US3209303A - Connector latching device - Google Patents

Description

p 1965 E. c. UBERBACHER 3,209,303

CONNECTOR LATCHING DEVICE Filed June 28 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR EDWARD C. UBERBACHER ATTORNEY p 1965 E. c. UBERBACHER 3,2

CONNECTOR LATCHING DEVICE Filed June 28, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,209,303 CONNECTOR LATCHING DEVICE Edward 'C. Uberbacher, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed June 28, 1963, Ser. No. 291,324 8 Claims. (Cl. 339-45) The present invention relates in general to improvements in electrical connector means and more particularly to devices for connecting and disconnecting multiple contact connector block halves. When sets of wiping contacts amount to a score or more pairs of contacts, a considerable amount of force is required to mate the blocks carrying the contacts and a similar effort is required to pull the blocks apart.

=Heretofore, connector latching systems required rather expensive forms of construction involving rather heavy parts in the form of cam lever, hook or screw mechanisms to draw up and hold the connector halves. These mechanisms were not rapid in operation and called for considerable effort and time for each connect or disconnect operation.

The present invention is particularly directed to providing a removable connector latch by means of which it is possible to make a large number of good electrical connections quickly and without use of much applied force. Another object of the invention is the provision of an economical form of latching means of low cost construction with sheet metal parts with a pistol shaped handle and trigger lever for ease of handling and single handed operation.

Another feature of the invention is the use of a centralized pin or post about which the forces of latching are applied for uniform distribution of push and pull over the whole connector. The post extends from the center of one connector half and through the other half and through a strong bent leaf spring with a loose hole encircling the post. A hand trigger and lever is used to compress the free end of the leaf spring and force it down over the post. When the spring is released it is canted against the post and serves to lift the post and close the connector halves. In a reverse fashion, the spring is pressed to release and free the outer connector half.

Another object of the invention is to provide an alternative form of connector latch mechanism based on the same low-cost principles as the first mentioned latch but substituting a coil spring and a canted washer for the leaf spring of the first mentioned latch.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of the preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the acoompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is perspective view of a pair of contact connector halves with the right half bearing the latch mechanism of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view partly in section showing the connector halves as they are being brought together, with the pistol grip on the right half compressed to straighten the leaf spring so a hole therein fits loosely over the assembly pin.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation view partly in section showing the connector halves drawn together by the leaf spring acting on the pin since the pistol grip lever is released.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation view partly in section showing the connector halves still together but about to be separated because compression of the pistol grip lever has straightened the leaf spring so that a hole therein is 3,299,363 Patented Sept. 28, 1965 no longer canted against the assembly pin but loose thereon and the right half is ready to be withdrawn.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation view partly in section showing the alternative latching mechanism in the process of assembling a pair of connector halves by compressing a pistol grip to straighten a canting ring around an assembly pin.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation view partly in section showing the alternative latching mechanism with the pair of connector halves closed because the pistol grip lever is released to allow a coil spring to expand between the canted canting ring on the pin and the upper connector half.

The main object of the connector, FIGURE 2 is to bring into wiping engagement, a plurality of pairs of similar but separate contacts 17 and 18 so that many good electrical connections are made without requiring great physical effort on the part of the machine operator.

The general construction of the parts of the invention may be observed by reference to the perspective view, FIGURE 1. There it is seen that a pair of contact carrying connector halves or blocks 20 and 21 are to be forced into mating connection by a latching mechanism 22 on the right block 21 in cooperation with a stud or pin 23 which is fastened to block 20 and projects through an opening 24 in block 21. Fastened to the outer face of block 21 is a pistol shaped handle frame 25 which straddles opening 24 but has a similar aligned opening 26 through which the pin 23 extends. A pair of bosses 2'7 on the inside of block opening 24- form mountings for screws 28 to attach handle 25 to block 21.

Handle frame 25 is formed with a pair of side ears 29 for confining a bent leaf spring 30. A top L shaped extension 32 of frame 25 also confines, the rounded upper end of leaf spring 30. Placed on the ends of ears 29 is a crossbar 33 spanning frame 25 and forming a fulcrum or support for the extended upper end 34 of leaf spring 30, the lower end of which presses into a depression 35 formed in a trigger lever 36. Crossbar 33 and extended end 34 are loosely assembled but held in place by the pressure of the spring flexure always under tension. This trigger lever 36 is pivoted on a rod 37 which is fixed between a pair of pistol grip extensions 38 on frame 25. Trigger lever 36 is formed at the top end with two rounded operating cams 40 and 41, cam 40 serving to press against the lower end of leaf spring 30 to straighten it for insertion or withdrawal of pin 23 (FIGURES 2 and 4) and cam 41 serving to press against the tip of pin 23 (FIGURE 4) for ejection purposes to aid in withdrawing the outer block 21.

Spring 30 is without any fixed fastening and is merely confined with its upper rounded end relatively stable as held between ears 29, extension 32 and bar 33. However, the lower end of spring 30 may be flexed through quite an arc of movement by cam 40 of lever 36 and, in so moving, the walls of a hole 31 in spring 30 assume various degrees of parallelism, or lack of the same, with respect to the sides of pin 23. In order to assemble blocks 20 and 21, a hand on pistol grip 38 compresses trigger lever 36 counterclockwise, pressing cam 40 on spring 30 to flatten the spring towards the block face and swing the hole walls of hole 31 to move parallel with pin 23 so that the pin may slide therethrough (FIGURE 2) and bring block 20 near block 21.

When the hand on pistol grip 38 releases the trigger lever 36, spring 30 flexes its lower end away from block 21, and in so doing cants the hole walls 31 into a biting engagement with pin 23 and pulls the pin to the right (FIGURE 3) and pulls block 20 against block 21 so that the contacts therein are properly mated.

In order to release and separate the blocks 20 and 21, a double action is performed by the trigger lever 36 against the spring 30 and the pin 23. Initially, the hand on the pistol grip 38 compresses the trigger lever 36 to flatten the spring 30 and take the hole walls 31 out of the canted position so that pin 23 is again loose thereon. This is followed by further compression of trigger lever 36 and the camming action of cam 41 against the tip of pin 23 which serves to push or eject block 20 away from block 21 and make its removal easy.

Pistol grip handle 38 serves not only as a one-handed control for the connector latching operation, but it also offers an improved carrying means for the connector block 21 and its cable end attachments. The importance of one-handed control for block 21 is realized when note is taken of the fact that block 21) is at times fastened to a machine frame on casters and needs to be steadied or held with the other hand. Another instance of the advantage of one-handed control arises when block 20 is on the end of a cable of wires and needs to be elevated to an assembly position by one hand while the other hand is grasping the pistol grip 38 and operating the latch.

A more detailed explanation of how pin 23 is fastened to block 20 is possible with reference to FIGURE 2. There itis noted that the large block opening 44 (similar to opening 24 in block 21) is arranged with a pair of bosses 45 extending inwardly from the walls of the block opening. In certain instances (when blocks 20 and 21 are the same) these bosses 45 can be similar or complemental to the other bosses 27, i.e., be present in all four corners of openings 24 and 44 or only in two opposite corners. Extending through bosses 45 are screws 46 threaded in a plate 47 thus secured to the back of block 20. Pin or stud 23 is seen to be a form of post, formed with a wide shoulder or screw ring 48 and a threaded end 4%. A nut 50 is threaded on end 49 and draws the adjustable pin ring 48 flat against the inside of plate 47 so that the pin 23 extends as a stiff but adjustable extension of block 20. Adjustment of pin 23 is advisable for the reason of placement of the pin end so that cam 41 may be most effectively used to eject block 20 (FIG- URE 4) just as soon as spring 30 releases pin 23.

FIGURES and 6 represent an alternative form of latch construction wherein the main differences reside in the use of a coil spring 65 and a canting washer or ring 62 instead of the leaf spring 30 of FIGURE 1 with its more elemental form of canting ring in the form of the inside walls ofhole 31-; In FIGURE 5 the blocks 20, 21 are shown separated but in the process of being connected by a latching mechanism 61. Upper block 21 has attached thereto a frame 55 with a pistol grip extension 58 upon which is pivoted at 57 a trigger lever 66 formed with a U shaped spring compression shoulder 70 and an ejection lug or tab 71. Extending upward through the block 21, frame 55 and shoulder 7th is a pin or stud 63 adjustably fastened to a plate 67 on block 20 by a nut 60 threaded on the pin end 59. Encircling pin 63 and resting on frame 55 is the coil spring 65, the upper end of which presses against the angular underside of the canting ring 62 which has an upper embossed ring 52 to confine it within U shoulder 70.

As shown in FIGURE 5, the trigger lever 56 is compressed on the pistol handle 58 so that pressure is exerted between shoulder 70 and frame 55 to compress the spring 65 and also straighten or make horizontal the upper face of ring 62. In so positioning ring 62 it is brought to an uncanted position, i.e., the hole in ring 62 is made truly concentric with, and loose on, stud 63. This permits the assembly of block 21 and its latching rncehanism openings over the pin 63 and poised near block 20 as shown in FIGURE 5 with the contacts of both blocks short of being forced into wiping contact.

Latching assembly of the two blocks 20, 21 is caused by releasing the trigger lever 56 and allowing the coil spring 65 to exert its pent up force by lengthening. In so doing, the spring 65 first tilts the angular canting ring 62 to the left as shown in FIGURE 6, so that the ring hole edge engages or bites into a pin groove 64 and then the ring 62 acts as a fixed upper stop for the upper end of coil spring 65. Further release of trigger lever 56 allows spring 65 to extend its lower end and, in so doing, it forces block 21 into mating contact with block 20 by pushing block 21 downward relative to pin 63. A guiding ring 66 on frame keeps the lower end of coil spring truly concentric with pin 63 to exert the maximum direct force.

In order to release the latching mechanism 61 and separate the blocks 26, 21, FIGURE 6, the trigger lever 56 is again compressed counterclockwise into the pistol grip 56, whereupon U shoulder 70 straightens the canting ring 62 and takes it out of the groove 64 and lowers it on pin 63 as the spring 65 is compressed. Further release operation of trigger lever 56 causes its ejection lug 71 to strike the upper end of pin 63 and force pin 63 downward relative to frame 55 and block 21 so that the blocks 20, 21 are again separated as shown in FIGURE 5.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A connector comprising:

a first member with an extending stud;

a second member carrying a pistol grip handle;

said handle having a trigger lever pivoted thereon;

and a leaf spring with one end encircling said stud to be freed therefrom by pressure of said lever on said spring end;

whereby release of said spring by said lever causes said encircling end to be canted against said stud to lift it and connect said members.

2. An electrical contact connector comprising:

a pair of insulation connector blocks each containing a plurality of contacts for forceful wiping assembly contact when the blocks are forced together;

a stud extending centrally from a first of said blocks and secured thereto;

a second of said block formed with a central opening through which the free end of said stud extends;

a pistol grip handle frame secured onto said second block and formed with a frame opening through which said stud extends;

said frame being formed with confining extensions adjacent said frame opening, a pivot, and a pair of grip handles;

a leaf spring in the form of an inverted U with its upper curved portion and one end confined in said frame extensions and with the other lower flexible end free but formed with a hole situated to align with said central block opening and said frame opening to fit over said stud when said flexible spring end is flexed;

a trigger lever pivoted on said pivot between said grip handles and having a cam formation for engaging said flexible spring end to flex it into and out of engagement with said stud when operated in said handle frame;

whereby said leaf spring when released has the hole walls therein canted into biting contact with said stud to lift said stud and block and force the connector blocks together.

3. A connector of the kind set forth in claim 2 wherein said trigger lever has a second cam formation thereon to engage the outer end of said stud to eject it and said first block when said lever is compressed into said pistol grip frame.

4. A connector of the kind set forth in claim 2 wherein said pistol grip frame is a single piece sheet metal part with a pistol grip handle formed from a pair of parallel bent offset L shaped extensions and said confining extensions formed as offset ears.

5. A connector of the kind set forth in claim 4 wherein said confining extensions have a crossbar laid thereon to act as a fulcrum for the upper end of said leaf spring which is loosely assembled but confined between said pistol frame extensions and said cam formation on said trigger lever.

6. A device for connecting contact blocks comprising:

a shouldered post extending from one block;

a recess structure in the other block encircling said post;

a compression spring in said recess and around said post;

a tapered canting ring on said spring and around the top of said post, said ring having an inclined surface engaged by said spring to tip the ring and effect a canting action of the ring against said post;

and a lever for compressing said spring through said ring;

whereby release of said lever causes said ring to catch on the shoulder of the post and transmit the spring pressure to close the block halves.

7. An electrical contact connector comprising:

a pair of insulation connector blocks each containing a plurality of contacts for wiping assembly contact when the blocks are forced together;

a stud secured to the first of said blocks and extending centrally therefrom;

a second of said block formed with a central opening through which the free end of said stud extends;

a pistol grip handle frame secured to said second block and formed with a frame opening through which said stud extends;

said frame being formed with a pivot and a grip handle;

a trigger lever pivoted on said pivot of the handle frame and formed with a U shaped shoulder spanning the end of said stud wherein a groove is formed;

a canting ring formed with an angular lower face and an upper face contacting the U shoulder of said lever;

a coil spring concentrically arranged on said stud between the pistol grip frame and the angular lower face of said canting ring,

whereby compression of said trigger lever forces said ring into a released position around said stud but compresses said spring, release of which by said lever causes said ring to be canted into said stud groove to fix the upper end of said spring which expands further downward to force the second block against the first block.

8. A connector of'the kind set forth in claim 7 with said trigger lever being formed with an extending ejection lug to cooperate with the tip end of said stud when said lever is fully compressed to push against said stud and eject the first block away from the second block.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,152,892 9/15 Henry. 1,552,244 9/25 Thomas. 1,683,370 9/28 Pacent 339--110 X 2,647,244 7/53 Dewey et a1. 339 2,865,012 12/58 Black 339-277 X 2,964,724 12/60 Fox 339-49 X 2,974,931 3/61 Reel et a1. 24243 3,034,089 5/62 Curtis 33949 3,052,863 9/62 Uberbacher et a1 33991 X 3,101,230 8/63 Bausch et a1 339-- X FOREIGN PATENTS 612,936 11/48 Great Britain.

JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A CONNECTOR COMPRISING: A FIRST MEMBER WITH AN EXTENDING STUD; A SECOND MEMBER CARRYING A PISTO GRIP HANDLE; SAID HANDLE HAVING A TRIGGER LEVER PIVOTED THEREON; AND A LEAF SPRING WITH ONE END ENCIRCLING SAID STUD TO BE FREED THEREFROM BY PRESSURE OF SAID LEVERL ON SAID SPRING END; WHEREBY RELEASE OF SAID SPRING BY SAIDLEVER CAUSES SAID ENCIRCLING END TO BE CANTED AGAINST SAID STUD TO LIFT IT AND CONNECT SAID MEMBERS.

Images