US3887260A

US3887260A - Multiple coupling connector for electrical connection between flexible ribbon-like conductors and circular cross-section cables

Info

Publication number: US3887260A
Application number: US351955A
Authority: US
Inventors: Guiseppe Codrino
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-06-16
Filing date: 1973-04-17
Publication date: 1975-06-03
Anticipated expiration: 1992-06-03
Also published as: AR198314A1; FR2189896A1; DE2320802A1; GB1414845A; IT960692B; ES190639U; ES190639Y

Abstract

Multiple coupling connector for electrical connection between flexible ribbon-like conductors and circular section cables, comprising two box design bodies embedding into each other one of which is connected to the ribbon-like conductor and the circular other one to the cross-section cable.

Description

United States Patent Codrino June 3, 1975 [54] MULTIPLE COUPLING CONNECTOR FOR 2,198,504 4/1940 P001 339/191 S X ELECTRICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN 2,894,097 7/1959 Bassin 3339/176 P 3,202,955 8/1965 McKee 39/65 X FLEXIBLE RIBBON-LIKE CONDUCTORS 3,670,290 6/1973 Angele et al 339/75 MP AND CIRCULAR CROSS-SECTION CABLES Guiseppe Codrino, Via Stazione, Quattordio, Italy Filed: Apr. 17, 1973 Appl. No.: 351,955

Inventor:

Foreign Application Priority Data June 16, 1972 Italy 25787/72 KKK WZII/I/I III/II FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 23,275 l/l93l Netherlands 339/191 S Primary Examiner-Roy D. Frazier Assistant ExaminerTerrell P. Lewis Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael S. Striker 5 7 ABSTRACT Multiple coupling connector for electrical connection between flexible ribbon-like conductors and circular section cables, comprising two box design bodies embedding into each other one of which is connected to the ribbon-like conductor and the circular other one to the cross-section cable.

13 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure MULTIPLE COUPLING CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN FLEXIBLE RIBBON-LIKE CONDUCTORS AND CIRCULAR CROSS-SECTION CABLES This invention relates to a multiple coupling connec tor for electrical connection between flexible ribbonlike conductors and traditional-type circular crosssection cables.

Also the manufacturing method of such multiple coupling connector is an integral part of this invention.

As is well known, flexible ribbon-like conductors are made at present, particularly adapted for building electrical circuits on continuously smooth surfaces.

Obviously, however, in such circuits there may be required the presence of generators and/or equipment using current, provided with terminals, consisting of circular cross-section cables of wire or braid.

In view of the structure of the flexible ribbon-like conductors whose cross-section is generally in form of a thin band or ribbon of plastic material, the connec tion between such types of conductors and cables requires the utilization of specially designed connectors.

The multiple coupling connector of this invention accomplishes in a practical and stable manner said connection, permitting the direct contact of a ribbon-like conductor with the blades of a socket, connected in turn to the terminal of a circular cross-section cable.

More accurately, the connector according to the present invention is comprised of a first box-shaped element, provided with a projection, wherein there is formed essentially cylindrical transverse passages.

Inside said passages there are accommodated telescopic-type devices, consisting, preferably, of two hollow cylindrical members, each of which may slide in opposite direction along a cylindrical guide due to the action of a pair of pressure springs.

lnto the recess defined by the walls of the first boxshaped element and the projection is inserted the walls of a second box-shaped element.

The latter is shaped so as to insure an easy anchoring of the blades of the sockets, applied to the circular cross-section cables.

Said blades come in contact with the two hollow cylindrical members, which press against the blades themselves urged by inner springs acting on such cylindrical members.

These and further characteristic features of a func' tional and constructional nature of the multiple coupling connector according to the present invention could be better understood from the following detailed description with the aid of the single FIGURE of the accompanying drawing, showing in a schematic form the cross-section of said multiple coupling connector.

Referring now particularly to the numeric symbols in said FIGURE, the multiple coupling connector according to this invention is made up ofa first box-shaped element 1, provided with side walls 2, showing the upper edge having a dovetail configuration.

The median portion of said first box-shaped element 1 consists of projection 6, showing approximately the configuration of a parallelepiped, in which there are transversely formed cylindrical passages 7. Within said passages 7 there are placed telescopictype devices, consisting of two cylindrical capsules 9 and 9', showing a

head

10 and 10, being suitably curved and turned towards the walls, and having a section adapted to accommodate to the open ends of the passages 7. Said passages show further an edge 8, serving as stop means, preventing the capsules from slipping off. The aforesaid two capsules 9 and 9' are provided with an edge 11 and 11', being partially curved, and may slide over a hollow cylindrical guide 12, provided in proximity of its terminal with stop recesses 13 and 13'. Said hollow cylindrical guide 12 is further comprised of a median partition wall 14 and serves as a housing to receive two pressure springs 15 and 15', which by resting on the partition wall 14 press onto the heads 10 and 10' of the capsules.

The said two capsules 9 and 9' are made, of course, from insulating material, as for example, plastic mate rial.

On one end of the projection 6 at each cylindrical passage 7 there are formed the slots 16, through which the end portion of a ribbon-like conductor 17 may be inserted.

Said conductor may be fastened on the upper portion to said projection 6 by means of a small rivet 18 or screw.

Into the recess defined by the side walls 2 of the first box-shaped element 1 and the projection member 6 are inserted the end portion 19 of the side walls 20 of a second box-shaped element 21.

Said walls 20 shows an edge shaped to accommodate the dovetail-shaped edge of the corresponding walls of the first box-shaped element 1. The aforementioned second box-shaped element 21 is provided with upper openings 22, in which there are disposed the sockets 23, adapted to fit to the terminal of the circular crosssection cables 24. Said sockets 23 end with a metal blade 25, inserting itself into the slot 26, formed in the second box-shaped element 21 and placing itself between the end portion 19 of the wall 20 and the portion 27 having been deprived of the insulating layer of the ribbon-like conductor 17.

The contact between the blade 25 and the conductor 27 is insured by the pressure exerted by the head 10 of the capsule 9 urged by the two springs 15 and 15'.

The blade 25 is further provided with a flexible tongue 28, which, after the insertion of the blade through the slot 26, springs inwardly, into said recess anchoring the respective socket 23 to the second boxshaped element 21.

From the foregoing specification and from perusal of the single FIGURE on the accompanying drawing one may easily see the functional character and the practical application of the multiple coupling connector for electrical connection between the flexible ribbon-like conductors and traditional-type circular cross-section cables according to the present invention.

Obviously, said multiple coupling connector and its related manufacturing and functional method have been previously described and represented by way of non-limiting example in order to demonstrate the prac tical embodiment and general features of the present invention,

It is, of course, understood that the instant multiple coupling connector may undergo several changes and modifications as to shape, dimension and construction upon its practical embodiment, without departing from the very spirit of this invention.

lt is, therefore, understood that any such changes and modifications shall be deemed as appertaining to the protection and scope of this patent application.

What we claim is:

1. An apparatus for the multiple electrical connection of ribbon-like conductors with circular crosssection cables, comprising a first element formed with an elongated recess bounded by an inner peripheral wall surface and having an open end and a longitudinally spaced closed end; a second element formed with an elongated projection receivable with clearance in said recess through said open end thereof. and with a transverse wall portion which overlies said open end when said projection is received in said recess, said projection having an outer peripheral surface; a pair of transversely spaced first apertures formed in said first element at said closed end and communicating with said recess; a pair of transversely spaced second apertures formed in said second element at said transverse wall and communicating with said recess so that ribbon-like conductors may be inserted through said second apertures to overlie said inner wall surface at trans versely spaced locations; a pair of socket elements each formed with a first longitudinal portion having an end shaped to receive a circular cross-section cable and an other end, a second longitudinal portion having a conductive surface and extending from said other end of said first longitudinal portion into said recess, and a third longitudinal portion intermediate said first and second longitudinal portions and engageable with said first element so as to secure said socket element when said socket element is received in one of said first apertures with said second portion overlying said outer peripheral wall surface and being juxtaposed with one of said ribbon-like conductors; and biasing means in said projection and operative to deflect said ribbon-like conductors outwardly away from said outer wall surface and into conductive contact with said respectively juxtaposed second longitudinal portions of said socket elements.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said projection is formed with an open-ended transverse passage; and wherein said biasing means comprise a first sliding member, a second sliding member, and a guide member received in said transverse passage, said guide member guiding said first and second sliding members, and a biasing element urging said first and second sliding members apart in direction outwardly of said passage.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said first and second sliding members are hollow; and wherein said biasing element is comprised of a spring.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said biasing means further comprise abutment means which present movement of said first and second sliding members outwardly of said transverse passage beyond a predetermined distance when said projection of said second element is removed from said recess.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said abutment means further comprise sliding means which allow movement of said first sliding member and said second sliding member on said guide member, respectively.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said projection is formed with an open-ended transverse passage; and wherein said biasing means comprise a pair of telescoped-together members received in said transverse passage, and a biasing element urging said telescoped-together members apart in axial direction of said passage.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said telescoped-together members are hollow; and wherein said biasing element is comprised of a spring.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said biasing means further comprise abutment means which prevent movement of said telescoped-together members outwardly of said transverse passage beyond a predetermined distance when said projection of said second element is removed from said recess.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, and further comprising fasteners which fasten said ribbon-like conductors to said second element.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said fasteners are screws.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said fasteners are rivets.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said third longitudinal portion further comprises a flexible section which engages said closed end of said first element so as to secure said socket element when said socket element is received in said recess.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, and further comprising cooperating locking portions on said first and second elements for preventing undesired movement of said second element out of said recess.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the multiple electrical connection of ribbon-like conductors with circular cross-section cables, comprising a first element formed with an elongated recess bounded by an inner peripheral wall surface and having an open end and a longitudinally spaced closed end; a second element formed with an elongated projection receivable with clearance in said recess through said open end thereof, and with a transverse wall porTion which overlies said open end when said projection is received in said recess, said projection having an outer peripheral surface; a pair of transversely spaced first apertures formed in said first element at said closed end and communicating with said recess; a pair of transversely spaced second apertures formed in said second element at said transverse wall and communicating with said recess so that ribbon-like conductors may be inserted through said second apertures to overlie said inner wall surface at transversely spaced locations; a pair of socket elements each formed with a first longitudinal portion having an end shaped to receive a circular cross-section cable and an other end, a second longitudinal portion having a conductive surface and extending from said other end of said first longitudinal portion into said recess, and a third longitudinal portion intermediate said first and second longitudinal portions and engageable with said first element so as to secure said socket element when said socket element is received in one of said first apertures with said second portion overlying said outer peripheral wall surface and being juxtaposed with one of said ribbon-like conductors; and biasing means in said projection and operative to deflect said ribbon-like conductors outwardly away from said outer wall surface and into conductive contact with said respectively juxtaposed second longitudinal portions of said socket elements.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said fasteners are screws.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said fasteners are rivets.