Electricity: conductors and insulators – Boxes and housings – With electrical device
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-21
2001-05-15
Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Boxes and housings
With electrical device
C174S0400CC, C174S0720TR, C174S13800J
Reexamination Certificate
active
06232552
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of terminal blocks, and more particularly to a novel block and clip arrangement for releasably and adjustably supporting a plurality of wires in spaced-apart relationship wherein the clip includes a barbed arrangement engageable with matable barbed grooves in a receiving aperture whereby individual and a plurality of wires may be held in spaced-apart relationship.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
In the past, it has been the conventional practice to bare the ends of wires so as to be free of insulation and to insert the bare portion of the wire into a receiving connector block. During the course of usage of the equipment, the requirement exists for circuit change which may include wire changes and replacement. Due to space requirements, it is difficult to disconnect or uncouple individual wires as well as a plurality of wires in order to accommodate the change or replacement since there is no means for holding the wires during substitution or change. During the replacement of removed wires, the conventional practice is to individually align and locate each wire serving as a replacement so that it may be connected or attached to the connection block.
Difficulties and problems have been encountered when using such conventional procedure which stem from the fact that the service may easily misalign replacement wires with receptacles intended to receive the bared portion of the wire causing circuit malfunction and damage. Also, service personnel have difficulty in properly aligning the bare tip of a wire into a slotted or aperture location so that the connection device can be actuated to hold the wire in place. Difficulties also occur when a plurality of such wires are intended to be replaced since current practice is to replace one wire at a time. Such a procedure is time-consuming and very labor intensive.
Therefore, a long-standing need has existed to provide a temporary holding lock for a plurality of wires so that the wires can be introduced to a connection block simultaneously followed by retaining or connecting the bare portion of the wire to the connection block. Such means should provide for simultaneous introduction or alignment of a plurality of bare-tipped wires to the receptacles in the connection block and should provide for easy and ready removal of an alignment device after the alignment has been completed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the above problems and difficulties are avoided by the present invention which provides a novel holding block having a plurality of grooves in a particular surface for receiving a plurality of wires in spaced-apart relationship. The block further includes a plurality of sets of openings spanning or straddling each wire in the plurality so that a retaining clip can be introduced into each of the respective sets of openings for retaining the wire in position. Each clip includes a pair of barbed legs adapted to be inserted into the respective sets of openings so as to mate with and engage with notches or engagement points along the openings to receive the barbs from the clip. The clip also employs a pressure-bearing member midway between the barbed legs for forcible engagement with the insulated portion of each wire so as to hold the wire in position on the block. A feature of the invention also includes the staggering of the clips between adjacent wires so that the plurality of wires and clips can be placed close together.
Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable means for moving a plurality of wires in fixed position with respect to one another so as to permit readily installing the bare ends of the wire into openings in a terminal block for connection with an electrical circuit.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel alignment block for a plurality of wires that may be used during the removal and replacement of existing wires in a terminal block.
Yet another object is to provide a wire replacement and alignment device which will adjustably retain a plurality of wires and which will hold the wires in fixed spaced-apart relationship during the replacement procedure.
A further object resides in the easy changeability of wires in a terminal block without displacement of the wires during the installation procedure or interference with other wires in the terminal block.
A further object resides in employing a replacement and adjustable alignment wire holder including a block and clips for maintaining multiple wires in position with respect to one another during a replacement procedure with respect to an existing terminal block.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4136257 (1979-01-01), Taylor
patent: 5302137 (1994-04-01), Suffi
patent: 5821469 (1998-10-01), Shanmugham
patent: 5952616 (1999-09-01), Morrow
Marrs Roger A.
Nguyen Charlie
Reichard Dean A.
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