US3435163A - Phone jack having a hollow housing with contact elements interfittingly secured therein - Google Patents

Description

March 25, 1969 J. R. BAILEY ET AL 3,435,163

PHONE JACK HAVING A HOLLOW HOUSING WITH CONTACT ELEMENTS INTERFITTINGLY SECURED THEREIN Filed Aug. 25, 1965 INVENTORS: JAMES R. BAiLEY KURT LUTZENBERGER United States Patent 3,435,163 PHONE JACK HAVING A HOLLOW HOUSING WITH CONTACT ELEMENTS INTERFIT- TI'NGLY SECURED THEREIN James R. Bailey, Chicago, and Kurt Lutzenberger, Arlington Heights, 11]., assignors to Switchcraft, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Aug. 25, 1965, Ser. No. 482,495 Int. Cl. H01r 33/20, 17/18 US. Cl. 200-51.1 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A phone jack embodying a housing having a cavity, open at its front end, and a rear end wall, forming the bottom of the cavity, cooperating switching elements assembled in the housing, through the open front end of the cavity, and seated in slots formed in and through said rear end wall, said elements having connection portions, extending outwardly of the rear wall and including a contactor of wire, bent to provide separable fingers overlying the inner face of the end wall, in position normally making electrical connection with opposite sides of another of said elements, said fingers being yieldingly separable by the stem of a jack plug, when inserted therebetween, to electrically disconnect the same from the other of said elements, while making electrical connection with the plug stem, the structure including a plug stem guiding sleeve, secured in the open end of the housing by an anchoring yoke adapted to latchingly engage with the housing, as the sleeve is assembled axially into its open end, in position to retain the switching elements in seated position on the rear wall of the housing.

The present invention relates in general to electrical circuit connection jacks, and has more particular reference to an improved phone jack structure having novel features facilitating manufacture at low cost while pro viding unusually small, tiny devices of neat, compact configuration.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a phone jack having a support frame or housing and electrical circuit forming contact elements mounted in slots formed in the frame for circuit controlling engagement with a cooperating plug element when the same is inserted in the jack, wherein the contact elements are of simple form adapted for low cost manufacture and for quick easy assembly on the support frame; .a further object being to provide a jack plug engaging contact element comprising resilient depressible portions adapted for interfitting latching engagement with the grooved end of the stem or prong of a conventional jack plug to make electrical contact therewith and to aid in retaining the same in mounted position in the jack; a further object being to provide a switch forming contact element cooperatively associated with depressible portions of the jack plug engaging contact element and disposed in positron normally making electrical contact with such depressible portions, whereby said contact elements may form a normally closed jack switch adapted to open in response to movement of said depressible portions as the result of insertion of a jack plug stem in mounted position in the jack.

Another important object of the invention is to form the jack plug engaging contact element by bending a length of wire medially of its opposite ends to form its central portions as a loop providing a mounting lug having spaced legs, said wire being bent, at the ends of said legs, to form outwardly bent seating portions to aid in mounting the element in the housing, the terminal ends 3,435,163 Patented Mar. 25, 1969 of the wire element being disposed in adjacent closely spaced relation to form resiliently depressible portions of the element, said element being mountable on the support frame by inserting its lug portion into and through a slot formed in the frame with the seating portions of the element engaging the frame in position presenting the depressible portions of the element in electrical contact with a cooperating frame mounted switch forming contact element, the looped end of the lug portion of the wire element extending outwardly of said mounting slot in position forming a connection terminal for said element. 7

Another important object is to provide a switch forming contact element comprising a fiat strip of sheet metal having 2. prong or finger at one end for engagement between the resilient, depressible portions of the cooperating jack plug engaging element, the frame being formed with a slot or channel therethrough for the reception of the switch forming element in position presenting its prong between the resiliently depressible portions of the jack plug engaging element, the prong remote end of the switch forming element being disposed outwardly of the frame in spaced relation with the lug portion of the plug engaging element.

Another important object is to provide a switch forming contact member comprising a fiat sheet metal strip having one end formed as a connection terminal and the other end shaped to provide a spacing finger adapted to extend between yieldingly separable portions of -a cooperating plug engaging contactor; a further object being to mount the switch forming contact member in a slot provided in and through the frame to present its connec tion terminal end outwardly of the frame, while presenting the spacing finger, at its opposite end, in position extending at a seat formed in the frame for the support of the separable portions of the cooperating plug engaging elec- 'trode.

Another important object is to provide an improved prong engaging contactor comprising a piece of wire medially bent to form its ends as parallel spaced apart arms adapted to engage the opposite sides of a finger on a cooperating contact member, said bent wire contactor being mounted in position for engagement with the prong of a plug, when the same is mounted in the jack, in order to separate the ends of the wire contactor and retract the same from the cooperating contact member thereby opening the normally closed switch formed by said contactor and contact member.

The foregoing and numerous other important objects, advantages, and inherent functions of the invention will become apparent as the same is more fully understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a jack structure embodying the present invention;

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are sectional views respectively taken substantially along the line 2r2, in FIG. 1, the line 3-3, in FIG. 2, and the line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a plug engaging contact contactor contained in the jack structure;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a switch forming contact member adapted, in conjunction with the plug engaging contactor, to provide a normally closed switch, that may be opened as and when the stem of a plug is in mounted position in the jack structure;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a grounding terminal forming a component of the jack structure;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 8--8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an insulating washer which forms a component of the jack structure;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a plug stem guiding and grounding sleeve which forms a component of the jack;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of parts forming a modified plug stem guiding and grounding component; and

FIG. 12 is a reduced scale, partially sectionalized side view of a plug of the sort adapted to be used with the jack shown in FIG. 1.

To illustrate the invention the drawings show a phone jack 11 comprising a housing 12, which may be made of any preferred or convenient insulating material, such as the reaction product of phenol and formaldehyde, or

other suitable moldable material, the jack being adapted for use in conjunction with a conventional plug 13 for making electrical connection between the tip 14 of the plug stem 15 and a plug engaging contactor 16 mounted in the jack housing 12. The jack may also embody a switch forming contact member 17 mounted in position engaging the contactor 16 to form, therewith, a normally closed switch adapted to open and to be held in open position when and so long as the jack plug 13 is in mounted position in the jack.

As shown in FIG. 12, the plug stem 15 may be mounted on a handle 18 to facilitate manipulation of the plug when inserting its stem into and withdrawing the same from the jack. In addition to its tip 14 the stem may embody a sleeve 19 of electrical conducting material that is insulated from the tip. The tip and sleeve, respectively, are connected electrically with corresponding terminals 14' and 19 to facilitate connection thereof in external circuitry.

The housing 12 may comprise a generally cubical boxlike structure having a closed rear end or back side 20, opposite side walls 21, 21', and opposed top and bottom walls 22, 22', the front end 23 of the housing being open. The housing 12 preferably comprises an integral unitary molded plastic element formed centrally with a preferably square cavity 25 having a bottom disposed substantially midway between the back side and the open front end 23 of the housing, said cavity opening at the said front end. The housing is formed with a preferably cylindrical socket 29 disposed centrally in the housing in axial alignment with and opening upon the bottom of the cavity 25. The socket 29 is sized to freely receive the tip portion 14 of the plug stem 15 and has an inner end 31 disposed adjacent and inwardly of the back side 20 of the housing, in position to engage the end of the plug tip 14, when the same is mounted in the jack. The rearward portions of the housing 12, on opposite sides of the socket 29, are formed with a pair of slots 33 and 35 respectively extending immediately inwardly of and parallel to the opposite side walls 21, 21' of the housing between its back side 20 and the bottom of the cavity at the opposite sides thereof. The slot 33 may have opposite end walls extending in alignment with the top and bottom surfaces of the cavity 25, while the opposite end surfaces of the slot 35 may be disposed substantially inwardly of said top and bottom surfaces of the cavity 25.

The inner or socket connected end of the slot 35 is preferably somewhat wider than its outer end which opens on the back side of the housing 12, the slot being formed with registering shoulders 37 intermediate its opposite ends and facing toward the socket 25. As shown more particularly in FIG. 6 of the drawings, the contact making or switching contact member 17 may comprise a flat piece of sheet metal 39 having opposite preferably parallel side edges 41, the member having a perforation 43 at one end to facilitate the soldered connection of an ex- 70 ly fit within the portions of the slot 35 which extend between the shoulders 37 and the back side 20 of the housing 12. As a consequence, the contact member 17 may be mounted in the housing, through the cavity 25, by inserting its perforated end 43 into the cavity connected end of the slot 35, the contact member being pressed then into the slot until its lateral ears 47 engage with the seats 37. When the contact member is so mounted in the slot 35 its perforated end 43 will project substantially outwardly of the back side 20 of the housing, while the contact making finger 45, at the opposite end of the electrode, will project medially and outwardly of the socket connected end of the slot 35 in position for engagement with the contactor 16.

As shown more particularly in FIG. 5 of the drawings, the plug engaging contactor 16 may provide mounting portions adapted to extend in the slot 33, to hold the contactor in the housing 12, supporting portions adapted to lie upon the bottom 27 of the cavity 25 outwardly of the 20 socket 29, a plug engaging portion or portions supported in position for engagement with the tip 14 of a plug when disposed in the socket 29, and a portion or portions adapted for engagement with the contact member 17. To these ends, the contactor 16 may conveniently be made 25 from a length of wire 49 by bending it medially to form a loop 51 and to provide spaced legs 53 preferably mutually inclined inwardly each toward the other in a direction away from the loop 51. The legs 53, at their loop remote ends 55, may have extensions 57 projecting mutually outwardly from "and substantially normal to said legs, said extensions preferably being slightly inclined on one side of and with respect to the plane containing the axes of the legs 53. The contactor 16 may also include side portions 61 integral with and extending substantially at right angles with respect to the extensions 57 at the leg remote ends 59 thereof, and contactor supporting portions 65 integral with and extending preferably at right angles to the side portions 61 at the ends 63 thereof remote from the extensions 57, the contactor supporting portions 65 being mutually inclined inwardly, each toward the other, from their junctions with the side portions 61. The ends of said portions 65, remote from the side portions 61, may have mutually inwardly bent portions 67, the inner ends of which carry the terminal end portions 69 of the Wire piece 49 in parallel juxtaposition. Accordner or cavity connected end thereof, into position with the medial bent portion 51 and the legs 53 projecting outwardly of the back side 20 of the housing, the contactor being retained in such mounted position through the engagement of the contactor supporting portions 65 upon the seats formed on opposite sides of the socket 29 by the bottom 27 of the cavity 25. When in mounted position, the inner ends of the contactor portions 67 and the connected ends of the spaced end portions 69 will be presented in position overlying the open end of the socket 6O 29, in position for engagement with the tip 14 of a plug,

when the same is applied in the socket, the terminal ends of the portions 69 being presented at the inner or cavity connected end of the slot 35 in position for engagement respectively with the opposite sides of the contact making tip 45 of the switching contact member 17.

The jack structure may include a plate 71 of insulating material, having generally square configuration and sized to fit freely within the cavity 25 in position overlying the portions 65, 67 and 69 of the contactor 16 and the finger portion 45 of the contact member 17, at the bottom of the cavity 25. The plate 71 has a central, preferably circular opening 73 formed therethrough in position to coaxially align with the socket 29, the perforation 73 and socket being diametrally sized to freely receive the head 7 of the plug. If desired, the housing 12 may be formed with an embossment in each of the corners of the cavity 25 outwardly of the opposite ends of the slot 35, on the side of the cavity opposite from the ends of the slot 33, said embossments extending from the bottom 27 of the cavity upwardly of the portions 65, 67 and 69 of the electrode 16 and the finger portion 45 of the electrode 17 when in mounted position in the housing, said embossments being in position to interfittingly extend in corresponding notch portions 75' formed in adjacent corners of the plate 71. The plate 71 may be assembled in the jack structure merely by dropping it into the cavity 25 after the contactor 16 and the contact member 17 shall have been assembled in their mounting slots 33 and 35.

A jack 11 embodying the present invention is preferably provided with both the contactor 16 and the contact member 17, but the contact member 17 may, of course, be omitted in the event it is not desired to incorporate, in the jack, the normally closed switch provided by the contact member 17 in conjunction with the plug engaging electrode 16. Jacks embodying the present invention may include a grounding terminal. 76, of the sort shown in FIG. 7, said terminal providing one or more connection fingers 77 adapted to project at the back side of the housing 12 in position for electrical connection with an external ground conductor, said fingers preferably being bent outwardly and then inwardly and perforated at their terminal ends 79, to provide latches for securing the jack in mounted position on a board or panel, such as a printed circuit board, preformed with spaced slots for receiving the fingers 77 latchingly therein.

To provide for snug guidance and alignment of the jack stem 15, as the plug is applied into mounted position in the housing 12, whereby to dispose the plug tip 14 in the socket 29 in position electrically engaging the contact portions 67 of the electrode 16, and also to provide for the electrical connection of the jack plug sleeve 19 with the grounding terminal 76, a plug stem guiding sleeve 81 may be mounted on the housing in any suitable, preferred or convenient manner. As shown, the sleeve may provide an axial channel 83 sized to snugly and sliding receive the stem 15 of the jack plug therein, one end of the sleeve 81 being peripherally configurated to form a square portion 85 sized for snug interfitment within the cavity 25 of the jack housing outwardly of the insulating plate 71. Out- Wardly of the square portion 85, the sleeve 81 may be provided with a preferably circular peripheral seat forming embossment 87, the sleeve portions 89, outwardly of the embossment 87, having an external diameter somewhat less than the outer diameter of the embossment 87.

As shown in FIG. 11 of the drawings, the sleeve portion 89 may be formed with conventional screw threads for the reception of a washer 91 and clamping nut 93, if desired; or the sleeve portion may have a smooth unthreaded peripheral surface as shown in FIG. 10. In either case, the plug stem guiding sleeve may be secured in mounted position in the housing 12 and electrically connected with the grounding terminal 76. To this end, the grounding terminal 76 may comprise a strip of sheet metal having a medial portion 95 formed With a central, preferably circular opening sized to snugly receive the embossment 87 of the guiding sleeve, so that the medial portion 95 may engage and electrically connect with the adjacent end of the squared sleeve portion 85. The medial portion 95 is preferably square and sized to form a cover for the open end 23 of the housing.

The grounding terminal 76 may also comprise a pair of mounting arms 99 secured at the opposite sides of the medial portion 95 and extending thence in parallel spaced relation at right angles with respect to said medial portion 95. The terminal ends of the arms 99, remote from the medial plate portion 95, may be arranged to form the connection fingers 77. The arms 99, medially between the sleeve engaging portion 95 and the connection fingers 77, may each be provided with one or more lateral extensions 101 which, as shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings, may be outwardly inclined, at a shallow angle with respect to the plane of the medial portions of said arms, in order to provide spring latches for securing the grounding electrode in the housing 12 in position holding the plug stem guiding sleeve 81 in mounted position therein.

In order to secure the grounding terminal in mounted position, the opposite walls 22 and 22' of the housing may each be formed with a channel 103 of rectangular sectional configuration sized to slidingly receive the arms 99, including the lateral extensions 101 thereof, said channels extending in said walls 22, 22 outwardly of and in a direction parallel with respect to the opposite top and bottom sides of the cavity 25. The channels 103 thus divide the walls 22, 22 into inner and outer wall portions 105 and 105. As shown more particularly in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the inner faces of the wall portions 105 on the opposite sides of the channels 103 may be provided with latching cams 107 in position for engagement behind the latching extensions 101 of the arms 99 of the grounding terminal as the same are applied into mounted position in the channels 103, the resilience of the material of the arms permitting the extensions 101 to ride over the cams 107 as the arms are moved in the slots 103 toward assembled position, and then to snap into position engaging the latching shoulders 109 provided at the rearward ends of the cams 107, to thereby hold the grounding terminal in mounted position on the housing 12. If desired, the outer wall portions 105 may be medially cut away as at 111 between the latching shoulders 109 and the back side 20 of the housing. If desired, also, the inner Wall portions 105 may be medially cut away as at 113 adjacent the open end 23 of the housing opposite the arms 99.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the present invention contemplates a jack structure comprising inexpensive components readily assembled to provide a low cost unit embodying a resiliently yieldable jack plug engaging electrode of novel construction, a low cost switch forming contact member of ultimate simplicity and adapted, with the plug engaging contactor, to provide a normally closed switch, when the jack is not occupied by a plug in mounted position therein, such normally closed switch being opened and remaining open when and so long as a jack plug is plugged into the jack, in engagement with the plug engaging electrode thereof The jack structure also includes a novel grounding terminal adapted for assembly merely by pushing the same into latched position in the housing of the jack, the grounding terminal serving as a yoke to retain all of the other jack components in assembled position in the housing.

The jack is also well adapted for rear end attachment on panels or boards, such as printed circuit boards having preformed slots sized and disposed in the board in position to receive the electrode portions 43, 49 and 77 which project outwardly of the rear end 20 of the jack housing. By pressing the projecting portions of the contactor, the contact member and the grounding terminal into and through the preformed slots in a printed circuit board, until the rear end of the jack housing bears upon a face of the board, the projecting ends of the elements 43, 49 and 77 may project at the opposite face of the board in position for soldered connection with adjacent printed circuitry on the board; and the bent portions 79 of the fingers 77 may serve to latch the jack in mounted position on the board.

A particularly valuable feature of the wire contactor 16 resides in the disposition of its arm portions 57 at a shallow angle on one side of and with respect to the plane of the loop legs 53. Then when the contactor is assembled in its mounting slot 33, as shown in FIG. 3, the arm portions 57 and connected side portions 61 are forced into the plane of the loop 53, thereby placing the side portions 61 under torsional stress and resiliently pressing the terminals 69 together upon the finger 45 of the contact member 17. As a consequence, the pressure of the contactor end portions 69 upon the finger 45 is accomplished as the result of torsion in the side legs 61 rather than by bending stress in the arm portions 65, as would be the case if the electrode 16 were to be formed with the arms 57 and the legs 53 and 61 all in a common plane.

Since the elastic limit of wire under torsional stress is many times greater than its elastic limit under bending stress, the electrode arrangement shown thus obviates the possibility that the contactor 16 might become inoperative by acquiring an open circuit set as the result of a permanent bending of the arms 65, if employed bendingly to close the end portions 69 on the finger 45.

It is thought that the invention and its numerous attendant advantages will be fully understood from the foregoing description, and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the forms herein disclosed being preferred embodiments for the purpose of illustrating the invention.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. An electrical jack comprising an insulating base providing side walls defining a cavity having an open front end and a closed rear end wall, said end wall being formed with a socket opening centrally into the bottom of the cavity, and a pair of slots opening upon the bottom of the cavity on opposite sides of the socket, said slots also opening outwardly of the rear end wall, a contact member mounted in one of said slots and having an end extending outwardly of said end wall and a contact finger projecting in the bottom of said cavity on one side of the socket, a contactor comprising mounting portions disposed in the other of said slots, a connection portion extending outwardly of said end wall and a length of wire having deflectable portions extending across said cavity connected ends of said socket and carrying yieldably separable contact portions in position engaging and making electrical contact with opposite sides of said finger, and guide means extending at the open end of said cavity for directing the stem of a plug between the deflect-able portions, while applying the tip of said plug into said socket, whereby to electrically connect the plug with said contact p'ortions while separating them from contact with said finger.

2. An electrical jack, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the contact member is mounted in a channel extending through the frame, with the contact finger and the finger remote end of the contact member projecting outwardly of the channel at its opposite ends, said contact member having a laterally extending shoulder inwardly of the contact finger, at one end of the member, and the channel having a seat forming enlargement at one end for engaging the shoulder to support the contact member in the channel, against displacement therefrom through the seat remote end thereof.

3. An electrical jack, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the mounting portions of the contactor comprise a pair of spaced wire portions and a pair of oppositely extending arms connecting said spaced wire portions each with a corresponding one of said legs said mounting portions extending in relatively inclined planes to thereby yieldingly urge the contact blades mutually each toward the other, through torsional stress applied in the wire when the relatively inclined mounting portions are placed in coplanar alignment in the slot.

4. An electrical jack, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the insulating base includes side Walls defining a cavity having an open front end, and a closed rear end wall forming the bottom of the cavity, the slot being formed in and through the rear end wall, a contact member mounted in a perforation formed through said rear end wall and providing a contact finger projecting in the bottom of said cavity, the blade forming end of the contactor extending upon the cavity bottom in position engaging and making electrical contact with said finger, a tubular sleeve having an end snugly fitting in the open front end of said cavity for guiding the stem of a plug into position to electrically connect the plug with said blade of the contactor while separating the contact portion from said finger, and a yoke engaging said sleeve, at the open front of said cavity, and secured on said base to hold the sleeve in the cavity.

5. An electrical jack as set forth in claim 4, wherein the tubular plug guiding sleeve is of electrical conducting material, and a plate of insulation is disposed in the bottom of the cavity between the sleeve and the contact member and contactor, to electrically insulate the contact member and contactor from the sleeve, whereby the yoke and sleeve may serve to retain the plate, the contact member and the contactor in assembled position on the base.

6. An electrical jack as set forth in claim 4, wherein a side wall of the base is formed with a longitudinal channel, and the yoke has an arm extending in said channel, and means securing the arm in the channel to hold the sleeve in the cavity in position retaining the electrodes in mounted position on the frame.

7. An electrical jack as set forth in claim 4, wherein the tubular plug guiding sleeve and said yoke are of electrically conducting material, and the side wall of the base is formed with a longitudinal channel extending from the front to the rear end Wall thereof, said yoke having an arm extending in said channel and outwardly of the read end thereof for optional connection in external circuitry.

8. An electrical jack as set forth in claim 4, wherein a side wall of the base is formed with a longitudinal channel, and the yoke has an arm extending in said channel, and interlocking latch means on the arm and base for securing the arm in the channel in response to movement of the arm to latched position in the channel.

9. An electrical jack comprising an insulating base providing side walls defining a cavity having an open front end and a closed rear end wall, said end wall being formed with a socket opening centrally into the bottom of the cavity, and a pair of slots opening uipon the bottom of the cavity, on opposite sides of the socket, said slots also opening outwardly of the rear end wall, a contact member mounted in one of said slots and having an end extending outwardly of said end wall and a contact finger projecting in the bottom of said cavity on one side of the socket, a contactor comprising a length of wire medially looped to form mounting portions disposed in the other of said slots and a connection portion extending outwardly of said end wall, said wire having deiflectable portions extending across the cavity connected end of said socket and carrying yieldingly separable contact portions in position engaging and making electrical contact with opposite sides of said finger, and guide means extending at the open end of said cavity for directing the stem of a plug between said deflectable portions, while applying the tip of the plug into said socket, whereby to electrically connect the plug with said contact portions while separating the same from contact with said finger.

10. An electrical jack, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the guide means comprises a sleeve sized to fit the open end of the cavity, a said side wall being formed with a channel extending alongside of the cavity and opening at the front of the housing, and a mounting yoke having a medial portion for engaging the sleeve, at the open end of the cavity, to hold it in place on the base, said yoke having a lateral arm formed to latchingly interfit in said channel, said contact member and the medially looped wire contactor being formed for assembly through the cavity and into said slots, with the contact portions of the contactor overlying the bottom of the cavity, whereby the shaped end portion of the guide sleeve may extend in position overlying the contact portion of the contactor and the finger of the contact member so that the yoke arm may be applied, axially into the channel, to latch the yoke in the housing, thereby holding the sleeve in the cavity in position retaining the contactor and contact member in mounted position in the slots.

11. An electrical jack, as set forth in claim 10, including an insulating plate having a central opening sized to freely receive the plug stem, and marginally configurated to slidingly fit into the cavity, said plate being assembled in the cavity in position overlying the contact portions of the contactor, on the bottom of the cavity, prior to the application of the sleeve therein.

12. An electrical jack, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the channel, formed in said side walls, alongside of the cavity, opens at the front of the housing and provides a latch keeper, and wherein the yoke has a [portion for engaging the sleeve at the open end of the cavity, to hold it in place therein, and a lateral arm, providing a latching detent and formed to fit in said channel, whereby the yoke arm may be applied axially into the channel, to engage the latch with the keeper and thereby secure the yoke on the housing, to thus hold the sleeve in the cavity, in position retaining the contactor and contact member in the slot.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

DAVID SMITH, 111., Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PATENT OFFICE Washington, 0.6. 20231 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,435,163 March 25, 15

James R. Bailey et a1 It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, line 40, "sliding" should read slidingly Column 7, line 58, claim reference numeral "2" should read l Signed and sealed this 28th day of April 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, J]

Edward M. Fletcher, 11'.

Commissioner of Patent Attesting Officer

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