Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
255 words
A multiple pole coupling comprising: a first housing member having a base plate and a cover plate with a recess therebetween opening on one side of the housing member, a set of base plate passages and a corresponding set of cover plate passages extending longitudinally through said base plate and cover plate respectively, said sets of passages being disposed in the same pattern, the set of cover plate passages being laterally offset from the set of base plate passages, a second housing member including a slide member having a set of slide member passages extending therethrough and disposed in a pattern corresponding to that of said base plate and cover plate passages, said slide member being disposed in said recess in a first position with said slide member passages being aligned respectively with corresponding base plate passages, plural contact elements each being disposed partially in one of said base plate passages and partially in the corresponding one of said slide member passages, each of said contact elements having a laterally extending abutment member, each of said base plate passages having an enlarged portion adjacent the part of the respective contact element disposed therein, said slide member being movable in said recess to a second position in which said part of the contact element is disposed in said enlarged portion and said slide member passages are aligned respectively with said cover plate passages and each of said abutment members overlies a part of said base plate, whereby said contact elements are held captive in said passages.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
255 words
A multiple pole coupling comprising: a first housing member having a base plate and a cover plate with a recess therebetween opening on one side of the housing member, a set of base plate passages and a corresponding set of cover plate passages extending longitudinally through said base plate and cover plate respectively, said sets of passages being disposed in the same pattern, the set of cover plate passages being laterally offset from the set of base plate passages, a second housing member including a slide member having a set of slide member passages extending therethrough and disposed in a pattern corresponding to that of said base plate and cover plate passages, said slide member being disposed in said recess in a first position with said slide member passages being aligned respectively with corresponding base plate passages, plural contact elements each being disposed partially in one of said base plate passages and partially in the corresponding one of said slide member passages, each of said contact elements having a laterally extending abutment member, each of said base plate passages having an enlarged portion adjacent the part of the respective contact element disposed therein, said slide member being movable in said recess to a second position in which said part of the contact element is disposed in said enlarged portion and said slide member passages are aligned respectively with said cover plate passages and each of said abutment members overlies a part of said base plate, whereby said contact elements are held captive in said passages.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein said cover plate passages are blocked by said slide member in said first position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein the outside surface of said cover plate is provided with a conical recess surrounding each cover plate passage to facilitate the insertion of a contact element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein said abutment member comprises a shoulder on said contact element and said part of said base plate comprises the inner surface thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A coupling as defined in claim 1 including latch means on said housing members for holding said slide member in said first and second positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A coupling as defined in claim 5 wherein said latch means comprises a pair of cams unitary with said slide member and an opening in said first housing member for coacting with said cams to hold said slide member in said first and second positions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein said first housing member and said slide member are separable from each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein said first housing member and said second housing member are unitary with each other, said cover plate being hingedly mounted on the remainder of said first housing member and said slide member being hingedly mounted on said first housing member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
78 words
A coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein said slide member is provided with a unitary flat plate extending from one side thereof for a distance approximately equal to the thickness of said base plate and connected by a unitary hinge with the lower edge of said base plate, said slide member being pivotable about said unitary hinge to said first position, said slide member being movable by sliding motion from said first position to said second position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A coupling as defined in claim 9 wherein said first housing member and said slide member are constructed of a unitary plastic body.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
83 words
A coupling as defined in claim 8 wherein said first housing member comprises said base plate, a pair of side walls and a rear wall unitary with said base plate, said cover plate being unitary with said rear wall and hingedly mounted thereto and adapted to fold into a closed position in which said set of cover plate passages are laterally offset from said set of base plate passages, and including latching means for holding said cover plate in s id closed position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
A coupling unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said slide member is hingedly mounted on said first housing member and is slideably disposed between said base plate and said cover plate between said first position and said second position, and including latch means for holding said slide member in said second position.