also includes a plurality of pin receiving cavities interconnected with the slot. The size of the pin receiving cavities is selected to provide a close fit with the pin leads in the connector and the spatial arrangement of the pin receiving cavities is, of course, selected to match the pin lead pattern in the connector. The close fitting pin receiving cavities provide a dual advantage in that the pins tend to be straightened, if they are previously bent, when the closure is inserted in the connector. Since the splines prevent rotation of the closure, the pins are also continually maintained in their correct position. In this embodiment the electrical shorting members for shorting members for shorting the pin leads are coupled to the first portion of the spring clip means retained in the slot and selectively extend at least partially into the pin receiving cavities to thereby electrically short the pin leads together and to the case.

The above and other embodiments of this invention are more fully disclosed in the following detailed description 'with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar elements and in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a male electrical connector upon which one embodiment of applicants invention may be utilized;

FIGURES 2 and 3 illustrate one embodiment of applicants invention, useful on the electrical connector of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 illustrates a female electrical connector upon which another embodiment of applicants invention may be utilized; and

FIGURES 5 and 6 illustrate an embodiment of applicants invention, useful on the electrical connector of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a device incorporating a male electrical connector upon which the protective closure of aplicants invention herein may advantageously be installed. The device may, for example, be a pyrotechnic flare 2 that is electrically actuated through a male electrical connector 4. The male electrical connector 4 illustrated in FIGURE 1 is a four pin type having four electrical contact leads comprising the pins 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d which, in the pyrotechnic flare 2, can provide complete redundancy to achieve high reliability. The male electrical connector 4 may also be provided with a plurality of longitudinal grooves 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d in a metallic connector case 6, which provide keying and locking upon insertion of a mating connector (not shown).

To prevent inadvertent actuation of the flare 2, it is desirable that the pins 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d not only be shorted together but also to the case 6. Applicants invention herein not only provides these functions but also straightens the pins 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d and prevents bending or breaking thereof. While the connector 4 of FIG- URE 1 does not form a part of applicants invention, this brief description of a typical connector is presented to provide a better understanding of the following description of applicants invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, there is shown one embodiment of a protective closure, generally designated 10, according to applicants invention. This embodiment is adapted for use in male electrical connectors such as the connector 4 of FIGURE 1. A generally cylindrical body member 12 having a plurality of axial apertures 14 adapted to receive pin leads and extending a preselected distance into the body member 12 from a first end 16 is provided with a plurality of spline means 18a, 18b, 18c, and 18d spaced in a preselected array around peripheral Wall portions 20. The apertures 14 are spaced in a predetermined pattern to match the pin lead pattern of the electrical connector for which the protective closure 10 is designed, such as the connector 4 of FIGURE 1. The four aperture pattern shown on FIGURE 2 has been selected for illustrative purposes only and it will be appreciated that any aperture pattern may be selected depending upon the pin lead pattern in the particular male connector. Since many of the electrical connectors commonly utilized are also provided with locking grooves, such as grooves 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d of FIGURE 1, the array of splines 18a, 18b, 13c, and 18d is selected to match the locking groove array in the particular connectors to thereby restrain rotational movement of the protective closure 10 after insertion. If the particular connector does not have locking grooves, the splines are adapted to frictionally engage the Walls of the connector to thus restrain the rotational movement of the closure 10.

Communicating with each of the axial apertures 14 is a slot 22 extending into the body member 12 from the first end 16. The slot 22 is adapted to receive a first electrically conductive member 24 forming a first portion of Spring clip means 26. A plurality of spring members 28 are coupled to the first electrically conductive member 24 and selectively project into each of the apertures 14.

For clarity in explaining the details of applicants spring clip 26, FIGURE 3 illustrates the spring clip 26 utilized in the protective closure 10 of FIGURE 2. Referring now to FIGURE 3, a second electrically conductive member 30 is coupled to the first electrically conductive member 24 and includes a side portion 30' spaced apart therefrom by connecting portion 30". A contact spring means 32 comprising a second portion of spring clip means 26 is coupled to the side portion 30' in regions adjacent a lower end 34 of second electrically conductive member 39. In the preferred embodiment of applicants invention, the entire spring clip means 26 is of unitary construction and fabricated from an electrically conductive material such as Phosphor bronze. This may be economically fabricated from a single stamping, the contact spring means 32 and plurality of spring members 28 being formed from the Side portion 30 and first electrically conductive member 24, respectively, during the stamping operation. Further, applicant has found that when the spring clip means 26 is so manufactured, it

may be formed into the desired shape and the seams, such as that shown along the edge 24, need not be joined, as by soldering, welding, or the like, as electrical continuity between the plurality of spring members 23 and the contact spring 32 is provided by the unitary construction and the proper shape is retained after assembly With the body portion 12, of FIGURE 2, by the slot 22.

As shown on FIGURE 2, the proper separation between the contact spring 32 and the spring members 28 is obtained by the abutment of the end 34 of second electrically conductive member 30 with a lip means 36. The lip means 36 is formed by Wall portions of a base member 40 coupled to a second end 16' of body portion 12. The base member 40 is also generally cylindrical in shape and substantially concentric with body member 12. The surface portion 38 of member 40 is adapted to engage end portions of a case means in the particular electrical connector, such as end 8 of connector 4 in FIGURE 1, after insertion of the closure 10 therein to provide a dust tight seal. The contact spring 32 projects lslightly over the surface portion 38 and is adapted to frictionally and yieldingly engage the case of the electrical connector.

The base member 40 and body member 12, which together may conveniently be designated a cap means, are also a unitary construction in the preferred embodiment of applicants invention. This may economically be manufactured by, for example, an injection molding technique, utilizing a plastic such as polyethylene.

The spring clip means 26 is retained in position after insertion in the slot 22 of body portion 12 by a tab means 42, shown on FIGURE 3, that yieldingly resists the insertion. The pad means 42 engages wall portions of the slot 22 after insertion to prevent the spring clip means 26 from sliding out.

Referring now to FIGURES 1, 2, and 3, it can be seen that when the spring clip means 26 of FIGURE 3 is inserted in the slot 22 of body member 12 to provide the protective closure 10 of FIGURE 2, the closure 10 may be installed, for example, in the electrical connector 4 of FIGURE 1. In this installation the splines 18a, 18b, 18c, and 18d engage the matching grooves 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d and positions the closure 10 so that the pin leads 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d are correctly aligned with the apertures 14. As the pin leads 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d penetrate the apertures 14, they slidingly engage the spring members or terminals 28 to provide electrical continuity therebetween and thus effectively short the pin leads 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d together. A straightening action on the pin leads 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d is also achieved by the close fitting apertures 14.

Since the spring clip means 26 is electrically conductive, engagement of the contact spring means 32 with casing 6 of the electrical connector 4 provides complete shorting of all the pin leads 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4a to the casing 6, thus rendering the flare 2 electrically inoperative. Engagement of the splines 18a, 18b, 18c, and 18d with the grooves 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d prevents rotational movement of the closure 10 and thereby protects the pin leads 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4:! from being bent or distorted. Further, the engagement of surface portion 38 with end portion 8 of the connector 4 provides a dust tight seal on the connector 4. Thus, the closure 10 may advantageously be utilized in conjunction with the electrical connector 4 during shipping, handling, manufacturing, and like operations conducted upon the flare 2 to provide protection both to the connector 4 itself and against inadvertent actuation of the flare 2.

In the embodiment of applicants invention thus far described for utilization with the male electrical connector 4 of FIGURE 1, the electrically conductive spring clip means 26 has a plurality of electrical shorting members for contact with both the pin leads 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d and the casing 6. Thus a first part of the plurality of electrical shorting members, in this embodiment, comprises the spring members 28 for contact with the pin leads 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d and a second part of the plurality of electrical shorting members comprises the contact spring means 32 for contact with the casing 6. Depending upon the particular type of connector that is to be shorted by applicants invention herein, it will be appreciated that the first part of the electrical shorting members, that is, those utilized for contact with the leads of the connector, may vary in form from the spring means 28 illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3. For example, where a female electrical connector is to be shorted, the first part of the electrical shorting members of the spring clip means is in the form of a plurality of pin-like members, as described below.

In FIGURE 4 there is shown another electrically energized device that utilizes a female electrical connector. A pyrotechnic flare 50, which may be similar to the flare 2 of FIGURE 1, is provided with a female electrical connector 52 in which electrical continuity is made by insertion of a mating male connector (not shown) into the pin receiving apertures 54. Keying and locking grooves 5 6 are provided in the wall portions 58 of the connector 5 2 and serve the same functions as the grooves 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d of FIGURE 1. Applicants invention may also be utilized to provide electrical shorting of the connector 52. This is achieved by replacing the spring clip means 26 of FIGURES 2 and 3 with the spring clip means 68 illustrated in FIGURE 5. Alternatively, the spring clip means 60 may be inserted in a cap means 80, as shown on FIGURE 6, to provide a protective closure 82 for utilization in connector 52. The cap means 84) may be similar to the combination of the body member 12 and base member 49 shown on FIGURE 2 and provides an identical function. It will be appreciated, however, that protective closure 82 does not require apertures similar to apertures 14 shown on FIGURE 2, though, if such apertures were present, as when the spring clip means 60 replaces the spring clip means 26 in the embodiment show on FIGURE 2, such apertures in no way interfere with the operation of protective closure 82.

As shown on FIGURE 5, a first electrically conductive member 62 forming a first portion of electrically conductive spring clip means 66 has a plurality of electrical shorting pin means or terminals 64 coupled thereto in a preselected array to match the pattern of apertures 54 of FIGURE 4. A second electrically conductive member 66 is coupled to first electrically conductive member 62 and includes a side portion 66 spaced apart therefrom by connecting portion 66". A contact spring means 68 comprising a second portion of spring clip means 60 is coupled to the side portion 66' adjacent to a lower end 70 thereof. In the preferred embodiment of applicants invention, the entire spring clip means 60 is formed from a single stamping of an electrically conductive material such as Phosphor bronze. A tab 72 may be included on first electrically conductive member 62 to restrain the spring clip means 60 in, for example, the slot 22 of closure 19 illustrated in FIGURE 2 or in the cap means 80 shown in FIGURE 6.

When the spring clip means 26 shown on FIGURE 2 is replaced by the spring clip means 60 of FIGURE 5, the protective closure thus formed, or the protective closure 82 shown on FIGURE 6, may be inserted into the electrical connector 52 shown on FIGURE 4. Insertion is similar to that described above except that the plurality of shorting pin means 64 selectively penetrate the apertures 54 to contact the electrical leads therein to provide shorting therebetween, and the contact spring means 68 engages the wall portion 58 to provide shorting to the case. This renders the flare electrically inoperative. The surface portion 38 of the base member 44 engages the end 58 of case 58 to provide a dust tight seal therebetween.

The end 70 of portion 66 of second electrically conductive member 66 engages lip means 36 of base member 46) to restrain contact means 68 in proper spatial relationship to the plurality of shorting pin means 64; When the spring clip means 60 shown on FIGURE 5 is utilized to replace the spring clip means 26 in the embodiment shown on FIGURE 2, the embodiment shown on FIG- URE 6 operates in an identical manner.

From the above it can be seen that applicant has provided an improved electrical shorting closure for both male and female type electrical connectors. As described above, a first part of the plurality of electrical shorting members of applicants electrically conductive spring clip means contacts the electrical leads of the connector and a second part of the plurality of electrical shorting members contacts the casing of the connector to provide complete electrical shorting of all connector leads to the connector case.

This concludes the description of applicants invention of a new and improved protective closure arrangement. Those skilled in the art may find many adaptations and variations of applicants invention. All modifications falling within the true scope and spirit of applicants inven- 6 tion are intended to be limited only by the following claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In combination:

a cap member comprising a substantially cylindrical body portion having a first diameter, a plurality of spaced axial apertures extending a predetermined distance into said body portion from a first end thereof;

a slot communicating with each of said plurality of apertures and terminating at said first end of said body portion;

a plurality of spaced axial spline members coupled to said body portion in a preselected array along the periphery thereof;

a base portion coupled to the second end of said cylindrical body portion having a second diameter greater than said first diameter and having walls substantially concentric with said body portion defining a lip;

a first electrically conductive member contained within said slot, a plurality of spaced electrically conductive spring members coupled to said first electrically conductive member having portions selectively extending into each of said plurality of spaced axial apertures;

means for restraining said first electrically conductive member in said slot;

a second electrically conductive member having a first end coupled to said first electrically conductive memher and a second end yieldingly engaging said lip of said base portion; and

an electrically conductive contact spring means coupled to said second electrically conductive member adjacent said second end thereof.

2. In combination:

a spring clip comprising a plurality of spaced electrically conductive spring members in a preselected array;

an electrically conductive contact spring spaced from said plurality of spring members;

an electrically conductive means coupled to said plurality of spring members and to said contact spring; and

cap means coupled to said spring clip for yieldingly maintaining a predetermined spatial relationship of said contact spring to said plurality of spaced electrically conductive spring members and comprising a body portion having a plurality of apertures adjacent said plurality of spaced electrically conductive spring members, and at least one of said plurality of spaced electrically conductive spring members extending into each of siad plurality of apertures.

3. A protective closure adapted to electrically short a male electrical connector of the kind having at least one pin lead and a spaced casing surrounding said pin lead having at least one longitudinal locking groove therein extending substantially parallel to the pin lead comprising, in combination:

a cap means comprising a body member for insertion in said male connector having at least one aperture for receiving said pin lead, a slot communicating with said aperture, and peripheral wall portions defining a periphery of said body member, at least one spline member coupled to said peripheral Wall portions of said body member and adapted to be inserted in said locking groove;

a base member coupled to said body member for engaging end portions of said casing;

an electrically conductive spring clip meanshaving a first portion insertable into said slot and having coupled thereto at least one electrically conductive spring member extending at least partially into said aperture for engaging said pin lead;

3, 1 I 2, 2' 1 E3 '5 8 an electrically conductive contact spring means adaptspaced apart therefrom having a plurality of locking ed to engage said casing; grooves therein extending substantially parallel to said an electrically conductive means for coupling said first apertures comprising, in combination:

portion to said contact spring means in electrical a body member for insertion in said female connector, continuity relationship; said body member having a slot; means coupled to said spring clip means for restraining a plurality of spline means coupled to said body memsaid spring clip in said slot; and her and adapted to be insertible into said locking means coupled to said base member for yieldingly grooves;

maintaining said contact spring means in a preselected special relationship to said spring members whereby said contact spring yieldingly engages said casing of said connector.

an electrically conductive spring clip means comprising a first portion contained within said slot of said body member, a plurality of pins coupled to said first portion and adapted to be inserted in said pin receiving apertures of said female electrical connector, and a contact spring means coupled to said first portion and adapted to engage said casing; and

means coupled to said body member for restraining said contact spring means in a preselected spacial relationship to said plurality of pins whereby electrical continuity is provided between said pins and said casing.

7. A protective closure for a female electrical connector or the kind having a plurality of pin receiving apertures and a casing surrounding said apertures and spaced apart therefrom having a plurality of locking grooves therein extending substantially parallel to said apertures comprising, in combination:

4. A protective closure for a male electrical connector of the kind having a plurality of pin leads, a casing surrounding said pin leads and spaced apart therefrom having a plurality of locking grooves therein extending substantially parallel to said pin leads comprising, in combination:

a body member for insertion in said male connector having a plurality of apertures adapted to receive said pin leads and provide a substantially close fit therewith, and a slot communicating with each of said plurality of apertures;

a plurality of spline means coupled to said body member and adapted to be registerably aligned with said plurality of locking grooves;

an electrically conductive spring clip means having a first portion contained within said slot of said body member, a plurality of spring members coupled to a body member for insertion in said female connector,

said body member having a slot; a plurality of spline means coupled to said body memsaid first portion and at least one of said plurality her and adapted to be insertable in said locking of spring members partially extending into each grooves; of said plurality of apertures to engage said pin an electrically conductive spring clip means comprising leads, and a contact spring means coupled to sai a first portion contained within said slot of said first Portion and adapted to yieldingly ngage said body member, a plurality of pins coupled to said casing; and first portion and adapted to be inserted in said pin restraining means coupled to said body member for receiving apertures of said female electrical conmaintaining said contact spring means in a prenector, and a contact spring means coupled to said selected spacial relationship to said plurality of first portion and adapted to engage said casing; spacing members whereby each one of said plurality means coupled to said body member for restraining of pin leads is electrically shorted to each other pin said contact spring means in a preselected spacial lead and to said casing. relationship to said plurality of pins whereby elec- 5. A protective closure for a male electrical connector trical continuity is provided between said pins and of the kind having a plurality of pin leads, a casing sursaid casing, and

rounding said pin leads and spaced apart therefrom a base member coupled to said body member for having a plurality of locking grooves therein extending l5 frictionally sealing the space between said casing and substantially parallel to said pin leads comprising in said pin receiving apertures.

combination: 8. In combination:

a body member for insertion in said male connector a body member having a plurality of substantially having a plurality of apertures adapted to receive cylindrical apertures and having a slot communicatsaid pin leads and provide a substantially close fit ing with each of said plurality of apertures; therewith, and a slot communicating with each of a plurality of splines coupled to said body member in said plurality of apertures; a preselected array;

a plurality of spline means coupled to said body meman electrically conductive spring clip means comprising her and adapted to be registerably aligned with said a plurality of spring members and at least one of plurality of locking grooves; said spring members extending into each of said an electrically conductive spring clip means having a plurality of apertures, a contact spring means spaced first portion contained within said slot of said body a preselected distance from said plurality of first member, a plurality of spring members coupled to spring members, and a connecting member having said first portion and at least one of said plurality a first portion contained within said slot and coupled of spring members partially extending into each of G9 to said plurality of spring members and having a said plurality of apertures to engage said pin leads, and a contact spring means coupled to said first second portion coupled to said contact spring means. 9. A protective closure for a male electrical connector of the kind having a plurality of pin leads, a casing surrounding said pin leads and spaced apart therefrom having a plurality of locking grooves therein extending substantially parallel to said pin leads comprising, in combination:

a plurality of spline means coupled to said body member and adapted to be inserted in said plurality of 75. locking grooves; and

portion and adapted to yieldingly engage said casing; restraining means coupled to said body member for maintaining said contact spring means in a preselected spacial relationship to said plurality of spring members whereby each one of said plurality of pin leads is electrically shorted to each other pin lead and to said casing; and a base member coupled to said body member for frictionally sealing the space between said casing and said pin leads. 6. A protective closure for a female electrical connector of the kind having a plurality of pin receiving apertures and a casing surrounding said apertures and an electrically conductive spring clip means coupled to said body member in said slot and having pin engaging portions extending into said plurality of apertures and a casing engaging portion whereby insertion of said body member into said male electrical connector shorts each of said plurality of pin leads to each other pin lead and to said casing.

10. A protective closure for an electrical connector of the kind having a plurality of leads, a casing surrounding said plurality of leads and spaced apart therefrom and having a plurality of locking grooves therein comprising, in combination:

a body member for insertion in said electrical connector and said body member having a slot therein;

an electrically conductive spring clip means having a first portion contained within said slot of said body member, and a plurality of terminals coupled to said first portion in a preselected array, said plurality of terminals adapted to contact said electrical leads in said connector, and a second portion of said electrically conductive spring clip means adapted to yieldingly engage said casing of said connector;

and restraining means coupled to said body member for maintaining said second portion of said electrically conductive spring clip means in a preselected spatial relationship with said terminals whereby each one of said plurality of electrical leads of said connector is electrically shorted to each other lead and to said casing.

11. A protective closure for an electrical connector of the kind having a plurality of leads, a casing surrounding said plurality of leads and spaced apart therefrom and having a plurality of locking grooves therein comprising, in combination:

restraining means coupled to said body member for maintaining said second portion of said electrically conductive spring clip means in a preselected spatial relationship with said terminals whereby each one of said plurality of electrical leads of said connector is electrically shorted to each other lead and to said casing;

and a base member coupled to said body member for frictionally engaging end portions of said casing of said connector for frictionally sealing the space between said casing and said electrical leads.

12. A protective closure for an electrical connector of the kind having a plurality of electrical leads, a casing surrounding said plurality of electrical leads and spaced apart therefrom and having a plurality of locking grooves therein comprising, in combination:

a substantially right cylindrical body member having a first diameter and said body member having a slot therein and wall portions defining a peripheral edge thereof; an electrically conductive spring clip means comprising a first electrically conductive member insertable in said slot, a plurality of terminals disposed in a preselected array and coupled to said first electrically conductive member and adapted to contact said electrical leads of said connector, a contact spring means adapted to yieldingly engage said casing of said electrical connector, and a second electrically conductive member connecting said first electrically conductive member with said contact spring means;

means for maintaining said spring clip means in said slot of said body member;

restraining means coupled to said body member for maintaining said contact spring means in a preselected spatial relationship with said terminals whereby each one of said plurality of electrical leads of said connector is electrically shorted to each other and to said casing;

and a plurality of longitudinal spline members coupled to said wall portions of said body member in a preselected array and adapted to be registerably aligned with said plurality of locking grooves.

13. A protective closure for an electrical connector of the kind having a plurality of leads, a casing surrounding said leads and spaced apart therefrom comprising, in combination:

and an electrically conductive spring clip means coupled to said body member in said slot and having lead engaging terminal portions and a casing engaging portion whereby insertion of said body member in said electrical connector shorts each of said connector leads to each other connector lead and to said casing.

14. A protective closure for a female electrical connector of the kind having a plurality of pin receiving apertures and a casing surrounding said pin receiving apertures and spaced apart therefrom comprising, in combination:

a body member for insertion in said female electrical connector and having a slot therein;

and an electrically conductive spring clip means coupled to said body member in said slot and having a plurality of pins adapted to be inserted in said pin receiving apertures of said female electrical connector and a casing engaging portion whereby insertion of said body member in said female electrical connector shorts each of said plurality of pin receiving apertures to each other pin receiving aperture and to said casing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,472,747 6/ 49 Jones 339l43 2,760,128 8/56 Colby 33919 X 2,797,397 6/57 MacFadden 339-14 3,001,167 9/61 Chesnutt et al. 339187 FOREIGN PATENTS 516,757 9/55 Canada. 800,180 8/58 Great Britain.

JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

Claims

13. A PROTECTIVE CLOSURE FOR AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR OF THE KIND HAVING A PLURALITY OF LEADS, A CASING SURROUNDING SAID LEADS AND SPACED APART THEREFROM COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A BODY MEMBER FOR INSERTION IN SAID ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND SAID BODY MEMBER HAVING A SLOT THEREIN; AND AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE SPRING CLIP MEANS COUPLED TO SAID BODY MEMBER IN SAID SLOT AND HAVING LEAD ENGAGING TERMINAL PORTIONS AND A CASING ENGAGING PORTION WHEREBY INSERTION OF SAID BODY MEMBER IN SAID ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR SHORTS EACH OF SAID CONNECTOR LEADS TO EACH OTHER CONNECTOR LEAD AND TO SAID CASING.