US2899669A - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

1, 1959 B. J. JOHANSON 2,899,669

7 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed May 25, 1955 v 6 Sheets-$heet 1 22 6a ee, F'nGJS. 9 m a. I y

INVENTOR: BENGT JJOHANSON,

ATTORNEY- Aug. 11, 1959 Filed May 23. 1955 B. J. JOHANSON ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 a l 4 S. K I I BEN 15 81 95 BY 91 8X lNVE'NTOR'.

ATTORNEY.

Aug. 11, 1959 Filed May 25, 1955 B. J. JOHANSON ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 FKaJO.

Aug. 1, 1959 B. J. JGHANSON I 2,899,669

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR \NVENTOR:

BEN n- J. JOHANSON, BY SQ; ATTORNEY.

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 w N W 6 i 00 o F E 1 2. T 4 M kim m M Mr wwd. 7 8 E 3 $3 3 VJ N m U o m w mum Aug. 11, 1959 Filed May 23. .1955

2,899,669 1C6 Patentean 1!, 19 ,9

FEHECTRIGAL coNNEcroR difi lg l J .1 lbhan onnfle r Blames; lll-eiassigncnaby .mesn

ass gnments, to @Unite -Ga .-.,=Fast n efior p tion,

'1' invention relatesto separable-felectrical connectors and morq particularly to the i' type providing" two bogly -men ibers of insulating material each of whichcarries. a plurality of independent contact, members. arranged so ati he contac membersof,lne;bod ,.memberirictiom ,iallyen agethe cont t membersbtthe other bo vrmembei' ,vvhenjth dy memherslareco p e .toget r- .Qri object. of the present invent on. is t provide ton- ,nectonin which complementary contact members; of,- .the two; body members lareicompressed runder spring tension .Mhilmelectrically, "engaged ,and ,maintainedling tensioned ,,engagement" by an extraneous; fastener.,means operating to alockhthe body, members;vin. .coup led relation. As, a -,1esu1 t,, the .IQDSiOJJfidvCQHtfiCL gmembersioperate when, the nfa 'tener, means his,v released to, foreewth odytmem er Japan .,by their ,,own ,ilntensioning; action. Accordingly, pno rnanual .force vor Qthmthand;,manipulatibn in: the: ,way f giggin 1', rock ngirisznecessa y tons par t ath v conanector, bodies. v

g ltsisaanother object, cfzthe inventionetq proyide aguiek- :-,.diSGQnnect:conneC.t9r -.inewhich, identical; contact members Jam-c rrie by: ch :ofihe; ody-1 members -,t-herebyt.efiec i ingwladyantages-vin ..tool costs. I 1 v Milena:accordingatogmq present invention both of :the engaging elements of mating contactwmcmbcrsi'armcomlpressedwunderi spring -tl1SiOIllWh6Ilth'bQdYTgmQmbBIS are Lin connected relation with theqresult that a reliahlqrand eeflicicnt electrical engagement :between :complement ary a contact members is effected.

Arriur her o j aofrdthe invention: isitheaprovisionzof int.erengaging contact members having: bladerlike elements wvhichybroad surfaceS' -.0f;-,mflling bladeielements wipe mga n ch" ther;dur ng: lcctrical eng gementzandedis --e g .gement with th r s l tha thesurfaceszcleanathem- ,-,selves.

Anothen object ;of theiinvention-isg toyprovide 3839.011- q-nector inwhich one of ;the, body members mas a fulcrum member'extending into,an openingproyided by the other of the body members soias to effect a;.hinge-;action ,when "the -body membersmare moved together; ;for;, elect;rical;ly engaging complementary contact-members.

.Qther objects and, uses of my inventioniwill be apparent from inspection of the drawings: and specification hereinbelow. set forth.

-.,Referring toithe drawings in which Lihave illustrated ea .preferred ,embodiment of: my, invention;

Fig. l is a perspective -view of, a connectorbshowing the male part in initial hinged ,rela'tionetoi the, rfemale part prior; to coupling the; parts inelectrical engagement,

Fig. 2 is a top. view of themaleipart carried byia st pporting plate,

,. Fig. 3 is a topview of;the. female part, 4 I

Fig. 4 is a top, plan.,view.,0f the,connector partsin coupled relation,

. Fig. 5 is asectiontakemalong the .line; 5 -,5,=of Rigs- 4,

Fig; 6 :is a ,section taken, along. the; 1ine,6-e6'.l0f Figai,

Figw8 is a section taken along the linefl-Bftifffijgil -'Fig.' 9 isa side: elevation ofthe, male part, f v Fig; 10 is a side elevation ofqthe female part, -'-'Fig.1 1 1 isa top view vshowing Ihe casting gfgt he rngle 6 'partbefore-the; contact members are assembled, Fig: 12 is aybottomview reduced in size ofgthecas'tigg shown in Fig."l1,

1 1 a. i e ation. ofthe, cast n jshovvntifl. is 11and'l2, I y Y "Fi 14 is,a.i9P -view-fshow nglthe castingbfi thelienia ,LP Lb cont ctlnie bers. re assembl d,

. Ei 1is a idetelevationwcf the ,c sting; own z ffEi I4,

i 1 11s ap'side.=e.levation, of,thema etpa twi h-th 15 casting broken away t .show-the.assemmedcQmwtQw- ;b er

1511s.. this, a section ,talsenta qngttheil n ig elhpf ig.;13, I iE ig-i lSis as d el va ion of ,th af ma etpartsmi eth tclasl g keniaw yto h wit e contacttmemhers s ig- 1 isla enlarged P F P Y HQ POPfitflzQ ;tl 1e ma l part. showing;,a cavity for; acontact r,

20.;is. .an end sectionlooking in;,-: th on pf a -p siti'on contact mernb'er'sfin a: Figs28i :isa side elevation of. the latch spring,

z-Eigx29. is;.a bottom view of the latchisp'rin g', I Fign30nis a top elevationof the hinge plate, z-Fig.*=3l -=isi.a front view of the hinge-pIate,

.132 iswaeside:elevation of tl1 fulerum-angimlgerp fF-ign 3 3: is a front; view of the fulcrurn member, 1Fig.': 34 isa bottom view of-thef iulcrum-member,{and *Fig.= 35' -is aside=- elevation of a cover tor t'he female part. v Referring now in detail to' the drawings;ith improved electric'al connector of 1 the a present 1 invention jhcludes, generally, a=-male;pa rt* 1--and a female part leaeh" providing a==body-of insulating material and carrying contact members and -hinge and latchelements for securing' fthe parts in 'electrical; connection. a I v 1' The' male part 1, in my preferred embodiment; hasg an -insula ting body-S (Fig;- 13") providing a basef4 o f generally rectangular shap having a frqnt iaceS and; a: rearfface "-6 (Fig; 12) l The-base-part-4 has=a;seriesjofbarrier-ele- -ments' 7- projecting 1 above the surface 5' of the-basqpart a4: and molded integrally -withJ-the same. -ThQ- barriere1e- --1ment s"-7= are dispose'd inspaced, 1 generally parallel relationandextend across the front -faee 5 in transverse-relation to the longitudinal afisof the-base part. Each offthe --.barrier/elements 7 is: recessed to receive 'in asse'rnbled relation thereto '=pairs ofivcontact members insulate'dflhterorally-one fromiaanothermith =the contactarnembers of ea'ch pair arranged. opposed: relationaand; disposed onliopw pQ i e-side cfathe. barrier {With iiWhlQhflIQ ZPaiiLiSiaSSEm- =b1ed- 5.11m, my p sierredcmbomme izendzharriersitiip oiect outward. y from the .fi ent ..r.f -5' a oppositeuendsiof rzthetseriesao ah ri r heae 'Q ?-W Qi9h3 $i?1fiP$d3t EI ceive contact members on its inner face only so that the contact members carried by the barriers 8 are disposed in facing, spaced relation to contact members carried by the facing side of its respective adjacent barrier 7.

Each of the barrier elements 7 has a series of pairs of contact-receiving openings 9 (Fig. 13) arranged in opposed relation on opposite sides of the respective barriers.

' Each'of the barrier elements 8 has a series of laterally spaced contact-receiving openings 9 which are disposed on its inner face only. The openings 9 of the barrier elements 7 and 8 are identical in form so as to receive and anchor contact members which are identical in construction. In my preferred connector, laterally adjacent openings 9 of the respective barriers 7 and 8 are disposed in staggered relation as most clearly shown in Fig. 11

for a purpose to be described. Each of the openings 9 comprises a recess 10 (Figs. 13 and 19) which extends from the outermost end face 11 (Fig. 19) of the barriers 7 and 8 into the base member 4 and terminates in an abutment 12. The recess 10 intersects the side face 13 of the 'barrier'element for the entire length of the face with the result that the recess 10 is bounded by a rear wall 14 and sidewalls 15 and 16 extending in spaced generally perpendicular relation from the rear wall 14 (Fig. 19). Each of the side walls 15 and 16 has a rib element 17 (Fig. 19)

adjacent the face 13 of the barrier and extending from a point on its respective sidewall spaced from the outer end face 11 of the barrier down to the abutment 12. The rib elements 17 extend toward each other laterally and terminate short of each other to leave a space therebetween. As a functional adjunct of each of the openings 9, the base member 4 has a cavity 18 extending from the front surface and terminating in a bottom portion 19.

The cavity 18 communicates with the recess as is most clearly shown in Fig. 13. The bottom portion 19 of the cavity 18 has a slot 20, which is preferably of U-shape,

extending through the base member and intersecting the rear face 6 of the base member.

The female part 2 has a body of insulating material 21 (Fig. having a base 22 of generally rectangular shape providing a front face 23 (Fig. 14) and a rear face 24. The base 22 has an annular peripheral wall 25 extending from the front face 23. The wall 25 comprises side portions 26 extending longitudinal of the base 22 and connected at opposite ends of the base by end portions 27 and 28 (Fig. 14) which are preferably thicker than the portions 26 so as to carry out objectives to be described. The wall 25 operates to surround the barrier elements 7 and 8 of the male part 1 when the parts of the connector are in electrical connection and the outermost marginal edge of the wall 25 is concentric with the marginal edge of the front face 5 of the base 4 of the male part 1.

The female part 2 has a series of barrier elements 29 projecting above the surface 23 of the base 22 and molded integrally with the same in the manner of the barrier elecontact members carried by the barrier elements 7 of male part 1. The female part 2 carries one less barrier element 29 than the combined number of the barrier elements 7 and 8 of the male part 1 with the result that when the connector parts 1 and 2 are electrically connected the end barrier elements 29 of the female part .2 will be disposed between a barrier element 7 and the adjacent barrier element 8 carried by the male part 1. The barrier elements 29 of the female part 2 intermediate the end barriers will be disposed between adjacent barrier elements 7 of the male part 1. Each of the barriers 29 has a series of pairs of contact-receiving openings with the individual openings constructed to be identical to the contact-receiving openings 9 formed in the barrier elements 7 and 8 of the malepart 1. Thus, it will be seen that each of the parts 1 and 2 of the connector provide contact-receiving openings which are designed to receive contact members of identical construction.

Referring specifically to Figs. 22-25 of the drawings, I have shown a preferred form of contact member 30 which, as hereinbefore mentioned, is carried by both the male and female parts of the connector. Each of the contact members 30 is formed of resilient sheet metal and provides a stem portion 31 in the form of a substantially straight fiat strip. A contact finger 32 is formed integrally with an end 33 of the strip 31 and extends outwardly from the stem 31 at an angle of junction with the stem which is preferably about 45 A hook element 34 is formed integrally with the outermost end of the contact finger 32 and forms a continuation of the finger 32- ex tending in a direction substantially parallel to that of the stem 31. A laterally extending element 35 is integrally joined to an opposite end of the stem 31 from that to which the finger 32 is attached and projects outwardly away from the stem 31 in substantially perpendicular'relation to the plane thereof. The laterally extending element 35 (Fig. 25) is of less width than the distance between the ribs 17-17 of each of the openings 9 for a purpose which will be described. A terminal element 36 is integrally joined to the outermost end of the laterally extending element 35 and extends downwardly in generally perpendicular relation thereto so as to be generally parallel to an imaginary extension of the plane of the stem 31. The terminal element 36 provides a backwall 37 in integral junction with the laterally extending element 25 and sidewalls 38 projecting away from the backwall 37 in spaced parallel relation to effect a U-shaped cross-sectional form as most clearly illustrated in Fig. 25. A spring tongue element 39, in my preferred form, is pressed out of the plane of the material of the backwall 37 at a point substantially midway between the outer end 40 of the terminal element 36 and the laterally extending element 35, and a wire-receiving opening 41 is formed in the backwall 37 at a point between the tongue element 39 and the outer end 40.

In assembling the contact members 30 in the respective openings 9 of the connector parts 1 and 2, the outermost end 40 of the terminal element 36 is moved from the front face of the respective base parts 4 and 22 into the cavity 18 of the respective base member to insert the terminal element 36 into the U-shaped slot 20 provided in the bottom portion 19 of the cavity 18 (Fig. 20). During this action, the laterally extending element 35 of the contact member will be received between the ribs 17-17 of the opening 9 and the stem 31 will extend into the recess 10 so as to be disposed adjacent the backwall 14 of the recess 10 and between the rib elements 17--17 and the backwall 14. As the result of the fact that the width of the stem 31 is greater than the distance between cooperating rib elements 17-17, the stem 31 will be anchored in assembly with the base member between the ribs 17 and the backwall 14. As downward pressure upon the contact member is continued, the laterally extending element 35 will become seated against the abutment 12 at the bottom of the recess 10. At this point, the spring tongue element 39 which has been contracted into substantially the plane of the backwall 37 of the terminal element 36 during passage through the slot 20,

will expand toward -normal position to engage behind the rear face of the respective base parts 4 and 22 thereby cooperating with the laterally extending element 35 to secure the contact member in assemblywith the base. It will be noted that after final assembly of each contact member with the base, the contact finger 32 extends foutwardly and downwardly with respect to the barrier'element with which it is assembled and the hook lement .34 abuts the wall 1841 (Figs. 6 and is of the 7 ing 79 (Fig. 29) in a front edge 80 thereof. A pair of spring tongues 81 are integrally joined to the inner edge 82 of the opening 79 and extend from the base 78 in generally perpendicular relation thereto. The

tongues 81 are disposed with their inner narrow edges 83 in spaced opposed relation and each tongue has a lateral projection 84 adjacent its outermost end extending away from the other of the tongues so as to provide a pair of shoulders 85 extending laterally of the tongues in opposed directions. The outermost ends of the tongues are preferably rounded as at 86. Openings 87 are formed on opposite sides of the tongues 81 for receiving screws or other attaching means by which the base element 78 is secured to a support or cover. arm 88 is integrally joined to the rear edge 89 of the base 78 and extends away from the base and slightly inwardly relative to the same. The arm 88 has an in- Wardly-extending shoulder or projection which is preferably in the form of a lug 90 struck from the plane of the arm. The lug 90 is spaced a predetermined distance from the base 78 to engage the rear face 24 of the base 22 of the female part 2 when the parts of the connector are in connection as will be described. The outer end 91 of the arm 88 serves as a manually operative element for releasing the latch mechanism.

The latch member 72 is assembled with the base 4 by inserting the rounded ends 86 of the tongues 81 into the slot 74 from the rear face 6 of the base. As movement of the tongues 81 in the direction of the front face is continued, engagement of the rounded ends 86 with the converging walls 75 of the slot 74 compress the tongues edgewisely relative to each other. After the shoulders 85 of the tongues have passed the abutments 77 of the base 4, the tongues will spring laterally to engage the shoulders 85 with the abutments 77 (Fig. 7) to secure the latch member in assembly with the base. In final assembled position, the base element 78 of the latch member will be seated in a depression in the rear face 6 of the base 4 with the openings 87 in alignment with screw-receiving openings 92 formed in the base 4. The latching arm 88 will be disposed laterally of the end face 93 of the base 4 and extending outwardly and inwardly with respect to the base 4 so as to dispose the lug 90 above the plane of the front face 73a of the end 73 as most clearly shown in Fig. 9.

In practical application of the parts of the connector, the male part 1 is preferably secured to the upper surface 94 of a supporting plate 95 by screw members 96 (Fig. 2). At the end 43 of the male part, the screws 96 extend through the openings 50 of the base 4 and the openings 59 of the base element 52 of the hinge member to enter threaded engagement with the support 95. At the other end 73 of the base 4, the screws 96 extend through the openings 92 of the base 4 and the openings 87 of the base element 78 to engage the plate 95. When the male part 1 is in assembled relation with the plate 95 the terminals 37 of the contack members 30 will project through an opening 97 in the support 95 as most clearly shown in Fig. 5.

A metal cover part 98 is preferably secured in assembly with the female part 2. The cover 98 has an end wall 99 (Fig. 5) at one end providing an inwardly turned fiange 100 at its lowermost end. The flange 100 has a pair of threaded portions 101 (Fig. 6) for receiving screw members 102. The opposite end of the cover 98 has an end wall 103 having a pair of inwardly extending flange elements 104 at its lowermost edge which are spaced laterally one from another as most clearly shown in Fig. 7. Each of the flange elements 104 has space between the flange elements 104 for a purpose to be described. At the end. 27 of the female part 2, the

A spring latching 8 screw members 102 extend through openings 66in the base 22 to engage the threaded portions 101 (Fig. 6). At the opposite end 28 of the part 2, the screw members 102 extend through openings 107 in the base'22 to engage the threaded portions 105 (Fig. 7).

In connecting electrically the male part 1 and the female part 2, the part 2 is moved toward the part 1 to project the hook element 71 of the fulcrum member 60 through the opening 53a of the hinge member 51 to engage the element with the edge 108 adjacent the upper side of the opening 53a (Fig. 1). As pressure upon the female part 2 is continued, it will be fulcrumed by cooperative engagement between the hook 71 and the. edge 108 into final connected engagement with the part 2. During the fulcruming action, the opposite end of the base 22 from that to which the fulcrum member 60 is attached will engage the arm 88 of the latch member 72 moving the arm outwardly against its normal spring tension. After the rear face 24 of the base 22 has passed the lug of the arm 88, the arm 88 will spring toward normal position to engage the lug 90 with the rear face 24 through the opening 106 of the cover 98 as most clearly shown in Fig. 5. As a result of this latching action, the bodies 4 and 22 of the male part 1 and female part 2 are maintained in firm connection with the outer face of the wall 25 of the female part 2 pressed firmly against the front face 5 of the male part 1.

During the action by which the male part 1 is moved into locked connection with the female part 2, the end barrier elements 29 of the female part 2 will move between the respective end barriers 8 and the adjacent barrier elements 7 of the part 1. The barrier elements of the female part 2 intermediate the end barrier elements will move between appropriate barrier elements 7 of the part 2. As the barrier elements move into position, complementary pairs of contact members 30 disposed in opposed relation on opposite sides of the barriers 29 will move into engagement with complementary pairs of facing contact members 30 carried by adjacent barrier elements of the male part 1. It will be noticed that the distance between the contact fingers of complementary pairs of contact members disposed in opposed relation or opposite sides of the barrier elements is greater than the distance between the contact fingers of complementary pairs of facing contact members. Consequently, as the contact members 30 of the part 1 move into contact with the appropriate contact members of the part 2, the contact fingers 32 of mating contact members will engage each other in a wiping action to force the fingers 32 of each pair of engaging contact members in the direction of their respective stem portions 31 and against their inherent spring tension. Thus, when the contact members are in complete electrical engagement, the outer faces of both of the mating fingers 32 will be engaged under spring tension, as most clearly shown in Fig. 26, effecting a positive electrical connection.

In uncoupling the parts of the connector the manually operative portion 91 of the arm 88 of the latch mem ber 72 is moved outwardly away from the connector to disengage the lug 90 from the rear face 24 of the base 22 of the female part 2. As soon as the lug 90 is free of the rear face 24, action of the tensioned contact fingers 32 of the mating contact members to return to normal untensioned position relative to the stem portions 31 of the respective contact members causes the fingers 32 of each pair of mating contact members to exert a force against each other which moves the female part 2 away from the male part 1 thereby effecting complete disengagement of the contact members of the connector parts. In practice, the forces separating the contact members of the two connector parts may be great enough, particularly if the female part 2 is not held, to cause the female part to swing away from the male part on an arc of a length that will cause the fulcrum member 60 to be disengaged completely from the hinge member 51.

Thus, as a result of the construction of the connector wherein the connector parts are disengaged by untensioning forces inherent in the contact members, the parts may be uncoupled without the necessity of manual rocking or tugging action as required in the disconnection of conventional plug and socket connectors such as the well known Jones connector. As a result of the automatic separation effected by the present connector, the chances of damage to the contact members during the uncoupling operation is substantially non-existent. It is noted, also, that'the wiping action between the contact fingers 32 of pairs of mating contact members takes place during the uncoupling action as well as in the action in which the parts of the connector are connected. This wiping relation assists self-cleaning of the surfaces of the contact members which are brought into mutual engagement when the parts of the connector are electrically connected.

- As a result of the fact that laterally adjacent contact members carried by the barrier elements are disposed 'in staggered relation, greater spacing is effected between portions of laterally adjacent contact members than could efficiently be accomplished if the contact members were to be positioned in lateral in-line relation. The staggered positioning increases insulation resistance between laterally adjacent contact members and, at the same time, disposes the terminal elements in uniform, maximum spaced relation one to another so as to facilitate the soldering of Wires thereto.

Although I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, I do wish to be limited thereby because the scope of my invention is best defined by the following claims.v

'I claim:

1. A connector for connecting a plurality of electrical terminals comprising a body of insulating material including a base portion having front and rear surfaces, a barrier element projecting outwardly from said front surface, said barrier having an opening in one face extending from its outer end into said base portion and terminating in a land well, said opening intersecting said face for .its entire length whereby said opening is bounded by a rear wall and opposed sidewalls, each of said sidewalls having a lateral edge portion adjacent the face of said barrier having said opening, said edge portions extending toward each other laterally and terminating short of each other so as to leave a space therebetween, said base portion having a cavity extending from said front surface and terminating in a bottom portion, said bottom portion having a slot therein intersecting said rear surface of said base portion, a contact member assembled with said body, said contact having a back element disposed in said opening of said barrier between said rear wall and said edge portions, a shoulder element extending laterally from said back element at one end thereof and seated against said land well, a terminal portion integrally joined to said shoulder element and extending angularly thereto, said terminal portion extending through said slot in the bottom portion of said base, a yieldable contact element integrally joined to an opposite end of said back element from said shoulder element, said contact element extending outwardly from said back element in the direction of said front surface of said body, and said terminal element face, said barrier having an opening in one face extending from its outer end into said base and terminating in a land well, said opening intersecting said face for its entire length whereby said opening is bounded by a rear wall and opposed sidewalls, each of said sidewalls having a lateral edge portion adjacent the face of said barrier having said opening extending from a point on its -respective sidewall spaced from the outer end of said barrier to said land well, said edge portions extending to ward each other laterally and terminating short of each other to leave a space therebetween, said 'baseportion having a cavity extending from said front surfacev and terminating in a bottom portion, said cavity intersecting said opening in said barrier, said bottom portion having a slot thereinjintersecting said rear surface of said base portion, a contact member assembled with said body, said contact member having a back element disposed in said opening of said barrier and held in substantially rigid assembly therewith between said rear wall and said edge portions, a shoulder element extending laterally from said back element at one end thereof, said shoulder having a width less than the space between said edge portions and being seated against said land well between said edge porions, a terminal portion integrally joined to said shoulder element and extending in angular relation thereto in a direction substantially parallel to said back element, said terminal portion extending through said slot in the bottom portion of said base, a yieldable contact element integrally joined to an opposite end of said back element from said shoulder element, said contact element extending outwardly from said back element and toward said front surface of said body to dispose ,its free end in said cavity of said body, and said terminal element having attaching means engaging said rear surface of said body and cooperating with said shoulder element to prevent removal of said contact member from said body.

3. A connector for connecting a plurality of electrical terminals comprising a first base member of insulating material having a front face, a pair of barrier wall elements projecting from said front face and extending across said base member in spaced, generally parallel relation, a first set of resilient contact elements carried by facing sides of said wall elements, said contact elements being arranged in oppositely-facing pairs with-the contact elements carried by each face being insulated one from another, a second base member of insulating material having a front face and a barrier element projecting from said front face and extending across the same, a second set of resilient contact elements disposed on opposite'sides of said barrier element of said second base member, said second set of contact elements being arranged in pairs with the contact elements of each pair being disposed on opposite sides of the barrier element of said second base member and insulated one from another, said barrier element of said second base member being dimensioned to enter between said spaced barrier elements of said base member when said base members are connected together, and the pairs of contact elements carried by said barrier element of said second base member registering with said oppositely-facing contact elements of said respective pairs carried by said barrier elements of said first base member, and said registering contact elements being resiliently engaged one with another when said base members are coupled together.

4. A connector for connecting a plurality of electrical terminals comprising a socket base member of insulating material having a front face and opposed sidewalls and end walls projecting outwardly from said front face forming a receptacle, a pair of barrier elements projecting from said front face and extending across said element disposed in said space between said barrier elements and operable for free movement in the direction of the barrier element by which it is carried, a plug base member of insulating material having a front face and aibarrier Wall element --projecting from said front face and extendingacross-the same, a second set'of contact members :carried :by opposed sides of said barrier element of said plug'base, said second set of contact members being arranged in pairs with -the members of each pair disposed on opposite :sides of said barrier element and insulated one from another, each of-said contact mem'bers of said second-set having .a spring element operable :for :free movement in the 'direction of said t-barrier element, said barrier element of said plug base being dimensionedto enter said receptacle-of said socket' base between said spaced barriers thereofwhen said base members are connected, the pairs of contact members carried by said barrier element of said -plug base registeringwith said oppositely-facing spacedcontact members of :said respective pairs carried by said barrier elements of said socket "base, and said spring elements of said respective registering contact members being resiliently engaged one with another when said base members are coupled together. 7

5. A connector for connectinga plurality of electrical terminals comprising a socket base member of insulating material having afront face and opposed sidewalls and end walls projectingoutwardly from said front face so as' to-form a receptacle, a series of at-least three barrier elements projecting from said 'front face and extending :acrossasaid base member from sidewall to sidewall in spaced, generallyparallel relation, a first set -ofcontact members carriedby said barrierelements, eachof said barrier elements carryingaseries of pairs of contact members with the contact members of each pair disposed oppositely on opposed sides of said barrier :element, each pair of contact members carried by one barrier being arranged in opposed relation to -a pair carried by an adjacent-barrier and the contact member of v.each'of saidpairs on the inner-sides of said respective barriers being in spaced oppositely facing relation, each of said contact members ,having a spring element disposed 'in said space between said barrier elements and operable for free movement in the directionof the barrier-element by which it is carried, a plug base-of insulating material having a front face and a pair of barrier elements projecting from said front face and extending across the same in spaced, generally parallel relation, a second set of contact members carried by said pair of barrier elements, each of said pair -of bar-rierelements carrying a series of pairs of contactmembers arranged thereon in the same manner as the'contact members carriedby the barrier elements of said socket base, said barrier elementsof said plug base being designed to enter the spaces between the first and second and the-secondand third barrier elements 'of said socket base when said base members are connected, the pairs of contact members carried by each of the barrier elements of said plug base registering with said oppositely-facing, spacedcontact members carried by said respective adjacent barrier elements of said socket base, and said registering-contact members being electrically engaged one with another when said base members are coupled together.

6. A connector for connecting a-plurality of electrical terminals comprising a pair of mating base members-of insulating material, each of saidbase members having a front face and barrier elementsprojecting outwardly therefrom,-said barrier elements'of each of said base members carrying a series of contact members for registering interengagement when said base members are coupled together, said contact members being anchored relative to said associated barrier elements and having spring contact elements, said spring elements beingdisposed laterally of said respective barrier elements and .arranged'for resilient contraction whenengaged with registering contact elementgfastener means carried by said base members for pressingsaid basememberstogether to secure saidlcon- ,tact members in tensioned interengaged relation, andsaid contact members operating when said fastener means is 1'2 releasedto force said base-menibers apart by-untensioning of'said contact. elements.

7. A connector-for connecting a-plurality-ofelectrical terminals-comprising a pair of mating base members-of insulating material, said first base member having a front 'face and a pair of barrier elements projectingout- Wardly' therefrom and disposed in spaced, generally parallel relation, a first set of contact members assembled with said-barrier elements, said contact members being anchored relative to said associated barrier elements and having spring contact elements disposed laterally of facing sides'of said barrier elements,said second base member having a frontface and a-barrier element projecting outwardly therefrom, a second set of contact members assembled with said barrier element of said second base for registering interengagement with said contact members of'said first base, said secondset of contact members being anchored relative'to said barrier element and having spring contact elements disposed laterally of said-barrier element on opposed sides thereof, said barrier element of said second base member being dimensioned to enter between said barrier elements of said first base thereby compressing in tensionedengagement said registering ;contact elements, fastener means carried by said base members for pressing saidbase members together to secure said contact members in said-tensioned interengagement, and said contact members operating when said fastener means is released to force said base members apart by untensioning of said contact elements.

8. A connector for connecting a plurality of electrical terminals comprising 'a pair of mating base members of insulating material, said first base member-having afront face and a series of barrier elements projecting outwardly therefrom, s-aidbarrier elements beingdisposed in spaced, generally parallel relation and extending across said front face-in transverse relation to the longitudinal axis of'said base member, afirst set of contact members assembled with said barrier elements, said contact members carried by-each of said barrier elements being arranged in pairs, the contact members of each pair having an anchoring portion in anchored relation with said respective barrier element and fiat, Wiping contact elements disposed in opposed relation on opposite sides of said barrierelement, said contact elements being resiliently compressible in the direction of said respective barrier element with which it is assembled when in registered engagement with contact members carried by the other of said baseimembers, a second'basemember having a frontface and a series of barrier elements projecting outwardly therefrom, said barrier elements being disposed in spaced, generallyparal- 'lel relation and extending across said-front face in transverse relation to the longitudinal axis of said basememher, said barrier elements of said second'base member being arranged with respect to said front face so as to 1 be disposed between said barrier elements of said firstbase member when said basemembers are in coupledrelation, a second set of contact members assembled with said barrier elements of said second base member, said contact members carried by each of said last-mentioned barrier elements being arranged in pairs, the contact members of each pairhaving an anchoring portion in anchored relation with said respective barrier element of said second base member and'flat, wiping contact elements disposed in opposed relation on opposite sides of said barrier element, said pairs of contact members of saidsecond set being arranged toengage and be compressedby contactelements of said first set on facing sides of adjacent barn'er elements of said first base member when said secure ,said contact members in tensioned interengaged relation, and said contact members operating when said 213 :itas qn am ansi .release rt .f r asai sezmembs .i-apa tbye-u teaamiuanL aidyantactr ment t;9-.aA .ecanect9 f9 9nt t n .a plura y a seleatric itami n seccmpr sia am its base. member ofri isu at s ma er -ha in -ai rcstiasen m i ie ewa s intent ItPI9lL l Q J1 ln@l1 sta and t ex endi across said base member in spaced, generally parallel relation, a first set of resilient contact elements carried by facing sides of said wall elements, said contact elements being arranged in oppositely-facing pairs with the contact elements carried by each face being insulated one from another, alternate contact elements carried by each face being disposed in staggered relation, a second base member of insulating material having a front face and a barrier element projecting from said front face and extending across the same, a second set of resilient contact elements disposed on opposed sides of said barrier element of said second base member, said second set of contact elements being arranged in pairs with the contact elements of each pair being disposed on opposed sides of the barrier element of said second basemember and insulated one from another, alternate pairs of contact elements of said second set being disposed in staggered relation, said barrier element of said second base member being dimensioned to enter between said spaced barrier elements of said base member when said base members are connected together, and the pairs of contact elements carried by said barrier element of said second base member registering with said oppositely-facing contact elements of said respective pairs carried by said barrier elements of said first base member, and said registering contact elements being resiliently engaged one with another when said base members are coupled together.

10. A unit of a multiple connector comprising a body part of insulating material, said body part having a plurality of contact members for cooperative electrical engagement with the contact members of a mating unit, said body part having a metal fulcrum member secured in assembly with said part at one end thereof, said body part having an opening extending from a front face thereof through a rear face thereof, said fulcrum member being in the form of a U-shaped part comprising a leg portion and an attaching portion in spaced substantially parallel relation and a connecting portion connecting the ends of said leg and attaching portions adjacent one end of said U-shaped part, said attaching portion extending through said opening of said body part and having laterally-extending elements engaging said body part adjacent said front face thereof, said connecting portion being disposed adjacent said rear face of said body part, said leg portion extending from said connecting portion adjacent an end of said body part to a position beyond the plane of said front face of said body part, a hook portion integrally joined to the other end of said leg portion from said connecting portion and extending laterally outwardly relative to said second body part.

11. A unit of a multiple connector comprising a body part of insulating material, said body part having a plurality of contact members for cooperative electrical engagement with the contact members of a mating unit, said body part having an end face at one end thereof, said body part having an opening intersecting said end face and extending from a front face of said end to the rear face, said body part having a metal hinge member secured in assembly with said part adjacent said end, said hinge member having a base element disposed adjacent said rear face and a plate element disposed adjacent said end face exteriorly of said body part, said plate element having an opening communicating with said opening of said end, and said hinge member having fastener means in fastened engagement with said body part for securing said hinge member in assembly therewith.

12. A unit of a multiple connector comprising a body part of insulating material, said body part having a plurality of contact members for cooperative electrical en- 5 to the rear -fage said ,h9dy -part-,h aving,a metal hinge,

member secured in assembly with saidb ody part adjacent said -end, said-hinge membenhavingaz -base element disposed adjacent said rear face and a plate element disposed adjacent said end face exteriorly of said body part, said 10 plate element having an opening communicating with said opening of said body part, and said hinge member having spring shouldered attaching elements extending from said base element, said attaching elements extending into said opening of said body part and engaging material of said body part adjacent said opening for securing said hinge member in assembly with said body part.

13. A unit of a multiple connector comprising a body part of insulating material, said body part having a plurality of contact members for cooperative electrical engagement with the contact members of a mating unit, said body part having an end face at one end thereof, said body part having an opening adjacent said end extending from the front face of said body part to the rear face thereof and intersecting said end face, said body part having a metal hinge member secured in assembly with said body part adjacent said end, said hinge member having a base element disposed adjacent said rear face and a plate element disposed adjacent said end face exteriorly of said body part, said plate element having an opening communicating with said opening of said body part, and said hinge member having spring shouldered attaching elements extending from said base element, said attaching elements extending into said opening of said body part and engaging material of said body part adjacent said opening for securing said hinge member in assembly with said body part, said plate element and said body part each having an aperture in alignment with each other for receiving a fastener member such as a screw extended through said apertures for securing said body part to a supporting member.

14. A self-separable multiple connector comprising two complementary body portions of insulating material to be releasably connected to one another, the first of said body portions carrying a pair of contact members, each of said contact members having a stem portion in the form of a flat straight strip extending in the direction of the second body portion and a resilient flat contact finger integrally secured at one end to the free end of said stem portion and extending in a reverse angular direction with respect to said stem portion and in spaced relation thereto, said contact fingers of said pair of contact members lying in outwardly facing relation with reference to said stem portions and forming resilient inclined wiping surfaces on opposite sides of the pair of contact fingers, the second of said body portions carrying a second pair of contact members, each of said second contact members having a stem portion in the form of a flat strip extending in the direction of the firs-t body portion, and a resilient flat contact finger extending inwardly in a reverse angular direction with respect to said stem portion and in spaced relation thereto, said contact fingers of said second pair of contact members lying in inwardly facing relation with reference to their associated stem portions and forming resilient inclined wiping surfaces extending in the direction of one another, said body portions having separable hinge means at one end thereof for hinging said body portions together, and having fastener means disposed in opposed relation to the hinge means for retaining the hinged body portions in coupled relation, the inclined wiping surfaces of each pair of contact fingers being compressed independent of said body portions toward their stem portions when in mating relationship with those of the other pair of contact fingers when said body portions are in coupled relation, said mating wiping surfaces springing outwardly with respect to their associated stem pormeans is released.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Mills Oct. 6, 1936 Riley-. l 0ct.-8,- 1940 Lyman Feb. 7, 1950 Ensign Feb. 20, 1951 Uline et a1. Apr. 17, 1951 Petersen June 5, 1956 Klostermann Aug; 28, 1956

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