Patent US3594700A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3594700A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electrical connector with threaded coupling nut lock
Assignee: BRAND-REX WILLIMATIC CT
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Filing: 1969-08-20
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Granted: 1971-07-20
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Expires: 1989-08-20
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector comprising a pair of telescopically assembled parts for joining axially aligned male and female conductors and having a coupling nut threaded onto one of the parts and engaging portions of the other part for coupling the interfitted parts in an assembled relationship, wherein resilient locking means are interposed between the coupling nut and the pair of parts for restraining uncoupling movement of the nut and for producing an audible sound indicating proper joinder of the parts.
Inventors
- 👤 Jopseh A Nava
- 👤 Charles W Smaczny
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 13:45
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/62; H01R13/621
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
326 words
A connector comprising: male and female parts each comprising a shell member, one of said shell members having an externally threaded, forwardlY projecting cylindrical sleeve, the other of said shell members having a forwardly projecting cylindrical portion adapted to be received inside of said cylindrical sleeve, said cylindrical portion of said other shell having a radially offset peripheral shoulder forming an annular stop surface axially aligned with a forwardmost end edge surface of said cylindrical sleeve; a coupling nut threadingly engaging said externally threaded sleeve and having radially inwardly projecting portions axially operating on said other part to clamp said male and female parts in a telescopically assembled relationship; and locking means interposed between said coupling nut and said telescopically assembled parts and including a first means attached to said coupling nut for corotation therewith as the same threadingly engages onto said externally threaded sleeve, second means having portions interposed between said annular stop surface and said forwardmost end edge of said sleeve said second means normally being freely rotatable with respect to said male and female parts and being clamped between said forwardmost end edge and said stop surface to restrain rotation relative to said telescopically assembled parts whenever said parts are securely assembled, one of said first and said second means having a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses formed therein, and another one of said means having at least one projection resiliently mounted thereon and received in an aligned one of said plurality of recesses, whereby, whenever said parts are securely assembled in a manner to clamp said second locking means between said forwardmost end edge of said sleeve and said stop surface, said first locking means rotates with said coupling nut relative to said second locking means, thereby causing said resiliently mounted projections to skip between adjacent ones of the circumferentially spaced recesses to produce an audible signal that the parts are securely assembled and to restrain uncoupling rotation of the coupling nut.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
326 words
A connector comprising: male and female parts each comprising a shell member, one of said shell members having an externally threaded, forwardlY projecting cylindrical sleeve, the other of said shell members having a forwardly projecting cylindrical portion adapted to be received inside of said cylindrical sleeve, said cylindrical portion of said other shell having a radially offset peripheral shoulder forming an annular stop surface axially aligned with a forwardmost end edge surface of said cylindrical sleeve; a coupling nut threadingly engaging said externally threaded sleeve and having radially inwardly projecting portions axially operating on said other part to clamp said male and female parts in a telescopically assembled relationship; and locking means interposed between said coupling nut and said telescopically assembled parts and including a first means attached to said coupling nut for corotation therewith as the same threadingly engages onto said externally threaded sleeve, second means having portions interposed between said annular stop surface and said forwardmost end edge of said sleeve said second means normally being freely rotatable with respect to said male and female parts and being clamped between said forwardmost end edge and said stop surface to restrain rotation relative to said telescopically assembled parts whenever said parts are securely assembled, one of said first and said second means having a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses formed therein, and another one of said means having at least one projection resiliently mounted thereon and received in an aligned one of said plurality of recesses, whereby, whenever said parts are securely assembled in a manner to clamp said second locking means between said forwardmost end edge of said sleeve and said stop surface, said first locking means rotates with said coupling nut relative to said second locking means, thereby causing said resiliently mounted projections to skip between adjacent ones of the circumferentially spaced recesses to produce an audible signal that the parts are securely assembled and to restrain uncoupling rotation of the coupling nut.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A connector as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by: said projections resiliently mounted on said first locking means; and said second locking means having said recesses formed therein for receiving said resiliently mounted projections.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A connector as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by: said projections resiliently mounted on said second locking means; and said first locking means having said recesses formed therein for receiving said resiliently mounted projections.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A connector as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by: said radially inwardly projecting portions of said coupling nut disposed rearwardly of said peripheral shoulder formed on said other part; and spring means interposed between said radially inwardly projecting portions and said peripheral shoulder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
A connector as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by: said coupling nut having a counterbore surrounding and radially spaced outwardly of said peripheral shoulder; and said first locking means comprising axially extending, circumferentially spaced ridges formed on and extending radially inwardly of said nut counterbore, circumferentially adjacent ones of said ridges defining said recesses for receiving said resiliently mounted projections.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
88 words
A connector as defined in claim 5 and further characterized by: said second means comprising a cylindrical body portion interposed between, and radially spaced from said coupling nut counterbore and said annular shoulder, and said cylindrical body portion having a radially inturned flange interposed between said forwardmost end edge and said annular stop surface, said projections extending radially outwardly of said cylindrical body and received in aligned ones of said recesses defined by said circumferentially spaced ridges, and means resiliently mounting said projections on said cylindrical body portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
101 words
A connector as defined in claim 6 and further characterized by: said cylindrical body portion having radially outwardly projecting embossment forming said projections; and said means resiliently mounting said projection comprising a slot formed in said cylindrical body portion and partially extending around a circumference thereof, said slot disposed between an axially outward end edge of said cylindrical body portion and said radially inturned flange, said slot defining a circumferentially extending strip portion formed on said cylindrical body and joined thereto at circumferentially opposite end portions, and said embossment disposed substantially midway between the circumferentially opposite ends of said strip portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
A connector as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by: said second locking means comprising an annular, sheet form member surrounding said cylindrical portion of said other part and extending radially beyond said peripheral shoulder, said annular member having a plurality of axially extending, angularly spaced apertures passing therethrough and forming said recesses for receiving said resiliently mounted projections.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
88 words
A connector as defined in claim 8 and further characterized by: said coupling nut having a counterbore surrounding and radially spaced outwardly of said peripheral shoulder; said first locking means having a substantially cylindrical body portion secured to said coupling nut counterbore for corotation with said coupling nut, at least one resilient tab portion attached to, and extending radially inwardly of said cylindrical body portion, and said projection formed on said resilient tab portion, extending toward said annular member and received in an aligned one of said apertures.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
A connector as defined in claim 9 and further characterized by: said tab portions having a first section attached to said cylindrical body portion and extending obliquely of a longitudinal axis thereof and toward said annular member, and a second section attached to said first section at a radially inward terminal end thereof and extending adjacent to, and parallel with, said annular member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
68 words
A connector as defined in claim 9 and further characterized by: at least one other resilient tab portion attached to and extending radially inwardly of said cylindrical body portion, said other tab portion engaging a radially extending side surface of said annular member opposite of a side surface engaged by said first mentioned resilient tab portion and cooperating with the latter to resiliently retain said annular member therebetween.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
198 words
In a connector comprising separable first and second parts and a third part constituting a threaded coupling nut operatively engaging one of said other parts and threaded onto a portion of the second of said other parts for locking all three parts in an assembled relationship, the improvement comprising: a first signal means for producing an audible signal whenever said coupling nut is optimally threaded onto the second of said other parts to form a locked together assembly of all three parts, said first signal means including means attached to said coupling nut for corotation therewith; a second signal means normally being freely rotatable with said coupling nut and relative to said parts and being restrained against corotation with said coupling nut whenever said first and second separable parts are optimally assembled; and one of said first and said second signal means having at least one recess formed therein and the other of said signal means having at least one resiliently mounted projection formed thereon and cooperable with said recess to snap-skip relative thereto whenever said signal means are rotated relative to each other, thereby producing an audible signal for indicating when all three parts are optimally assembled.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
198 words
In a connector comprising separable first and second parts and a third part constituting a threaded coupling nut operatively engaging one of said other parts and threaded onto a portion of the second of said other parts for locking all three parts in an assembled relationship, the improvement comprising: a first signal means for producing an audible signal whenever said coupling nut is optimally threaded onto the second of said other parts to form a locked together assembly of all three parts, said first signal means including means attached to said coupling nut for corotation therewith; a second signal means normally being freely rotatable with said coupling nut and relative to said parts and being restrained against corotation with said coupling nut whenever said first and second separable parts are optimally assembled; and one of said first and said second signal means having at least one recess formed therein and the other of said signal means having at least one resiliently mounted projection formed thereon and cooperable with said recess to snap-skip relative thereto whenever said signal means are rotated relative to each other, thereby producing an audible signal for indicating when all three parts are optimally assembled.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
79 words
In a connector as defined in claim 12, said first and second sepaRable parts each having an axially projecting surface formed thereon and disposed in confronting relationship to said surface formed on the other one of said parts and said second signal means having a portion interposed between said axially projecting, confronting surfaces, said portion being clamped between said confronting surfaces whenever said parts are firmly assembled for restraining rotation of said second signal means relative to said parts.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-19 | 1975-01-18 | 1975-07-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-19 | 1979-01-18 | 1979-07-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-19 | 1983-01-18 | 1983-07-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |