Electrical connector

Electrical connectors – Metallic connector or contact having movable or resilient... – Screw-thread operated securing part

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C439S811000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06186839

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector. More specifically, it relates to a pressure screw connector utilized to securely connect an electrical cable to a terminal block without damaging the exposed wire ends of the electrical cable.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A variety of prior art pressure screw connectors have been proposed to connect an electrical cable to a terminal block. However, such devices typically involve a screw which when tightened, compresses the exposed wires of the cable between the screw end and the bottom of a screw opening in the terminal block. Such systems may damage the exposed wires because of the rotational force imparted to the wires by the rotating screw. While some systems do exist which prevent rotational force being imparted to the wires, such as, for example, a split bolt, such systems typically are limited to a particular wire gauge or to a narrow range of wire sizes. Therefore, there remains a need for a connector which can be utilized on a wide range of wire sizes (both solid and stranded) which imparts only an axial force upon the wires and which does not impart any rotational force which could damage the wires.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An electrical connector is disclosed which comprises a terminal block having threaded screw opening provided in a first surface thereof. The screw opening has a pair of longitudinally extending groves on opposite sides of a cylindrical side wall of the screw opening. The terminal block also has a cable opening on a surface adjacent said first surface. The cable opening extends longitudinally into said screw opening.
A screw member is provided having a threaded outer surface. A first end of the screw member is adapted to be received by the threaded screw opening. The screw member is provided with a generally diamond shaped compression member which is rotatably mounted to a shaft provided on said first end of the screw member. The diamond shaped compression member has two rounded corners provided on a long axis of the member, whereby when a cable is inserted into the cable opening and the first end of the screw member is inserted into the screw opening, the two rounded corners of the compression member slide in and are guided by said longitudinally extending groves as the screw member is threaded into said screw hole. As a result, the diamond shaped compression member is moved only longitudinally (axially) onto said cable compressing exposed wires of the cable between the compression member and a bottom surface of the screw opening. Such action secures the cable in the terminal block with the diamond compression block restrained against rotation during rotation of said screw.
Preferably, the generally diamond shaped compression member also has two additional corners provided on a short axis of the member which freely pass through the screw opening when the screw member is threaded into the screw opening.
The terminal block preferably includes a socket contact in the form of a female pin receptacle electrically connected to said terminal block.
The screw member preferably has a second end which has a hexagonal opening therein adapted to receive a hex key wrench.
The connector of the present invention is preferably utilized to make an electrical connection between an electrical cable and various types of information technology equipment.
In an alternate form of the invention, the generally diamond shaped compression member has a generally circular shape with said two rounded corners in the form of tabs extending on opposite sides of said member. As used herein, the term generally diamond shaped is intended to include such a structure.
Preferably, the cable opening has a plurality of concentric groves provided therein to aid in securing the cable is said terminal block. Further, the bottom of the screw opening is preferably generally flat and has a plurality of transverse groves provided therein to aid in securing the cable is said terminal block.
Preferably, the diamond shaped compression member is rotatably attached to said shaft by means of a drive screw or, alternatively, by a rivet.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, said terminal block and said diamond shaped compression member are formed of tin plated copper and said screw is formed of stainless steel.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2201674 (1940-05-01), Rowe et al.
patent: 2222156 (1940-11-01), Rowe
patent: 0449152 (1935-03-01), None
McMaster-Carr Supply Company Catalog 104 Split-Bolt Splices, p. 1, Lines 17-20; date 1998.

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