US3740696A - Locking mechanism - Google Patents

Locking mechanism Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3740696A
US3740696A US00149669A US3740696DA US3740696A US 3740696 A US3740696 A US 3740696A US 00149669 A US00149669 A US 00149669A US 3740696D A US3740696D A US 3740696DA US 3740696 A US3740696 A US 3740696A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
connection
plug
locking
base
walls
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00149669A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
H Schleicher
W Haufe
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
SCHLEICHER GmbH AND Co
Original Assignee
SCHLEICHER GmbH AND Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by SCHLEICHER GmbH AND Co filed Critical SCHLEICHER GmbH AND Co
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3740696A publication Critical patent/US3740696A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement

Definitions

  • a removable locking mechanism for a plug-in connection of two complementary parts contains one part of the connection and a locking element.
  • This element comprises a shoulder which is located on a base and which also has a lug. When assembled in the connection part the element can be caused to slide in a longitudinal direction between two limiting positions by means of locating means actuable from outside the connection. In one position the shoulder, passing through the contact surface of the plug-in connection, causes the lug to engage with the other connection part thereby preventing separation of the plug-in connection in a transverse direction.
  • the invention relates to a releasable locking mechanism for plug-in connections or the like, having one or more locking members that are accommodated by the plug bracket.
  • the one half of the connection is an electrical or electronic unit such as part of a printed circuit, an actuation mechanism with a synchronous induction motor, a contactor, a measuring instrument or a time-lag relay.
  • actuation mechanism with a synchronous induction motor, a contactor, a measuring instrument or a time-lag relay.
  • a plug contact rib over which all the necessary contacts of the unit are supplied, designed to secure the appliances in place easily and to enable them to be exchanged without difficulty.
  • a corresponding plug contact bracket usually in the form of a socket plate, is analogously shaped and can be secured firmly in position to a panel or the like.
  • two swivelable cliplike bars can be mounted on the socket plate, and are preferably mounted on opposite side faces of the socket plate.
  • the clip overlaps a corresponding rim at the base of the unit so clamped.
  • the clip members must be disengaged from the attached unit, e.g. the time-lag relay or the like, by hand or by means of a tool such as a screw-driver, and only after this can disconnection be effected.
  • slip members have the considerable disadvantage that dismantling of the plug-in connection can only be accomplished by a swivelling movement from the base, which requires additional space.
  • Cascade connections which are used for numerous measuring instruments, indicators and the like, demand for utility that the smallest amount of space is used.
  • the individual components are thus attached as closely together as their base shape allows on the panel so that valuable space is not lost.
  • the known clip members are also disadvantageous because once they are brought into engagement with the holder, they are difficult to reach and can often be detached only with appropriately long and slender tools. Faulty construction often results in damage to the unit during securement.
  • the present invention sets out to overcome these disadvantages, by providing a removable locking mechanism for a plug-in connection of two complementary parts, which locking mechanism comprises; a first part of said connection capable of receiving the second part of said plug-in connection in a transverse direction and a locking element which element comprises:
  • a base adapted to move slideably in a longitudinal direction between two limiting positions
  • I d. a locating means which can be actuated from outside the plug-in connection to cause the base to slide, whereby in one position of said base the lug engages with the said second part of the plug-in connection so as to prevent separation of said plugin connection at least in a transverse direction.
  • the locking members may be associated with an L-shaped shoulder on a longitudinal edge of a bar, it can be arranged that they do not overlap the base area of the plug bracket inside which they are located, either in the locked or in the unlocked position.
  • the L-shaped formation that actually performs the locking action is advantageous, as with this, one simple unidirectional movement is necessary to effect locking, without an ad ditional movement in a second direction as is the case with a bent hook. Because the locking member stays within the plug bracket or the socket plate, respectively, and never leaves this base area, the devices provided with this locking mechanism can be placed uninterruptedly side by side or adjacent other devices without the intervening space hitherto required for the locking member.
  • each locking member has at least one, preferably two actuation lugs, which are openly accessible to facilitate locking and unlocking of the plug-in connection from both sides of the bracket.
  • These lugs may be positioned inside an opening in the socket plate and can be easily reached by hand or with a simple tool.
  • the locking member can be operated from the front of the socket plate, and from behindit. This provides the socket plate equipped with the locking member(s) of this invention with manifold uses without the necessity for structural measures to be taken or changes made.
  • the elongated bar of the locking mechanism has a slotted passageway passing through it, which is bridged over by a stay carrying the lug for stopping the locking mechanism in two positions.
  • This arrangement of the locking mechanism is particularly advantageous, as it enables the stay to act as a kind of flat spring causing the lug to click into position under spring tension via a stop-shoulder within the socket plate in which the locking member is guided.
  • no additional work cycle or expenditure is required to produce the narrow, slot-shaped opening in the bar so as to provide the bridging stay with the necessary spring tension.
  • the side face carrying the rest of the mechanism is offset by an amount corresponding to the height of the rest along the length of the slot-like opening.
  • the lockin member can be easily slid through this depression within the socket plate, which may be shaped like a flat casing, and the stop-shoulder counteracting lug exclusively, requires a slight protrusion preferably corresponding in cross-section to the crosssection of the above-mentioned lug.
  • the locking member consists of a die-cast portion which is visually distinguished from the plug bracket by another color.
  • the locking member of its actuating shoulders, which are easily accessible via a passage within a corner of the socket panel, can be visually detected without difficulty so that the person using it is faced with no great problem in performing the locking or unlocking operation.
  • FIG. 1 is a top view of a plug socket panel with the locking mechanism according to the invention with the locking element inserted;
  • FIG. 2 is a side section of the locking element according to the inventiomand
  • FIG. 3 is a cross-section along the line A-A of FIG. 1.
  • the socket bracket 1 as usual carries several connections 10 along one or several terminal strips.
  • the connections can take the form of screw clips or flat plug-in terminals; corresponding soldering tags can also be used.
  • Each of the connections 10 is associated with a contact socket which is located underneath accompanying slot guides 11 for the plug contacts.
  • Oval apertures 12 can be advantageously located in the socket panel 1 approximately at the terminal strip level but at opposite corners of the socket panel. These enable the socket panel to be secured to a mounting by screws, rivets or the like.
  • the locking shoulder 4 there is an aperture 6 that is 4 slot-like in appearance and is laterally positioned to run in the longitudinal or axial direction, and this is overlapped by the broad, reinforced edge configuration taking the form of shoulder 7.
  • a stud projection 8 is located, the upper edge of which is in alignment with the side face end sections of locking member 2.
  • This shoulder 7 is offset over the length of the passage by an amount corresponding to the height of stud 8. The configuration of shoulder 7 and the slotlike passage ensures that stud 8 is provided with a resil ient mounting so that on shifting locking member 2,
  • stud 8 has snap action with 'a'corresponding Rectangular apertures 13 are positioned at the face in the remaining corners of the square socket panel 1 of this embodiment to facilitate free access to the locking members.
  • the locking shoulder 4 of the locking member 2 projects through corresponding recesses in the face of the socket panel and can be attached thereto by moving the locking member after having mounted the second half of the plug-in connection.
  • the protruding shoulders 4 of the locking members can be advanta geously positioned inside the plug-in surface 9 of the socket panel 1 and as far apart as possible. This impedes loosening of the retained plug-in connection.
  • Locking member 2 is of plastics material that can be produced in a die mould in a single work cycle.
  • Locking member 2 consists mainly of an elongated bar 3 which engages in a locking position along a flat side surface with a locking shoulder 4.
  • the edge configuration of the locking member is reinforced and/or broader in shape than the body so as to achieve stability with the least materials.
  • Locking shoulder 4 is L-shaped and the angular foot section of the L-shaped locking shoulder can be positioned to engage with a counterpart piece inside the second half of the plug-in connection so as to prevent loosening of the connection when in locked position.
  • Within the locking member 2 on the same side retains stops inside the socket panel without deflecting the locking member 2 in any direction other than the required one.
  • actuation studs 5 which slide in one of the rectangular recesses 13 located at opposite corners of the front face and which can be operated by hand or by a screwdriver or the like from outside.
  • the locking member can be fairly narrow in width and extend lengthwise perpendicular to the length of the locking shoulder 4.
  • the head section of the actuating studs 5 is relatively broadened, so that manipulation of the locking member is possible by pressing on the actuation studs 5 with normally available tools.
  • FIG. 3 the locking member of FIG. 2 is shown in the socket panel.
  • the socket panel 1 is formed from a flat and rectangular housing having spaced walls 14 and 15.
  • the locking member is mounted for slideable movement between these two walls. Movement is limited by the length of the recess 16 within the front wall 15 of socket panel 1, as the locking shoulder 4 protrudes through this.
  • Stud 8 is depicted in the unlocked position on one side of the accompanying retaining stud 17 on front wall 15. Stud 8 moves over the retain ing shoulder 17 on moving locking member 2 due to its spring mounting, i.e., the presence of the slot-like passage 6, to remain in-its locking position at the other side of the retaining stud.
  • Actuation of the locking member 2 is effected through the rectangular recesses 13 with the aid of the actuation studs 5.
  • FIG. 3 shows clearly that actuation can be effected both from the front as well as from the back of the socket panel.
  • a bright color such as red or yellow is particularly favorable in this respect for the finishing of the locking member, guiding the eye to the passage 13 and thus to the actuation studs 5.
  • the present invention provides plug-in connection for electrical and electronic equipment which is plugged into the socket panel and which, as a result of its method of operation and constructional shape, can be light, and can, therefore, easily work loose in the absence of a locking device.
  • the plug-in connection is particularly useful in connection with a time-lag relay.
  • Front plate 14 is detachably secured secured to the socket panel, i.e., by screws or other means, for reasons of assembly and manufacture as well as to facilitate easy access to the separate contact terminals.
  • a removable locking mechanism for a plug-in connection of two complementary parts comprising a first part of said connection capable of receiving the second part of said plug-in connection in a transverse direction, said first part comprising a pair of spaced walls, and a locking element comprising an integral L-shaped member including an elongated base mounted for longitudinal sliding movement between said walls between two limiting positions, said base having an integral shoulder extending transversely from said base through one of said walls and adapted to pass through the abutting surface of the second part of said plug-in connection, said shoulder having a lug thereon that is disposed outside and spaced from said one wall, locating means actuable from outside the plug-in connection to cause said base to slide lengthwise wherein in one position of said base the lug engages with said second part of the plug-in connection so as to prevent separation of said plug-in connection at least in a transverse direction, and snapaction locking means on said first part of said connection and on said locking element engaging with each other to define said two positions of said locking element between which
  • a mechanism as claimed in claim 1 and means mounting said stud on said locking member for inward displacement when said studs pass over each other.
  • said mounting means for said locking .member stud comprising a spring mounting that bridges over a passage in said locking member, said locking member stud being car- 6 ried by said spring mounting.
  • a removable locking mechanism for a plug-in connection of two complementary parts comprising a first part of said connection capable of receiving the second part of said plug-in connection in a transverse direction, said first part comprising a pair of spaced walls, and a locking element comprising an integral L-shaped member including an elongated base mounted for longitudinal sliding movement between said walls between two limiting positions, said base having an integral shoulder extending transversely from said base through one of said walls and adapted to pass through the abutting surface of the second part of said plug-in connection, said shoulder having a lug thereon that is disposed outside and spaced from said one wall, and locating means actuable from outside the plug-in connection to cause said base to slide lengthwise wherein in one position of said base the lug engages with said second part of the plug-in connection so as to prevent separation of said plug-in connection at least in a transverse direction, said locating means comprising a pair of opposed recesses extending through both of said walls and surrounded on all sides by said walls,

Landscapes

  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
US00149669A 1970-06-23 1971-06-03 Locking mechanism Expired - Lifetime US3740696A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19702032307 DE2032307B2 (de) 1970-06-23 1970-06-23 Loesbare verriegelung fuer steckbare elektrische bzw. elektronische geraete

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3740696A true US3740696A (en) 1973-06-19

Family

ID=5775371

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00149669A Expired - Lifetime US3740696A (en) 1970-06-23 1971-06-03 Locking mechanism

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US3740696A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS517308B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AT (1) AT313410B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CA (1) CA932048A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (1) CH531261A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2032307B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2097851A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1328443A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
PL (1) PL81820B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4218107A (en) * 1979-05-11 1980-08-19 Anton/Bauer, Inc. Battery pack connection
US4558914A (en) * 1982-09-23 1985-12-17 Gould Inc. Readily expandable input/output construction for programmable controller
US4709974A (en) * 1985-10-15 1987-12-01 Pag Limited Battery connector
US5248264A (en) * 1992-05-08 1993-09-28 Motorola, Inc. Latch assembly and carrier for a portable product
US9641002B2 (en) 2011-09-02 2017-05-02 Pag Ltd. Battery management system, method and battery
US9653719B2 (en) 2013-10-04 2017-05-16 Pag Ltd. Battery

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1631997A (en) * 1923-03-05 1927-06-14 Benjamin Electric Mfg Co Electric-fixture support and connecter
FR798431A (fr) * 1935-02-04 1936-05-16 Dispositif de prise de courant à fiches pour plafond
US3046513A (en) * 1961-01-30 1962-07-24 Gen Electric Detachable electrical connector
FR1489422A (fr) * 1965-08-12 1967-07-21 Ronson Corp Perfectionnements aux connecteurs à fiche et douille pour appareils électriques portatifs
US3489989A (en) * 1968-04-04 1970-01-13 Chester J Robaczewski Electrical plug locking device

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1631997A (en) * 1923-03-05 1927-06-14 Benjamin Electric Mfg Co Electric-fixture support and connecter
FR798431A (fr) * 1935-02-04 1936-05-16 Dispositif de prise de courant à fiches pour plafond
US3046513A (en) * 1961-01-30 1962-07-24 Gen Electric Detachable electrical connector
FR1489422A (fr) * 1965-08-12 1967-07-21 Ronson Corp Perfectionnements aux connecteurs à fiche et douille pour appareils électriques portatifs
US3489989A (en) * 1968-04-04 1970-01-13 Chester J Robaczewski Electrical plug locking device

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4218107A (en) * 1979-05-11 1980-08-19 Anton/Bauer, Inc. Battery pack connection
US4558914A (en) * 1982-09-23 1985-12-17 Gould Inc. Readily expandable input/output construction for programmable controller
US4709974A (en) * 1985-10-15 1987-12-01 Pag Limited Battery connector
US5248264A (en) * 1992-05-08 1993-09-28 Motorola, Inc. Latch assembly and carrier for a portable product
US9641002B2 (en) 2011-09-02 2017-05-02 Pag Ltd. Battery management system, method and battery
US9653719B2 (en) 2013-10-04 2017-05-16 Pag Ltd. Battery

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2097851A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-03-03
GB1328443A (en) 1973-08-30
DE2032307B2 (de) 1972-07-13
DE2032307C3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-06-20
JPS517308B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1976-03-06
AT313410B (de) 1974-02-25
PL81820B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1975-10-31
CH531261A (de) 1972-11-30
DE2032307A1 (de) 1971-12-30
CA932048A (en) 1973-08-14

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
JP2555733Y2 (ja) コネクタ
JP2553115Y2 (ja) コネクタ
US2201743A (en) Circuit connection combination
TWI732869B (zh) 連接器構造
US6224429B1 (en) Terminal block assembly including rail fastening means
US4344663A (en) Connector-locking device
WO2017204017A1 (ja) プラグ側コネクタの組合体、機器側コネクタおよびコネクタ対
JP2008509511A (ja) 機器アダプタ
US3740696A (en) Locking mechanism
KR101783862B1 (ko) 일체형 조인트 커넥터
US4655529A (en) Jack for telephone set
US5238418A (en) Multipolar electric coupling device
KR102231529B1 (ko) 버스바아 홀더 및 대응 장치
US2505979A (en) Contact assembly for plug-in devices
US5873753A (en) Terminal block having secondary lock member
JP5155799B2 (ja) 多極回路遮断器
CN112003044B (zh) 端子台盖的锁定结构
CN108831773B (zh) 一种应用于墙壁开关的锁扣装置及墙壁开关
CN212625393U (zh) 接触器组件
CN111864450B (zh) 一种兼容各类面板的通用支架
JPS5855582Y2 (ja) コネクタ付カバ−におけるコネクタのロック係脱装置
AU2018203535B2 (en) Locking clip for fixing low voltage power distribution terminal product to supporting device
JP4746160B1 (ja) スライド操作子
JP3351884B2 (ja) 配線器具用耐火カバー
JP2930970B2 (ja) テレホンモジュラジャック