Range Surface Receptacle

Abstract

A range unit receptacle is provided having a high temperature molded phenolic body of one piece construction. Spring type terminals are inserted into openings in the body with the terminals already crimped onto lead wires. The front of the body is open to receive the leads from a heating element. A sheet metal mounting clip retains the body in proper mounted position in a range.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electric ranges as commonly constructed have heating elements or "burners" that are pivotal or completely removable for cleaning of the heating elements and the surrounding areas. The completely removable heating units are preferable as allowing greater accessibility, and as providing for ready replacement of a damaged heating element.

Heretofore, separable connectors for removable heating elements have been known. However, due to the high currents and relatively high voltages utilized in electric ranges, and also in view of individual differences from one range manufacturer to another, such connectors have been of expensive and complicated construction, often requiring many parts to be hand-assembled, and often requiring screw terminals which are expensive to purchase and to install.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a one-piece molded housing is provided for a range surface receptacle or connector. A basic bracket with individual differences is made of sheet metal and mounts the body in place in a range irrespective of differences from one range to another. Screw terminals are completely avoided by the use of crimp-on terminals which are attached to lead wires by known crimping operations, and which are then inserted into longitudinal openings or orifices in the body where they are positioned to receive the ends of the heating element, such heating element ends simply plugging into the terminals without the necessity of any separate terminals on the ends of the heating element wires.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will best be understood with reference to the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a range surface receptacle constructed in accordance with the present invention shown in association with a range surface heating element, the latter portion being drawn to a smaller scale;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the plastic or insulating body portion of the receptacle;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal longitudinal section through the receptacle as taken substantially along the line 3--3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view partially broken away for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view similar to a portion of FIG. 4 showing a modification of the mounting bracket; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing yet another modification of the mounting bracket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning now in greater particularity to the drawings, and first to FIG. 1, there will be seen a range surface receptacle 10 of known construction, comprising a metallic coil 12 having inner conductors extending from the ends thereof at 14. The ends are spaced apart by a suitable metallic or other bracket 16. In the present instance, no terminals are attached to the ends 14 of the conductors, but the conductors are formed into essentially hook-shaped extremities 18, each lying substantially in a vertical plane. Since the heating element 10 is well known, with the possible exception of the hook-shaped extremeties 18, no further explanation of this part is deemed necessary, and the part is shown on somewhat decreased scale.

The extending ends 14 of the heating element conductor meet with a range surface receptacle 20 constructed in accordance with the present invention. The receptacle 20 comprises an insulating body 22 molded in a single piece from high temperature phenolic resin and is generally rectangular in plan view. From the side, the body will be seen to have a relatively restricted rear end portion 24, and a thicker forward portion 26 with a diagonal front wall 28. A pair of spaced longitudinal openings or bores 30 extend parallel to one another throughout the longitudinal extent of the body 22, opening through the diagonal front face 28, and also through a squared off rear face 32. The bores are generally square or rectangular in cross section, and are of uniform cross section except that each bore has near the front of the housing an enlarged portion 34 on either lateral side thereof, providing front shoulders 36 and rear shoulders 38. The body 22 is completed by shallow, longitudinally elongated protuberances 40 on either side thereof relatively toward the front, diagonal surface 28.

A pair of metallic terminals 42, each of identical construction, is provided for plugging into the bores 30. These terminals preferably are constructed of spring brass sheet metal. Since they are identical, a description of one will suffice. Each includes a flat, horizontal base 44 having a restricted forward portion 46 with side flanges 48 upstanding therefrom. Each side flange 48 continues forwardly of the front edge 50 of the base to form an arm 52, the two arms moving in converging relation essentially into contact with one another at 54, and diverging forwardly therefrom at 56 to form a V-shaped or bevelled entrance. As will be apparent, the forward extremities 58 of the arms form outward shoulders. Rearwardly directed diagonal resilient lances 60 are struck from the arms 52 and flanges 48.

Rearwardly of the base 44 each terminal is provided with an integral crimping section 62 for crimping to the wire of a pair of lead wires 64. Rearwardly of the wire crimping section 62 there is provided an insulation crimping section 66 which crimps onto the insulation for strain relief and to retain the insulation against creeping on the inner conductive wire. Crimping techniques are well known and do not need further explanation at this time.

As will be apparent from FIG. 3 the terminals 42 respectively slide into the bores 30 from the rear thereof with the outwardly flared arm ends 56 flexing slightly in to slide through the rear portions of the bores, spreading out to their maximum within the enlarged portion 34 of the bores and finally seating with the extremities 58 thereof against the forward shoulders 36. At the same time the lances 60 flexibly retract somewhat to permit passage through the rear portions of the bores 30 springing out to engage the rear shoulders 38 to prevent inadvertent retraction of the terminals. As will be understood, the terminals are crimped onto the wires 64 before such insertion. As will be seen, the receptacle is dead backed after the terminals have been inserted into the body, thereby eliminating the need for a secondary cover to meet Underwriters Laboratories and Canadian Standards Association requirements.

The area 54 in arms the rms 52 contact one another presents substantially flat side surfaces which engage the hook-shaped extremities 18 of the heating element wires when the latter are inserted thereinto. In FIG. 3, the bracket 16 has been broken apart so that one heating element end can be installed, while the other is not installed thereby showing the parts of the receptacle both assembled and disassembled relation. The substantially flat contacting surfaces allows for relatively large area electrical contact, and hence avoids hot spots due to undesired areas of high current density. Since the terminals are of spring brass and are located by the extremities 58 and by the lances 60, there is a certain amount of float to the terminals within the bores, allowing them to move somewhat from side to side to accept either 9/16 inch or 5/8 inch centers of surface heating units, and also allowing a certain twist to each terminal to allow it to accept the respective extremities 18 of the heating element. The crimp connection of the terminals to the wires avoids the necessity of providing costly screw terminals and further avoids the necessity of paying for connection of such screw terminals.

The present range surface receptacle further includes a sheet metal mounting bracket 68. This mounting bracket includes a top web 70 having a pair of integral, downwardly directed side walls or flanges 72, each having a rectangular aperture 74 therein to receive the respective protuberance 40 on the side of the housing 22, and thereby to retain the housing in the bracket. The side walls 72 are provided with forwardly extending arms 76 which flare outwardly slightly at 78, and which then converge at 80 to outwardly flared tips 82. Inwardly struck resilient tabs 84 are provided for engagement with the ends of the bracket 16 substantially to center the conductor extremities 18 with the terminals 42 as may be seen at the lower portion of FIG. 3.

The forward end of the web 70 of the bracket is provided with an upturned flange 86 having a hole 88 therein to receive a screw to mount the bracket on a suitable part of the range. Portions of the juncture between the flange 86 and the web 70 are struck or embossed at 90 to rigidify the juncture. Toward the rear end of the web a tab 92 is struck up for engagement with a further mounting part in the range. The tab 92 is shown as substantially on a 45.degree. angle, but it can be bent up more nearly to a right angle, or can be bent down further to a shallow acute angle, in accordance with the requirements of a given range.

A modification of the bracket is shown fragmentarily in FIG. 5, similar parts being identified by similar numerals to avoid prolixity of description. The essential difference is that the wall 86a, rather than extending straight up, is bent back at 90.degree. at 94 to form a horizontal portion for cooperation with a range of different description.

A further modification of the bracket mounting structure is shown in FIG. 6, the parts being almost identical with those in FIG. 5, and the suffix b being used this time for identification. The distinction in this instance is that the forward extending portion of the web is provided with an upward, diagonal offset 96, again for cooperation with a particular range.

An optional feature to the bracket is illustrated in FIG. 1, comprising a pair of longitudinal ribs 98 extending from the main portion of the web 70 into the forwardly extending portion thereof, thereby to render the forward portion more rigid with regard to the main portion of the web. These ribs may be provided or not, in accordance with individual range requirements, in order to provide for either a rigid mount or a floating mount of the receptacle body, and thereby to allow for a greater or lesser mismatch between the surface heating unit and the receptacle. Thus, with or without the ribs, and with the three variations of the mounting structure at the forward portion of the bracket there is a provision for six different variations.

As noted heretofore, the receptacle body is molded from high temperature phenolic resin and it will be appreciated that this is deadbacked after the terminals have been crimped on the wire and inserted, thereby eliminating the need for a secondary cover. The terminals, being fabricated from high temperature spring brass, are crimped onto the wires, eliminating secondary terminal or screw connections, either of which is expensive. Since the crimp section is rather small in cross section, and since it is now apparent that connection between the terminals and the extremities 18 of the heating element are on side surfaces only, it is immaterial whether the terminals are inserted right side up or upside-down. In other words, there are two correct 180.degree. positions, thus allowing for flexibility on the assembly line. The spring nature of the terminals, and hence the slight side to side floating permitted insures acceptance of either 9/16 inch or 5/8 inch centers of surface units, either of which is standard in the industry. The bracket, besides centering the metal plate 16, also provides a ground connection from the mounting of the bracket on the range to this metal plate and hence to the outer surfaces of the heating element.

It will now be apparent that I have disclosed a superior range surface receptacle which is readily constructed and assembled at low cost. The various examples of the invention as herein shown and described will be understood as being for purposes of illustration only. Various changes in structure will no doubt occur to those skilled in the art, and will be understood as forming a part of this invention insofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Note that the bevelled or diagonal front face of the receptacle body allows the surface heating element to be pivoted up for cleaning and permits withdrawal without requiring bodily movement of the entire heating element away from the receptacle longitudinally of the receptacle.

Claims

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A range surface receptacle comprising a one-piece insulating body having a pair of spaced bores extending longitudinally therethrough, each bore having forward and rear stops therein, a pair of similar sheet metal terminals respectively received in said bores, each terminal including a base of substantial width and having arms extending at right angles from said base and forwardly thereof in converging relation to a gripping area and thereafter diverging to provide extremities engaging the forward stops, each terminal arm having a rearwardly extending resilient lance engaging a rear stop to prevent retraction of the respective terminal, each terminal having a rear portion thereof adopted for connection to a lead wire, and a one-piece sheet metal bracket embracing and gripping said insulating body and having means thereon for attachment to a range.

2. A range surface receptacle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the forward surface of the body is diagonal.

3. A range surface receptacle as set forth in claim 1 wherein each terminal is crimped on a wire extending rearwardly from and dead backing said receptacle.

4. A range surface receptacle as set forth in claim 2 wherein each terminal is crimped on a wire extending rearwardly from and dead backing said receptacle.