US4148540A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical coupling devices
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1977-12-05
•
Granted: 1979-04-10
•
Expires: 1997-12-05
Abstract
Abstract An electrical coupling device which can make efficient electrical contact with the electrically conducting part or parts of one or more insulated electrical conductors without the need for baring all the insulation from the conductor or conductors and without the need for actuating with a tool some form of connection member. The coupling device includes a body portion which has an electrically insulating part and electrically conducting means which comprises metallic piercing means. The coupling device also includes a conductor-locating means which has guiding means for guiding the piercing means along a specific path in the locating means when the locating means and the body portion are assembled together in an operative position. While the conductor-locating means and the body portion are moved relative to one another along said specific path during assembly of the two parts, the piercing means is adapted to pierce the insulation of, and make electrical contact with, the electrically conducting part of an insulated electrical conductor in the locating means, and the locating means and the body portion are releasably retained in the operative position, at least when an insulated electrical conductor is located in the locating means. The coupling device is suitable for use in mains voltage systems, for example as an electric plug, ceiling rose or lamp-holder, or in low voltage systems, for example automobile wiring systems.
Inventors
- 👤 Derek Hayes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 17:50
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R4/00; H01R4/24; H01R4/2404; H01R24/00; H01R24/28; H01R24/30; H01R13/00; H01R13/66; H01R13/68; H01R13/684; H01R2103/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
306 words
An electrical coupling device, comprising: a body portion comprising an electrically-insulating part having a recess in its surface, and electrically conductive metallic piercing means extending from the bottom of said recess outwardly toward its piercing end generally along the direction of the adjacent sides of said recess but laterally spaced therefrom; conductor-locating means comprising a pair of cooperating jaws movable relative to each other and having first mutually confronting surfaces intermediate first and second ends of the jaws configured to receive between them an insulated electrical conductor and to grasp said conductor when said jaws are urged together, at least part of the opposed outer surfaces of said pair of jaws being configured to fit slidably into said recess, and guiding means incorporated in said jaws for receiving said piercing means and for slidably contacting and guiding said piercing means through said jaws and into the center of said conductor when said first end of said jaws is inserted in and advanced into said recess, said guiding means comprising second mutually confronting surfaces of said jaws extending between said first confronting surfaces of said jaws and said first end of said jaws and aligned with said piercing means when said first end of said jaws is advanced into said recess, whereby said piercing means is guided between said second confronting surfaces into operative position with the piercing means piercing the center of said conductor; the outer surfaces of said pair of jaws and the inner surfaces of said recess being configured to produce a camming action such that inserting and advancing said jaws into said recess urges said jaws together to grasp said conductor prior to the piercing of the insulation on said conductor and during piercing of said conductor by said piercing means, and such that said jaws are thereafter releasably retained in said recess.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
306 words
An electrical coupling device, comprising: a body portion comprising an electrically-insulating part having a recess in its surface, and electrically conductive metallic piercing means extending from the bottom of said recess outwardly toward its piercing end generally along the direction of the adjacent sides of said recess but laterally spaced therefrom; conductor-locating means comprising a pair of cooperating jaws movable relative to each other and having first mutually confronting surfaces intermediate first and second ends of the jaws configured to receive between them an insulated electrical conductor and to grasp said conductor when said jaws are urged together, at least part of the opposed outer surfaces of said pair of jaws being configured to fit slidably into said recess, and guiding means incorporated in said jaws for receiving said piercing means and for slidably contacting and guiding said piercing means through said jaws and into the center of said conductor when said first end of said jaws is inserted in and advanced into said recess, said guiding means comprising second mutually confronting surfaces of said jaws extending between said first confronting surfaces of said jaws and said first end of said jaws and aligned with said piercing means when said first end of said jaws is advanced into said recess, whereby said piercing means is guided between said second confronting surfaces into operative position with the piercing means piercing the center of said conductor; the outer surfaces of said pair of jaws and the inner surfaces of said recess being configured to produce a camming action such that inserting and advancing said jaws into said recess urges said jaws together to grasp said conductor prior to the piercing of the insulation on said conductor and during piercing of said conductor by said piercing means, and such that said jaws are thereafter releasably retained in said recess.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electrical coupling device according to claim 1, in which grooves are provided in said second mutually confronting surfaces of the jaws to define at least one slot for guiding the piercing means between the jaws without unduly separating the latter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electrical coupling device according to claim 1, in which the jaws of said pair of jaws are hinged together.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electrical coupling device according to claim 1, in which the piercing means comprises at least one pointed pin.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electrical coupling device according to claim 1, in which said first mutually confronting surfaces of said jaws are recessed to define, when said jaws are closed together, a conductor-locating slot.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electrical coupling device according to claim 5, in which said conductor-locating slot is closed at one end.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
An electrical coupling device according to claim 5, in which at least two conductor-locating slots are provided whereby the device is able to receive any one of a range of electrically insulated conductors of different cross-sectional areas in an appropriate one of said slots.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
An electrical coupling device according to claim 5, in which at least two conductor-locating slots are provided whereby two or more electrically insulated conductors of the same or different cross-sectional areas located between said jaws may be pierced by said piercing means during relative movement of said pair of jaws into said recess.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
An electrical coupling device according to claim 5, in which the conductor-locating slot is arranged so as to locate an electrically insulated conductor perpendicular to the direction of advance of the piercing means, relative to said jaws, when the piercing means is guided between said second confronting surfaces.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
An electrical coupling device according to claim 5, in which the conductor-locating slot has an oval cross-section, the major axis of the cross-section being substantially parallel to said first confronting surfaces of the jaws.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electrical coupling device according to claim 1, in which the jaws of said pair of jaws are resiliently movable towards and away from each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electrical coupling device according to claim 11, in which the pair of jaws is formed as a separate unit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electrical coupling device according to claim 11, in which at least one jaw of said pair of jaws is formed integrally with a cover made of electrically-insulating material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
An electrical coupling device according to claim 11, in which said body portion includes camming means at least partly surrounding said piercing means and serving to cooperate with said jaws during relative movement of the jaws and the body portion into said operative position and to hold the jaws together when the jaws and the body portion are in the operative position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
An electrical coupling device according to claim 14, in which said body portion includes a plurality of said camming means, each at least partly surrounding an associated piercing means, a separate pair of jaws being provided for each camming means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electrical coupling device according to claim 15, in which said pairs of jaws are connected together in a row.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
An electrical coupling device according to claim 14, in which at least one outwardly-facing surface of the pair of jaws is provided with a projection or notch for cooperation with a corresponding notch or projection, respectively, provided in the camming means, in order to retain the jaws in said operative position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
An electrical coupling device according to claim 17, in which the camming means and said pair of jaws are provided with at least one further notch and cooperable projection to retain the jaws in a position partly removed from the camming means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electrical coupling device according to claim 1, in which the piercing means comprises at least one blade.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electrical coupling device according to claim 19, in which the piercing means comprises two blades arranged in co-planar relationship.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electrical coupling device according to claim 20, in which one of said two blades is longer than the other.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
254 words
An electric plug comprising: an electrically-insulating contact-carrying portion having three recesses in its surface, and, from the bottom of each recess, a metallic piercing member extending outwardly towards its piercing end generally along the direction of, but spaced from, the adjacent sides of the recess, each piercing member being electrically connected to a different one of three metallic contact pins carried by, and extending from, said contact-carrying portion; and a different conductor-locating means associated with each recess and comprising a pair of relatively movable jaws having mutually confronting surfaces intermediate first and second ends of the jaws configured to receive between them and grasp an insulated electrical conductor when urged together and guiding means incorporated in said jaws for guiding the piercing member of said associated recess along a line or plane of demarcation between the jaws extending from their first end and inwardly to the center of the insulated conductor along a direction such that when said jaws are inserted into said associated recess and advanced into the recess the piercing member contacts said line or plane of demarcation at the first end of the jaws and will move between, and parallel to, the adjacent walls of the jaws into the center of the conductor to make electrical contact therewith, the walls of the recess exerting a camming action with respect to the jaws to urge them together and to grasp the conductor prior to piercing of the outside of the insulation by the piercing member and during the piercing of the conductor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
254 words
An electric plug comprising: an electrically-insulating contact-carrying portion having three recesses in its surface, and, from the bottom of each recess, a metallic piercing member extending outwardly towards its piercing end generally along the direction of, but spaced from, the adjacent sides of the recess, each piercing member being electrically connected to a different one of three metallic contact pins carried by, and extending from, said contact-carrying portion; and a different conductor-locating means associated with each recess and comprising a pair of relatively movable jaws having mutually confronting surfaces intermediate first and second ends of the jaws configured to receive between them and grasp an insulated electrical conductor when urged together and guiding means incorporated in said jaws for guiding the piercing member of said associated recess along a line or plane of demarcation between the jaws extending from their first end and inwardly to the center of the insulated conductor along a direction such that when said jaws are inserted into said associated recess and advanced into the recess the piercing member contacts said line or plane of demarcation at the first end of the jaws and will move between, and parallel to, the adjacent walls of the jaws into the center of the conductor to make electrical contact therewith, the walls of the recess exerting a camming action with respect to the jaws to urge them together and to grasp the conductor prior to piercing of the outside of the insulation by the piercing member and during the piercing of the conductor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-04-09 | 1982-10-09 | 1983-04-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-04-09 | 1986-10-09 | 1987-04-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-04-09 | 1990-10-09 | 1991-04-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |