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CA-3130493-C - QUICK CONNECT DEVICE WITH TRANSVERSE RELEASE

CA3130493CCA 3130493 CCA3130493 CCA 3130493CCA-3130493-C

Abstract

A known quick connect electrical connector has plug which has a spindle through which a rod is passed. Metal balls are contained within the spindle and can be pushed radially outwardly by a widened portion of the rod to lock the spindle to a passage in a corresponding socket. To separate the plug and socket, the rod must be pushed to move the widened portion away from the balls. To accomplish this, a cam follower is attached to the rod. Slide supports are attached to the plug. A lever slides within the slide supports and has a cam surface which pushes the cam follower when the lever is slid within the slide supports. When the cam follower is pushed, it moves the rod to enable the metal balls to move radially inwards to release the plug from the socket.

Inventors

  • RAN ROLAND KOHEN

Assignees

  • RAN ROLAND KOHEN

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20200220
Priority Date
20190220

Claims (17)

  1. WE CLAIM: 1. A device for releasing a connection between an electric plug and a socket connectable to an electrical signal, the socket including a socket body having at least one internal cavity therein, at least one electrically conductive contact terminal disposed within the cavity for establishing an electrical connection between the electrical signal and the socket, and a cylinder having an internal ridge, the plug comprising a plug body having at least one electrically conductive ring insertable into the internal cavity of the socket to form an electrical connection between the electrically conductive ring and the electrically conductive contact of the socket, a spindle having a portion insertable into the socket cylinder, one or more balls movable within the insertable portion of the spindle and displaceable radially to be positionable adjacent the internal ridge of the socket when the spindle portion is inserted into the socket, a rod movable within the spindle portion and including one or more recesses positionable in a releasing first position adjacent to the one or more balls, and positionable in a locking second position away from the one or more balls, when the rod is slid axially within the spindle, the balls moveable away from the internal ridge of the socket when the rod is in the first position, the device comprising: a cam follower connectable to an end of the rod; at least one slide support affixed with respect to the plug body; a lever supported by and slideable within the at least one slide support, the lever including a cam surface contactable with the cam follower when the lever is slid within the at least one slide support, whereby the lever can be slid to push the cam surface against the cam follower to move the follower and thereby move the rod to position the rod into the first position, wherein the rod is urged into the second position by a rod biasing element, and wherein the lever is urged by a lever biasing element into a position whereby the cam follower follows the cam surface to cause the rod to be moved by the rod biasing element into the second position.
  2. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the lever moves orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the 23 Date re~ue/Date received 2024-04-22 spindle.
  3. 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the lever includes an expandable ring at a free end.
  4. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the lever further includes a slot through which a pin is passed to guide and limit an extent of movement of the lever.
  5. 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one slide support is affixed to the plug body when the device is connected to a plug.
  6. 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one slide support includes two slide supports affixed to the plug body on opposite sides of the spindle when the device is connected to a plug.
  7. 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the two slide supports are mutually connected by a crossmember including an opening through which the spindle passes when the device is connected to a plug.
  8. 8. The device of claim 7, wherein the opening in the cross-member is provided with threads.
  9. 9. The device of claim 1, further including a spring engaged with one of the at least one slide supports at a first end and engaged with the lever at a second end opposite the first end.
  10. 10. The device of claim 1, further including a canopy sized to cover the device when the device is connected to a plug, the canopy including an opening through which an end of the lever may be contacted from an exterior of the canopy.
  11. 11. The device of claim 1, further including a second cam follower, the lever including a second cam surface separated from the first cam surface, the second cam surf ace 24 Date re~ue/Date received 2024-04-22 contactable with the second cam follower, wherein when the plug has a spindle engaged by two pins positioned on opposite sides of the spindle, and when the device is connected to a plug, each of the cam follower and the second cam follower are connected to a different one of the two pins.
  12. 12. The device of claim 11, wherein the lever is provided with an opening positioned between the cam surface and the second cam surf ace.
  13. 13. A device for releasing a connection between an electric plug and a socket connectable to an electrical signal, the socket including a socket body having at least one internal cavity therein, at least one electrically conductive contact terminal disposed within the cavity for establishing an electrical connection between the electrical signal and the socket, and a cylinder having an internal ridge, the plug comprising a plug body having at least one electrically conductive ring insertable into the internal cavity of the socket to form an electrical connection between the electrically conductive ring and the electrically conductive contact of the socket, a spindle having a portion insertable into the socket cylinder, one or more balls movable within the insertable portion of the spindle and displaceable radially to be positionable adjacent the internal ridge of the socket when the spindle portion is inserted into the socket, a rod movable within the spindle portion and including one or more recesses positionable in a releasing first position adjacent to the one or more balls, and positionable in a locking second position away from the one or more balls, when the rod is slid axially within the spindle, the balls moveable away from the internal ridge of the socket when the rod is in the first position, the device comprising: a cam follower connectable to an end of the rod; at least one slide support affixed with respect to the plug body; a lever supported by and slideable within the at least one slide support, the lever including a cam surface contactable with the cam follower when the lever is slid within the at least one slide support, whereby the lever can be slid to push the cam surface against the cam follower to move the follower and thereby move the rod to position the rod into the first position, Date re~ue/Date received 2024-04-22 wherein the device is contained within a central hub but for a portion of the lever which extends from the central hub, further including a plurality of modules electrically connectable to the hub, each of the plurality of modules including an electronic circuit, at least one of the modules including a sensor selected from at least one of a receiver, a transmitter, a smoke detector, a motion sensor.
  14. 14. The device of claim 13, wherein the lever extends between two of the plurality of modules.
  15. 15. The device of claim 1, further including a lamp head, the lamp head connected to the plug, the device positioned within the lamp head and proximate the plug.
  16. 16. A device for releasing a connection between an electric plug and a socket connectable to an electrical signal, the socket including a socket body having at least one internal cavity therein, at least one electrically conductive contact terminal disposed within the cavity for establishing an electrical connection between the electrical signal and the socket, and a cylinder having an internal ridge, the plug comprising a plug body having at least one electrically conductive ring insertable into the internal cavity of the socket to form an electrical connection between the electrically conductive ring and the electrically conductive contact of the socket, a spindle having a portion insertable into the socket cylinder, one or more balls movable within the insertable portion of the spindle and displaceable radially to be positionable adjacent the internal ridge of the socket when the spindle portion is inserted into the socket, a rod movable within the spindle portion and including one or more recesses positionable in a releasing first position adjacent to the one or more balls, and positionable in a locking second position away from the one or more balls, when the rod is slid axially within the spindle, the balls moveable away from the internal ridge of the socket when the rod is in the first position, the device comprising: a conical cam follower connectable to an end of the rod; at least one slide support affixed with respect to the plug body; a lever supported by and slideable within the at least one slide support, the lever including a 26 Date re~ue/Date received 2024-04-22 conical cam surface corresponding to the cam follower and contactable with the cam follower when the lever is slid within the at least one slide support, whereby the lever can be slid to push the cam surface against the cam follower to move the follower and thereby move the rod to position the rod into the first position; and a biasing element attached to the lever and one of the at least one slide supports to urge the lever into a resting position in which the lever is not pushing the cam follower.
  17. 17. The device of claim 16, wherein the at least one slide support includes two slide supports, each connected to the plug. 27 Date re~ue/Date received 2024-04-22

Description

QUICK CONNECT DEVICE WITH TRANSVERSE RELEASE Listing of Related Patents and Applications This disclosure relates to U.S. Patent Application No. 62/486, 132 filed April 17, 2017; 5 PCT International Patent Application No. PCT/US18/27956 filed April 17, 2018 (published as WO 2018/195068 Al); U.S. Patent Application No. 62/467,176 filed March 5, 2017; PCT International Patent Application No. PCT/US2016/032170 filed May 12, 2016 (published as WO 2016/183354 Al); U.S. Patent Nos. 7,462,066 filed March 20, 2007; 7,192,303 filed December 2, 2004; and 6,962,498 filed December 12, 2001; and to U.S. Patent Application 10 Publication No. 2009/0280673 filed December 2, 2005; U.S. Provisional Applications 62/160,585 filed May 12, 2015; 62/308,718, filed March 15, 2016; 62/467,176 filed March 5, 2017; 62,470,170 filed March 10, 2017; 62/515,464, filed June 5, 2017; and U.S. Patent Application No. 62/807,889 filed February 20, 2019. Field of the Disclosure The disclosure relates to electrical connectors and fixtures, and more particularly to an electrical plug and socket combination enabling tool-less connection and mounting of electrical fixtures at electrical outlets, the connector and/or fixtures including a release and attachment 20 latch mechanism. The disclosure relates to so-called "smart" electrical connectors and fixtures as well as electrical connectors and fixtures which are not smart. Background of the Disclosure There are a number of commercially available systems termed 'smart-home environment' 25 systems, which can include one or more sensors and network-connected devices. These smarthome devices can sometimes intercommunicate and integrate together within the smart-home environment. The smart-home devices may also communicate with cloud-based smart-home control and/or data-processing systems in order to distribute control functionality, to access higher-capacity and more reliable computational facilities, and to integrate a particular smart 30 home into a larger, multi-home or geographical smart-home-device-based aggregation. Techniques for installing electrical fixtures and appliances such as lighting fixtures and fans on walls or ceilings usually require the assistance of a qualified electrician, and the use of a variety of tools and specialized hardware. The procedure for installing or uninstalling such fixtures can also be relatively time consuming, even when performed by an experienced 35 installer, and can be hazardous. In addition to the need for hand-wiring the necessary electrical 1 Date re<;ue/Date received 2024-04-22 WO 2020/172390 PCT /US2020/019010 connections between the fixture and electrical power supply wiring, the installer must make separate mechanical connections for supporting or suspending the fixture in place. Summary of the Disclosure 5 One aspect of the disclosure relates to a device for releasing a connection between an electric plug and a socket connectable to an electrical signal. The socket includes (a) a socket body having (b) at least one internal cavity therein, (c) at least one electrically conductive contact terminal disposed within the cavity for establishing an electrical connection between the electrical signal and the socket, and (d) a cylinder having an internal ridge. The plug comprises 10 (a) a plug body having (b) at least one electrically conductive ring insertable into the internal cavity of the socket to form an electrical connection between the electrically conductive ring and the electrically conductive contact of the socket, (c) a spindle having a portion insertable into the socket cylinder, (d) one or more balls movable within the insertable portion of the spindle and displaceable radially to be positionable adjacent the internal ridge of the socket when the spindle 15 portion is inserted into the socket, (e) a rod movable within the spindle portion and including one or more recesses positionable in a releasing first position adjacent to the one or more balls, and positionable in a locking second position away from the one or more balls, when the rod is slid axially within the spindle, the balls moveable away from the internal ridge of the socket when the rod is in the first position. 20 In an embodiment, the device comprises a cam follower connectable to an end of the rod; at least one slide support affixed with respect to the plug body; and a lever supported by and slideable within the at least one slide support. The lever includes a cam surface contactable with the cam follower when the lever is slid within the channel, whereby the lever can be slid to push the cam surface against the cam follower to move the follower and thereby move the rod to 25 position the rod into the first position. The rod can be urged into the second position by a rod biasing element. The lever can be urged by a lever biasing element into a position whereby the cam follower follows the cam surface to cause the rod to be moved by the rod biasing element into the second position. T