Patent FR549386A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4863397A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Expendable frangible electrical connector
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1988-04-22
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Granted: 1989-09-05
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Expires: 2008-04-22
Abstract
Abstract A breakaway electrical connector particularly suited for the electrical conduit providing electrical connections to a fuel dispenser reduces damage to the dispenser when the dispenser is accidentally dislodged in an accident and reduces the danger of fire and explosion. The connector includes an outer shell with a circumferential weakness at a shear plane and conductors within the shell arranged to break apart at the shear plane. The conductor breaks apart at a force less than the force required to damage other elements in the dispenser and conduit. The connector is easily removed and replaced, but cannot be reused once it separates to prevent reuse of a damaged connector.
Inventors
- 👤 William K. Hatch, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 14:39
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D7/00; B67D7/06; B67D7/32; H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/62; H01R13/629; H01R13/633
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
311 words
An expandable, easily replaceable, frangible connector assembly for a plurality of electrical circuits passing through a conduit means that will safely break apart and disconnect said circuits before other portions of said circuits or conduit means can suffer damage when disruptive forces are accidentally applied to said conduit means, comprising: (a) a rigid body shell means with two ends having conduit connecting means said conduit connecting means for connecting each of said ends to said conduit means at conduit connectors to provide rigidity, electrical ground continuity and explosion-proof properties to said conduit means; (b) a pair of body portions made of insulating material, each said body portion having two ends and a plurality of electrical conductors passing through both said body portions, with a first end of each pair in abutting relationship at a shear plane and a second, opposite end of each pair having electrical conductor connecting means for providing electrical continuity to said electrical circuits with conductors in said conduit means, with each of said body portions fixedly connected to said body shell means, said conductors separable at said shear plane into upper conductor segments and lower conductor segments; (c) said body shell means including a circumferentially weakened portion at said shear plane to ensure separation of said connector into two parts under said disruptive forces, before damage to other portions of said circuits or conduit means, said two parts comprising a first part including an upper portion of said shell means enclosing a first body portion with upper conductor segments and a second part including a lower portion of said shell means enclosing a second body portion with lower conductor segments, each of said two parts remaining connected to said conduit means at said conduit connectors and maintaining connections at said conduit means undamaged for easy removal of said two parts and replacement by an undamaged connector assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
311 words
An expandable, easily replaceable, frangible connector assembly for a plurality of electrical circuits passing through a conduit means that will safely break apart and disconnect said circuits before other portions of said circuits or conduit means can suffer damage when disruptive forces are accidentally applied to said conduit means, comprising: (a) a rigid body shell means with two ends having conduit connecting means said conduit connecting means for connecting each of said ends to said conduit means at conduit connectors to provide rigidity, electrical ground continuity and explosion-proof properties to said conduit means; (b) a pair of body portions made of insulating material, each said body portion having two ends and a plurality of electrical conductors passing through both said body portions, with a first end of each pair in abutting relationship at a shear plane and a second, opposite end of each pair having electrical conductor connecting means for providing electrical continuity to said electrical circuits with conductors in said conduit means, with each of said body portions fixedly connected to said body shell means, said conductors separable at said shear plane into upper conductor segments and lower conductor segments; (c) said body shell means including a circumferentially weakened portion at said shear plane to ensure separation of said connector into two parts under said disruptive forces, before damage to other portions of said circuits or conduit means, said two parts comprising a first part including an upper portion of said shell means enclosing a first body portion with upper conductor segments and a second part including a lower portion of said shell means enclosing a second body portion with lower conductor segments, each of said two parts remaining connected to said conduit means at said conduit connectors and maintaining connections at said conduit means undamaged for easy removal of said two parts and replacement by an undamaged connector assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The connector assembly according to claim 1 further comprising spring bias means for forcing away axially said two parts of said connector when said connector breaks apart to reduce electrical interaction between said conductor segments.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The connector assembly according to claim 1 in which said circumferential weakening includes a groove in said shell means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The connector assembly according to claim 1 in which said conductors are separable at said shear plane by an electrical and mechanical joint means between each said upper and lower conductor segment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
The connector assembly according to claim 1 in which said conductors are separable at said shear plane by means of conductors having a frangible structure and adhering means fixedly adhering said conductors to each of said body portions throughout the passage of said conductors through said body portions, leaving an unadhered gap at said shear plane at which point said conductors are unsupported against breakage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The connector assembly according to claim 5 in which said conductors include a frangible portion at said shear plane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The connector assembly according to claim 6 in which said frangible portion comprises a conductive power in a glass tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The connector assembly according to claim 6 in which said frangible portion comprises a roll of conductive foil.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The connector assembly according to claim 6 in which said frangible portion is a brittle conductive plastic.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The connector assembly according to claim 6 in which said frangible portion is partically cut through.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The connector assembly according to claim 1 in which said conductors include a circuit for cutting off all electric power supplied to said conduit means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
The connector assembly according to claim 1 in which a first of said body portions includes shielding sleeve means projecting into sleeve recess means in said second body portion, said shielding sleeve means shielding conductors from the atmosphere surrounding said conduit means during their separation to prevent fire and explosion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The connector assembly according to claim 1 in which said body shell means includes resilient sleeve means for shielding said conductors from the atmosphere surrounding said conduit means during their separation to prevent fire and explosion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention according to claim 1 further comprising a sliding expansion union adapted for connection to one end of said connector.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The connector assembly according to claim 1, in which said conduit connecting means includes axial plug means and screw connection means.
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) | 1992-09-04 | 1993-03-06 | 1993-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-09-04 | 1997-03-06 | 1997-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-09-04 | 2001-03-06 | 2001-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |