US2191297A - Electrical connector device - Google Patents

Description

Fh 2o, 1940.

C. G. CLSCN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR DEVICE Filed March 9. 19:57

, Patented Feb. 20, 1940 I,

'UNITED STATES 2,191,297 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR, DEVICE Carl- G. Olson, Chicago, lll., assignor to Illinois Tool Works, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application March 9, 1937, Serial No. 129,883

13 Claims. v(Cl. 173-328) This invention relates generally to electrical connectors, and more particularly to electrical connectors of the type' which includes aconnector or terminal post and. a connector member adapted to be electrically coupled therewith.

Many o f the conventional electrical connectors with which I am familiar present certain disadvantages. For example, certain types ofconnector or terminal arrangements necessitate the use of solder to insure proper connection. Others require'manual manipulation of one of the elements in such a manner as to render theuse thereof inconvenient. That is to say, electrical l5 connection is not established by simply moving `one of the parts into contacting relationship with the other, but rather by manual manipulation of both of the parts. The present invention contemplates an electrical 'connector arrangement wherein the aforesaid and other disadvantages and inconveniences are overcome, and to this end the invention contemplates a terminal post and connector member of such a construction as to enable contacting of the.parts by simply moving one of them into operative association with the other.

More specifically, the present invention contemplates an arrangement wherein a connector element adapted to be secured to a exible con- 3o ductor may be moved into operative association with a complementary terminalpost and the parts subjected to a predetermined relative movement which will serve to establisha relatively rigid coupling and good electrical contact.

It is an object of the invention to provide a connector arrangement, as set forth above, wherein a desired wiping and camming action takes place when the connector elements are' or shake even when subjected to very severe.` 50 operating conditions.

Thel foregoing and other objects and advantages -will be more evident from the following description when this description is considered with the accompanying drawing, wherein- 5 5 Figure yl is a perspective view of a connector or terminal post constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an electrical connector. or terminal member secured to the free extremity of an electrical conductor, said 5 device being adapted for coupling with the electrical terminal post of Figure l;

Figure 3 discloses the device of Figure 2 in its initial operative association with the device oi' Figure 1, the dotted lines indicating theposition lo occupied by the electrical connector element of Figure 2 when it has been shifted to its home or nal position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 4 4 of Figure 5 disclosing the manner in which a foury point contact is made between the terminal post and connector element;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken 20 substantially along the line 5-5 of Figure 4 disclosing the manner in which the four-point Contact shown in Figure 4 is made on opposite sides of the upright terminal post:

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modiiled 25 electrical terminal post structure wherein the side walls thereof are adapted to yield when an aperturedconnector element is moved into operative association therewith;

Figure 'l isa side view of the electrical terminal 30 member of Figure 6 with an apertured electrical connector element securedl in operative association therewith, the inclined dotted lines indicating the initial position assumed by the connector element before it is'shifted downwardly to its 5' forward or home position indicated by the solid lines;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view of the associated electrical terminal and electrical connector elements of Figure 7, said view being taken substantially along the line 8-8 of Figure 7; Y

Figure 9 is a horizontal sectiqnal view taken substantially along theA line 9-9 of Figure 7; and

Figure 10 is a side .view of a modiiied electrical connector arrangement with a portion of the electrical terminal post broken away to more clearly illustrate the manner in which the parts ke electrical contact with each other. 50

Referring now to the drawing wherein like numerals have been. employed to vdesignate similar parts throughout thev various figures, it will be seen that one embodiment of the present inven` tion contemplates an electrical connector device I6 indicated generally by the numeral I2 in Figure 3.

. 'I'his connectordevice includes two elementsnamely, a fixed electrical terminal member I4 and a shiftable electrical terminal or connector member I6. As more clearly illustrated in Figure 1, the terminal member I4 includes a base portion I8 and an integral upright section 20. The base I8 is secured in any suitable manner to a work piece 22 as by means of a screw 24. The upright terminal section 2 is. provided with an aperture 26. In thel embodiment disclosed in Figures l to 5, inclusive, this aperture 26 is surrounded by side walls 28 and upper andY lower walls 30. These walls 28 and 30 are connected by angularly disposed or inclined contactor surfaces 32. Each of these contactor surfaces 32 is dened on opposite sides thereof by contacter edges 34as will be more apparent from Figures 4 and 5.

The electrical terminal or connector member I6 is preferably formed from a single piece of strip spring stock, said strip being bent back upon itself so as to present a shank portion 36, a

tip portion 36, and an intermediate resilient or cam portion 40. Particular attention is ldirected to the intermediate portion 4I), which is symmetrical in longitudinal cross-section, and hence includes identical oppositely disposed resilient cam surfaces 42, which extend outwardly and rearwardly from the tip portion 38 to indentations 44. 'I'hese indentations 44 are preferably of V-shaped cross-section and are bounded on opposite sides by contactor edges 46, which edges are companion to and adapted to engage the contactor corners or edges 34, Aas will be clearly apparent from Figure 5. The two sections of the strip stock forming the shank 36 may be secured together in any suitable manner. In the present embodiment one of the sections of the shank 36. is

provided with an aperture 46 through which a tongue 50 on the other shank section is inserted and bent so as to firmly secure both of the shank sections together as a unit. The apertured shank section is provided with a conductor receiving split sleeve lt2. This split sleeve 52 is adapted to be crimped or clamped against the free extremity of a flexible conductor 54, as indicated in Figures 2 and 3.

To couple th'e electricalterminal or connector member I6 with the terminal post I4, it is only necessary to insert the tip portion 38 of the connector member I6 within the terminal post aperture 26, as shown by the solid lines in Figure 3. This causes upper contactor edges 46 of the connector member I6 to rest against the complementary upper contactor edges 34 of the terminal post, and also positions the portion of the cam surface 42 adjacent the tip portion 38 against the lower complementary contactor edges 34 of the terminal post. By rotating the connector member I6 downwardly about a pivotal point or fulcrum A (Figure 3) presented by the engaging contactor edges 34--46, a wiping, camming action takes place between the lower contactor edges 34 and the opposite edges of the cam surface 42. It will be noted that the cam surface 42 is eccentric with respect to the fulerum point A, the point or degree of maximum eccentricity being indicated by the lettervB in Figure 3. Thus, as the connector member I6 shifts toward the dotted position shown in Figure 3, the surface 42 yields inwardly under the influence of the wiping, camming action and, when the connector reaches its ilnal or home position indicated by dotted lines inFigure'3andthesolldlinesinFl8ure5,thc

indentations 44 register with the inclined walls or surfaces 32 of the terminal post I4. In this position the resiliency of the sections 56 and 58 of the intermediate connector portion 40 causes the contacter edges 46 to be urged outwardly into firm contact with the complementary contactor edges 34 of the terminal post member. It will be noted that the radius presented at the bottom of the indentations 44 is relatively small so as to provide a slight space 60 between the structure of the connector member and the terminal post member, thereby insuring positive independent contacting between the four contactor edges 3i and the ontactor edges 46 on one side of the terminal post, and simultaneous similar contacting of the edges 34 and edges 46 on the opposite side of the terminal post member.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that, when .the electrical connector member I6 is shifted about the fulcrum point A to the dotted position shown in Figure 3 and the solid line position shown in Figures 4 and 5, a four-point contact on each side of the terminal post is made by the complementary engaging edges 315-46. This eight-point contact not only insures perfect electrical contact, but also establishes a coupling between the parts which is sufficiently rigid to withstand vibration and shock without loosening. The coupling established between the parts may be correctly referred to as an anti-wiggle lcoupling-namely, a coupling which will positively prevent wiggling or shaking of the connector member I6 after it hasbeen finally snapped into its home position. It is just as important from a practical standpoint to have an electrical terminal secure against wiggling as it is to have the electrical terminal make a perfect electrical contact. Devices of this nature are particularly adaptable for use with such apparatus as radio sets andsimilar electrical equipment wherein the slightest degree of wiggling or vibration experienced by an electrical connector associated therewith will render the `functioning thereof most unsatisfactory. The device just described presents an arrangement which precludes the necessity of employing auxiliary locking devices for electrical connectors such as a threaded nut. Heretofore it has been common practice in many instances to use a. connector device comprising an apertured electrical terminal member placed over a threaded shank and secured in position by a nut screwed upon the shank against the. surface of the electrical terminal member. The present invention not only reduces the number of parts by eliminating the auxiliary clamping member or nut, but materially facilitates the ease with which contact may be established. In other words, the present invention provides a device in which only one element need be manipulated in making the connection-namely, the electrical connector member I6. Furthermore, the coupling, as well as the uncoupling of the connector parts contemplated by the present. invention, may be accomplished with the same degree of ease. If it is desired to make a permanent electrical connection, the present invention also provides a very convenient device, to which solder may be applied after the parts have been clipped or snapped togather. A globule of solder dropped into one of the indentations "44, after the parts have been coupled together, will render the coupling secure against unauthorized uncoupling thereof. However, unless the parts are to be secured against unauthorized'disconection, the use of solder may be dispensed with.

animerv In Figures 6 to 9, inclusive, I have disclosed a. modified electrical connector device indicated generally by the numeral I2a. This device .Iza comprises a terminal post member Ma and an electrical connector or terminal member |6a. In the connector device I2 previously described the terminal member I4 -is provided with lan aperture 26 to receive the cam surface 42 of the connector member I6. In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figures 6 to 9, inclusive, however, the arrangement of cam and aperture structures has been reversed, in that the terminal member Ma. is provided with resilient cam membersl or surfaces 42a, while the terminal member I6a is provided with a complementary recess 26a. Also, the terminal member Ma is provided with a notch or indentation a designed to receive the complementary portion of the connector member I6a at the left extremity of the j#aperture 26a, as viewed in Figures 7 and 9. 'I'he position occupied by the electrical contactor ymember IBa, when it is initially associated with the electrical terminal post I 4a, is indicated by' the dotted lines in Figure 7. As the electrical connector member I6a is moved downwardly about its pivotal point A to its final position, indicated by the solid lines, the cam surfaces 42a are yieldably urged to the left and side surfaces B2 of the terminal post Ila are alsourged inwardly. An arcuate recess 6I enables the cam surfaces 42a to yieldably shift to the left as the connector member IGa is moved to its final or home position. Suitable shoulders or abutments 66 limit the downward movement of the connector member Ia.

With the connector member IIa. positioned as shown in Figures 7 and 9, t'he resilient side portions lof the terminal member I4a will have been shifted from the dotted line to the solid line position indicated in Figure 9, and the connector member IE will be secured against lateral movement or wiggling. Suitable base portions d8a of the terminal post Ma are apertured to facilitate mounting upon-a work piece. The connector member Ia may be uncoupled from the terminal member Ilia by exerting sufficient force at 4the free end thereof to overcome the resilient binding action of the terminal post.

In Figure l another modification of the invention is disclosed which comprises a. connector device indicated generally by the numeral I2b. This device comprises a terminal post member Mb and alelectrlcal connector member IBb. The termnal post member Ib includes a basesection Ib and an upright section 2Mb, the upright section being apertured to receive bifurcated extremities 68 and 'III of the connector member lb. The resilient member 68 is provided with a. cam surface 42h, which is adapted to make a wiping contact with the portion of the terminal member in the vicinity of the lower end of the aperture therein. The connector` member IBb is adapted to be fulcrumed about a point A2 in a manner similar to that described in connection with the device of .Figures l to 5, inclusive. As the connector memberI 6b is moved to its nal or home position, as shown in Figure 10, the frictional resistance between the camV surface 42h and the complementary portion of the terminal member Mb is increased so as to securely. hold the connector member in position. Shoulders 'I2 on the connector member-IGI) coact with the outer surface of application of solder at the fulcrum point; for.

example, in Figure a globule of solder may be dropped within one of the V channels presented at the upper side, this being a point where a light soldering connection may be easily broken in disassembling by simply applying rotary mo- 'tion to Vthe free extremity of the terminal or connector member. Furthermore, the wiping action which is experienced between the contacting points .as the shiftablek connector element is being moved into engagement with the companionelement insures perfect electrical contact, because it serves to remove any corrosion or other surface material which might have a tendency to impair electrical contact.

It is to bev understood that the invention is not limited in any sense to the specific structural A features disclosed, herein, but is capable ofv numerous other modifications and` changes withappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desirel to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electrical connector device including a connector member having an aperture, and a detachable complementary connector member adapted to be electrically connected therewith as an incident to relative movement of said members, interengaging means at a fixed point on each of said connector members for permitting interengagement of the connectors at said fixed point for providing a fulcrum point, said complementary connector member having a surface arranged eccentrically with respect to said interengaging means, theother connector havinga out departing from the spirit and scope of the contact surface provided by at least one edge of said aperture, said contact surface being arranged in the path of said eccentric surface when said complementary connector member is pivoted about said4 fulcrum whereby one member is. adapted to fulcrum upon the other member whereby to establish resilient contact between said members in response to a pivotal movement through a given distance.

2. An electrical connector device including a connector member having an aperture, and a detachable complementary connector member adapted to be electrically connected therewith as an incident to relative movement of said members, interengaging means at a fixed point on each of said connector/members for permitting interengagement of the connectors at said nxed point for providing a fulcrum point, said com plementary connector member having a surface arranged eccentrically with respect to said lnterengaging means, the other connector having a contact surface provided by at least one edge of said aperture, said contact surface being arranged in the path of said eccentric surface when said complementary connector member is pivoted about said fulcrum whereby one member is adapted to fulcrui upon the other meiiber whereby to establish resilient contact between tachable said members in response to a pivotal movement through a given distance, the contacting surfaces of said members being constructed and arranged to enable a wiping action therebetween during said pivotal movement.

3. An electrical connector device including a connector member having an aperture, and a detachable complementary connector member adapted to be electrically connected therewith as an incident to relative movement of said members, interengaging means at a fixed point on each of said connector members for permitting interengagement of the connectors at said xed point for providing a fulcrum point, said complementary connector member having a surface arranged veccentrically with respect to said interengaging means and resiliently supported with respect to the fulcrum point, the other connector having a contact surface provided by at least one edge of said aperture, said contact surface being arranged in the path of said eccentric surface when said complementary connector member is pivoted about said fulcrum whereby one member is adapted to fulcrum upon the other member whereby to establish resilient contact between said members in response to a pivotal movement through a given distance, said complementary connector member having its interengaging means and eccentric surface formed on oppositely disposed yieldable sections adapted for engagement with complementary portions of the other connector member. a

fi. An electrical connector device including a connector member having an aperture, and a decomplementary connector member adapted to be electrically connected therewith as an incident to relative movement of said members, interengaging means at a fixed point on each of said connector members at said fixed point for providing a fulcrum point, said com-A plementary connector member having a surface arranged eccentrically with respect to said interengaging means and resiliently supportedl with respect to the fulcrum point, the other connector having a contact surface provided by at least one edge of said aperture, said contact surface being arranged in the path of said eccentric surface when said complementary connector member is pivoted about said fulcrum whereby one member is adapted to fulcrum upon the-other member `whereby to establish resilientcontact between'said members in response to a pivotal movement through a given distance, at least one of" said interengaging means comprising an indentation to facilitate said pivotal movement.

5. An electrical connector 'device including a connector member having an aperture, and a detachable complementary connector member adapted to be electrically connected therewith as an incident to relative movement of said mem.

bers, interengaging means at a fixed point on each of said connector members for permitting interengagement of the connectors at said fixed point for providing a fulcrum point, said complementary connector member having a surface arranged eccentrically with respect to said interengaging means and resiliently supported with engaging means are engaged and receding'from said fulcrum point as it progresses from said entering portion for providing an increasing wiping engagementl as the, complementary connector member is pivoted whereby one member is 5 adapted to fulcrum upon the other member whereby to establish resilient contact between said members in response to a pivotal movement through a given distance, one of said connector members having a free extremity adapted 10 to receive a flexible electrical conductor.

6. An electrical connector device including a connector member having an aperture, and a.

,detachable complementary connector member adapted to be electrically connected therewith as an incident to relative movement of said members, interengaging means onl each of said connector members for permitting pivotalinteren- .gagement of the connectors at iixed points whereby to provide a fulcrum point, said complementary connector member having a pair of cam surfaces arranged eccentricailly with rea spect to said interengaging means, the other connector having a contact surface provided by at least one edge of said aperture, said contact g5 surface being arranged in thepath of at least one of said cam surfaces when thev said complementary connector member is pivoted about its fulcrum whereby one member is adapted to fulcrum upon the other member whereby to establish resilient contact between said members in response to a pivotal movement through a given distance, said cam surfaces being oppositely disposed and adapted to be resiliently urged toward each other during said pivotal movement.

7. An electrical connector device including a stamping of sheet metal providing a connector member having an aperture, and a detachable complementary connector member adapted to be electrically connected therewith as an incident to relative movement of said members, said complementary connector member having means engageable with said apertured connector member to providea pivotal fulcrum connection, said second connector member being provided with a resilient cam surface cooperatively engageable with a complementary surface of the iirst connector member adjacent -the aperture thereof, said cam vsurface being so formed as' to reside an increasing distance away from the fulcrum in the direction of rotationabout said fulcrum, whereby, when one of said connector members is turned with respect to the otherl resilient contact may be established between said members.

8. An electrical vconnector device including a connector member having an aperture, and a detachable complementary connector member of resilient sheet stock adapted to be electrically connected therewith as an incident to relative movement of. said members, said complementary connector member having means engageable with said apertured connector member to provide a pivotal fulcrum connection, said second connector` member being provided with a resilient cam surface cooperatively engageable with a complementary surface of the first connector member adjacent the aperture thereof, said cam slu'face being so formed as to reside an increasing distance away from the fulcrum in the directiin of rotation about said fulcrum, whereby, when one of said connector members is turned with respect to the other, resilient contact may be established between said members,

9. An electrical connector device including an I apertured connector member, said aperture being defined by wall portions terminating at opposed corners, and a detachable complementary connector member adapted to be electrically con:

nected therewith as an incident to relative movevment of said members, said lsecond connector memberhaving a resilient portion adapted to be 10. An electrical connector including a shankv portion, means at one extremity of said shank portion for receiving the terminal of a' iiexibl'e electrical conductor, and couplingmeans at the opposite extremity of said shank including oppositely disposed cam surfaces yieldable toward each other, interengaging means on said connector adapted to engage a complementary electrical connector pivotally to provide a fulcrum connection, said cam surfaces having an entering portion adjacent the end of the shank adapted to l,enter Aa complementary aperture, at least on'e of said cam surfaces receding away from said fulcrum point 'as it progresses away from said entering .portion to enable pivotal insertion thereof within a complementary aperture and for providing an increased wiping engagement as the connector is pivoted within said aperture.

11. An electrical connector including a `shank portion. means at 'one extremity of said shank portion for receiving the terminal of a flexible electrical conductor, and coupling means at the .opposite extremity of said shankincluding opl positely disposed cam surfaces terminating in oppositely disposed indentations and yieldable toward each other to enable pivotal insertion thereof within a complementary aperture, said cam surfaces having an entering portion adjacent one end of the shank, said cam surfaces being spaced increasing distances from the opposed indentations as they recede from said entering'portion whereby pivotal movement about lsaid indentations causes an opposite cam surface commodation within said aperture, said connector member having wall portions intersecting providing a corner on said second named connector member, said corners on said two connector members being adapted to be so situated when the said connector. members are interlocked that the longitudinally extending corners on the respective connectors make point contact without permitting contact of any wall portions adjacent said corners.

13. An` electrical connector device including a connector member having an aperture, said aperture being defined by wall portions extending transversely of the aperture and terminating at a longitudinally extending corner, and a detachable complementary connector member formed for accommodation within said aperture, said connector member having wall portions intersecting to provide corners on said second named connector member, said corners on said two connector members being adapted to beso relatively situated when the said connector members are interlocked that said corner edges on the complementary connector member extend in 'a direction .axially of the aperture whilel being 4 CARL o. oLsoN.

device including l0

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