WO1997041624A1

WO1997041624A1 - Electrical socket for two plugs

Info

Publication number: WO1997041624A1
Application number: PCT/GB1997/001145
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ian Thomas Lewis
Original assignee: Austin Taylor Communications Limited
Priority date: 1996-04-26
Filing date: 1997-04-25
Publication date: 1997-11-06
Also published as: GB9608640D0; AU2398697A

Abstract

An electrical socket connector comprises a housing (1) moulded from synthetic plastics material and defining an aperture (2) leading to a cavity (3). Two different sets of contacts (4 and 5) extend into the cavity from corresponding sets of pins (8 and 9) disposed externally of the housing. The peripheral shape of aperture (2) is chosen to accept two different types of plugs for which the socket is intended and the sets of contacts (4 and 5) are provided so that each different plug type can only mate with the appropriate sets of contacts. This provides a single socket which can accept two different plug types.

Description

Electπ'cal socket for two pl ugs

The present invention relates to an electrical connector particularly,

but not exclusively, electrical connectors for communications applications.

At the present time, the British Telecom Standard range of telephone

plugs or the International Standard RJII and RJ45 series of plugs have

different shapes. Should there be a requirement for both BT and RJ style

plugs to connect to the same circuit, either two separate and different

outlets, or adapter cord(s), would be required. An object of the present

invention is to provide an electrical socket connector which would accept

two different types of plug such as the two types mentioned above and

thereby obviate the need for separate and different outlets and/or adapter

cord(s).

According to the present invention there is provided an electrical

socket connector comprising a housing of electrically non-conductive

material, a first set of electrically conductive contacts disposed in the

housing, and a second set of electrically conductive contacts disposed in

the housing, the housing defining an aperture having a shape to

accommodate a first electrical plug connector having electrically conductive

contacts to contact the first set of electrically conductive contacts in the

housing and a second electrical plug connector having electrically

conductive contacts to contact the second set of electrically conductive contacts in the housing.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the aperture leads to a

cavity in which the sets of contacts are disposed. Each set of contacts is connected to a corresponding set of pins which extend externally of the

housing for connection to a line by soldering, crimping, screwing and

insulation displacement or in any other suitable way. The contacts may be

disposed in the cavity to support a plug inserted therein. The housing may

be formed of round wire, flat metal sheet punched, eroded or etched,

carbon film, semi-conducting material, a suitable substrate coated with or

carrying one or more of the above or any combination of these. Means may

be moulded from synthetic plastics material such as ABS or PVC. The

housing may be grooved to accommodate a latch. The two sets of contacts

may comprise single pieces of material or separate pieces. Where there are

single pieces of material, corresponding contacts of the two sets would be

provided by the same piece of material. Where the two sets of contacts

comprise separate pieces, corresponding contacts of the two sets would be

on separate pieces of material. Additional sets of contacts could be

provided, for example, for screening purposes.

in order that the invention may be more clearly understood, one

embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with

reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 shows a front elevational view of an electrical socket

connector according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view along the line 2-2 of figure I,

Figure 3 is a cross-section through Figure 2 along the line X-X,

Figure 4 is a cross section through Figure 2 along the line Y-Y, and

Figure 5 is an underplan view of the connector of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the socket comprises a housing 1 made of

an electrically non-conductive material. Preferably the housing 1 is moulded

from a synthetic plastics material such as ABS or PVC. The housing 1

defines an aperture 2 leading to a cavity 3. Housed in the cavity are two

different sets of contacts 4 and 5 which extend from externally of the

housing into the cavity. In this particular example, contacts 4 are provided

for a British Telecom style telephone plug type 431/631 and contacts 5 are

provided for International Standard RJ11 and RJ45 style plugs. The

contacts may be formed of round wire, flat metal sheet punched, eroded or

etched, carbon film, semi-conducting material, a suitable substrate coated

with or carrying one or more of the above or any combination of these. The

two sets of contacts are disposed so that each different style of plug can

only mate with the appropriate set of contacts. In this particular case the

two sets 4 and 5 are arranged opposite each other but the positioning could

be different and is chosen having regard to the plug contact requirements. A channel 6 is formed in the front face of the housing 1 to accept the

latch of the RJ style plug. A projection 7 is formed in the cavity 3 to act as

a support for a British Telecom style plug. The peripheral shape of the

aperture 2 is complex and chosen to accept both of the plugs for which the

socket is intended. Sets of contacts 4 and 5 are electrically connected

respectively to sets of pins 8 and 9 extending externally of the housing 1.

These pins may be made of copper, plated if necessary, and would be

connected to external conductors by soldering, screwing, insulating

displacement, crimping or in any other suitable way.

It will be appreciated that the above embodiment has been described

by way of example only and that many variations are possible without

departing from the scope of the invention. Although in the above described

embodiment, the two sets of contacts are on different pieces of material,

they could be provided on the same piece of material. In such an

arrangement corresponding contacts of the two sets are provided by the

same pieces of material. Thus, for example, if each set of contacts

comprised four contacts there would be four pieces of contact material and

each piece of material would provide two contacts, one for each set.

Additional sets of contacts could be provided and one of these sets

could be used to provide a screening facility.

Claims

CLA1MS

1. An electrical socket connector comprising a housing of electrically

non-conductive material, a first set of electrically conductive contacts

disposed in the housing, and a second set of electrically conductive

contacts disposed in the housing, the housing defining an aperture having

a shape to accommodate a first electrical plug connector having electrically

conductive contacts to contact the first set of electrically conductive

contacts in the housing and a second electrical plug connector having

electrically conductive contacts to contact the second set of electrically

conductive contacts in the housing.

2. An electrical socket connector as claimed in claim 1 , in which the

aperture leads to a cavity in which the sets of contacts are disposed.

3. An electrical socket connector as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which

each set of contacts is connected to a corresponding set of pins which

extend externally of the housing for connection to a line.

4. An electrical socket connector as claimed in claim 1 , 2 or 3, in which

the contacts are formed wholly or partially of round wire.

5. An electrical socket connector as claimed in claim 1, 2, or 3, in which

the contacts are formed wholly or partially of flat metal sheet punched,

eroded or etched.

6. An electrical socket connector as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the contacts are formed wholly or partially of carbon film.

7. An electrical socket connector as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which

the contacts are formed wholly or partially of semi-conducting material.

8. An electrical socket connector as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which

the contacts are formed wholly or partially of a substrate coated with a

conductive or semi-conductive coating.

9. An electrical socket connector as claimed in any preceding claim, in

which means are disposed in the housing to support a plug inserted therein.

10. An electrical socket connector as claimed in any preceding claim, in

which the housing is moulded from synthetic plastics material.

11. An electrical socket connector as claimed in any preceding claim, in

which the housing is grooved to accommodate a latch.

12. An electrical socket connector as claimed in any preceding claim in

which the two sets of contacts comprise single pieces of material,

corresponding contacts of each set being provided on the same piece of

material.

13. An electrical socket connector as claimed in any preceding claim, in

which the material providing one set of contacts is separate from the

material providing the other set of contacts.

14. An electrical socket connector as claimed in any preceding claim, in

which at least one additional set of contacts is provided.

15. An electrical socket connector as claimed in claim 14, in which the

additional sets of contacts provide screening.