Electric connection device with light indicator

• US 7,967,630 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2007
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marechal Electric Group
• Original Assignee: Societe D'Exploitation Des Procedes Marechal
• Inventors: Houir Alami, Mounim
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, HIEN D
• Application Number:
  US12/516,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20100068918A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• Field of Search: 439/490, 439/39, 439/489
• US Class Current: 439/490
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6691 with built-in signalling means H01R13/717 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7035 comprising a separated limit switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric connection device including a first connection member (1) to be powered by an electric current and a second conjugated connection member (2), the first connection member (1) being provided with at least one luminous member having at least two states and powered by a portion of the supply current of said first connection member. The device of the invention is characterized in that it comprises a position sensor having two states and provided in the first connection member (1) so as to be actuated by a portion (16) of the second connection member (2), or a mobile portion (13) of the first connection member (1) driven by a portion (16) of said second member (2) when said members are in a connection position, thus switching the position sensor from state to the other, the latter being adapted to switch the luminous element or one of them from one state to the other depending on its own state.

Claims

1. Electrical connection device comprising:

a first connection member structured and arranged to be supplied with an electric current; and

a second mating connection member,

wherein each of the first connection member and the second connection member are provided with electrical contacts intended to cooperate with one another in a connection position, once said members have been coupled together following a relative translational movement,

wherein the first connection member is provided with at least one illuminated member which has at least two states and which is powered by a portion of the supply current of said first connection member, a position sensor being arranged inside the first connection member in order to cooperate with the second connection member, when said members are in the connection position, so as to act on the at least one illuminated member in order to display said connection and alive position of the connection members,

wherein said at least one illuminated member switches from one state to another depending on whether the first connection member is powered or not, regardless of the position of the connection members, and wherein the position sensor has two states, and is structured and arranged so as to be actuated by a portion of the second connection member, or a movable portion of the first connection member driven by a portion of said second member, when said members are in the connection position, causing said position sensor to shift from a first state to a second state, the position sensor being further structured and arranged, according to its own state, to cause the at least one illuminated member to switch from the first state to the second state,

whereby the at least one illuminated member, depending on the states thereof, make it possible to display the electrical powering or non-powering of the first connection member, which is or is not coupled with the second connection member, and to separately display the connection and live position of the connection members;

wherein the at least one illuminated member comprises two separate illuminated members each having two states are provided for displaying, the powering or non-powering of the first connection member, and the connection and live position of the two connection members, respectively, while the position sensor acts on the state of one of the illuminated member for displaying the connection position, and also concomitantly on the other illuminated member for displaying the powering or non-powering of the first connection member, in order to cause the two separate illuminated members to switch from one state to the other when said position sensor is actuated in the connection position.

2. Electrical connection device of claim 1, wherein the position sensor is an electromechanical mechanism which comprises a contactor mechanically actuated directly by said portion of the second connection member, or by a movable portion of the first connection member driven by the portion of said second member.

3. Electrical connection device of claim 1, wherein the position sensor is a magnetic means which is actuated by a mating magnetic means arranged on said portion of the second connection member, or on the movable portion of the first connection member driven by said portion of the second member.

4. Electrical connection device of claim 1, wherein the two states of each illuminated member are OFF and ON, respectively, and in that the two illuminated members have different colors.

5. Electrical connection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one illuminated member comprises a common illuminated member for displaying the connection position, which is the same as the at least one illuminated member for displaying the powering or non-powering of the first connection member, said common illuminated member having three states and switching from the first state to the second state when the first connection member is supplied with a current, and from the second state to a third state when the first connection member is controlled by the position sensor.

6. Electrical connection device of claim 5, wherein the three states of the common illuminated member are OFF and ON, respectively, according to two separate colors, said illuminated member switching from one color to the other when it is controlled by the position sensor and when the first connection member is supplied with a current.

7. Electrical connection device of claim 5, wherein the three states of the common illuminated member are OFF, FLASHING and CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED, respectively, said illuminated member switching from the flashing state to the continuously illuminated state when the illuminated member is controlled by the position sensor and when the first connection member is supplied with a current.

8. Electrical connection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the illuminated display members are arranged on the first connection member beneath the single indicator.