US1631575A - Electrical connection - Google Patents

Description

I 4'members,'1 and 2 Patented June 7, 1927.

UNITED-v STAT -f CLRENCE C. BERRY, OF VALLEY PARK, MISSOURI.

IELECTRCA'L coNNncrIoN.

\4 'Application aleaseptember 29,1923. serial No. 665,585. 7" t u My invention relates to electrical appay ratus and consists 1n an improved swivelmg connectlon for electric wiring. As is well known, cord connections between. relatively movable pieces of electrical apparatus is liketo become twisted with repeated handlings resulting in kinking or doubling of thel cord, shortening its effective length, and, 1f carried to extremes, injuring the insulation and evensevering the wires. i'

The object of my invention is to elimilnate excess twisting ofthe cordby'means of a comparatively slmple economical swivel# ing connection. The device is especially adapted for the cords connecting the receiver of a telephone with the base of a transmitter or other outlet and for use in connection with electric irons, cleaners, and other household electric equipment, although it will be understood that it is not limited to such applications.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating a selected embodiment of my invention,

Figure l is a vertical section through my connection.

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the top member of the connection.

Figure 3 is a top view of the bottom member of the connection. l

Figure 4 is a side elevation of two members separated from each other but adapted to be assembled and form a swiveling connection, one member of, which may be screwed into an ordinary electric socket.

It will be understood that the drawings ,are on an( enlarged' s/cale to more clearly ill lustrate the construj/tion.

The body of the /connection comprises two any insulating material. Both are cylind cal in general shape and member 1 is pr vided'with an outer periph- `eral flange 3* ith an inner peripheral recess 41 near its i/pper end adapted to rotatably receive flange 3 on member 1. y l

I nv order/ to" assemble members 1 and 2, the latter is at 5j and e two halves of the member' are held toget 'er by screwsy 6. 4This 'construction enables the two members to be freely rotated about their axes independentlyy of each other. Each member is provided with longitudinal wire receiving y"passages parallel to the 'axis of the member and preferably spaced apart and from' the center ofy the member, although this/spacing is not essenits lower end while membery split longitudinally, as indicated y f y. y

. tial. y,Wires 7. may enter leachrmember through a. single central or 'otherwise lo- 'catedpassage ,y The opposing `faces of. members 1 and 2 are slightly spaced from eachother 'and each 1s provided with af'plurality oirecesses 8 into each of which the end of one of the wires 7 projects and is vsecured'by av'screw19. Y One 'w1re7 in `each member ljand 2 is' provided withfar Z-shaped 'terminal' 10, here shown as havingaround portion 10"* lying 'in a plane parallel with the inner face of the'member and' just beyond the latter.' These round portions are centered on the axis of the connection and obviously if the two members are rotated on each other these portions of the terminals will remain incontact with each other.

The upper member 1 is provided with a similar Z-shaped terminal 11 spaced from the center of the member and having its projecting portion 1la located near the periph ery of flange 3. This terminal is connected to the other wire 7 entering member 1. Member 2 mounts an annular terminal 12 having a depressed lip 12L extending into a corresponding depression 8 in the body of the member. This lip is connected to the other wire 7 of-member 2. If the two members are rotated upon each other, terminal 11 on member 1 travels around the annular sury facev of terminal 12 and is always in contact 'therewith 'By means of this construction a bi-polar line is provided with al swivelng connection and plugs or oth r apparatus on the opposite ends of the wires ilhllstrated p may be rotated relative to each ot er -without necessarily twisting the conn'ectin Wires.

Obviously the invention is no limited? to the form illustrated. Where I show ,the terminal 12 in the form of a complete `ring and terminal 11 of restricted area, it v-obvious that the one could be deer/cased in extent .an l j the o er increased wit out eliminating/tl e constant contact feature la'vhich makes the device operative. f

While I show one pair of terminals lolated on the axis of the device,\it i clear that they could also comprise annul r members surrounding a central oint if t ere was any vadvantage of kee ing t iscent al point clear of terminals. f course, 'e number of wires entering/ the device could be increased and la three orffour line connection could beprovfided by increasing the annular rings,

:is/necessary. .f

'Other modifications in the details of my device may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an electrical connection, a cylindrical member having an external peripheral fiange, a cylindrical member axial y aligned with said first-mentioned member and having an internal peripheral recess adapted to rotatably receive said flange, said latter-mentioned member' being divided longitudinally to permit assembly with and disassembly from said first-mentioned member, each of said members having longitudinal passage- Ways for Wires therethrough, the passagev Ways in said -divided member being spacedl from the dividing surface, and individual terminal elements for said passageways providing cooperating contact surfaces on the opposing faces of said members.

2. In an electrical connection, a cylindrical member having an external peripheral flange, a cylindrical member axially aligned with said first-mentioned member and having an internal peripheral recess adapted to rotatably receive said flange, said lattermentioned member being diyided longitudinally along its axis to permit assembly with and disassembly from said first-mentioned member, each of said members having longitu'dinal passageways for Wires therethrough, the passageways in said .divided member being spaced from its axis, and individual terminal elements for said passageways providing cooperating contact surfaces on the opposing faces of said members, one of which surfaces of the element on vthe divided member is located on the axis of the member and is offset to be connected with the Wire in its `Arespective passageway.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 22nd day of September, 1923.

CLARENCE C. BERRY.

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