US2025380A - Electric connecter device - Google Patents

Description

y 1935 v. I. CRUSER fi y ELECTRIC CONNECTER DEVIVCE Fil ed Jan. 31, 1954 F/G4 FIGS INVEN TOR Ml. @RUSE A TTO/P/VEV Patented Dec. 24, 1935 UNITED STAT FATNT QFFICE ELECTEEQ CQNNEGTE'E QEVECE Victor 1. Crnser, East Orange, N. 5., assignsr to Bell Telephone Laboratories,

Incorporated,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to electric connecter devices.

The object of this invention is the provision of a multi-contact connecter of the quick-de- 5 tachable type which will be simple, cheap to manufacture and efficient in operation.

According to this invention, a multi-contact connecter of the quick-detachable type is formed by mounting terminal members in spaced rela- 1 tion between strips of insulating material which are creased in substantially Zig-zag formation on indicated lines along their length in such a manner that the folds of one strip interfit the folds of the other strip, with the terminals of one 15 strip engaging the terminals of the other strip. A clamping device is provided for forcing the terminals of the pile-up thus formed into interengaged relation with a considerable contact pressure, while permitting their disengagement by the simple loosening of a clamping screw,

the clamping device being adjustable for receiving a variable number of terminals in each strip.

Other features of the invention and advantages will appear from the following description and by the claims appended thereto, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a portion of a contact strip;

Fig. 2 is a view showing two contact strips creased at points indicated by the dot-and-dash line shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the clamping device used for securing the contact strips in engaged relation;

v) Fig. 4 is a view showing the contact strips and the clamping device in assembled relation with portions of the clamping device cut away; and

Fig. 5 is a front assembly View.

As shown in the drawing, the strip of contact assembly X comprises the sheets of pliable insulating material iii and H provided for securing a plurality of terminals l6 and ii disposed in staggered relation at predetermined intervals therebetween.

Insulating sheet ii is provided with apertures such as 53 shown in Fig. l, which may be of any desired shape for receiving similarly shaped contact portions Hi, l5 embossed or in any way formed with the terminals 15, ii. These con- 5G tact portions protrude a relatively small distance above the surface of strip H for engaging associated contacts carried by another similar strip Xi shown in Fig. 2 in a manner that will be hereinafter described in detail. The spaced relation of terminals I 6, I! along the strips l0 and H is such that when two similar strips X, XI are creased in substantially zig-zag formation at points indicated by the dot-and-dash lines shown in Fig. l the contact portions it and I5 of the terminals 5% and ii in strip X may be engaged 5 with the contact portions I l, lb of terminals l6 and ii in strip Xi, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. These contacts are held in their engaged relation by a clamping device Y, shown in Figs. 3, i, and 5 in the form of two telescopically en- 10 gagcable U-shaped members i8 and IS. The sides of element 49 of this clamping device are each provided with a row of indentures such as 23 and ii, adapted to be engaged by ratchetshaped teeth 22 and 23 carried by its complement element 58, the number of indentures in the sides of element iii being dependent upon the height of the terminal pile-up and therefore the number of terminals it, 5'. in strips X, XI respectively.

A screw is preferably carried by element i 8 of the clamping device, having its end bearing against a metal plate 58 is provided for compressing the terminal pile-up thus formed for holding the contact portions t l, 55 of the ter- 25 minals it, ii in engaged relation with each other with considerable contact pressure, while making possible to easily and quickly disconnect these contacts without necessitating the making of any soldered wire connections to the terminals 16 and I"? carried by strips X and Xi.

The element It of the clamping device is provided at its base with oppositely disposed lugs 25 and 26 for securing the clamping device on a supporting base 2'5 by a number of screws, shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

In the use of the multi-contact quick detachable connecter of th s ii vention, incoming wires are secured as by sonering to the notched ends of terminals it and ii of the strip X and the outgoing wires soldered to the notched ends of the terminals H3 and ill of the other strip Xi so that upon the creasing of the strips as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the contact portions I 4 of terminals it of the strip X will engage the contact portions 5 3- of terminals E6 of the other strip X! with the contact portions [5 of terminals ll of strip XI engaging the contact portions l5 of the terminals ii of strip X after which these strips are placed in the clamping device shown in Fig. 4 formed by the U-shaped telescopic engageable members is and i9 and the screw 24 tightened for securing the proper contact pressure between the contacting portions i i and I5 of terminals i6 and ii of each strip.

gaging the terminals of the other strip,

According to this construction the incoming wires connected to the terminals I6 and H of strip X may be collectively disengaged from the outgoing wires connected to contacts l6 and I! of strip XI upon the loosening of their tightening screw 24 and the subsequent disengagement of element l8 of the clamping device from element l9 and this as above mentioned without making necessary the breaking of any soldered connection.

What is claimed is:

1. In a multi-contact connecter device,a pair of insulating strips folded in substantially zig-zag formation, a plurality of terminal members carried by said strips, the terminals of one strip enand means for holding said terminals in engaged relation.

2. In a multi-contact connecter device, a pair of insulating strips folded in substantially zig-zag formation, a plurality of terminals embedded in said strips and having contact portions protruding through the surface thereof, the terminals of one strip engaging the terminals of the other strip, and a clamping device for holding said terminals in engaged relation.

3. In a multi-contact connecter device, a pair of insulating strips folded in substantiallyzig-zag formation, a plurality of terminal members carried by said strips, the terminals of one strip engaging the terminals of the other strip, and means for holding said terminals in engaged re lation, said means being adjustable for holding a variable number of terminals in each of said strips. 7

VICTOR I. CRUSER.

Images