An Improved Electrical Connector.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 9th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 14th Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Electrical Connector.
We, JOSEPH APPLETON, of the firm of Appleton, Burbey & Williamson, and
EDWARD LIONEL JOSEPH, both of 91, Queen Victoria Street, in the City of
London, Electrical Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved electrical connector by which portable
detached electric lamps, or other apparatus, may be connected at various points
to the main wires, or other conductors, forming for example part of the electric
lighting system of a house, or other building, somewhat in the manner well
understood in connection with this class of apparatus.
According to this invention, the portion of the connector, which is attached to
the wall, or other support, consists of a block of earthenware, or other suitable
material, having a boss projecting from the centre thereof. This boss is preferably
cylindrical, with two flats formed thereon diametrically opposite to one another.
Two terminal contact plates are situated one on either side of the said boss, with
their contact faces parallel with the beforementioned flats. The main wires, or
conductors, are connected in the usual manner to these terminal contact plates,
and a safety fuse may also be provided if desired. A cap or cover plate, having
a central hole of a diameter approximately the same as that of the before-mentioned
central projecting boss, is adapted to screw on to the fixed portion of the connector
in such a manner that the outer end of the said boss projects slightly through the
central hole of the cap or cover plate.
The portion of the connector which is attached to the free ends of the wires
or conductors of the portable lamp, or other apparatus, consists of a cap of
earthenware, or other suitable material, into the interior of which is screwed an
ebonite or other disc to which are attached two outwardly projecting terminal
contact plates which are adapted to be pressed more or less tightly between the
surfaces of the flats formed on the before-mentioned central boss and the two
terminal contact plates of the fixed portion of the connector. The free ends of
the wires or conductors of the portable lamp, or other apparatus, are passed
through a hole or holes in the earthenware cap and are attached to the terminal
contact plates in the usual manner.
When it is desired to connect the lamp, or other apparatus, with the main wires
or conductors, the pair of outwardly projecting terminal contact plates of the loose
portion of the connector are inserted into the openings between the flats on the
central boss and the cap or cover plate of the fixed portion of the connector, being
thereby brought into frictional contact with the pair of terminal contact plates on
the fixed portion of the connector, and a good electrical connection is thereby
ensured. In order to facilitate such connection being made in the dark, the outer
end of the before-mentioned central boss is preferably of a convex form, and the
annular top portion of the cap or cover plate is also curved, a circular valley or
groove being thereby formed which guides the outwardly projecting terminal
contact plates of the loose portion of the connector into the before-mentioned
openings in the fixed portion thereof.
Dated this 19th day of September 1890.
J. APPLETON.
E. L. JOSEPH.
Per W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Electrical Connector.
We, JOSEPH APPLETON, of the firm of Appleton, Burbey and Williamson, and
EDWARD LIONEL JOSEPH, both of 91, Queen Victoria Street, in the City of
London, Electrical Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say:
This invention relates to an improved electrical connector by which portable
detached electric lamps, or other apparatus, may be connected at various points to
the main wires or other conductors forming, for example, part of the electric
lighting system of a house or other building, somewhat in the manner well under-
stood in connection with this class of apparatus. And in order that the said
invention may be clearly understood, we will now proceed to describe the same
with reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings in which
Figure is a section of our improved connector taken on line 1-1 of Figure 2.
Figure 2 is a plan of the base of the connector with the cap removed.
Figure 3 is an elevation of same with its cap shown in section above it.
Figure 4 is a plan of the said cap.
Figures 5 and 6 are views of the parts of that portion of the connector which is
attached to the free ends of the wires or conductors of the portable lamp or other
apparatus.
According to this invention, the base of the connector, which is attached to the
wall or other support, consists of a block A of earthenware or other suitable
material having a boss B projecting from the centre thereof. This boss is pre-
ferably cylindrical with two flats formed thereon diametrically opposite to one
another, as shown in Figure 2. Two main terminal contact plates CD are situated
one on either side of the said boss with their contact faces opposite to and
preferably parallel with the before mentioned flat sides thereof. The main wires
or conductors E F pass through the holes G H respectively in the base A of the
connector and are connected in the usual manner to the aforesaid terminal contact
plates CD, a safety fuse I being inserted in one of these conductors if desired.
A cap or cover plate J, having a central hole K of a diameter nearly the same as or
only slightly larger than that of the central projecting boss B, is adapted to screw
on to the fixed portion or base A of the connector in such a manner that the outer
end of the said boss projects into or slightly through the central hole K of the cap
or cover plate J.
The portion of the connector, which is attached to the free ends of the wires or
conductors 1. M of the portable electric lamp or other electric apparatus it is
desired to connect to the main wires or conductors, consists of a cap N of earthen-
ware or other suitable material into the interior of which is screwed a disc P of
earthenware or other suitable non-conducting material to which are attached two
projecting terminal contact plates Q R which are adapted to be pressed, more or less
tightly, between the surfaces of the flats formed on the central boss B and the two
terminal contact plates C D of the fixed portion of the connector as seen clearly in
Figure 1. The said terminal contact plates C D are preferably made with a
tendency to spring inwards towards the boss B while the terminal contact
plates QR have a tendency to spring outwards so that when the plates QR are
inserted between the plates C D perfect metallic contact is secured. The free ends
of the wires or conductors L M, of the portable lamp or other apparatus, are passed
through a hole S in the earthenware cap or cover N and are attached to the
terminal contact plates Q R in the usual manner.
When it is desired to connect the lamp or other apparatus with the main
conductors EF, the pair of projecting terminal contact plates Q R of the loose or
movable portion N P of the connector are inserted through the openings between
the edge of the hole K in the cap or cover plate J and the flat sides of the central

page_text: boss B, being thereby brought into frictional contact with the pair of terminal
contact plates CD on the fixed portion or base A of the connector, and a good
electrical connection is thereby ensured.
In order to facilitate such connection being made in the dark, the outer end of
the central boss B is preferably of a convex form and the annular outer surface of
the cap or cover plate J is hollowed out to a curved form, a circular valley or
groove being thereby formed which guides the projecting terminal contact
plates QR of the movable portion of the connector into the beforementioned
openings in the fixed portion thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
First The improved electrical connector consisting of a base block having a
projecting central boss with flat sides, main terminal contact plates secured to the
said base block opposite to the flat sides of the said boss, and a perforated cap or
cover plate screwed to the said base block; also of a movable portion consisting of
a cap or cover into which is screwed a disc of non-conducting material carrying the
terminal contact plates of the wires or conductors of the electric lamp or other
electric apparatus to be connected, such terminal contact plates being adapted to
pass through the openings between the edge of the hole in the cap or cover plate of
the base block and the flat sides of the boss thereof, and to make contact with the
main terminal contact plates constructed, combined and arranged substantially as
hereinbefore described, and illustrated in the drawings.
Second-The improved electrical connector constructed substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in the drawings.
Dated this 5th day of Februar 1901
J. APPLETON.
E. L. JOSEPH.
Per W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent.