Rotatable electrical connector for coiled telephone cord

[3. The invention as recited in claim 2 wherein the said two groups of spring wire contact elements are formed by a series of common pairs of spring wire contact elements, where each common pair of contact elements enagages a separate one of the said continuous conductive

• rings on the opposite sides thereof.] 4. The invention as recited in claim [3] 1 wherein the single longitudinal split in the wall of the cylindrical hollow rotor stops short of the said journal
• so that the journal is unbroken. 5. The invention as recited in claim 4 wherein each spring wire contact element is of hairpin shape, having an outwardly bowed upright section, where the top of the contact element is formed at an reentrant angle that extends downwardly as a vertical wiping contact portion for engaging the side of one of the continuous conductive rings, wherein the spring wire contact elements exert substantially equal opposing forces against the opposite sides of the conductive rings to
• provide a balanced rotating assemblage. 6. The invention as recited in claim 5 wherein the said rotor assembly is furnished with a journal on
• both opposite ends thereof. 7. The invention as recited in claim 6 wherein a bearing is formed intermediate the length of the connector housing to
• support the innermost journal therein. 8. The invention as recited in claim 6 wherein the opposite end wall of the connector housing has a circular opening aligned with the circular opening in the other end of the housing for supporting the two journals of the rotor assembly within the circular bearings of these two end walls, the said plurality of spring wire contact elements being molded into the base portion of the housing, where each common pair of contact elements is provided with external
• terminal means extending through a sidewall of the base portion. 9. The invention as recited in claim 7 wherein a circuit board means is mounted within the said connector housing having a circuit element for cooperation with each opposing pair of spring wire contact elements, said circuit elements being joined to a second plurality of spring wire contact elements at one end of the connector housing that is opposite the said end wall that includes the circular bearing for receiving the journal of the rotor assembly, where this second plurality of spring wire contact elements serve as terminal means within a female socket built into that
• end of the connector housing for receiving a male phone plug therein. 10. The invention as recited in claim 9 wherein the said partitions formed in the top cover portion of the connector housing extend downwardly into the lower base portion and engage the top surface of the circuit board for holding the circuit board firmly in place in the assembled condition of
• the connector. 11. A low friction rotatable electrical connector for use with a coiled telephone cord, said connector comprising:
• a. a hollow insulated housing of generally cylindrical form that is split longitudinally into a base portion and a cover portion, and assembly means for holding the base and cover portions together;
• b. and a hollow cylindrical rotor assembly of insulating material having a journal at each opposite end for supporting the rotor assembly within the said housing for freedom of relative rotational movement therebetween about a central longitudinal axis, the rotor assembly having a longitudinal slot in the wall thereof;
• c. a plurality of continuous conductive rings mounted along the length of the rotor assembly, and separator means for spacing them apart from each other, each conductive ring having a separate insulated conductor integral therewith on the underside thereof and extending through the said longitudinal slot, and each conductor extending out one end of the rotor assembly and adapted for connection between the rotor assembly rings and a standard phone conductor;
• d. a plurality of spring wire contact elements mounted within the said base portion of the housing in a vertical parallel array, each spring wire contact element being of hairpin shape having a free end portion biased into continuous wiping contact with one of the said conductive rings for making a reliable electrical connection between the relatively movable housing and rotor assembly, one-half of the spring wire contacts being on the two opposite of the rotor assembly to balance the spring forces acting upon the rotor assembly, the said spring wire contact elements having terminal means that cooperate together for joining the housing contacts to a standard phone connector;
• e. the said cover portion of the housing having partition means extending between adjacent spring wire contact elements to both stabilize the contacts and space them apart[.] ;
• and,
• f. the opposite end wall of the hollow housing has a circular opening for
• receiving the second journal of the rotor assembly. 12. The invention as recited in claim 11 wherein there are four continuous conductive rings mounted on the rotor assembly, and there is an opposing pair of spring wire contact elements wiping each conductive ring, where each opposing pair of contact elements is joined together to be in common
• with each other and having a single terminal means. 13. The invention as recited in claim 11 where there is but a single spring wire contact element in wiping contact with each continuous conductive ring, where adjacent rings are furnished with spring wire contacts on opposite sides
• of the rotor assembly. 14. The invention as recited in claim 11 wherein one end wall of the cylindrical housing is furnished with a circular opening for receiving the journal of the rotor assembly therein, the housing having a bearing intermediate the length thereof for receiving the second journal of the rotor assembly therein.

A low friction rotatable connector for use with a coiled telephone cord, comprising:

• a) a housing comprised of an insulating material and having an opening extending therethrough between a first end and a second end;
• b) an insert comprised of insulating material positioned in said housing;
• c) a rotor assembly comprised of an insulating material journaled in said housing for permitting rotation of said housing relative to said rotor assembly;
• d) a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart conductor means disposed about said rotor assembly;
• e) first circuit means extending from said rotor assembly, said first circuit means including a plurality of first circuit elements and each of said first circuit elements in circuit connection with one of said conductor means;
• f) a plurality of resilient contact means associated with and extending from said insert, each of said contact means wipingly engaged with one of said conductor means for maintaining circuit connection therewith;
• g) second circuit means disposed in said housing, said second circuit means including a plurality of second circuit elements and each of said second circuit elements in circuit connection with one of said contact means and one of said circuit means for connection with a telephone handset and the other of said circuit means for connection with a telephone base for maintaining a continuous circuit between the handset and the base;
• h) said conductor means being disposed proximate one of said ends;
• and,
• i) each of said contact means including a first portion in wiping contact with the associated conductor means and a second portion extending therefrom to the other of said ends.

A low friction rotatable electrical connector for use with a coiled telephone cord, comprising:

• a) a housing comprised of an insulating material and having an opening extending therethrough between a first end and a second end;
• b) a generally cylindrical rotor assembly comprised of an insulating material journaled in said housing first end and permitting rotation of said rotor assembly relative to said housing;
• c) a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart conductor means disposed about said rotor assembly and rotatable therewith;
• d) first circuit means extending from said rotor assembly, said first circuit means including a plurality of first circuit elements and each first circuit element having a portion in circuit connection with one of said conductor means;
• e) a plurality of resilient contact means positioned in said housing and each contact means having a first portion in wiping contact with one of said conductor means for maintaining circuit connection therewith;
• f) said contact means including circuit means extending towards said second end and said second circuit means including a plurality of second circuit elements and each of said second circuit elements in circuit connection with one of said contact means and one of said circuit means for connection with a telephone handset and the other of said circuit means for connection with a telephone base so that a continuous circuit is maintained between the handset and the base;
• g) said conductor means being disposed proximate said first end;
• h) said contact means including a second portion disposed proximate said second end;
• i) each second portion terminating in an apex proximate said second end;
• and,
• j) a third portion comprising a second circuit element extending from said apex angularly disposed to the axis of said rotor assembly.