U.S. patent number 3,808,577 [Application Number 05/337,869] was granted by the patent office on 1974-04-30 for magnetic self-aligning quick-disconnect for a telephone or other communications equipment.
Invention is credited to William R. Mathauser.
United States Patent |
3,808,577 |
Mathauser |
April 30, 1974 |
MAGNETIC SELF-ALIGNING QUICK-DISCONNECT FOR A TELEPHONE OR OTHER
COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT
Abstract
A quick-disconnect, magnetic, self-aligning telephone jack or
other communication equipment connection, including a male
connector half and a female connector half, each with self-aligning
magnetic means therein to hold the male and female halves together
and cooperating electrical contact means in the male and female
connector halves to establish electrical connection between a
telephone or other communication equipment and a source of
electrical energy.
Inventors: |
Mathauser; William R. (Sun
Valley, ID) |
Family
ID: |
23322367 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/337,869 |
Filed: |
March 5, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/39; 439/21;
439/246; 439/379; 439/180; 439/289 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
13/6205 (20130101); H01R 24/38 (20130101); H01R
31/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
13/62 (20060101); H01l 011/30 () |
Field of
Search: |
;339/12R,12V,12L,12G,64R,64M,65,27,46,47R,47C,48,222 ;335/205,285
;48/26A |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gay; Bobby R.
Assistant Examiner: Hafer; Robert A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Shoemaker and Mattare
Claims
1. A magnetic, self-aligning, quick disconnect electrical connector
for communications equipment and the like, comprising male and
female connector halves, a plurality of annular, radially spaced
apart, ring-shaped electrical contacts in each half, the contacts
in one half being in aligned, interengaged relationship with the
contacts in the other half when the halves are connected together,
means rigidly fixed substantially in the center of the respective
halves including a magnet in at least one of the halves and
concentric with the electrical contacts and in aligned, cooperating
relationship with one another to releasably and magnetically hold
the halves connected together, one of said halves having a shaped
indexing recess in the magnetic means therein at the center thereof
in concentric relationship with the contacts, and a shaped indexing
projection on the magnet means in the other half in the center
thereof in concentric relationship with the contacts and
substantially identical in size and shape to the recess in the
other half and fitting in the recess to index the halves together
when they are connected to one another, said centrally disposed
indexing recess and projection and said concentric contacts and
magnet means enabling the halves to be quickly and easily connected
together in any relative rotational position
2. A connector as in claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a
telephone jack, the male half of the jack is adapted to be
connected to a telephone and the female half of the jack is
connected to a source of electrical energy for the telephone, the
electrical contacts in the female half being recessed therein and
connected to said source of electrical energy, and the electrical
contacts in said male half projecting outwardly therefrom for
engagement with the recessed contact means in the female half when
the
3. A telephone jack as in claim 2, wherein the contact rings in the
female half are floatably mounted and are yieldably urged outwardly
toward the
4. A telephone jack as in claim 3, wherein the electrical contact
rings in the male half of the jack are fixed against movement and
project forwardly
5. A telephone jack as in claim 2, wherein the female half of the
jack is secured to a wall or like surface and is connected directly
to the source of electrical energy, and the male half of the
telephone jack is connected
6. A telephone jack as in claim 2, wherein the male and female
halves of the jack comprise an adapter for use with a conventional
telephone jack, and the female half of the telephone jack has
electrical contact means thereon operatively connected to the ring
shaped electrical contacts for cooperative engagement with a
conventional female telephone jack secured to a wall or other
surface, and the male half of the telephone jack has electrical
contact means thereon operatively connected with the ring shaped
electrical contacts for cooperative engagement with the
electrical
7. A telephone jack as in claim 6, wherein the female half of the
adapter comprises a substantially frusto-conically shaped body
having a rearwardly extending, flared skirt defining a recess
therewithin for receiving the conventional female telephone jack,
and said electrical contact means thereon comprises a pair of
rearwardly axially extending electrical contact prongs secured to
said body for insertion in a pair of spaced sockets in the
conventional female telephone jack, and the electrical contact
means in the male half of the telephone jack comprises a pair of
spaced sockets therein for cooperative engagement with a pair of
axially projecting electrical contact prongs on a conventional male
telephone
8. A connector as in claim 1, wherein the indexing recess and
projection
9. A connector as in claim 8, wherein the female connector half
comprises a body of electrical insulating material and having a
front face and a rear face, said electrical contacts, said magnet
means and said recess being in said front face thereof, said body
having an opening therethrough extending from the bottom of the
recess through the rear face thereof, and a light means at said
rear face adjacent said opening to render said
10. A telephone jack as in claim 5, wherein the female half of the
jack comprises a circular body of electrical insulating material
and having a front face and a rear face, an annular peripheral
skirt on the rear face extending rearwardly from the rear face
thereof, a plurality of fasteming means extended axially through a
peripheral portion of said body and through said skirt and into the
wall, said magnet means, said indexing recess and said electrical
contacts in said front face, said male half of the jack comprises a
circular body of electrical insulating material and having a front
face and a rear face, a handle means secured to the rear face, and
said electrical contacts, said magnet means and said indexing
projection on said front face.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to electrical connectors and in particular,
to connectors for audio communication equipment, such as telephone
jacks, for establishing electrical connections between a source of
energy and a telephone or other communications equipment.
Conventional telephone jacks have male and female halves with
cooperating recess and projecting prong means on the halves which
must be aligned and coupled together to establish electrical
connection between the halves. The halves are held in assembled
relationship by frictional engagement of the projecting prongs with
the recess or socket means in the other half.
In a typical conventional telephone jack, the projecting prongs are
on the half of the jack which is connected to the telephone. With
conventional telephone jacks, the prongs and sockets must be
properly aligned to insure proper electrical connection between the
halves, and this is sometimes difficult to accomplish if, for
example, the jack is in an unlighted area or if the jack is in a
relatively difficult area to reach. Further, conventional telephone
jacks are susceptible to damage if the telephone or telephone cord
is pulled either intentionally or accidentally, since the elongate
prongs are easily bent or broken under such circumstances.
With the present invention, the unique magnetic means in the male
and female halves for holding the connector, or in particular, the
telephone jack in connected relationship holds the halves together
under normal useage; but if the telephone or telephone cord is
pulled either intentionally or accidentally, the magnetic means
enables the halves to be readily disconnected to prevent damage
thereto. Moreover, the electrical contact means in the telephone
jack of the present invention does not have elongate projecting
means thereon as in conventional telephone jacks and accordingly,
if the halves of the jack are separated, there is little likelihood
of damage to the electrical contacts.
Still further, the unique telephone jack of the invention has means
enabling the male and female halves of the jack to be connected in
any rotational position relative to one another and still insure
proper electrical connection therebetween thus obviating the
necessity of indexing the halves before they are coupled together.
This enables the telephone jack to be quickly and easily connected
in unlighted areas or areas which are relatively inaccessible.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a unique connector for
a telephone or other communication equipment, wherein magnetic
means are utilized to hold the male and female halves of the
connector in assembled relationship.
Another object of this invention is to provide a unique telephone
jack wherein male and female halves are provided with means whereby
the male and female halves of the jack may be connected together in
more than one position relative to one another to establish proper
electrical connection between the halves.
A still further and more specific object of the invention is to
provide a unique quick-disconnect magnetic self-aligning telephone
jack wherein magnetic means are utilized to hold male and female
halves of the jack together, and wherein the electrical contact
means in each of the halves is such as to enable the halves to be
connected together in more than one position relative to one
another and establish proper electrical connection therebetween and
wherein the electrical contact means does not project a substantial
distance from either of the halves and thus substantially reduces
the likelihood of damage to the electrical contact means in the
event of accidental or improper disconnection of the halves.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first form of telephone
jack according to the invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view in elevation, taken along line 2--2 in
FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the female half of the telephone jack and
with the female half connected to a wall or the like and to a
source of electrical energy.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view in elevation taken along line 4--4 in
FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a front or plan view of the male connector half which is
connected to the telephone.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view in elevation of the male and female
connector halves in connected together relationship.
FIG. 7 is an exploded view in section of a modified telephone jack,
wherein adapter means are provided for utilization with
conventional telephone jack constructions.
FIG. 8 is an exploded view in section of the modified telephone
jack with the adapter units connected to the respective male and
female conventional telephone jack parts.
FIG. 9 is a view taken along line 9--9 in FIG. 7.
FIG. 10 is a view taken along line 10--10 in FIG. 7.
FIG. 11 is a view taken along line 11--11 in FIG. 7.
FIG. 12 is a view taken along line 12--12 in FIG. 7.
FIG. 13 is a view taken along line 13--13 in FIG. 7.
FIG. 14 is a view taken along line 14--14 in FIG. 7.
FIG. 15 is a sectional view in elevation of the modified, telephone
jack adapter of FIG. 7 shown in completely assembled
relationship.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like
parts throughout the several views, a first form of telephone jack
is indicated generally at J in FIG. 1 and comprises a male
connector half M and a female connector half F. The female half F
of the jack comprises a substantially cylindrically shaped housing
10 of a suitable insulating material such as rubber, synthetic
plastic or the like and having a rear face 11 and a front face 12,
and an annular peripheral skirt 10' extending rearwardly from the
periphery of rear face 11.
A plurality of circumferentially spaced bores or openings 13 extend
through the housing from the front to the rear face thereof
adjacent the outer periphery of the housing, and the outer ends of
the bores 13 are countersunk or enlarged at 14 in the outer face 12
of the housing.
A plurality of elongate screws or the like 15 extend through the
openings and into a wall or other surface W for attaching the
housing to the wall and the outer ends or heads of the screws are
recessed in the countersunk or enlarged portions 14 of the bores 13
to prevent a flush outer surface on the front face of the
housing.
Spaced radially inwardly from the screws 15 are a pair of
concentric radially spaced apart annular channels or grooves 16
opening through the front face 12 of the housing and terminating
short of the rear face of the housing.
An annular, floating electrical contact ring 17 is fitted within
each of the annular channels 16, and the contact rings 17 are
recessed inwardly in the channels 16, spaced behind the front face
12 of the housing. A plurality of elongate pins 18 are connected to
each of the rings 17 and extended rearwardly therefrom through
openings in the housing at the rearward or base end of the channels
16 for guiding movement of the rings 16, and a coil spring means is
positioned between each of the contact rings 17 and the bottom of
the channels 16 around the guide pins 18 for yieldably urging the
contact rings 17 outwardly to the position shown in FIG. 2.
The rearward ends of the pins 18 which project rearwardly through
the bottoms or bases of the channels 16 extend into an enlarged
recessed area 20 in the rear face 11 of the housing 10.
A pair of electrical leads 21 and 22, respectively, are connected
to the inner and outer contact rings 17 to connect the contact
rings to a source of electrical energy for the telephone.
A central, relatively enlarged, cylindrically shaped indexing
recess 23 is formed in the front face 12 of the housing and opens
through the front face but terminates short of the rear face or
recess 20 thereof to define a disc-shaped rear wall 24. A suitable
magnetic means 25 such as a permanent magnet of suitable material
or an electromagnet or armature, as desired, is fitted within the
opening or recess 23, and the front surface of the magnet means 25
is flush with the front face 12 of the housing.
A central, frusto-conically shaped recess 26 is formed in the
magnet means 25 and tapers rearwardly inwardly from the front face
thereof toward the rear surface of the magnet means, and a
relatively short cylindrically shaped opening 27 extends rearwardly
from the rearward end of the frusto-conically shaped recess 26
through the rear of the magnet means 25 and into registry with a
correspondingly shaped opening 28 through the rear wall 24 of the
housing.
A suitable light means such as 29 is positioned in the recess 20
behind the openings 28 and 27 so that in unlighted areas the female
connector half F is readily visible.
The magnet means 25 may be suitably grounded by means of a ground
wire g, if desired.
The male half M of the jack likewise comprises a substantially
cylindrically shaped housing or body 30 of a suitable insulating
material such as rubber, synthetic plastic or the like and has a
front face 31 and a rear face 32. A pair of annular, concentric,
radially spaced, relatively shallow grooves or channels 33 are
formed in the front faces 31 of the housing 30 spaced radially
inwardly from the outer circumference thereof, and a pair of
suitable, annular, fixed electrical contact rings 34 are suitably
secured in the annular channels 33 in alignment with the contacts
17 in the female half for establishing electrical connection
therewith when the male and female halves are connected or coupled
together.
A pair of electrical leads 35 and 36 are connected with the outer
and inner electrical contact rings, respectively, and with a cord
37 which is connected in turn with a telephone.
An enlarged, substantially cylindrically shaped recess 38 is formed
in the front face 31 of the housing or body 30, and a substantially
cylindrically shaped magnet means 35 of a suitable magnetic
material and comprising either a permanent magnet or an
electromagnet or armature, as desired, is secured within the recess
38 and has a conically indexing shaped projection 40 affixed
thereto and extending forwardly fron the front face of the magnet
means 39, the front face of the magnet means being flush with the
front face 31 of the body or housing, whereas the contact rings 34
project axially forwardly from the face 31 from the body.
The conical projection 40 has a size and shape corresponding to the
size and shape of the recess 26 in the magnet means 25 in the
female half of the jack so that when the halves are coupled
together, the conical projection 40 fits within the recess 26 to
properly align the male and female halves with the contact rings 34
received in the annular channels 16 and in engagement with the
floating contact rings 17 in the channels 16.
A suitable ground lead g' extends from the telephone through the
cord 37 and is connected to the magnet means 39 so that when the
halves are connected a ground is established between the male and
female halves.
A suitable pull knob or handle means 41 of a suitable material such
as wood, plastic, rubber or the like is suitably secured to the
rear face 32 of the body 30 and has an enlarged recess 42 therein
for receiving the electrical leads 35, 36 and g' of the cable or
cord 37.
Thus, as can readily be seen, in this form of the invention, the
male and female halves may be quickly and easily connected together
or disconnected, and the annular contact means in the halves enable
the halves to be connected together in any relative rotational
position therebetween and still establish proper electrical
connection therebetween. Moreover, the recessed contacts 17 which
are connected to the source of electrical energy, prevent
inadvertent shorting across these leads since they are recessed
behind the front surface 12 of the housing 10. The conically shaped
projection and recessed means on the respective halves
automatically align the halves when they are brought into proximity
with one another, and the magnet means actually pull or snap the
halves together and securely holds them against accidental
displacement.
In FIGS. 7 through 15 a modified telephone jack is illustrated and
comprises an adapter for attachment to conventional, existing
telephone jacks to provide them with the same advantages which
accrue to the unique telephone jack illustrated and described with
reference to FIGS. 1 through 6.
A unique telephone jack adapter is indicated generally at A and
includes a female connector half F' and a male connector half M',
the female connector half F' being attachable to a conventional
female telephone jack connector FJ attached to a wall W or the
like, and the male adapter half M' being attachable to a
conventional male telephone jack connector MJ, which is connected
through a cord or cable 37' to the telephone. The conventional
female half of the telephone jack FJ is of well-known construction
and includes a plurality of sockets, including a pair of spaced
apart upper sockets 43 and a pair of spaced apart lower sockets 44,
the space between the upper sockets being greater than the space
between the lower sockets, and the sockets 43 and 44 extending
rearwardly from the front face 45 of the telephone jack for
receiving a pair of spaced apart upper prongs 46 and lower prongs
47 projecting axially forwardly from the front face 48 of the
conventional male jack MJ. The different spacing between the upper
prongs and sockets and the lower prongs and sockets requires that
the halves be properly indexed before they can be coupled
together.
The female half F' of the adapter A comprises a substantially
frusto-conically shaped body or housing 49 of a suitable insulating
material such as synthetic plastic, rubber or the like and having a
flush front face 50 and a rearwardly extending, annular,
frusto-conically shaped or outwardly flared skirt 51 defining an
enlarged recess 52 therein for receiving the conventional female
jack FJ when the female half F' of the adapter A is attached
thereto. A pair of rearwardly projecting upper prongs 53 and a pair
of lower prongs 54 are secured with the recess 52 in upstanding
bosses 55 and 56, respectively, on the rear surface of the front
wall 57 of the body or housing 49.
The pairs of prongs 53 and 54 are the equivalent of, or correspond
to, the prongs 46 and 47 on the conventional male jack MJ, and are
received in the sockets 43 and 44 of the conventional female jack
FJ when the adapter F' is attached thereto.
As in the previously described embodiment, a pair of annular,
radially spaced, concentric channels 16' are in the front face 50
of the body 49 and terminate short of the rear surface or wall 57.
A pair of annular, ring-shaped electrical contacts 17' are fitted
within the annular channels 16' as in the previous embodiment and
are similarly urged forwardly by spring means 19' and are guided in
their movement by rods or pins 18' extending through the wall 57,
and the rings are connected by suitable electrical leads 58 and 59
to the pins 53 and 54.
A central recess 23' is formed in the front face 50 of the body 49
and a suitable magnet means 25' such as a permanent magnet of
electromagnet or armature or the like is secured within the recess
23' as in the previous embodiment, and a central, frusto-conically
shaped indexing recess 26' is formed therein.
The male half M' of the jack adapter comprises a disc-shaped or
cylindrically shaped body 60 of a suitable insulating material such
as synthetic plastic, rubber or the like and has a front surface or
face 61 with a pair of annular channels 33' therein as in the
previous embodiment and with a pair of annular electrical contact
rings 34' therein as in the previously described embodiment.
A suitable magnet means 39' corresponding to the previously
described magnet means 39 is secured within a recess 38' in the
front face of the male half M' of the adapter and has a forwardly
projecting conical indexing projection 40' thereon for a
corresponding size and shape to the recess 26' in the female half
F' of the adapter just as in the previously described embodiment.
However, rather than a handle means 41 as in the previously
described embodiment, the body 60 has an attaching means 62 secured
to the rear surface of the body and sockets 63 and 64 are formed in
the attaching means for receiving the prongs 46 and 47 on the
conventional male jack MJ. Suitable electrical leads 35' and 36'
establish connection between the ring-shaped contacts 34' and the
sockets 63 and 64 and thus the pins or prongs 46 and 47.
Thus, as seen in FIG. 8, the female adapter half F' is simply
attached to the conventional female jack FJ and the male adapter
half M' is attached to the conventional male jack MJ, and the two
portions thus assembled are then attached as seen in FIG. 15, with
the adapter A providing the same beneficial results to a
conventional telephone jack as is obtained with the unique magnetic
telephone jack illustrated and described with reference to FIGS. 1
through 6.
For the purpose of reducing the weight of the male half of either
of the forms of the invention, it is desirable to place the amature
or electromagnet in the female half and the permanent magnet or
other magnet means in the male half.
In one specific example of a telephone jack constructed according
to the invention, the female half has an overall diameter of about
2 inches and an overall thickness of about 1/2 inch. The male half
also has an overall diameter of about 2 inches, and a thickness of
about 3/4 inch.
As this invention may be embodied in several forms without
departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the
present embodiment is therefore illustrated and not restrictive,
since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims
rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that
fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their
functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents, are
therefore, intended to be embraced by those claims.
* * * * *