Claims
- 1. A spindle assembly for a rotatable electrical connector, said spindle assembly comprising:
- a spindle body composed of electrical insulating material and having an axis and an outer surface;
- a plurality of peripheral grooves on said outer surface;
- a plurality of electrical conducting elements each having a first portion extending through said spindle body in a direction substantially parallel to said axis, a second portion extending transversely from said first portion through the outer surface of said spindle and a ring portion integral with said second portion and received in a respective peripheral groove;
- each ring portion having a terminal end part;
- each groove having a bottom and a pair of side walls;
- a notch in a side wall of each groove adjacent the bottom of the groove;
- said notch comprising means for receiving and engaging said terminal end part of the ring portion received in that groove to retain the terminal end part adjacent the bottom of the groove.
- 2. A spindle assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein:
- said notch extends radially inwardly toward said axis further than the bottom of said groove.
- 3. A spindle assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein:
- said ring portion is composed of conductor material having a predetermined width;
- said groove has a width sufficient to accommodate two widths of said conductor material but not substantially more;
- and said groove contains two widths of said conductor material, to substantially fill said groove across its width.
- 4. In combination with the spindle assembly recited in claim 3:
- an electrical contact member having a portion engaging the peripheral groove containing two widths of said conductor material;
- said two widths of conductor material and the width of said groove comprising means cooperating to avoid a situation wherein said engaged portion of the electrical contact member could slip off the ring portion into a part of the groove not occupied by the ring portion.
- 5. A spindle assembly for a rotatable electrical connector, said spindle assembly comprising:
- a spindle body composed of electrical insulating material and having an axis and an outer surface;
- a plurality of peripheral grooves on said outer surface;
- a plurality of electrical conducting elements carried by said spindle body;
- each conducting element having a ring portion received in a respective peripheral groove;
- said ring portion being composed of conductor material having a predetermined width;
- said groove having a width sufficient to accommodate two widths of said conductor material but not substantially more;
- and said groove contains two widths of said conductor material, to substantially fill said groove across its width.
- 6. In combination with the spindle assembly recited in claim 5:
- an electrical contact member having a portion engaging the peripheral groove containing two widths of said conductor material;
- said two widths of conductor material and the width of said groove comprising means cooperating to avoid a situation wherein said engaged portion of the electrical contact member could slip off the ring portion into a part of the groove not occupied by the ring portion.
- 7. In a rotatable electrical connector:
- a spindle body composed of electrical insulating material and having an axis of rotation;
- said spindle body comprising a pair of members each having an outer surface and an inner surface;
- said spindle body members extending in an axial direction alongside each other with said inner surfaces in facing relation;
- one of said members being mounted on the other member to form said spindle body;
- said spindle body having an outer surface defined by both outer surfaces of said two members;
- a plurality of peripheral grooves on said outer surface of the spindle body;
- a plurality of electrical conducting elements each having a first portion extending through said spindle body between said spindle body members, in a direction substantially parallel to said axis, a second portion extending transversely from said first portion between said spindle body members and through the outer surface of said spindle body, and a ring portion integral with said second portion;
- each ring portion being wrapped around the outer surface of said spindle body within a respective peripheral groove;
- a housing having an opening for receiving said spindle body and an axis of rotation coinciding with said spindle body axis;
- means on said housing and on said spindle body cooperating to mount each of said spindle body and said housing for rotation about said axis independent of rotation of the other;
- an electrical connector element having a plurality of electrical contact members each having opposite ends;
- means mounting said electrical connector element and said contact members for rotational movement with said housing;
- means at one end of each electrical contact member for engagement with an electrical contact member on another electrical connector element which is mateable with said first recited electrical connector element;
- and means at the other end of each electrical contact member for electrically engaging the ring portion of an electrical conducting element and for maintaining said engagement during rotation of one of said spindle body and said housing relative to the other.
- 8. In combination with the rotatable electrical connector of claim 7:
- a third electrical connector element, having a plurality of electrical contact members each electrically connected to the first portion of one of said electrical conducting elements;
- and means for electrically connecting (a) said third electrical connector element and (b) said second recited electrical connector element each to a respective one of either (c) a telephone hand set or base or (d) a telephone cord.
- 9. In combination:
- a spindle body composed of electrical insulating material and having an axis and an outer surface;
- a plurality of peripheral grooves on said outer surface;
- a plurality of electrical conducting elements carried by said spindle body and each having a ring portion received in a respective peripheral groove;
- a female electrical connector element aligned with the axis of said spindle body and comprising a second body composed of electrical insulating material;
- a plurality of electrical contact members carried by said second body;
- each contact member comprising a first portion for engagement with an electrical contact member on a male electrical connector element, a second portion extending from said first portion in a direction substantially parallel with said axis of the spindle body and lying in the same plane as said first portion, and a third portion integral with said second portion and extending transversely to the plane of said first and second portions;
- said first and second portions having a junction therebetween;
- said third portion normally abutting said spindle body within a peripheral groove;
- and notch means on said second body for receiving the junction between the first and second portions of the contact member and for accommodating movement of the contact member in said plane toward and away from the spindle body along a path parallel to said axis, to align said third portion of the contact member with a predetermined peripheral groove on said spindle;
- said notch means having a dimension, in an axial direction, greater than the width of said peripheral groove within which said third portion abuts said spindle body.
- 10. In the combination of claim 9 wherein:
- said second and third portions of the contact member have a junction therebetween;
- said third portion normally abuts said spindle within a peripheral groove;
- means, on said second body, mounting said third portion, and said junction between the second and third portions of the contact member, for rotation about the axis of said second portion;
- and means on said second body for holding said junction, between the first and second portions of the contact member, against rotation about the axis of said second portion;
- said second portion of the contact member constituting torsion bar means urging said third portion of the contact member against said spindle body toward a free state position for said third portion, said free state position being located angularly substantially inwardly of the position where said third portion normally abuts said spindle body.
- 11. In combination:
- a spindle body composed of electrical insulating material and having an axis and an outer surface;
- a plurality of peripheral grooves on said outer surface;
- a plurality of electrical conducting elements carried by said spindle body and each having a ring portion received in a respective peripheral groove;
- a female electrical connector element aligned with the axis of said spindle body and comprising a second body composed of electrical insulating material;
- a plurality of electrical contact members carried by said second body;
- each contact member comprising a first portion for engagement with an electrical contact member on a male electrical connector element, a second portion extending from said first portion in a direction substantially parallel with said axis of the spindle body and lying in the same plane as said first portion, and a third portion integral with said second portion and extending transversely to the plane of said first and second portions;
- said first and second portions having a junction therebetween;
- said second and third portions of the contact member have a junction therebetween;
- said third portion normally abutting said spindle within a peripheral groove;
- means, on said second body, mounting said third portion, and said junction between the second and third portions of the contact member, for rotation about the axis of said second portion;
- and means on said second body for holding said junction, between the first and second portions of the contact member, against rotation about the axis of said second portion;
- said second portion of the contact member constituting torsion bar means urging said third portion of the contact member against said spindle body toward a free state position for said third portion, said free state position being located angularly substantially inwardly of the position where said third portion normally abuts said spindle body.
- 12. In combination:
- a spindle body composed of electrical insulating material and having an axis and an outer surface;
- a plurality of peripheral grooves on said outer surface;
- a plurality of electrical conducting elements carried by said spindle body and each having a ring portion received in a respective peripheral groove;
- a female electrical connector element associated with said spindle body and comprising a second body composed of electrical insulating material;
- a plurality of electrical contact members carried by said second body;
- each contact member comprising a first portion for engagement with an electrical contact member on a male electrical connector element, a second portion extending from said first portion toward said spindle body, and a third portion integral with said second portion and extending transversely to said second portion;
- said first and second portions having a junction therebetween;
- said third portion normally abutting said spindle body within a peripheral groove;
- and notch means on said second body, for receiving the junction between the first and second portions of the contact member and for accommodating movement of the contact member toward and away from the spindle body, for engaging said third portion of the contact member with a predetermined peripheral groove on said spindle;
- said notch means having a dimension, in an axial direction, greater than the width of said peripheral groove within which said third portion abuts said spindle body.
- 13. In combination:
- a spindle body composed of electrical insulating material and having an axis and an outer surface;
- a plurality of peripheral grooves on said outer surface;
- a plurality of electrical conducting elements carried by said spindle body and each having a ring portion received in a respective peripheral groove;
- a female electrical connector element associated with said spindle body and comprising a second body composed of electrical insulating material;
- a plurality of electrical contact members carried by said second body;
- each contact member comprising a first portion for engagement with an electrical contact member on a male electrical connector element, a second portion extending from said first portion toward the spindle body, and a third portion integral with said second portion and extending transversely to said second portion;
- said first and second portions having a junction therebetween;
- said second and third portions of the contact member have a junction therebetween;
- said third portion normally abutting said spindle within a peripheral groove;
- means, on said second body, mounting said third portion, and said junction between the second and third portions of the contact member, for rotation about the axis of said second portion;
- and means on said second body for holding said junction, between the first and second portions of the contact member, against rotation about the axis of said second portion;
- said second portion of the contact member constituting torsion bar means urging said third portion of the contact member against said spindle body toward a free state position for said third portion, said free state position being located angularly substantially inwardly of the position where said third portion normally abuts said spindle body.
- 14. In combination:
- a spindle body composed of electrical insulating material and having an axis and an outer surface;
- a plurality of peripheral grooves on said outer surface;
- a plurality of electrical conducting elements carried by said spindle body and each having a ring portion received in a respective peripheral groove;
- a female electrical connector element associated with said spindle body and comprising a second body composed of electrical insulating material;
- a plurality of pairs of electrical contact members carried by said second body;
- each pair of contact members being spaced from every other pair of contact members;
- each contact member in a pair comprising a first portion for engagement with an electrical contact member on a male electrical connector element, a second portion extending from said first portion toward said spindle body, and a third portion integral with said second portion and extending transversely to said second portion;
- said first and second portions of each member having a junction therebetween;
- said second and third portions of each member have a junction therebetween;
- each first and second portion of a paired contact member lying in close side-by-side relation with the first and second portion of the other contact member in the pair;
- the third portions in each pair diverging from each other;
- each of the two third portions in a pair normally abutting said spindle within the same peripheral groove, from respective opposite sides of the groove;
- means, on said second body, mounting each third portion, of a paired member, and said junction between the second and third portions of that member, for rotation about the axis of said second portion;
- and means on said second body for holding said junction, between the first and second portions of each paired member, against rotation about the axis of that member's second portion;
- said second portion of each paired contact member constituting torsion bar means urging said third portion of that member against said spindle body toward a free state position for said third portion, said free state position being located angularly substantially inwardly of the position where said third portion normally abuts said spindle body.
- 15. A spindle assembly for a rotatable electrical connector, said spindle assembly comprising:
- a spindle body composed of electrical insulating material and having an axis and an outer surface;
- a plurality of peripheral grooves on said outer surface, separated by dividers integral with said spindle body;
- a plurality of electrical conducting elements each having a first portion extending through said spindle body in a direction substantially parallel to said axis, a second portion extending transversely from said first portion through the outer surface of said spindle and a ring portion integral with said second poriton;
- each ring portion having a free terminal end and being wrapped around the outer surface of said spindle body within a respective peripheral groove;
- said spindle body having a pair of axially spaced opposite ends;
- at least one slot extending inwardly from the outer surface of the spindle body, said slot extending from one end of the spindle body toward the other end in a direction parallel to said axis and terminating at one of said peripheral grooves between a pair of adjacent dividers;
- said slot being aligned with the first portion of at least one electrical conducting element and communicating with said one peripheral groove;
- said slot comprising means for receiving the second portion of said one electrical conducting element to facilitate the wrapping of the ring portion of that conducting element around the outer surface of the spindle body within its respective groove.
- 16. A spindle assembly as recited in claim 15 wherein:
- said one slot communicates with all of said plurality of peripheral grooves;
- and said spindle assembly comprises means for carrying the first portions of said electrical conducting elements in insulated relation to each other.
- 17. A spindle assembly as recited in claim 16 wherein:
- said slot extends radially inwardly;
- said carrying means comprises a plurality of tubular, cylindrical insulating layers each having an annular cross-section and each surrounding the first portion of a respective electrical conducting element;
- and said slot comprises a plurality of radially spaced, connected groove means each defining a circular cross-section for receiving and holding, in a fixed position in said spindle body, a respective one of said insulating layers.
- 18. A spindle assembly as recited in claim 17 wherein:
- said slot has an outer end at said outer surface of the spindle and an inner end spaced from said outer slot end in a radial direction;
- each of said plurality of insulating layers has a different respective dimension in an axial direction, increasing sequentially from the outer slot end toward the inner slot end;
- each insulating layer has a pair of opposite ends spaced apart in an axial direction;
- one end of each insulating layer being located closer to said one end of the spindle body than is the other end of the insulating layer;
- said one end of the insulating layer being radially aligned with a respective peripheral groove on the spindle body.
- 19. A spindle assembly as recited in claim 16 wherein:
- said slot extends radially inwardly;
- said carrying means comprises a holding member having a pair of radially spaced, flat side surfaces and a pair of axially spaced opposite ends;
- one end of said holding member is located closer to said one end of the spindle body than is the other end of the holding member;
- a plurality of grooves in a first of said flat side surfaces of the holding member and extending from one end of the holding member to the other end thereof;
- each of said grooves comprising means for holding the first portion of a respective electrical conducting element;
- said slot comprising means for slidably receiving said holding member and means for mounting said holding member in a predetermined position within said spindle body and fixed against movement in a direction transverse to the axis of the spindle body;
- each groove in the holding member having said one end aligned in a radial direction with a respective peripheral groove on the outer surface of the spindle body when said holding member is in said predetermined position.
- 20. A spindle assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein:
- said slot has a relatively wide inner portion for receiving said holding member and a relatively narrow outer portion for receiving the second portion of an electrical conducting element.
- 21. A spindle assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein:
- said slot has an outer end at said outer surface of the spindle and an inner end spaced from said outer slot end in a radial direction;
- each groove in the holding member has a different respective dimension in an axial direction, increasing sequentially from the outer slot end tward the inner slot end.
- 22. A spindle assembly as recited in claim 21 wherein:
- said one end of the holding member is inclined in a direction non-perpendicularly transverse to said axis.
- 23. A spindle assembly as recited in claim 15 and comprising:
- a plurality of said slots each terminating at and communicating with a respective peripheral groove in the spindle body, each slot being aligned with the first portion of a respective electrical conducting element and each receiving the second portion of said respective electrical conducting element;
- each of said slots extending in a different respective direction transverse to said axis of the spindle body.
- 24. A spindle assembly as recited in claim 23 and comprising:
- a holding member for carrying the first portions of each of said electrical conducting elements;
- said spindle body comprising means for slidably receiving said holding member and means for mounting said holding member in a predetermined position within said spindle body and fixed against movement in a non-axial direction.
- 25. A spindle assembly as recited in claim 24 wherein:
- said holding member comprises key means extending radially outwardly therefrom;
- and said spindle body comprises a keyway for receiving said key means, to fix said holding member against rotation about the axis of the spindle body.
- 26. A spindle assembly as recited in claim 24 wherein:
- each of said slots extends radially inwardly;
- said holding member comprises an outer surface having a plurality of elongated grooves each extending in a direction parallel to the axis of said spindle body and each comprising means for holding the first portion of a respective electrical conducting element;
- and each of said grooves is radially aligned with a respective slot in the spindle body when said holding member is received in said predetermined position in the spindle body.
- 27. A spindle assembly as recited in claim 26 wherein:
- each of said slots is angularly spaced from the others;
- and each of said grooves in said holding member is angularly spaced from the other at a spacing corresponding to the angular spacing of said slots.
- 28. A spindle assembly for a rotatable electrical connector, said spindle assembly comprising:
- a spindle body composed of electrical insulating material and having an axis, an outer peripheral surface and a pair of opposite ends;
- a plurality of peripheral grooves on said outer peripheral surface;
- and a plurality of electrical conducting elements each having a planar first portion extending through said spindle body in a direction substantially parallel to said axis, a second planar portion extending transversely from said first portion through the outer surface of said spindle, and a ribbon-like ring portion integral with said second portion and received in a respective peripheral groove;
- a pair of said conducting elements each having a portion extending radially outwardly adjacent an end of said spindle body at a location axially spaced from said peripheral grooves and terminating at barbs;
- the location and shape of said outwardly extending portions on said pair of conducting elements corresponding to the location and shape of portions on said spindle body;
- said spindle body comprising means, including said last recited spindle body portions, adjacent said spindle body end, for mounting a male electrical connector element;
- said last recited means comprising means for embeddingly engaging with said male electrical connector element.
- 29. A spindle assembly as recited in claim 28 and wherein:
- each ring portion has a terminal end part;
- each groove has a bottom and a pair of side walls;
- and each terminal end part comprises barbs for embedding engagement with the side walls of said peripheral groove.
- 30. A spindle assembly for a rotatable electrical connector, said spindle assembly comprising:
- a spindle body composed of electrical insulating material and having an axis, an outer peripheral surface and a pair of opposite ends;
- a plurality of peripheral grooves on said outer peripheral surface;
- a plurality of electrical conducting elements each having a planar first portion extending through said spindle body in a direction substantially parallel to said axis, a second planar portion extending transversely from said first portion through the outer surface of said spindle, and a ribbon-like ring portion integral with said second portion and received in a respective peripheral groove;
- each ring portion having a terminal end part;
- each groove having a bottom and a pair of side walls;
- and barb means on said ring portion, adjacent said terminal end part, for embedding engagement with the side walls of said peripheral groove.
- 31. A method for fabricating a spindle assembly, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a sheet of electrical conducting material;
- stamping from said sheet an intermediate planar form having a pair of marginal portions and a multiplicity of conducting groups each comprising a plurality of parallel, spaced apart, planar, electrical conducting elements each connected to said pair of marginal portions;
- positioning said intermediate form at a molding station accommodating a plurality of molds for forming spindle bodies;
- holding said intermediate form in a fixed disposition at said molding station;
- enclosing a part of each conducting group within a respective mold, while leaving unenclosed a pair of parts each connected to a respective marginal portion of said planar form;
- introducing a non-conducting, plastic material in molten form into each mold;
- solidifying said molten plastic material around the enclosed part of each group to embed said enclosed part within a molded plastic spindle body while leaving free and unembedded said parts connected to said marginal portions of the planar form;
- opening said molds and separating from each a molded plastic spindle body with a plurality of electrical conducting elements embedded therein, all of said spindle bodies being connected together by the marginal portions of said planar form;
- severing said marginal portions from the free, unembedded parts of each conducting group, to form individual, separated spindle bodies each having a plurality of conducting elements each comprising at least a pair of free, unembedded parts;
- and wrapping one of the free, unembedded parts of each conducting element around the outer surface of the corresponding spindle body within which another part of the conducting element is embedded.
- 32. A method as recited in claim 31 wherein:
- said stamping step comprises forming positioning holes in said marginal portions;
- said method comprising providing mounting pins for said positioning holes at said molding station;
- and said holding step comprises receiving said pins within said holes in the marginal portions.
- 33. A method for fabricating a spindle assembly, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a sheet of electrical conducting material;
- stamping from said sheet an intermediate planar form having a pair of marginal portions and a multiplicity of conducting groups each comprising a plurality of parallel, spaced apart, planar, electrical conducting elements each connected to said pair of marginal portions;
- positioning said intermediate form at a station accommodating a plurality of spaced spindle body sections;
- holding said intermediate form in a fixed disposition at said station;
- providing a plurality of first and second plastic spindle body sections, each of said first and second sections being engageable to form a whole spindle body;
- superimposing a part of each conducting group with a respective first plastic spindle body section, while leaving unsuperimposed a pair of parts each connected to a respective marginal portion of said planar form;
- placing a second plastic spindle body section atop each conducting group and engaging said first and second sections to form a whole spindle body and enclose part of each group within the resulting whole spindle body while leaving free and unenclosed said parts connected to said marginal portions of the planar form;
- forming, as a result of the previously recited steps, a plurality of whole spindle bodies each having a plurality of electrical conducting elements enclosed therein, all of said spindle bodies being connected together by the marginal portions of said planar form;
- severing said marginal portions from the free, unembedded parts of each conducting group, to form individual, separated spindle bodies each having a plurality of conducting elements each comprising at least a pair of free, unembedded parts;
- and wrapping one of the free, unembedded parts of each conducting element around the outer surface of the corresponding spindle body within which another part of the conducting element is embedded.
- 34. A method of assembling a spindle for a rotary electrical connector, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a pair of spindle sections each having a convex outer surface and an inner surface;
- providing a plurality of electrical conducting elements each having a linear first portion and a second portion extending transversely from said first portion;
- placing each electrical conducting element on the inner surface of one of said spindle sections, at a respective predetermined location on said inner surface;
- mounting the other spindle section on the one spindle section to hold said electrical conducting element between the inner surfaces of said spindle sections with part of the second portion of each conducting element projecting outwardly beyond the outer surfaces of the spindle sections;
- said mounting step comprising forming a spindle having a circular outer surface;
- and wrapping said projecting part of each electrical conducting element around said outer surface of the spindle at a respective predetermined location for each.
RELATED APPLICATION
This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 809,217 filed Dec. 16, 1985 and entitled "ROTARY ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR APPARATUS", now U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,228 issued June 16, 1987, and the disclosure thereof is incorporated herein by reference.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
809217 |
Dec 1985 |
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