Quick connect-quick disconnect electrical connector

Claim 2

An electrical connector, comprising: a first H-shaped component of insulative material having an elongate bar portion of convex shape forming an arcuate channel between the side portions of the H; spaced bare conductive leads fastened within said channel and aligned generally perpendicularly to said side portions, said leads extending through said component from another surface thereof; and a second I-shaped component of flexible insulative material having spaced parallel leads fastened longitudinally along the central portion of said I, said leads having bared portions adapted to contact respective ones of the bared leads in said channel when said components are joined with said central portion of said I lying within said arcuate channel of said H and with the end portions of said I hooked under the respective side portions of said H at opposite ends of said H; whereby to establish electrical connections between respective sets of said leads on said first and second components.

Claim 3

The connector of claim 1, further including means for keying said components together in only one position of relative orientation.

Claim 4

The connector according to claim 1, wherein the convex surface of said bar portion is offset from corresponding surfaces of said side portions, and wherein said leads in said channel lie in alignment across said channel at that portion of said convex surface of least offset from said side portion surfaces.

Claim 5

The connector according to claim 3, wherein said leads of said first component are arranged to lie across respective ones of said leads of said second component when said components are joined, to produce a wiping action between the respective leads during union of said components.

Claim 6

An electrical connector, comprising: a plug, and a receptacle for said plug; said plug comprising: a flexible sheet of insulative material of sufficient resiliency to tend to reassume its original form after deformation thereof, said sheet including a central strip having a longitudinal axis, and end portions exceeding the width of said strip and oriented tranSverse to said longitudinal axis to form pairs of tabs at either end of said strip, and a conductive lead attached to said strip and having a bared portion exposed thereon; said receptacle including, a bar portion of insulative material of generally rectangular configuration, and an arm projecting from each corner of said bar portion, and a conductive lead attached to said bar portion and having a bare portion exposed on a surface of said bar portion; said leads positioned for physical contact between their respective bared portions upon uniting said plug and said receptacle with said strip in overlying relationship with said bar portion and secured thereagainst by the locking of said tabs against said arms at respective ends of said bar portion at the surface opposite said surface on which said lead is exposed on said bar portion.

Claim 7

An electrical connector, comprising: a plug, and a receptacle for said plug; said plug comprising: a flexible sheet of insulative material of sufficient resiliency to tend to reassume its original form after deformation thereof, said sheet including a central strip having a longitudinal axis, and end portions exceeding the width of said strip and oriented tranSverse to said longitudinal axis to form pairs of tabs at either end of said strip, and a conductive lead attached to said strip and having a bared portion exposed thereon; said receptacle including, a bar portion of insulative material of generally rectangular configuration, and an arm projecting from each corner of said bar portion, and a conductive lead attached to said bar portion and having a bare portion exposed on a surface of said bar portion; said leads positioned for physical contact between their respective bared portions upon uniting said plug and said receptacle with said strip in overlying relationship with said bar portion and secured thereagainst by the locking of said tabs against said arms at respective ends of said bar portion at the surface opposite said surface on which said lead is exposed on said bar portion.

Claim 8

The connector according to claim 5, wherein additional conductive leads are attached to said bar portion and to said strip, respectively, in the manner recited, to undergo physical contact, and thereby, conductive connection, when said plug and receptacle are united.

Claim 9

The connector according to claim 6, wherein the bared portions of the leads associated with said plug are oriented to be drawn across the bared portions of the leads associated with said receptacle and to form respective crossed sets therewith, when said plug and said receptacle are united.

Claim 10

The connector according to claim 7, wherein said surface of said bar on which said bared portions are exposed has a convex shape in the longitudinal plane.

Claim 11

The connector according to claim 8, wherein said plug and said receptacle each include cooperating means to prevent uniting thereof except in one position of relative orientation.

Claim 12

The connector according to claim 9, wherein said plug has a pair of said conductive leads, electrically connected to opposite ends of a thermocouple junction, and wherein respective leads of a pair of said conductive leads attached to said receptacle to contact said pair of thermocouple leads are composed of the same respective materials as said thermocouple leads.

Claim 13

An electrical connector, comprising: an insulative H-shaped member having spaced exposed conductive leads secured to a surface of its central bar, and an insulative I-shaped member having spaced exposed conductive leads secured to a surface of its center strip, said conductive leads on one of said members positioned to conductively contact respective ones of said conductive leads on the other of said members when the end portions of said I are locked under the side portions of said H at either end of said H, and said center strip of said I lies across said central bar of said H with the conductive lead surfaces in confronting relation.

Claim 14

An electrical connector, comprising: an insulative H-shaped member having spaced exposed conductive leads secured to a surface of its central bar, and an insulative I-shaped member having spaced exposed conductive leads secured to a surface of its center strip, said conductive leads on one of said members positioned to conductively contact respective ones of said conductive leads on the other of said members when the end portions of said I are locked under the side portions of said H at either end of said H, and said center strip of said I lies across said central bar of said H with the conductive lead surfaces in confronting relation.

Claim 15

A connector for interconnecting two insulated leads, comprising: a first insulating element for retaining lengths of bare ends of a first of said leads exposed in a common plane in a first relative orientation of said lengths, a second insulating element for retaining lengths of bare ends of a second of said leads exposed in a common plane in another orientation, transverse to said first orientation, said respective lengths of lead ends retained by said respective insulating elements being located relative to one another so as to cross contact internally of said insulating elements in a common plane when said first and second insulating elements are conjoined, means for at will conjoining and separating said insulating elements, said means including latching members arranged on said elements to engage and disengage one another upon sliding movement of said elements relative to one another only when said bare ends of said leads are in contact, said insulating elements being discrete and wholly separable one from the other when not conjoined, said first element being rigid and said second element being flexible, said first element having said latching members disposed in a plane below and parallel to the plane of the bare end associated therewith, and said second element having latching members in the plane of its associated bare end which members mate with said latching members of said first element whereby said second element is curved over said first element in the latched condition.

Claim 16

A connector for interconnecting two insulated leads, comprising: a first insulating element for retaining lengths of bare ends of a first of said leads exposed in a common plane in a first relative orientation of said lengths, a second insulating element for retaining lengths of bare ends of a second of said leads exposed in a common plane in another orientation, transverse to said first orientation, said respective lengths of lead ends retained by said respective insulating elements being located relative to one another so as to cross contact internally of said insulating elements in a common plane when said first and second insulating elements are conjoined, means for at will conjoining and separating said insulating elements, said means including latching members arranged on said elements to engage and disengage one another upon sliding movement of said elements relative to one another only when said bare ends of said leads are in contact, said insulating elements being discrete and wholly separable one from the other when not conjoined, said first element being rigid and said second element being flexible, said first element having said latching members disposed in a plane below and parallel to the plane of the bare end associated therewith, and said second element having latching members in the plane of its associated bare end which members mate with said latching members of said first element whereby said second element is curved over said first element in the latched condition.

Claim 17

An electrical connector, comprising: a plug, and a receptacle for said plug; said plug comprising: a flexible sheet of insulative material of sufficient resiliency to tend to reassume its original form after deformation thereof, said sheet having a longitudinal axis along which is disposed central regions and end portions exceeding the width of said central regions transverse to said axis, a conductive lead attached to a central region and having a bared portion exposed thereon; said receptacle including: a barlike member of rigid insulative material of generally rectangular configuration, a conductive lead attached to said barlike member and having a bared portion exposed on a surface of said barlike portion, said leads positioned for physical contact between their respective bared portions upon uniting said plug and said receptacle with said central regions in overlying relationship with said barlike member and secured thereagainst by confining said end portions at least at respective ends of said barlike member.

Claim 18

An electrical connector, comprising: a plug, and a receptacle for said plug; said plug comprising: a flexible sheet of insulative material of sufficient resiliency to tend to reassume its original form after deformation thereof, said sheet having a longitudinal axis along which is disposed central regions and end portions exceeding the width of said central regions transverse to said axis, a conductive lead attached to a central region and having a bared portion exposed thereon; said receptacle including: a barlike member of rigid insulative material of generally rectangular configuration, a conductive lead attached to said barlike member and having a bared portion exposed on a surface of said barlike portion, said leads positioned for physical contact between their respective bared portions upon uniting said plug and said receptacle with said central regions in overlying relationship with said barlike member and secured thereagainst by confining said end portions at least at respective ends of said barlike member.

Claim 19

An electrical connector, comprising: a plug, and a receptacle for said plug; said plug comprising: a flexible sheet of insulative material of sufficient resiliency to tend to reassume its original form after deformation thereof, said sheet having a longitudinal axis along which is disposed central regions and end portions exceeding the width of said central regions transverse to said axis to form tabs at each end of said flexible sheet; a pair of conductors attached to said central regions in parallel with one another and having bared portions exposed thereon; said receptacle including: a barlike means of rigid insulating material disposed between a pair of sidewalls, a pair of conductors attached to said barlike means, said latter pair of conductors being in line with one another and having bared portions exposed in the plane of said barlike means between said walls, said leads positioned for physical contact between each of the bared portions of one of said pairs and a bared portion of different ones of the other of said pairs of said conductors upon uniting said plug and said receptacle with said central regions disposed between said walls in overlying relationship with said barlike means and secured thereagainst by confining said tabs at least at respective ends of said receptacle.

Claim 20

An electrical connector, comprising: a plug, and a receptacle for said plug; said plug comprising: a flexible sheet of insulative material of sufficient resiliency to tend to reassume its original form after deformation thereof, said sheet having a longitudinal axis along which is disposed central regions and end portions exceeding the width of said central regions transverse to said axis to form tabs at each end of said flexible sheet; a pair of conductors attached to said central regions in parallel with one another and having bared portions exposed thereon; said receptacle including: a barlike means of rigid insulating material disposed between a pair of sidewalls, a pair of conductors attached to said barlike means, said latter pair of conductors being in line with one another and having bared portions exposed in the plane of said barlike means between said walls, said leads positioned for physical contact between each of the bared portions of one of said pairs and a bared portion of different ones of the other of said pairs of said conductors upon uniting said plug and said receptacle with said central regions disposed between said walls in overlying relationship with said barlike means and secured thereagainst by confining said tabs at least at respective ends of said receptacle.

Claim 21

An electrical connector, comprising: a plug, and a receptacle for said plug; said plug comprising: a sheet of electrical insulating material of sufficient resilience to tend to reassume its original form after deformation thereof, said sheet having a longitudinal axis; a pair of conductors attached to said sheet and having bared portions exposed on a common surface thereof; said receptacle including: a rigid molded bar of electrical insulating material disposed between a pair of upstanding sidewalls which are spaced to confine said sheet laterally, a pair of conductors attached to said rigid molded bar, said latter pair of conductors having bared portions exposed on a surface of said rigid molded bar between said walls, said leads being positioned for crossing contact one for one between each of the bared portions of one of said pairs of conductors and a bared portion of a different one of the other of said pairs of conductors upon uniting said plug and said receptacle with said sheet disposed between said walls in overlying relationship to said bar and latch means molded integral with said receptacle for securing said sheet with respect to respective ends of said receptacle to cOnfine said sheet longitudinally against movement in at least one direction.

Claim 22

An electrical connector, comprising: a plug, and a receptacle for said plug; said plug comprising: a sheet of electrical insulating material of sufficient resilience to tend to reassume its original form after deformation thereof, said sheet having a longitudinal axis; a pair of conductors attached to said sheet and having bared portions exposed on a common surface thereof; said receptacle including: a rigid molded bar of electrical insulating material disposed between a pair of upstanding sidewalls which are spaced to confine said sheet laterally, a pair of conductors attached to said rigid molded bar, said latter pair of conductors having bared portions exposed on a surface of said rigid molded bar between said walls, said leads being positioned for crossing contact one for one between each of the bared portions of one of said pairs of conductors and a bared portion of a different one of the other of said pairs of conductors upon uniting said plug and said receptacle with said sheet disposed between said walls in overlying relationship to said bar and latch means molded integral with said receptacle for securing said sheet with respect to respective ends of said receptacle to cOnfine said sheet longitudinally against movement in at least one direction.

Claim 23

A connector for interconnecting two insulated, two-wire leads having bare lead ends, comprising: a resinous elongated thin flexible flat plate, said plate including means for retaining both bare lead ends of a first of said two wire leads on a surface of said plate in first orientations of both said bare lead ends, a rigid resinous receptacle wholly separable from said plate and having means for retaining both bare lead ends of a second of said two wire leads in a common plane and in orientations transverse to said first-mentioned orientations, said receptacle including integral resinous latch means, said respective lead ends being so located relative to said plate and said receptacle that said lead ends cross contact in pairs in a plane located between said plate and said receptacle when said plate and said receptacle are interlocked, means including said integral resinous latch means for locking said plate against lengthwise movement of said plate in one sense in said common plane with respect to said receptacle, said receptacle including integral side rails elevated from said common plane and dimensioned and located for confining the width of said plate between said rails while said plate and device are interlocked.

Claim 24

A connector for interconnecting two insulated, two-wire leads having bare lead ends, comprising: a resinous elongated thin flexible flat plate, said plate including means for retaining both bare lead ends of a first of said two wire leads on a surface of said plate in first orientations of both said bare lead ends, a rigid resinous receptacle wholly separable from said plate and having means for retaining both bare lead ends of a second of said two wire leads in a common plane and in orientations transverse to said first-mentioned orientations, said receptacle including integral resinous latch means, said respective lead ends being so located relative to said plate and said receptacle that said lead ends cross contact in pairs in a plane located between said plate and said receptacle when said plate and said receptacle are interlocked, means including said integral resinous latch means for locking said plate against lengthwise movement of said plate in one sense in said common plane with respect to said receptacle, said receptacle including integral side rails elevated from said common plane and dimensioned and located for confining the width of said plate between said rails while said plate and device are interlocked.

Claim 25

A connector, comprising: a thin resinous sheet having length and width, means securing the lead ends of a first two lead wire in first spatial orientations along a surface of said sheet, a rigid resinous receptacle having a base and upstanding sidewalls to provide a channel, said channel having approximately the width of said sheet, means securing the lead ends of a second two lead wire along said base within said channel and in second spatial orientations transverse to said first orientations, respectively, and means for securing said sheet flat against said base within said channel and against movement in the direction of said length in one sense and with said first-mentioned lead ends maintained crossed in one to one conductive engagement with said second-mentioned lead ends.

Claim 26

A connector, comprising: a thin resinous sheet having length and width, means securing the lead ends of a first two lead wire in first spatial orientations along a surface of said sheet, a rigid resinous receptacle having a base and upstanding sidewalls to provide a channel, said channel having approximately the width of said sheet, means securing the lead ends of a second two lead wire along said base within said channel and in second spatial orientations transverse to said first orientations, respectively, and means for securing said sheet flat against said base within said channel and against movement in the direction of said length in one sense and with said first-mentioned lead ends maintained crossed in one to one conductive engagement with said second-mentioned lead ends.