Electrical receptacle and terminals

• US 5,472,350 A
• Filed: 01/14/1994
• Issued: 12/05/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pass And Seymour Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Pass And Seymour Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Mehta, Parag J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DeMello, Jill
• Application Number:
  US08/181,042
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 439/106, 439/107, 439/650, 29/879
• US Class Current: 439/107
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/112 forked sockets having two legs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/4821 Single-blade spring
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/4842 the spring housing being provided with a single opening for insertion of a spring-activating tool
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/485 Single busbar common to multiple springs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/16 for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending

Abstract

A duplex receptacle consisting of molded plastic base and cover portions, a pair of terminals having female contacts for receiving plug blades, and a mounting strap. The terminals are formed with a minimum of bending operations from blanks cut in succession from a metal strip in a manner minimizing the distance of die progression per blank, and reducing scrap. The contacts have a configuration which enhances electrical communication with the inserted plug blades. Portions of the cover cooperate with the contacts to increase blade retention force. A portion of the mounting strap is exposed through an opening in the cover to provide further advantages. The spring arms on the terminals include structure which inhibits dislodgement of conductors connected to the receptacle by push-wire terminations.

Claims

1. An electrical terminal having female contacts for sliding insertion and withdrawal along a predetermined, linear path of a plug blade having opposite, flat surfaces, said terminal comprising:

a) a first wall portion having first, inner and outer surfaces;

b) means for connecting an electrical conductor in conducting contact with a predetermined, planar part of said first wall portion;

c) a second wall portion having second, inner and outer surfaces;

d) a first, resilient arm integrally connecting said first and second wall portions;

e) a third wall portion having third, inner and outer surfaces;

f) a second, resilient arm integrally connecting said first and third wall portions;

g) said second and third wall portions being inwardly offset by said first and second arms from said first wall portion in a direction transverse to the plane of said planar part;

h) said second and third wall portions being positioned with said second inner surface contacting said third outer surface along a free edge of said second wall portion remote from said first arm; and

i) blade entry means defined by flared end portions extending outwardly from said second outer and said third inner surfaces for insertion therebetween of said plug blade along said linear path as at least one of said first and second arms is flexed to permit separation of said free edge from said third outer surface with said opposite surfaces of said blade respectively contacting said free edge and said third outer surface, said free edge being substantially linear and disposed at an acute angle with respect to said linear direction.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said angle is about 45°

.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said first wall portion is bent inwardly at a first angle with respect to said planar part, and both said first and second arms are curved outwardly.

4. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said first angle is substantially 90°

.

5. The invention according to claim 4 wherein said second arm is curved about 90°

, and said third wall surfaces are planar and substantially parallel to the plane of said planar part of said first wall portion.

6. An electrical terminal having female contacts for sliding insertion and withdrawal along a predetermined, linear path of a plug blade having opposite, flat surfaces, said terminal comprising:

a) a first wall portion having first, inner and outer surfaces;

b) means for connecting an electrical conductor in conducting contact with a predetermined, planar part of said first wall portion;

c) a second wall portion having second, inner and outer surfaces;

d) a first, resilient arm integrally connecting said first and second wall portions;

e) a third wall portion having third, inner and outer surfaces;

f) a second, resilient arm integrally connecting said first and third wall portions;

g) said second and third wall portions being inwardly offset by said first and second arms from said first wall portion in a direction transverse to the plane of said planar part;

h) said second and third wall portions being positioned with said second inner surface contacting said third outer surface along a free edge of said second wall portion remote from said first arm; and

i) blade entry means defined by flared end portions extending outwardly from said second outer and said third inner surfaces for insertion therebetween of said plug blade along said linear path as at least one of said first and second arms is flexed to permit separation of a free edge of said second wall portion from said third outer surface with said opposite surfaces of said blade respectively contacting said free edge and said third outer surface, said third inner and outer surfaces lying in parallel planes substantially parallel to said planar part of said first wall portion, and said second inner surface being disposed in a plane at an acute angle to said third outer surface when said free edge is in contact with said third outer surface.

7. The invention according to claim 6 wherein said acute angle is between about 5°

and 10°

.

8. The invention according to claim 7 wherein said first arm, over at least most of its length, is closer than said second arm to said first wall.

9. The invention according to claim 8 wherein said first and second arms are in spaced, substantially side-by-side relation.

10. An electrical receptacle for placing a pair of plug blades having planar surfaces of predetermined width in electrical communication with a source of AC power, said receptacle comprising:

a) a base portion of dielectric material;

b) a cover portion of dielectric material having a pair of openings through which said blades may be inserted and withdrawn by movement along a predetermined, linear path, said base and cover portions cooperatively defining an internal cavity;

c) a pair of terminals, each including

i) means for connection thereto of an electrical conductor;

ii) a first contact strip having first, planar, inner and outer surfaces bounded on one side by a contact edge;

iii) a second contact strip having second, planar, inner and outer surfaces;

iv) first and second support means for said first and second contact strips, respectively, at least;

one of said support means being resilient to permit limited, relative movement of said contact strips from an unflexed position, to which said contact strips are biased by said support means, to a flexed position;

v) said contact strips, when in said unflexed position, being supported with said first strip contact edge in essentially linear contact with said second strip outer surface, and said first inner and second outer surfaces disposed in planes extending at an acute angle from said contact edge; and

vi) a pair of outwardly flared end portions respectively extending from said first and second contact strips; and

d) positioning means for holding said contact strips within said cavity with said end portions of said terminals aligned with a respective one of said pair of openings, whereby insertion of said blades through said openings moves said blades between said contact strips and moves the latter to said flexed position with said first strip contact edge in contact with one and said second strip outer surface in contact with the other of said blade surfaces.

11. The invention according to claim 10 wherein said contact edge is substantially linear,

12. The invention according to claim 11 wherein said edge is disposed at a predetermined angle between about 30°

to 60°

with respect to said linear path.

13. The invention according to claim 12 wherein said contact edge is in contact over at least about 90% of its entire length with said one of said blade surfaces when said blades are fully inserted.

14. The invention according to claim 12 wherein at least a portion of said contact edge is in contact with said one surface of said blade over the full range of travel of said blade between said first and second contact strips.

15. The invention according to claim 10 wherein said acute angle is between about 5°

and 10°

.

16. The invention according to claim 10 and further including means positioned within said cavity in the path of movement of one of said contact strips of each of said terminals toward said flexed position thereof.

17. The invention according to claim 16 wherein said means within said cavity extend integrally from said cover portion inwardly of said cavity.

18. The invention according to claim 17 wherein said means within said cavity comprise a pair of post members respectively positioned in the path of movement of one of said contact strips of each of said pair of terminals.

19. The invention according to claim 18 wherein each of said post members extends from said cover portion to a terminal end, and said one contact strip contacts the respective one of said post members adjacent said terminal end when said blade is fully inserted between said contact strips, whereby said post members oppose further movement of said one contact strip toward said flexed position and enhance the retaining force exerted by said contact strips on said blades.

20. The invention according to claim 19 wherein said one contact strip is said first contact strip.

21. The invention according to claim 20 wherein said first support means comprises a resilient arm upon which said first contact strip is supported for movement between said unflexed and flexed positions.

22. An electrical receptacle for connection in an AC circuit to receive a pair of male plug blades, said receptacle comprising:

a) a base portion of dielectric material;

b) a cover portion of dielectric material affixed to said base portion to define therewith an internal cavity and having a pair of openings configured and positioned for insertion and withdrawal therethrough of said plug blades;

c) a pair of terminals each having first and second contact strips with opposed portions forming a pair of female contacts for receiving said plug blades;

d) resilient support means for at least one of said contact strips of each of said terminals, said support means exerting a biasing force tending to move said one contact strip in a direction toward contact of said opposed portions and to resiliently resist movement of said one contact strip in the opposite direction by insertion of said plug blades between said opposed portions; and

e) obstruction means having a limited degree of resilience positioned within said cavity in the path of movement in said opposite direction of said one contact strip, insertion of said blades between said opposed portions serving to move said one contact strip of each of said terminals into contact with a respective one of said obstruction means, whereby the latter augments said biasing force and increases the retaining force exerted on said blades by said opposed portions of said contact strips.

23. The invention according to claim 22 wherein said obstruction means comprise a pair of post members.

24. The invention according to claim 23 wherein said post members extend into said cavity integrally from one of said base portion and cover portion.

25. The invention according to claim 24 wherein said post members extend integrally from said cover to terminal ends respectively positioned adjacent said one contact strip of said pair of terminals.

26. The invention according to claim 25 wherein said pair of openings are elongated, parallel and laterally spaced from one another, said cover portion has an inner surface directed toward said cavity, and said post members extend integrally from said inner surface adjacent respective ones of said openings.

27. The invention according to claim 26 wherein said post members are laterally, outwardly adjacent an elongated side of respective ones of said openings.

28. a duplex wall receptacle for connection to an AC power source, said receptacle comprising:

a) a base portion of dielectric material having a rear wall, opposite side walls and opposite end walls, said side and end walls terminating in base edge portions;

b) a cover portion of dielectric material having a front wall with front and back sides and wall means on said back side defining cover edge portions configured for mating engagement with said base edge portions, whereby said base and cover portions cooperatively define an enclosed cavity;

c) said front side of said cover portion including first and second end portions and a central portion, each of said end portions having a plurality of first openings therethrough for passage of the blades of an electrical plug, said end portions having forward surfaces lying in a common, first plane and said central portion having a forward surface lying in a second plane, parallel to said first plane and spaced therefrom in the direction of said base portion;

d) means defining a second opening of predetermined peripheral outline extending through said central portion and between said end portion; and

e) a mounting strap having an intermediate portion positioned within and extending through said cavity and ear portions extending outwardly from said opposite end walls, said strap being captured between and held in a fixed position by opposing parts of said base and cover portions with a planar surface of said intermediate portion exposed through said second opening and lying substantially in said second plane.

29. The invention according to claim 28 and further including a threaded opening in said intermediate portion exposed through said second opening for receiving a wall plate mounting screw.

30. The invention according to claim 29 wherein said threaded opening is located substantially centrally of said second opening.

31. The invention according to claim 30 wherein said predetermined outline is substantially rectangular.

32. The invention according to claim 31 wherein said second opening extends longitudinally between said end portions and laterally a distance slightly greater than the width of said intermediate portion of said strap exposed through said second opening.

33. The invention according to claim 28 wherein said intermediate and ear portions of said strap have contiguous, substantially flat and coplanar, opposite surfaces.

34. The invention according to claim 33 wherein said intermediate portion has substantially linear, parallel, side edges.

35. The invention according to claim 34 wherein said intermediate portion of said strap exposed through said second opening has a predetermined, uniform width and said second opening has parallel side edges spaced a few thousandths of an inch greater than said predetermined width.

36. The invention according to claim 35 wherein said strap is of electrically conducting material and includes a pair of third openings aligned with respective ones of each of said plurality of first openings for receiving, in electrical contact, the grounding prongs of plugs connected to said receptacle.

37. The invention according to claim 34 and further including first and second retaining walls within said cavity having opposing, parallel walls spaced a few thousandths of an inch greater than the width of a predetermined length of said intermediate portion of said strap lying between said retaining walls.

38. The invention according to claim 37 wherein said retaining walls are formed integrally with said base portion and lie between and parallel to said opposite side walls.

39. The invention according to claim 38 and further including support means positioned between said first and second retaining walls, one of said opposite surfaces of said predetermined length of said intermediate portion of said strap lying upon said support means.

40. A wiring device for connection to hot and neutral conductors of an AC electrical circuit, said device comprising:

a) housing means defining an enclosed cavity;

b) a terminal of electrically conducting material having a fixed wall and a spring arm positioned within said cavity, said spring arm extending from a resiliently supported end to a free end having a central portion of predetermined width in close proximity to said fixed wall and movable with respect thereto by application of force to said spring arm;

c) a passageway through said housing means having a central axis substantially aligned with central portion of said free end, whereby forcible insertion of an end of an elongated electrical conductor along said axis applies said force to said spring arm, moving said free end away from said fixed wall and engaging said conductor end between said central portion of said free arm and said fixed wall in electrical communication with said terminal; and

d) a protrusion extending outwardly from said free end at one side of said central portion, laterally spaced from said central axis and extending toward said fixed wall, whereby said protrusion resists disengagement of said conductor end by lateral movement thereof in the direction of said protrusion.

41. The invention according to claim 40 wherein said central portion comprises an essentially linear edge of said free end.

42. The invention according to claim 41 wherein said protrusion terminates in a linear edge substantially parallel to said central portion linear edge.

43. The invention according to claim 40 wherein said wiring device includes a pair of said terminals, each having a fixed wall and spring arm, and said housing means includes a pair of said passageways having axes respectively aligned with said free ends of said spring arms for connection of a hot conductor to one and a neutral conductor to the other of said pair of terminals.

44. The invention according to claim 43 wherein said terminals each include female contacts for receiving blades of an electrical plug.

45. A succession of identical blank layouts on a flat, elongated metal strip having linear, parallel, side edges for cut-out of successive blanks prior to the forming thereof into electrical terminals of predetermined configuration, said succession of blank layouts comprising:

a) a first blank layout having first side edges coextensive with said side edges of said strip, and first, continuous, non-linear, top and bottom edges extending between said first side edges;

b) a second blank layout having second side edges coextensive with said side edges of said strip, and second, continuous, non-linear, top and bottom edges extending between said second side edges;

c) said first bottom edge and said second top edge having coextensive first and second portions thereof extending inwardly from opposite ones of said first and second side edges, and respective, non-coextensive, third portions defining a unitary scrap portion;

d) each of said blank layouts having an overall length L between the points on its top and bottom edges which are farthest spaced in a longitudinal direction parallel to said side edges;

e) at least part of each of said first and second portions of said first bottom edge being closer than at least part of said third portion of said second top edge to said second bottom edge, whereby the overall length L₁ between the points on said first top edge and said second bottom edge which are farthest spaced in said longitudinal direction is less than 2L.

46. The succession of blank layouts of claim 45 wherein L₁ equals approximately 1.85L.

47. The succession of blank layouts of claim 45 wherein the total scrap associated with each of said blank layouts consists of said unitary scrap portion and a pair of identical, discrete scrap portion.

48. The succession of blank layouts of claim 45 wherein the total surface area of scrap associated with each of said blank layouts is approximately 20% of the surface area of one of said blank layouts.

49. The succession of blank layouts of claim 45 wherein each of said blank layouts consist of right and left halves which are mirror images of one another on opposite sides of a centerline parallel to said side edges.