Terminal block with front to multiple rear fast-on terminations

Details Terminal block with front to multiple rear fast-on terminations Terminal block with front to multiple rear fast-on terminations

1998-12-03

2001-01-23

Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

With insulation other than conductor sheath

Insulating body having plural mutually insulated terminals...

C439S701000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06176747

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to terminals blocks, and more particularly, terminal blocks with multiple male terminal blades for engagement by multiple female fast-on terminal connectors.
2. Background Information
A common type of terminal connector for connecting electrical wiring is the fast-on connector in which a female connector slides on and clamps a male terminal blade. In one arrangement, a male terminal blade is formed integrally with a screw connection provided by a transverse tab with a threaded aperture. A molded terminal block has a plurality of side-by-side recesses in each of which the tab of a terminal is seated with the male terminal blade projecting through a slot extending toward the rear. The male terminal blade extends through and beyond a tubular extension molded on the rear of the terminal block. The male terminal blade is centrally aligned with a tab by an offset which has barbs for securing the terminal in the molded block. A flange on the tab opposite the offset also has retaining barbs.
The female fast-on connector is provided on the lead to be terminated. Selective connection to this lead can then be made by securing another lead to the screw connection. In some applications, there is a need to terminate more than one lead with a common termination. One such application is the termination for secondary wiring in switchgear assemblies for electric power distribution systems.
There is a need, therefore, for an improved terminal block which accommodates the termination of multiple leads with a common terminal point. There is a more particular need for such an improved terminal block which provides for multiple terminations using fast-on connectors for the terminated leads.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These needs and others are satisfied by the invention which is directed to a terminal block which comprises a molded electrically insulative housing having at least one, and typically a plurality, of compartments having a front opening and a rear opening, electrically conductive terminal members are provided in the compartments. These terminal members comprise a planar front section and at least a pair, and preferably three, integral male terminal blades extending rearward from edges of the planar front section. The planar front section has a threaded aperture which receives a terminal screw. The terminal member is secured in the compartment with the planar front section extending transversely across the compartment and accessible from the front opening and with the male terminal blades extending toward, and accessible from, the rear opening.
Preferably, the compartments in the molded housing are rectangular in cross-section and extend through the housing from the front opening to the rear opening. The planar front sections are rectangular and sized to extend across the compartment with the male terminal blades extending from edges of the planar front section.
In the preferred terminal block where the terminal member has three male terminal blades, two facing male terminal blades extend from first and second parallel edges of the rectangular front section and a middle male terminal blade extends from a third edge between the first and second edges. The facing blades have integrally formed laterally extending barbs which engage the housing to retain the terminal member in the compartment. In the preferred form of the invention, opposing side walls of the compartments have ledges recessed from the front opening. The first and second parallel edges of the planar front section of the terminal member are wider than the facing male terminal blades thereby forming shoulders which seat on the ledges. Preferably, the ledges are formed by molded bands extending across opposing side walls within the compartments. One band has an axially extending slot through which the middle blade extends. Most preferably, the middle blade of the terminal member extends from a recess in the third edge of the planar front section and the axially extending slot in the one band has a depth less than the width of the ledge so that the middle leg is inwardly spaced from the walls of the compartment for easier engagement by a female fast-on connector. In another embodiment of the invention, the terminal member has another middle blade extending from a fourth edge of the planar front section substantially parallel to the first middle blade.
In one embodiment of the invention, the housing has a molded body in which the compartments are formed and includes partitions which extend transversely between the compartments adjacent the front openings. The terminal block can be adapted for mounting in a mounting opening in a mounting panel by extending the partitions laterally beyond the molded body to form aligned first mounting shoulders at both ends of the partitions. Projections molded on the body form second mounting shoulders spaced from the first mounting shoulders to form mounting slots in which the mounting panel is received to mount the terminal block in the mounting opening.
As another aspect of the invention, the terminal block can have a hinged cover over the screw connections. In this arrangement, an end wall is provided at one end of the partitions and the cover is connected to this end wall by an integrally molded living hinge. In the preferred arrangement, the cover can have apertures through which the screws are accessible even with the cover closed. In the preferred form of the terminal block, the male terminal blades are fully contained within the compartment in the housing but accessible through the rear opening.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4174147 (1979-11-01), Waddington et al.
patent: 4449778 (1984-05-01), Lane
patent: 5563372 (1996-10-01), Messelhi
patent: 5595505 (1997-01-01), Duke et al.
patent: 5984735 (1999-11-01), Daoud

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