US2162544A - Plug cap - Google Patents

Description

June 13, 1939. G B,BENANDER 6 PLUG CAP Filed Jan. 22, 1935 Inventor:

7 George B.Benanden b x/ J Hi2 Attornqg.

V Patented June 13, 1939 PATENT. OFFICE PLUG CAP George B. Benander, Yalesville, Conn., assignor .to The Monowatt Electric Corporation, a corporation of Connecticut Application January 22, 1935, Serial No. 2,915

5 Claims.

The present invention relates to plug caps and especially to rubber covered plug caps adapted to be used with standard receptacles.

The object 'of the invention is to provide an improved rubber covered plug cap which is simple and rugged in structure, reliable in operation, and may be manufactured at low cost.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled plug cap; Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the plug cap shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is a side view, in cross section, of an assembled plug cap.

Referring to the drawing, the mounting block 40 formed of suitable insulating material, such as a molded compound comprising an artificial resin and filler, is provided at one end with a curved transverse groove 4| in one face and at its other end with a similar curved transverse groove 42 in the opposite face. Located in grooves 4i and 42 are contacts 43. Each contactis provided with a recess 44 which provides a strap portion 45 and two spaced shoulders 46. 'The strap portion 45 is curved to fit either groove 4| or 42 and when located therein the two shoulders 46 engage opposite sides of the mounting block 40. Grooves 4| and 42 are of a depth such that the outer edges of strap portions 45 are substantially flush with the surfaces of the mounting block. The portions of the contacts beyond the recesses 44 form prongs which are adapted to fit astandard plug receptacle.

The portion of the contacts back of the recess 44 form tabs in which. the binding screws 41 are held. At right angles to the ends of the tabs are flanges 43' which cooperate with the binding screws to hpld conducting wires in place. The shorting of the circuit by contact of the binding screws is prevented by the finger 48 which lies between the two screws.

The mounting block and contacts as a unit fit in a flexible rubber casing 50 leaving only the prongs exposed. The flanges 43' ofthe contacts rest on shoulders .53 in the casing. The casing is provided with openings 5| which correspond in position with an opening 48 in the mounting block when the unit is in place in the casing. The unit and the casing are held together by a locking pin 52 which passes through the corresponding openings. When the pin is in place, its ends are flush with the surface of the casing. The pin fits the openings tightly enough so that it is held in place by friction. Below the section shown at 55. Adjacent to me outer end of the casing is a bead 56 which reinforces the edge of said casing. Also the lower end of the neck 54 is reinforced by a bead 5'l.'

' To wire the plug cap for use, the cable is slipped through the neck of the casing and the wires contained in the casing are attached to the binding posts 41. At this time, the contapts may or may not be assembled on the mounting block. After the wires are connected to the contacts and the contacts have been mounted on the mounting block, the assembled unit comprising the mounting block with the'contacts thereon is then pushed into the casing until the flanges 43 rest on the shoulders 53 and the several openings 49 and 5| are in alignment. The pin 52 is then passed through the openings and the plug cap is ready for use. x

This construction has the advantage that it is simple in structure and composed of few parts,

permitting its manufacture at low cost. It can be taken apart readily in order to repair or replace the cable and is easily assembled. The wiring is totally concealed by the mounting block, giving a neat appearing plug cap. The cap being flat sided facilitates locating the prongs in the proper relation to the slots in any receptacle.

By arranging grooves 4| and 42,0n opposite faces of the mounting block, the two contacts 42 maybe alike and interchangeable. The casing 50 holds contacts 43 in grooves 4| and 42 in the mounting block but any strain or pull on thecontacts is taken by the mounting .block. I

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A plug cap comprising an elongated rectanglar mounting block having a groove at each end, contacts having strap portions which fit said grooves and shoulders which engage the 40 mounting block at opposite ends of the grooves, a removable casing of yieldable material which fits over the mounting block, and means for fastening the casing and block together.

2. A plug cap comprising an elongated rectangular mounting block having a groove at each end, contacts having strap portions whichflt said grooves and shoulders which engage the mounting block atopposite ends of the grooves,

a removable casing of yieldable material which fits over the mounting block, and a pin for fastening the casing and block together.

3. A plug cap comprising a mounting block having at one end a groove on one side and at the other end a groove on the other side. con- I mounting block flts,,and means for limiting the tacts having portions which flt into said grooves and engage the block at the opposite ends of the grooves, and a removable casing which fits over said block. I a

4. A plug cap comprising a mounting block having at one end a groove on one side and at the other end a groove on the other side, contacts having portions which fit into said grooves and engage the block at opposite ends of the grooves,

1 a'casing having an open end into which the

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