PROTECTED CONNECTOR PLUG

• US 3,754,205 A
• Filed: 05/19/1971
• Issued: 08/21/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Attila A. Lenkey
• Original Assignee: Attila A. Lenkey
• Inventors: Lenkey, Attila A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Champion, Marvin A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, Terrell P.
• Application Number:
  US05/144,814
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 339/36,40,42,154
• US Class Current: 439/141
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/4538 Covers sliding or withdrawing in the direction of engagement

Abstract

A protected connector plug provided with a hollow, open-end housing; the open end is closed by a single, spring-loaded, slidable sheath surrounding both contact blades and having detents on it to engage a stop in the housing to retain the sheath in the housing. In one embodiment the detents are deflectable to allow the sheath to be inserted after the housing is otherwise complete. In another embodiment the sheath is properly placed within one half of the housing before the other half is joined thereto.

Claims

1. A safety plug comprising:

A. an insulating housing;

B. a pair of contact members, each secured internally within said housing and having one end extending from said housing;

C. an insulating sheath slidably held within said housing and enclosing said ends of said contact members;

D. a spring; and

E. an insulating wall enclosing said spring within said housing, said spring having one end bearing against said sheath and the other end against said housing to press said sheath out of said housing and into surrounding relationship with respect to said ends of said contact members, said sheath comprising a wall portion extending substantially between said ends of said contact members near the outer tips thereof.

2. The plug of claim 1 in which said sheath comprises detents within said housing and said housing comprises stops to hold said detents, and thereby hold said sheath from becoming disengaged from said housing.

3. The plug of claim 2 in which said housing has slots to receive said detents, and one end of said slots forms said stops.

4. The plug of claim 1 in which said sheath is bifurcated and has two free ends extending into said housing.

5. The plug of claim 2 in which said detents hold said sheath in only partial sheathing position on said contact members.

6. The plug of claim 1 in which the inner ends of said contact members are offset and have electric leads attached thereto and are molded within said housing.

7. The plug of claim 1 in which A. said contact members have flanges extending transversely therefrom intermediate their ends;

and B. said housing comprises recesses to receive said flanges whereby both ends of said contact members are free to engage other contact devices.

8. The plug of claim 7 in which A. the ends of said contact members extending from said housing are in the form of blades spaced apart by the proper distance to engage electric outlets;

and B. the inner ends of said contact members are offset from said first-named ends by a distance to make contact with a plug inserted into said housing from the end opposite said sheath.

9. The plug of claim 1 comprising, in addition, longitudinal interior walls defining a central space between said contact members to enclose said spring.

10. The plug of claim 1 in which said sheath comprises, in addition, a central rod extending through said spring and attached to the inner surface of said wall portion, and said housing comprises a channel aligned with said central rod to guide the free end thereof.