US1678746A - Jack - Google Patents

Description

N. c. SCHELLENGER JACK 2 Sheets-s 1 Filed Sept. 5, 1925 July 31, 1928. 1,678,746

N. c. SCHELLENGER JACK Filed. Sept. 5, 1925 2 SheetsSheet 2 i 77 55 Newfo fi C. jokeifenger Patented July 31, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NEWTONC. SCHELLENGFR, ELKHART, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO CHICAGO TELEPHONE SUPPLY 00., OF ELKHART, INDIANA, A CORIYORA'IION OF DELAWARE.

JACK.

Application filed September 5, 1925. serial No. 54,594.

The present invention relates to a novel form of jack for plugs of the telephone type. The jack of myv invention isparticularly useful for making connections wlth a telephone plug at some point remote from the apparatus to be connected. It especially lends itself to radio work Where the receiving set is in one room and the loudspeaker in another. By means of an extension cord connecting the jack with the set, the audlo frequency currents may be transmittedfrom the set to the jack of my invention, WlllCll is adapted to receive the plug of theloud speaker. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to radio work. It may be used in connection with any electrical apparatus where a jack con-.

nection with the apparatus is desired at some point away from the apparatus itself. It is also to be understood that' the invention is not limited to separately housed Jacks, but may be applied to jacks adapted for panel or switchboard mounting.

Aside from its general utility as set forth above, my jack has certain novel structural features which permit of compactness and manufacture at a low cost. One of these is to be found in the main frame for the) jack, the function of which is not only to serve as the frame for the jack, but also as a spring for holding the plug inserted into the jack firmly against the contact parts. 'Another novel provision is the means employed for ma ing contact with the tip portion ofthe' ug. These and other novel features of the invention will be more fully .understood from the detailed descriptions given thereof in the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section showing a top plan View of a jack of my invention and taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig; 2 is also a longitudinal section taken 011 line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and brings out the novel frame structure and the manner in which the contact spring of the jack engages with a telephone plug;

Fig. 3 is an end section taken on line 33 of Fig. '2, and illustrates the manner of shaping the contact spring to prevent lateral movement thereof;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of another embodiment taken on line H of Fig. 5

,be moulded, or it may be "is threaded to receive Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the jack shown in Fig. 4;

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are side views .of terminals showing several ways in which the ends of the frame and contact spring may be formed for holding the flexible cord member securely thereto; v 1

Figs. 6 7' and 8 are end views of the terminals shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, respectively; and

Fig. -9 illustrates another embodiment of the invention which is adapted for panel mounting.

In Figs. 1 and 2, I have designated the jack in its entirety by the numeral 1. One end of the jack is adapted to receive a telephone plug 2 of the usual type and the other end has an opening therein through which the flexible cord member 3 may be led for connection to the jack proper.

More specifically, the jack 1 comprises a sleeve or housing of insulating material 4,

which maybe of fiber, hard rubber, or of a material known and marketed under the trade-name of Bakelite. The sleeve 4 may of insulating tubing having a plug with an aperture therein securely fitted into one of the openends. The opening 5 in the sleeve 4, as stated above, permits the flexible cord member 3 to be led therethrough for contact with the frame 6 and the contact spring 7;

The frame 6 comprises a leg portion 8 which is at substantially right angles to the base portion 9-. The leg portion 8 is securely mounted on the thimble 10, which is in turn secured in the plug member 11 by means of a press fit. The inner end of the thimble 10 is beaded or riveted over the base 8 of the frame 6. If desired the sleeve 10 may have a shoulder against the outside face of the disk or plug 11 to limit the inward movement of said sleeve. The frame 6 also has an oflset portion 12 which serves as a mounting seat for the contact spring 7 a d as a, connector means for one of the flexib e cord members 3. The offset of openings, the front opening freely passing the bolt or screw 22.

terminal screw 14:

which serves as a meansfor holding one of z made'of a piece portion 12 has a pair The other opening the cord members 3 in firm contact with the frame. The terminal portion 12 ina shaped as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 with a cupped depression to hold the conductor from being squeezed out from under the head of the screw 14.

to receive the screw 18, which serves to hold I the tip one of the flexible cord members 3 in firm, contact with the contact portion 17 of the spring 7. This terminal portion 17 may be formed with a depression such as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 for restraining the outward squeezing of the cord 3 under the screw 18. Because of an opening 19 in the portion 15, of the plug 2 may have its groove portion firmly in contact with one edge of the loop about the opening 19. However, contact between the tip and the contact spring 7 may be secured in a various number of other ways. For example, the portion may be V-shape so as to co-operate with the groove in the plug tip.

The body portion 16 has an opening therein for an insulating washer 20. It is insulated from the frame 6 by means of an insulating plate or sheet 21 which extends throughout the length ofthe body portion 16 and outwardly therefrom between the contact screws 14 and 18, and also extends laterally over the side edges of the central part of the frame as shown in Fig. 3. The contact spring 7 and the insulating member 21 are mounted on the offset portion 12 of the frame 6 by means of the screw 22. The

screw'22 threads into the nut 23 on the bottom side of the offset portion 12 and is in- 'sulated from the contact spring 7 by means of an insulating Washer 24.

I To prevent any pivotal or lateral movement of the insulating member 21 and the contact spring 7 with respect to the frame member 6, I provide a pair of lugs or flanges 25 on the insulating member and also a pair of lugs or flanges 26 on the body portion 16 of the contact spring. The lugs 25 embrace the portion 12 of the frame 6 and not only prevent lateral movement of the insulating member 21, but prevent contact between the portion 12 and the spring 7. The lugs 26 on spring 7 tightly embrace the liigs of insulation 25 on plate 21 when the screw 22 is' drawn up; This construction prevents pivotal movement of the spring 7 relative to the frame 6 when the plug 2 is brought into or out of contact with the portion 15.

Both the frame 6 and the contact spring I 7 are preferably made-of a 'resilient or spring-like material such as brass or German silver. -The frame 6 should be of resilient material so as to act in conjunction with the s ring 7, to firmly hold it against the tip 0 the plug 2. This is quite contrary to the structure of ordinary jacks in which the frame is of a rigid construction, and is not adapted to act as a spring in holding the contact which engages with the tip in firm relation thereto. This structure not only aids in holding the spring 7 in firm contact with the tip, but also secures firm contact between the sleeve of the plug 2 and the thimble 10 of the jack. 4

It will be noted that the thimble 10 serves not only as a guide for the sleeve of the plug 2, but also limits the travel of the plug 2 into the jack. While the t-himble 10 is shown in the drawings as having a length, it need not be so limited. It is obvious that it may be threaded to receive a second thimble by means of which the distance between the telephone plug and the plug 11 of the jack could be varied. Also, by threading the outer circumference of the thimble 10, which lies outside of the plug 11, the jack may be used for panel mounting. When so used it could be held to the panel by means of an ordinary hexagon nut which could be threaded on that portion of the thimble 10 extending beyond the outer surface of the panel.

Likewise, the plug 11'as shown in the drawings has a threaded portion which is adaptedto engage with similar threads at one on of the sleeve 4. However, this may also b modified, and the plug may be inserted into the sleeve by means of a pressfit,

In a mounted jack for use on the end of a I cord, as shown in the modification of Fig. 1,

the sleeve 10 is desirable to permit the fingers of the operator to obtain a hold upon the corners ofthe plug and jack members to pull them apart. Due to the short length of the handles of the cult to secure a good hand hold upon their cylindrical surfaces to pull them apart, and the present provision of the forwardly extending sleeve permits of a purchase upon the end surfaces.

In Figs. 4 and 5. I have shown a slightly different structure of the frame and the conplug and jack it is diflitact spring. In this case the frame 30 and the contact spring 31 are provided with suitable openings 32 and 33, respectively, to permit the tip portion of the plug 34 to make contact with the spring 31. The frame 30 is also mounted on the thi'mble 35 which is in turn securely fitted int-o an aperture provided for in the plug 36. Engagement between the plug 36 and the sleeve 37 is had by means of suitable threads at one end of the sleeve which co-operate with similar threads on the plug- An insulating member 38 separates the frame 30 from the contact spring 31. A screw 39, which is insulated from the spring '31 by means of the insulating washspaced relation relative each other.- A pair 4 of extension cord members 44 are led through an aperture 47 in the sleeve 37 and are secured to the frame 30 and the contact spring 31 by means of the contact screws and 46, respectively. In this construction the plug tends to push the contactspring away or spread it from the frame spring, whereas in the previous construction the two springs are flexed toward each other.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 I show various ways in which the contact ends of the frame and contact spring which engage with the extension cords may be shaped in order to firmly secure the bare ends of the cords thereto. Fig. 6 shows a generally scoop-shaped indentation which may be made in the end or terminal portions of thespring 51. When the head of the contact screw is brought to bear on the endof a cord, it will force it into this indentation and thus prevent thefine wires, which make up the flexible conductors of the cords, from being squeezed out. 'It will also insure better contact with the frame and contact spring, since a greater surface area-of the cords will come into contact with their corresponding contact portions of the jack. In Fig. 7 the depression 52 is cup shaped with a depressed channel 53 for the conductor leading out of the end of the depression. In Fig. 8 the cup shaped depression 54 is completely closed so that'thej cord coiled under the head of the terminal screw is held securely in the depression which is relatively semi-spherical in form. Any one of the modifications shown in Figs. 6, 7 or 8 may be used in preference to the flat contact portion for the cords provided on the contact spring and frame member, asshown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive.

In Fig. 9, I illustrate another embodiment of my invention whichis suitable for panel mounting. In .this case the resilient frame or spring member comprises a leg 61, a spring seat 62, and a contact portion 63. The leg 61 is generally circular in shape and has-an aperture therein by means of which it is mounted on the sleeve 64. The sleeve 64 extends through a suitable opening in the panel 65 and has its outer circumference threaded to receive a nut 66. A washer 67 is of a thickness which'will permit the nut 66 to lie flush with the end of the-sleeve 64 when it is secured in the panel 65. I

To the bottom side of the seat 62 is secured the spring contact member 68 by means of the screw 69 and its co-operating nut 70. This spring consists of the contact portion 71, which is adapted to engage with the groove provided inthe tip or the plug .72, the seating port-ion havinglugs 73 for reventing lateral movement, and the con uctor contact member 74. .Screws 75 77 thread into the contact portions 63 and '74,

respectively, and serve to hold conductor members to the jack in firm contact thereto. A sheet or plate'of insulating material 76 insulates the members 60 and 68 from each other. It is also provided with a pair of lugs (not shown) which embrace the spring seat 62 to prevent lateral movement thereof relative the frame 60. The lugs of the insulating member are in turn embraced by the lugs 73 of the member 68, which likewise serve to prevent any lateral or pivotal movement of the spring member 68 relative the frame 60 when the jack is in use.

I do not intend to be limited to the details shown or described.

I claim:

'1. In combination, a sleeve, a plug in one end thereof, and a resilient frame mounted on said plu and within said sleeve.

2. In combination, a sleeve, a plug for one end thereof, a resilient frame mounted on said plug and within said sleeve, said frame having an offset portion adapted for mounting a contact spring thereon. V 3. In combination, a sleeve, a plug at one end thereof having an aperture therein, a thimble fitted into said aperture, and a resilient frame mounted on said thimble and within said sleeve.

4. In combination, a resilient frame member having an offset portion, insulating means mounted thereon, a contact spring on said insulating means, said insulating means having a pair of lugs extending downwardly from opposite sides thereof and over the edges of said frame, said contact spring having a pair of downwardly extending lugs -which fit over the lugs on said insulating' --means, the lugs on said insulating means and said contact spring being adapted to preyent lateral movementthereof relative said rame.

5. In combination, a resilient frame memher having a leg portion and a -mounting portion for a contact spring, a contact spring having a contact portion at one end adapted to contact with the tip portion of. a telephone plug, insulating means separating said frame from said contact spring, and means for securing said contact spring rigidly to said fram 6. In combination, a sleeve having a plug at one end thereof, a thimble fitted 'intosaid plug and adapted to receive a telephone plug, a resilient frame member secured to said thimble, a contact spring mounted on said frame and insulated therefrom said frame member being adapted to hold said telephone plug in firm contact with said contact spring and said thimble.

" 7. In combination, a-sleeve of insulating material having an aperture at one end, a 'pair of flexible conductor members. extending through said aperture, a. resilient frame member mounted within said sleeve, a spring contact, screws adapted for engagement with said contact spring and said frame for holding said cord members thereto, and insulating means for preventing contact between said spring contact member and frame and between the screws for securing the flexible cord members through said contact spring and said frame.

8. In combination, a mounting member, 10 a sleeve mounted therein, a resilient frame secured tosaid sleeve, and a spring having a contact portion adapted to co-operate with I the tip of a plug mounted on said frame and insulated therefrom;

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 1st day of September, 1925.

NEWTON G. SCHELLENGER.

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