US1520421A - Electrical connecter and supporting device - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 11924- 1,52@,4Z1

F. E. KOLAR ELECTRICAL GONNEGTER AND SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed June 21, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y az W i? Dec. 1924. 1,52%,421

F. E. KOLAR ELECTRICAL CONNECTER AND SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed June 21, f3 Sheets-Sheet 2 wunmm Zlrwenloz [Ell Z221 atfozmq Patented Dec. 23, 1924.

UNITED STATES FRANK E. KOLAB, OF 8'1. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

WELECTBIGAL comma-ran AND snrroaft nvo nnvxcn.

Application filed June 21, 1921. Serial No. 479,826.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. KOLAR, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Connector and Supporting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates generally to an electrical connecter and supporting device for use with the ordinary type 0 plug and socket switch in which type of switch the contact fingers of the plug move into the socket member and between spring contact pieces of the latter, the connection depending for its integrity and strength upon the frictional engagement of these last mentioned parts so that little if any real support is afforded connections or wires leading from the plug. It is the object of my invention to supplement these parts in a simple efiective manner with means whereby to lock the plug in engaged relation with the socket so that material and efficient support is afforded connections leading from the socket and useful as forinstance supporting lamp fixtures and other articles while at the same time adapting the plug to ready.removal and rec'onnection in an interchange of fixtures or implements supported. thereby.

In the accompanyin drawings which illustrate my present in ention and form a part of this specification,

' Figure 1 is a side View showing the plug and socket locked inc'onnection with one another and in position to support a sidewall lamp fixture,

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section through the socket and its support,

Figure 3 is a face view thereof, v

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section through the plug and its housing, and

Figure 5 is a face view of the parts shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a face view of what is shown in Figure 1. Figures 7 is a fragmentary plan of the plug housing.

Referring now to these figures I have in Figures 1, 2 and 3 shown the socket member 10, which is of conventional construction, secured within a support in the nature of a junction box 11 whose cover is in the nature of a face plate 12 having a central opening 13 exposing the plug receivin end of the socket member 10. It is to be understood however that various other-means of support may be utilized for the connection of the socket member 10 so long of course as the support is of a nature making it possible to secure the face plate 12 around the plug receiving end of the socket member.

The face plate 12 has recesses 14 at diametrically opposite sides of its opening 13, and from these recesses slots 15-are formed extending in the same direction from the recesses and partly around the central openings 13. Intermediate the end of these slots 15, the face plate has adjacent to the edges of the slots indented portions 16 for a purpose which will be presently described.

In further accord with my invention the plug 17 of conventional form, with outstanding contact fingers 18 to enter the cavities 19 of the socket member 10', is housed within a cup-shaped housing 20 provided with a central opening. The plug 17 and housing 20 are relatively rotatable by virtue of a hollow pin 21 extending through the central opening 22 of the plug, whose headed inner end 23 prevents displacement of the plug 17 and whose outer threaded end 24 is screwed into a ring 25 engaging threads within the housing 20 around its opening in such manner as to permit of the reception of a bushing 25 also threaded in the opening of the housing, which has a threaded bore of proper diameter to receive a pipe or bracket tube of an electric lamp fixture.

The free edge of the housing terminates substantially'flush with the face of the plug 17 and is provided at diametrically opposite points with extending lugs 26 adapted to be projected through the diametrically opposed recesses 14 of the face plate 12, these lugs having inclined shoulders adapted to movably engage the inner surface of the face plate 12 so that upon partial rotation of the hollow pin and plug housing with respect to the face plate the shanks of the lugs move within the slots 15 until the lug shoulders are moved past' the indented portions 16 of the face plate, when the lock connection is completed.

With the plug and its housing arranged as in Figure 5, with the fingers 18 and lugs 26 in alinement, the fingers are introduced fixed socket, and by the enga to'and shoved into the cavities 19 of the ent of the fingers with the socket the p ug is held in non-rotatable position. As the fin are are shoved into the cavities the lugs enter their necessesl i, and then by a slight tw1st of the housing (which is accomphshed through a turning motion imparted to the lam fixture that is usuall attached to the bu ing the housing is turned on the plug and the lugs 26 are caused to frictionally engage the inner face of the face plate, thus drawing the plu and housing into close relation to the soc st and faceplate. 1

Upon such engagement the heads of the lugs will rojectinwardly beyond the inner I surface 0 the face plate 12 so that the above described operation of comlpleting the locking may be readily accomp lshed. While in the locked ition the plug housing will be prevented m accidental rotation in a reverse direction by the engagement of the indented portion 16 v of the face plate with the lug shoulders.

- -It is also obvious however that by simply grasping the plug housing and rotating the same in a counter-clockwise direction, disenga emen'teof the parts may be readily effecte so as to permit of an interchange of lam s or implements attached as usual by a- (fleadingfrom the plug.

pin 21 suppgrts and retains the plug 17. ure is being attached for use, the electric wires which pass through the :IIXHOW pin 21 and bushing 25 are protected d free from strain or entan lement; the housing and pin may be turne or twisted on said pluo having an opening alined with the with facility in relation to the nod-rotatable plug and its socket, and the lugs 26, after they reach proper position, .secure- 1y hold the housing and 'pin and theifixture connected to and supported thereby in rigid posltion. v

In Figures 1 and 2 the. device of the invention is shown in position for use on a side-wall,- and it will be apparent that by turning the device to brin the bushing 25 at the underside thereof, t e device may be secured in a ceiling. In either case a suitable lamp fixture may be supported from the bushing 25. a I

I claim:

1. In an electrical plu fixture, the combination with a socket an an apertured plug, of a hollow pin rotatable in the plug, an

open" center housing rotatableon the plug and rigidly'con'nected to thepin, and means for supporting a fixture in connection with the pm.

2. The combination with a socket and an apertured plug having a recess, of a hollow pin rotatable in the plug, a retaining head p n, a housing rotatable on the hollow pin, and a rigid connection between said housing and pi 3. The combination with an apertured plug, of a hollow pin rotatable therein, a ousin on said plug, and an intermediate ring rigidly connecting the pin and hous-- 2 in I fin testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

FRANK E. KOLAR.

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