US911844A - Armored plug-receptacle. - Google Patents

Description

R. A. SOHOENBERG. ABMORED PLUG REGEPTAOLE. APILIOATION FILED JUNE 22, 1902.

'91 1,8441, Patented Feb. 9, 1909 such as so-called fiber.

RALPH A. SOHOENBERG, OF-NEW YORK, N. Y.

ABMORED PLUG-RECEPTAGLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 9. 1909.

application filed June 22 1908; Serial No. 439,787.

To all whomit may concern: 1

"Be it known that I, RALPH A. SOHOEN-' BERG, a citizen of the United States, and a panying drawings, which form a part of the same.

This invention relates to armored plug receptacles and more particularly to a construction thereof such that the plug may be very readily interfitted with its receptacle and may be very quickly detached therefrom, either by a pull, in the normal direction usual to devices of this general nature, or alsoby a push or pull in many other directions at an angle to such normal. This invention furthermore has in objective a receptacle and detachable interfitting plu eitheror both of which may be exterior y armored or sheathed with a relatively thick shock-and-wear-resisting material and be otherwise composed of simple and inexpensive elements so arranged as to contribute simplicity and durability in installation and service.

In the accompanying drawings showing two illustrative embodiments of this invention, and in which the same reference numerals refer to similar parts in the several figures. Figure 1 is a longitudinal section showing the details of the normally inclosed elements of the receptacle, and also its detachable companion member or so-called plug con- Flg.

nected in operative relation therewith. 2 is' a sectlon taken transversely to Fig. 1 along lines 2-2 thereof and showing certain details not clearly apparent from Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective looking into the cover or sheath for the receptacle and; showing the exterior armor of metal as well as the interior lining of suitable insulating material,

Fig. 4 is an exterior elevation showing the relation and general appearance of the parts when assembled with the plug uppermost as distinished from Fig. 1 in which the plug underies the receptacle. Fig. 5 1s a section of a modified form of my receptacle especially adapted for the reception of a branch line connection comprising a single split commutator plug. Fig. 6 1s. fragmentary view of the commutator plug adapted to cooperate with the receptacle shown by Fig. 5. Y

-ries, ofiices, cafs or the like.

In the illustrative embodiments of this invention shown in the drawings, the receptacles are assumed to have a fixed mounting, as is usual with wall sockets which are customarily employed in cases where it is requlred to place a portable lamp, telephone or other 'dev1ce in circuit at one or another of a number of-positions, in such places as libra- The main line leads connectwith a pair of terminals in each of the receptacles, and the branch line leads (which are flexible) are ioined to a complementary pair of terminals carried by the removable plug and adapted to be pushed into the socket-piece and so complete the circuit through the lamp or other device. Thus, as shown by Fig. 1, the receptacle may .be mounted on or adiacent to a molding 1 provided with channels-2 and 3 serving to embed and sufficiently separate the mains 4 and 5. These mains may be normally concealed from view by an elongated cover 6 which may be retained in place by suitable fasten ing devices such as the nail indicated by 7. The receptacle itself preferably includes a blockS'of insulating material, such as porcelain, which also has the desired quality of being fire-proof. Block 8, as will be a parent from the drawings, serves on the one hand as a means instrumental in supporting the con- 8 with one or more apertures, such as that shown in the center thereof for the rece tion of the retaining screw 9, whereby the lock may be aflixed to the molding 1. In the case of the duplex form exemplified by Fig. 1-, this screw 9 may be )ositioned in the center of a (.-rosswise-extencling ridge 10 which may have its uppermost surface arranged near to or in abutment with the inner face of the insulated fiber lining of the armored sheath, if desired. This ridge, so to speak, divides the block into halves, each ofwhich is devoted to separate terminal pieces, the one being the positive and the other being. the negative.

Although there may be cases in which these two halves of the block will be similarly conprefer the last mentioned arrangement in those cases in which the receptacle is so formed and disposed that the detachable lug takes'into a side nearer to one than to the other of the mains, but while the halves otthe block 8 difier somewhat, I neverthe less also prefer .to utilize similar or substantially simllar terminal pieces 11 and 12, thus effecting an economy by way of manufacture.

screw '14 ofa-the'terminal piece 11.

being screwed home will tightly grip the bared but not severed intermediate portion of the wire 4, thereby establishing a good elec trical connection with the terminal piece 11. This is a very advantageous arrangement in that the wire is not out. To prevent the rotation of the screw-head from tending to force the wire from underneath the head, I may provide a small uprising lug 16 at the en of piece 11 near the eriphery of the screw-head. The terminal piece itself will also be counter sunk within a suitably sha ed recess 17 in the right hand side of bloc 8 and may provide integral upturned and outare stiffly resi wardly extending wings 18 and 19. As a means serving to secure the terminal pieces in place I. may-employ one or more screws such as those indicated by 20 and 21 having their heads seated in suitable recesses in the under side of block 8 and having their shanks rising through such blocks into a screw threaded attachment with the bed portion of the terminal iec es. The wings 18 and 19 iient .and they narrow together near their extremities and then preferably spread or flare, outwardly so as to facilitate t e entrance of the projecting terminal of the plug. In their more closely approaching portions, these-wings 18 and 19 are intended.

to' enable the annular fiangeof the head of the projecting terminal of the detachable plug to engage therebetween and thereby be separably retained in place.

The foregoing description of the terminal piece 11, and the function and method of connecting the same, applies equally to the piece 12 on the leit-hand side of block 8, save however that the aperture 2l lor the incoming wire is located on the side nearest the lug, i. c., overlying the other main 5. In tiis instance, shallow channel 22 is made in the block 8 to enable the bared loop 23 to bebrought into connection with the screw of the terminal piece 12, appears quite clearly from the drawing. it may be noted in this connection, that the outer extremities of the wings are somewhat wider than their inner portions connecting them with the beds of the-terminal pieces, and in consequence, the block 8 is provided with a somewhat deeper seat to accommodate such outer extremities. This widened-extremity feature is of advantage from the stand omt of 'makinga connection with the detac iable .plug member,and at the same time this arrangement may be readily and inexpensively manufactured, since the wings 18 and 19 may be stamped up from. a single piece, and the extra depth of the extremities will be provided for without increasing the circumscribing boundary of the blank which is stamped up.

In connection with the receptacle parts above described, I also ropose to use an armored sheath lined with insulating material. 3 in which 24 indicates a cover member of rectangular shape constructed of fairly heavy sheet steel, brass or other durable material capable. of withstanding very severe treatment in the way of knocks and the like. This armored sheath provides also side, or otherwise-located, apertures 25 positioned for a proper registry with the plug retaining wings oi the terminal pieces 11 and 12, and it may also provide laterally extending flanges 26 and 27 having screw holes 28 and 29 through which screws 30 and 31 may be passed, thus securing the same to the molding, wall or other adjacent supporting structure. This armored sheath, I furthermore propose to insulate with a lining 32 This is shown more clearly by Fig.

which may be formed of fiber or other suitable material and which may be mtegral throughout, being stamped from a single piece. To this end, side pieces 33 and 33 may have an integral connection with the center piece and in like manner the lining may integrally extend transversely underneath the ilanges 26 and 27 to which it may be secured by eyelets 34 and 35. This lining will of" course provide apertures in registry with the apertures 25 in the armored sheath.

Turning now to the construction of the lug which may be employed in connection with the receptacle shown by l igs. 1, 2 and 3, it will be of course evident that while 1. prefer the form shown, nevertheless other constructions may be resorted to. Here also, I have made use of an armored sheath 36 which is of rectangular shape, open at one end and at its other end provided with the dome 37 which terminates in its rise, in an annular collar 38 in which is seated an insulating bushing. it may here be noted that this sheathing also provides side protruding parts 39 and 40 whose purpose it is to enable the lingers to better grasp the device and thus prevent slipping when detaching or allixing the same. For the insulating bushing, i. prefer to use a pair oi telescoping collars 40 and. 11 which screw together and clamp each other in place within the collar 38. The branch line wires 42 and 43 enter the armored plug through the insulatingbushing 40 and pass through an apertured plate 43 of insulating material, and thence into connection with the terminals carried by the insulating block 44 which is inclosed within the armored sheath 36. This insulating block 44 may be constructed of porcelain and rovides seats 45 and 46 'for the terminal pl ates 47 which are preferably similar and are mounted in the bottoms of said seats and provided with screws 48 for establishing connections with the leads 42 and 43.

Terminal members 50 project from the outer face of block 44, each having a head 51 preferably having a short distance from its to retain the block 44 in place.

conicalextremity a somewhat blunt periph-,'

eral edge or rim which isreceived and detachably retained between the indented portions of the spring wings 18and 19 above mentioned. This blunt peripheral rim may be formed by providing a shallow neck 52 in. the shank of the terminal piece 50. So also, a shoulder 53 may either be flush with the outer face of the block 44 or maybe slightly counter-sunk thereinas shown in the drawings, such shoulder serving as a means of preventing rear movement of the piece 50, thereby enabling it to be screw threaded to the plate 47 to clamp both of these pieces in place in the block. It is to be noted that an insulating collar or sleeve 54 may also be pro-- vided on the protruding shoulder of the ter minal piece 50, and may have one end counter-sunk, thereby preventing short circuits due to the contact of the metallic sheath when the plug is inserted in its receptacle. It may here be noted-that when the parts are properly assembledjn the plug, the exposed face of the block 44 will either be flush with the outermost rim of the protecting sheath 36 or will lie slightly therewithin. To retain the block in position, I may provide it with side indentations 55 which are engaged by a screw 56. Obviously this will suflice It is also to be noted that the terminal pieces50 project no very great distance beyond the outer face of the block 44, and this in connection with their peculiar shape, enables them to beretained by the spring wings 18 and 19, without however interfering with their easy separation therefrom at any angle and even by a direct pull on the flexible branch line w res, By having the sheath armored, that is of more than usual strength and thickness, the device is exceedingly well adapted to withstand severe usage.

While bytthe foregoing I have described a receptacle and a cooperating plug havmg two spaced terminal pieces, it is to be understood that this invention may assume manyapparently different forms and still retain many of the more essential features thereof. Thus, the plug may provide, m'heu of a pair of widely spaced distinct terminal pieces, a single piece composed of two or more segments after the fashion of a commutator and following the general plan illustrated by Fig. 6. In this case, the plug will have a head of the same general character as that utilized in Fig. 1, except that such head will consist of two or more segments 57 and 58 separated by a piece of insulating material 59 and provided if desiredwith an insulating collar 60. These parts may project from a suitable, block 61 adapted to be conveniently handled. The rpceptacle itself will also be materially different from that shown in Figs. 1 to 3. That is to say, while the block 62 may be retained in lace by, a screw 63, and be provided with in et apertures 64 and 65, together with the channel 66, somewhat closely following the plan in this particular-of Fig. 1, a greater difference will exist 'with respect to the terminal pieces; Thus, the terminal piece 67 instead of providing two wings or bifurcations, is shown to have a wing 68 on one side for one pole, and the opposite companion wing 69 extends from the other terminal piece 70, the block being provided with a groove for the intermediate portion 71. This receptacle will however be also provided with an armored sheath and its relation to the plug issuch that the latter may also be removed at any angle or by a direct pull on the flexible cc rd.

It will thus be perceived-that I have succeeded in devising a structure well adapted to achieve the several ends in view. The device is very convenient to use, being easily separable at any angle and by bemg armored, is is practically indestructible, even under the severestusage. The wires do not have to be out, since they may be merely looped into connection with the binding screws, and the device may therefore be employed with greater ease and without rendering likely breaks in the circuits.

Having thus described this invention in connection with two illustrative embodiments thereof, to the details of which'I do' not desire to be limited, What is claimed as secured to the block on eachside of the ridge and a lurality of wings on each terminal piece, t 1e wings being in alinement with the apertures in the sheath.

2. In a detachable armored molding receptacle, the combination of a hollow inclosing metal sheath provided with apertures and adapted to be;.detachably securedto a molding, an insulating block secured to the molding covered and protected by the sheath, a ridge on the block, terminal pieces secured to the blockon each side of the ridge, a plurality of indented orvnot ched wings on each terminal piece, the wings being cooperate wit in alinement with the apertures in the sheath, and a lug having grooved heads to v the indented or notched wings of the terminal pieces, the plug being .:adapted to befseparated from therecept'acle I at any angle:

3. In a detachable-armored molding receptacle, the combination of a hollow inclosing metal's'heathprovided with apertures and adapted to be detachably secured to a molding, an insulating block secured to the molding covered and protected by the sheath, a ridge on the block, terminal pieces secured to the block on' each side of the ridge and a lurality of wings on each terminal piece, t e wings. being in alinement with the the plug being adapted to be separated from the receptacle at any angle.

4. A detachable armored plug receptacle comprising a block of insulating material, means for exteriorly securing said block to a sup orting structure in overlying relation wit 1 a pair of electrical mains, a pair ofrelectrical mains, a pair of terminals carried by said block, a pair of notched or indented wings carried by each terminal piece, binding posts on the terminals for enabling said mains to be looped into contact with the terminal ieces, a metal armored sheath provided wit 1 apertures in alinement with the wings of the terminal pieces and adapted to substantially cover and protect the block, I a plug provided with wires and with grooved heads to cooperate with the notched or indented wings, the'parts being so arranged that an accidental or intentional blow at any angle upon the plug or the wires carried.

by the same, will cause the heads carried by the plug to become disengaged from the Wings and the plug from the receptacle.

.RALPH. A. SCHOENBERG.

VVit'nesses:

O. C. FRANCKE, ALAN M. Johnson.

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