US2458203A - Fused plug connector - Google Patents

Description

4, 1949. H C, ROHRMAN 2$452 l FUSED PLUG CONNECTOR Filed July 2o, 194e XNVENTOR (vDRNEY o@ Patented Jan. 4, 1949 FUSED PLUG CONNECTOR Henry C.- Rohrman, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor of one-half to Frank P. Murphy, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application July 20, 1946. Serial No. 685,232

2 Claims. l

My invention relates to electrical attachment plugs.

A purpose oi my invention is to reduce the likelihood of burning out a main fuse of the house wiring, and simplify the location of electrical trouble and the replacement of fuses.

A further purpose is to simplify and cheapen the mounting of electrical fuses.

A further -purpose is to construct an electrical plug connector having a hollow insulating body, a pair of plug contacts mounted in insulated condition on the body and extending from one face of the body in parallel spaced relation, a iirst terminal within the body directly electrically connected to one of the plug contacts, a second terminal within the body insulated from both contacts and from the first terminal, a fuse within the body and means for connecting the fuse between the other plug contact and the second terminal.

A further purpose is to position the second terminal behind and in prolongation of the other plug contact, mount a fuse socket near the inner end of the other plug contact, mount a cooperating fuse socket on the second terminal and position a fuse in the fuse sockets extending in .general prolongation of the other plug contact.

A further purpose is to position an extension of insulating material rearward of the plug front and provided with a side recess, to mount a fuse socket on the rearward end of one plug contact adjacent the forward end of the recess,and to mount a terminal and cooperating fuse socket on the extension near the rearward end of the recess, so that, with the rear of the socket removed, access to the fuse can be obtained at the side of the extension in the recess.

Further purposes appear in the specification and in the claims.

In the drawing I have chosen to illustrate one only of the numerous embodiments in which my invention may appear, the form shown being chosen from the standpoints of convenience in illustration, satisfactory operation and clear demonstration of the principles involved.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the plug connector of my invention. A

Figure 2 is a section of Figure 1 on the line Figure 3 is a detached perspective of the other plug contact, the second terminal and the fuse.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a broken detached perspective of the extension, recess and terminal mounted thereon.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

Describing in illustration but not in limitation and referring to the drawing:

Experience has indicated that the most frequent cause of electrical trouble resulting in blowing fuses in household lighting and power is the auxiliary equipment, such as extension cords, iloor lamps, table lamps, vacuum cleaners, electric irons, washing machines, etc. The house Wiring itself is a less frequent cause of trouble.

If a fuse blows in the household fuse box the only easy way the householder can locate the source of trouble is to disconnect the plugs to auxiliary equipment in the location involved, rev place the fuse and then connect various auxiliaries into the line and observe whether the fuse again blows. If for example a given auxiliaryI has a short circuit in its cord, the initial trouble often does not disconnect the circuit locally connecting that auxiliary to the house current.

By my invention I am able to connect a fuse into the local auxiliary circuit, locating the fuse conveniently in the plug connector, so that in case of trouble in theauxiliary the local fuse will blow, the house box fuse normally will not blow, and the householder will immediately have his attention directed to the auxiliary which is giving trouble. Replacement of the local fuse is made very easy in the structure of my invention.

The plug connector 20 is intended to be of any well known domestic type, having an insulating body 2|, a pair of spaced generally parallel plug contact pins 22 and 23 extending out from an insulator front surface 24 which normally will face the floor or wall plug socket, and having a hollow interior 25 and a rear wire passage 26 for wires 21 of an extension cord or the like.

The body 2| may be of plastic such as phenolformaldehyde, or desirably of rubber or synthetic rubber. The body 2| suitably comprises an insulating front 28 which surrounds and supports at 29 the inner ends 30 of the plug contacts 22 and 23, and a bell shaped insulating rear 3|. threaded together at 32. It will be noted that the body 2| is shouldered forward of the point where the front 28 is threaded to the cover at I2.

Inside the hollow 25 of the body, the front is extended at 33 to support two metallic terminals, 34 and 3l, preferably on opposite sides of the extension 33, to which the wires 21 are attached. The plug contact 22 is preferably extended inward at 36 to receive the screw thread of the i terminal 34, the terminal simply in this case being a. screw, cooperating with the contact.

On-the opposite side, the metallic terminal 35 suitably comprises a lug 3'| threaded at 38 for a terminal screw 39, reverse bent at 40 to extend on both sides of an insulation rib 4| on the extension 33, and carrying parallel to the lug a fuse socket 42 comprising spring fingers. A screw 40' threaded through suitable holes in the terminal on both sides of the rib 4|, and through a suitable hole in the rib 4|, secures the terminal in position.

The fuse socket 42 is positioned in a side recess 43 of the insulation extension 33 (best seen in Figures 4 and 5), and the insulation is preferably provided with a flat wall 44 against which the side of the terminal 35 rests to prevent rocklng.

The recess 43 extends as shown to the inner end of the plug contact 23, which carries an arm 45 extending laterally parallel to inwardly extending reverse bent portion of terminal 35 and mounts, on the side of the arm 45, a fuse socket 46 cooperating with the fuse socket 42, in line with it, and properly spaced from it to receive a fuse 4l having terminals 48 and 49. The fuse lies in the recess 43.

It will be evident that the fuse when in place extends parallel to the plug contact 23 and substantially in prolongation thereof.

In operation the fuse will be inserted into the recess 43 and engaged by'the fuse sockets 42 and 46 while the rear 3| of the socket is removed.

The wires will be threaded through the opening` 26 in the rear 3|, and attached to the terminals 34 and 35. Then the rear 3| will be screwed on, and the device will function as a standard plug connector.

In case of trouble, burning out the fuse, the rear 3| will be removed, the fuse replaced and the rear 3| reapplied` The device will then be lof insulating material, a pair of plug contacts mounted in parallel spaced relation on and extending through and beyond the front, a first terminal on the rear of one of the contacts, a rst fuse socket on the rear of the other contact, an extension of insulating material rearward from the plug front having a side recess which includes and extends behind said first fuse socket and forms with the extension a rib -of insulating material at the back of the recess, a second terminal having a reverse bend U portion extending on both sides of and secured to the rib and a second fuse socket in line with and properly spaced from the first fuse socket to receive a fuse and mounted on the second terminal in tne recess.

2. In an electrical plug connector, a plug front of insulating material and circular contour having an outer shoulderrand male threads rearward of the shoulder, a pair of plug contacts mounted in parallel spaced relation on and extending straight through and straight beyond the front, a i'lrst terminal directly on the rear of one of the plug contacts, a first fuse socket on the rear of the other contact, an extension of insulating material extending straight rearwardly from the plug front having the first terminal at the sidewall of the extension and having a side recess which includes and extends beyond the rst fuse socket and forms with the extension a rib of insulating material transverse to the extension and adjacent the back of the extension, a second terminal having a U portion surrounding and mounted on the rib, a second socket in line with and properly spaced from the rst socket to receive a cartridge fuse and mounted on the second terminal in the" recess and a hollow cover surrounding and spaced from *he extension, having an opening for wires at the back and having female threads at the forward end cooperating with the male threads on the plug front and abutting against the shoulder.

HENRY C. ROHRMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,650,421 Brown Nov. 22, 1927 1,743,821 Kollath Jan.A 14, 1930 1,860,546 Manson May 31, 1932 1,926,936 Casingena et al. Sept. l2, 1933

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