US3181108A

US3181108A - Electrical connectors

Info

Publication number: US3181108A
Application number: US280802A
Authority: US
Inventors: Leland C Hoy; Hazek Borys
Original assignee: Indak Manufacturing Corp
Current assignee: Indak Manufacturing Corp
Priority date: 1963-05-16
Filing date: 1963-05-16
Publication date: 1965-04-27
Anticipated expiration: 1982-04-27

Description

A ril 27, 1965 LELAND C. HOY ETAL ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS Filed May 16, 1965 INVENTORS Leland C. Ifbg BY Bar 5 Haze/c days am YM United States Patent C 3,181,108 ELECTRKJAL CGNNECTDRS Leland C. Hoy, Skelrie, and Borys Hazelr, Mount Prospect,

lll., assignors t lindak Manufacturing Corp, Northhrook, Ill., a corporation at Illinois Filed May 16, 1963, Ser. No. 280,802 6 Claims. (Cl. 339184) This invention relates to electrical connectors for pro-, viding disengageable electrical connections, as, for example, between a plurality of electrical wires and a terminal block or the like.

One object of the present invention is to provide a pair of interengageable electrical connectors which are arranged in a new and improved manner so as to prevent the connectors from being engaged in a position which is backwards or reverse from the correct position of engagement.

A further object is to provide new and improved connectors of the foregoing character, in which reverse engagement of the connectors is prevented by a construction which is extremely economical and easy to manufacture.

Another object is to provide a new and improved connector construction in which reverse engagement of the connectors is prevented by a finger or flange formed integrally with one or more of the prongs on one of the connectors, such finger or flange being engageable with the body of the other connector.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description, taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of a connector construction to be described as an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

heir normal positions.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2 but shov 'ngthe manner in which the receptacle member of the connector is blocked against being engaged with the lug member in a reverse position.

E6. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing the receptacle member of the connector detached from the plug member.

PEG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line 55 in FIG. 1.

It will be seen that the drawings illustrate a connector 19 comprising a plug member 12 which is detachably engageable with a receptacle member or socket 14. In this case, the plug member 12 is formed as part of a fuse and ten iinal block 16. A plurality of electrical wires 1 .7 are connected to the receptacle 14-. T he purpose of the connector i0 is to establish detachable electrical connections between the wires 17 and the fuse block 16.

The plug member 12 comprises a plurality of prongs 13 which are mounted on an insulating plate or body 2% In this case, all of the prongs 18 are alike and are mounted at equal intervals along one end of the insulating plate 29. The illustrated prongs is are in the form of fiat bars which are substantially rectangular in cross section.

In this case, the prongs 58 are formed integrally with a series of conductor bars 21.1% which are suitably secured to the rear side of the insulating plate 26, as by means of rivets 2.8. A plurality of fuse clips Ell, connector clips 32 and connector prongs 3d are mounted on the front side of the insulating plate 2% and are connected to the conductor bars 21426 by means of the rivets 28. The exact arrangement of the clips 39 and connector elements 32 and 34 is not of importance to the present invention. It will suffice to understand that the purpose of the con nector it) is to provide disengageable electrical conned tions between the wires 17 and the various elements ail-34 mounted on the insulating plate 29.

The illustrated receptacle or socket member 14 comprises a body 36 made of plastic or other insulating material. The body 36 is formed with a plurality of aligned slots 3% for receiving the prongs lid of the plug 12 The slots 38 con municate with openings as in the body as. It will be seen that clips 42 or other suitable elements are mounted in the openings 46 for engaging and establishing electrical contact with the prongs 18. Each of the wires 17 is connected to one of the clips The exact construction of the clips 42 is not of importance to the present invention. For convenience, the prongs 18 are bent at or near the edge or" the insulating plate 2i so as to extend at a small angle to the conductor bars 21-26.

In accordance with the present invention, the receptacle member i4 is prevented from being mounted in a reverse position on the prongs 18 by means of a flange or finger 445 formed on one or more of the connector prongs 18. In this case, there are two such flanges or fingers 46, formed integrally with the

conductor bars

21 and 26 which support the two endmost connector prongs l8. it will be seen that the flanges 4-6 are offset from the prongs 13 but extend parallel thereto, as viewed in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5. Each llange or prong h: is bent or twisted edgewise so as to be engageable with the body 36 of the receptacle 14. As shown in FIG. 1, the flanges &6 partially overlap the connector prongs Each of the illustrated flanges 46 is cut oil at an angle to form an outer edge 48 which is at right angles to the direction in which the receptacle i4 is moved when it is engaged with the prongs It will be seen that the slots 33 in the body 36 of the receptacle i i are formed oil center in the end face 5d of the body as. Thus, the body 36 has a relatively thin portion 52 on one side of the row of slots 38, and a relatively thick portion 54 on the other side of the row of slots. The thin portion 52 is small enough to pass between the connector prongs 18 and the flanges 4-6, so that the receptacle idmay readily be mounted in its normal position on the prongs 18. However, the thicker portion 5a is too thick to pass between the prongs l3 and the flanges This will be clearly evident from PEG. 3, which shows the manner in which the prongs 4s engage the thicker body portion 5a of the receptacle 14 so as to prevent the receptacle from being mounted backwards on the prongs 1 .8.

The construction and operation of the illustrated connector it} may be summarized by noting that the receptacle member 1- is adapted to receive the flat prongs 3.8 V

of the plug member 112. The evenly spaced prongs l8 fit into the slots 3% in the receptacle id and are engaged by the clips or contact members 2 mounted within the body 35 of the receptacle. The blocking fingers r flanges as on the endmost prongs lid prevent the receptacle l i from being mounted backwards on the plug member 12. The thin portion 52 of the receptacle body 36 is small enough to pass between the prongs it; and the blocking fingers 46 so that the receptacle 34 may eadily be mounted in its normal position on the prongs all. However, the thicker portion 5 ot the receptacle body 36 is too thick to pass between the prongs l8 and the blocking fingers as.

It will be understood that it is easy and very economical to form the blocking flanges 46 as integral members of the

conductor bars

21 and 26 on which the corresponding connector prongs 18 are also formed. Thus, the flanges or fingers 48 afford very efficient and economical means for blocking the receptacle 14 against reverse mounting on the plug prongs 1S. 7

Various other modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents may be employed without departing from the true-spirit and scope or" the invention, as exemplified in the foregoing description and defined in the following claims.

4. In an electrical connector, the combination comprising a plug including an insulating support,

We claim:

1. In an electrical connector,

the combination comprising an insulating plate having a plurality of conductor bars mounted thereon,

a plurality of parallel aligned connector prongs formed integrally with said bars and disposed at equally spaced intervals along one edge of said insulating 5 and flat blocking fingers formed integrally with two plate, of said prongs in said row and offset laterally from a receptacle having a body formed with a plurality of said row,

l gn qua y sp Slots for fecfiiving Said COII- said fingers partially overlapping the corresponding nector prongs, prongs, a plurality of contact elements mounted in said body said body having thinner and thicker portions on opand engageable with said prongs for establishing elecposite id f id row f l t trical connections thereto, said thinner portionbeingsthin enough to pass between said prongs and said slots being arranged in a linear said prongs and said fingers,

row, said thicker portion being too thick to pass between and blocking flanges formed integrally with the two said prongs and said fingers so as to prevent reverse endmost connector prongs, mounting of said receptacle on said plug. said flanges being generally parallel to said prongs but 5, In n ele t i l e t oiset laterally from the row of prongs, the combination comprising a plugincluding an insulat aid row of slots being positioned oft-center of said ing support, body, a plurality of fiat bar-shaped connector prongs mounted said body thereby having a thinner portion and a thicker on said support at equal intervals along a linear row, portion on opposite sides of said row of slots, a receptacle having a body formed with a linear row said thinner portion being thin enough to move beof slots for receiving said prongs,

tween said row of prongs and said flanges, contact elements in said body for engaging said prongs, said thicker portion being too thick to move between and a flat blocking fmger formed integrally with at Said TOW 0f Pmngs and Said flanges and thereby being least one of said prongs in said row and offset laterblocked by said flanges if an attempt is made to conally from aid nect said receptacle to said prongs in a reverse posisaid finger partially overlapping said one prong, tion. said body having thinner and thicker portions on op- 2. In an electrical connector, posite sides of the row of slots, the combinat on omp g a insulating member, said thinner portion being thin enough to pass between a plurality of flat connector prongs mounted in a row id prongs and i finger,

on said member, said thicker portion being too thick to pass between a receptacle having a body formed with openings for said prongs and said finger so as to prevent reverse receiving said prongs, 4O mounting of said receptacle on said plug. contact elements in said body for engaging said prongs, 5 I an l i l connector, and at least One fiat blocking finger fcrmed integrally the combination comprising a plug including an insulatwith one of said prongs and ofiset laterally from ing Support row of u g a plurality of fiat bar-shaped connector prongs mounted 531d P g havmg aporlon on one fi Said g g on said support at equal intervals along a linear row, ggi j to pass between prongs an 531 a receptacle having a body formed with a linear row said body having a projecting portion on the other side of slots for recfilvlag said prongs:

of said openings and engageable with said finger t ntact elements in said body for engaging said prongs, prevent reverse mounting of said receptacle on said and a fiat biocklflg filigers formed mtegrany with prongs two of said prongs in said row and offset laterally 3. in an electrical connector, fr m sald row, the combination comprising a plug including an insulat- Said y having thinner and thicker Portions 011 P- i t, posite sides of the row of slots, a plurality of fiat barshaped connector prongs mounted said thinner portion being thin enough to pass between t n a d ppor at equal inigfvals along a lineal said prongs and said fingers, said thicker portion being i mceptacle having y formed With a lineal TOW too thick to pass between said prongs and said fingers of slots for receiving Said Pmngs, so as to prevent reverse mounting on said receptacle contact elements in said body for engaging said prongs, on Said plug and fiat blocking fingers formed integrally with end- 9 most prongs in said row and ofiset laterally from said Ref ren Ci d b th E i row, I said fingers partially overlapping said endmost prongs, JNITED STATES PATENTS said body having thinner and thicker portions on op- 2,157,423 5/39 Obslamy 339220 X posite sides of the row of slots, 5 2,928,063 3/60 Gflmmel 17 X said thinner portion being thin enough to pass between 3,004,235 10/61 Cohen 339186 X said prongs and said fingers, 3,024,436 3/62 Kirk 339 176 X said thicker portion being too thick to pass between 3,065,448 11/62 Hopkins et al 339258 X said prongs and said fingers so as to prevent reverse mounting of said receptacle on said plug.

JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

Claims

2. IN AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR, THE COMBIANTION COMPRISING AN INSULATING MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF FLAT CONNECTOR PRONGS MOUNTED IN A ROW ON SAID MEMBER, A RECEPTACLE HAVING A BODY FORMED WITH OPENINGS FOR RECEIVING SAID PRONGS, CONTACT ELEMENTS IN SAID BODY FOR ENGAGING SAID PRONGS, AND AT LEAST ONE FLAT BLOCKING FINGER FORMED INTEGRALLY WITH ONE OF SAID PRONGS AND OFFSET LATERALLY FROM THE ROW OF PRONGS, SAID BODY HAVING A PORTION ON ONE SIDE OF SAID OPENINGS AND ADAPTED TO PASS BETWEEN SAID PRONGS AND SAID FINGER, SAID BODY HAVING A PROJECTING PORTION ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID OPENINGS AND ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID FINGER TO PREVENT REVERSE MOUNTING OF SAID RECEPTACLE ON SAID PRONGS.