US2384267A - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 4, 1945. J. M. ANDERSE N ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed April 25, 1942 Sept. 4, 1945. J. M. ANDERSEN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed April 25, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Paiented Sept. 4, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Johan M. Andersen, Hopkinton. Mass.

Application April 25. 1942, Serial No. 440.502

2 Claims.

' nec tor.

With this general object in view, and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the electrical connector and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is aperspective view of a pair of identical connectors embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a pair of conductors connected at either end to identical connectors, the latter being shown in cross-section; Fig. 3 is cross-sectional view of a pair of connectors joined together; Figs. 4 and 5 are views in side elevation of protective covering members which may be identical in form and which may be slipped over the connectors; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a single conductor showing connectors at either end having their terminals arranged to parallel; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a plurality of connectors joined together, each connector having its terminals joined together in parallel to form a single line; Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the terminals mounted on an integral base; Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of a plurality of single lines having multiple connectors attached at either end, each pair of terminals in a set being joined together in parallel; and Fig. 10 is a plan view of a plurality of connectors joined together and having different terminals arranged in alternate sequence.

In general, the present invention contemplates an electrical connector of novel construction adapted for universal use and which is provided with a pair of terminals spaced apart, one terminal being adapted for cooperation with the second of corresponding terminals of an identical connector. As herein shown, the terminals comprise a plug or male terminal and a socket or female terminal spaced apart and arranged to be received by the plug and socket terminals of an identical connector. The present connectors are also preferably provided with hollow insulating sleeves for each terminal member, with the sleeve of one terminal being arranged to telescope with relation to the sleeve of the cooperating terminal of a second and identical connector thus providing substantial insulating protection for the separate lines of the circuit. As herein shown, the cooperating sleeves may be slightly tapered so that when telescoped together a. substantially water tight joint may be formed. Suitable gaskets and water proof covers may also be provided to increase the protection against moisture. In order to prevent the connector units from being inadvertently separated, a locking device may be provided. as will be hereinafter described.

It will be seen that with the present construction of connector, the connectors can be joined together in one position only so that where separate lines of fixed or nonchangeable polarity are used, the same polarity may be maintained at all times. In another embodiment of the present invention, the two terminals of one connector may be connected in parallel to form a single pole which may be connected by a conductor to a similarly arranged connector. A multiplicity of such lines may be provided in one unitary connector for connection with an identical multiple connector, each pair of plug and socket terminals of a set being connected in parallel to form a plurality of single lines, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Referring now to the drawings, the illustrated either end connector comprises an insulating base portion l0 having mounted thereon two cooperating terminals herein shown as a plug or male terminal I! and'a socket or female terminal l4 spaced from the plug terminal [2. The plug terminal I2 is providedwith a hollow insulating sleeve l6, herein shown as rectangular in form and preferably extending beyond the end of the plug terminal. The socket terminal [4 is provided with a similar hollow insulating sleeve l8 also shown rectangular in form and preferably extending beyond the end of the socket terminal l4. Theinsulating sleeves l6, is of two identical connectors are arranged to telescope and as herein shown the hollow insulating sleeve l6 of the plug terminal is made of a size such as to fit within the hollow sleeve I8 of the socket terminal of an identical connector, the outer side walls 20 of the plug sleeve [6 and the inner surfaces of the side walls 22 of the socket sleeve. I8 being similarly tapered to form a tight and substantially water proof joint when assembled as shown in Fig. 3. A washer or gasket 24 may also be provided in the lower end of the hollow sleeve I!) with which the top end of the plug sleeve is of an identical connector engages when in assembled relation whereby to further assure a substantially water tight joint.

With the illustrated construction it will be seen that when two identical connectors are joined together in assembled relation, the plug terminals i! are received within the socket terminals N and the hollow sleeves ii are received within the hollow sleeves II to provide eflicient connections at the terminals and to provide a maximum of insulating protection about the terminals as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The base portion ill and the insulating sleeves i8, I! may and preferably will be moulded integrally from any suitable commercially available insulating material such as Bakelite."

Provision may also be made for locking the connectors together to prevent inadvertent separation thereof, and, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, each connector may be provided with a hook member 26 herein shown as secured to a bar or tongue 28 slidable laterally in a groove Iii formed in the base portion i0. Gibs 32 may be provided at either end of the base portion to retain the bar 28 in place. The hooks 26 are arranged to be received in V-shaped cut-outs or grooves 34 provided in the opposite side of each connector base, the grooves being cut in an arcuate path. Provision is made for relatively moving the hooks and grooves laterally to effect engagement of the hooks in the grooves or the removal of the same therefrom. As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, protective covering members 36, 38 preferably composed of rubber, may be provided, each cover being identical in form and provided with oil'set portions 40 arranged to butt together when the covers are applied over the connectors in their assembled relation, thus forming an overall protective covering for the connected units.

In the usual connectors of the prior art which are provided with two plug or male terminals in one member and two socket or female terminals inanother member, the polarity of the circuit may be reversed by withdrawing the plug member, turning the member around one-half turn and replacing the plug member so that the plugs fit into different sockets. With the present construction it will be seen that a connector may be attached to another connector in one way only so that where a circuit of fixed or nonchangeable polarity is desired this relationship is assured.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 2, two lines or conductors 42, 44 of a circuit are connected to the male and female terminals of opposed connectors. when a connector is inserted into an outlet or other point of attachment for completing the circuit, the male terminal of the connector will engage the female terminal of the outlet and the female terminal of the connector will engage the male terminal of the outlet so that a predetermined polarity may be maintained. As herein shown, the conductors may be secured to the terminals in any usual or preferred manner herein shown as by-screws 46 which are received in tapped holes in the ends of the terminals as illustrated. A partition member 48, preferably moulded integrally with the base portion iii may also be provided to separate the exposed ends of the terminals and conductors.

Referring now to Fig. 6, in the embodiment of the invention therein shown, the terminals l2, I may be connected in parallel by a bar 50 to make a single pole connector, the two connectors being Joined by a conductor wire 52. A multiplicity of such connectors is illustrated in Figs. 7

ass-ace? and 8. each pair of male and female terminals of a set being connected in parallel as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 9. It will be observed that a multiple grouping of connectors may comprise a plurality of individual connectors adhesively or otherwise joined together as illustrated in Fig.7, or the connectors may be moulded in an integral unit or base It as shown in 1'1 8. For standard or ordinary installations, the plug terminals may and preferably will be arranged in alignment in one row and the socket terminals similarly disposed in another row as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 so that one multiple set of connectors will fit together with an identical set. However, in some instances, such as in special installations, the terminals in each row may be alternated as shown in Fig. 10 and this connector is arranged to fit together with an identical multiple connector having similar alternated terminals. Fig. 10 also illustrates a structure for resiliently grouping aplurality of individual connectors to form a multiple connector. As herein shown, each individual connector may be provided with a band of rubber or other resilient material 56, the group being maintainedtin aasembled relation by a metal band ll, thus permitting the individual pairs of terminals to be yieldingly moved with relation to each other so as to assure proper alignment with another similar group of identical connectors.

While the present connector has been illustrated as provided with terminals comprising plug and socket members, it is not desired to limit the invention in this respect. as other forms of cooperating terminals may be used.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 'is:

1. Electrical connecting means adapted for use as an either end" connector, comprising: a pair of identical connecting elements, each of said connectin elements including a one-piece moulded insulating base, terminal means projecting from one face of said base, and spaced apart. rigid hollow male and female insulating sleeves moulded integrally with said base, each in surrounding relation to certain of said terminal means, the inner surface of the female sleeve of one of said connecting elements and the outer surface of the male sleeve of the other of said connecting elements being tapered to permit said female sleeve to telescope over and tightly engage the outer surface of the tapered male sleeve of said other connecting element and the male sleeve of said one connecting element to telescope in and tightly engage with the inner surface of the tapered female sleeve on said other connecting element, whereby to provide a substantially water-tight :Ioint when said two connecting elements are connected tosether; and two unlike spaced locking members on each of said connecting elements cooperaole to lock said connecting elements together and maintain said tapered sleeves in tight engagement, the locking member on said one connecting element being engaged with the non-corresponding locking member on said other connecting element.

2. Electrical connecting means adapted for use as an .either end" connector, comprising: a pair of identical connecting elements, each of said connecting elements including a one-piece moulded insulating base, terminal means projecting from one face of said base, and spaced apart, rigid hollow male and female insulating sleeves moulded integrally with said base, each in surrounding relation to certain of said terminal means and projecting from said one face of said base and terminating in a substantially common plane beyond the ends of said terminal means, the ends of said sleeves being disposed in close proximity to one another, the inner surface of the female sleeve of one of said connecting elements and the outer surface of the male sleeve of the other of said connecting elements being tapered to permit said female sleeve to telescope over and tightly engage the outer surface of the tapered male sleeve of said other connecting element and the male sleeve 01 said one connectin element to telescope in and tightly engage with the inner surface of the tapered female sleeve on said other connecting element, whereby to provide a substantially water-tight Joint when said two connecting elements are connected together, the proximity of the ends of the sleeves on one connector enabling such sleeves to be accurately and easily aligned with respect to corresponding sleeves on the other connector when the connection is being made to thereby enable the male sleeves of the two connectors to be positively and easily introduced into the female sleeves with minimum attention and eiiort.

JOHAN M. ANDERSEN.

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