US1838329A - Electrical socket - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 29, 1931. H. SHAPIRO ELECTRICAL SOCKET Filed Feb. 6, 1925 ILIVENTOR Y M W yman J'apzka M ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HYMAN SHAPIRO, or NEW YORK, N. Y; ASsIeNoR. BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE M. PROP? (:0. INC., on NEW YORK, N. Y., A conronA'rroN on NEW YORK ELECTRICAL SOCKET Application filed February 6, 1925. Serial No. 7,207.

.; ceived in a wall socket or any appropriate outlet socket.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a Simple and rugged socket construction, the constituent parts of which are easily produced at small expense and easily assembled. Another object is' to provide selectively operating switch means of simple construction, free from danger of arcing or of short circuit, and more especially to embody such 3.} switches in a Socket of the type mentioned.

Preferably the socket includes a mating pair of complementary members of molded insulating material, coacting to define the sockets and to provide a mounting for switching mechanism and terminal contacts, said sections and their associated parts being assembled by unskilled operatives.

I contemplate the use of a pull chain type of switches for either independently or simultancously controlling both circuits and for optionally closing either circuit and opening the other circuit.

In accordance with a specific embodiment of the invention, I prefer to attach the metal- 31) lic shell which encircles the plug of the duplex socket member in a manner which involves no threaded connections between the shell and the socket. This is preferably accomplished by making the plug of the socket member of non-circular shape and providing the circular eXteriorly threaded shell with an inwardly projecting flange portion fitting the plug.

Another feature of the invention resides in the manner in which the contact terminals house and retain the metallic strips which constitute the electrical terminals, thereby obviating the necessity for using rivets, screws or other conventional types of securing devices. a

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of. mating recesses in the opposed faces of the molded sections for snugly accommodating and housing of the operating parts of the switching mechanism.

Another feature is the provision of encircling bands around the mouths of the sockets for greater security of the assembly of the mating molded sections.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a completely assembled socket; A

Figure 2 is a transverse Sectional view on i the line 22 of Figure 1, showing one section of the socket and pull chain switching mechanism mounted therein.

Fig. 2a is a detail on line H of Figure 2; Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmetary detail on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figured is a bottom plan view of the exteriorly threaded cap which assists in holding the sections of the socket in assembled relationship Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional detail of the ratchet wheel which forms part of the switching mechanism. 1

Referring to Figures 1 to 5, the socket comprises two mating molded insulating sections 15 and 16, each including an intermediate body portion 17 of substantial solidity and on opposite sides of such intermediate portion a pair of short arms hollowed out to provide internally threaded socket portions 18, 18, disposed approximately at right angles to each other. Forming a continuation of the body portion of each member is a plug portion 19 cut away internally as indicated at 20 to accommodate the switching mechanism. When the two Sections 15, 16

are placed together in mating relationship, the two hollow neck portions cooperate to provide a plug of oval exterior shape upon which fits an exteriorly threaded shell 21 provided with an inwardly turned flange 22 having an oval opening therein to prevent rotation of the shell on the neck of the socket. By virtue of this construction, I am able to eliminate the necessity for exteriorly threading the socket neck and simply slip the shell in place and hold it against rotation on the neck, by the non-circular flange 22. Suitable supplemental means may be provided for anchoring the shell. 21 against rotation relative to the neck of the socket member such for instance as inwardly turned tongues 23 engaging in corresponding notches 24: in the neck or by soldering the shell 21 to the terminal contact pieces 25 which form part of the switching mechanism or by swaging the lowermost edge of shell 21 inward.

As an additional precaution against the accidental separation or relative displacement of the two mating sections 15 and 16, I preferably employ annular metallic bands 50 encircling the extremities of the short arm portions thereof, said bands being frictionally fitted or otherwise firmly, but preferably detachably, secured in place. The two sections of the duplex sockets are thus secured together at their three outermost parts and are accurately maintained in proper mating relationship.

It will be understood that the shell portion 21 is screwed into a suitable outlet plug in the wall, or in the socket ofan ordinary elec tric light fixture, and the sockets 18 receive electric bulbs or connections for other elec trical apparatus. I equip the sockets 18 with contact members to engage the said shell and the central terminal contact of an electrio lamp having the ordinary Edison base. lVith the form of invention shown in Figures 1 to 5, the switching mechanism. for the two sockets 18, 18 are entirely independent of each other and preferably control current to the lamps through the medium of contact arms 25 leading from plug shell 21 to the centers of the sockets. The lamp circuit from terminal contact finger 28 is completed through the side of the socket 18 by stationary fingers 45 disposed in grooves in the sock ets and waved in conformity with the interior socket thread. One of these arms is integral with, and the other connected to a central arm 46 retained by and housed in a pair of cooperating grooves a7 running centrally through the supplementary members 15, 16 of the duplex socket. The latter conducting member 46 terminates at its outer end in a spring tongue 48 adapted to engage the base of the socket (not shown) into which plug shell 21 is screwed. It will thus be seen that the shell 21 is electrically con-- nected to the fingers 28 in the base of sockets 18 and that tongue 48 is electrically connected to the fingers 15 in the sides of the sockets 18.

Arms 25 are preferably made in two separate sections one section projecting through the molding 15 and being soldered as at 26 to the interior of the lower ends of the shell 21. The other terminal sections 2565 of the arms are secured as at 27 to the molding 15 and terminate each in spring linger 28 projecting into the base of the corresponding socket 18 and adapted to make contact with terminals on the bases of lamps (not shown). The two sections of the current carrying arms are adapted to be electrically connected by switch arms 30, the latter being fixed to ratchet wheels 31 journ aled on studs 32 in the recess 20 between the adjacent ends of the two sec tions 25, 25a. Preferably the recess 20 is of sulficient depth to conveniently and snugly accommodate the ratchet wheel and the switch arm 30 which it carries, without permit-ting any substantial lateral play thereof along the stud upon which it is journaled. "hus, there will be no tendency for the ratchet wheel to rattle or shift its position other than rotationally after the socket is assembled and the ratchet wheel is turned in the ordinary course of use. This construction appears most clearly in Figures 3 and 5 and it will be noted that the advancing corners of the switch arms 30 are up turned as indicated at 33 to provide cam surfaces which will ride over steps 34 and over the upturned corner 35, of section 25 of the switch arm. The pawl mechanism for operating the ra het wheels is shown as com.- pris ng pull chains 36, consisting of a series of flexibly connected balls spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the distance between the teeth of the ratchet wheels 31. The ends of pull chains 36 are yieldingly anchored within the hollow neck 19 by securing them to stop pieces 37 at the free ends of springs 38 anchored at 39 within the nerk. Chains 36 are led over the teeth of the ratchet wheels and to the exterior of socket member 15, 16 through openings 40, and, when the chains are pulled to effect rotation of the ratchet wheels, the stops 37 engage against stop pins 41 to limit the extent to which the chains may be pulled. These stop pins not only prevent overthrowing of the ratchet wheels and consequent movement of the switch arm 30 from one open to the other open position or from one closed to the opposite closed position but they also considerably prolong the life of springs 38 by making it impossible to stretch the latter beyond their elastic limit. Upon each downward movement of a chain 36, its associated switch arm 30 will move a little more than 90, one o f the following corners 33a thereof snapping back against either the corner or stop pin 34 as the spring exerts its influence when the chain is released.

It will be understoodthatfwhile I- shown switching mechanismindependently controlling each of the sockets118 and operable to electrically disconnectthe era 28 and the shell '21, asingle switchmi'ght: used to simultaneously control the lamps in both sockets 18 and such switching mechanism might be associated with the stationary con- 256; would consist each'of a single length of metal instead of apair of separated sections.

It is also to be noted that while each chain itself is the preferred pawl mechanism'itoroperating the corresponding ratchet wheel, vari-ous expedients other than those shown might be-rcsorted to for operating and limiting the throw of the ratchet when the chain is pulled and for preventing overtaxing the strength of'the springs 38 In the embodiment of Figure 2, the projecting spring end'48 of the central plug contact is not lilrely to bestrained, or to break at the hinge line when pressed into theoutlet socket since the length of spring metal in- 5 tegral therewithand longitudinal of'the plug is free to flex within the hollow structure of the plug thereby permitting such: accommo dation without strain, and affording effective spring contact engagement in the outlet socket. g

While I have shown duplex'socket embodying in detail the construction of a'pull chain type of switch, it will be understood that various other methods of securing the complementary socket sections together may be employed; butthe method shown in the drawings and described above is seen to greatly expedite assembling the device that it obviates the necessity of exteriorly T threading the plugs of the sockets -o r accu rately fitting the shells on the plug portions. The current carrying members orconducting arms are accommodated in complementary grooves formed. in the complementary sec tions of the duplex socket, that is to say, the

current carrying arms 25, fingers 4:5 and cen tral. arm 46 are simply laid 1n place in their respective grooves when the two sections of g the socket areasse mbled and require use'o f no securing device, such as screws, rivets,-o r the like. i

It will thus be seen that there is herein de scribed apparatus in which the several features of this invention are embodied, and which apparatus in its action attains the various objects of the invention and iswell suited tomect the requirements of practical use. I

As many changes could be made inthe above construction and many apparently widely different embodimentsofthis invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intendedth-at all-matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be members i illustrative and not in a limit- :ing sense.- For instance, the duplexsocket is only-onefform .of cluster fixture to which many features of the invention are applicable..

-Havingthus described my invention what 'l c'lai m as new and desire tosecure by Letv *te rs Patent is": ducting arm 46 in which case conductn rs 25. J

1; A duplex socket including "a pair of complementary members of molded insulating material cooperating to provide a body portion, .a plug portion, and diverging arm portions, the latter having sockets complete- -ly housed therein, a thinband encircling the outer. surface only of said arm portions to retain the members together, and a threaded shell around theplug portion having nonthneaded' engagement with the latter and assisting. in retaining the complementary members of th'e socket against accidental separation, said plug portion being of nonci'mulareirternal shape and said shell being non-rotatably engagedtherewith.

- '2. ..A duplexsocket including a pair of complementary sections ofmolded insulating material cooperating to provide a body portion, a ipairiof short divergingarm portions hav- :ing sockets therein and a plug portion adapted to beinserted-in an outlet socket, said plug portion having a threaded she'll about the same for insertioninto a socket, said plug having a'substantially oval exterior shape, and said shell havingfan inturned flange ad-aptedto contact the exterior surface of said plugto prevent rotation of said shell. 3. A duplex socket. including a pair of complementary sections of molded insulating-material cooperating to provide a body portion, a 'pairof'short diverging arm portions havingsockets therein and a plug portionadaptedtoib'e inserted in an outlet socket, said-rlplug portion having a threaded shell about the 'same. for insertion into a socket, said plug having a. substantially oval exterior shape, saidshell having an inturnecl flange adaptedto contact the exterior surface bf said plug toprevent rdtation of said shell, contact members "soldered to the shell and projcctingcinto the bases of the socket and contact members disposed in the sides of the sockets and electrically connected to a spring tongue projecting through the plug portion of the socketout of contact with the shell.

4; A duplex-socket including a pair of complementary'sections of molded insulating:ma/cerial:cooperating to provide a body portion, apair of short diverging arm portions having sockets, therein and a plug portion adapted to be inserted inan outlet socket, said plug-portion having a threaded shell about-the same for insertion into a socket,

contact members soldered to the shell and projecting into the bases of the sockets, and contact members disposed in the sides of the sockets, and electrically connected to a spring tongue project-ing through the plug portion of the socket out of contact with the shell,

said contact members comprising strips of conducting material housed in cooperating grooves in the two sections of the duplex socket.

5. A duplex socket including a pair of complementary sections of molded insulating material cooperating to provide a pair of sockets, electrical conducting devices projecting into the bases of the sockets, electrical conducting devices projecting into the sides of the sockets, said conducting devices including strips of conducting material housed within and retained by cooperating grooves in the mating faces of the complementary sections, said sections cooperating to provide a plug portion adapted to be inserted in an outlet socket and a conducting shell around said plug portion, said plug being oval shaped, said shell having an oval portion for holding the complementary members in cooperating relationship and electrically connected to the conducting devices which project into the bases of the sockets, and a spring tongue projecting from the end of said plug portion insulated from said shell and electrically con nected to the conducting devices disposed in the sides of said sockets.

6. A duplex socket member including a pair of complementary sections of molded insulating material retained in mating rela tionship and co-operating to provide a pair of sockets and switching mechanism housed in the duplex member and operable to selectively control the circuits of the sockets, said switching mechanism including a pair of ratchet wheels mounted on parallel shafts, a pair of oppositely extending switch arms carried by each of the ratchet wheels, pull chains co-operating directly with the teeth of the ratchet wheels to swing the switch arms, and a pair of spaced contacts adapted to be engaged by each pair of arms for completing the circuit for each socket.

7. A pull chain switch including a ratchet wheel, a switch arm carried by the ratchet wheel, a pull chain having its links engaged with the teeth of the ratchet wheel to effect turning movement thereof in one direction, and a contact member adapted to engage said switch arm, said arm and member having cooperating means to prevent reverse movement of said ratchet wheel.

8. An electrical attachment member including a pair of complementary mating sections of molded insulating material co-operating to provide at least one socket, spaced terminal contact members for the socket housed in co-operating grooves in the mating faces of the sections, switching mechanism controlling the flow of current to said terminal contact members and housed in mating recesses in the opposed surfaces of the sections, said switching mechanism including a rotatable member mounted on a shaft attached to one of said sections and disposed between said contact members, a pair of oppositely disposed switching arms carried by said rotatable member and adapted to connect in circuit with the terminal contact members, and pull chain operating means having its links directly connected to said rotatable member.

9. A pull chain switch including a ratchet wheel, diametrically disposed switch arms mounted on said wheel, diametrically opposed spaced stationary contact members adapted to engage said arms, a pull chain having its links directly engaged with the teeth of the ratchet wheel for rotating the same, a spring anchoring the pull chain for retrieving the chain when the chain is released, means for positively limiting movement of said chain when the same is pulled and interengaging means associated with said contact members and switch arms to prevent a reverse movement of said wheel when said chain is released after being pulled.

10. A pull chain switch including a ratchet wheel, diametrically disposed switch arms mounted on said wheel, diametrically opposed stationary contact members adaptcd to engage said arms, a pull chain having its links directly engaging with the teeth of the ratchet wheel for rotating the same, a spring anchoring the pull chain adapted to be tensioned upon pulling the chain and retrieve the chain releasing the same, means for positively limiting the pulling movement of the chain to rotate said wheel somewhat more than 90 each time the chain is pulled, a stop over which the switch arms is adapted to ratchet and which limits retrograde movement of the switch arms to a position spaced 90 from said contact members, said contact members and switch arms being provided with interengaging means adapted to prevent retrograde movement of said wheel whereby the switch arms will always come to rest under the influence of the spring when the chain is pulled the full distance determined by the limiting means in either full open or full closed position.

11. A duplex socket member including a pair of similar complementary sections of molded insulating material having cooperating recesses in their mating faces providing a pair of sockets and having cooperating grooves in their mating faces adapted to receive and house terminal contact members for said sockets, said sections having inde pendent switching mechanism for each of the sockets housed in recesses communicating with the mating faces of the sockets, said switching mechanism including aligned ratchet wheels of a thickness approximately equal to the width of the recesses, switch arms carried by the ratchet wheels and pull chains having their links directly engaged with the teeth of the ratchet wheels to efiect movement thereof, said contact members beiniadapted to engage the switch arms of each w eel upon movement of said ratchet wheels for completing the circuit for said sockets.

m Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York, this 29th day of January, A. D. 1925.

HYMAN SHAPIRO.

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