Patent Application
20230076116
This disclosure generally relates to devices and systems for connecting power, signal, or other types of cables with an electronic device, such as an amplifier.
An electronic signal amplifier, such as those used for home or vehicle audio systems, generally includes one or more connectors for electrically connecting the amplifier with speakers, signal sources, power or other peripheral devices. The connectors can facilitate connection between bare wires or cables and one or more ports within the amplifier.
According to a first aspect, an amplifier fast connector includes a housing with a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a first opening within the housing. The first opening provides access to a positive terminal. The positive terminal includes a first movable jaw member, first fixed jaw member, and a first wire-receiving space between the first movable jaw member and the first fixed jaw member. The first movable jaw member is biased away from the first fixed jaw member by a first elastic member. A second opening within the housing provides access to a negative terminal. The negative terminal includes a second movable jaw member. A second fixed jaw member. and a second wire-receiving space between the second movable jaw member and the second fixed jaw member. The second movable jaw member is biased away from the second fixed jaw member by a second elastic member. The second portion includes a positive contact conductively coupled with the positive terminal, and a negative contact conductively coupled with the negative terminal. The positive contact includes an outer cylindrical portion protruding from the housing and coaxially mounted about an inner cylindrical portion of the negative contact. The inner cylindrical portion protrudes from the housing.
A locking sleeve is slideably disposed about the housing and is movable in a first direction relative to the housing from an unlocked position to a locked position. The locking sleeve includes a slide member, a first wedge coupled with the slide member with a first ramp surface aligned with the first movable jaw member in the first direction, and a second wedge coupled with the slide member with a second ramp surface aligned with the second movable jaw member in the first direction. A locking mechanism includes a catch member on the housing and a slot on the locking sleeve. The slot receives the catch member.
In a first configuration, the locking sleeve is in an unlocked position and the first and second movable jaw members are open to each allow a cable end to be received through the respective first and second openings and into the respective first and second wire-receiving spaces. In a second configuration, the locking sleeve is in a locked position with the catch member coupled within the slot. The first wedge engages with the first movable jaw member to close the first wire-receiving space, and the second wedge engages with the second movable jaw member to close the second wire-receiving space such that the cable ends are retained within the respective positive and negative terminals.
According to another aspect, a connector includes a housing with a first portion. The first portion includes a first opening and a second opening within the housing. A positive terminal within the first opening includes first and second paired jaw members with a first wire-receiving space therebetween. A negative terminal within the second opening includes third and fourth paired jaw members with a second wire-receiving space therebetween. A locking sleeve couples with the housing. In a first configuration. the first and second jaw members of the positive terminal are open to receive a first cable end within the first wire-receiving space and the third and fourth jaw members of the negative terminal are open to receive a second cable end within the second wire-receiving space. In a second configuration, the locking sleeve is in a locked position. The locking sleeve engaged with at least one of the first and second jaw members to close the first and second jaw members about the first cable end. The locking sleeve engages with at least one of the third and fourth jaw members to close the third and fourth jaw members about the second cable end such that the first and second cable ends are retained within the respective positive and negative terminals.
According to another aspect, the first jaw member is a movable jaw member. According to another aspect, the second jaw member is a fixed jaw member. According to another aspect, the movable jaw member is pivotable about a first pin. According to another aspect, the movable jaw member is movable about a compliant portion thereof. According to another aspect, the movable jaw member is biased away from the second jaw member in an open configuration. The movable jaw member is coupled with a spring member. According to another aspect, the locking sleeve includes a first wedge and a second wedge. According to another aspect, in the locked position, the first wedge of the locking sleeve is engaged with the movable jaw member to close the first and second jaw members about the first cable end. The second wedge of the locking sleeve is engaged with the at least one of the third and fourth jaw members to close the third and fourth jaw members about the second cable end. According to another aspect, the first and second wedges are independently actuatable. According to another aspect, the first wedge includes a first ramp surface aligned with the movable jaw member in a first direction. The locking sleeve moves from an unlocked position to the locked position in the first direction. In another aspect, the first ramp surface has an angled profile. In another aspect, the first ramp surface has a stepped profile. According to another aspect, the first jaw member and the second jaw member include a plurality of teeth.
In another aspect, a locking mechanism fixes the locking sleeve in the locked position relative to the housing. In another aspect, the locking mechanism includes a projection and an aperture. The aperture receives the projection such that in the second configuration the locking sleeve is in the locked position with the projection coupled within the aperture. According to another aspect, the projection is on the housing and the aperture is on the locking member. According to another aspect, the locking member includes a slide member. The first and second wedges are positioned on the slide member. According to another aspect, the housing includes a second portion. The second portion includes a positive contact conductively coupled with the positive terminal and a negative contact conductively coupled with the negative terminal. According to another aspect, the positive contact includes an outer cylindrical portion protruding from the housing and is coaxially mounted about an inner cylindrical portion of the negative contact. According to another aspect, the first wire-receiving space includes an inner transverse profile. According to another aspect, the inner transverse profile is cylindrical. In another aspect, the inner transverse profile includes one or more transverse teeth extending into the first wire-receiving space. In another aspect, the inner transverse profile includes one or more circumferential teeth extending into the first wire-receiving space. In another aspect, the inner transverse profile is uniform from a front end to a second end of the first wire-receiving space.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be limiting. Other aspects, features, and advantages of the systems, devices, and methods and/or other subject matter described in this application will become apparent in the teachings set forth below. The summary is provided to introduce a selection of some of the concepts of this disclosure. The summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of any subject matter described herein.
Various examples are depicted in the accompanying drawings for illustrative purposes, and should in no way be interpreted as limiting the scope of the examples. Various features of different disclosed examples can be combined to form additional examples, which are part of this disclosure.
The various features and advantages of the systems, devices, and methods of the technology described herein will become more fully apparent from the following description of the examples illustrated in the figures. These examples are intended to illustrate the principles of this disclosure, and this disclosure should not be limited to merely the illustrated examples. The features of the illustrated examples can be modified, combined, removed, and/or substituted as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon consideration of the principles disclosed herein.
Traditional cable connectors used with amplifiers are used to connect two or more cables with a port on the amplifier. Traditional cable connectors also generally include screw terminals for providing a secure connection with the bare ends of power or signal cables. The screw terminals generally include a slot or aperture into which a bare end (e.g., having a portion of the sheath removed) of a cable is received. Each of the receiving slots can include a screw member. Once the bare end of the cable is installed within the slot, the screw member can be tightened against the bare end to secure the cable within the slot. This solution provides a secure connection between the cable and the connector and has been used reliably in the past. However, assembly of this type of screw connection can be time consuming, especially during an installation process (e.g., for a home or vehicle sound system) that requires assembly of multiple connectors. Screw terminal connectors also require the use of a tool, such as a screw driver or Allen wrench. Commonly, the amplifier itself is packaged with such a tool to ensure that the user has the required tool on hand during installation of the amplifier. Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to an improved amplifier connector. The improved amplifier connector can be assembled without the use of tools, which also providing a secure attachment with the cable ends.
The outer housing 120 can include a first end 121 and a second end 122. The first end 121 can include an end wall 123. The end wall 123 can be a planar wall or comprise one or more contours. The second end 122 can include positive and negative terminals in the form of an electrical plug, socket, or jack 130. The jack 130 can be on an opposite side of the housing 120 as the first end 121. The jack 130 can include one or more electrical contacts for forming a conductive connection with an amplifier or other electronic device. The jack 130 can include a coaxial connector with an inner contact 132 and an outer contact 134. The inner contact 132 can be a post coaxially mounted within a cylindrical member of the outer contact 134.
The outer housing 120 can include one or more apertures in an interior portion of the housing 120. The apertures can have include an outer profile having any desirable shape, such as round or rectangular (as illustrated). The one or more apertures can include a first aperture 125 and a second aperture 127. The apertures 125, 127 can be positioned on the end wall 123.
The connector 110 can include a locking member 140. The locking member 140 can be a sleeve disposed about an outer periphery of the housing 120. The sleeve can be fully or partially disposed about the circumference of the housing 120. The locking member 140 can be slidable in relation to the housing 120. As shown in the cross-section of
The housing 120 can include one or more grooves or slots within which a portion of the locking member 140 can be inserted. The grooves or slots can include slot 129. The locking member 140 can be movable along the slot 129. The locking member 140 can be coupled with the housing 120 within the slot 129. The sliding motion can be along a single direction, such as along or parallel with a longitudinal axis of the housing 120.
The locking member 140 can include one or more internal wedges or protrusions. The wedges can be located within the slot 129. The wedges can be trapezoid shaped. The wedges can include a frontward-facing side and an inward facing side. The frontward-facing side can be angled or ramped relative to the direction of travel of the locking member 140 along the slot 129. The inward facing side can be parallel with the direction of travel. The wedges can be movable along with the locking member 140 between the locked and unlocked configurations. The wedges can include a first wedge 142 and a second wedge 144.
The housing 120 can include positive and negative terminals. The housing 120 can include one or more pinching members, trapping members, or jaw members as the positive or negative terminals. The jaw members can be located within the housing 120 and aligned with a respective one of the apertures. A first pair of jaw members 152 can be aligned with the first aperture 125 as a first terminal. A second pair of jaw members 156 can be aligned with the second aperture 127 as a second terminal.
The first pair of jaw members 152 can include a fixed member 153 and a movable member 154. The movable member 154 can be aligned with respect to the fixed member 153 about a wire-receiving space 151. The jaw members 152 can be in the first end 121. The wire-receiving space 151 can be aligned with the first aperture 125.
A cable 112 can include a conductor 112a and an insulator 112b. The wire-receiving space 151 can be sized to receive a bare end 113 of the cable 112. A length and diameter (e.g., height and width) of the wire-receiving space 151 (and the jaw members 152) can be sized to receive the bare end 113 of the cable having a corresponding length (e.g., between 3-10 mm or 7 mm) and diameter (e.g., between 10 and 28 gauge).
The movable jaw member 154 can be movable relative to the fixed jaw member 153. The movable jaw member 154 can be coupled on a pin 154a. The pin 154a can be positioned on an opposite side of the movable jaw member 154 from the aperture 125. The movable jaw member 154 can be biased away from the fixed jaw member 153. The movable jaw member 154 can include an elastic member or spring. The movable jaw member 154 can be biased away from the fixed jaw member in a manner that provides access into the wire-receiving space 151 in the unlocked configuration of the locking member 140.
One or both of the fixed member 153 and the movable member 154 can include one or more grooves or teeth, such as teeth 159. The teeth 159 can extend inwardly towards the wire receiving space 151. The teeth 159 can extend transversely to an insertion direction of the bare cable end 113 through the aperture 125 into the wire-receiving space 151. In the locked configuration, the teeth 159 can engage with the bare cable end to prevent removal of the bare cable end from the wire-receiving space 151. Alternatively, the jaw members 152 include only a single, movable jaw member. In another alternative, both of the jaw members can be movable. The teeth 159 can be dull or sharp with the serrations or other friction-enhancing surfaces for engagement with the cable end 113. In certain implementations the teeth 159 can mesh with teeth on the opposite jaw member. Alternatively the teeth 159 can be aligned with opposing teeth on the opposite jaw member. The teeth 159 can comprise rubber, glass, plastic, metal or other conductive material or insulative material. The teeth 159 can extend into the wire-receiving space 151.
The jaw members 152 can be electrically coupled with the jack 130. One or both of the jaw members 152 can include a conductive material. The conductive material can be a metal (e.g., copper) plate fixed within jaw members 152 and positioned to face the wire-receiving space 151 and contact the bare end. The conductive material can be on the teeth 159 or another portion of the jaw members 152. The conductive material can be connected with an electrical conduit path 126. The electrical conduct path 126 can extend within the interior portion of the housing 120. The electrical conduct path 126 can connect with the jack 130 of the connector 110, such as the inner contact 132.
The second pair of jaw members 156 can include a fixed member 157 and a movable member 158. The movable member 158 can be aligned with respect to the fixed member 157 about a wire-receiving space 155. The jaw members 156 can be in the first end 121. The wire-receiving space 155 can be aligned with the second aperture 127. A second cable 114 can include a conductor 114a and an insulator 114b. The wire-receiving space 155 can be sized to receive a bare end 115 of the cable 114.
The movable jaw member 158 can be movable relative to the fixed jaw member 157. The movable jaw member 158 can be coupled on a pin 158a. The pin 158a can be positioned on an opposite side of the movable jaw member 158 from the aperture 127. The movable jaw member 158 can be biased away from the fixed jaw member 157. The movable jaw member 158 can include an elastic member or spring. The movable jaw member 158 can be biased away from the fixed jaw member in a manner that provides access into the wire-receiving space 151 in the unlocked configuration of the locking member 140. One or both of the fixed member 157 and the movable member 158 can include one or more grooves or teeth, such as teeth 159.
The jaw members 156 can be electrically coupled with the jack 130. One or both of the jaw members 156 can include a conductive material. The conductive material can be connected with an electrical conduit path 128. The electrical conduct path 128 can connect with the jack 130 of the connector 110, such as the outer contact 134.
The wedges of the locking member 140 can be aligned with respective pairs of jaw members. The movable jaw members can extend into the slot 129 in the unlocked configuration. In the locked configuration, the wedges of the locking member 140 can engage with the jaw members to force the movable jaw members towards the fixed jaw members or otherwise to close the wire-receiving spaces about the respective cable ends. In the locked configuration, the movable jaw members can be held in the closed configuration by inward facing sides of the wedges.
The frontward-facing side of the wedge member 142 can include a ramped surface. The ramped surface can engage with the movable jaw member 154 when the locking sleeve is moved in a first direction (from the unlocked configuration towards the locked configuration). The ramp surface of the wedge 142 can engage with an upper surface or corresponding ramp surface of the movable jaw member 154. Continued sliding of the wedge 142 into the locked configuration can securely shut the movable jaw member 154 in relation to the fixed jaw member 153. Similarly, the wedge 144 can shut or actuate the jaw member 158 of the jaw members 156.
Alternatively, the wedges 142, 144 can be independently actuatable between the unlocked and locked configurations. The locking member 140 can include individually movable components or parts on which the wedges are mounted. Accordingly, the wedges can be used to secure and close pairs of locking members independently. This can facilitate a piece-meal assembly of the cables 112, 114 within the connector 110 (e.g., one at time).
Terms of orientation used herein, such as “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “longitudinal,” “lateral,” “inner,” “outer,” and “end,” are used in the context of the illustrated example. However, the present disclosure should not be limited to the illustrated orientation. Indeed, other orientations are possible and are within the scope of this disclosure. Terms relating to circular shapes as used herein, such as diameter or radius, should be understood not to require perfect circular structures, but rather should be applied to any suitable structure with a cross-sectional region that can be measured from side-to-side. Terms relating to shapes generally, such as “circular,” “cylindrical,” “semi-circular,” or “semi-cylindrical” or any related or similar terms, are not required to conform strictly to the mathematical definitions of circles or cylinders or other structures, but can encompass structures that are reasonably close approximations.
Conditional language, such as “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain examples include or do not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more examples.
Conjunctive language, such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be either X, Y, or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain examples require the presence of at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z.
The terms “approximately,” “about,” and “substantially” as used herein represent an amount close to the stated amount that still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result. For example, in some examples, as the context may dictate, the terms “approximately,” “about,” and “substantially,” may refer to an amount that is within less than or equal to 10% of the stated amount. The term “generally” as used herein represents a value, amount, or characteristic that predominantly includes or tends toward a particular value, amount, or characteristic. As an example, in certain examples, as the context may dictate, the term “generally parallel” can refer to something that departs from exactly parallel by less than or equal to 20 degrees. All ranges are inclusive of endpoints.
Several illustrative examples of connectors have been disclosed. Although this disclosure has been described in terms of certain illustrative examples and uses, other examples and other uses, including examples and uses which do not provide all of the features and advantages set forth herein, are also within the scope of this disclosure. Components, elements, features, acts, or steps can be arranged or performed differently than described and components, elements, features, acts, or steps can be combined, merged, added, or left out in various examples. All possible combinations and subcombinations of elements and components described herein are intended to be included in this disclosure. No single feature or group of features is necessary or indispensable.
Certain features that are described in this disclosure in the context of separate implementations can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation also can be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the combination may be claimed as a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.
Further, while illustrative examples have been described, any examples having equivalent elements, modifications, omissions, and/or combinations are also within the scope of this disclosure. Moreover, although certain aspects, advantages, and novel features are described herein, not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular example. For example, some examples within the scope of this disclosure achieve one advantage, or a group of advantages, as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages taught or suggested herein. Further, some examples may achieve different advantages than those taught or suggested herein.
Some examples have been described in connection with the accompanying drawings. The figures are drawn and/or shown to scale, but such scale should not be limiting, since dimensions and proportions other than what are shown are contemplated and are within the scope of the disclosed invention. Distances, angles, etc. are merely illustrative and do not necessarily bear an exact relationship to actual dimensions and layout of the devices illustrated. Components can be added, removed, and/or rearranged. Further, the disclosure herein of any particular feature, aspect, method, property, characteristic, quality, attribute, element, or the like in connection with various examples can be used in all other examples set forth herein. Additionally, any methods described herein may be practiced using any device suitable for performing the recited steps.
For purposes of summarizing the disclosure, certain aspects, advantages and features of the inventions have been described herein. Not all, or any such advantages are necessarily achieved in accordance with any particular example of the inventions disclosed herein. No aspects of this disclosure are essential or indispensable. In many examples, the devices, systems, and methods may be configured differently than illustrated in the figures or description herein. For example, various functionalities provided by the illustrated modules can be combined, rearranged, added, or deleted. In some implementations, additional or different processors or modules may perform some or all of the functionalities described with reference to the examples described and illustrated in the figures. Many implementation variations are possible. Any of the features, structures, steps, or processes disclosed in this specification can be included in any example.
In summary, various examples of connectors have been disclosed. This disclosure extends beyond the specifically disclosed examples to other alternative examples and/or other uses of the examples, as well as to certain modifications and equivalents thereof. Moreover, this disclosure expressly contemplates that various features and aspects of the disclosed examples can be combined with, or substituted for, one another. Accordingly, the scope of this disclosure should not be limited by the particular disclosed examples described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims.
