US3359533A - Connector for multi-contact relays and the like - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 19, 1967 R. J. BARRY v CONNECTOR FOR MULTI-CONTACT RELYS AND THE LIKE Filed April e, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l lxmww x @M\\\N\N V @um INVENTOR.

ROBERT J BARRY www,

ATTORNEY Dec. 19, 1967 f RJ. BARRY 3,359,533

CONNECTOR FOR MULTI-CONTACT RELAYS AND THE LKE Filed April s, 196e 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGB /28 FIGS INVENTOR.

ROBERT J` BARRY ATTORNEY 3,359,533 CONNECTOR FOR MULTI-CONTACT RELAYS AND THE LIKE Robert J. Barry, Cedar Grove, NJ., assignor to Federal Tool Engineering Co., Cedar Grove, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Apr. 8, 1966, Ser. No. 541,151 2 Claims. (Cl. 339-217) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A connector for multi-contact relays including a dielectric body portion having internal passages formed therein for receiving a plurality of connector tangs which are readily snapped into interlocking relationship within the passages and are individually replaceable when required; each of the connector tangs being formed with -a sinusoidal slot for exerting a constant concentrated pressure on normally straight spring contact elements of a relay or the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a connector which will exert a constant concentrated pressure on normally straightspring contact elements of a relay or the like when the latter are introduced into sinusoidal slotsof the connector assembly.

Another object is to provide a connector of the abovementioned lcharacter which produces concentrated pressure on spring contacts at a of the contacts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a connector assembly which is constructed to withstand the pressure of a Acommercial wire applicator without dislodging the tangs of the connector.

Still another object is to provide a connector which includes a molded block body portion having internal passages to receive a number of connector tangs in mechanically interlocked relation with shoulders formed in said passages, the arrangement allowing blocks and tangs to be assembled rapidly and with accuracy and uniformity.

Another object is to provide a connector structure whose permanence of contact pressure is not dependent on a molding procedure or block. A

Still another object is to provide a connector having tangs which may be readily snapped into retained interlocking relation with the block and which are individually replaceable when required.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in Vwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

FIGURE l is an exploded perspective view of the connector assembly embodying the invention and showing the same associated with multiple contacts or springs of a relay;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section through the connector structure while the latter is coupled to the relay contacts or springs;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through a partially assembled connector structure and illustrating the interlocking of connector tangs within shouldered slots of the connector body;

FIGURE 4 is an end elevation of the connector block shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal transverse section taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 3; and

plurality of points along the lengths v y United States Patent O 3,359,533 Patented Dec. 19, 1967 FIGURE 6 is a vertical section taken online 6 5 of FIGURE 5.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illust-ration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral I() designates a one-piece molded connector body or block formed of nylon or some similar material and adapted to be produced by straight line molding techniques. As shown, the block iti is generally rectangular and cellular, having amaintransverse divider wall 11 and an intersectingdivider wall 12 relatively near one end of theblock 10, FIGURE 6. Theopposite side walls 13 of the block together with thedivider walls 11 and 12 form within the block a plurality of identical forwardlyopening chambers 14 which receive the slotted forward portions of connector tangs, yet to be described, and also receive the spring contact elements of a relay or the like which it is desired to connect electrically with a particular instrumentality by means of the invention.

On the rear side of thedivider wall 12, a corresponding number of relatively short rearwardly openingrectangular chambers 15 are likewise provided when theblock 10 is molded. As best shown in FIGURES l and 4, thechambers 14 and 15 are arranged in two primary rows extending along the wider sides of the block and with the rows staggered or offset longitudinally by a distance approximately equal to one-half of the width of onechamber 14.

Eachforward chamber 14 is provided along opposite side walls thereof with opposedlongitudinal ribs 16 eX- tending forwardly from thedivider wall 12 and terminating somewhat rearwardly of the forward end of the block so as to form laterally opposedshoulders 17, for a purpose to be described. Each opposed pair ofribs 16 is provided at the transvers centers thereof with opposed longitudinalshallow grooves 18, extending for the entire lengths of the ribs. Each pair ofgrooves 18 leads into across slot 19 formed through thedivider wall 12 and being of the same width as thegroove 18. Theslots 19 lead to the rearward cavities orchambers 15 of the block.

The connector assembly, which includes the molded block 1@ above-described, also comprises a plurality ofmetal tangs 20 numbering ten in the embodiment shown in the drawings so as to correspond to the number of chambers in the block Iii. It should be: understood that the number of chambers 14- and 15 and the number of tangs 2t) may be varied within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Each metal tang 2i) consists of a relatively thin flat plate-like body portion having a rearterminal end section 21 of considerable length. Theterminal section 21 may, if desired, be twisted during manufacturing so as to be disposed perpendicular or at any specified angle to the principal plane in which the remainder of the tang lies. This is an optional feature and for simplicity thetangs 20 are shown flat and untwisted. Intermediate their ends, the tangs have laterally aligned and longitudinally spaced pairs ofprojections 22 and 23. These projections aid in positively positioning the tangs in assembled relationship with the block 1i), and thespace 24 between thepairs 22 and 23 of projections receivesseveral turns 25 ofterminal wires 26 which are applied to the tangs in a conventional manner prior to their entry into the chambers of theblock 10. As shown in FIGURE 2, the wire turns 25 are retained in assembly between the pairs ofprojections 22 and 23 and between the intermediate body portion of the tang and the surroundingblock chamber 15. This makes a very compact and neat arrangement for wiring, with the wire substantially concealed in thechamber 15, and virtually eliminates the possibility of short-circuiting with the next adjacent tang or wire. Wires may be attached to thetangs 20 in other acceptable ways and the arrangement illusu) trated in FIGURE 2 is simply illustrative of a preferred manner of attaching the wires to the tangs.

Forwardly of theprojections 23, eachtang 20 further comprises anelongated connector section 27 which is divided or bifurcated by a generally longitudinal sinusoidal slot 2S, also properly termed a wavy slot. The sinusoidal slot opens through the forward extremity of the tang and this extremity is formed by an additional pair of laterally alignedprojections 29 which are rounded on their leading sides to facilitate the entry of relay spring contacts into thesinusoidal slots 23. It will be observed, particularly in connection with FIGURE 2, that eachslot 28 affords three distinct Contact areas or areas of heavy pressure engagement between the tangs and sprin g contacts of a relay or the like. In this connection, FIGURES 1 and 2 illustrate initially flat spring contacts or prongs 30 of a relay structure, said spring contacts adapted to enter theconnector chambers 14 and engage within thesinusoidal slots 28 as shown in FIGURE 2.

A unique feature of the invention resides in the mode of assembly of the slotted tangs Ztl with the molded block so that individual tangs are easily replaceable without disturbing the remainder of the assembly and all of the tangs are positively interlocked mechanically with the block in an accurate and uniform manner. With continued reference to the drawings in general and FIGURES 3 and 6 in particular, theforward connector sections 27 of the tangs are adapted to enter the rear chambers and by applying a small degree of axial pressure to each tang 2t), FIGURE 3, its forwardrounded projections 29 will coact with theshoulders 31 at the forward ends of thechambers 15. This coaction will cause a closing of theslot 28 and a temporary yielding of the bifurcatedforward section 27, as depicted in FIGURE 3, and the forward end of the tang may now enter and pass through theslot 19 and the projections Z9 will also enter and slide through theopposed grooves 18 as the tang moves forwardly toward its final assembled position within the block. Upon reaching the forward ends of theribs 16, theprojections 29 will leave thegrooves 18 and thesinusoidal slot 28 will again open to its normal width and the rear sides of thelateral projections 29 will immediately snap into interlocked relation with theforward shoulders 17 of the molded block, due to the resiliency of the dividedforward section 27 of the tang. Simultaneously, theprojections 23 on the tang will engage theshoulders 31 and the tang is effectively interlocked with the molded block and cannot move longitudinally or axially any appreciable extent relative to the block. At this time, therearward projections 22 and thewire coils 25 are also within therear chambers 15. The opposite longitudinal edges of the bifurcatedtang sections 27 are also positively engaged within thegrooves 18 so that the assembled tang cannot turn within its socket or chamber in the block. Theslots 19 also prevent such turning. Despite the very positive interlocking between the metal tangs and the molded block, these elements are not bonded together and individual tangs are readily removable when necessary.

It may now be noted in connection with the completely assembled connector including block 1G and all of thetangs 20 that theterminal projections 29 at the leading ends of the tangs are spaced inwardly of the open ends of thechambers 14 and therefore protected. Likewise, theprojections 22 and 23 and thewire wrapping spaces 24 of the tangs are bodily within the chambers 1S of the block and protected.

In making the electrical connection with the relay or like device, the atrelay spring contacts 30 are forced directly into thesinusoidal slots 28 of thetangs 20 within theblock 10. Thecontacts 30, being resilient, are slightly deformed in assembly, FIGURE 2, and they may bottom within theslots 23, as shown. This connection provides a constant and uniform heavy Contact pressure which is concentrated at three points along eachcontact 30 andslot 28 due to the shape of the slot. This high concentration of contact area and pressure is very desirable in connection with the particular equipment with which the invention is intended to be used. Furthermore, the construction is extremely durable and sturdy and the parts can be separated, when required. The connector is capable of a variety of applications which will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

lI claim:

1. A connector for multi-contact relays and the like comprising a dielectric block-like body portion, a plurality of separated through passages formed in said body portion, each passage having raised ribs extending along one pair of opposed side walls thereof throughout a substantial portion of the length of the passage, said r-ibs terminating somewhat inwardly of the ends of the passage and the ends of the body portion, said ribs having relatively narrow longitudinal grooves formed therein, the opposite ends of the ribs constituting laterally opposed shoulders, and a at, plate-like, metallic connector tang longitudinally insertable within each of said passages, each connector tang having a leading, resilient, bifurcated connector section formed by a sinusoidal slot extending therethrough, a pair of lateral projections formed on the leading ends of the bifurcated connector section for interlocking engagement with said laterally opposed shoulders formed by one end of said ribs, said lateral projections having rounded leading edges forming a tapered mouth communicating with said sinusoidal slot to thereby facilitate the insertion of the tang into said passage and the entry of a spring contact into the sinusoidal slot of the tang, a second pair of lateral projections formed on the tang for interlocking engagement with said laterally opposed shoulders formed by the opposite ends of said ribs, said grooves receiving the longitudinal edge portions of the tang between the two pairs of lateral projections to thereby prevent lateral displacement and turning of the tang about its longitudinal axis when the tang is assembled in the passage.

2. The invention as defined by claim 1, wherein a third pair of lateral projections are formed on each tang and spaced longitudinally from said second pair of lateral projections to thereby define a wire attaching portion therebetween, said wire attaching portion being disposed within the body portion whereby the wire attaching portion is protected.

, References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,563,762 8/1951 Uline et al 339-60 3,026,496 3/1962 Gluck 339-217 3,031,640 4/1962 McKee 339-154 3,072,340 1/1963 Dean 339--176 3,212,052 10/1965 Johanson 339-217 3,239,791 3/1966 Fyrk 339-63 3,286,220 11/1966 Marley et al 339--276 FOREIGN PATENTS 163,698 8/1922 Great BritainY 990,416 4/ 1965 Great Britain.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

RAYMOND S, STRQBEL, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A CONNECTOR FOR MULTI-CONTACT RELAYS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A DIELECTRIC BLOCK-LIKE BODY PORTION, A PLURALITY OF SEPARATED THROUGH PASSAGES FORMED IN SAID BODY PORTION, EACH PASSAGE HAVING RAISED RIBS EXTENDING ALONG ONE PAIR OF OPPOSED SIDE WALLS THEREOF THROUGHOUT A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE LENGTH OF THE PASSAGE, SAID RIBS TERMINATING SOMEWHAT INWARDLY OF THE ENDS OF THE PASSAGE AND THE ENDS OF THE BODY PORTION, SAID RIBS HAVING RELATIVELY NARROW LONGITUDINAL GROOVES FORMED THEREIN, THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE RIBS CONSTITUTING LATERALLY OPPOSED SHOULDERS, AND A FLAT, PLATE-LIKE, METALLIC CONNECTOR TANG LONGITUDINALLY INSERTABLE WITHIN EACH OF SAID PASSAGES, EACH CONNECTOR TANG HAVING A LEADING, RESILIENT, BIFURCATED CONNECTOR SECTION FORMED BY A SINUSOIDAL SLOT EXTENDING THERETHROUGH, A PAIR OF LATERAL PROJECTIONS FORMED ON THE LEADING ENDS OF THE BIFURCATED CONNECTOR SECTION FOR INTER-

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