Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Insulating body having plural mutually insulated terminals...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-13
2001-05-01
Donovan, Lincoln (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Insulating body having plural mutually insulated terminals...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224429
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an electrical terminal block assembly including a unitary fastening member having a pair of hook-shaped locking feet that are connected for in dependent movement relative to the terminal block housing, thereby to simplify the mounting and dismounting of the terminal block relative to a support rail.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
The mounting of electrical and electronic terminal blocks on support rails having a generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration is well known in the patented prior art, as disclosed, for example, in the assignee's prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,411,417 and 5,588,881.
As evidenced by the European patent No. 0326 624 B1, it is well known in the prior art to provide electrical terminal blocks that are mounted transversely upon support rails by means of a resilient fastening element that is so rotationally positioned on a pivot pin that sliding motion of a first slide fastener member is transmitted in the opposite direction to a second slide fastener member. In both slide members, external chambers are provided having bottom portions from which injection-molded resilient bridges laterally protrude, while in the adjacent region of the surrounding housing, there is provided in each case a recess having an outwardly-extending boundary wall which forms a thrust bearing for the elastic deformation of the resilient bridge. When the terminal block housing is mounted transversely across the flanges at the upper ends of the legs of the support rail, the oblique catch hooks are initially pressed outwardly and then in a snapping manner grasp the flanges of the support rail. The terminal block housing is removed from the support rail by opening the resiliently-biased slide pieces to disengage the same from the flanges of the support rail, whereupon the terminal block is lifted vertically off the support rail.
The German Gebrauchsmuster No. DE G 297 20 511 discloses the use of a terminal block assembly similar to that of the European patent No. EP 0326 624 B1 for the flush-fitting of housings for printed circuit boards and electronic modules. While the terminal block assembly operates generally satisfactorily, it is always subject to the constant demand for cheaper cost and simpler operation.
The present invention was developed to provide an improved terminal block assembly having a design which results in reduced production costs while at the same time provides improved fastening means for connecting and disconnecting the terminal block housing from the support rail.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved terminal block assembly including a housing, and a unitary fastening member having a pair of hook-shaped locking feet connected for independent movement relative to the housing, thereby to simplify the mounting and dismounting of the terminal block relative to a support rail.
According to a more specific object of the invention, the terminal block assembly includes a housing containing a longitudinal through passage in which is mounted a unitary fastening member having a center portion that is connected with the housing, and a pair of end portions resiliently connected for independent displacement relative to the center portion and to the housing, the end portions having opposed inwardly-directed hook-shaped locking foot portions adapted to extend under the outwardly extending flanges at the upper ends of the legs of a U-shaped mounting rail, thereby to fasten the terminal block to the rail.
According to another object of the invention, the terminal block assembly includes a synthetic plastic housing containing a horizontal longitudinally-extending through passage, and a unitary fastening member mounted within said through passage, said fastening member including a center portion connected with the housing, a pair of end portions mounted for independent sliding movement in opposite ends of the through passage, respectively, and a pair of resilient portions integrally connecting said end portions with said center portion, said end portions carrying hook-shaped locking feet having inwardly directed catch projections, said end portions being resiliently biased inwardly together toward normally engaged positions in which the catch feet extend in locking engagement beneath the outwardly extending flanges on the support rails. Upon displacement of either end portion toward a disengaged position relative to the support rail, the terminal block housing may be pivoted about the support rail toward a disconnected position in which the terminal block may be lifted laterally from the support rail.
The present invention offers the advantages that a single integral resilient synthetic plastic fastening member is used in combination with the synthetic plastic terminal block housing, thereby dispensing with the prior injection-molded spring elements that were used to bias the locking feet toward the mounting rail. The present invention thus provides a single simple, inexpensively molded fastening component, which is cheaper to produce that the known support rail fastening devices of the prior art.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the integrally-molded resilient intermediate portions of the fastening member has a serpentine configuration and functions as a tension spring for biasing the associated end portion inwardly toward the center portion. Such resilient portions offer the possibility of integral design of the fastening member with the associated slidably mounted end portions, thereby to produce a structure that is is relatively uncomplicated in terms of product engineering.
According to another object of the invention, in order to prevent undesired separation of the terminal block from the support rail, the through passage has a greater vertical cross-sectional dimension than the corresponding dimension of the end portions of the fastening member, and the adjacent bottom walls of the fastening member end portions and the associated bottom wall surfaces of the through passage have cooperating stop means arranged to lock the end portions in their engaged positions in which the locking feet are engaged with the flange portions of the support rail. Thus, upon the application of a slight lifting force to the terminal block relative to the support rail, the cooperating stop surfaces may be brought into engagement to lock the end portions in their rail-engaged positions relative to the terminal block housing.
According to a further object of the invention, the upper surfaces of the opposed catch portions of the locking feet projections are inwardly and downwardly inclined, and the bottom surfaces of the catch portions are downwardly and outwardly inclined. This design of the catch hooks makes for simple and secure guidance of the locking feet during the assembly of the terminal block housing upon the mounting rail. Furthermore, the remote surfaces of the locking feet and the associated adjacent wall surfaces of the terminal block housing are inclined and arranged to limit the outward extent of displacement of the fastener end portions relative to the center portion. There is no need for the shaping of any separate stop pieces, thereby affording a further cost reduction during the production and assembly of the terminal block assembly.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4878859 (1989-11-01), Haller
patent: 5411417 (1995-05-01), Horn et al.
patent: 5588881 (1996-12-01), Eggest et al.
patent: 29720511 (1998-02-01), None
patent: 326 624 (1992-04-01), None
Bernhards Peter
Schild Wolfgang
Steinmeier Rudolf
Wilmes Manfred
Donovan Lincoln
Laubscher & Laubscher
Nasri Javaid
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