Electrical connectors – Contact comprising cutter – Insulation cutter
Patent
1996-09-25
1998-03-17
Swann, J. J.
Electrical connectors
Contact comprising cutter
Insulation cutter
439488, H01R 426
Patent
active
057279659
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD TO WHICH THE INVENTION BELONGS
The present invention relates to a branch connector apparatus which can be used in an electrical wiring operation.
PRIOR ART
For instance, in a domestic low-voltage wiring operation, a double-core flat cable with a vinyl insulator (referred to as a WF cable hereinafter), in which two conductors (corresponding to electric wires) insulated by insulators extend in parallel and are surrounded by a sheath (protection cover) in an oval shape in cross section is usually used as a main conductor.
The applicant of the present application has proposed an extremely rational and inexpensive connector apparatus in which a branch conductor can be branched from a main conductor, that is, the branch conductor can be connected to the main conductor, without cutting the main conductor (VVF cable) (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-130409). In this connector apparatus, no removal of the sheath and/or the insulator from the cable of the main conductor side or the branch conductor side is necessary, thus resulting in an increase in the operating efficiency.
In the connector apparatus mentioned above, it is impossible to identify the polarity of the two conductors of the main cable. Consequently, the branch conductor is twisted so as to meet the polarity of a terminal allotter after the branch conductor is connected. However, the twisting of the branch conductor is not desirable, and hence, need has risen to propose a connector in which the polarity of the main cable can be easily discriminated from the outside, so that the branch conductor can be correctly connected.
To this end, according to the present invention, an attempt has been made to improve the above mentioned apparatus, proposed by the applicant, by realizing a branch connector apparatus in which the sheath of the main conductor can be safely and easily removed; the polarity of the conductor can be judged in accordance with the color (white or black) of the insulator surrounding the conductor; and, the connection of the branch conductor can be appropriately carried out.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the object mentioned above, according to the present invention, there is provided a branch connector apparatus comprising, portions; conductor including an insulated multi-core flat sheath cable is inserted, a branch conductor inserting portion in which an insulated branch conductor made of an insulated electrical wire is inserted, and a connector inserting portion in which a connector is inserted,
wherein upon inserting the connector into the housing, one of said conductive contacts pierces an insulating portion of the main conductor to engage with a conductor portion of the main conductor, and the other conductive contact pierces an insulating portion of the branch conductor to engage with a corresponding conductor portion of the branch conductor, so that an electrical connection therebetween can be established, characterized in that;
provision is made of a sheath cutter which cuts only the sheath portion of the main conductor to expose
the insulating portion of the main conductor, the housing is provided with a sheath cutter inserting portion in which the sheath cutter is guided to cut and remove the sheath.
Preferably, openings are provided in the sheath cutter and the housing so that the insulating portions which are exposed by cutting and removing the corresponding sheath portions can be viewed from the outside of the housing, upon insertion of the sheath cutter in the housing.
Preferably, an opening is provided in the housing so that the insulating portion which is exposed by cutting and removing the corresponding sheath portion can be viewed from the outside of the housing, upon insertion of the sheath cutter in the housing, and wherein at least the corresponding portion of the sheath cutter is at least semi-transparent.
The two conductive contacts of the connector are preferably provided with elongated slits which receive therein the conductor portions of the main conductor or the branch cond
REFERENCES:
patent: 3573713 (1971-04-01), Enright
patent: 4695107 (1987-09-01), Leppert
patent: 5435747 (1995-07-01), Frankx et al.
patent: 5520549 (1996-05-01), Tanaka et al.
McNutt Matthew B.
Swann J. J.
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