Electrical connectors – Contact comprising cutter – Resiliently biased
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-05
2001-08-28
Leubke, Renee (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Contact comprising cutter
Resiliently biased
Reexamination Certificate
active
06280233
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an electrical connector that includes a resilient clamping member having a clamping leg that biases a conductor laterally into electrical engagement with a stationary contact, and a support leg that is operable by a release tool to disengage the clamping leg from the conductor. The clamping leg has a clamping edge adapted to dig into the periphery of the conductor, thereby to resist withdrawal of the conductor from engagement with the contact.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
As evidenced by the German patent No. DE 2802269, it has been proposed in the prior art to provide a resilient electrical contact having a clamping edge that is directed toward the periphery of a conductor, thereby to engage the same to prevent withdrawal of the conductor from the housing within which the contact is mounted. The clamping leg is adapted to be displaced toward a released position relative to the conductor by an operating tool. This arrangement possesses the drawback of the possibility of damage to the conductor by the clamping edge during the withdrawal of the conductor from the contact housing. Furthermore, the clamping member has a rather complicated structure owing to the requirement of a special activation bracket and because, in the front region of the connector chamber, a separate access opening is required through which the activation tool is inserted during movement toward the activation bracket.
On the other hand, as proposed in the German patent No. 2062158, the free end of the clamping leg may be bent slightly in an attempt to avoid damage to conductor during its withdrawal from the contact housing. This structure has the drawback that the activating portions are provided on the contact leg itself for lateral activation or for activation from above, thereby complicating the contact design but also, in the case of lateral arrangement, makes the provision of multi-row design impossible.
The present invention was developed to avoid the above and other drawbacks of the known connection art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a resilient connector that is positively and reliably operable to release the conductor for damage free withdrawal from the contact housing, characterized in that the clamping leg of the clamping member is operable by a release tool toward a released position in which an offset terminal portion of the clamping leg that carries the clamping edge is no longer directed toward the conductor, whereby withdraw of the conductor is unhindered, and damage to the conductor is avoided.
According to another object of the invention, the release tool is operable to engage the support leg of the resilient clamping member to displace the clamping leg toward the released position relative to the conductor, thereby to avoid damage to, and permanent undesirable deformation of the clamping leg portion of the resilient clamping member.
A further object of the invention is to provide the clamping leg of the clamping member with an offset terminal portion that carries the clamping edge, whereby when in the disengaged position, the offset portion is parallel with and spaced from the conductor.
Another object of the invention is to design the portion of the support leg adjacent the juncture between the support and clamping legs for engagement by a release tool having an oblique activating surface, orientation means being provided for assuring that the release tool has the proper orientation about its longitudinal axis relative to the surface of the support leg which it is to engage. Stop means may be provided on the resilient clamping member and/or the housing to limit the extent of angular displacement of the clamping leg relative to the support leg, thereby to avoid overload and permanent undesirable deformation of the clamping member.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5445528 (1995-08-01), Frantz
patent: 5454730 (1995-10-01), Tonzuka
patent: 5684735 (1997-11-01), Hohorst
patent: 5876237 (1999-03-01), Patel et al.
patent: 5975940 (2000-06-01), Hartmann et al.
patent: 2062158 (1979-04-01), None
patent: 2802269 (1989-04-01), None
Beege Werner
Domrath Manfred
Radde Werner
Ruhm Reinhard
Steinmetz Klaus
Figueroa Felix O.
Laubscher & Laubscher
Leubke Renee
Weidmuller Interface GmbH & Co.
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