US2933713A - Framed multiple screw lock connector units - Google Patents

Description

April 19, 1960 JACKSON, ETAL FRAMED MULTIPLE SCREW LOCK CONNECTOR UNITS Filed April 30, 1957 M093 3 3 2f z @T O 9 3 o 4 o z w K W5. 2, 6 A, m w HO We 8 5/ 2w INVENTORS fl/v TON fire/(SON BoR/s A. THC/(601V HTTORNEY United fltatesFatent 2,933,713 FRAMED MULTIPLE scnEW LOCK CONNECTOR UNITS Anton Jackson, South Salem, and Boris A. Jackson, Manhasset, NY.

Application April 30, 1957, Serial No. 65%,120

3 Claims. (Cl. 339-92) This invention relates to electrical connectors. More particularly, the invention deals with a frame construction for units of the character described, wherein a plurality of connectors can be mounted with pairs of screw lock elements positioned centrally with respect to end portions of the frames for coupling and uncoupling the frames in simultaneously coupling and uncoupling the electrical contacts of the connectors supported in the frames.

Still more particularly, the invention deals with a multiple connector unit of the character described, wherein each of the connectors are freely supported in the frames and the screw lock coupling means for joining a pair of the units have floating mounting to automatically aline the contacts of all of the connectors and, at the same time, prevent jamming in the coupling or uncoupling operation of the pair of connector units.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which,

the separate parts are designated by' suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a pair of connector units in spaced relationship to each other, preparatory to a coupling engagement, parts of the construction being broken away and in section.

' Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the upper unit, as seen in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is abottom plan view of the lower unit, as seen in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a broken enlarged section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a broken enlarged section substantially on the line5-5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged broken section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1, showing only the lower corner portion of the upper unit of Fig. 1.

Considering Fig. 1 of the drawing, we have shown a side view of the upper casing unit 10 and the lower unit 11 of a multiple framed connector. The units 10 and 11 have substantially common connector mounting frames 12 and 13, respectively. 7

Considering now Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, it will appear that the frames 12 and 13 have three oblong rectangular openings or apertures 14 and 15, respectively, in each of which are mounted pin and socket connectors 16 and 17, respectively. A few of the contact pins of the connectors 16 are diagrammatically indicated at 18; whereas, corresponding locations of the sockets in the contacts 17 are diagrammatically illustrated at 19. These pins and sockets have a floating mounting in the plastic or other insulated bodies of the connectors 16 and 17 in accordance with known practices and, for this reason, no detail showing of this mounting is disclosed in this application.

-It will be noted from a consideration of Fig. 4 that the end walls of the connectors 16 and 17 have a slight clearance with respect to the adjacent end walls of the openings 2,333,713 Patented Apr. 19, 1960 ine 14 and 15, this clearance of the connector 17 only being illustrated. At this time, it is pointed out that this clear-,

ance and others, later referred to, are not illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, as the clearances are all slight and would not show up clearly in the smaller views.

The side walls of all of the connectors 16 and 17 have projecting flanges substantially centrally thereof and extending substantially the full length of the side walls and, as the plastic body portion of the connectors 16 and 17 are generally the same, the brief description of one of the connectors with respect to these flanges is deemed to be suflicient and the flanges of connectors 17 are indicated at 20 in Fig. 5.

Turning now to the frames 12 and 13, it will appear that these frames include wide end walls 21 on the frame 12 and corresponding end walls 22 on the frame 13, the end walls being joined by narrow side walls 23 and 24, respectively.

Adjacent surfaces of the frames of the units 10 and 11, as noted in Fig. 1, include raised portions 25, 26, respectively, which are less in area than the body portions of the frames and the end walls 21 and 22 of both frames are joined by integral cross-bars 27. Two of the bars 27 of the frame 12 are shown in Fig. 2; whereas, the

corresponding bars of the frame 13 will assume the same position, keeping in mind that both frames are generally of the same construction. These bars, in conjunction with the side walls, divide each of the frames into the three oblong openings 14 and 15, respectively, for reception of the connectors 16 and 17.

Considering Fig. 5, it will appear that each of the crossbars 27 are generally T-shaped in cross-sectional form to provide shoulders, upon which the flanges 20 are adapted to rest, the shoulders of one of the bars 27 being indicated at 27', in Fig. 5. Secured to these bars and to the end walls 21 and 22 are retainer strips 29 and 30. The retainer strips 29 of the frame 13 are shown in plan in Fig. 3; whereas, a section through one of the strips 30 is indicated in Fig. 5, screws 31 being employed to secure the strips 29 and 30 in position on the cross-bars 27.

It will be noted, from a consideration of Fig. 5, that the side walls 23 and 24 have inwardly extending shoulder portions, the shoulder portion of one of the walls 23 being illustrated at 32 in Fig. 5, it being understood that similar shoulders are on the walls 24. The shoulders 32 are in alinement with the shoulders 27' and are engaged by the flanges 20 in seating the connectors in the frames. Retainer strips 33 are employed to engage the flanges on the side walls, similar to the strips 29-and 30. Two of these strips are shown in Fig. 3. he strips 33 are not required on the frame 12 for reasons later pointed.

out. These strips 33 are keyed in position by key pins, one of which is seen at 34 in Fig. 3. These pins simply retain the strips against displacement. The strips seat in the end walls 22.

It will be noted, from the enlarged showing of Fig. 5, that a definite clearance is provided between the side movement is also provided in the clearance shown between the upper surfaces of the flanges 241i andthe strips 1 Mounted in corner portionsof each of the frames 12, 13 are pin and socket alinement members which have a fixed position in the end walls of both of the frames and these alinement members serve to aline the two connectors 10 and 11, preparatory to engagement of the P ns 18 with the sockets 19.

c asm-s In Fig. 2, the pins of these alinernent members are diagrammatically illustrated at 35 and the sockets at 36, the corresponding pins and sockets of the frame ill being indicated at 35 and 36'. It will be noted, from a consideration of Fig. 1, that the sockets 36 of the frame 12 are in alinernent with the pins 35' of the frame 13, so that only one coupling engagement between the units 10 and 11 is possible.

Centrally of the end walls of each of the frames 12 and 13 are male and female screw lock connectors for positively moving the units it? and 11 toward and from each other in coupling and uncoupling said units. The threaded coupling pin of the frame 12, is shown at 3'7 and the socket at 38; whereas, the pin of the frame is shown at 39 and the socket at 4 The pins 37, 3? and sockets 38, 4 th, for the most part, are of the same general construction, as will appear from a consideration of Figs. 4 and 6. They each have a free mounting in shouldered sockets or apertures 41 for the floating mounting therein and include portions 42 which seat in the shoulders of the sockets, the pins having double lead threaded portions 43 to engage corresponding threaded sockets 44 of the respective socket members, the only real diiference being that the pin and sockets 35 and ll have protruding threaded ends 55, upon which are mounted nuts 46 to' On the other hand, it will be noted, from a consider ation of Fig. 6, that the pin and sockets include long protruding rod portions d which extend upwardly through a box-shaped casing 52 and have fixed to the upper protruding ends thereof operating knobs 5d, the knobs being secured in position by set screws, as indicated at 51. This latter mounting in the casing 49 is also slightly free for vertical movement. The casing 49 is fixedly supported upon the upper ends of the male and female alinement pins and the sockets 35 and $6 in fixedly securing the casing 49 to the frame 12, it being apparent that the end walls of the casing have inturned flange portions 52, through which the rods 43 pass and which would also receive the fastening means of the pins and sockets 35 and 36. The latter coupling is not specifically shown, but it will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The side walls of the casing have downwardly extending strip portions 33', one of which is indicated in Fig. 1 and shown in section in Fig.- 5. These strip portions take the'place of the strips 33 in retaining the side connectors of the frame in position. in other words, the portions 33' are generally similar tothe strips 33 and can be held in position by the key pins 34-.

The top Wall 53 has a central opening 54, through which wires connected with the terminal ends 18' of the pins 18 are adapted to pass and a double clamp 55 is supported on the top wall 53 to retain these wires in grouped relationship adjacent the casing 9. The clamp 55 comprises two similar clamp portions 56, 56', each having a quarter round section 57, 57 terminating in a long straight end 53, 58 and a short straight end 59, 59'. These ends are in registering alinement and are adapted to be clamped together by screws or other fasteners 6E). The long straight ends 58, 58 are cutout and fashioned to form other inwardly extending substantially quarter round sections 61, or. which, in combination with the quarter round sections 57, 57, collectively will form a substantially round clamping area within all of the sections, which will grip and retain the wires in question in the desired position.

A few of the terminal ends of the socket portions 159 are diagrammatically indicated at 19' in Fig. 1. These terminal ends are adapted to receive the wires leading to the sockets in completing the circuits through the wires connected with alined and intercoupled contacts '18, 1?, respectively, as is well known in the art.

By providing the free or floating mounting of the screw lock male and female couplings of the two units 10 and 11 in conjunction with the free mounting of each of the male and female contacts 18 and 19, again, the free mounting of the connectors 16 and 17 in the frames, 21 positive non-jamming coupling and uncoupling engagement between the two units is assured, and this regardless of the extent of operation of one of the knobs 50 with respect to its companion knob in the operation of moving the units toward and from each other. It will be understood that the frames 12 and 13 will directly talte up of the strains to which the units are subjected and no stress or strain will be contributed to the several connectors 16 and 17 mounted in the units.

It will be noted that the frames 12 and 13 have, adjacent the corner portions thereof and inwardly of the alinement pins and sockets 35, 3s; 35', 36, apertures 62 which open through the surfaces of the frames, as viewed in 3, in substantially elliptical portions 62. These holes are provided for mounting of the frames, particularly the frames 13 in connection with suitable supports.

1; will be understood that suitable means, such as flat sides, not shown, on the pin and socket parts 3 and it), is provided to retain these parts against rotation while the companion parts 37 and 33 are rotatable in the frafies through the medium of the operating knobs 50 attached at the upper ends of the rods 48.

The arrangement of three connectors in each of the frames in the accompanying drawing is simply by way of illustration, it being understood that two or more connectors can be mounted in frames designed to receive these connectors. All of the connectors are made interchangeable the different sizes and by sizes is meant that the connectors are made up with varied numbers of contacts. The diagrammatic and limited illustration in the accompanying drawing is for what is known as a 50 Circuit connectoigin other words, connectors employing fifty contact pins-and fifty contact sockets.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1.- in electrical connectors of the character described, a pair of similar rectangular hollow frames, each frame being defined by wide end and narrow ide walls, means extending integrally between end walls of the frame dividing the frame into oblong rectangular openings for reception of electric connectors employing a plurality of electrical, contacts, the walls of said openings paralleling the said end and side walls, said connectors having protruding side flanges seating on shoulders on said means and said side walls only in checking movement of the connectors in one direction in the openings of the frame, means detachable with the frames and overlying said flanges of the connectors in retaining the connectors against displacement from the openings or". the frames, the size of the openings in the frames and mounting of said connector retaining means being such as to provide free floating of the connectors in their individual openings, means adjacent corner portions of end walls of the frames for positively alining the frames one with respect to the other, and screw lock means in end walls of the frames for coupling and uncoupling the frames.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the second named means comprises strip portions adjacent the side walls of the frame and intermediate said side walls.

3. A hollow frame for mounting of a plurality of electric connectors of the character described therein, said frame being generally rectangular in form and defined by wide end walls and narrow side walls, cross-bars integrally joining, the end walls intermediate the side walls and equally spaced fromcach other and the side walls to define connector receiving openings of .ibstantially the same area, the end walls and opposed sides of the crossbars having shoulders forming seats for protruding flanges of connectors mounted in said frame, said shoulders being adjacent one surface of the frame, the other surface of the frame beingrecessed to receive-retaining strips detachable with respect to the frame and overlying the flanges of said connectors in retaining the connectors against displacement from the frame, and the size of said openings and mounting of the retaining strips in the frarne being such as to provide free floating of the con- 5 nectors in their respective openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,966,542 Despard July 11, 1934 to 6 Petersen May 21, 1940 Jackson et a1 Nov. 3, 1953 Jackson et a1 Aug. 28, 1956 Jencks Feb. 26, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Nov. 12, 1940

Images