Abstract:
The present invention discloses a device for electrically connecting an external device into a circuit running from an apparatus control switch, to an apparatus, thus allowing the interception and redirection of the control signal to the external device. It concerns a simple, completely enclosed, error-proof connector which allows for simultaneous operation of the apparatus and the external device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   The present application claims the benefit of previously filed co-pending Provisional Patent Application, Ser. No. 60/392,764. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to the field of electrical connections. More specifically, it relates to a device for electrically connecting an external device into a circuit running from an apparatus control switch, to an apparatus, thus allowing the interception and redirection of the control signal to the external device. It concerns a simple, completely enclosed, error-proof connector which allows for simultaneous operation of the apparatus and the external device. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In the equipment control industry, it is common for an apparatus having a solenoid to be controlled by an apparatus control switch. One conventional configuration is shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . In normal operation, a user controls the operation of apparatus by activating an apparatus control switch  60 , which causes an electrical signal to be sent via a first connector  60  coupled with a second connector  80  to apparatus solenoid  83  which then powers the apparatus. 
   Typically, such an apparatus control switch  60  is connected to apparatus solenoid  83  by either a three-pin or four-pin connection. For example, an apparatus solenoid may have a three-pin male connector  80  which inserts into the three-pin female connector  60  of an apparatus control switch, as shown in  FIG. 1 . In the three pin female connector  60  of the apparatus control switch, there is included a “hot pin”  60 A, often referred to as a “# 1  pin” by those familiar in the art; a “ground” pin  60 B, often referred to as a “# 2  pin”, which is ordinarily disposed directly across from the hot pin on the same side of the connector; and a “line-up” pin  60 C located between the hot pin and the ground pin, for use in lining up the female pins of apparatus control switch  60  with the male pins of apparatus solenoid  80 . Herein, female pins are actually receptacles for male pins, which are prongs that are shaped to be inserted into the female receptacles. A typical apparatus will include an apparatus solenoid  83 , which has three male pins  80 A,  80 B and  80 C, which are capable of mating with the female pins  80 A,  80 B and  80 C respectively, providing an electrical connection between the apparatus and the apparatus control switch. It is also known to use a four pin female connector  160  and a four pin male connector  180  to make an electrical connection between a control switch and an apparatus to be controlled by the control switch.  FIGS. 2A and 2B  show an example of a four pin arrangement, which prevents misalignment of the connection. Female pins  160 A– 160 D are disposed such that these pins may only be mated with the male pins  180 A– 180 D, having the same letter, i.e. A—A, B—B, C—C and D—D. As shown in  FIG. 2A , two of the female pins  160 A,  160 B are connected to corresponding wires  161 A,  161 B, which lead to an apparatus control switch, for example. One receptacle  160 A is for the hot pin  180 A and the other receptacle  160 B is for the ground pin  180 B. Another of the receptacles  160 C is considered a “dead” pin and mates with a dead male pin  180 C, and the fourth receptacle  160 D mates with an alignment pin  180 D. 
   When it is desired to operate only the apparatus, the above standard connections serve quite adequately. There are many instances, however, in which it may be desirable to intercept the control signal that is sent from the apparatus control switch to the apparatus solenoid, and redirect that signal to another destination, such as an external appliance or measuring device, before such signal is sent back to the apparatus to be operated upon. For example, it may be advantageous to operate an external appliance simultaneously with the apparatus. In such a situation, a means of intercepting the control signal allows for simultaneous operation is needed. Likewise, it may be advantageous to introduce a delay in the signal from the apparatus operator to the apparatus by means of an external timer. Other reasons for intercepting and redirecting such a signal include measuring the strength or reliability of the control signal and other purposes well known in the art. 
   In order to introduce an external device into the path of the control signal, it is typical in the prior art to use a series of individual wires, where a “hot wire” is connected from the apparatus control switch hot pin to the “hot” side of the external device, and a “ground wire” from the ground of the external device to the “ground pin” on the apparatus solenoid. However, such an arrangement leaves all such individual wires exposed, thus creating a hazardous situation. Moreover, such connections are not protected from the elements or from being knocked loose by mechanical shock, which is not only inconvenient but also potentially dangerous. 
   OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A solenoid connector that prevents the dangers of electrocution and prevents failure from open or short circuits of the connectors is desired that does not require adoption of a new standard pin configuration. 
   It is an object of the present invention to allow the users of an apparatus to intercept the signal between the apparatus control switch and the apparatus, and re-route that control signal to an external device. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will now be described, with respect to embodiments shown in the drawings and described in preferred embodiments. 
       FIG. 1  depicts the male and female pin configurations of a conventional 3-pin solenoid connector. 
       FIG. 2  depicts the male and female pin configurations of a conventional 4-pin solenoid connector. 
       FIG. 3  depicts a top view showing an example of a 3-pin solenoid connector of the present invention aligned to connect to conventional 3-pin connectors. 
       FIG. 4  depicts a top view showing an example of a 4-pin solenoid connector of the present invention aligned to connect to conventional 4-pin connectors. 
       FIG. 5  depicts a view of an example of the pin shapes of a typical 4-pin solenoid connector. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which examples of the invention are disclosed. The components of the disclosed examples may be arranged and designed in many varied configurations. The present invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to only the examples set forth herein but only by the language of the claims that issue. The examples are provided to fully disclose the scope of the invention and are merely representative of some preferred embodiments of the invention. Like reference characters indicate similar corresponding items throughout the several views of the drawings. 
   Examples of the present invention include a novel solenoid connector  70 ,  71 , such as shown in  FIGS. 3–4 . In its most basic form, the solenoid connector is a device for connecting two apparatuses. The device is an electrical connection for simultaneous control of two devices, such as a remote device in a circuit between a control switch and a primary device to be controlled. The control signal to the primary device is redirected to a remote device, which may redirect the signal to the primary device. For example, the solenoid connector  70 , 170  may be introduced into a circuit between a control switch for operating an apparatus and the apparatus to be operated, where such electrical connector intercepts the signal from the control switch and redirects the signal to a remote appliance before returning the signal to the device to be controlled. 
   In one example, a three-pin solenoid connector  70 , such as depicted in  FIG. 3 , has a first side including three male pins and a second side including three female pins. On the first side, the following male pins are included: ( 1 ) first male pin, or “hot pin,”  70 A; ( 2 ) second male pin, or “ground” pin,  70 B; and ( 3 ) third male pin, or “line-up” pin,  70 C, all of which are located in the configuration typically found on a conventional three-pin solenoid as discussed above. 
   The solenoid connector  70  may also include three female pins, including first female pin, or “hot pin,”  70 AA, second female pin, or “ground” pin,  70 BB, and third female pin, or “line-up” pin  70 CC, all which are located in the configuration typically found on a conventional three-pin male connector  80  and female connector  60 , such as shown on  FIG. 1 . In such a configuration, the female pins are configured to accept the male pins  80 A– 80 C of a conventional apparatus solenoid  83 . 
   Attached to the external casing  75  of connector  70  is a cord (not shown). Within the cord are electrical conductors, such as electrical wires, which allow for the transfer of electrical signals received by male pins  70 A– 70 C to be transferred to a remote location, and then to be returned to the female pins  70 AA– 70 CC of the novel solenoid connector of the present invention. 
   In the preferred embodiment of the three-pin unit of the present invention, cord  76  contains hot feed wire,  76 ; second conductor, or hot return wire,  77 , and third conductor, or ground wire,  78 . Hot feed wire  76  is in electrical connection on one end with hot pin  70 A. The other end of hot feed wire  76  may be exposed to allow for field connection to any external device or other item located remotely from apparatus  83 . Hot return wire  77  is in electrical connection with female hot pin  70 AA on one end, and may be exposed on the other end, allowing for field connection to any external device or other item. Next, ground wire  78  is in electrical connection with female ground pin  70 BB on one end, and may be exposed on the other end, thus allowing for field connection with the ground terminal of any remote apparatus or other device. Finally, located within external casing  75  is a direct ground wire  79 . By virtue of direct ground wire  79 , male ground pin  70 B is in electrical connection with female ground pin  70 BB. 
   With respect to the three-pin connector shown in  FIG. 3 , except where noted, there is no direct connection between a male pin on the first side of the connector and a correspondingly located female pin. This is in contrast to the example of a four-pin connector, as shown in  FIG. 4  and described herein, in which each male pin on the one side of the connector extends directly through the connector and is in mechanical and electrical connection with the corresponding female slot on the other side of the connector. More specifically, the male pins of the three-pin unit do not extend through the center of the connector body, but instead rely on conductors, such as wiring, for any connections which may exist between a male pin and a female pin. However, in alternative embodiments, a male pin could extend through the connector body to the corresponding female pin, for example, as may be appropriate for the connection between male ground pin  70 B and female ground pin  70 BB. 
   It should be noted that the third male line-up pin,  70 C, is not in electrical contact with third female line-up pin  70 CC, for example. 
   As discussed in the Background section, it is also common in the industry for the connection between apparatus control switch  60 ,  160  and apparatus solenoid  80 ,  180  to utilize four pins, rather than three. As such, another example of the solenoid connector of the present invention has four terminals on each side. The physical and electrical configuration of the four-pin example of  FIG. 4 , however, differs in several respects from the three-pin connector of  FIG. 3 . 
   The standard industry connections which utilize four-pin connectors are depicted in  FIG. 5 . As can be seen with reference to  FIG. 5 , a standard control switch and a standard solenoid connector typically have three prongs which are slightly curved inward, and a fourth prong which is straight. In addition, the straight pin is also wider than a typical curved pin. As a result of these differences, there is a reduced likelihood that a user will connect an apparatus control switch to an apparatus solenoid in any manner other than as intended by the manufacturer. 
   The example connector of  FIG. 4  takes into account these differences. Specifically, one of the male and female terminals are physically straight, while the remaining six prongs have a slight curve inward. This configuration likewise results in a connector that cannot be incorrectly connected. As a result, a user is prevented from incorrectly connecting the solenoid connector  80  to either the apparatus control switch or the apparatus solenoid. 
   In addition to having a pin configuration that prevents the four-pin unit from being connected improperly, there is another safety feature which serves to reduce the likelihood that a user will mistakenly attempt to use a three-pin connector when a four-pin connector is called for. Specifically, the casing of the three-pin connector of the preferred embodiment is rectangular, whereas the casing of the four-pin connector is square. Such casing shapes are also standard in the industry for three- and four-pin connections. As a result, users will immediately know by its shape whether a given connector is the appropriate connector for a given application. 
   The four-pin connector  170 , as depicted in  FIG. 4 , has a connector body that is not shown for ease of disclosing the electrical connections and having a first side including four male pins and a second side including four female pins. On the first side are the following male pins: ( 1 ) first male pin, or “hot” pin,”  170 A; ( 2 ) second male pin, or “ground” pin,  170 B; ( 3 ) third male pin, or “line-up” pin,  170 C; and ( 4 ) fourth male pin, or “dead” pin,  170 D. All four of the male pins of solenoid connector  170  are configured so as to be insertable into corresponding female pins  160 A– 160 D of a typical four-pin apparatus control switch  160 . It should be noted that  FIG. 4  is a side view or top view, as opposed to a perspective view, and as such those elements of the present invention which are blocked from view by other elements that are closer to the viewer are shown by dashed lines and slightly offset. For example, element  170 D is lined up adjacent to element  170 C in the preferred embodiment, but element  170 D is shown in dashed lines and slightly offset as compared to element  170 C in  FIG. 4 . A similar depiction is utilized to better illustrate element  180 D, which is adjacent to  180 C in the preferred embodiment. 
   Also included on solenoid connector  170  are four female pins, including first female pin, or “hot pins”  170 AA; second female pin, or “ground” pin,  170 BB; third female pin, or “line-up” pin,  170 CC; fourth female pin, or “dead” pin,  170 DD. It should be noted that by virtue of the male pins extending through the body of the connector and being in contact with the corresponding female pin on the opposite side of the connector, each male pin is in electrical and physical contact with the corresponding female pin. In other words, male pin  170 A is in direct electrical contact with female pin  170 AA, male pin  170 B is in direct electrical contact with female pin  170 BB, male pin  170 C is in direct electrical contact with female pin  170 CC, and male pin  170 D is in direct electrical contact with female pin  170 DD. It should be understood that a female “pin” is a receptacle for a male pin of similar shape. 
   Attached to the external casing (not shown) of connector  170  is cord  174 . Within cord  174  are electrical conductors, such as electrical wires, which allow for the transfer of electrical signals received by male pins  170 A– 170 D to be transferred to a remote location, and then to be returned to the female pins  170 AA– 170 DD of the novel solenoid connector of the present invention, as described herein. 
     FIG. 4 , cord  174  contains hot feed wire  176 , hot return wire  177 , and ground wire  178 . Hot feed wire  176  is in electrical connection on one end with the first male hot pin  170 A, and therefor also in electrical connection with first female hot pin,  170 AA. The other end of hot feed wire  176  may be exposed allowing for field connection to any apparatus or a remote device located remotely from the primary apparatus. 
   Next, hot return wire  177  is in electrical connection with the straight male line-up pin  170 C on one end, and therefor also in electrical connection with female line-up pin  170 CC. The other end of hot return wire  177  may be exposed on the other end, allowing for field connection to any remote device or other apparatus. 
   Next, ground wire  178  is in electrical connection with male dead pin  170 D on one end, and therefor is also in electrical connection with female dead pin  170 DD. The other end of ground wire  178  may be exposed, thus allowing for field connection with the ground terminal of any remote apparatus or other device. Finally, located within external casing (not shown) is a direct around wire  179  connecting male ground pin  170 B to male dead pin  170 D, which by virtue of the male pins of the present embodiment being connected to the correspondingly located female pins, results in ground wire  179  also being in electrical connection with female ground pin  170 BB and female dead pin  170 DD. 
   Both the three-pin and four-pin embodiments may work with a variety of electrical systems, such as, for example, solenoids operating on either 12 or 24 volts, and systems employing these or other voltages fall within the scope of the present invention. 
   Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the dependent claims. It should be noted that the various elements of the present invention may be used to achieve the purposes described herein alone or in combination. Also, it should be noted that neither a device to be controlled or the solenoid associated with such device, nor an external apparatus to be included in the circuit created by the present invention, are intended to be claimed elements of the present invention, but such references are only intended to describe the context in which the invention is used, and not the structure of the present invention, unless specifically cited as a limitation in the claims that issue.