US3879098A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Connector with safety closure
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1973-11-08
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Granted: 1975-04-22
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Expires: 1993-11-08
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector with a rotatable safety closure is provided for reliable closing of the entrance to blade ports in the electrical connector. The closure is afforded by a disc which rotates on a single shank extending from the disc. The shank is rotatably supported in the body of the connector in a conforming hole or well. The disc portion of the closure has blade openings which may be aligned with the blade ports of the connector by rotation of the disc or which may be placed out of alignment by further rotation or by reverse rotation of the disc.
Inventors
- 👤 George J Lawrence
- 👤 Robert L Martin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:15
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/44; H01R13/447
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
An electrical connector which comprises: a. a resilient insulating body, b. a pair of electrical contacts in said insulating body, c. said contacts being spaced apart and positioned in said body beneath an exterior surface thereof, d. means for conducting electric current to said contacts, e. a pair of spaced power blade ports having openings at said exterior surface and communicating with said electrical contacts, f. a central port located between said power blade ports, g. said central port having an opening at said exterior surface and extending into said body to a predetermined depth, h. an insulating closure element having a generally disc-shaped head and an elongated shank depending from the center of said head, i. said shank extending into said central port and the underside of said head bearing against said external surface, j. a pair of spaced blade openings in said head conforming generally to those in said body, k. said closure element being rotatable to bring the pairs of blade openings selectively into aligNment or out of alignment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
An electrical connector which comprises: a. a resilient insulating body, b. a pair of electrical contacts in said insulating body, c. said contacts being spaced apart and positioned in said body beneath an exterior surface thereof, d. means for conducting electric current to said contacts, e. a pair of spaced power blade ports having openings at said exterior surface and communicating with said electrical contacts, f. a central port located between said power blade ports, g. said central port having an opening at said exterior surface and extending into said body to a predetermined depth, h. an insulating closure element having a generally disc-shaped head and an elongated shank depending from the center of said head, i. said shank extending into said central port and the underside of said head bearing against said external surface, j. a pair of spaced blade openings in said head conforming generally to those in said body, k. said closure element being rotatable to bring the pairs of blade openings selectively into aligNment or out of alignment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
172 words
An electrical connector which comprises: a. a resilient insulating body, b. a pair of electrical contacts in said insulating body, c. said contacts being spaced apart and positioned in said body beneath an exterior surface thereof, d. means for conducting electric current to said contacts, e. a pair of spaced power blade ports having openings at said exterior surface and communicating with said electrical contacts, f. a central port located between said power blade ports, g. said central port having an opening at said exterior surface and extending into said body to a predetermined depth, h. an insulating closure element having a generally disc-shaped head and an elongated shank depending from the center of said head, i. said shank extending into said central port and the underside of said head bearing against said external surface, j. a pair of spaced blade openings in said head conforming generally to those in said body, k. said closure element being rotatable to bring the pairs of blade openings selectively into aligNment or out of alignment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
172 words
An electrical connector which comprises: a. a resilient insulating body, b. a pair of electrical contacts in said insulating body, c. said contacts being spaced apart and positioned in said body beneath an exterior surface thereof, d. means for conducting electric current to said contacts, e. a pair of spaced power blade ports having openings at said exterior surface and communicating with said electrical contacts, f. a central port located between said power blade ports, g. said central port having an opening at said exterior surface and extending into said body to a predetermined depth, h. an insulating closure element having a generally disc-shaped head and an elongated shank depending from the center of said head, i. said shank extending into said central port and the underside of said head bearing against said external surface, j. a pair of spaced blade openings in said head conforming generally to those in said body, k. said closure element being rotatable to bring the pairs of blade openings selectively into aligNment or out of alignment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The connector of claim 1, wherein an enlarged portion of the shank is at the unattached end thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The connector of claim 2, wherein the enlarged portion of said shank is conically shaped and the wider end of the cone is closer to the head of said closure element and greater in diameter than the adjacent section of the shank.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The connector of claim 1, wherein an enlarged portion of said shank is a frustro conical head and is located at the unattached end of said shank with the narrower part of said frustro-cone pointing away from said head.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The connector of claim 1, wherein there is formed on the underside of said closure element head and on the confronting external surface of said body surface irregularities which orient said closure element to preferred rotational positions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The connector of claim 5, wherein said irregularities have the form of a trough in said body surface and at lease one boss depending from said closure element head.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The connector of claim 1, wherein the blade openings and the blade ports are oriented.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The connector of claim 1, wherein an arc-shaped channel is formed in the surface of the connector and a conforming boss depends into said channel from the underside of the closure element.
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) | 1978-04-21 | 1978-10-21 | 1979-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-21 | 1982-10-21 | 1983-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-21 | 1986-10-21 | 1987-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |