Electrical connectors – Coupling part with actuating means urging contact to move... – Contractile receptacle
Patent
1997-10-02
1999-05-18
Stephan, Steven L.
Electrical connectors
Coupling part with actuating means urging contact to move...
Contractile receptacle
439584, H01R17/04
Patent
active
059045876
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an electrical connector with a plug and a socket, whereby the socket has a clamping device for fixing a pin of the plug, the clamping device consisting of a clip and a conical section form-lockingly interconnected by means of a threaded joint and the fixation of the plug pin in the clamping device being constituted by the relative movement of clip and conical section to each other by means of the threaded joint.
A connector of such a character is known from German Utility Model No. 1 738 657. The retention force between plug and socket can be significantly improved by the clamping device. At the same time, plug pins of different sizes can also be held with high axial tensile strength.
A drawback presenting itself is, however, that the plug pin can be contacted when plug and socket are not intermated, or not fully so, and as a result for example an electrostatic charging by the contacting person can lead to an undesired current flow. This is highly detrimental, particularly if and when the lead issuing from the connector belongs to an electromedical device and is conducted, for instance, to a patient's heart. Therefore the electrical connector according to German Utility Model No. 1 738 657 is not suited for such use.
To be sure, it is already also known to provide connectors protected against accidental contact, however, with these the plug is then insufficiently secured against inadvertent withdrawal, which would be especially disadvantageous in case of use on an electomedical device.
In various fields of technology and particularly in medical technology, to which mention was already made, it is often necessary to have leads and particularly electrical connectors which are protected against accidental contact, but are also adequately protected against inadvertent disconnection.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object underlying the invention is therefore to provide an electrical connector of the type set forth at the outset, preserving the advantages of a clamping device in the socket and nevertheless permitting accidental-contact protection of the plug pin, although the plug pin is to be inserted into the clamping device and clip thereof and it is then to be possible to close the latter by the screw movement.
To accomplish this object, the electrical connector mentioned at the outset is characterized in that the plug has a rotatably mounted sleeve which surrounds the plug pin externally and in spaced relationship to it and is of an axial length and internal dimensions adapted to the conical section of the clamping device, whereby in the assembled condition said sleeve is axially movably pushed onto the conical section and at the same time is form-lockingly coupled to the conical section in the direction of rotation.
By virtue of this sleeve, the plug pin is hence shielded at least laterally, thus even if the plug is withdrawn from the socket the pin cannot be inadvertently contacted when taking hold of the plug. Nevertheless, after the plug pin has been inserted into the clip, it is possible to rotate the conical section, although strictly speaking this is prevented by the sleeve. This contradiction is eliminated according to the invention in that the sleeve is rotatable and is directly or indirectly coupled to the conical section in the direction of rotation, so that the sleeve can be rotated for rotating the conical section and for closing the clip. Since, however, the sleeve itself remains axially movable in relation to the conical section, the axial movement relative to the sleeve brought about by rotating the conical section can take place unproblematically. As this is taking place, the plug pin itself retains its inserted position unchanged and, by turning the sleeve rotatable relative thereto, is clamped by the clip. Consequently the sleeve has a dual function by protecting the plug pin against accidental contact and simultaneously, through its rotation, serving to close the clip of the clamping device.
It is particularly suitable if the rotatab
REFERENCES:
patent: 3094365 (1963-06-01), Chamberlain et al.
patent: 3824556 (1974-07-01), Berkovits et al.
patent: 3854789 (1974-12-01), Kaplan
patent: 4156554 (1979-05-01), Aujla
patent: 4952174 (1990-08-01), Sucht et al.
patent: 5188537 (1993-02-01), Itoh et al.
Geistert Wolfgang
Osypka Peter
Stephan Steven L.
Sulzer Osypka GmbH
Zarroli Michael C.
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