US3766512A - Electric safety plugs and sockets - Google Patents

Electric safety plugs and sockets Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3766512A
US3766512A US00154805A US3766512DA US3766512A US 3766512 A US3766512 A US 3766512A US 00154805 A US00154805 A US 00154805A US 3766512D A US3766512D A US 3766512DA US 3766512 A US3766512 A US 3766512A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
plug
sleeve
contacts
female
male plug
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
US00154805A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
J Falbet
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.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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 Individual filed Critical Individual
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3766512A publication Critical patent/US3766512A/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
    • H01R24/00—Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure
    • H01R24/58—Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R2103/00—Two poles
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R31/00—Coupling parts supported only by co-operation with counterpart
    • H01R31/02—Intermediate parts for distributing energy to two or more circuits in parallel, e.g. splitter

Definitions

  • An electrical connection device comprising at least two male and female plugs each constituted by a body of insulating material, the body of the male plug comprising a sleeve with a hollow core on the internal face of which are arranged at least two contacts mounted in slots on elastic means causing them-to project from the internal face, while the body of the female plug comprises, at the front, an external tubular casing having an internal diameter equal, to within the necessary clearance, to the external diameter of the sleeve of the other plug, so as to permit the introduction of said sleeve into said tubular casing, and a cylindrical mandrel arranged axially inside the casing an having a diameter almost equal to the internal diameter of the sleeve of the other plug so as to fit into said sleeve, said mandrel being provided on its surface with at least two recesses intended to receive
  • the present invention relates to an electric connection device between two electric lines each comprising at least two conductors.
  • connection devices are usually composed of a male plug provided with at least two projecting metal pins and a female plug comprising two sockets with a hollow core, which are intended to receive the pins of the male plug during the coupling; the connection is simply effected by engagement of the pins of the male plug in the sockets of the female plug.
  • connection plugs at present widely used, do not offer very satisfactory conditions of safety for the user or for children who are always tempted to handle them.
  • the two plugs when the two plugs are engaged, it frequently happens that the male plugs are not fully pushed home into the corresponding sockets of the female plug, and that a portion of these latter remains visible.
  • a person or a child handling plugs of this kind can catch or touch this portion, thus risking a more or less serious accident, depending on the nature of the current supplied to the-plug.
  • the present invention is intended to overcome thes drawbacks and to provide an electrical connection device having great safety in use.
  • this device is composed of at least two plug members, male and female, intended to be coupled together and each formed by a body of insulating material, at the rear of which terminate the electrical conductors.
  • the body of the male plug comprises at the front a sleeve with a hollow core, on the internal face of which are arranged two contacts mounted in slots on elastic means which cause them to project from this internal face, each contact being connected to one of the conductors which terminate at the said plug.
  • the female plug As regards the female plug, this is provided at the front, on the one hand with a tubular external casing having an internal diameter equal to within the clearances, to the external diameter of the sleeve of the other plug so as to permit this latter to be introduced into this tubular casing, and on the other hand a cylindrical mandrel arranged axially inside the said casing and having a diameter equal, to within the clearances, to the internal diameter of the sleeve of the other plug so as to be capable of being housed in this latter.
  • This mandrel comprises on its surface two recesses intended during coupling to receive the projecting contacts of the other plugs and each containing a fixed contact connected to one of the conductors terminating at the said female plug.
  • the male and female plugs are made of insulating material, for example of hard synthetic material.
  • the coupling together of the plugs according to the invention is effected by placing the plugs end to end and bringing the sleeve of the male plug into engagement so as to be housed in the space of the female plug comprised between the mandrel and the tubular casing of the female plug.
  • each contact of the male plug, mounted on elastic means is pushed back into its slot by the mandrel on the female plug.
  • This contact arrives at the level of the recess which is provided in the female plug and, by the effect of elastic means, is introduced into this recess and comes up against the contact of the female plug. In consequence, in this position, the electrical connection is effected by means of these pairs of contacts pressed one against the other.
  • connection thus completed possesses remarkable consitions of safety.
  • no conductor under tension is visible and the user cannot in any case be subjected to an electric shock.
  • no risk of electric shock is to be feared with respect to a female plug under tension; the contacts of this plug are housed in the bottom of a recess and are inaccessible even by means of long objects which, if introduced into the female plug, will pass over the recess in which the contact of this plug is housed, without reaching it.
  • a male plug under tension does not constitute any particular danger since it does not comprise any projecting element capable, by accidental contact, either of causing a short-circuit or of resulting in corporal accident.
  • the sleeve of the male plug is advantageously provided on its external face with at least one rib intended to engage in a groove adapted and formed on the internal face of the casing of the female plug.
  • This rib engaged in the above-mentioned groove, will guide the introduction of this sleeve into the space of the female plug comprised between the mandrel and the external casing.
  • the introduction of the male plug into the female plug can only be effected in a predetermined position, in which the rib of the male plug is arranged opposite the groove of the female plug; the contacts of each plug will be correspondingly located at the end of the introduction and will be placed naturally one on the other without trial and error.
  • the male plug may usefully be provided, at the level of the rear extremity of its sleeve, with an external shoulder against which the front edge of the casing of the female plug comes into abutment. This position'of abutment defines the maximum position of engagement of the male plug .into the female plug, which position corresponds to the engagement of the contacts of both plugs.
  • thecontacts of the male plug are each constituted by a metal nipple of substantially hemispherical shape, fixed to one extremity of a spring, and capable by pushing of being retracted by passage into its slot.
  • Each of these contacts may also be formed by a metal ball imprisoned in its slot and capable of projecting under the action of a spring.
  • the recesses of the female plug containing the contacts of this plug are preferably provided on their front edge with an inclined slope intended to facilitate the withdrawal of the contact of the male plug during the disconnection of the male plug.
  • the male and female plugs according to the invention are provided with a number of contacts suited to their utilization. They may each comprise two contacts which make them suitable for single-phase connections, for example for domestic purposes. They may also comprise an additional contact acting as an earth contact and connected to an earthed conductor. In this latter case, the earth contact of the male plug may use fully be given smaller dimensions as compared with the other contacts, while the corresponding recess of the female plug, of smaller size as compared with the other recesses, is given dimensions suitable for this contact.
  • the female plug may be formed integrally with a casing containing the safety fuses and intended to be flush mounted in a wall. It will serve to distribute electrical energy by simply engaging a male plug.
  • the female plug may also be fixed to the extremity of an electric wire or cable for the purpose of connecting this wire or cable to another wire or cable provided on a male plug.
  • the external casing of the female plug is preferably fixed to the body of this plug by screwing on to a threaded portion of this body.
  • the rear portions of the bodies of the female and male plugs are additionally provided with grooves permitting them to be gripped and easily handled.
  • FIG. 1 shows exploded perspective views of a female plug according to the invention, together with an oppositely arranged male plug;
  • FIG. 2 shows views in cross-section of a female plug and a male plug coupled together
  • FIG. 3 is a multi-purpose plug with four pins.
  • a female plug I intended to effect an electrical connection is essentially composed of a substantially cylindrical casing 2, a mandrel 3 and a rear body 4 at which terminates the electric wire 5 comprising electric conductors such as 6.
  • the wire 5 comprises an earth conductor and two phase conductors.
  • the mandrel 3 and the body 4 are made by moulding and are formed in two assembled halves fixed to each other by a screw 7.
  • the body 4 comprises a threaded portion 8 which is intended to receive a threaded portion 9 of the tubular casing 2.
  • the mandrel 3 comprises on its surface three recesses 10, 11 and 12, in the bottoms of which are fixed metal blades connected to the conductors 6.
  • the blades of the recesses 10 and 11 are connected to the phase conductors, while the blade of the recess 12 is connected to the earth conductor of the wire 5.
  • the external casing 2 is provided on its internal face with two grooves, the function of which will become apparent later.
  • a male plug 13 is essentially constituted by a sleeve 14 comprising two halves fixed to each other by means of screws such as 15. These half sleeves may be manufactured by moulding a hard synthetic material.
  • the sleeve 14 is fixed by its rear portion to the body 16 of the plug, at which terminates an electric wire 17 containing electric conductors.
  • the sleeve 14 is provided with two ribs such as 18, projecting from its outer face.
  • the sleeve 14 is designed so as to be capable of being inserted, with a small clearance, in the casing 2 of the female plug.
  • the shape of the hollow core of this sleeve 14 is similar to that of the mandrel 3 of the female plug, so that this latter can be engaged and housed with a small clearance in this core. Furthermore, the sleeve 14 is provided on its internal face with three slots in which are imprisoned hollow metal balls 19,- 20 and 21, each mounted on a spring such as 22 which urges them radially in the direction of the axis of the sleeve. These balls are connected through the intermediary of the spring which acts on them, to the conductors of the wire 17 by means of lengths of conducting wire such as 23, housed in grooves formed in the sleeve 14. These channels may be located at the junction of the two halves which form the sleeve 14 and are constituted by grooves arranged on each of these halves and coming opposite each other when the said halves are assembled together.
  • each ball 19, 20 or 21 comes opposite the corresponding recess 10, 11 and 12 and, under the action of its spring, becomes applied against the metal blade which lies on the bottom of each of the said recesses.
  • Each conductor of the wire 5 is thus connected to a conductor of the wire 17.
  • each recess 10, 11 or 12 is provided at its front with a small inclined ramp which enables the corresponding ball to be disengaged more easily at the moment of separation of the plug.
  • FIG. 3 There has been shown in FIG. 3 a multi-connection plug falling within the scope of the present invention.
  • the arms such as 24, 25, 26 and 27 of this multiple plug have structures similar to those described.
  • the arms 24, 25 and 26 may for example be constituted by male plugs, while the arm 27 forms a female plug.
  • Four plugs and sockets (one male and three female) may be coupled to this multiple unit, one of them being under tension; the multiple unit thus serves to distribute electrical power to the three others.
  • the present invention is not restricted to the terms of the description above, but on the contrary it comprises all the alternative forms within the scope of those skilled in the art.
  • the plugs according to the invention may also be built in; they may also be shielded or serve as electric couplings for power lines.
  • the multiple units may be provided with a number of arms different from that indicated by way of example.
  • the plugs When the plugs are not in use, they may be fitted with capswhich close their front portion.
  • the cap intended for the female plug has the form of a disc with a projecting ring on one face, this ring being intended to be housed, at the front of the female plug, between the casing 2 and the mandrel 3.
  • the cap of the male plug is constituted by a disc provided with a projecting nipple on one face, this nipple being intended to be housed, at the front of the male plug, in the sleeve 14.
  • a projecting annular portion may be provided so as to cover the front extremity of the sleeve 14.
  • the male plug may constitute a night light; a small bulb is mounted in the rear portion of the body and is electrically connected to the contacts. This rear portion, screwing on to the sleeve, is made of a translucent or transparent and coloured material.
  • An electrical device for effecting connections between electric lines each having at least two conductors, said device comprising at least one male plug and one female socket mutually dimensioned to be coupled together; said plug and socket each comprising a body of insulating material through which the conductors extend; the body of the male plug comprising a sleeve with a hollow core having an internal wall; at least two contacts connected to the conductors extending into 6 said plug and carried by said wall; the body of said female socket comprising an external tubular casing having an internal diameter substantially equal to the external diameter of the sleeve of the male plug to permit the introduction of said sleeve into said tubular casing; said body of the female socket further comprising a cylindrical mandrel disposed axially inside said casing and having a diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of the sleeve of the male plug to fit in said sleeve; said wall of the sleeveof the male plug having slots; said contacts carried by the wall being retractively carried in the slots; elastic means
  • connection device as claimed in claim 1, in which said male plug and said female socket each comprise at least three contacts; one contact of each of the plug and socket being an earth contact; said earth contact of said male plug having smaller dimensions than the other contacts of the male plug; and said mandrel touching the earth contact of said socket.

Landscapes

  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
US00154805A 1970-06-22 1971-06-21 Electric safety plugs and sockets Expired - Lifetime US3766512A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR7022996A FR2100554A1 (cg-RX-API-DMAC10.html) 1970-06-22 1970-06-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3766512A true US3766512A (en) 1973-10-16

Family

ID=9057581

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00154805A Expired - Lifetime US3766512A (en) 1970-06-22 1971-06-21 Electric safety plugs and sockets

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US3766512A (cg-RX-API-DMAC10.html)
FR (1) FR2100554A1 (cg-RX-API-DMAC10.html)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5178159A (en) * 1988-11-02 1993-01-12 Cardiometrics, Inc. Torqueable guide wire assembly with electrical functions, male and female connectors rotatable with respect to one another
US5938624A (en) * 1997-09-10 1999-08-17 Radi Medical Systems Ab Male connector with a continous surface for a guide wire and method therefor
US20140030906A1 (en) * 2012-04-09 2014-01-30 Cbg Corporation Radial electrical connector resistant to fluids
US11116987B2 (en) * 2019-04-17 2021-09-14 Biotronik Se & Co. Kg Electrical contact component

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE499285A (cg-RX-API-DMAC10.html) *
US3001167A (en) * 1958-02-07 1961-09-19 Plishner Multi-conductor electrical connector
US3060417A (en) * 1959-01-20 1962-10-23 Specialties Dev Corp Condition responsive network insensitive to electrical leakage
US3246282A (en) * 1963-01-22 1966-04-12 Dynamic Instr Corp Plug receptacle and connector assembly
GB1037783A (en) * 1962-04-10 1966-08-03 Mb Metals Ltd Improvements in and relating to separable electric connectors
US3641479A (en) * 1969-06-16 1972-02-08 Obrien D G Inc Underwater disconnectible connector

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US30067A (en) * 1860-09-18 Straw-cutter
DE171307C (cg-RX-API-DMAC10.html) *
DE439851C (de) * 1925-09-08 1927-01-19 Siemens Schuckertwerke G M B H Steckerschalter fuer Raeume mit entzuendbaren Gasen
FR78366E (fr) * 1960-07-25 1962-07-13 Perfectionnement aux anodes à hydrocarbures gazeux dissociables pour assurer la marche continue et automatique de fours d'électrolyse par voie ignée, en particulier pour la fabrication de l'aluminium
FR1525616A (fr) * 1966-06-09 1968-05-17 Atomic Energy Authority Uk Connecteur multiple à fiche

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE499285A (cg-RX-API-DMAC10.html) *
US3001167A (en) * 1958-02-07 1961-09-19 Plishner Multi-conductor electrical connector
US3060417A (en) * 1959-01-20 1962-10-23 Specialties Dev Corp Condition responsive network insensitive to electrical leakage
GB1037783A (en) * 1962-04-10 1966-08-03 Mb Metals Ltd Improvements in and relating to separable electric connectors
US3246282A (en) * 1963-01-22 1966-04-12 Dynamic Instr Corp Plug receptacle and connector assembly
US3641479A (en) * 1969-06-16 1972-02-08 Obrien D G Inc Underwater disconnectible connector

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5178159A (en) * 1988-11-02 1993-01-12 Cardiometrics, Inc. Torqueable guide wire assembly with electrical functions, male and female connectors rotatable with respect to one another
US5938624A (en) * 1997-09-10 1999-08-17 Radi Medical Systems Ab Male connector with a continous surface for a guide wire and method therefor
US6196980B1 (en) 1997-09-10 2001-03-06 Radi Medical System Ab Male connector with a continuous surface for a guide wire, and method therefor
US20140030906A1 (en) * 2012-04-09 2014-01-30 Cbg Corporation Radial electrical connector resistant to fluids
US9225114B2 (en) * 2012-04-09 2015-12-29 Cbg Corporation Radial electrical connector resistant to fluids
US11116987B2 (en) * 2019-04-17 2021-09-14 Biotronik Se & Co. Kg Electrical contact component

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2100554A1 (cg-RX-API-DMAC10.html) 1972-03-24

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3926494A (en) Safety electrical male plug having normally recessed manually extendable contacts
US6945805B1 (en) Self-locking rotatable electrical coupling
US3025486A (en) Three way electric plug
US4445739A (en) Male plug with automatic prong cover
US1990176A (en) Fused connecter
US3775727A (en) Electrical adapter for converting two-hole receptacle into three-hole receptacle with equipment ground
US3382355A (en) Illuminated electrical connector
US2988617A (en) Three wire safety fuse adapter, grounding type
US3441896A (en) Compatible electrical outlet socket and plug
US3493915A (en) Safety plug for electrical devices
US3928737A (en) Remote control switching device
CN104064916A (zh) 一种安全插座
US4013330A (en) Dual-standard electric plug
US3495205A (en) Convertible plug
US3786392A (en) Automatic retractable ground electrical connector
US20080261420A1 (en) Safety electric plug for preventing electric shock
US3579175A (en) Electric circuit adapter member
US2225461A (en) Electric light socket
US3766512A (en) Electric safety plugs and sockets
US3377613A (en) Electrical connector
US3210717A (en) Safety connector plug
US3029406A (en) Connector
US5921823A (en) Dead-front high current female power contact
US2874336A (en) Arcless high voltage cable connectors
US3263037A (en) Plug and socket combination having locking means in its connecting and disconnectingposition