ELECTRICAL ADAPTER PLUG

• US 3,865,463 A
• Filed: 11/12/1973
• Issued: 02/11/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Albert G. Busch
• Original Assignee: Albert G. Busch
• Inventors: Busch, Albert G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frazier, Roy D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, Terrell P.
• Application Number:
  US05/414,734
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 339/28,29,31-33,182,183,176,95,206 240/8.14,8.18 200/51.09 219/202
• US Class Current: 439/668
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/14 of electrically-heated lighters
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement

Abstract

An electrical adapter connector for connecting leads of a low voltage electrical appliance to a power source of a cigarette lighter receptacle. The connector includes an axially elongated housing having an outer wall which is insertable into the cigarette lighter receptacle. A bore is provided at the forward end of the housing and an opening is provided at the rear end of the housing. A positive contact member is slidably carried within the axial bore and projects outwardly beyond the housing. A closure is secured to the housing and over the rear opening. A pair of spaced channels are defined between the housing and the closure. A first electrical conductor is positioned within the housing and the front end thereof is in electrical contact with the positive contact. The rear end of the positive conductor projects outwardly from the housing through one of the spaced channels. A negative electrical conductor has an offset portion which extends beyond the periphery of the housing. The rear of the negative electrical conductor projects through the other of the spaced channels. Leads from an appliance are crimped onto the outer ends of the two electrical conductors. A cap on the rear of the housing electrically isolates the rear of the innerconnected electrical conductors and power leads.

Claims

1. An electrical connector for connecting electrical power leads to an electrical power source in cigarette lighter receptacles, said connector comprising, in combination, a unitary, substantially cylindrical housing having an outer periphery, sized and shaped for insertion into said receptacle, an axial bore at one end of said housing and an opening at the other opening of said housing, a peripheral opening in a side of said housing, a first contact member slidably carried in said axial bore and projecting axially outwardly beyond said housing for making electrical contact with a first source of electrical power in said receptacle, a closure member for said opening on said other end of said housing and defining a first enclosed chamber within said housing, cooperating interconnecting means unitary with and on both said housing and on said closure member for defining the sole means for interconnecting said closure member to said housing, a pair of spaCed channel means defined between said housing and said closure member for providing communication between said chamber and the exterior of said housing, a first electrical conducting member positioned within said chamber and, at one end thereof, being in electrical conducting and biasing relationship with said first contact member, and at the other end thereof, projecting outwardly from said chamber through one of said channel means, and a second electrical conducting member positioned within said chamber and defining a second portion extending laterally outwardly beyond the periphery of said housing and through said peripheral opening in said housing, said second electrical conducting member providing electrical contact with a second power source in said receptacle, the rear portion of said second electrical conducting member projecting outwardly from said chamber and through the other of said spaced channel means.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said axial bore includes a unitary cylindrical wall portion, said first contact member is cylindrical and is slidably carried within said cylindrical wall portion, and cooperating means are provided on said first contact member and said cylindrical wall portion for providing axial slidable and non-rotatable relationship therebetween.

3. The device of claim 1 including means defining the sole interconnecting means therebetween for aligning said channel means with at least said peripheral opening in said housing, and said second conducting member is in substantial alignment with said peripheral opening and with one of said channel means.

4. The device of claim 1 including insulating means positioned within said housing chamber for electrically insulating said first and second conducting members from each other.

5. The device of claim 1 including a cap interconnected to said housing for defining a second enclosed chamber between said closure member and said cap, said cap and said housing including unitary cooperating means defining the sole means for interconnecting said cap to said housing, said second chamber containing the outer ends of said electrical conducting members.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said leads are each connected to said conductive members with solderless, electrically conducting, crimping members.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein said cap and said housing include cooperating, non-rotatable, locking means therebetween.

8. The device of claim 8 wherein said housing is axially elongated for projecting outwardly a sufficient distance from said receptacle for manually grasping said connector without the need of grasping the leads thereof.

9. An electrical connector for connecting electrical power leads to an electrical power source in cigarette lighter receptacles, said connector comprising, in combination, a cylindrical housing having an outer periphery, sized and shaped for insertion into said receptacle, an axial bore at one end of said housing and an opening at the other opening of said housing, a peripheral opening in a side of said housing, a first contact member slidably carried in said axial bore and projecting axially outwardly beyond said housing for making electrical contact with a first source of electrical power in said receptacle, a closure member for said opening on said other end of said housing, cooperating means unitary with and on both said housing and on said closure member for securing said closure member to said housing, a pair of spaced channel means defined between said housing and said closure member for providing communication between said chamber and the exterior of said housing, a first electrical conducting member positioned within said chamber and, at one end thereof, being in electrical conducting and biasing relationship with said first contact member, and at the other end thereof, projecting outwardly from said chamber through one of said channel means, a second electrical conducting member positioned within said chamber and defining a Second portion extending laterally outwardly beyond the periphery of said housing and through said peripheral opening in said housing, said second electrical conducting member providing electrical contact with a second power source in said receptacle, the rear portion of said second electrical conducting member projecting outwardly from said chamber and through the other of said spaced channel means, a cap secured to said housing, cooperating means unitary with and on both said housing and said cap for securing said cap to said housing, and electrical leads passing through said cap and electrically connected to the projecting ends of said conducting members.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein said first contact member is lockably received within said axial bore, said axial bore and said first contact member including cooperating locking means.