Improvements in Telephone Spring-jack Switches.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Aug., 1891-Accepted, 26th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Telephone Spring-jack Switches.
I, JOHN EDWARD KINGSBURY, of 79 Coleman Street, in the City of London,
Manager, (a communication to me from abroad by the Western Electric
Company, of Chicago, Illinois, United States of America,) do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object the improvement of spring-jack switches used in
telephone switch boards.
In spring jacks constructed in strips it has been usual for a spring in a horizontal
position to make contact with a stud in a perpendicular position. In regard to
spring jacks constructed singly I may refer to my Specification No. 9571 8th June
1889 the drawings of which show the springs in a horizontal position though the
spring jack being manufactured separately may be inserted in a board in such a
manner as to place the springs in a vertical position.
In the spring jack of my before mentioned Patent No. 9571----1889 the stud contact
is replaced by a point on a metallic strip placed in the same plane as the spring.
My invention herein though applicable to spring-jacks as generally used has
more especial reference to spring-jacks having a larger number than three contact
points.
Heretofore such spring jacks have been constructed either with two orifices
and having twin plugs for connections or by a number of springs, contacts and
insulating strips in parallel planes after the manner. described in my before
mentioned Specification No. 9571–1889.
In telephone switch boards having a large number of spring jacks it is desirable
that as little space as possible should be occupied by each spring jack and therefore
either of the foregoing plans are disadvantageous.
My present invention enables a spring jack with a larger number of contacts to
be brought within the smallest space in which spring jacks for telephone use have
heretofore been made.
In my improved spring jack I employ a base or board of ebonite or other suitable
insulating material and insert therein studs or projecting points the electrical
connections from which studs are taken to the outside beneath the base, through
the insulation or otherwise in such a manner as will leave the space above the base
unencumbered. The spring or springs making contact with the studs are placed
above the base with the flat sides of the springs in a vertical position so that they
press upon the studs sideways. I employ as many springs or studs as may be
desired and I place them so that they may be normally in contact with each other
and be separated by the insertion of a suitable plug or that they may be normally
separated from each other and only placed in contact by the insertion of a plug or
I may so arrange them that some one or more may operate in one way and some
one or more in the other way as may be desired.
The invention is illustrated by the drawing annexed which shows a plan and an
underside view of so much of a switch bar as appertains to two spring-jacks.
Dated this 24th day of November 1890.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Telephone Spring-jack Switches.
I, JOHN EDWARD KINGSBURY of 79 Coleman Street in the City of London,
Manager (a communication to me from abroad by the Western Electric
Company of Chicago, Illinois, United States of America) do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention has for its object the improvement of spring jack switches used in
telephone switch boards.
In spring jacks constructed in strips it has been usual for a spring in a horizontal
position to make contact with a stud in a perpendicular position. In regard to
spring jacks constructed singly I may refer to my Specification No. 9571 dated 8th
June 1889, the drawings of which show the springs in a horizontal position though
the spring jack being manufactured separately may be inserted in a board in such a
manner as to place the springs in a vertical position. In the spring jack of my
before mentioned Patent No. 9571-1889 the stud contact is replaced by a point on
a metallic strip placed in the same plane as the spring.
My invention herein though applicable to spring jacks as generally used has
more especially reference to spring jacks having a larger number than three contact
points. Heretofore such spring jack have been constructed either with two orifices
and having twin plugs for connections or by a number of springs, contacts and
insulating strips in parallel planes after the manner described in my before
mentioned Specification No. 9571-1889. In telephone switch boards having a large
number of spring jacks it is desirable that as little space as possible should be
occupied by each spring jack and therefore either of the foregoing plans are
disadvantageous.
My invention enables a spring jack with a large number of contacts to be brought
within the smallest space in which spring jacks for telephone use have heretofore
been made.
In my improved spring jack I employ a base or board of ebonite or other
suitable insulating material and insert therein studs or projecting points the
electrical connections from which studs are taken to the outside beneath the base,
through the insulation or otherwise in such a manner as will leave the space above
the base or between the springs unencumbered. The spring or springs making
contact with the studs are placed above the base in a vertical position so that they
press upon the studs sideways, I employ as many springs or studs as may be desired
and I place them so that they may be normally in contact with each other and be
separated by the insertion of a suitable plug or that they may be normally separated
from each other and only placed in contact by the insertion of a plug or I may so
arrange them that some one or more may operate in one way and some one or more
in the other way as may be desired.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings I have shown a number of "five point "spring jacks, constructed
in accordance with my invention.
Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved spring jacks;
Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof;
Figure 3 is an end elevation thereof; and
Figure 4a view from below, showing the connection to the contact studs or
anvils beneath the base.
Figure 5 is a plan view of a strip of spring jacks, with a connecting plug inserted
into one of the jacks to show the operation of the springs.
I will indicate parts in the drawings by letters of reference, like parts being
indicated by similar letters in the several figures.

page_text: a is the base of insulating material, such as hard rubber, b is a strip of insulating
material secured to one edge of the base a, and in perforations through which at
appropriate intervals are secured the thimbles or test rings" c, c', c², c³, etc., one
for each pair of springs; narrow strips of metals, s', s, each soldered at one end
5 to a thimble, serve as a means for establishing connection with the thimble from the
rear of the jack.
At the other edge of the base a is a raised portion d extending the whole length
of base a; in transverse slots or saw cuts, in this strip are placed flat springs e, f, e¹,
fe, etc. The springs e, f, e, f, are of such length as to come into contact each
with its particular contact piece of a connecting plug, when the latter is inserted
into the spring jack. Each spring is bent into a curve at its extremity h, h', so
that it may ride up on the tip of the plug with greater readiness, and projects to a
short distance beyond the edge of base a to permit of attachment of the wires.
The springs are held securely in their places upon the base by a strip of
rubber or other suitable insulating material g screwed down upon the edge of the
springs.
Contact studs or anvils k, k¹, k³, are provided for each of the springs, against
which said springs normally rest. The contact pieces are preferably studs secured
at their lower ends to, and passing through the base; on the under side of this
base the studs make connection with small strips of metal 1, P, 12 fastened to the
base, which provide means of electrical connection to the studs.
When a suitable plug is inserted into one of the spring jacks as jack m of Figure 5
the springs e, make contact with their respective portions of the plug, that is
the springe with the tip n, and the spring with the sleeve o; the remaining
sleeve p of the plug comes into contact with the test ring of the jack. As the
plug is forced into the jack, it enters under the bent ends of the spring, whereby
the springs are wedged away from their contact anvils. Obviously, if it were
desired to make the spring close circuit instead of opening it when a plug is inserted
into a jack, the contact studs might be placed upon the outside of the springs, at a
slight distance from the springs, so that the springs would be wedged into contact
with the studs when a plug was inserted into the jack; or again, the stud might be
placed one on either side of each spring, whereby each spring would be separated
from one and closed upon the other when a plug was inserted.
I do not desire to confine myself to the use of only two springs and their contact
studs, in the construction of my invention. Additional springs may be provided,
secured to the base in the same way, and adapted to come into contact with other
contact pieces upon the plugs.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:―
1. The combination with the base of insulating material, having a longitudinal
ridge upon one of its surfaces, of springs set into transverse slots in said ridge,
contact studs secured to said base in such position that said springs when forced
apart may close upon or be separated from them substantially in the manner
described.
2. The combination with a base of insulating material, having a longitudinal ridge
upon one of its sides, of springs set into, transverse slots in said ridge, perpendicular
to the surface of said base, a strip of insulating material secured upon said ridge
above the springs, contact studs secured to the base, and disposed to make or to
break contact with said springs when the latter are forced apart, a strip of
insulating material mounted upon the edge of the base, metallic thimbles secured
in perforations in said strip, one for each set of springs and opposite the ends
hereof, substantially in the manner described.
3. The combination with the base a of insulating material, having the ridge d
and the strip & carrying thimbles c, c', c springs e, f, e', f¹, ef.secured in slots in

page_text: said ridge d, a strip secured over said springs, and suitable means for making
electrical connection to the thimbles, springs and contact studs, respectively, sub-
stantially as described:
J. E: KINGSBURY.