GROUNDING ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR

• US 3,685,007 A
• Filed: 12/28/1970
• Issued: 08/15/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Albert J. Gartland Jr, George A. Riley
• Inventors: Riley, George A., Gartland, Albert J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Champion, Marvin A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US05/101,454
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 339/14,82,88,90,42,184,186,193,187,188,258,259,262,189
• US Class Current: 439/674
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/71 Contact members of coupling parts operating as switch , e.g. linear or rotational movement required after mechanical engagement of coupling part to establish electrical connection

Abstract

The female connector device of an electrical connector is provided with a common contact spring assembly arranged for receiving and contacting male blades of different design for keying purposes. The spring assembly includes a pair of spring members interconnected at one end and separable from each other at the other end which together define a void inward from the separable end which permits free movement of key projections on the male contact. This void is created by providing at least one of the spring members with a V-shaped portion and a transition area in which it changes from its V-shape into a flat section where it is connected to the other spring member which carries the binding screw and binding plate. The transition area of the V-shaped spring member defines the void or clearance between the spring members so as to provide a space to clear the key projections of differently designed male blades.

Claims

1. In an electrical connector device, a housing, a plurality of chambers defined within said housing, means providing access into said housing, and a plurality of female electrical contacts within said chambers, at least one of said female electrical contacts including first and second spring members interconnected at one end and separable from each other at their other end for receiving a male contact, one of said spring members being Vshaped to permit free movement of a male contact between said members even if the male contact includes keying projections along the sides thereof.

2. The connector device as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second spring members together define a center line and one of said spring members includes a rounded portion directed outwardly from said center line for constituting a void between said members.

3. The connector device of claim 1 wherein said one female contact is configured so as to operatively cooperate with different male contacts having keying projections formed at different locations on them.

4. The connector device as defined in claim 1, wherein said V-shaped spring member includes a main body of generally V-shaped configuration in cross-section, an end portion of generally planar configuration, and a curved transition area between said main body and said end portion, said end portion being connected to the second of said spring members at said one end of said members, and said curved transition area defining a void between said members.

5. The connector device as defined in claim 1, wherein said V-shaped spring member terminates in a flat portion interconnected with the second of said spring members at said one end of said members, and wherein said second of said members includes a generally planar main body having a center line and a portion cut away to the center line.

6. The connector device as defined in claim 5, wherein said second of said Spring members includes a terminal portion and a binding screw and clamping nut carried by said terminal portion.

7. The connector device of claim 1 wherein said access means includes a slot disposed adjacent to said one spring member;

a radial extension on said slot to provide a key opening;

said male contact includes a lateral flag arranged to pass through said slot and underly said access means after the male contact has been inserted into the slot and moved relative to it;

a keying projection on said flag arranged to pass through said key opening to permit entry of only selectively controlled male contacts; and

said one spring member, because of its V-shaped cross-section, permitting different male contacts with key projections disposed at a plurality of alternative locations on said male contact to be inserted into said female contact and be moved between unlocked and interlocking positions without obstructing movement of the key projection.

8. The connector device of claim 1 wherein said other of said spring members includes a main body of generally V-shaped configuration.

9. A contact assembly, comprising first and second spring members interconnected at one end and separable from each other at their other ends for operatively receiving a male contact, one of said spring members being V-shaped to permit free movement of a keying projection on a male contact that is received between said members, regardless of which side said keying projection is located on said male contact or in which direction said keying projection protrudes.

10. The contact assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein said V-shaped spring member includes a main body of generally V-shaped configuration, an end portion of generally planar configuration, and a curved transition area between said main body and said end portion, said end portion being connected to the second of said spring members at said one end of said members.