Electrical device

Oct. 20, 1936.

C. H. GUNTHORP

2,057,718

ELECTRICAL· DEVICE

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Patented Oct. 20, 193S

2,057,718

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,057,718

ELECTRECAL DEYEOE

Cecil H. Gunthorp, Des Plaines, 311., assignor to Economy Fuse and Manufacturing Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New York

Application May 23, 1932, Serial No. 612,930 (CL 173—363) ing depending legs which are suitably spaced apart and which may be angularly disposed in relation one to the other, or in parallel relation, and having means for engagement with the body of material forming the electrical device or the 5 like, the disposition of these leg portions being such as to provide a-firm and relatively stable connection for the terminal member to the body of material.

Still another object within the purview of the ¹⁰present invention is to provide a terminal member for electrical devices or the like, in which the depending leg thereof is formed with a free end portion which is adapted, when the leg is inserted within a suitable recess or opening of the ¹⁵body of material, to act as a spring or wedge member adapted to hold the leg in its association with the body of material.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a terminal member of novel con- 20 struction in which this free end portion of the leg or legs is provided with a laterally extending part formed with a knife-like edge, this laterally extending part being adapted to dig into the material for anchoring the terminal member and to 25 suitably position the same in relation to the body of material. '

Other objects, features, capabilities and advantages are comprehended by the invention, as will later appear and as are inherently possessed 30 thereby.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in cross section of an electrical device made in accordance with the present Invention; 35

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of a terminal member made in accordance with the disclosure in Figure 1 of the drawing;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the member shown in Figure 2 of the drawing; 40

Figure 4 is a view in end elevation of the terminal member shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing;

Figure 5 is a view In perspective of another terminal member made in accordance with the 45 present invention;

Figures 6 and 7 are views in elevation of another terminal member made in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the terminal ⁵⁰member shown in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawing;

Figure 9 is a view in elevation of still another terminal member made in accordance with the present invention; ⁵⁵

Claims.

The present invention relates to electrical devices or attachments, and more in particular to attachment plug caps.

Among the objects of the present invention is S tp provide an attachment plug employing relatively few parts, which will permit of easy assembly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide novel means for attaching a terminal 10 member to a body of material forming the body ’ of a finished electrical device or attachment.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide novel means for attaching the terminal members of an attachment plug cap to the IS body thereof, whereby the terminal members are securely held in their proper associated relation therewith, as well as being in substantially parallel relation.

The present invention comprehends the idea of gg forming a terminal member with suitable means for securing the same to a body of material, as for example, a body of material forming an attachment plug cap, such means being solely associated with the terminal member, whereby this gg terminal member may be secured to the body of material after the same has been formed and fabricated.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a terminal member for electrical SO devices or the like, having suitable means for attaching the. same to a body of material, such means including a leg. of spring-like construction adapted to have engaging relation with the body of material for rigidly and securely connecting , gg the terminal member thereto.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a terminal member of novel construction for electrical. devices and the like, which includes a leg portion having a surface 40 adapted to engage with the body of material, suitable means being provided for moving this surface into its engaging relation with the body _: of material for holding the terminal member in its proper associated relation.therewith.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a terminal member of novel con. struction for electrical devices and the like, which is formed with a leg portion provided with a roughened surface having a plurality of pro50 tuberances' and in which suitable means is provided for forcing .these protuberances into the body of material for securing the terminal member thereto.

The present invention also comprehends the idea of providing a novel terminal member hav2,067,718

Figure 10 is a top plan view of the terminal member shown in Figure.9 of the drawing;

Figures 11 to 15 inclusive are views in perspective of still further terminal members made 5 in accordance with the present disclosure;

Figure 16 is a plan view of an attachment plug cap made in accordance with the present invention and incorporating terminal members shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawing; and 10 , Figure 17 is a view in elevation of the attachment plug cap shown in Figure 16 of the drawing.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, an electrical device made in accordance with the present invention is disclosed in Figure 1 as com15 prising a base or body of material 2 to which is secured a terminal member 4. As more clearly . shown in Figures 2 to 4 inclusive, this terminal member 4 comprises a base 6 formed with a >' screw-threaded opening 8 which is adapted to 20 receive a wire binding screw, the shank end portion of which is adapted to have movement within the recess or opening 10 provided in the body of material 2. This base 6 is further formed with the arcuately disposed arms 12 and 14 extending . 25 in opposite directions and which terminate in downwardly depending legs 16 and 18, respectively. Each of these legs 16 and 18 is of similar construction and is formed with an upturned lug or free end 20 which has an end portion 22 _v30 laterally disposed in relation to the lug 20 and which is formed with a knife edge 24. The outer faces of these leg portions 16 and 18 are roughened, as disclosed at 26, to form a plurality of protuberances for a purpose to be hereinafter ³⁸ more fully disclosed. In the present embodiment, these leg surfaces are shown as· being of serrated formation, although it is of course understood that the roughening may take other and various forms. In oppositely disposed rela40 tion to the screw-threaded opening 8 and centrally disposed in relation to the leg portions 16 and 18 is an upstanding contact portion or blade 28 which may be formed with a beveled end 30 to assist in guiding and positioning the same.

As clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, the body of material 2 may be formed with a recess 32 which is provided with a shelf or ledge 34, so positioned in relation to the upper surface 36 of the body of material as to form a seat for 50 the base 6- of the terminal member 4, whereby the upper surface of the base 6 is substantially flush with this upper surface 36 when the terminal member 4 is in its proper position. This recess 32 is further formed with cavities or re55 cesses 38 and 40 so positioned in relation to the cavity 32 as to receive the depending leg portions 16 and 18 when the terminal member is Inserted in position. From the disclosure shown in Figure 1, it wil^be quite apparent that upon 60 inserting the leg portions 16 and 18 into the cavities or recesses 38 and 40, respectively, the free end portions 20 of these legs engage with the walls of these cavities to force the roughened surface 26 of these legs into engagement with 65 the body of material 2 to such an extent that the protuberances thereof dig into this body of material to prevent removal of the terminal member. These free end portions 20 of the legs serve in a spring-like capacity to cause intimate 70 relation between the legs and the body of material, and are in turn formed with the laterally disposed portions 22, the knife edge 24 of which also digs into the material forming the cavities, whereby these legs are locked in position in assoW elation with the body of material 2 and for anchoring these terminal members in their proper position.

In accordance with Figures 16 and 17 of the drawing, the body of material 2 discussed in connection with Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, may 5 take the form of the body part of the attachment plug cap 42. In Figures 16 anff 17, the body 42 of the attachment plug cap is formed with the opening 44, on opposite sides of which may be disposed terminal members 4 made in 10 accordance with the disclosure in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, these terminal members 4 being formed with contact portions 28, and the same are so positioned in relation to the body 42 of this attachment plug cap member that these contact '15 portions are in substantially parallel relation. _tThese terminal members 4 are likewise formed with the screw-threaded opening 8 in the base thereof for receiving the wire binding screws 46. The legs 16 and 18 of this embodiment are spaced ²⁰apart a relatively great distance to provide substantial rigidity for the terminal members, and the same are angularly disposed in relation to one another in order to provide against lateral movement of the blade portion 28 thereof. ²⁶

In Figure 5 of the drawing is disclosed another construction for the terminal member of the present disclosure, the same comprising a base 48 formed with a screw-threaded opening 50 for receiving a wire binding screw, laterally project- ³⁰ing arm portions 52 and 54 being provided on this base member which terminate in downwardly depending leg portions 56 and 58, respectively, which are of a construction similar to the leg portions 16 and 18 of the hereinbefore referred ⁸⁸to embodiment. In this terminal member, however, these leg portions 56 and 58 are disposed in spaced and parallel relation instead of being disposed at an angle one to the other. Extending upwardly from the base portion 48 is a contact ⁴⁸portion 60 corresponding to the contact portion 28.

In Figures 6, 7 and 8 of the drawing, is disclosed still another terminal member made in accordance with the present invention, and the ⁴⁸same comprises a base 62 formed with a screwthreaded opening 64, arm portions 66 and 68 being provided integral with the base 62 and extending therefrom in angular relation one to the other. These arm portions 66 and 68 terminate ⁸⁰in downwardly depending legs 70 and 72 corresponding in all essential details to the leg portions hereinbefore described. It will be noted that the contact member 74 of this embodiment, instead of being formed integrally with and being central- ⁸⁸ly disposed in relation to the base 62, extends upwardly from adjacent an end of the arm portion 68 and substantially above the leg portion 72. As in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, these leg portions 78 and 72 depend from 60 the angularly disposed arm portions 66 and 68 and are spaced apart at a relatively great distance, these leg portions being disposed in substantially parallel relation and providing a substantially. rigid connection for the terminal ⁸⁸member.

In Figures 9 and 10 is disclosed a still further alternative construction for the terminal member and the same comprises a base 76 having the arm portions 78 and 80 extending therefrom which ‘° terminate in downwardly depending legs 82 and 84, respectively, of similar construction to the leg portions hereinbefore described. As in the embodiment shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8, the contact portion 86 extends upwardly from the arm ⁷⁸

2,087,718 portion 38 and substantially above the leg por-. tion 84. This alternative construction for a terminal member varies from the construction of the terminal member shown in Figures 6 to 8 &amp; inclusive in that the leg portions 82 and 84, instead of being angularly disposed in relation to one another, are substantially in parallel relation.

In Figure 11 is disclosed a still further con10 structlon for a terminal member, and the same comprises a base 88 formed with a screw-threaded opening 90, this base 88 having arm portions 92 and 94 oppositely disposed in relation thereto and extending in substantially parallel rela15 tion, the same terminating in leg portions 96 and 98 corresponding in essential details to the leg portions above referred to. In this embodiment, the contact portion ISO extends upwardly from the base portion 88 and is in substantially par20 allel relation with the leg portions 9S and 98. As clearly shown in the figures, the leg portions 96 and 98 are in substantially parallel relation with one another and are spaced a substantial distance apart, thereby providing a construction 25 which will result in a substantially rigid attachment for connecting the terminal member to the body of material.

In Figure 12 of the drawing is disclosed another embodiment made In accordance with the 30 present invention, the same corresponding essentially to the construction shown in Figure 11 and comprising a base 102 formed with a screwthreaded opening 104, this base having the arm portions I S3 and 108 integrally connected there35 with and on opposite sides thereof and in substantially parallel relation therewith, these arms S 06 and 108 terminating in downwardly depending leg portions 110 and 112, respectively. In this embodiment, the leg portions HO and 112 40 are formed with the roughened surfaces facing toward the contact member .114 which extends upwardly from the base 102, and in this respect this embodiment varies from the embodiment shown in Figure 11.

In Figure 13 of the drawing is disclosed still another terminal member made in accordance with the present invention, and the same comprises a base 116 formed with a screw-threaded opening 918, this base 116 being formed with 50 diverging arm portions 120 and 922 extending from one side thereof in angular relation, the same terminating in leg portions 124 and 126, respectively, which correspond in all essentials to the leg portions hereinbefore disclosed. In this 55 embodiment, the contact member 128 is formed integral with the arm portion 122 and extends upwardly therefrom.

In Figure 14 of the drawing is disclosed still a further terminal member made in accordance 60 with the present invention and the same comprises a base 138 formed with a screw-threaded opening 132, this base being provided with an upstanding contact portion 133 and having the laterally and oppositely extending arms 134 and 65 136, each of which terminates in a downwardly depending leg 138 which has an upstanding free end 140 integrally connected by a transverse portion 142 to form a lug substantially U-shaped and having the parts thereof in spaced relation. 70 Each of the leg portions 138 is formed with a roughened surface 144 in accordance with the present disclosure, while the upstanding lug 140 thereof is provided with a laterally extending part 146 termifiating in a knife-like edge 148, 75 which serves in the capacity of the knife-like edge 34 of the previously described leg portions.

In Figure 15 of the drawing, still another terminal member made in accordance with the present invention is disclosed as being formed from a piece of metal bent to provide a base portion 150 5' having an upstanding contact portion 152 disposed in substantially normal relation thereto, the base portion 150 being formed with a screwthreaded opening 154. This base 150 terminates at the edge opposite the contact member 152 in io a depending leg portion 156 corresponding to either one of the leg portions shown in Figures 1 to 13 inclusive.

It will be quite apparent from the above disclosure that the terminal members are of such 15. a construction that the same are rigidly and securely held in associated relation to the body of material to which the same are attached. The legs of certain of the embodiments are so disposed in spaced relation as to securely attach 20 these terminal members to the body of material and serve to prevent lateral movement of these ' terminal members in relation to the body of material even though the same may. be subject to severe use. 25

While I have herein described and upon the drawing shown illustrative embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may comprehend other constructions, arrangements of parts, de- 30 tails and features without departing fro'm the spirit of the invention.