US3646499A

US3646499A - Multiple connector

Info

Publication number: US3646499A
Application number: US48020A
Authority: US
Inventors: Don L De Lano; Francis C Schmidt
Original assignee: Microdot Inc
Current assignee: Microdot Inc
Priority date: 1970-06-22
Filing date: 1970-06-22
Publication date: 1972-02-29
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-28

Abstract

The connector has a body containing a plug receiving recess at one end with male terminals therein and a plug containing mating female terminals at the other end. The terminals are joined to conductors which extend laterally from the body. The connector is so constructed that the recessed end will receive the plug end of a second conductor or a plug which is similar to the connector but which has the recessed end omitted. The connector and plug provides flexibility in locating outlets at spaced points with the conductors connected in series.

Description

United States atet De Lano et a1.

[54] MULTIPLE CONNECTOR [72] Inventors: Don L. De Lano, Mount Clemens; Francis C. Schmidt, Berkley, both of Mich.

[731 Assignee: Microdot Inc.

[22] Filed: June 22, 1970 211 Appl. No.: 48,020

[52] U.S. Cl. ..339/60 M, 339/156, 339/218 M [51] ..II01r 13/52 [58] Field of Search ..339/32, 33,36, 59-61,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,268,847 8/1966 Klumpp,.lr. .339/14 3,107,132 10/1963 Smith ..339/60 1 Feb. 29, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 524,140 7/1940 GreatBritain .;...339/60R 1,111,347 4/1968 GreatBritain "339/6111 Primary ExaminerJoseph H. McGlynn AttorneyHarness, Dickey & Pierce 5 7] ABSTRACT 9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures MULTIPLE CONNECTOR SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention pertains to a plug and socket connector and a plug connector usable in combination to provide seriesed outlets at variously spaced points. The connector has a molded plastic body with terminal conducting plates and joined conductors molded therein. In one form the molded body has a recess in one end for receiving a plug which is the same as the plug end provided on the connector opposite to the end having the recess. The recessed end has a pair of spaced bladelike terminals and a cylindrical ground terminal or polarizing pin of the male type which extend through the body and are formed to provide female terminals within the plug at the opposite end. In the connector herein illustrated the male and female terminals are formed in aligned relation from a strip of conducting metal having a lateral projecting arm at the center which is formed into a cylindrical collar and clamped over the wires of the conductors which may be two or more and which are herein illustrated as being three in number. In another form, the molded body is the same as that of the first connector with the plug-receiving end omitted. An annular securing and sealing flange is provided on the plug end and on the plug portion of the connector bodies which seals them in the recess end of the first connector or to a lamp socket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view of a multiple connector embodying features of the present invention, with a part in section;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken on the line 2-2 thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken on the line 33 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a right-hand end view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a structure similar to that illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 6, taken on the line 77 thereof, and

FIG. 8 is a broken view of an assembly made up from the structures illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The connector 11, illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, has a molded body 12 containing a recess 13 at one end for receiving a plug end 14 containing an exterior annular sealing rib 15. The body has a lateral section 16 from which a plurality of conductors extend, three

conductors

17, 18 and 19 for the connector herein illustrated are employed. The conductors I7 and 18 are connected to like conducting plates 21 provided with male and female terminal ends 22 and 23. Between the terminal ends 22 and 23, a section 24 of the plates 21 extends laterally with the end rolled into a collar 25 which is secured about the wires 26 of the conductor 17 and 18. A collar 27 is secured about the end section of an insulating sheath 28 of the conductors in firm fixed relation thereto. The female terminal end 23 of the conducting plates 21 has laterally extending flanges 29 which are reversely bent to form a rectangular aperture 31 of a size and form to receive male or bladelike terminals 22 on the opposite end of the plates 21 which have a tapered end 32. Similar female terminals 23 on a plug end of a second connector or on a separate plug may be readily inserted within the recess 13 over the male terminal 22 therein and be energized from the conductors 17 and 18 of the first connector. The plates 21 have an offset portion 34 which when the connector body is molded thereabout prevents any longitudinal movement relative thereto.

A third conducting plate 35 is formed into a cylinder having on one end a male terminal 36 and on the other end a female terminal 37 of such diameters as to permit a male terminal 36 of another socket to be inserted into the terminal 37 of the first socket. At the center of the conducting plate 35, a

laterally extending section 41 similar to the laterally extending portions 24 has its end formed into a collar 25 which is secured to the wires 26 of the central conductor 19 which also has a collar 27 on the end of the insulating sheath thereof.

After the conductor plates 25 and have been so formed and connected to the wires 26 of the conductors l7, l8 and 19, they are inserted in a mold with the male terminal ends 22 and 36 inserted in apertures in a plug which will form the recess 13 in the end of the body after the molding operation. Inserts are placed within the apertures 31 of the female terminals 23 and also within the female terminal 37 to prevent the molding material to pass thereinto and to form

cavities

38 and 39 in the body beyond the ends of the female terminals. The material of the body is then injection molded about the conductors and terminal plates. After the molding operation and the removal of the plug and inserts, the connector will be completed in the form as clearly illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 with the recess 13 containing the male terminals 22 and 36 and with the plug end 14 having the female terminals 23 and 37 therewithin.

In the arrangement here illustrated it will be noted that the plates 21 and 35 have the sections 24 and 40 of different lengths so that the terminals are in nonaligned relation to have the terminals of the plug ends accurately located so that any one of the conductors in the series will be aligned throughout the length thereof. In place of the ground terminal a locating pin may be substituted in the recess and a receiving aperture provided in the plug. In this arrangement, no ground is provided and the plate 35 and conductors 19 are dispensed with.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a connector 42 is illustrated which is similar to the connector 11 but with the end containing the recess 13 omitted therefrom. The connector embodies a molded body having a base portion 43 and a plug portion 44. A base portion extension 45 encloses the

conductors

17, 18 and 19 which are joined to plates 46 which are similar to the plates 21 and 35 with the exception that the male terminals 22 and 36 are omitted therefrom. The plates extend upwardly and are formed on the upper end into female terminals 23 and 37. The plug portion 44 is exactly of the same construction as the plug portion 14 of the connectors illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5. The material from which the bodies are molded is flexible and the annular rib 15 provides a seal which prevents dust and grime from entering the recess 13 and assists in retaining the plug end 14 or plug portion 44 therein or in a tubular socket 48.

The two connectors are unique in combination to provide a series connection through the conductors independent of the male and female terminals. The plug portion 44 or plug end 14 of the connectors may be inserted into the tubular socket 48 for a lamp bulb to provide light at various spaced points which are separated different distances apart, as illustrated in FIG. 8. In this arrangement, a plug portion 44 of a connector 42 may be inserted in a live element 49 of a harness or receptacle with the conductors 51 thereof connected to a similar plug connector 42. The second connector 42 has its plug portion 44 extending within the recess 13 of a connector 11 having its plug end 14 extending into a cylindrical lamp socket 48. The conductors 52 from the connector 11 are joined to a plug connector 42 which has its plug portions 44 extending into the recess 13 of a second connector 11 which has its plug end 14 extending into a second cylindrical socket 48. Conductors 53 from the second connector 11 are joined to a plug connector 42 which has its plug portion 44 extending into the recess 13 in a third connector 11 which has its plug end 14 sealed by a cap 54 as it is not used in a socket 48 in the assembly illustrated. Conductors 55 from the third connector 11 are joined to a plug connector 42 which has its plug portion 44 extending within a cylindrical socket 18 which thereby terminates the assembly which is shown by way of example.

It is to be understood that when a plurality of light locations are determined, for an automobile for example, the lengths of

conductors

51, 52, 53 and 55 are determined and the connectors are joined together with the proper length of conductors to permit the connectors to be supported at the light location. The connectors can be furnished separately and the conductors thereof can be joined by conductors to provide a desired assembly when large productions are not involved.

The connectors are unique in producing assemblies which may be used on different automotive devices by the omission or addition of connectors to each other. While the conductors are in series relation to each other, each conductor is maintained in series relation with the respective conductors of the plurality of connectors and the filaments of the lamp bulbs are in parallel and not in series relation therewith. The assembly provides ease of replacement in case any one of the elements of the series becomes damaged.

We claim:

1. In a connector, a molded body of insulating material, a plurality of spaced conducting plates within the body, a plurality of conductors each having the end joined to one of said plates and extending from said body, said body having a plug receiving recess at one end into which the ends of said plates extend providing spaced male conducting terminals, and a plug portion on the other end of the body. in which female terminals formed on the other end of the plates are embedded.

2. In a connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the diameter of said recess is substantially that of said plug portion.

3. In a connector as recited in claim 2, wherein a second connector is the same as said first connector except that the end having the plug receiving recess is omitted.

4. In a connector as recited in claim 3, wherein an assembly containing the first and second connectors provide spaced outlet locations for said plug portions.

5. In a connector as recited in claim 3, wherein a first and second connector form a unit when continuous lengths ofconductors are provided therebetween.

6. In a connector as recited in claim 3, wherein a pair of said second conductors form a unit when continuous lengths of conductors are provided therebetween.

7. in a connector as recited in claim 3, wherein the terminals are provided in offset relation in that each conductor is connected to a similarly located conductor so that each condoctor will have the same seriesed relation throughout the assembly of the connectors.

8. lo a connector as recited in claim 3, wherein the molding material is flexible in the plug portions which is provided with an annular rib which seals a recess when extending thereinto.

9. In a connector as recited in claim 8, wherein a cap forced over the plug portion of a connector is secured and sealed thereto by said annular rib.

Claims

1. In a connector, a molded body of insulating material, a plurality of spaced conducting plates within the body, a plurality of conductors each having the end joined to one of said plates and extending from said body, said body having a plug receiving recess at one end into which the ends of said plates extend providing spaced male conducting terminals, and a plug portion on the other end of the body in which female terminals formed on the other end of the plates are embedded.

5. In a connector as recited in claim 3, wherein a first and second connector form a unit when continuous lengths of conductors are provided therebetween.

7. In a connector as recited in claim 3, wherein the terminals are provided in offset relation in that each conductor is connected to a similarly located conductor so that each conductor will have the same seriesed relation throughout the assembly of the connectors.

8. In a connector as recited in claim 3, wherein the molding material is flexible in the plug portions which is provided with an annular rib which seals a recess when extending thereinto.