This invention is related generally to electrical connectors and, more specifically, electrical connectors for heavy-duty high-amperage uses.
Electrical connectors of the prior art exist in many forms and are characterized by factors such as their pinout, physical construction, size, contact resistance, insulation between pins, ruggedness and resistance to vibration, resistance to entry of water or other contaminants, resistance to pressure, reliability, lifetime and ease of connecting and disconnecting. Electrical connectors of the prior art may be keyed to prevent insertion in the wrong orientation. Electrical connectors may also include various locking mechanisms to verify that they are fully inserted and unable to be accidentally withdrawn.
Electrical connectors which are heavy-duty and used for high-amperage applications are typically used in either outdoor or indoor settings and for a variety of purposes such as power-supply connections to vehicles, appliances and the like. In such applications, the electrical connector, typically on the end of a heavy-duty power cord, is connected and disconnected frequently to/from a wall-mounted electrical-connector-engaging assembly which is installed during the manufacturing of the vehicle, appliance, or the like. Common examples of such applications are recreational vehicles and trailers.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,136,640 (Liu '640), filed on Oct. 7, 2013 and titled “Heavy-duty Straight-blade Electrical Connector with Engagement-Facilitating Features,” is one example of the prior art. The connector of the Liu '640 patent has a connector-body main portion including a forward portion terminating in a connecting face presenting the engagement means of the connector for axial engagement with the engagement means of the connector-engaging member. The connector also includes a connector-body cord-engagement portion for permanent trans-axial securement of the cord to the main portion and a rearward gripping portion for facilitating manual engagement and disengagement of the connector with the connector-engaging member.
In the field of electrical connectors, there is a need to improve the efficiency of the manufacturing processes of the end products in which electrical connectors are used, and the present invention is an improvement to wall-mounted electrical-connector-engaging assemblies which improves the installation efficiency of the wall-mounting and wiring-connection procedures thereof during manufacturing of vehicles, appliances, and the like.
The present invention is a wall-mounted electrical-connector-engaging assembly for axial engagement with an electrical connector, the electrical-connector-engaging assembly comprising: (a) a wall-surface adapter having front and back faces and attached to a wall over an opening in the wall, and (b) a backcap surrounding the plurality of wire-connection points and adjacent portions of the corresponding plurality of wires connected thereto. The wall-surface adapter back face has a plurality of wire-connection points for installation of a corresponding plurality of wires, and the wall-surface adapter front face has a plurality of slidably-engaging electrical connection points for engagement in at least an axial direction with the electrical connector. The backcap includes a twist lock for installation on the wall-surface adapter.
In some embodiments, the wall-surface adapter is attached to the wall with one or more fasteners.
In highly-preferred embodiments, the wall-surface adapter is attached to the wall through a mounting structure. In some of these embodiments, the wall-surface adapter is attached to the wall with one or more fasteners, and in some of these embodiments, the mounting structure includes a movable cover over the wall-surface adapter front face.
In highly-preferred embodiments, the wall-surface adapter has a circular outer surface defining a central axis and includes a plurality of radially-oriented projections on the outer surface, and the twist lock includes a plurality of circumferentially-aligned slots for engagement with corresponding radially-oriented projections when the backcap is turned about the central axis. In some of these embodiments, the slots have a length such that turning the backcap less than 40 degrees is required for secure engagement of the backcap to the wall-surface adapter.
In some preferred embodiments, the backcap includes an outer surface configured for non-slip gripping.
In highly-preferred embodiments, the backcap includes a slot end and an opposite distal end, the distal end having an annulus having a grip for releasably holding the plurality of wires.
In highly-preferred embodiments, the backcap is formed of polymeric material.
The term “connector” as used herein refers to any cord-end device which can be reversibly inserted into the inventive wall-mounted electrical-connector-engaging assembly. Such connector may serve as a power inlet, a power outlet, a plug or other cord-end receptacle.
The figures and descriptions below describe details of the device and its preferred embodiments.
Referring to
Wall-surface adapter 12 also includes a circular outer surface 12s which defines a central axis 12ca (see
Embodiment 10 also includes a backcap 14 which surrounds the plurality of wire-connection points 20 and adjacent portions of the corresponding plurality of wires (not shown) connected thereto.
Backcap 14 also includes a slot end 14se and an opposite distal end 14de. Distal end 14de includes an annulus 14a around which is a grip 14g for releasably holding the plurality of wires (not shown) which are connected to connection points 20. Backcap 14 includes a grip actuator 14ga which actuates grip 14g (see
Backcap 14 of embodiment 10 also includes an outer surface 14o configured for non-slip gripping of backcap 14 during the twist-locking action. Backcap 14 may be formed of polymeric materials but many other suitable materials are available.
While the principles of this invention have been described in connection with specific embodiments, it should be understood clearly that these descriptions are made only by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/030,571, filed on May 27, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20210376538 A1 | Dec 2021 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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63030571 | May 2020 | US |