MULTIPLE-FUNCTION RECEPTACLE AND INTERCONNECTING PLUGS THEREFOR

• US 3,581,480 A
• Filed: 09/30/1969
• Issued: 06/01/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edwin J. Weber, William H O'Connor
• Original Assignee: Edwin J. Weber, William H O'Connor
• Inventors: O'connor, William H., Weber, Edwin J.
• Application Number:
  US04/864,278
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• US Class Current: 56/11.9
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/828 Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 69/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/956 with means to allow selection of diverse voltage or polarity

Abstract

A receptacle to which the cutter drive motor and battery of a cordless electric lawn mower are connected, the receptacle having obstructing members arranged in a selected pattern. Plugs are also provided for interconnection therewith, the plugs having corresponding obstructing members so that connectors in the plugs can engage connectors in the receptacle only when the members are arranged in nonabutting relationship. In the specific application to a lawn mower, one plug is provided for making connection between the mower and the battery in either a forward or reverse manner so as to provide the mutually exclusive functions of mowing and sharpening. Another plug is provided for connecting the battery to a recharging unit while simultaneously preventing the user from attempting to drive the motor during the recharging operation.

Claims

1. A receptacle arranged for interconnection in a plurality of different ways comprising an insulating body member;

a symmetric, multisided array of electrical connectors disposed in said member, said array including a set of contacts along said sides and at least one contact enclosed within said sides;

said member including raised portions of insulating material located in some of said sides of said array;

said member also including a raised portion substantially surrounding said inner contact except at a selected position;

said raised portions acting to prevent engagement of one or more interconnecting plugs in other than the proper orientation.

2. The receptacle claimed in claim 1 wherein said member comprises a plurality of sidewalls defining a reentrant opening;

and said connectors comprise a plurality of conductive elements disposed within said opening.

3. The receptacle claimed in claim 2 wherein said raised portions of said member in said sides of said array comprise wall segments extending inwardly from said sidewalls;

and said raised portion surrounding said inner contact comprises a plurality of wall segments, one facing each intersection of said sidewalls except one.

4. The receptacle claimed in claim 3 wherein said member includes four sidewalls;

said array includes five connectors, one disposed adjacent each intersection of said sidewalls, and one located at the center of said reentrant opening; and

said raised portions of said member comprise first wall segments extending perpendicularly from said sidewalls between two pairs of said connectors and second wall segments extending between said centrally located connector and three of the other connectors.

5. In combination, an electrical plug and receptacle adapted for mutual interconnection in two different relative positions wherein:

said receptacle comprises;

an insulating receptacle body member;

a symmetric, multisided array of electrical connectors disposed in said receptacle member;

said plug comprises;

an insulating plug-body member shaped to be engaged with said receptacle;

a plurality of electrical connectorS in said plug member, said connectors being disposed in an array corresponding to that of said receptacle connectors; and

wherein lockout means comprising mutually abutting surfaces are provided on said plug and said receptacle for permitting engagement thereof in a plurality of different relative positions less than the number of said sides.

6. The combination claimed in claim 5 wherein said lockout means comprises segments of insulating material located on said receptacle and said plug so as to abut prior to engagement in other than said permitted positions.

7. The combination claimed in claim 6 wherein one of said segments is located in all but two of said sides of said array on one of said plug and said receptacle;

one of said segments is located in one of said sides of said array on the other of said plug and said receptacle;

whereby said plug and said receptacle can be engaged only when said one side is aligned with one of said two sides.

8. The combination claimed in claim 5 wherein said receptacle member comprises a plurality of sidewalls defining a reentrant opening;

said receptacle connectors comprise a plurality of conductive elements disposed within said opening;

said plug member comprises a base portion from which said plug connectors extend;

said raised portions of said receptacle member comprise wall segments extending inwardly from said sidewalls; and

said raised portion of said plug member comprises a wall segment extending along one side of said array so as to be parallel to one of said sidewalls when said plug and said receptacle are aligned for interconnection.

9. The combination claimed in claim 8 wherein said receptacle connectors comprise a plurality of male contacts of substantially the same height as said sidewalls;

said plug connectors comprise a plurality of female contacts of substantially the same height as said sidewalls;

whereby said base of said plug fits against said sidewalls to enclose said connectors when said plug and receptacle are engaged.

10. In combination, an electrical plug and receptacle adapted for mutual interconnection in singular relationship wherein:

said receptacle comprises;

an insulating receptacle body member;

a symmetric array of receptacle connectors disposed within said receptacle member, said array comprising a plurality of connectors on an outer boundary of said array and at least one connector located within said boundary;

said receptacle member including raised portions of insulating material located between each of said connectors on said boundary except one and said inner connectors;

said plug comprises;

an insulating plug body member;

an array of plug connectors disposed in said plug member and including inner plug connectors arranged to engage said inner receptacle connectors and outer plug connectors arranged to engage at least some of said boundary receptacle connectors;

said plug member including a raised portion between one of said outer plug connectors and said inner plug connectors;

whereby said plug and said receptacle can only be engaged when said raised portion of said plug member is aligned with said boundary receptacle connector which is not separated from said inner connectors by one of said raised receptacle member portions.

11. The combination claimed in claim 10 wherein said receptacle member comprises a plurality of sidewalls defining a reentrant opening;

said receptacle connectors comprises a plurality of conductive elements disposed within said opening; and

said plug member comprises a base portion from which said plug connectors extend.

12. The combination claimed in claim 11 wherein said raised portions of said receptacle member comprise wall segments extending transversely to a line between said inner receptacle connectors and the respective boundary connector;

and said raised portion of said plug member comprises a segment extending along a line beTween said inner plug connectors and one of said outer plug connectors.

13. The combination claimed in 10 wherein said inner plug connectors are shorter than said outer plug connectors whereby said outer plug connectors contact the respective receptacle connectors before said inner plug connectors.

14. The combination claimed in claim 12 wherein said receptacle includes four connectors on said boundary and one inner connector;

said receptacle member includes raised portions between three of said boundary connectors and said inner connector.

15. The combination claimed in claim 14 wherein said base portion of said plug body member includes insulating extensions coextensive with said reentrant opening in said receptacle to prevent the possibility of contact to the remaining connectors while said plug and receptacle are engaged.

16. In a lawn mower including means for cutting grass, an electric motor coupled to said cutting means and having input terminals, a battery having output terminals for supplying power to said mower and means for connecting said output terminals to said input terminals in a forward and in a reverse sense, the improvement comprising:

a receptacle including a plurality of receptacle connectors;

means connecting said input terminals of said motor to a first pair of said connectors;

means connecting said output terminals of said battery to a second pair of said connectors;

plug means for engagement with said receptacle in either of two positions, said plug means including;

two pairs of plug connectors, each of said plug connectors being arranged to contact one of said receptacle connectors when said plug means and said receptacle are engaged; and

means for completing a series connection between said plug connectors in each of said pairs;

whereby said plug means and said receptacle are engageable only when said plug connectors in each of said pairs are respectively connected through said receptacle to one of said input terminals and one of said output terminals.

17. A lawn mower as claimed in claim 16 wherein lockout means are provided on said plug means and said receptacle for preventing engagement thereof except when said pairs are connected as stated.

18. A lawn mower as claimed in claim 17 wherein said lockout means comprises segments of insulating material located on said receptacle and said plug means so as to abut prior to engagement in other said permitted patterns.

19. A lawn mower as claimed in claim 18 wherein said receptacle connectors and said plug connectors are arranged in corresponding symmetric multispeed arrays;

one of said segments is located in all but two of said sides of said array on one of said plug means and said receptacles;

one of said segments is located in one of said sides of said array on the other of said plug means and said receptacles;

whereby said plug means and said receptacle can be engaged only when said one side is aligned with one of said two sides.

20. In combination, a lawn mower as claimed in claim 16, means for recharging said battery, and means for preventing operation of said motor during recharging of said battery comprising second plug means for engagement with said receptacle, said second plug means including at least a pair of connectors;

means connecting said recharging means to said connectors;

said second plug connectors having the same location in said second plug as said second pair of connectors in said receptacle; and

lockout means included in said receptacle and said second plug for permitting engagement thereof only in one relative orientation of said second plug with said receptacle.

21. The combination claimed in claim 20 wherein said lockout means in said receptacle and said second plug comprises raised portions of insulating material located on said receptacle and said second plug so as to abut prior to engagement in other than said permitted pattern.

22. The combination claimed in claim 21 wherein said connectors in said receptacle are arranged in a symmetric array;

one of said raised portions is located between one of said connectors and each other adjacent connector except one, said raised portions being transverse to a line extending between said connectors;

said second plug connectors are arranged in an array corresponding to a portion of said receptacle array;

one of said raised portions being located on said second plug and extending along a line between two of said connectors;

whereby said second plug can only be engaged with said receptacle when said raised portion on said plug is aligned with said one connector and said other adjacent connector. 23 Apparatus for sharpening an electrically driven lawn mower, which includes blade and bed knife means, an electric motor and a battery, by reversing the connection of said motor and said battery comprising input terminals connected to said motor;

output terminals connected to said battery;

a receptacle including a plurality of connectors;

means connecting said input terminals of said motor to a first pair of said connectors;

means connecting said output terminals of said battery to a second pair of said connectors;

plug means for engagement with said receptacle including two pairs of plug terminals, each of said plug terminals being arranged to contact one of said connectors when said plug and said receptacle are engaged;

means for completing a series connection between said plug terminals in each of said pairs, and lockout means included in said plug and said receptacle for permitting engagement thereof only when said plug terminals in each of said pairs respectively contact one of said input terminals and one of said output terminals;

said motor being connected in a forward direction in one permitted pattern of engagement so that said blade and bed knife means is operative to cut grass therebetween;

said motor being connected in a reverse direction in another permitted pattern of engagement so that said blade means is driven in a reverse direction for sharpening against said bed knife upon completion of a closed circuit between said battery and said motor.

24. Apparatus providing for mutually exclusive engagement of distinct-function plugs with a multifunction receptacle comprising a receptacle comprising an insulating receptacle body member;

a symmetric, multispeed array of electrical connectors disposed in said receptacle member, at least two of said connectors being on the boundary of said array and at least one being within said boundary;

said receptacle member including raised portions of insulating material located in all but two of said sides of said array; and

a first plug comprising an insulating plug body member shaped to be engaged with said receptacle;

a plurality of electrical connectors in said plug member, said connectors being disposed in an array corresponding to that of said receptacle connectors;

said plug member including a raised portion of insulating material disposed along one side of said array of plug connectors and arranged to prevent engagement of said plug and receptacle if said plug portion encounters one of said receptacle portions;

whereby said first plug and said receptacle can be interconnected in only two relative positions;

said receptacle member also including raised portions of insulating material located between each of said connectors on said boundary except one and said inner connectors;

a second plug comprising an insulating plug body member;

an array of plug connectors disposed in said plug member and including at least one inner plug connector arranged to connect said inner receptacle member and including inner plug connectors arranged to engage said inner receptacle connectors and two outer plug connectors arranged to engage only two of said boundary receptacle connectors;

said plug member including a raised portions between one of said outer plug connectors and said inner plug connectors;

whereby said second plug and said receptacle can only be engaged when said raised portion of said plug member is aligned with said boundary receptacle connector which is not separated from said inner connectors by one of said raised receptacle member portions; and

both of said plugs having a configuration relative to said receptacle which prevents engagement of both plugs simultaneously.

25. Apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein each of said plug body members is of substantially the same outer configuration as said receptacle.