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Title: Waterproof connector
Claims: What is claimed is: 1. A waterproof connector for electrical wires comprising, in combination; a. an insulative plug body having first and second conductive blades extending from a front face thereof and separated by a given distance, each of said blades having an insulated skirt portion about its base at the point it exits from said front face, said skirt tapering towards a smaller size as it extends from the surface to terminate approximately at a mid-point of the blade, the inner ends of the blades within the plug body connecting to electrical wires passing from an opposite end of said plug body; b. an insulative socket body of resilient material having a channel of rectangular cross section opening out at a front face and extending into said socket body a given length to terminate within said body, the remaining portion of said body defining an interior hollow chamber opening out at an opposite end of the body of greater cross sectional dimensions than said channel; c. an electrical contact supporting member of resilient material having a rectangular cross section corresponding to that of said channel and a length greater than the length of the channel so that it can be force-fitted in said channel with the front end of said supporting member coplanar with the front face of said insulative socket body and a rear portion of said member protruding into said hollow chamber; and d. electrical contact surfaces embedded in opposite forward sides of said member and internally connecting to terminals in opposite rear sides of said member for receiving electrical leads passing into said opposite end of said body, the width of the channel corresponding to said given distance between the conductive blades of said plug and the forward opposite inner walls of said channel being tapered inwardly slightly, whereby said blades can be urged into said channel to straddle opposite sides of said member, the resilient material of the insulative socket body and member together with the tapering inwardly of the channel walls exerting a squeezing action on the blades to wipe them clean of water and moisture, said skirts on the blades plugging the channel entrance sides to effect a waterproof connection. 2. A connector according to claim 1, including an insert received in said opposite end opening of the chamber in said insulative body, said insert having a central opening through which said electrical leads pass, the rear portion of said insulative body having external threads; and a threaded collar receivable on said external threads for exerting a squeezing force on said insert to cause it to effect a water-tight seal around said electrical leads and the entrance portion of the hollow chamber at the opposite end of said insulative body. 3. A connector according to claim 1, in which said plug body includes a ground prong extending from its front face, said insulative body including a bore beneath said channel for receiving said ground prong; and connector means secured to the underside of said member for effecting a ground connection to said ground prong when said plug body and socket body are connected together. Other info: Inventors: Tuttle, John D. (Long Beach, CA, US) Wagner, Delbert J. (Paramount, CA, US) Application Number: 520158 Filing Date: 1974-11-01 Publication_date: 1976-02-03 Assignee: Primary Class(es): 439/279 439/599 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs: Primary Examiner: Lake, Roy Assistant Examiner: Bicks, Mark S. Attorney: Pastoriza; Ralph B. |
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