Connector

• US 7,066,739 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2003
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Graham John Mcleish
• Original Assignee: Graham John Mcleish
• Inventors: McLeish, Graham John
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, James R.
• Application Number:
  US10/520,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20050255718A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 439 38- 40, 439/924.1, 439/924.2
• US Class Current: 439/39
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/38 having concentrically or coaxially arranged contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/20 having concentrically or coaxially arranged contacts

Abstract

An electrical connector (100) comprising a male (120) and female (150) part, each part (120, 150) having a magnet (135, 165) adapted to attract the parts (120, 150) together to make a connection. The parts (120, 150) can connect at any relative rotational orientation and preferred embodiments prevent offset connection between the magnets (135, 165) or parts (120, 150). The connector (100) is particularly suited for use in out of reach locations, for example to easily and safely replace light bulbs into sockets suspended from a ceiling.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising a male part and a female part for engagement therewith;

the male part comprising a first terminal having a circular cross section and a second terminal;

the female part comprising engaging means to engage said terminals;

wherein the male and female parts each comprise a magnetic portion adapted to magnetically attract the parts together to form an electrical connection;

magnetic misconnection means are provided that prevent the male and female parts from magnetic attachment in a non-concentric position;

wherein at least some of a magnetic field emitted from at least one of the magnetic portions extends beyond the magnetic misconnection means to attract the parts together to form an electrical connection.

2. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnetic misconnection means comprises a wall extending away from the magnetic portion of one of the male and female parts, the wall being adapted to prevent the male and female parts from connecting in a non-concentric position.

3. A connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one of the male and female parts is attached to pendent means.

4. A connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein one of the male and female parts is attached to pendent means and the other of the male and female parts comprises the wall.

5. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the female part has a projecting portion which is adapted to be received within the male part.

6. A connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein the magnetic portion of the female part has a magnetic field which extends beyond the projecting portion to attract the parts together to form an electrical connection.

7. A connector as claimed claim 5, wherein the projecting portion is adapted to have a degree of freedom to pivot within the male part.

8. A connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein the projecting portion has at least one aperture to receive at least one of the male terminals.

9. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first terminal is a neutral terminal and the second terminal is a live terminal and the engaging means of the female part comprise respective neutral and live terminals.

10. A connector as claimed claim 9, wherein the neutral and live terminals of the female part are enclosed.

11. A connector as claimed in claim 9, wherein the neutral and live terminals of at least one of the male and female parts are resilient.

12. A connector as claimed in claim 9, wherein the male and female parts each include an earth terminal which are adapted to engage with each other.

13. A connector as claimed in claim 12, wherein the male earth terminal is concentric with at least one of the first and second terminals of the male part.

14. A connector as claimed in claim 12, wherein the terminals are adapted to engage in the order:

earth, then neutral, then live when the male and female parts are being connected and are adapted to disengage in the order;

live, then neutral, then earth when said parts are being disconnected.

15. A connector as, claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnetic portions have a circular cross section.

16. A connector as claimed in claim 15, wherein the magnetic portions are in the form of an annular ring.

17. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the male and female parts is also adapted for use with any type of electrical appliance.

18. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the male and female parts are adapted to be attracted together to form an electrical connection when they are between 1 cm and 30 cm apart.

19. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the male and female parts are adapted to be attracted together to form an electrical connection when they are between 2 cm and 30 cm apart.

20. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the male and female parts are adapted to be attracted together to form an electrical connection when they are at between 5 cm and 30 cm apart.

21. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the parts comprises a tapered face adapted to guide the parts together.

22. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second terminals are concentric.

23. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the male and female parts are adapted to engage with each other in any relative rotational orientation.