Swivelling electrical connector
First Claim
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1. An electrical connector for an appliance having a housing wherein the connector couples the appliance to a power cord having three conductors therein, said connector comprising:
- a. a plug, said plug comprising;
an insulating body having a plug contact-supporting portion and a cord-engaging portion, wherein said plug contact-supporting portion is cylindrical in cross-section, and said cord-engaging portion has a section extending plug contact-supporting portion;
a first plug contact supported by said plug contact-supporting portion and axially aligned therewith, wherein said first contact is connected to a first conductor of the power cord;
a second plug contact circumferentially supported by said plug contact-supporting portion and connected to a second conductor of said power cord;
a third plug contact circumferentially supported on said plug contact-supporting portion and axially spaced from said second contact in the direction of said power cord, wherein a third conductor of said power cord is connected thereto, andshoulder means formed on said plug for retaining said plug in said housing;
b. a socket formed in one end of said housing for rotatably receiving said plug, said socket comprising socket contacts slidably engaging said plug contacts to allow rotation of said plug relative to said socket and said housing, while maintaining electrical connections therebetween, andannular shoulder means within said socket and registering with said shoulder means on said plug for retaining said plug within said socket and said housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A swivelling electrical connector includes a plug having an axially aligned contact and pair of tandemly spaced circumferential contacts. The plug registers with a socket structure disposed within the housing of an appliance which has complementary spring loaded contacts. One of the tandem contacts on the plug, preferably the one nearest the end of the housing, is a ground contact.
67 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An electrical connector for an appliance having a housing wherein the connector couples the appliance to a power cord having three conductors therein, said connector comprising:
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a. a plug, said plug comprising; an insulating body having a plug contact-supporting portion and a cord-engaging portion, wherein said plug contact-supporting portion is cylindrical in cross-section, and said cord-engaging portion has a section extending plug contact-supporting portion; a first plug contact supported by said plug contact-supporting portion and axially aligned therewith, wherein said first contact is connected to a first conductor of the power cord; a second plug contact circumferentially supported by said plug contact-supporting portion and connected to a second conductor of said power cord; a third plug contact circumferentially supported on said plug contact-supporting portion and axially spaced from said second contact in the direction of said power cord, wherein a third conductor of said power cord is connected thereto, and shoulder means formed on said plug for retaining said plug in said housing; b. a socket formed in one end of said housing for rotatably receiving said plug, said socket comprising socket contacts slidably engaging said plug contacts to allow rotation of said plug relative to said socket and said housing, while maintaining electrical connections therebetween, and annular shoulder means within said socket and registering with said shoulder means on said plug for retaining said plug within said socket and said housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification