MAGNETIC SELF-ALIGNING ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR

• US 3,786,391 A
• Filed: 07/11/1972
• Issued: 01/15/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William R. Mathauser
• Original Assignee: William R. Mathauser
• Inventors: Mathauser, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Champion, Marvin A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US05/270,709
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 339/12R,12V,12L,12G,64R,64M,65,27,46,47R,47C,48,222,253R,125R,125L 335/205,285 248/26A
• US Class Current: 439/39
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet

Abstract

A magnetic self-aligning electrical connector comprising a pair of connector or coupling havles each having electrical contact means therein and one of said coupling halves having magnetic means therein disposed opposite means in said other coupling half for cooperation with said magnet means to hold said coupling halves together with the electrical contact means in electrically conducting contacting relationship with one another, said electrical contact means in one of said coupling halves mounted for movement relative to the coupling half to insure alignment between the electrical contact means even though the coupling halves are misaligned.

Claims

1. A magnetic, self-aligning electrical connector, comprising a pair of mating coupling halves having opposed, confronting faces, magnet means in one coupling half at said face, electrical contact means in said one coupling half at said face, a plate floatably mounted in said other coupling hAlf for both lateral and perpendicular movement relative to said other coupling half, said plate including a magnetically permeable means in alignment with said magnet means for cooperation therewith to hold the coupling halves together, and electrical contact means carried by said magnetically permeable means for movement therewith and in alignment with the contact means in said one coupling half and engageable therewith to establish electrical connection between the halves, said contact means in said coupling halves having interfitting tapered projection and recess means, to thus align said contact means even if said coupling halves are misaligned.

2. A magnetic self-aligning electrical connector as in claim 1, wherein said one coupling half comprises a body made of a suitable insulating material and having an upper face and a lower face, said electrical contact means fixedly embedded in said body with said tapered portions thereof extending downwardly below the lower face of said body, said magnet means being embedded in said body in the lower face thereof and exposed at said face, and electrical leads connected with said electrical contact means and extending through said body and beyond one edge thereof.

3. A magnetic self-aligning electrical connector as in claim 1, wherein said magnet is a permanent magnet.

4. A magnetic self-aligning electrical connector as in claim 3, wherein said magnet is substantially rectangularly shaped.

5. A magnetic self-aligning electrical connector as in claim 4, wherein said magnetically permeable means comprises said plate, said plate comprising steel and having a raised portion extending upwardly therefrom for cooperation with said magnet in said one coupling half, said electrical contact means in said other coupling half being mounted through openings spaced around a marginal edge portion of said steel plate.

6. A magnetic self-aligning electrical connector as in claim 5, wherein said other coupling half includes a wall, an opening through said wall, the extreme outer marginal edge portion of said steel plate loosely received in a channel in said wall in surrounding relationship to said opening, said plate closing said opening.

7. A magnetic self-aligning electrical connector as in claim 6, wherein said electrical contacts in said other coupling half are mounted in said plate between said extreme outer marginal edge thereof and said raised portion thereof.

8. A magnetic self-aligning electrical connector as in claim 7, wherein insulating means is positioned between said electrical contacts and said steel plate in said other coupling half to insulate said contacts from said steel plate, said contacts being loosely received in said insulating means for limited movement relative to said plate.

9. A magnetic self-aligning electrical connector as in claim 8, wherein each said electrical contact in said other coupling half has a reduced diameter lower end defining a shoulder thereon below the plate, a retaining washer received over said reduced diameter end and against said shoulder, said reduced diameter end being crimped over said retaining washer to hold said retaining washer on said contact, and a radially outwardly extending flange on the other end of said contact in overlying relationship to said plate and said insulating means, said retaining washer and said flange spaced apart a distance greater than the thickness of said plate and said insulating means.

10. A magnetic self-aligning electrical connector as in claim 9, wherein a conical recess is in the upper end of each said electrical contact in said other coupling half for mating cooperating relationship with the conical tip on said contact means in said one coupling half.

11. A magnetic self-aligning electrical connector as in claim 10, wherein a spring washer is interposed between said insulating means and said radially outwardly extending flange to constantly urge said electrical contact means upwardly relative to said plate.

12. A magnetic self-aligning electrical conn ctor as in claim 11, wherein said one coupling half is generally circular in shape.

13. A magnetic self-aligning electrical connector as in claim 12, wherein there are four electrical contacts in each coupling half spaced outwardly from the opposite side and end edges of said magnet and said raised portion of said plate, respectively.

14. A magnetic self-aligning electrical connector as in claim 11, wherein said one coupling half is generally rectangular in shape and has two electrical contacts therein.

15. A magnetic self-aligning electrical coupler as in claim 1, wherein said electrical contact means carried by said plate are mounted thereon for movement relative thereto.