Terminal test plug

• US 4,676,568 A
• Filed: 02/21/1986
• Issued: 06/30/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mondragon Telecommunications SL
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Singer, Loren A., Nault, Gary F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weidenfeld, Gil
• Assistant Examiner(s): Austin, Paula A.
• Application Number:
  US06/831,641
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 339/31 R, 339/31 T, 339/108 TP
• US Class Current: 439/169
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7034 the terminals being in direct electric contact separated by double sided connecting element for printed circuit boards H01R12/7094
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors

Abstract

A test plug is disclosed for alternatively providing releasable electrical connection between a test lead and a first and second electrical contact where the first contact is a female contact and the second contact is a male contact. The plug includes a housing sized to be manually engageable and having a slot formed through a first end of the housing. A plunger is slidably disposed within the housing and slidable between an extended position and a retracted position with the plunger having a contact portion sized to extend through the slot and be received within the female contact when the plunger is in the extended position. The contact portion is further sized to be received within the housing when the plunger is in the retracted position with the slot being unobstructed to the insertion of a male contact. A first electrical contact point is disposed within the slot and yieldably biased into electrical connection with a male contact received within the slot. A conductor connects the first contact point to the test lead. The contact portion is provided with a deposit of electrically conductive material which is disposed to connect electrically with the female contact when the plunger is extended to the extended position with the electrically conductive material also in electrical contact with the first electrical contact point.

Claims

1. A test plug for alternatively providing releasable electrical connection between a test lead and a first and second electrical contact wherein said first contact is a female contact of predetermined size and said second contact is a male contact of predetermined size, said plug comprising:

a housing sized to be manually engageable and defining an interior with a slot formed through an end of said housing in communication with said interior, slot defining surfaces of said housing being spaced apart for said male electrical contact to be received within said slot between said slot defining surfaces;

a plunger slidably disposed within said housing interior and slidable between an extended position and a retracted position, said plunger having a contact portion sized to extend through said slot and be received within said female contact when said plunger is in said extended position and sized to be received within said housing when said plunger is in said retracted position with said slot being unobstructed to insertion of said male contact;

a first electrical contact point disposed within said slot with means for yieldably biasing said first point into electrical connection with a male contact received within said slot and with said first point movable out of said slot when said plunger is moved into said extended position with said biasing means urging said first point into contact with said contact portion of said plunger;

conductor means for electrically connecting said first contact point with said test lead; and

conductive material disposed on said plunger contact portion and sized to contact said female contact in electrical connection when said contact portion is received within said female contact and with said conductive material in electrical connection with said first contact point when said plunger is in said extended position.

2. A test plug according to claim 1 wherein said plunger is provided with a latch member sized to be received within a first conforming surface formed in said housing and corresponding to said retracted position, and a second conforming surface when in said extended position;

means for yieldably biasing said latch member toward said conforming surfaces and means for engaging said latch member and urging it against said biasing means to release the latch member and move it between the first and second conforming surfaces with said plunger moving between said retracted and extended positions.

3. A test plug according to claim 1 wherein said plunger includes a pair of cantilevered prongs extending from said contact portion with each of said cantilevered prongs terminating at a latch member on opposite sides of said contact portion with the latch member including tabs sized to engage tab receiving notches formed in opposing surfaces of said housing, said housing having elongated slots sized to expose engageable surfaces of said latch members with said slots extending in a direction generally parallel to a direction of travel of said plunger.

4. A test plug according to claim 1 wherein said female contact includes a connector clip member biased toward said contact portion and having a protruding surface sized to be received within a relief formed within said contact portion to releasably hold said contact portion.

5. A test plug according to claim 1 wherein said plunger is formed of electrically insulative material having an electrically conductive material deposited on said insulative material and extending in a generally linear path in parallel alignment with a direction of travel of said plunger moving between said extended and retracted positions.

6. A test plug according to claim 5 comprising a resilient electrically conductive member having a first end secured within said housing and electrically connected to said test lead, said electrically conductive member having a second end disposed within said slot to engage said male contact in electrical connection when said male contact is disposed within said slot;

said resilient member opposing a slot defining surface having a groove formed therein sized to receive said resilient member when said member is urged into said groove as said plunger is moved to said extended position with resilience of said member urging said resilient member into electrical contact with said conductive material disposed on said plunger.

7. A test system for a distribution terminal having a plurality of paired wire connectors electrically connected by a first female connector having a first pair of opposing electrical contacts yieldably urged toward one another in electrical contact, said system comprising:

an overload protector having an exposed end sized to be removably received between said opposing pairs of electrical contacts and said protector terminating at a housed end;

a pair of first conductor contacts secured to said exposed end and disposed thereon for one of said first conductor contacts to electrically connect a first of said first pair of electrical contacts and a second of said first conductor contacts disposed to electrically contact a second of said first pair of electrical contacts;

said overload protector having a pair of second conductor contacts disposed on said housed end on a male connector of predetermined size;

a test plug for alternatively providing releasable electrical connection between a test lead and either of said first female connectors and said male connector, said test plug having a housing sized to be manually engageable and defining an interior with a slot formed through and end of said housing in communication with said interior;

slot defining surfaces of said housing spaced aapart a distance sufficient for said male connector to be received within said slot;

a plunger slidably disposed within said housing interior and slidable between an extended position and a retracted position;

said plunger having a contact portion sized to extend through said slot and be received within said female connector when said plunger is in said extended position and sized to be received within said housing when said plunger is in said retracted position with said slot being unobstructed to insertion of said male connector;

a first pair of electrical test contacts disposed within said slot with means for yieldably biasing each of said test contacts into electrical connection with a second conductor contact on said male connector when said male connector is received within said slot, said test contacts urged out of said slot when said plunger is moved into said extended position with said biasing means urging said test contacts into contact with said contact portion;

conductor means for electrically connecting said test contacts with said test lead; and

a pair of electrically conductive material deposits disposed on said plunger contact portion to electrically contact each of said first pair of connectors of said female connector in electrical connection when said contact portion is received within said female connector and with said deposits in electrical connection with said first pair of electrical test contacts.

8. A test system according to claim 7 wherein said plunger is provided with a latch member sized to be received within a first conforming surface formed in said housing and corresponding to said retracted position, and a second conforming surface when in said extended position;

means for yieldably biasing said latch member toward said conforming surfaces and means for engaging said latch member and urging it against said biasing means to release the latch member and move it between the first and second conforming surfaces with said plunger moving between said retracted and extended positions.

9. A test system according to claim 7 wherein said plunger includes a pair of cantilevered arms extending from said contact portion with each of said cantilevered arms terminating at a latch member on opposite sides of said contact portion with the latch member including tabs sized to engage tab receiving notches formed in opposing surfaces of said housing, said housing having elongated slots sized to expose engageable surfaces of said latch members with said slots extending in a direction generally parallel to a direction of travel of said plunger.

10. A test system according to claim 7 wherein said female contact includes a connector clip member biased toward said contact portion and having a protruding surface sized to be received within a relief formed within said contact portion to releasably hold said contact portion.

11. A test assembly according to claim 7 wherein said plunger is formed of electrically insulative material having an electrically conductive material deposited on said insulative material and extending in a generally linear path parallel aligned with a direction of travel of said plunger and moving between said extended and retracted positions.

12. A test system according to claim 11 comprising a resilient electrically conductive member having a first end secured within said housing and electrically connected to said test lead, said electrically conductive member having a second end disposed within said slot to engage said male contact in electrical connection when said male contact is disposed within said slot;

said resilient member opposing a slot defining surface having a groove formed therein sized to receive said resilient member when said member is urged into said groove as said plunger is moved to said extended position with resilience of said member urging said resilient member into electrical contact with said conductive material disposed on said plunger.