Low-voltage, high current capacity connector assembly and mobile power tool and appliance operating system
First Claim
1. A low-voltage, high direct current connector assembly comprising:
- an elongated, hollow socket having an axis of elongation, a pair of socket leads, and a plug-receiving axial end;
a plug receivable in said socket end upon insertion along said axis and having a pair of plug leads;
means for retaining said plug in said socket at a predetermined axial insertion position;
first wiping contact means for electrically connecting a respective one of said pair of socket leads to a respective one of said plug leads at said insertion position, said first wiping contact means including first mating contact surfaces positioned proximate said axis; and
second wiping contact means for radially aligning said plug upon insertion into said socket and for electrically interconnecting the other of said pair of socket leads to the other of said pair of plug leads at said insertion position, said second wiping contact means including second mating contact surfaces positioned distant said axis with said second mating contact surface of said socket including a wiping contact element that extends radially outward from said socket,wherein said retaining means includes a shoulder formed on said plug and at least one spring finger resiliently supported on said socket, said spring finger being engageable with said plug shoulder at said insertion position to restrain movement counter to the insertion direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The cylindrical plug of a low-voltage, high current capacity connector assembly has an axially positioned sleeve wiping contact and a transversely positioned U-shaped channel member to provide two pairs of planar wiping contact surfaces parallel to the plug axis and substantially perpendicular to the plug housing surface. The socket component, which will accept standard low-voltage, low current car appliance plugs, includes an internally mounted, closed face pin contact and a barrel contact having depending ears positioned to engage the protruding sides of the plug U-shaped channel member. The socket also has an internal boss and housing lip to prevent electrical activation of a standard automotive cigarette lighter plug, and the plug component of the connector assembly has the sleeve contact recessed to prevent contact following insertion into a conventional cigarette lighter socket. The mobile power tool and appliance operating system includes a portable lead-acid battery pack having a high current capacity socket compatible with existing low current plugs used with appliances intended to operate from automotive cigarette lighter sockets. Matable high current capacity plugs are attached to power tools and appliances through retractable cords. The battery pack is receivable in a 120 VAC powered charging base having a self-contained charging circuit including a transformer and a voltage regulator.
54 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A low-voltage, high direct current connector assembly comprising:
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an elongated, hollow socket having an axis of elongation, a pair of socket leads, and a plug-receiving axial end; a plug receivable in said socket end upon insertion along said axis and having a pair of plug leads; means for retaining said plug in said socket at a predetermined axial insertion position; first wiping contact means for electrically connecting a respective one of said pair of socket leads to a respective one of said plug leads at said insertion position, said first wiping contact means including first mating contact surfaces positioned proximate said axis; and second wiping contact means for radially aligning said plug upon insertion into said socket and for electrically interconnecting the other of said pair of socket leads to the other of said pair of plug leads at said insertion position, said second wiping contact means including second mating contact surfaces positioned distant said axis with said second mating contact surface of said socket including a wiping contact element that extends radially outward from said socket, wherein said retaining means includes a shoulder formed on said plug and at least one spring finger resiliently supported on said socket, said spring finger being engageable with said plug shoulder at said insertion position to restrain movement counter to the insertion direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A socket for a low-voltage, high direct current connector of the plug-and-socket type comprising:
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a non-conductive, generally cylindrical housing having an axis and a plug-receiving axial end; a first wiping electrical contact element positioned within said housing at the other housing axial end proximate said axis; a second wiping electrical contact element electrically isolated from said first element and proximate the outer housing periphery of said housing at a preselected circumferential position, said second wiping contact element having at least one wiping contact surface parallel to said axis and extending outwardly from said housing substantially perpendicular to said housing outer periphery at said circumferential position, wherein said first and second wiping contact elements are configured for mating with complementary wiping contact members carried by a high current plug during plug insertion to a predetermined axial location, and wherein said second wiping contact element, upon mating with said complementary wiping contact member, radially aligns said plug relative to said socket upon plug insertion to said predetermined axial location. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A plug for a low-voltage, high direct current connector assembly of the plug-and-socket type comprising:
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a generally cylindrical housing formed from a non-conductive material and having an axis and a housing axial end insertable in a socket; a first wiping contact member positioned at said insertable housing end; a second wiping contact member electrically isolated from said first member and extending radially outward from the periphery of said plug housing, said second member having at least one planar wiping surface disposed parallel to said housing axis and substantially perpendicular to said plug housing periphery, said second wiping contact member radially aligning said plug housing relative to said socket upon insertion of said plug housing into said socket and upon interconnection between said second wiping contact member and a corresponding contact element extending radially outward from said socket, wherein said second member is U-shaped and protrudes radially outward of said plug housing at diametrically opposed locations, the bottom of said U-shaped member being proximate the housing insertion end, and the sides of the U-shaped member forming two pairs of planar wiping surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A low-voltage, high direct current connector assembly, comprising:
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an elongated, hollow socket having a central axis and a pair of socket leads, said socket including a generally cylindrical housing; a plug receivable in said socket upon insertion along said axis, said plug having a pair of plug leads; first contact means for electrically connecting a respective one of said pair of socket leads to a respective one of said plug leads upon insertion of said plug into said socket, said first contact means being positioned proximate said axis; and second contact means for electrically interconnecting the other of said pair of socket leads to the other of said pair of plug leads upon insertion of said plug into said socket, said second contact means being positioned radially distant from said axis, said second contact means including pin-and-sleeve contact means for orienting said plug circumferentially with respect to said axis upon insertion of said plug into said socket, said pin-and-sleeve contact means engaging at a site longitudinally distant from said first contact means relative to said axis and outside the periphery of said housing. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A socket for a low-voltage, high direct current connector of the plug-and-socket type, comprising:
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a generally cylindrical housing having an outer periphery, a central axis, and plug-receiving proximal and distal ends; a first electrical contact element comprising a pin component of a pin-and-sleeve contact positioned proximate said axis within said housing at said proximal end; and a second electrical contact element electrically isolated from said first element, said second element comprising a pin component of a pin-and-sleeve contact positioned radially distant from said axis and outside said outer periphery of said housing proximate said distal end, said first and second contact elements configured for engageably mating with complementary sleeve components carried by a high current plug upon insertion of the plug into said housing to a predetermined axial location. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A plug for a low-voltage, high direct current connector assembly of the plug-and-socket type, comprising:
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a generally cylindrical housing formed from a nonconductive material having a central axis and an axial end insertable in a socket; a first contact element positioned within said housing at said insertable end, said first contact element comprising a sleeve of a pin-and-sleeve contact with said sleeve being positioned proximate said axis; and a second contact element electrically isolated from said first contact element, said second contact element comprising a sleeve of a pin-and-sleeve contact with said sleeve being positioned at an external periphery of said housing radially distant from said axis and longitudinally distant from said housing axial end, said first and second contact elements configured for engageably mating with complementary pin components carried by a high current socket upon insertion of the plug into the socket to a predetermined axial location. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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Specification