Electrical cable connector
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electrical cable connector, comprising:
- (a) a collar having a conductive metal wall for at least partially surrounding and engaging a conductive terminal member to be connected to an electrical system, said collar having an opening through the wall thereof, and having an inner portion of said wall generally opposite said opening;
(b) a sleeve extending from said collar substantially in alignment with said opening;
(c) a probe member within said collar moveable between a first position and a second position, having an arm extending through said opening into said sleeve for engagement by a resilient force-applying means, and having a contact-engaging surface positioned in substantially opposed relationship to the said inner wall portion of said collar, and further having releaseable detent means for retaining said probe in said first position wherein said contact-engaging surface is generally remote from said inner wall portion of said collar for permitting insertion and withdrawal of a conductive terminal member betweeen said wall portion and said surface;
said detent means being releaseable to permit said contact-engaging surface to move toward said inner wall portion into said second position for engaging a conductive terminal member; and
(d) resilient force applying means within said sleeve for urging said probe from said first position toward said second position for engaging and gripping a conductive terminal member between said contact engaging surface and said inner wall portion; and
(e) means for providing a conductive path between an external conductor and said conductive metal wall of said collar.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interfitting conductive collar and latch probe assembly for securely connecting a conductor, such as a wire or cable, to the post of a power source, such as a battery terminal. The assembly relies upon spring force and detent arrangements to permit installation and removal quickly, by hand, without need of a tool.
-
Citations
7 Claims
-
1. An electrical cable connector, comprising:
-
(a) a collar having a conductive metal wall for at least partially surrounding and engaging a conductive terminal member to be connected to an electrical system, said collar having an opening through the wall thereof, and having an inner portion of said wall generally opposite said opening; (b) a sleeve extending from said collar substantially in alignment with said opening; (c) a probe member within said collar moveable between a first position and a second position, having an arm extending through said opening into said sleeve for engagement by a resilient force-applying means, and having a contact-engaging surface positioned in substantially opposed relationship to the said inner wall portion of said collar, and further having releaseable detent means for retaining said probe in said first position wherein said contact-engaging surface is generally remote from said inner wall portion of said collar for permitting insertion and withdrawal of a conductive terminal member betweeen said wall portion and said surface;
said detent means being releaseable to permit said contact-engaging surface to move toward said inner wall portion into said second position for engaging a conductive terminal member; and(d) resilient force applying means within said sleeve for urging said probe from said first position toward said second position for engaging and gripping a conductive terminal member between said contact engaging surface and said inner wall portion; and (e) means for providing a conductive path between an external conductor and said conductive metal wall of said collar. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. An electrical cable connection system for connecting an electrical power source to an external conductor comprising:
-
(a) conductive post means operatively connected to said electrical power source, (b) a collar having a conductive metal wall for at least partially surrounding and engaging said conductive post means, said collar having an opening through the wall thereof and having an inner portion of said wall generally opposite said opening; (c) a sleeve extending from said collar substantially in alignment with said opening; (d) a probe member within said collar, moveable between a first position and a second position, having an arm extending through said opening into said sleeve for engagement by a resilient force-applying means and having a post means engaging surface positioned in substantially opposed relationship to the said inner wall portion of said collar, and further having releasable detent means for retaining said probe in said first position wherein said post means engaging surface is generally remote from said inner wall portion of said collar for permitting insertion and withdrawal of said conductive post means between said wall portion and said surface;
said detent means being releasable to permit said post means engaging surface to move toward said inner wall portion into said second position for engaging said conductive post means;(e) resilient force applying means within said sleeve for urging said probe from said first position toward said second position for engaging and gripping said conductive post means between said post means engaging surface and said inner wall portion wherein said collar and probe are securely joined with firm contact to said conductive post means electrically and mechanically; and (f) means for providing a conductive path between said external conductor and said conductive metal wall of said collar.
-
Specification