US1781958A - Automatic plug - Google Patents

Description

.- I. Y .l I A Neu/Ibn fellenyer N ov. 18, 1930. N. c. SCHELLENGER 1,781,958

AUTOMATIC PLUG l Filed Sept. 5, 1925 7 /f M///f Patented Nav. 1a, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE- NEWTON C. SCHELLENGEB, OF ELKHART, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T CHICAGO TELEPHONE SUPPLY C0., OF ELKHART, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OI' DELAWARE AUTOMATIC PLUG Application led September My invention relates to telephone plugs of the type in which the terminals or tips of the connecting cord may be readily connected or disconnected byV simple manual operatlons 5 not requirin tools. Such plugs are commonly term automatic plugs.

According to my invention, I employ an automatically operating spring clutch terminal or jack which is self-contained and compact. Such spring clutch terminal or jack is shown and claimed per se in my copending application, Serial No. 48,265, filed August 5 1925.

This clutch or jack is in the form of a cylindrical sleeve with a concentric cylindrical sleeve release member projecting from the end thereof. That is to say, the release member is co-axial with the body of the clutch or jack and projects from the end thereof about the conductor or tip of the connectlng cord or wire.

Because of such shape the clutch terminals or jacks maybe disposed in parallel relation in an insulating handle giving a neat and compact device.

Also because of the self-contained character of the clutch elements, I am able to make the handle of a sin le piece of insulating material of very simp e and inexpensive character easily produced, as, for example, from a block of fiber or easily moulded in a simple mould in a single piece.

In conjunction with the above, I employ a construction of plug contacts such as disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 24,002, tiled April 18, 1925, which provides a self-contained cylindrical assembly which may also be disposed in the handle of the plug by a press fit in a cylindrical hole in the plug handle.

Since the clutch terminals and the plug contact are self-contained and self-supporting, they may be connected by simple flexible 5, 1925. Serial No. 54,593.

threaded into the handle piece, but I find that close push fits are suiiicient.

' The plug may have contact clutches or jacks for only one pair of conductor tips or .for placing a plurality of receivers in series.

Now, in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of constructing and operating a device employing m invention, I shall describe in connection wit the accompanying drawings a specific embodiment of the same.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of an automatic plug of my invention;

Fig.` 2 is a front elevational view of same;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of another embodiment which illustrates the manner of constructing an automatic or more head sets or other pleces of apparatus are to be connected thereto;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of an embodiment similar to the one Shown in Fig. 3, but which is adapted to receive only one pair of cord tips; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a jack which is more fully described in the co-pending application above referred to.

In the preferred form of my automatic plug which I illustrate in Fig. 1, I employ a unitary housing or body member 1 which lug where one may be of liber, hard rubber, or what is commonly known and sold under the trade name of bakelite. I preferably make this handle of liber because of its strength and cheapness. The housing 1 may be of any desired size or shape without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is provided with a pair of substantially cylindrical openings oiset from the central arm at one end to receive the jacks 2 and 3, and a centrally disposed opening at the opposite end to receive the sleeve 4. The openings for the jacks 2 and 3 and the sleeve 4 may be made by drilling them in a suitable fixture in which the housing 1 may be secured. Or, the housing 1 may be moulded, in which case suitable cores could be used so as to provide for the necessary openings.

The housing or handle is preferably made of a unitary piece of insulating material because this permits of a more neat and compact structure, but I do not mtend to be .limited to a unitar housing as it obviously may be made up o separate parts.

The novel manner o securing the tip 5 to the sleeve 4 is more fully described 1n my co-pending application on plug, Serial No. 24,002, filed April 18, 1925, heretofore referred to. As shown, the tip 5 is threaded on a needle member 6 which is insulated from the sleeve 4 by means of suitable insulating Washers 7 and 8 at opposite ends of thesleeve. It will be noted that the op osite ends of the sleeve 4 are. counterbore to receive the washers 7. By this construction, the need for a tubular insulating member throughout the entire length of the sleeve is eliminated.

The opposite end of the needle 6 threads into a nut 9 under which there is clamped one end of a flexible conductor 10. A similar flexible conductor 11 is secured between the outer wall of the sleeve 4 .and the opening provided therefor in the'housing 1 by maklng the opening of such size that the sleeve 4 will have to be forced into the opening, when the conductor 11 is placed therein, by means of a press fit. The openin for the jack members 2 and 3 are also o such size that the jacks may be forced therein by a press lit when the conductor members 10 and 11 are placed therein. In this way the conductor 10 electrically connects the jack 2 with the tip 5 b means of the needle 6 and nut 9. Similarly, the conductor 11 electrically connects the jack 3 with the sleeve 4. Both the conductors 10 and 11 are made of flexible conducting material, preferably a thin ribbon of braided copper. The ends of the conductors may be soldered to the respective parts if desired. The flexible conductors may be made long enough so that they may be threaded through the block and soldered to the clutches and to the plug contacts and thereafter the clutches and plug may be forced into the holes, the conductors being merely folded or crumpled up inside the block. In such case the central;

parts of the conductors are insulated.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the housing 12, which is also a unit-ary structure, is also provided with suitable openings for the jacks 13, 14, 15 and 16 and the sleeve 17. All of these openings may be formed by suitable drilling operations, or by molding the member 12 and providing suitable cores in the mold. The tip 18 is likewise secured to the sleeve 17 b means of the needle 19 and the nut 20. uitable insulating washers 21 and 22 at opposite ends of the sleeve serve to insulate the sleeve from the needle and tip respectively. The sleeve 17 is also adapted to be inserted into the opening provided therefor in the housing 12 by means of -a press fit so as to hold the flexible oonductor member 23 firmly in contact with it. The ogposite end of the conductor member 23 is rmly held in contact with the outer wall of the jack 13 in a similar manner. The flexible conductor member 24 serves to electricall connect the needle 19 with the outer wal of the jack 16. This member is likewise held in firm contact with the outer wall of the jack 16 by securin the jack in the opening provided for it in t e housing 12 by means of a press fit. A flexible conductor member 25 serves to electrically connect the outer walls of the jacks 14 and 15 with each other. To the outer surfaces of the jacks 13 and 16, adjacent thejacks 14 and 15, are secured the spring members 26 and 27, respectively, by bein pressed in between the outer wall of the jacr and the inner wall of the housing. Each of the spring members 26 and 27 has secured to it insulating discs or washers 28 and 29 in 'line with the openings in the 'acli's or clutches 14 and 15 to be engaged y pin terminals which may be inserted in said jacks 14 and 15. A pair of contacts 30 and 31 are secured to the outer walls or thimble portions of the jacks 14 and 15, and are normally in contact engagement with the spring members 26 and 27. A sheet of thin fiber or other insulating material 32 serves to insulate the jacks and the sp'ring members from the conductor 23.

The plug shown in Fig. 3 is particularly adapted for use in connection with tele hone head sets which are to be connected 1n series. When in use, the tip members at the end of the flexible cord connection to the head sets, are inserted in either the jacks 13 and 14, or the jacks 15 and 16. If one head set is used and the cord tips are inserted in the jacks 13 and 1.4, the tip inserted into the jack 14 will bear against the insulating member or washer 28 and force the spring 26 out of contact with the contact member 30. In this way the cord tips in the jack 13 will be electrically connected to the sleeve member 17 The cord tip in the jack 14 will, on the other hand, be electrically connected with the tip 18. If it is desired to use another head set in series with the one connected to the jacks 13 and 14, the cord tips thereof will be inserted in the jacks 15 and 16. By inserting one of the cord tips in the jack 15, it will bear against the insulatin washer 29 secured to the spring member'2 and force the spring 27 out of contact with the contact member 21. In this way, both head sets will be connected in series with the sleeve -17 and the tip 18. Obviously, more than the two pairs of 'acks illustrated in Fig. 3 may be used. is may be done by making the housing 12 larger and, providing the number of openings therein equal to the number of Jacks which are to be used. Each pair of jacks will have a spring member and a contact member adapted for engagement therewith for cutting t cuit. The conductor member 23 is, in each case, connected to the jack farthest away from the sleeve 17. It will also be noted that the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 is not limited to havin the apparatus connected to iacks connecte in series, as the connections between the jacks may be so arranged as to have the apparatus connected thereto in parallel and not in series.

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of theinven tion which is similar to that shown in Fig. 3,

except that it employs only one pair of jacks. In this embodiment, the unitary housing 35 is provided with suitable openings for the jacks 36 and 37 and the sleeve 38. The jack 36 is connected electricall7 to the sleeve 38 by means of the flexible raided conductor 39, while the jack 37 is electrically connected to the ti 40 at one end of the needle 41 by means o? a like conductor member 42 and the nut 43', which is adapted to secure the conductor 42 irmly in contact with the needle 41. Suitable insulating washers 43 and 44 prevent any possible contact between the needle 41 and the sleeve 38. An insulating member 45 serves to prevent any possible short circuit between the jacks -36 and 37 by the conductor member 39 when the acks are pressed into position' in the housin 35. y

The jack or clutchwhich is use in each of the embodiments described, is shown in section in Fig. 5. It comprises a thimble 50 in which is mounted for slidable engagement a releasing sleeve 51. A shackle element or clutch member 52 serves to grip the cord tip which is shown in dotted lines and designated by the numeral 53, Aand also to hold it firmly in contact with the inner wall of the sleeve 51. The cord tip 53 may be released from the binding action of the element 52 b pressin down on the sleeve member 51 which uns ackles the pin terminal. It will be noted that the end of the tip extends beyond tlie end of the thimble 50. This is done in order to permit the tip when used in plugs of the type shown in Fig. 3, to bear against the insulating members 28 and 29 so as to bring the standard members out of engagement with their cooperating contact members, but otherwise it is not necessary.

Due to the compact arrangement of the jack or clutch and its releasing element, the terminals may be brought very close to each other without danger of cross connection and without clamping the releasing elements. While the jacks or terminal clutches are shown as circular cylinders, it is to be understood that the shape may be varied without losing certain of the advantages of the present invention.

I do not wish to be limited to the details l5 shown or described.

e corresponding pair into cir- 1. In combination, a unitary housing hav,- imr a centrally disposed vopening and a pluraity of openings offset from the central axis thereof, a plug assembly ada ted for mount-4 ing insaid centrall dispose opening, a plura ity of jack mem rs having sleeves adapted for mounting in the offset openings of said housing, clutch means wholly enclosed within said sleeves and adapted to act independentl thereof, and means secured between the wal s of said housing and said sleeves for electrically connecting said jacks with said plug assembly.

2. In combination, an insulating housing having a plurality of openings atithe front end -and a single opening at the back end, a sleeve secured within said single opening, a tip mounted on said sleeve and insulated4 therefrom, a plurality of 'automatic jack members secured in the o enings at the front end of said housing, an flexible conductor means connecting said tip and sleeve with said jacks, said conductor means being tightly embraced by said ]'acks 3, In combination, asingle unitar housing having a plug opening and a jac opening, a plug assembly mounted in said plug opening, a jack member includin a sleeve adapted for mounting in said jac vo ning e5 by means of a press lit, said jack mem r including clutch meansin said sleeve and operable independently of the housing for gripping and releasing an electrical conductor, and means for connecting the jack to the plug including a flexible conductor disposed within the housing and having a portion positioned between said sleeve and the wall of the 'ack opening, said ilexible conductor being eld in place by said press fit.

4. In combination, a one-piece unitary housing having a plug opening and a plurality of jack openings, said housing having an intermediate o ning disposed between and lconnecting sai plug and jack openings, 11o a plug in the plug opening and extending longitudinally from said housing, jacks mounted in said jack openings, said ]acks being disposed generally transversely of the direction of extension of the plu from the housing and arranged side by side longitudinally of the housin and ex osed trans-I versely through one si e of the ousing, and conductor means disposed in said intermedialte opening and connecting said plug and )ac s.

5. In combination, a single unitary housing having a plug opening and a plurality of jack openlngs, said housing having an enlarged internal recess disposed between the plug .and jack openings and connecting the ]ack o enings with each other and each with said p ug opening, a plug in the plug opening and extending longitudinally from said housing, jacks mounted in said jack openings independently of said plug, said jacks heilig disposed generally transversely of the direction of extension of the plug from the housing and arranged side by side longitu dinally of the housino` and exposed transversely through one side of the housing, and conductor means disposed in said intermediate opening and connecting said plug and jacks.

6. In combination, a housing having plug openings and a plurality of jack openlngs, said housing having an intermediate opening disposed between and connecting said plug and jack openings, a plug in the` plug opening, jacks mounted in said jack openings, and conductor means disposed in said intermediate opening and connecting said plug and'jacks, said conductor means fitting and held in said jack openings between the Wall of the housing surrounding said openings and the external peripheries of the jacks.

7. In combination, a single unitary housing having a central enlarged bore, ak plug opening extendin from one-side of said bore, a plurality of 'ac openings extending from another side o said bore, a plug in the plug opening, jacks mounted in said jack openings, and conductor means disposed in said central enlarged bore for connecting said plug and jacks, said conductor means fitting and held in said jack openings between the wall of the housing surrounding said openings and the external eripheries of the jacks. In witness whereo I hereunto subscribe my name this first day of September, 1925. NEWTON C. SCHELLEN GER.

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