Electrical connectors – Contact comprising cutter – Insulation cutter
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-21
2001-11-20
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Contact comprising cutter
Insulation cutter
C439S409000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06319046
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connection unit for establishing an electrically conductive contact with an insulated lead or a stripped lead. In particular, the present invention relates to such an electrical connection unit where the metal part functions as a contact element that cuts the insulation of the insulated lead when the insulated lead is inserted.
2. Description of the Related Art
For many years, there have been various electrical connection units including terminals to which electrical leads can be easily connected without prior stripping of the insulation from an electrically conductive core. To accomplish this, the insulated lead is inserted into a lead receiver of the terminal and then pressed into a cutting element by which the insulation of the lead is cut through and the core of the lead is contacted with the cutting element. There are numerous embodiments of these types of terminals for the connection of insulated leads. These numerous embodiments generally differ in how the lead inserted into the lead receiver is pressed into the cutting element. By using these terminals, a significant time advantage and savings may be attained in the connection of leads since the preparation and stripping of the electrical leads are eliminated. Of course, there have been other types of electrical connection units, which have been known for many decades, that include terminals for connecting stripped electrical leads.
A product catalog of the company WAGO Kontakttechnik, GmbH. discloses an electrical connection unit of the initially mentioned type. This electrical connection unit includes both the cutting elements and also the spring element so that both insulated leads and also stripped leads can be connected to the connection unit. However, this disclosed electrical connection has a significant disadvantage in that due to the arrangement of the cutting elements in a separate plane above the spring element, the connection unit has relatively large dimensions, in particular, a very large height dimension. This large dimension is a very significant disadvantage because the relatively large size of the electrical connection unit limits its application and prevents its use in confined spaces where the simplified use of such electrical connection units is especially desirable.
In particular, the continuous reduction in the size of the circuit boards themselves and the miniaturization of the components located on the circuit board has required that electrical connection units located on the circuit board to have very small dimensions. In addition, there are numerous other applications in which electrical connection units with very small dimensions are necessary due to the very small availability of the connection space, such as when leads are being installed. Thus, there exists an unfulfilled need for such an electrical connection unit which can be used with both insulated and stripped leads but also having very small dimensions such that the electrical connection unit may be used in confined spaces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connection unit which can be used with both insulated and stripped leads.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such an electrical connection unit having very small dimensions such that the electrical connection unit may be used in confined spaces.
The above noted objects are achieved by providing an improved electrical connection unit including a metal part having both, the cutting element, and also the spring element which are located substantially coplanar along a longitudinal extension of the lead. Because the cutting element and the spring element are located in the longitudinal extension of the lead and not on top of one another, as in the prior art, the height of the electrical connection unit can be greatly reduced. This allows the use of the electrical connection unit in confined spaces such as on a circuit board.
In one embodiment of the electrical connection unit in accordance with the present invention, the cutting element and the spring element is simply one metal part. This reduces the number of components which form the electrical connection unit, while also allowing a simple and quick production of the connection unit. When the cutting element and the spring element are made in one piece in accordance with this embodiment, the metal part which implements the cutting element and the spring element, can be easily inserted into the housing. If necessary, the metal part can be retained in the housing by a corresponding catch means in the housing.
According to another embodiment of the electrical connection unit in accordance with the present invention, the cutting element and the spring element coincide in space such that they are substantially coplanar. In this way, a further reduction in size of the connection unit is made possible. In addition, the production of the connection unit is also further simplified. The metal part in this embodiment may be box-shaped and include laterally elastic legs. The free ends of the laterally elastic legs may be provided with cutting edges for making contact with an insulated lead. The box-shaped metal part and the resulting overall box-shaped configuration of the connection unit enables a very simple arrangement of several connection units in a row to serve as a terminal block. Furthermore, such metal part can be manufactured very easily, for example, by stamping.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Wago Kontaktechnik GmbH, A Page of Product Catalog, Sep., 1998.
Feye-Hohmann Jurgen
Löhmann Gunther
Schadhauser Klaus
Nixon & Peabody LLP
Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co.
Safran David S.
Sircus Brian
Zarroli Michael C.
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