Quick connect electrical connector for multi conductor insulated cable wiring

• US 5,975,938 A
• Filed: 06/03/1998
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ashland Industries Corporation, Aslan Industries Corporation
• Original Assignee: Robert A. Libby
• Inventors: Libby, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Assistant Examiner(s): NASRI, JAVAID H
• Application Number:
  US09/090,063
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 439/409, 439/410, 439/417, 439/418, 439/725
• US Class Current: 439/410
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/2412 actuated by insulated cams or wedges

Abstract

An electrical connector is provided which has a body having a opening therein sized to receive an unstripped end of insulated electrical cable of the type having at least two individually insulated conductors which are encased in an outer sheath. A pair of arm members are pivotally connected opposite sides of the body which are adapted to rotate between and open position and a closed position. A pair of electrically conducting blade members are attached to said arm members. When the arm members are in an open position the blade members do not extend within said cavity and when the blade members are in a closed position said blade members do extend within said cavity. An electrical output is located on the body and electrical pathway provides an electrical connection between said blade members and the electrical output. When the arm members are moved from an open position to a closed position with an unstripped end of insulated electrical cable present in the cavity, the blade members cut through the outer sheath and cut through the insulation of the individually insulated conductors and make an electrical connection with the conductors.

Claims

1. An electrical connector for insulated cable comprising:

a) a body formed of an electrically insulating material, said body having a cavity formed therein sized to receive an unstripped end of insulated electrical cable having at least two individually insulated conductors which are encased in an outer sheath;

b) a pair of electrically insulating arm members pivotally connected to said body with said arm members adapted to rotate about an axis of rotation between an open position wherein said cavity is open to allow insertion of an electrical cable into said cavity and a closed position wherein said cavity is at least partially obstructed;

c) a pair of electrically conducting blade members capable of cutting through said outer sheath and cutting through insulation of said insulated conductors, said blade members attached to said arm members for rotation with said arm members whereby when said arm members are in the open position said blade members do not extend within said cavity and when said blade arm members are in the closed position said blade members do extend within said cavity;

d) electrical output means located on said body; and

e) electrical pathway means providing an electrical connection between said blade members and said electrical output means.

2. The electrical connector for insulated cable according to claim 1 wherein when said arm members are moved from the open position to the closed position with an unstripped end of insulated electrical cable present in the cavity, said blade members cut through the outer sheath and cut through the insulation of the individually insulated conductors and make electrical contact with said conductors.

3. The electrical connector for insulated cable according to claim 2 wherein said blade members are provided with at least one tooth portion to aid in cutting through said outer sheath and through said insulation of a conductor of an unstripped end of an insulated electrical cable inserted into said cavity.

4. The electrical connector for insulated cable according to claim 1 wherein said cavity has a generally elongated cross sectional configuration and said cavity extends into the body along a centrally located longitudinal axis.

5. The electrical connector for insulated cable according to claim 4 further comprising an electrically conducting bar member secured within said cavity, said bar member extending longitudinally within said cavity parallel to said longitudinal axis and wherein said bar member is electrically connected to said output means.

6. The electrical connector for insulated cable according to claim 5 whereby said bar member is adapted to enter a central portion of an unstripped end of insulated electrical cable and make an electrical connection with an uninsulated ground wire in said cable when such a cable is inserted into said cavity.

7. The electrical connector for insulated cable according to claim 5 wherein said bar member extends from a location near a first end portion of the body to an end portion of the body opposite said first end portion and wherein said bar member is provided with a tubular shape at said opposite end portion forming a portion of the output means.

8. The electrical connector for insulated cable according to claim 4 wherein at least one pair of longitudinally extending ridges are provided on an inner surface of the cavity to aid in causing individual insulated conductors of an unstripped end an insulated electrical cable to be located and confined in a desired spaced-apart location in the cavity.

9. The electrical connector for insulated cable according to claim 8 whereby said ridges aid in providing frictional engagement of an unstripped end of insulated electrical cable when inserted into the cavity.

10. The electrical connector for insulated cable according to claim 8 whereby said ridges aid in causing said at least two individually insulated conductors of an unstripped end of insulated electrical cable to be located and secured in a desired location within the cavity when said cable is inserted into the cavity.

11. The electrical connector for insulated cable according to claim 8 wherein said ridges have a generally triangular cross sectional configuration.

12. The electrical connector for insulated cable according to claim 8 wherein said ridges are provided in the cavity at locations to engage the sheath of cable at locations between adjacent conductors located within the cable.

13. The electrical connector for insulated cable according to claim 1 wherein said output means is in the form of one of a male plug member and a female receptacle member.

14. The electrical connector for insulated cable according to claim 1 wherein said electrical pathway is formed by a pair of electrically conducting tubular members connected to and extending from a hole located near the center of each blade member to the output means and wherein said tube members also form the output means.

15. The electrical connector for insulated cable according to claim 1 wherein said arm members are generally U-shaped in configuration and wherein said arm members when in the closed position lock into the body portion.

16. The electrical connector for insulated cable according to claim 1 wherein said arm members are generally U-shaped in configuration and wherein said arm members when in the closed position lie within a recess provided in the body portion thereby creating a generally co-planer outer surface at the points of intersection between the body and the closed arms.

17. An electrical connector for insulated cable comprising:

a) a body formed of an electrically insulating material, said body having a cavity formed therein sized to receive an unstripped end of insulated electrical cable having at least two individually insulated conductors which are encased in an outer sheath;

b) a pair of electrically insulating arm members pivotally connected to said body with said arm members adapted to rotate about an axis of rotation between an open position wherein said cavity is open to allow insertion of an electrical cable into said cavity and a closed position wherein said cavity is at least partially obstructed;

c) a pair of electrically conducting blade members attached to said arm members whereby when said arm members are in the open position said blade members do not extend within said cavity and when said said arm members are in the closed position said blade members do extend within said cavity;

d) electrical output means located on said body; and

e) electrical pathway means providing an electrical connection between said blade members and said electrical output means wherein said body has a first end portion and opposite side portions and wherein said body has a opening in said first end portion thereof which forms said cavity;

wherein said arm members are pivotally connected at one end thereof to said opposite side portions of said body; and

wherein said blade members have a generally disk shaped configuration, are attached to said arm members to revolve about said axis of rotation and so that center points of said blade members are spaced from said axis of rotation.

18. An electrical connector for insulated cable comprising:

a) a body formed of an electrically insulating material, said body having a cavity formed therein sized to receive an unstripped end of insulated electrical cable having at least two individually insulated conductors which are encased in an outer sheath;

b) a pair of electrically insulating arm members pivotally connected to said body with said arm members adapted to rotate about an axis of rotation between an open position wherein said cavity is open to allow insertion of an electrical cable into said cavity and a closed position wherein said cavity is at least partially obstructed;

c) a pair of electrically conducting blade members attached to said arm members whereby when said arm members are in the open position said blade members do not extend within said cavity and when said blade arm members are in the closed position said blade members do extend within said cavity;

d) electrical output means located on said body; and

e) electrical pathway means providing an electrical connection between said blade members and said electrical output means, wherein said cavity has a generally elongated cross sectional configuration and said cavity extends into the body along a centrally located longitudinal axis, wherein said body has a opening in said first end portion thereof which forms said cavity and wherein said cavity is more narrow in cross section at locations more distant from the opening, whereby an unstripped end of insulated electrical cable will be retained by a greater amount of friction as the cable is inserted deeper into the cavity.