Electrical connectors – Metallic connector or contact having movable or resilient... – Cam or wedge between conductors
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-31
2001-02-27
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Metallic connector or contact having movable or resilient...
Cam or wedge between conductors
C439S391000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193565
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to splicing connectors and, more particularly, to a splicing connector having slidable wedges for connecting cables to the connector.
2. Prior Art
Splicing connectors having slidable wedges are known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,384,704 discloses a high tensile electrical connector for joining stranded cables and having an outer ferrule with a pair of tapered gripping jaw means disposed therein. The ferrule is crimped at both ends onto the cable which pulls the jaw means into tighter engagement with the cable. U.S. Pat. No. 4,689,031 discloses a wire gripping device wherein a tapered jaw assembly is slidably mounted within a tapered tubular shell. The tapered jaw grips a terminal end of a cable introduced into the tubular shell through an opening at one end of the shell. U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,273 discloses an electrical connector having a central member with opposing conical members mounted to the central member. A pair of jaws extend from the central member into each conical member. When the conical member is threaded on the central member the jaws are pushed together in order to grip a conductor therebetween. As exemplified by the above mentioned patents, the splicing connectors, in the prior art, enclose the terminal ends of the cables and do not afford a user access for visual inspection of the engagement between the connector and the cables secured inside the connectors. This, combined with the end insertion entry of the cable into the connectors of the prior art, substantially prevents a user from identifying a partial or inadequate connection between the cable and the connector of the prior art until the connection fails. The present invention overcomes this along with other problems of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, a splicing connector is provided. The splicing connector comprises a connector shell, a first wedge, and a second wedge. The connector shell has a general H-shaped cross section which defines a first conductor receiving channel and a second conductor receiving channel opposite the first conductor receiving channel. The first wedge is located in the first conductor receiving channel for clamping a first conductor within the first conductor receiving channel. The second wedge is located in the second conductor receiving channel for clamping a second conductor within the second conductor receiving channel.
In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, a splicing connector is provided. The splicing connector comprises a connector shell, a first pair of wedge jaws, and a second pair of wedge jaws. The connector shell has an open upper channel for receiving a first conductor therein. The connector shell also has an open lower channel for receiving a second conductor therein. The first pair of wedge jaws is adapted for engaging tapered side walls of the upper channel for clamping the first conductor in the upper channel. The second pair of wedge jaws is adapted for engaging tapered side walls of the lower channel for clamping the second conductor in the lower channel. The open upper channel and the open lower channel are orientated generally reverse to each other. A bottom of the upper channel forms a bottom of the lower channel.
In accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, a splicing connector is provided. The splicing connector comprises a connector shell, a first set of wedges, and a second set of wedges. The connector shell has a first generally U-shaped section for laying a first conductor therein. The connector shell also comprises a second generally U-shaped section for laying a second conductor therein. The first set of wedges are adapted for clamping the first conductor within the first U-shaped section. The second set of wedges are adapted for clamping the second conductor within the second U-shaped section. The first U-shaped section and the second U-shaped section are orientated generally reverse to each other with a bottom of the first section being connected to a bottom of the second section. The first U-shaped section is disposed between a first end of the shell and the second section. The second section is disposed between the first U-shaped section and a second end of the shell opposite the first end.
In accordance with a method of the present invention, a method for splicing a first conductor to a second conductor is provided. The method comprises the steps of providing a splicing connector having a shell with a first conductor receiving channel and a second conductor receiving channel, laying a terminal end of a first conductor into the first conductor receiving channel, laying a terminal end of a second conductor into the second conductor receiving channel, and inserting wedges into the first conductor receiving channel and into the second conductor receiving channel for respectively clamping the first conductor and the second conductor to the splicing connector. The first conductor receiving channel of the splicing connector shell is an open channel formed in a first side of the shell. The second conductor receiving channel of the splicing connector shell is an open channel formed in a second side of the shell opposite the first side. When the terminal ends of the first conductor and of the second conductor are respectively laid into the first conductor receiving channel and into the second conductor receiving channel, the first and second conductors extend from opposite ends of the splicing connector. The wedges corresponding to the first conductor receiving channel and the wedges corresponding to the second conductor receiving channel are respectively inserted into the first and second channels from opposite ends of the splicing connector.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3071831 (1963-01-01), Chickvary et al.
patent: 3329928 (1967-07-01), Broske
patent: 3384704 (1968-05-01), Vockroth
patent: 4451104 (1984-05-01), Hodgson et al.
patent: 4634205 (1987-01-01), Gemra
patent: 4698031 (1987-10-01), Dawson
patent: 4752252 (1988-06-01), Cherry et al.
patent: 5683273 (1997-11-01), Garver et al.
Malico Catalog; Anchor Clamps for Bare or Insulated Messenger; p. 1.11, no date available.
Hubbel Fargo Catalog; Side Opening Wedge Dead End Installation Instructions, no date available.
Hubbel Fargo Catalog; Automatic, Full Tension Line Splices; p. 2-2, no date available.
FCI USA Inc.
Perman & Green LLP
Sircus Brian
Webb Brian S.
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