Multi-terminal rotary connector
First Claim
1. A multi-terminal biparte rotary connector assembly includinga first plug member having a generally circular first mating end with a generally cylindrical outer periphery;
- a plurality of electrical contacts on said first end, each of said contacts having an apex portion exposed radially outward of said periphery;
a second receptacle member having a generally circular opening with a cylindrical inner periphery in a mating end to mate with said first end of said plug member;
one of said members including means defining at least one aperture in the mating end thereof for receiving anti-separation and polarization attachment means in a singular orientation;
anti-separation and polarizing attachment means extending from the mating end of the other of said members for insertion into said aperture means of said one of said members and rotation with respect to said aperture means to releasably lock said plug member and receptacle member in singular oriented mated contact with one another; and
a plurality of electrical contacts on the inner periphery of said opening in said receptacle member, each of said latter contacts having an apex portion exposed radially inward of said inner periphery and disposed such that the plug contacts engage the receptacle contacts only when said attachment means is received into said aperture means and said members are rotated with respect to one another to said locked position, the apex portions of each of said engaging contacts including a generally rounded contacting surface and a raised contact portion extending above the respective rounded surface thereof, said raised contact portion of abutting pairs of said contacts spaced from one another to contact said rounded contacting surface of an opposed contact of the other member when said members are in said locked position, said contacts interfering with and sliding past one another as said members are rotated to said locked position to thereafter inhibit counter-rotation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-terminal rotary connector assembly including a plug having a generally circular mating end with contacts thereabout. A receptacle has a generally circular opening with contacts therein for receiving and mating with said plug to engage the contacts thereof. The receptacle includes an axially mounted and extending polarization and anti-separation stud for insertion into a corresponding axial aperture in the mating end of the plug. The contacts of the plug and receptacle are spaced from one another circumferentially as the plug and receptacle are mated axially, and engage one another only when the polarizing stud has been received into the axial aperture in the plug and the plug has been rotated with respect to the receptacle to its locked position. During rotation the apexes of the plug contacts slide past the apexes of the receptacle contacts to inhibit counter-rotation. Both the plug and the receptacle may include retention and strain relief means for attachment to an electrical cable.
77 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A multi-terminal biparte rotary connector assembly including
a first plug member having a generally circular first mating end with a generally cylindrical outer periphery; -
a plurality of electrical contacts on said first end, each of said contacts having an apex portion exposed radially outward of said periphery; a second receptacle member having a generally circular opening with a cylindrical inner periphery in a mating end to mate with said first end of said plug member; one of said members including means defining at least one aperture in the mating end thereof for receiving anti-separation and polarization attachment means in a singular orientation; anti-separation and polarizing attachment means extending from the mating end of the other of said members for insertion into said aperture means of said one of said members and rotation with respect to said aperture means to releasably lock said plug member and receptacle member in singular oriented mated contact with one another; and a plurality of electrical contacts on the inner periphery of said opening in said receptacle member, each of said latter contacts having an apex portion exposed radially inward of said inner periphery and disposed such that the plug contacts engage the receptacle contacts only when said attachment means is received into said aperture means and said members are rotated with respect to one another to said locked position, the apex portions of each of said engaging contacts including a generally rounded contacting surface and a raised contact portion extending above the respective rounded surface thereof, said raised contact portion of abutting pairs of said contacts spaced from one another to contact said rounded contacting surface of an opposed contact of the other member when said members are in said locked position, said contacts interfering with and sliding past one another as said members are rotated to said locked position to thereafter inhibit counter-rotation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification