US2200794A - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

May 14, 1940- H. K. KRANTz Y 2,200,794

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed May 8, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l /N VEN T10@ HKKRANTZ' *ATTORNEY May 14, 1940.

H. K. KRANTZ 2,200,794

ELECTRIGAL CONNECTOR Filed May 8. 1937 2 sheets-sheet 2 Brag- WQ@ ArToPA/Ey Patented May 14,1940 v l l l vUNITI-:o STATES PATENT formel.;

ELECTRICAL coNNEc'ron Hubert4 K. Krantz, Hempstead, N. Y., assignor to Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New

York, N. Y., a. corporation of New York Application May s, 1931, Soncino. 141,429

zclaims. (ci. 11a-1324) This invention relates to electrical connectors Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on linel fory interconnectingl conductors having motion 4-4 of Fig. 3; Y l relative to each other. Fig.' 5 is a side View of a telephone handset Its object is to produce a device of this charpartly in section showing a. modicatlon o! the 5 acter which will provide a low-friction electrical1 connector shown in Fig. ,1; A y 5 4 connection'which is non-microphonic. Fig. 6 vis a front view of the modiication The electrical connector of this invention comshown in Fig. 5 showing the coverV plate with prises relatively movable conductors, one of these portions cut away; l conductors being suiliciently flexible to conform j Fig. 7 is a' longitudinal section of the handset to the surface of the `other conductor and slidtaken on line 1-1 of Fig. 5;`

ably embracing such conductor. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional' view taken on line The invention is particularly well adapted `for 8-8 of Fig. 5; use with cords associated with telephone appara.- ,-Fig. 9 is an. end view of the rotor and stator tus; for example, handsets, although it has many 4contact elements, the support for the iiexible other applications. Heretofore numerous atcontact element being shown in section;

tempts have been made to prevent the twisting Fig. 10 is a view showing the rotor and stator of cords in handsets by the use of devices known contact elements in engaged relation;

as sswivel connectors. While such connectors Fig. 11 is a view similarvto. Fig. 9 showing one have been found to be satisfactory in so far as of the contact elements modined; and preventing the twisting of the cord is concerned, Fig. 12 is a view showing the modified contact $0 it was found that objectionable microphonic element in engaged relation with its associated noises were generated in the telephone talking contacts. l

circuit during the relative movement of the ro- .Referring t0 Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the 60rd wires tor and stator elements of the connector, and Wl, W2 .and W3 are electrically Connected t0 that such noises were due to the constant changes bushings 2l, 22 and 23'th10ugh terminals 3|. 32 25 in resistance of the contacting area between these and 33 by screws 34. 35 and 33. reSDeCtively. the two elements irrespective `0f the accuracy' at bushings 2|. 22 and 23 being insulated from 65011 which these contacting surfaces were made. other by concentrically disposed insulating The invention, for purposes of illustration, is sleeves 31 and 38.

shown as'embodied in aA telephonelhandset, and The conducting bushing 23 iS fOrmed integrally 30 the connector is shown within the handset. In with a disc portion 39 which is screw-threaded this embodiment, a nexible conductor slidably fOr engaging a rod 40 formed or welded to the embraces a cylindrical contact member. The conducting DOltOn-L Which Serves for receiv- 1 embracing conductor being flexible and tensioned ing the SCIEW 33 fOl electrically-Connecting the 35 conforms exactly with the periphery of the cylinwireW3 to the bushing 23. An insulating piece 35 drical contact member during the rotation of '42 is provided for insulating the sleeve 22 from said member caused by relative movement bethe end of conducting portion 4l and this'intween the handset and the cord. The low-frie- V- sulating piece cooperates with bushing 23-for tion vcharacteristic of the connector prevents holding thebushings 2| and 22 and their insutwisting of the lcord and the non-microphonic lating sleeves in assembled relation, counter nuts, 40

characteristic prevents the generation of noises as43, being provided for preventing the loosenin the telephone talking circuit. ing of conducting-bushing 23 on the rod 40.

Other novel features and advantages ofthe in# A collar 44l secured on the rod-4l) engages a vention will appear. from the following descripforked member 45 and cooperates therewith 45 tion and by the claims appended thereto, refer'- for holding thestator assembly thus formed 45V ence being had to the accompanying drawings against longitudinal movementin the telephone in which: l handle 46, the forked member 45, being secured Fig. l is a side view of a telephone handset by ascrew 41 engaging a bushing 26v embedded showing the handle and a number of operating in the handle. parts in section; A The bushings 2|, 22 and 23 are insulatedv 111.50

Fig. 2 is a front view of the telephone handset end-to-end relation by disc members 49 and 50 shown in Fig. l showing a cover plate with porand 'these disc members cooperate' with disc tions cut away; members 5l and 52, shown in Flg..3, for holding Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the handset spirally wound conductors 53, 54 and 55 against taken in line 3-3 of Fig. l; sldewise movement on the conducting bushings 2| 22 and 23 and in engaged relation with the inner peripheries of conducting rings 6|, 62 and 63 which are lembedded in the handle 46, and have connections with the receiver R and the transmitter T of the handset through conductors y 64-65 and 66-61 embedded in the handle and convolutions of the conducting members 53, 54

and 55 likewise frictionally engage their associated rings 6|, 62 and 63 `so that the handset 46 is free to rotate relative to the cord C without twisting it, the spiral conductors 53, 54 and55 remaining positively in contacting relation with their bushings 2|, 22 and'23, and rings 6|, 62 and 63, respectively.

In the connector illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, due to the fact that the spiral conductors 53, 54 and 55 are lmade of resilient metallic strip, maximum contact surface is maintained during the relative movement of the handset with respect to the telephone cord irrespective of the minor irregularities and eccentricities of the surfaces of the bushings and rings, andtherefore microphonic noises in the telephone circuit are effectively avoided.

The plate 10, which is held securely on the handle 46 by screws 1| and '|2, shown in Figs. 1

and 2, is provided for preventing the entrance `of dust and other foreign particles into the cavity Y formed `in the handle and onto the contact devices, while facilitating access to the operating parts of the connector for adjustments and repairs. Instead of using screws to fasten the plate 10 on the handset it may be sealed thereto.

In the modification of the invention, shown in Figs. 5 to 10, inclusive, ilexible, irresilient wires 8|, 82 and 83, preferably stranded, are wound over bushings 2|, 22 and 23 and the ends of these wires are secured to the free ends of spring arms 9|, 92 and 93, insulated from each other and secured by a screw 95 in a pile-up arrangement on a shoulder portion 94 in the cavity Y formed in the handle 46.

In the modification shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the exible, irresilient wires 8|, 82 and 83 are wound around the bushings 2|, 22 and 23 and the ends of the wires are secured to their spring arms 9|, 92 and 93, in a manner similar to the modication shown in Fig. 5. On the end of rodf40 is screwed an end-piece 96 which serves for holding bushings 2l, 22 and 23 in assembled relation and a pin 91, shown in Fig. '1, is provided for preventing the loosening 'oi' end-piece 96 on the rod 48, this end-piece being provided with a spherical portion 98 disposed in engaged relation with two `complemental curved arms 99 and |80, shown in Figs. 5 and 7, for preventing longitudinal movement of the bushing assembly relative to the handle 46 while permitting the free rotary movement of the handset with respect to the cord.

t The connections between the` spring arms 9 I, 92

and 93to the conducting wires 64, 65, 66 and 61,'

which are embeddedin the handle, are effected by terminals carried by the spring arms, and screws IM, |02 and |03 engaging respective bushings embedded in the handle 46 to which these conductors are secured, as by welding,

In these modifications, the tension of, each spring arm 9|, .92 and 93 issuch as to permit relative movement between the bushings 2| 22 and 23 forming the stator element and the wires 8|, 82 and 83 without causing the twisting of the cord, 'the wires 8|. 82 and 83 being suiliciently' flexible and irresilient to conform at all times with the periphery of the bushings, irrespective oi' minor surface unevenness and eccentricities of these bushings, lthus maintaining positive contact between the stator-and rotor and effectively preventing'microphonic noise in the talking circuit of the telephone line. l

- While the invention has been illustrated as applied to a connector that will prevent the twisting of the extension cords of telephone handsets,

vit should be understood that its application is not so limited,but it is equally applicable to other electrical devices, not .necessarily of a portable nature or equipped with cordage but wherein electrical connection is made between conducting elements capable of motionv relative to each switching apparatus, etc.

What is claimed is: l. A non-microphonic connector device for the cord of a telephone handset, said handset having a longitudinal bore adjacent the transmitter end thereof, a multicontact plug having insulated rings contiguous to each other longitudinally loosely engaging the bore, means carried by the handset cooperating with means carried by said plug for preventing longitudinal movement o'f said plug relative to the handset and holding it -in centered position relative to the bore for permitting free rotation therein, a plurality of con nectorssecured to the handset one for each of said rings, and flexible conductors connecting respectively saidrings to' said connectors, the ilexible conductors having portions disposed concentric to and frictionally engaging substantially the in said handset and connecting said rings to the' transmitter and receiver at the ends of the handset, a plug mounted for rotary movement in the bore of the handset, said plug consisting o f a centrally disposed conductor member formed with a sleeve .portion at one end thereof, a plurality other, such as, for instance, cord reels, 'machine of concentrically disposed insulating-and conducting bushings mounted on .said conductor member, said conductor member and said conducting bushings-having means for securing the wire conductors of the telephone' cord thereto, a second sleeve mounted4 on the end o'f said centrally disposed conductor member opposite the first-mentioned sleeve portion, conducting springs frictionally engaging said rings, metallic bushings and the last-mentioned sleeve for establishing electrical connections between the conducting wires ofthe cord and the transmitter and receiver of the handset and means secured to said centrally disposed conductor engaging means secured to the handset for holding said plug against longitudinal movement in the `bore of the handset.

' HUBERT K. KRANTZ.

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