U.S. patent number 3,865,463 [Application Number 05/414,734] was granted by the patent office on 1975-02-11 for electrical adapter plug.
This patent grant is currently assigned to A. G. Busch & Co. Inc.. Invention is credited to Albert G. Busch.
United States Patent |
3,865,463 |
Busch |
February 11, 1975 |
ELECTRICAL ADAPTER PLUG
Abstract
An electrical adapter connector for connecting leads of a low
voltage electrical appliance to a power source of a cigarette
lighter receptacle. The connector includes an axially elongated
housing having an outer wall which is insertable into the cigarette
lighter receptacle. A bore is provided at the forward end of the
housing and an opening is provided at the rear end of the housing.
A positive contact member is slidably carried within the axial bore
and projects outwardly beyond the housing. A closure is secured to
the housing and over the rear opening. A pair of spaced channels
are defined between the housing and the closure. A first electrical
conductor is positioned within the housing and the front end
thereof is in electrical contact with the positive contact. The
rear end of the positive conductor projects outwardly from the
housing through one of the spaced channels. A negative electrical
conductor has an offset portion which extends beyond the periphery
of the housing. The rear of the negative electrical conductor
projects through the other of the spaced channels. Leads from an
appliance are crimped onto the outer ends of the two electrical
conductors. A cap on the rear of the housing electrically isolates
the rear of the innerconnected electrical conductors and power
leads.
Inventors: |
Busch; Albert G. (Carefree,
AZ) |
Assignee: |
A. G. Busch & Co. Inc.
(Chicago, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
23642719 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/414,734 |
Filed: |
November 12, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/668;
200/51.09; 439/700; 439/701 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N
3/14 (20130101); H01R 24/58 (20130101); H01R
2103/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60N
3/14 (20060101); B60N 3/00 (20060101); H01R
24/04 (20060101); H01R 24/00 (20060101); H01r
033/30 () |
Field of
Search: |
;339/28,29,31-33,182,183,176,95,206 ;240/8.14,8.18 ;200/51.09
;219/202 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Frazier; Roy D.
Assistant Examiner: Lewis; Terrell P.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Molinare, Allegretti, Newitt &
Witcoff
Claims
What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:
1. An electrical connector for connecting electrical power leads to
an electrical power source in cigarette lighter receptacles, said
connector comprising, in combination, a unitary, substantially
cylindrical housing having an outer periphery, sized and shaped for
insertion into said receptacle, an axial bore at one end of said
housing and an opening at the other opening of said housing, a
peripheral opening in a side of said housing, a first contact
member slidably carried in said axial bore and projecting axially
outwardly beyond said housing for making electrical contact with a
first source of electrical power in said receptacle, a closure
member for said opening on said other end of said housing and
defining a first enclosed chamber within said housing, cooperating
interconnecting means unitary with and on both said housing and on
said closure member for defining the sole means for interconnecting
said closure member to said housing, a pair of spaced channel means
defined between said housing and said closure member for providing
communication between said chamber and the exterior of said
housing, a first electrical conducting member positioned within
said chamber and, at one end thereof, being in electrical
conducting and biasing relationship with said first contact member,
and at the other end thereof, projecting outwardly from said
chamber through one of said channel means, and a second electrical
conducting member positioned within said chamber and defining a
second portion extending laterally outwardly beyond the periphery
of said housing and through said peripheral opening in said
housing, said second electrical conducting member providing
electrical contact with a second power source in said receptacle,
the rear portion of said second electrical conducting member
projecting outwardly from said chamber and through the other of
said spaced channel means.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein said axial bore includes a unitary
cylindrical wall portion, said first contact member is cylindrical
and is slidably carried within said cylindrical wall portion, and
cooperating means are provided on said first contact member and
said cylindrical wall portion for providing axial slidable and
non-rotatable relationship therebetween.
3. The device of claim 1 including means defining the sole
interconnecting means therebetween for aligning said channel means
with at least said peripheral opening in said housing, and said
second conducting member is in substantial alignment with said
peripheral opening and with one of said channel means.
4. The device of claim 1 including insulating means positioned
within said housing chamber for electrically insulating said first
and second conducting members from each other.
5. The device of claim 1 including a cap interconnected to said
housing for defining a second enclosed chamber between said closure
member and said cap, said cap and said housing including unitary
cooperating means defining the sole means for interconnecting said
cap to said housing, said second chamber containing the outer ends
of said electrical conducting members.
6. The device of claim 5 wherein said leads are each connected to
said conductive members with solderless, electrically conducting,
crimping members.
7. The device of claim 5 wherein said cap and said housing include
cooperating, non-rotatable, locking means therebetween.
8. The device of claim 8 wherein said housing is axially elongated
for projecting outwardly a sufficient distance from said receptacle
for manually grasping said connector without the need of grasping
the leads thereof.
9. An electrical connector for connecting electrical power leads to
an electrical power source in cigarette lighter receptacles, said
connector comprising, in combination, a cylindrical housing having
an outer periphery, sized and shaped for insertion into said
receptacle, an axial bore at one end of said housing and an opening
at the other opening of said housing, a peripheral opening in a
side of said housing, a first contact member slidably carried in
said axial bore and projecting axially outwardly beyond said
housing for making electrical contact with a first source of
electrical power in said receptacle, a closure member for said
opening on said other end of said housing, cooperating means
unitary with and on both said housing and on said closure member
for securing said closure member to said housing, a pair of spaced
channel means defined between said housing and said closure member
for providing communication between said chamber and the exterior
of said housing, a first electrical conducting member positioned
within said chamber and, at one end thereof, being in electrical
conducting and biasing relationship with said first contact member,
and at the other end thereof, projecting outwardly from said
chamber through one of said channel means, a second electrical
conducting member positioned within said chamber and defining a
second portion extending laterally outwardly beyond the periphery
of said housing and through said peripheral opening in said
housing, said second electrical conducting member providing
electrical contact with a second power source in said receptacle,
the rear portion of said second electrical conducting member
projecting outwardly from said chamber and through the other of
said spaced channel means, a cap secured to said housing,
cooperating means unitary with and on both said housing and said
cap for securing said cap to said housing, and electrical leads
passing through said cap and electrically connected to the
projecting ends of said conducting members.
10. The device of claim 1 wherein said first contact member is
lockably received within said axial bore, said axial bore and said
first contact member including cooperating locking means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND DESCRIPTION
OF THE PRIOR ART
This invention relates to electrical connecting devices and
particularly to electrical connectors which may be inserted into
the sockets or receptacle of automotive cigarette lighter
assemblies and the like so that various low voltage appliances may
be operated by the electrical system of the vehicle.
In recent years, a great variety of electrical appliances have
become available for operation by the low voltage, direct current
power of the electrical system of a car, power boat, camper, and
the like. The appliance is generally interconnected to the
electrical system of the vehicle by use of an adapter plug or
connector which is inserted into the cigarette lighter socket or
receptacle of an automobile or other vehicle. Electrical appliances
and accessories which can be operated from a vehicle electrical
system vary widely and include portable television sets, tape
recorders, trouble lights, window defrosters, electric shavers,
electric toothbrushes, can openers, food mixers, and the like. As
stated previously, these accessories are normally interconnected to
the electrical system of the automobile, boat or camper, through
the cigarette lighter receptacle by means of an electrical
connector which is inserted into the receptacle which includes
positive and negative contacts for thereby interconnecting the
electric power to the accessory to be operated. In this way, the
accessory can be connected to the battery or electrical system of
the automobile or the like.
Such prior art devices useful for electrical connection within
cigarette lighters include Focosi U.S. Pat. No. 2,954,544, Schwartz
U.S. Pat. No. 3,099,505, and Busch et al. U.S. Pat. No.
3,377,610.
Although the connectors of the type shown and described in the
above identified patents have been and are being used successfully
and to advantage, because of the wider use of these adapter plugs
in view of the increasing number of appliances being used
therewith, there is a greater demand for providing adapter plugs to
the O.E.M. manufacturer of the low voltage accessories which can be
attached easily by them to the electrical leads of the appliance.
Since the O.E.M. manufacturers using the plugs vary from snall
manufacturers to large manufacturers, depending on the appliance
and depending on the manufacturer's own specifications and
requirements, electrical leads of varying specifications are
interconnected to the adapter plug by the applicance manufacturer.
For this reason, many manufacturers prefer or require that the
adapter plug be installed by them to their own appliance or
accessory at their own plant by their own employees. It is
considered highly desirable to provide an adapter plug for
insertion into cigarette lighters of vehicles wherein lead cords of
different specifications may be easily and conveniently assembled
to the adapter plug by the manufacturer itself.
Additional important design considerations for these adapter plugs
are that they should be sturdy, reliable in use, and easily
inserted and withdrawn from the cigarette lighter receptacle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide an
improved electrical adapter plug or connector useful for insertion
into a cigarette lighter socket or receptacle of various vehicles,
wherein the adapter plug is characterized by the ease in which an
accessory manufacturer using the plug may attach wire leads of
different sizes to the electrical terminals of the adapter
plug.
It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved
adapter plug particularly useful for interconnection to cigarette
lighter sockets or receptacles of vehicles for low voltage
operation of various appliances and accessories, wherein the
adapter plug is characterized by having two enclosed chambers, one
of the chambers enclosing the interconnections between the two wire
leads of the appliance and the ends of electrical conducting
members of the adapter plug.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a unique
adapter plug for insertion into cigarette lighter receptacles of
vehicles wherein the adapter plug includes a closure member for one
end of the housing and which defines an alignment element for
aligning spring type electrical connectors in the body of the
housing, and also functioning to provide channel means between the
housing means and the closure member for passage therethrough of
the outer ends of the spring connectors for securement of the
appliance power leads thereto.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved
adapter plug for interconnection to low voltage appliances or
accessories which may be operated by insertion of the adapter plug
or connector into the socket or receptacle of an automobile, truck,
camper, boat, or the like, wherein the adapter plug is
characterized by its versatility for use with a variety of
accessories, its reliability in use, its simplicity in
construction, and its economy of manufacture and assembly, the
entire assembly being held together without the use of extra
fasteners as all interconnected parts are secured together by a
snapfit.
Further purposes and objects of this invention will appear as the
specification proceeds.
The foregoing objects are accomplished by providing an electrical
connector or adapter plug for connection of the power leads of an
electrical appliance to the electrical power source of an
automotive cigarette lighter receptacle or the like, wherein the
connector includes a housing having an outer peripheral wall which
is sized and shaped for insertion into the receptacle with an axial
bore at the front end thereof, and an aperture at the rear end
thereof. A peripheral opening is provided in a side wall of the
housing intermediate the opposite ends thereof. A positive contact
member is slidably carried within the axial bore, and projects
outwardly beyond the housing for making electrical contact with the
positive source of electrical power within the receptacle. A
closure member is interconnected to the housing and closes the
opening in the rear end of the housing and defines an enclosed
chamber for the housing. A positive electrical conducting member is
positioned within the chamber and at its front end is an electrical
conductive and biasing relationship with the first contact member.
The rear end of the positive electrical conducting member projects
outwardly from the chamber through one of the channel means defined
between the closure member and the housing. The negative electrical
conducting member is positioned in the first chamber and has a
portion which extends laterally outwardly beyond the periphery of
the housing, is biased therefrom and defines the negative
electrical contact for interconnection to the negative source of
power in the receptacle. The rear portion of the negative
electrical conductor projects outwardly from the chamber and
through the other of the spaced channel means. A cap member is
interconnected to the housing and defines a second chamber which
encloses the outer ends of the two electrical connectors, which are
interconnected in the second chamber to the lead wires from the
appliance or accessory to be operated from the electrical power in
the cigarette lighter receptacle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A particular embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in
the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, taken along the line
1--1 of FIG. 2, through an adapter plug embodying my invention;
FIG. 2 is an exterior view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 rotated
90.degree.;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken along the lines
3--3 of FIG. 1 illustrating the structure of the adapter plug at
the forward end thereof;
FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line
4--4 showing structure at the forward end of the adapter plug;
and
FIG. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line
5--5 of FIG. 1 illustrating the rear portion of the adapter
plug.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
My improved adapter plug, generally 10, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 is
seen as it is being inserted into a receptacle or socket 12 of a
cigarette lighter assembly of the type generally found in
automobiles, boats, campers, and the like. The electrical power of
the automobile electrical system is generally a 12 volt system and
is available in the receptacle 12. When the automobile or other
vehicle is not operating, the electrical power source is generally
the battery of the vehicle. When the engine is running, the power
source is the electrical generating system of the automobile. The
receptacle 12 has an electrical contact 14, usually positive, at
the central portion of the base of the receptacle. The side wall 16
of the receptacle 12 usually has a negative contact 18 defined
along its inner periphery. When contact portions of the plug 10, to
be hereinafter described, electrically contact the positive contact
14 and negative contact 18, electrical power, generally direct
current from the automotive electrical system, passes through the
plug or connector 10 to the appliance or accessory (not shown)
which is to be operated. It is to be understood that the plug 10
may be used with a wide variety of receptacles 12 of the type
commonly used in automobiles, trucks, campers and power boats.
The plug 10 includes a housing, generally 20, an enclosure member,
generally 22, a positive contact, generally 24, a positive
electrical conductor, generally 26, a negative electrical
conductor, generally 28, an insulating sleeve, generally 30, a cap,
generally 32, which is interconnected to the rear portion of the
outer periphery of the housing 20, positive and negative electrical
leads 34 and 36, respectively, passing through the cap 32, and a
pair of metallic crimping members 38 for securely attaching the
leads 34 and 36 to the contacts 26 and 28 respectively.
The housing 20 comprises a generally cylindrical outer wall 40
which includes a downwardly and inwardly inclined, forward
frusto-conical surface 42. The outer periphery of the wall 40 has a
diameter which is designed to be snugly received within the
receptacle 12 with sufficient diametrical spacing for proper
electrical contact to be accomplished between the negative contact
18, defined in the side wall 16, and the negative conductor 28, as
will be hereinafter described in greater detail. The frusto-conical
surface 42 of the housing 20 terminates with an annular outer front
surface 44 surrounding an opening defined by an axial bore 46 in
the front end of the housing 20. The axial bore 46 is defined by a
generally cylindrical wall 48 which extends rearwardly from the
surface 44 for a short distance, as approximately 25 percent of the
overall length of the housing 20, as seen in FIG. 1. As seen best
in FIGS. 1 and 2, the side wall 40 of the housing 20 includes a
longitudinally elongated, rectangular opening 50. The rear end of
the housing 20 includes a substantially circular opening 52.
The positive contact member 24 is slidably carried within the axial
bore 46 of the housing 20 and projects frontwardly beyond the
annular surface 44 for movement into contact with the positive
contact 14 in the receptacle 12. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the
contact 24 includes a substantially cylindrical side wall 54, the
front portion being corrugated and reduced in diameter relative to
the rear portion thereof, and a concave end wall 56 which is
movable into contact with the positive contact 14 within the
receptacle 12. The rear end of the positive contact member 24 is
open and the positive conductor 26 is lockably positioned therein,
as will be described.
As seen best in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the wall 48 defining the axial
bore 46 includes a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinal slots
58 therein. A pair of inwardly facing flanges 60 also project
inwardly from the rear end of the wall 48. A transverse tongue 62
on the connector 24 is slidably received within one of the slots 58
so as to guide the forward and rearward sliding movement of the
connector 24 in a non-rotatable path of travel. The flanges 60 act
to bear against the rear edge of the cylindrical side wall 54 of
the positive contact 24 to define a stop for preventing excessive
rearward movement thereof during insertion of the plug 10 into the
receptacle 12. In assembling the plug 10, the positive contact 24,
is snapped over the flanges 60 so as to define the positive,
fastener-free connection.
The positive conductor 26 is constructed from a flat spring member
of an electrical conducting material, such as copper or bronze. The
forward end of the positive conductor 26 includes an offset front
portion 64 which is lockably received within the interior of the
cylindrical side wall 54 of the positive contact 24, as best seen
in FIG. 1, the corrugated front portion and springable offset
portion cooperating to provide a locking relationship therebetween.
The central portion 68 of the conductor 26 is bent into a biasing
section for providing springability or biasing action for normally
biasing the positive conductor 26 outwardly or frontwardly from the
housing 20. The biasing pressure from the positive conductor 26
assures firm, positive, electrical contact with the positive
contact 14 of the receptacle 12. The rear portion of the conductor
26 extends rearwardly from the housing 20 and beyond the end
closure 22. The rear edge of the central portion 68 defines a stop
position so that the springable conductor cannot move so far
rearwardly as to adversely affect the biasing action of the
springable conductor.
The negative conductor 28 is, like the conductor 26, made from
brass or bronze. The negative conductor 28 includes a laterally
offset portion 70 which passes through the opening 50 in the side
wall 50 of the housing 20 to define a negative contact. As seen in
FIG. 2, the offset portion 70 substantially fills the entire
opening 50 and is in close proximity with the edges of the wall 40
defining the opening 50. The offset portion 70 is radially
springable or movable relative to the outer periphery of the wall
40 of the housing 20.
The forward end of the negative conductor 28 includes a lip 72
which is locked in place between a flange 74, defining the front
edge of the opening 50, and a portion of the outer periphery of the
wall 48 defining the axial bore 46 in the housing 20. The lip 72
cooperates with the flange 74 and wall 48 to limit the amount of
radial movement that can be imparted to the negative conductor 28
as the plug 10 is inserted into the receptacle 12. Since the
negative conductor 28 is constructed of a springable material,
positive contact is assured between the negative contact 18 defined
on the side wall 16 of the receptacle 12 and the offset contact
portion 70 of the negative conductor 28 after insertion into the
receptacle. The rear portion of the negative conductor 28 is
substantially flat and extends rearwardly from the offset portion
70 out of the housing 20 and beyond the end closure 22.
The end closure member 22 comprises an important feature of the
invention. The closure member 22 is generally cup-shaped, and
includes a substantially circular wall 76 and a cylindrical side
wall 78. Diametrically opposed channels 80, as seen best in FIGS. 1
and 5, are defined by the side wall 78 and the wall 40 of the
housing 20. The rear ends of the positive conductor 26 and negative
conductor 28 pass outwardly through the channels 80, as seen in
FIGS. 1 and 5. The inner surface of the rear portion of the wall 40
of the housing 20 includes elongated bosses 82 which generally
engage in the channels 80 of the closure member 22. The bosses 82
and channels 80 thereby cooperate to act as alignment or guide
means between the housing 20 and closure member 22. In this way,
the channels 80 are aligned relative to the rectangular opening 50
in the wall 40 so as to properly hold and align the outer end of
the negative conductor 28 relative to the opening 50. Additionally,
the closure member acts to hold the rear end of the positive
conductor 26 in a fixed position so that rotatable movement between
the positive contact 24 and the housing 20 is substantially
avoided.
At this point in time of the assembly of the plug 10, the plug 10
may be shipped to the manufacturer for attachment of the positive
and negative leads 34 and 36 to the positive and negative
conductors 26 and 28. The closuremember 22 defines an enclosed
chamber within the housing 20 in which the conductors 26 and 28 are
located. Preferably, in order to avoid any possible electrical
contact between the conductors 26 and 28 within the closed housing
chamber, the flexible insulating sleeve 30 is positioned in the
chamber exterior of the wall 48 of the axial bore 46 and acts to
electrically isolate the conductors 26 and 28 from each other to
prevent electrical contact, arcing or a short circuit
therebetween.
A manufacturer who wishes to assemble the leads 34 and 36 of a
particular accessory to the plug 10 is able to select wires 34 and
36 of a particular specification, as size, that is desired. The
leads 34 and 36 are first passed through the cap 32. The cap 32
includes a substantially cylindrical outer wall 86 and a unitary
circular end wall 88. The central portion of the end wall 88
includes an aperture 90 through which the appliance or accessory
leads 34 and 36 are passed. The stripped ends of the leads 34 and
36 are then electrically interconnected to the projecting outer
ends of the conductors 26 and 28. The crimping members 38 are
preferably used. The crimping members 38 comprise metallic,
formable members which can firmly be crimped around the wire ends
of the leads 34 and 36 and into firm electrical contacting
relationship with the projecting outer ends of the conductors 26
and 28. The crimping members 38 may be secured by any suitable hand
tool or by simply crimping devices, commonly available. The simple
attachment is important as it enables the O.E.M. manufacturer, both
small and large, to easily complete the assembly of the plugs
10.
When the cap 32 is connected to the housing 20, a second enclosed
chamber is defined between the closure member 22 and the cap 32
wherein basically only the electrical connections between the leads
34 and 36 and the conductors 26 and 28 are located. A plurality of
peripheral ridges 92 are located on the exterior, end portion of
the housing 20 and a plurality of peripheral grooves 94 are located
on the inner periphery of the outer wall 86 of the cap 32 for
providing a locking, non-rotating relationship therebetween.
Similarly, the end closure 22 includes a plurality of peripheral
ridges 96 which are in locking relationship with peripheral grooves
98 in the internal wall 40 of the housing 20.
From the foregoing, it is seen that I have provided a simple, and
highly useful adapter plug for insertion into the receptacle of
automobile cigarette lighters and the like, wherein the device has
two separate chambers formed therein. The first chamber contains
the major operating portion of the plug 10 and requires no assembly
by the user, while the second chamber encloses the electrical
connections of the leads with the conductors located within the
first chamber. The user merely makes the desired connection and
completes the plug assembly. The plug 10 is extremely versatile as
the manufacturer of the plug 10 may assemble the major portions
thereof, and yet enable the manufacturer of the accessories
utilizing the plugs 10 to select different leads and secure the
leads to the conductors of the plug 10. Alternatively, the plugs 10
can be shipped completely assembled with leads and end caps
thereon. The plug is simple in construction, has a simple
insulating sleeve between the conductor elements, and the overall
structure is economical and comprises molded parts of insulating
material and formed metal conducting elements. The overall length
of the plug 10 is sufficient for projecting the outer end thereof
beyond the dash board so that the plug may be withdrawn from the
lighter receptacle by grasping the cap portion of the plug and it
is not necessary to pull on the leads. Furthermore, the closure
member and the cap are secured to the housing without the use of
fasteners, and the conducting members are held in place in the plug
without any extra fasteners.
While in the foregoing, there has been provided a detailed
description of a particular embodiment of the present invention, it
is to be understood that all equivalents obvious to those having
skill in the art are to be included within the scope of the
invention as claimed.
* * * * *