US3514740A - Wire-end connector structure - Google Patents

Description

May 26, 1970 J. R. FILSON 3,514,140

WIRE-END CONNECTOR STRUCTURE Filed March 4. 1968 A 7mm/fx 3,514,740 WIRE-END CONNECTOR STRUCTURE John Richard Fils-on, 95 N. Lakeside Drive, Medford, NJ. 08055 Filed Mar. 4, 1968, Ser. No. 710,211 Int. Cl. H02r 13/28 U.S. Cl. 339-47 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention is essentially concerned with a wire connectorf wherein a generally fiat member is provided with apair.- of resilient pressure fingers extending laterally inwardly on one side of the fiat member, and a tongue extends longitudinally obliquely outward from one end of the fiat member, sothat an element insertable betweer-zfthe receiver member and fingers is frictionally 'retained therein by engagement with the fingers, receiver member and tongue.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION While there have been provided a wide variety of wireend connectors or terminals, such connectors or terminals are generally adapted for connection only to other ter- .minalsf or connectors, or elements of precise size and configuration. Hence, versatility in use of prior connectors has been seriously limited.

SUMMARY Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a wire connector or terminal which is capable of connection to a wide variety of shapes and sizes v of elements or other connectors, and which is further ,adapted for connection to an identical connector, so that there is afforded an extreme versatility in use, and substantial economies are effected both in manufacture and stockkecping requirements.

RIEF DEscrPTroN oF THE DRAWING FIG; 1 is a perspective View showing a wire connec tor constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a pair of identical wire connectors of the present invention prior to connection thereof.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the wire connectors of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating the connectors in their joined condition.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken generally along the line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6- is a transverse sectional view taken generally along the line 6 6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal side elevational view showing a connector of FIG. 1 as connected to a piece of strip stock.

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken generally along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view taken generally along the line 9 9 of FIG. 8.

United States Patent O 3,514,740 Patented May 26, 1970 ICC IReferring now more particularly to the drawing, and specifically to FIG. 1 thereof, a wire connector of the present invention is there generally designated 20, and may advantageously be integrally fabricated of suitably conductive, resilient sheet material, such as nonferrous metals, or the like. The conductor 20 includes a generally rectangular, substantially fiat receiver member 21 and extending integrally, longitudinally outward from one end thereof a fastener part 22. The fastener part 22 may assume an open-ended tubular configuration for reception therein of a conductor or wire end. The fastener part 22 may be clinched or crimped about the wire end for fixed securement thereto in any conventional manner. In practice, the fastener part 22 may be formed by bending an integral extension of the receiver member 21 into a tubular formation with the opposite side edges in proximity, the tubular fastener part being located to one side of the receiver member, upward thereof as seen in FIG. l. In bending of the fastener part 22, the adjacent side edge portions 23 of the receiver member may be bent upwardly to define rigidifying flanges.

Extending generally longitudinally outwardly from the other end of the receiver member 21, remote from the fastener part 22, is a tongue 25. The tongue 25 may be of generally rectangular configuration, integral with the receiver member, and generally flat while defining a slight dihedral angle with the receiver member, as along a laterally extending juncture 26. As best seen in FIG. 3, the tongue 25 extends generally longitudinally outwardly from the receiver part 21, and extends slightly obliquely upwardly or toward the upper side of the receiver member. The tongue 25 is generally laterally coextensive witih the receiver member and terminates at its outer end in a tapered or feather edge 27.

To one side of the receiver member 21, the upper side thereof, a pair of resilient pressure fingers 30 extend laterally inwardly from spaced regions of the receiver member terminating short of each other in adjacent spaced relation with respect to the upper face of the receiver member. More specifically, the resilient pressure fingers 30 each extend from a respective side edge of the receiver -member 21, as by an upwardly extending laterally outer portion 31, and extend thence in an arcuately bent region 32 having its concave side facing downwardly or toward the receiving member. The concave regions 32 of the pressure fingers 30 terminate in free ends or edges 33 extending downwardly toward and terminating short of the receiver member, the longitudinal dimension of the free finger ends 33 extending longitudinally of the receiver member 21. Further, the finger ends 33 are beveled or chamfered, as at 34 toward the tongue 25. The beveled or chamfered edges 34 define cam surfaces, as will appear presently.

The receiver member 21 and tongue 25 may be formed with detent means of suitable formation. One Such detent means is shown at 35 and 36, the former being an upset portion defining a male protuberance deformed upwardly of the material of receiver member 21. The latter may be defined by a downwardly deformed region to provide a recess in the upper surface of the tongue 25. In the illustrated embodiment, the detent formations 35 and 36 are located along a longitudinal centerline of the receiver member 21 and tongue 25, the protuberance 35 being located on one side of the juncture line or bend 26 and the recess 36 being located on the other side of the juncture line.

In FIG. 2 are shown a pair of substantially identical 3 wire connectors 20 arranged in end-to-end spaced relation with their tongues 25 proximate to each other prior to joinder of the connectors. In this condition one connector 20, the leftward connector faces in one direction, say upwardly, and the other, right-hand connector 20 faces downwardly, best seen in FIG. 3.

Upon movement of the connectors 20` of FIGS. 2 and 3 longitudinally or endwise toward each other, an intertting engagement is achieved as shown in FIGS. 4-6. It will there be seen that the tongue 2:5 of each connector has engaged between the receiver member 21 and fingers 30 of the other connector. In this condition, the tongues 25 have been resiliently deflected to a relatively straight or aligned relation with their respective receiver members 21, see FIG. 5. Also, the pressure fingers 30, specifically the free ends 33 of the pressure lingers engage with the received tongues 25, being resiliently deflected thereby. Hence, the tongue 25 of each connector 20* is frictionally held in position by the resilient deflection of the other tongue and fingers 30 of the other connector. Of course, interengagement is facilitated by riding of the feathered tongue edges 27 along the cammed finger surfaces 34.

In addition, in the fully inserted condition of FIG. 5, it will be seen that the detents 35 and 36 of respective connectors are snapped into mating or interfitting engagement with each other to enhance the frictional retention by the deiiected tongues and fingers. Of course, the connectors may be disengaged by deliberate endwise separation, as desired.

While a pair of connectors 20 are readily connectable and disconnectable with respect to each other, it is seen in FIGS. 7-9 that a single connector 20 may be employed in conjunction with a simple tongue, flat strip or Ibar 40 for detachable connection to the connector.

That is, the inserted element 40 may assume a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and be engageable into the connector 20 of FIGS. 7-9. Further, upon insertion of the element 40, the normally obliquely disposed tongue 25 is resiliently iiexed downward, as seen in the drawing, and upon further insertion of the element 40 between the receiver member 21 and resilient pressure fingers 30, the latter are deflected upward, as best seen in FIGS. 8 and 9. The arcuate configuration of pressure fingers 30, in addition to the beveled cam surface 34 permit of inserting elements 40 of substantial variation in size and shape, while all such elements are effectively retained in their inserted position by the frictional holding action of resiliently deflected fingers 30 and tongue 25. Also, the upset male protuberance or detent 3'5 provides a bearing point for effective holding action of the insertion element 40 in the connector 20. Of course, deliberate withdrawal of the insertion element `40 may be effected, as desired.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a wire connector which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and wide versatility in use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A wire connector comprising a generally flat receiver member, a fastener part extending outwardly from one end of said receiver member for securement to a wire end, a pair of resilient pressure fingers extending laterally inwardly from spaced regions of said receiver member toward and terminating short of each other on one side of and in adjacent spaced relation with one face of said receiver member, and a resiliently deectable tongue extending outwardly from the other end of said receiver member generally longitudinally of and obliquely toward said one side of said receiver member, the relative resiliency between said pair of resilient pressure fingers and said tongue being such that said tongue is deected to a position generally coplanar with said receiver member when an elongate element is inserted in position between said receiver member and said fingers and in engagement with said tongue, said elongated member being frictionally retained in said position by resilient deflection of said lingers and tongue.

2. A wire connector according to claim 1, said pressure iingers each being arcuately bent and having its concave side facing toward said receiver member, the free ends of said fingers extending toward and terminating short of said receiver member, whereby inserted elements of different dimensions are adapted to be retained in said position.

3. A wire connector according to claim 2, said fingers having their free ends beveled toward said other end of said receiver member, for accommodating relatively large inserted elements.

4. A wire connector according to claim 1, in combination with a second wire connector comprising a second generally fiat receiver member, a second Ifastener part extending outwardly from one end of said vsecond receiver member for securement to an additional wire end, a second pair of resilient pressure fingers extending laterally inwardly from spaced regions of said second receiver member toward and terminating short of each other on one side of and in adjacent spaced relation with one face of said second receiver member, and a second resiliently deflectable tongue extending outwardly from the other end of said second receiver member generally longitudinally of and oblique to said one side of said second receiver member, whereby the tongue of each wire connector is insertable in position between the receiver member and fingers of the other wire connector and frictionally retained in said position by resilient deiiection of said fingers and tongues.

5. The combination according to claim 4, in combination with detent means on said firstand second-mentioned receiver members and tongues for interlitting engagement with each other.

6. The combination according to claim 5, said detent means comprising a protuberance and depression on each of said receiver members and tongues for snap interiitting engagement with each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,579,739 12/1951 Hayes. 2,744,244 5/1956 Schumacher et al 339--47 2,974,302 3/1961 Ellis.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner P. A. CLIFFORD, Assistant Examiner Us. c1. xn. 339-258; 287-64

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