Molded connector with embedded indicators

• US 5,244,409 A
• Filed: 07/01/1991
• Issued: 09/14/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Woodhead Industries Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Woodhead Industries Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: LeClair, Ronald J., Fleckenstein, John T., Guss, Robert J. III
• Primary Examiner(s): PIRLOT, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/726,719
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 439/488-491, 439/650-655, 340/656, 340/664, 340/687
• US Class Current: 439/490
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6691 with built-in signalling means H01R13/717 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/30 with additional earth or shield contacts

Abstract

A quick-disconnect connector assembly for connecting a control device or a sensor to a load includes a power/load indicating circuit having a source of red light for indicating that power is available and a source of green light for indicating that power is being applied to a load, the indicating circuit being encapsulated within a molded connector head which is formed of a translucent material so that light emitted by the red and green light sources causes the connector head to glow over substantially its entire extent.

Claims

1. A quick-disconnect connector assembly for completing an electrical circuit and for indicating a continuity condition for the electrical circuit, said connector assembly comprising:

connecting means including an insert carrying a plurality of connector elements;

a multi-conductor cable including a plurality of electrical conductors; and

indicating circuit means including at least one light source energizable for indicating said continuity condition;

at least first and second conductors of said plurality of conductors being electrically connected to first and second ones of said terminating elements at said first end of said connector body, and said indicating circuit means being directly electrically connected to conductors of said multi-conductor cable adjacent to said first end of said connector body to enable said light source to be energized whenever the continuity condition is provided;

and a connector head molded to enclose said first end of said connector body and said indicating circuit means, and the adjacent end of said cable to provide strain relief between said insert and said cable and to provide a sealed housing for said indicating circuit and said connections between said cable and said connector elements of said insert;

said molded connector head being of a light-transmitting material moldable whereby light produced by said light source representative of a detected continuity condition of said electrical circuit is emitted through said molded connector head such that the status of said indicating circuit means may be observed from substantially all directions of normal use observation.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said connector head consists of a translucent polyvinyl chloride elastomer.

3. The connector assembly of claim 2 wherein said light source of said indicating circuit means is so connected to conductors of said multi-conductor cable as to indicate that power is available for application to the load.

4. The connector assembly of claim 2 wherein said light source of said indicating circuit means is so connected to conductors of said multi-conductor cable as to indicate that power is being applied to the load.

5. The connector assembly of claim 4 wherein said functional device is a semiconductor switch, and further comprising a bleeding resistor connected in circuit with said light source such that leakage current in said device will not energize said light source when said device is in an off condition.

6. The connector assembly of claim 2 wherein said indicating circuit means includes first and second light sources, said first light source being energized to indicate a first continuity condition for said electrical circuit and said second light source being energized to indicate a second continuity condition for said electrical circuit.

7. The connector assembly of claim 6 wherein said functional device is a switch operable to connect electrical power to said load, said first light source being energized whenever power is connected to said electrical circuit and said second light source being energized whenever power is applied to the load.

8. The connector assembly of claim 6 wherein said functional device is a monitoring device for indicating a condition of the load, said first light source being energized whenever power is available for said monitoring device, and said second light source being energized whenever power is applied to the load.

9. The connector assembly of claim 6 wherein said first and second light sources comprise first and second neon lamps, respectively, said first neon lamp emitting a light in a first frequency band to illuminate said connector head with a first color and said second neon lamp emitting light in a second frequency band to illuminate said connector head with a second color.

10. A quick-disconnect connector assembly for completing an electrical circuit to connect a functional device to a load and for indicating continuity conditions for the electrical circuit, said connector assembly comprising:

connecting means including an insert carrying a plurality of connector elements;

a multi-conductor cable including at least first, second and third electrical conductors;

indicating circuit means including at least first and second light sources for indicating first and second continuity conditions for the electrical circuit;

at least said first and second conductors being electrically connected to first and second ones of said terminating elements at a first end of said connector body, and said indicating circuit means being electrically connected to and mounted directly on conductors of said multi-conductor cable adjacent to said first end of said connector body to enable said first light source to be energized whenever said first continuity condition is provided and said second light source to be energized whenever said second continuity condition is provided;

and a connector head molded to enclose said first end of said connector body, said indicating circuit means, and the adjacent end of said cable to provide strain relief between said insert and said cable and to provide a sealed housing for said indicating circuit and said connections between said cable and said connector elements of said insert;

said molded connector head being of a light-transmitting material whereby light produced by said first and second light sources causes said molded connector head to emit light representative of the associated continuity conditions whereby the status of said indicating circuit means may be observed from substantially all directions of normal use observation.

11. The connector assembly of claim 10, wherein first and second light sources comprise first and second neon lamps, respectively, said first neon lamp emitting a light in a first frequency band to illuminate said connector head with a first color and said second neon lamp emitting light in a second frequency band to illuminate said connector head with a second color.

12. The connector assembly of claim 10 wherein said connector head is made of a polyvinyl chloride elastomer.

13. A quick-disconnect connector assembly for completing an electrical circuit to connect a functional device to a load and for indicating continuity conditions for the electrical circuit, said connector assembly comprising:

connecting means including an insert carrying a plurality of connector elements;

a multi-conductor cable including at least first and second electrical conductors connected to respective ones of said connector elements of said insert at one end and adapted to be connected to first and second power terminals at the other end and a third electrical conductor connected to a third connector element of said insert at one end and adapted to be connect to a load at the other end;

indicating circuit means including at least first and second light sources for indicating first and second continuity conditions for the electrical circuit;

at least said first and second conductors being electrically connected to first and second ones of said terminating elements at a first end of said connector body, and said indicating circuit means being directly electrically connected to conductors of said multi-conductor cable adjacent to said first end of said connector body to enable said first light source to be energized whenever said first continuity condition is provided and said second light source to be energized whenever said second continuity condition is provided, and the adjacent end of said cable to provide strain relief between said insert and said cable and to provide a sealed housing for said indicating circuit and said connections between said cable and said connector elements of said insert;

a molded connector head enclosing said first end of said connector body and said indicating circuit means, said molded connector head being of a light-transmitting moldable material whereby light produced by said first and second light sources causes said molded connector head to emit light whenever either of said continuity conditions is provided such that the status of said continuity detectors may be observed from substantially all directions of normal use observation.

14. The connector assembly of claim 13, wherein first and second light sources comprise first and second neon lamps, respectively, said first neon lamp emitting a light in a first frequency band to illuminate said connector head with a first color and said second neon lamp emitting light in a second frequency band to illuminate said connector head with a second color.

15. The connector assembly of claim 13 wherein said connector head is made of a polyvinyl chloride elastomer.