Twist-lock electrical connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10027059-B2
Application number	US-201715581304-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2017
Priority date	May 2, 2016
Publication date	Jul 17, 2018
Grant date	Jul 17, 2018

Abstract

A twist-lock electrical connector includes first and second connector portions each having a respective interface end portion and longitudinal axes. The first connector has a projection and the second connector has a corresponding bore along the connectors' respective longitudinal axes. Two electrical contacts are located at opposite sides of the projection at the first interface end portion, and two other electrical contacts are located at opposite sides of the bore at the second interface end portion. The interface end portions are configured to engage one another at a first rotational orientation in which the bore receives the projection when the first and second longitudinal axes are made substantially coaxial and the connector portions are brought together along their axes. The interface end portions further engage one another at a second rotational orientation in which the first pair of electrical contacts electrically engage the second pair of electrical contacts.

First claim

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A twist-lock electrical connector comprising:
a first connector portion having a first interface end portion, a first longitudinal axis, and a projection at said first interface end portion along said first longitudinal axis;
a second connector portion having a second interface end portion, a second longitudinal axis, and a bore formed at said second interface end portion along said second longitudinal axis;
a pair of first electrical contacts at said first interface end portion and located at opposite sides of said projection;
a pair of second electrical contacts at said second interface end portion and located at opposite sides of said bore;
wherein said first and second interface end portions are configured to axially engage one another at a first rotational orientation in which said bore receives said projection when said first and second longitudinal axes are substantially coaxial; and
wherein said first and second interface end portions are configured to rotatably engage one another at a second rotational orientation in which said first pair of electrical contacts electrically engage said second pair of electrical contacts.

2. The twist-lock electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein said first and second interface end portions comprise respective first and second latching elements configured to engage one another in said second rotational orientation to thereby prevent separation of said first and second connector portions.

3. The twist-lock electrical connector of claim 2 , wherein said first latching element comprises a latch arm extending radially outwardly from said projection, and said second latching element comprises a ledge formed along one side of said bore and configured to receive said latch arm in said second rotational orientation.

4. The twist-lock electrical connector of claim 2 , wherein said first latching element comprises respective distal end portions of said first pair of electrical contacts, wherein said distal end portions are substantially perpendicular to said first longitudinal axis, and said second latching element comprises said second pair of electrical contacts.

5. The twist-lock electrical connector of claim 4 , wherein said first latching elements are generally L-shaped having a free end comprising a base leg and said second latching elements are generally U-shaped at respective free ends thereof, and wherein said base legs of said first latching elements are received in said U-shaped free ends of said second latching elements.

6. The twist-lock electrical connector of claim 5 , further comprising a pair of electrically insulating extension walls extending distally adjacent each of said first latching elements, and a pair of electrically insulating extension housings extending distally around each of said second latching elements, wherein said extension housings each define a respective opening through which respective ones of said U-shaped free ends of said second latching elements are engaged by respective ones of said base legs of said L-shaped first latching elements.

7. The twist-lock electrical connector of claim 2 , wherein a first of said latching elements comprises at least one outboard projection at said first interface end portion and spaced radially outwardly from said first longitudinal axis, and wherein a second of said latching elements comprises a recess formed in said second interface end portion and spaced radially outwardly from said second longitudinal axis.

8. The twist-lock electrical connector of claim 7 , wherein said first latching element is generally L-shaped and said second latching element comprises a generally L-shaped recess formed in an outer surface of said second interface end portion.

9. The twist-lock electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second pairs of electrical contacts comprises permanent magnets or magnetically permeable material, wherein said first pair of electrical contacts is magnetically attracted to said second pair of electrical contacts in said second rotational orientation.

10. The twist-lock electrical connector of claim 9 , wherein said first and second pairs of electrical contacts are movable within respective contact bores formed in said first and second interface end portions to facilitate establishing electrical engagement of said first pair of electrical contacts with said second pair of electrical contacts.

11. A twist-lock electrical connector comprising:
a first connector portion having a first longitudinal axis, a first interface end portion including a first generally planar engagement surface, and a pair of extension walls extending forwardly from said first engagement surface and located on opposite sides of said first longitudinal axis;
a pair of first electrical contacts at said first interface end portion, said first electrical contacts extending forwardly of said first engagement surface and located adjacent respective ones of said extension walls;
a second connector portion having a second longitudinal axis, a second interface end portion including a second generally planar engagement surface, and a pair of contact openings positioned rearwardly of said second engagement surface and on opposite sides of said second longitudinal axis;
a pair of second electrical contacts positioned in said second interface end portion and accessible via respective ones of said contact openings;
wherein said first and second interface end portions are configured to initially engage one another at a first orientation in which said first and second longitudinal axes are substantially coaxial and said first electrical contacts are not contacting said second electrical contacts; and
wherein said first and second interface end portions are configured to further engage one another at a second orientation in which said first electrical contacts engage respective ones of said second electrical contacts and said contact openings are covered by said extension walls.

12. The twist-lock electrical connector of claim 11 , wherein said first engagement surface is substantially perpendicular to said first longitudinal axis and said second generally planar engagement surface is substantially perpendicular to said second longitudinal axis.

13. The twist-lock electrical connector of claim 11 , wherein respective outer surfaces of said first and second connector portions cooperate to form a substantially constant-section shape along said first and second interface end portions when in said second orientation.

14. The twist-lock electrical connector of claim 11 , wherein said first or second connector portion comprises a projection extending along said first or second longitudinal axis, and the other of said first or second connector portion comprises a bore extending along said second longitudinal axis, wherein said bore is configured to receive said projection in both of said first and second orientations.

15. The twist-lock electrical connector of claim 14 , wherein said projection comprises a radially outwardly extending latch arm formed along one side thereof, and said bore comprises a ledge formed along one side thereof, wherein said latch arm is configured to engage said ledge in said second orientation to thereby prevent separation of said first and second connector portions.

16. The twist-lock electrical connector of claim 11 , wherein said first electrical contacts are generally L-shaped with free ends comprising base legs extending away from respective ones of said extension walls, a

Assignees

• Byrne Norman R
• Mitchell Marc A
• Knapp Robert L
• Morrow Nickolas J

Inventors

• Byrne Norman R
• Mitchell Marc A
• Knapp Robert L
• Morrow Nickolas J

Classifications

• H01R24/005

  requiring successive relative motions to complete the coupling, e.g. bayonet type · CPC title

• H01R13/625

  Casing or ring with bayonet engagement · CPC title

• H01R11/30 Primary

  End pieces held in contact by a magnet · CPC title

• H01R13/04

  Pins or blades for co-operation with sockets · CPC title

• H01R13/6273 Primary

  comprising two latching arms · CPC title