Electrical connectors – Contact comprising cutter – Resiliently biased
Reexamination Certificate
2003-02-05
2004-08-31
Patel, Tulsidas C. (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Contact comprising cutter
Resiliently biased
Reexamination Certificate
active
06783385
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to an electrical connector configured to connect a wire to a contact. More particularly, the present invention relates to an electrical connector that utilizes an actuator and clamping member to secure a wire to a contact.
In many electronics applications, a conductive wire extending from a first electronic component is connected to a conductive contact that engages a second electronic component.
FIG. 12
illustrates an exploded view of a conventional electrical connector
8
used to make such an electrical connection. The electrical connector
8
includes a rectangular housing
9
that carries a plurality of spring clamps
11
and contacts
13
within a chamber
15
. Each spring clamp
11
has a base piece
17
that is formed with a beam portion
19
. The beam portion
19
has a window
27
cut therein that receives a tab
29
extending from an arm portion
23
. The tab
29
is moved laterally within the window
27
by flexing the arm portion
23
. Each contact
13
has a first end
33
that extends outward from a front end of the housing
9
. The first end
33
of the contact
13
may be configured to be electrically connected to an electronic component in a number of ways. A second end
35
of the contact
13
extends into the chamber
15
and into the window
27
near the tab
29
.
FIG. 13
illustrates an isometric view of the assembled electrical connector
8
. The housing
9
has wire openings
37
that receive stripped wires
45
. The wire openings
37
join the chamber
15
(FIG.
12
). The housing
9
also includes tooling openings
39
proximate each wire opening
37
. An operator inserts a screwdriver
43
into a tooling opening
39
until the tip of the screwdriver is located proximate an elbow
21
(
FIG. 12
) on the corresponding spring clamp
11
(FIG.
12
). The screwdriver
43
is used to pry the elbow
21
such that the beam portion
19
(
FIG. 12
) and window
27
(
FIG. 12
) on the spring clamp
11
are deflected laterally with respect to the tab
29
. The operator then inserts the wire
45
into the window
27
and removes the screwdriver
43
from the tooling opening
39
to release the spring clamp
11
such that the spring clamp
11
flexes back to its normal resting position. The wire
45
is thus secured to the contact
13
(FIG.
12
).
However, the foregoing conventional connector suffers from several drawbacks. To insert the wire into the window properly, the operator must deflect the spring clamp with a screwdriver. To do so, the operator inserts the screwdriver into the tooling opening, aligns the screwdriver with the spring clamp and applies enough force to the spring clamp to open the window for the wire. The operator must then hold the spring clamp in the open position with the screwdriver in one hand while simultaneously inserting the wire into the wire opening with the other hand and properly feeding the wire into the open window in the spring clamp. It is difficult for the operator to coordinate these various functions at the same time to secure properly the wire to the contact.
Also, to release the wire, the operator must again use the screwdriver in one hand to open the spring clamp while removing the wire with the other hand. The operator must perform these two handed operations every time the operator wishes to install or remove wires.
A need exists for an electrical connector that addresses the above noted problems and others experienced heretofore.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Certain embodiments of the present invention include an electrical connector having a housing holding a contact. The housing has an opening configured to receive a wire to be joined with the contact. The electrical connector includes a clamping member held within the housing. The clamping member is movable between clamped and unclamped states. The electrical connector includes an actuator movably held within the housing. The actuator moves between open and closed positions. The actuator has a clamp seating portion that holds the clamping member in the unclamped state.
Certain embodiments of the present invention include an electrical connector having a housing with an opening configured to receive a wire. The electrical connector includes a clamping member located in the housing. The clamping member includes a window movable along a clamping direction between aligned and offset positions with respect to the opening. The electrical connector includes an actuator held in the housing. The actuator is movable between open and closed positions in an actuator direction that is aligned non-parallel with the clamping direction of the clamping member. The actuator moves the window between the aligned and offset positions as the actuator is moved between the open and closed positions, respectively.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4416500 (1983-11-01), Stenz
patent: 4759726 (1988-07-01), Naylor et al.
patent: 5069638 (1991-12-01), Schalk
patent: 5494456 (1996-02-01), Kozel et al.
patent: 5685735 (1997-11-01), Hohorst
patent: 5876237 (1999-03-01), Patel et al.
patent: 5915991 (1999-06-01), Roman
patent: 5993270 (1999-11-01), Geske et al.
patent: 6074242 (2000-06-01), Stefaniu et al.
patent: 6126494 (2000-10-01), Fuchs et al.
patent: 6146187 (2000-11-01), Pallai
patent: 6371435 (2002-04-01), Landis et al.
Installation Manual for “Allen-Bradley/Rockwell Automation Connector System”, p. 6, Rev O, no date.
Patel Tulsidas C.
Tyco Electronics Corporation
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