US2274798A - Electrical fixture - Google Patents

Description

March 3, 1942- R. Kos'rAL 2,274,798

" ELECTRICAL FIXTURE Filed Feb. 24, 1940 3 nventor l@Rudlph Mi# Patented Mar. 3,

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE Rudolph Kostal, Ajo, Ariz.

Application February 24, 1940, -Serial No. 320,575

4 Claims.

This invention relates to electrical xtures and more particularly to detachable push in plugs and sockets for electrical conductors or wires.

It is an object of the invention to provide me- A will be understood from the following detailed description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a two part electrical fixture containing a preferred embodiment 'of the present invention, the electrodes thereof beingin an open detached position with respect to each other.

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the electrodes in electrical communication or contact with each other and also releasably joined together for mechanical functions.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

As heretofore practiced in the art plugs having push in electrodes for attachment thereto at one end thereof of energy conveying wires and a heavy fixture, lamp cord, flat iron or the like at the other ends of said wires often through inadvertence, accident or mistake become detached from their receiving sockets or receptacles through the operator accidentally jerking or pulling on the cord while operating an electrical instrumentality, at iron or the like which is not only annoying but also consuming time and labor in replacing the plug and the present invention contemplates providingmeans for obviating the undesirable practices of the prior art.

, Also as heretofore practiced an operator in detaching a plug from its socket often pulls on the line wires or instrumentality attached thereto instead of the-plug for said purpose, whereby the ends of the wires become torn from or detached trical wires which are attached to said plug but which may be readily and intentionally manually adjusted for detaching purposes. l Referring now to the drawing for a more particular description the plug and socket fixture of the present invention is formed wherever necessary or desirable of insulating material such as artificial rubber, Bakelite" or the like. The socketincludes a housing I0 having an annularly disposed well or recess II provided between its side wall and a medially positioned core I2. The core may be attached by any suitable means to a metallic .sleeve I3, the latter in turn being formed integral with a cap I4.

The exterior wall of the housing I0 is provided with a metallic annularly disposed ferrule I5 formed with screw threads whereby it may be operatively engaged with any electrical device' having correspondingly shaped threads adapted to receive and cooperate with the threads of the ferrule I5 for mechanical attachment and for closing a circuit through said threads.

Disposed within the well II and in electrical communication with the ferrule I5 an elongated electrode I6 is provided having an inwardly disposed lug I1 for purposes later described.

A similar electrode I8 is also disposed in said well and in insulated relation with respect to the electrode'IB and is provided with a similar lug I9. The electrode I8 extends through a cover 20 for. an end of the housing I0 and is in electrical communication with the cap I4. The cover 2|! and the cap I4 are each provided with acentrally disposed aperture through each of which the sleeve I3 extends.

The open end of the well II is provided with an outwardly flared annular flange 2I and the core I2 is provided with abeveled surface 22 at its end opposite to the sleeve receiving end. The walls of the free end of the core converge towards each other, whereby the well II is provided with a flared mouth adapted to facilitate guiding later described resilient electrodes of the plug into said well.

The main body portion 23 of the plug is prol vided with acentrally disposed recess 24 and a bore 25 in communication therewith, said bore extending through the plug 23. The plug is preferably provided with an annular shoulder 26 which cooperates with an inwardly extending flange 21 -of an annularly disposed boss 28 in preventing an outward movement ofthe plug 23 with respect to said boss in one direction and is prevented from moving in an opposite direction with respect to the boss by means of a transversely disposed wall of insulation 29, having a collar 30 disposedat a right angle with respect to the portion 29. The collarA 30 and wall 29 are formed integral, said collar having inner annular screw threads which cooperate with correspondingly shaped screw threads positioned on the outer perimeter of the boss 28, whereby at times when the parts are assembled in an operating position as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the boss 28 and the body 23 of the plug are secured together.

'I'he wall 29 is provided with a medially disposed aperture 3I which, as best shown in Figures 2 and 4, is of oval shape in plan and which together with the wall 29' and collar 30 provide a switch for later described mechanical and electrical purposes.

Oppositely disposed resilient electrodes 32 and 33 are secured at their ends by any suitable means such as tubular rivets to the main body portion of the plug, said ends are positioned within the recess 24 as shown in Figure 1. Each electrode 32 and 33 is provided with a screw similar to the screw 34 whereby the ends of electrical line wires, not shown, may be attached to the screws 34 in a well known manner, each said wire being then in electrical communication with its respective electrode 32 and 33.

The electrodes 32 and 33 are formed of suitable resilient material such as spring brass or the like and extend outwardly of the main body portion of the plug being provided, as best shown in Figure 3, each with an aperture such as the aperture or receptacle 35 which extends transversely through or is let into said electrodes adjacent their free ends.

,The apertures A35 are adapted to receive respective lugs I1 and I9 of the electrodesl I6 and I8 of4 the socket for locking the electrodes I'I and 32 together and also the electrodes I1 and 33 whereby said electrodes are adapted to perform their electrical functions in closing a circuit and in addition -thereto the mechanical function of preventing a separation of said electrodes and the two main parts of the iixture except at times desired and governed by the operator.

The free ends of the electrodes 32 and 33 normally spring outwardly and divergently with respect to each other, being urged thereto by the inherent resiliency and shape thereof.

At times when the major axis of the oval shaped aperture 3| of the switch wall 29 is turned to substantially a parallel position with respect to the alignment of the electrodes 32 and 33 or more particularly the apertures 35 thereof the said electrodes are permitted to mo've outwardly with respect to each other as to the free ends thereof and at times when so moved said free ends may be inserted into the well II for positioning the apertures 35 of said ends in alignment with respective lugs I'I and .I9 of the electrodes I8 and I8 of the socket orhousing III. The inner annular surface of the flange 2l functions to guide the free ends of the electrodes 32 and 33 into the well and the free ends of the electrodes I 6. and I8 are each preferably provided with oir-set outwardly flared end portions 36, said oi-sets and iiange are adapted to compress the free ends of the electrodes 32 and -33- towards each other and guide the electrodes 32 and 33 into the well whereby when released said electrodes are each adapted to spring into a position of engagement with respective lugs II and I9.

Preferably and at times when it is desired to `attach the plug to the socket the switch member 29 is turned or rotated upon its threads or supvpot to the position shown in Figure 2. Thus the minor axis of the oval shaped aperture 3l is substantially in parallelism with the alignment of the electrodes 32 and 33 for contracting the free ends of said electrodes towards each other and holding the same in said position as shown in Figures 1 and 2. While the electrodes 32 and 33 are being inserted into the well II of the housing and at times when the maior axis of said oval is in said alignment as shown in Figure' 4 and at times when the free ends of the electrodes 32 and 33 are at an extreme outward position with respect to each other the beveled wall or flange 2I guides said free ends inwardly of the well II, moving said ends towards each other. When the member 29 is in abutting relation with the open end of the housing I9 the member 29 is then rotated approximately 90 degrees for permitting the free ends of the electrodes 32 and 33 to spring v outwardly with respect to each other. Thus the lugs I1 and I9 of the electrodes I8 and I8 are engaged within the apertures 35 adjacent the free ends of the electrodes 32 and 33 for locking the parts together in a non-removable manner, except at times when the member 29 is rotated to permit the same by moving said electrodes towards each other and away from the lugs I1 Iand I9.

It will be understood that line wires, not shown, extend to the cap I4 and are in electrical communication therewith and also the member I5 together with the electrodes I6 and I8, respectively, said line wires may be incorporated into any suitable electrical fixture that is provided with threads for engaging the threads of the member I5 whereby there is provided an electrical circuit closed through said line wires, the

cap I4, the ferrule I5, electrodes I6 and I8.

lugs II and I9, electrodes 32 and 33,l the screws 34 of the latter and the wires attached to said screws and the said circuit may be opened by rotating the switch member 29 or closed by said rotation.

By this means the housing I0 may be screwed into a ceiling pocket and a comparatively heavy fixture or lamp adequately suspended by the insulated wires which extend through the bore 25 of the plug, accidental detachment of the plug 0f this invention from the socket thereof being prevented.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the invention as herein claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. A plug for an electrical socket provided with two electrodes each having a detent element insulated with respect to each other, said plug comprising a body member provided with two electrodes each having a means adapted to cooperate with a detent element of said socket for locking each electrode of said socket with one of the electrodes of the plug for providing locked electrical communication between contacting electrodes, the electrodes of the plug arranged in insulated relation with respect to each other, and rotatable means carried by the plug for releasing said locked communication, said rotatable means including a rotatable plate provided with an oval shaped opening having a major and a minor axis, said opening receiving the electrodes of the plug therethrough and in one position of the plate the walls adjacent the minor axis of the opening engaging the electrodes of the plug to disengage them from the detent elements while in another position of the plate the electrodes of the plug engage the detent elements.

2. In an electrical fixture having a socket with locking means on the electrodes, aI plug having resilient electrodes insulated with respect to each other, said plug electrodes having free ends normally urged away from each other, said free ends provided with means engageable With the locking means of the socket to establish electrical communication therewith, rotatable means carried by the plug to contract the resilient electrodes for releasing same from locked position, said means comprising a'plate having an opening of variable diameter, and means carried by the socket so constructed and arranged as to guide the plug electrodes into locking engagement with the locking means of the socket electrodes when the plug electrodes are engaged by the walls of the opening adjacent the larger diameter of the plate opening.

3. In an electrical xture having a socket with electrodes disposedtherein, a plug having normally urged apart electrodes in locking engagement with the socket electrodes, anda plate rotatably carried by said plug, said plate having an oval shaped Vopening provided with a major axis and a minor axis, the walls adjacent the minor axis of ythe opening having direct contact with the plug electrodes in one position of the plate to urge them towards each other and out of locking engagement with the socket electrodes.

4. A plug having resilient electrodes adapted to be removably locked -to the electrodes of a socket comprising a main body portion having an annular shoulder, an annular boss encircling the main body portion and having an inwardly extending flange cooperating with said shoulder yto prevent movement of the main body portion in one direction, a plate disposed across one end of said main body portion adjacent said shoulder to prevent movement of the main body portion in the opposite direction, said plate being rotatable on said plug and having an annular skirt encircling said boss, cooperatingthreads on said boss and the flange of said plate, said plate having an opening through which the plug electrodes pass, the opening in said plate being of variable diameter, said plate in one of its positions having the Walls of its opening bearing against said plug electrodes to contract them out of locking engagement with the socket electrodes and in another position to permit the resiliency of the plug electrodes to come into play so that the plug electrodes have locking engagement with the socket electrodes.

' RUDOLPH KOSTAL.

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