Electrical connectors – Contact comprising cutter – Resiliently biased
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-09
2001-09-25
Ta, Tho D. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Contact comprising cutter
Resiliently biased
C439S439000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293816
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to electrical connectors and methods of utilizing the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to wire-trap electrical connectors having a flexible wire-trap member and a number of contact tails attached thereto.
2. Background of the Invention
Wire-trap connectors are widely used for making an electrical connection between an external electrical wire, having a stripped distal end exposing the conductor, and a wire clamping electrical contact located within the connector. In general, the stripped end of the wire is inserted within a wire insertion opening located on the outside of the wire-trap connector in order to make an electrical connection between the conductor and the clamping contact. Once the wire is inserted within the connector, the wire clamping electrical contact forms an electrical connection with the wire and prevents extraction of the wire from the connector without the use of a wire extraction tool.
To release the wire from the connector, the wire extraction tool is inserted within a wire release opening located on the outside of the connector. Once inserted, the wire extraction tool pushes against a portion of the clamping electrical contact which causes the release of the wire.
However, problems arise with commonly known and used wire-trap connectors, particularly as the size of the connector is decreased. For example, electrical arcing can occur between adjacent contact tails because the tails are spaced too close to each other when the length of the connector is reduced. In addition, a reduction in flexibility of the wire-trap member can occur as the width of the connector is reduced. The flexibility is reduced because the length of the cantilevered tab is reduced to accommodate a reduction in the width of the connector. In this regard, securing the wire within the connector can become increasingly difficult.
A need, therefore exists, to provide a wire-trap connector that includes a flexible wire-trap tab and maintains a high arc resistance as the connector is reduced in size.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a wire-trap connector that includes a wire-trap member adapted to apply a force in order to secure the wire within the connector. The applied force generates a torsional force within the wire-trap connector. The wire-trap member of the present invention also includes a number of contact tails attached to the wire-trap member which are spaced along the width of the connector. Any one of the contact tails is removable apart from the contact and the electrical connector. In this regard, the wire-trap connector of the present invention provides enhanced performance with respect to securing the wire and/or preventing arcing as the size of the connector is reduced.
To this end, in an embodiment of the present invention, an electrical connector is provided. The electrical connector includes a housing that has a housing width and a number of chambers that each define a first opening and a second opening wherein the first opening is adapted to receive a wire conductor. The electrical connector also includes a contact mounted within at least one of the chambers wherein the contact includes a wire-trap member and a number of contact tails attached to the wire-trap member. The tails are spaced apart along at least a portion of the housing width extending through the second opening of the chamber. The wire-trap member is adapted to apply a force for restricting movement of the wire conductor. When the electrical connector does not receive the wire conductor, a portion of the wire-trap member exists in a first plane, the contact tails exist in a second plane, and the contact exists in only the first plane and the second plane. Additionally, the first plane is not the same as the second plane.
In another embodiment, a high arc resistant connector is provided. The high arc resistant connector includes a housing that has a housing width and a number of chambers that each define a top opening wherein the top opening is adapted to receive a wire conductor. The high arc resistant connector further includes a contact mounted within at least one of the chambers. The contact includes a wire-trap member and a number of contact tails attached to the wire-trap member wherein the wire-trap member defines a C-shaped member for generating a torsional force within the contact and for apply a force to secure the wire conductor. The high arc resistant connector also includes a means for releasing the wire conductor.
In yet another embodiment, a method for securing a wire conductor within an electrical connector is provided. The method includes the steps of providing the electrical connector including a housing that has a number of chambers each defining an opening and a contact mounted within at least one of the chambers; inserting the wire conductor into the opening of at least one of the chambers; applying a force to the wire conductor directed from the contact and generating a torsional force within the contact; and restricting movement of the wire conductor.
It is, therefore, an advantage of the present invention to provide an electrical connector that includes a wire-trap member which is adapted to apply a force to restrict the movement of a wire conductor secured within the connector.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector that includes a number of contact tails which are spaced along the width of the connector to prevent electrical arcing.
A further advantage of the present invention is to provide a wire-trap connector that provides enhanced performance to restrict the movement of a wire conductor and/or to prevent arcing as the size of the connector is reduced.
A still further advantage of the present invention is to provide a wire-trap connector that can be manufactured at reduced cost and that can provide enhanced performance as the size of the connector is reduced.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5174784 (1992-12-01), Penning
patent: 5292260 (1994-03-01), Sinisi et al.
patent: 5494456 (1996-02-01), Kozel et al.
Lemke Kenneth P.
Scheitz John T.
Kovach Karl D.
Methode Electronics Inc.
Ta Tho D.
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