Conductor joint for connecting an intelligent socket to a cable

• US 5,997,338 A
• Filed: 05/30/1996
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IWS International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: IWS International Incorporated
• Inventors: Pohjola, Jorma
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Hien
• Application Number:
  US08/648,013
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 439/419, 439/415, 439/422, 439/425, 439/52
• US Class Current: 439/425
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/675 with contacts having at least a slotted plate for penetration of cable insulation, e.g. insulation displacement contacts for round conductor flat cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/142 Their counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/2406 having needles or pins
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/015 Handtools

Abstract

A connector joint is shown for use in effecting a galvanic joint with flat metal strip conductors surrounded by an insulating sheath for supplying or delivering electricity to an apparatus requiring electrical power, or for providing an electrical connection to an extension or branch wire. Pins are provided having sharp cutting ridges for piercing the insulating sheath and the flat metal strip conductors. Portions of the flat metal strip conductors form downwardly turned lips that press firmly against sides of the pins when the pins are assembled into the connector joint. A wire connector is electrically connected to said pins and a switch can be provided to control the flow of electricity from the flat metal strip conductors through the pins and to the wire connector.

Claims

1. A conductor joint for connecting an intelligent socket to a cable, the conductor joint comprising:

a) at least one current conductor that conducts electrical current;

b) a code conductor that carries an identification code;

c) an insulating sheath surrounding the at least one current conductor and the code conductor;

d) at least first and second pins, extending through the insulating sheath to pass through one of the at least one current conductor and through the code conductor, respectively, to form respective electrical connections in which portions of the at least one current conductor and code conductor form respective lips that press firmly against sides of the respective first and second pins;

e) an electronic component, responsive to the identification code when the identification code is carried on the code conductor, for providing a switch with an ON/OFF control; and

f) the switch, responsive to the ON/OFF control, for controllably connecting one of the at least one current conductor to the intelligent socket, the switch including;

f1) an output serving as an output of the intelligent socket;

f2) a current input that is electrically connected to the first pin; and

f3) a control input, responsive to the ON/OFF control, for causing the switch to transmit electrical current from one of the at least one current conductor through the first pin and the current input to the output of the intelligent socket.

2. The conductor joint of claim 1, further comprising:

a first conductor strip, extending between the switch and the first pin.

3. The conductor joint of claim 1, further comprising:

a second conductor strip, extending between the electronic component and the second pin.

4. The conductor joint of claim 1, further comprising:

a first conductor strip, extending between the switch and the first pin; and

a second conductor strip, extending between the electronic component and the second pin.

5. The conductor joint of claim 1, further comprising:

the intelligent socket, for directly receiving an appliance.