Patent US4574474A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4574474A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for molding an electrical plug with internal protective cap
Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1984-04-06
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Granted: 1986-03-11
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Expires: 2004-04-06
Abstract
Abstract In a method of manufacturing a moulded-on mains plug of the type having a base 3, an insulating cap 1 covering wire connection points 9, and a moulded-on plug body, the presence and position of the cap 1 is detected by probe pins 37,39 of a pressure member 31 coupled to a position detector 47. The arrangement is such that the moulding material can only be injected into the moulding die 27,29 if the cap 1 is substantially in its correct position as shown in FIG. 2. In this way, it is not possible to produce a moulded-on mains plug having no insulating cap or in which the cap is provided but is incorrectly positioned.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack K. Langham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 12:33
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R43/00; H01R43/20; H01R43/24; B; B29; B29C; B29C45/00; B29C45/14; B29C45/14639; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49174; Y10T29/49176; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/5313; Y10T29/532; Y10T29/53209; Y10T29/53213
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
A method of manufacturing an electrical plug of the type comprising an insulative base having a plurality of conductive contact members extending therethrough from a front side to a rear side of the base, electrical connections being made at the rear side between the contact members and respective conductors of an electrical cable, said method comprising the steps of: (a) placing in a predefined position on the rear side of the base an insulative cap extending over at least two of the electrical connections, said cap having a portion extending a predetermined height above said rear side when it is in said predefined position; (b) enclosing the base and the cap in a mold cavity at a location where said portion of the cap will contact a movable portion of a position detection means for indicating whether the cap is in the predefined position; (c) if the cap is detected in the predefined position, filling the cavity with insulative molding material for encapsulating at least the rear side of the base along with the electrical connections, the cap and the conductors; and if the cap is not detected in the predefined position, not injecting insulative molding material into the cavity.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
200 words
A method of manufacturing an electrical plug of the type comprising an insulative base having a plurality of conductive contact members extending therethrough from a front side to a rear side of the base, electrical connections being made at the rear side between the contact members and respective conductors of an electrical cable, said method comprising the steps of: (a) placing in a predefined position on the rear side of the base an insulative cap extending over at least two of the electrical connections, said cap having a portion extending a predetermined height above said rear side when it is in said predefined position; (b) enclosing the base and the cap in a mold cavity at a location where said portion of the cap will contact a movable portion of a position detection means for indicating whether the cap is in the predefined position; (c) if the cap is detected in the predefined position, filling the cavity with insulative molding material for encapsulating at least the rear side of the base along with the electrical connections, the cap and the conductors; and if the cap is not detected in the predefined position, not injecting insulative molding material into the cavity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 1 where the movable portion of the position detection means is mechanically biased toward the insulative cap.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 1 or 2 where the position detection means visually indicates whether the cap is in the predefined position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 1 or 2 where the position detection means gives an electrical indication of whether the cap is in the predefined position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 4 where the flow of the insulative molding material into the cavity is electrically controlled in response to said electrical indication.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 1 or 2 where the flow of the insulative molding material into the cavity is mechanically controlled in response to the position of the movable portion of the position detection means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
210 words
A molding apparatus for manufacturing an electrical plug of the type comprising an insulative base having a plurality of conductive contact members extending therethrough from a front side to a rear side of the base, electrical connections being made at the rear side between the contact members and respective conductors of an electrical cable, said apparatus comprising: (a) a mold having a cavity for containing the plug and an insulative cap placed in a predefined position on the rear side of the base, said insulative cap extending over at least two of said electrical connections, said cap having a portion extending a predetermined height above said rear side when it is in said predefined position; (b) a position detection means including a movable portion disposed in the mold in a location where said portion of the position detection means will contact said portion of the insulative cap, said position detecting means indicating whether the cap is in the predefined position; and (c) means operatively associated with said position detection means responsive to an indication that the cap is in the predefined position for filling the cavity with insulative molding material for encapsulating at least the rear side of the base along with the electrical connections, the cap and the conductors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
210 words
A molding apparatus for manufacturing an electrical plug of the type comprising an insulative base having a plurality of conductive contact members extending therethrough from a front side to a rear side of the base, electrical connections being made at the rear side between the contact members and respective conductors of an electrical cable, said apparatus comprising: (a) a mold having a cavity for containing the plug and an insulative cap placed in a predefined position on the rear side of the base, said insulative cap extending over at least two of said electrical connections, said cap having a portion extending a predetermined height above said rear side when it is in said predefined position; (b) a position detection means including a movable portion disposed in the mold in a location where said portion of the position detection means will contact said portion of the insulative cap, said position detecting means indicating whether the cap is in the predefined position; and (c) means operatively associated with said position detection means responsive to an indication that the cap is in the predefined position for filling the cavity with insulative molding material for encapsulating at least the rear side of the base along with the electrical connections, the cap and the conductors.
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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) | 1989-03-10 | 1989-09-09 | 1990-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-10 | 1993-09-09 | 1994-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-10 | 1997-09-09 | 1998-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |