Electrical connectors – Metallic connector or contact having movable or resilient... – Screw-thread operated securing part
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-19
2001-03-27
Bradley, Paula (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Metallic connector or contact having movable or resilient...
Screw-thread operated securing part
C411S188000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206737
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to electrical equipment and, more particularly, is concerned with a terminal screw with impeller wire gripping elements for use in an electrical receptacle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore, some electrical receptacles manufactured and marketed by Hubbell Incorporated of Orange, Conn., the assignee of the subject application, have employed a receptacle body with plug terminal contact receiving openings formed on its front side, a base body which mates with the receptacle body, a plurality of contact terminal assemblies fitted with cavities in the receptacle and base bodies, and an U-shaped mounting bridge provided with a base portion positioned adjacent a rear face of the base body and a pair of opposite leg portions extending forwardly from opposite ends of the base portion along opposite ends of the base and receptacle bodies, securing the receptacle and base bodies together in a mated relationship and capturing the contact terminal assemblies therein. The mounting bridge also has mounting tabs attached to the opposite leg portions and extending outwardly therefrom in opposite directions with holes on the mounting tabs for fastening the electrical receptacle to an external structure, such as a building wall, by the use of screws inserted through the holes and threaded into the structure.
While the above-described electrical receptacle has functioned satisfactorily under the range of conditions for which it was designed, as with any product certain drawbacks have been noted from time to time. One drawback particularly concerns the terminal screws used in the side wiring contact terminal assemblies. Side wiring is where the wire end is inserted from a side of the receptacle and partially around the terminal screw and then the screw is tightened against the wire. The prior art screw has a shank with a head thereon with a relatively smooth underside which in applying pressure on the wire end has the tendency to cause the wire to move away from the shank of the screw and thereby reduce the effectiveness of the electrical connection therewith.
Consequently, the inventors herein have perceived a need to provide further innovations which will overcome the above noted drawback.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an enhanced terminal screw designed to satisfy the aforementioned need. The enhanced terminal screw of the present invention is advantageously provided with impeller wire gripping elements which grip a wire that partially surrounds the screw and wrap or pull the wire radially inwardly toward the center of the screw as the screw is being tightened relative to the wire.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an enhanced terminal screw with impeller wire gripping elements for use in an electrical receptacle. The enhanced terminal screw comprises: (a) shank having opposite ends; (b) a head mounted to one of the opposite ends of the shank and having an underside surface; and (c) a plurality of impeller wire gripping elements formed on the underside surface of the head which grip a wire partially surrounding the shank and wrap the wire radially inwardly toward the shank as the screw is tightened relative to the wire.
More particularly, the impeller wire gripping elements are spirally arranged on the underside surface of the head. The impeller wire gripping elements are symmetrically arranged about the shank. Each impeller wire gripping element has an arcuate shape. The underside surface of the head defines a plurality of spaced apart grooves. The impeller wire gripping elements are a plurality of lands formed between the spaced apart grooves on the underside surface of the head. Each land has opposite edges which provide a gripping surface.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
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Bonilla Nelson
Ewer Stephen R.
'Hubbell Incorporated
Bradley Paula
Ngandjui Antoine
Presson Jerry M.
Swartz Michael R.
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