US3794951A

US3794951A - Electrical connector

Info

Publication number: US3794951A
Application number: US00239129A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Hansen
Original assignee: Lee Raymond Organization Inc
Current assignee: Lee Raymond Organization Inc
Priority date: 1972-03-29
Filing date: 1972-03-29
Publication date: 1974-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 1991-02-26

Abstract

A multi-conductor electrical connector for bridging electrical circuits between a hinged door and the fixed door frame. The connector consists of one or more bare printed circuits in the form of concentric arcs mounted on the door, together with a fixed set of contact members mounted on the door frame such that each fixed contact member is in continuous electrical contact with one of the concentric arcs of the printed circuit.

Description

1451 Feb. 26, 1974 United States Patent Hansen [54] ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Raymond Hansen, Elko, Nev.

1,373,577 8/1964 France...........,.,................ 339/4 lnventor:

[73] Assignee: The Raymond Lee Organization,

Inc., New York, NY.

Mar. 29, 1972 Appl. No.: 239,129

Primary Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Howard 1. Podell [22] Filed:

[57] ABSTRACT v conductor electrical connector for bridging electrical circuits between a hinged door and the fixed door frame. The connector consists of one or more A multi- [52] US Cl 339/4 [51] Int. H011 39/00 bare printed circuits in the form of concentric arcs mounted on the door, together with a fixed set of RM 77 C ML 7 3 3 NE ,7 411 9 3 h c r. a e s f 0 M e .1 .F N 5 contact members mounted on the door frame such that each fixed contact member is in continuous electrical contact with one of the concentric arcs of the printed circuit.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 339/4 4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 3,701,071 Landman.........,....'.................. 3 105 869 Branch et a1. 3,362,005 1/1968 455 t i 1 a ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of this invention is to provide compact fatigue-free electrical connections between circuits mounted on a hinged door and the electrical circuits feeding from a fixed reference point to the said door.

It has been customary in the pas to conduct electricity to circuits mounted on a hinged member by means of flexible wires which are looped about the axis of the hinges of said member. Such wire loops are bulky, offering resistance to free movement of the hinged member. The wires, as well as the wire insulation, are subject to fatigue failure, resulting in open circuits or in short circuits as the case may be.

In this invention, a printed circuit board is mounted to the hinged member, said board bearing a concentric series of circular arcs. The alternating metal conductors on the board are separated by insulating spaces from each other. The board is mounted so asv to locate the center of the concentric arcs of conductors at the axis of the hinge line of the hinged member.

A mating fixed set of spring mounted electrical contacts is mounted to the frame of the hinged member, so as to enable each such fixed contact to engage a separate conductor arc of the printed circuit board mounted on the hinged member, regardless of the angular relation of the hinged member to its fixed frame.

Each conductor of the electrical circuit mounted on the hinged member is permanently connected to one of the arc conductors on the printed circuit board, and similarly the corresponding fixed spring mounted contact on the frame is permanently connected to the appropriate conductor of the feeder electrical circuit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The objects and features of the invention will be understood with reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention taken together with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the connector unit fastened to a hinged member;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the contact unit fastened to the fixed frame;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the contact unit;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the terminal lugs of the contact unit;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the connector unit mounted to the hinged member;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the complete mounted assembly; and

FIG. 7A is a side'view of the contact member inthe relaxed position; and

FIG. 7B is a side view of the contact member in the engaged position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now descriptively to the drawing, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates the male connector 10 fastened by bolts 19 to door 17 which is mounted on hinge 15 to pivot about axis 16.

The male connector 10 is formed of a sheet 12 of in.- sulating material such as a thermosetting resin with bare metal conductors 11 mounted on one or both surfaces of the sheet 12. The conductors 11 are each in the form of a concentric circular arc, the center of which is the hinge axis 16.

As shown in FIG. 5 each conductor 11 terminates at the door mounted end of the connector board 12 in a terminal 13 which may contain a hole and be tinned for soldering to the wires of the electrical circuit which are mounted on the door 17.

The open edge 14 of the connector 10 is preferably formed in the shape of a taper so as to enable ease of initial insertion into slot 31 of the female connector 40. The edge 14 is extended past the periphery of the arc of male connector to form a latch 21.

The female connector 40 as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 is formed of a slotted insulating material with sliding contact members 30 mounted inside of slot 31 to make electrical contact with the respective conductors 11 of the male electrical connector 10.

Slot 31 is enclosed by cover plate 23 which is slidably. mounted on the outside end of connector 40 by means of pins 25 through slots 24 of the cover plate 23. Cover plate 23 is held in position by tension springs 26, but may be withdrawn by grasping knob 22 when it is desired to extend the length of slot 31 so as to permit latching projection 21 of the male conductor 10 to enter or be withdrawn from engagement with the female connector 40.

As shown in FIG. 7, the necks 32 of contact members 30 are curved so as to maintain spring pressure of contact between members 30 of the female connector 40 and conductors 11 of the male connector 10.

As shown in FIG. 4 the external terminals of contacts 30 are staggered with alternate lugs 28 projecting at one angle from the female connector 40 while the alternate lugs 29 project at a more acute angle from connector 40 for ease in fastening of the wires 41 of the electrical circuit to the female connector 40.

Referring to FIG. 6, rotation of the door 17 by use of door knob 49 to the door position 17A rotates male connector 10 which is mounted in slot 31 of female connector 40. If it is so desired, female connector 40 may be mounted to the door, with male connector 10 mounted to the fixed frame.

Since obvious changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described herein without departing from the scope thereof, it is indicated that all which a bare electrical conductor is fastened along.

the path of a circular arc, with means to fasten an electrical wire to one end of said electrical conductor, said male connector being adaptable to be fastened so as to align the center of said circular arc with the hinge axis of the hinged member and a female connector formed of an insulating material, said female connector containing a slot through which the male connector may slide, with an electrical contact located so as to ride on the bare conductor of the male member, with means to fasten an electrical wire to said electrical contact, and

means to fasten the male connector and the female connector to the assembly of the hinged member assembly.

2. The device described in claim 1 in which the male connector is fastened to the hinged member and the female connector is fastened to the fixed member.

3. The device described in claim 1 in which a plurality of electrical conductors are mounted on the male connect0r,each said conductor lying on the path of a to engage a conductor on the male connector.

Claims

1. An electrical connector for maintaining continuity of an electrical circuit between an electrical wire on a fixed member and an electrical wire on a hinged member, said connector consisting of a male connector formed of an insulating material on which a bare electrical conductor is fastened along the path of a circular arc, with means to fasten an electrical wire to one end of said electrical conductor, said male connector being adaptable to be fastened so as to align the center of said circular arc with the hinge axis of the hinged member and a female connector formed of an insulating material, said female connector containing a slot through which the male connector may slide, with an electrical contact located so as to ride on the bare conductor of the male member, with means to fasten an electrical wire to said electrical contact, and means to fasten the male connector and the female connector to the assembly of the hinged member assembly.

3. The device described in claim 1 in which a plurality of electrical conductors are mounted on the male connector, each said conductor lying on the path of a concentric circular arc, with the center of said arcs being located at the same point, and with each such conductor being insulated from the adjoining conductors.

4. The device described in claim 3 in which a plurality of electrical contacts are mountEd in the female connector, each contact being insulated from the adjoining contacts, with each contact being located so as to engage a conductor on the male connector.