Electrical connector element with rewirable spring contacts

• US 20060199444A1
• Filed: 03/06/2006
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industria Lombarda Materiale Elettrico ILME SpA
• Original Assignee: Industria Lombarda Materiale Elettrico ILME SpA
• Inventors: Germani, Emilio
• Granted Patent: US 7,204,727 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/835
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/62 Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/48275 with an opening in the housing for insertion of a release tool

Abstract

A standard type electrical connector element (1; 100; 200; 300), with a square cross-section measuring about 21×21 mm, includes (2; 102; 202; 302) within which are formed seats (22) adapted to house contacts (4; 204) adapted to receive the conductors (50) of electrical feed cables; a seat (23) adapted to house a contact (6; 106; 206; 306) adapted to go into contact with the conductor of an electrical earth cable, a cover (8; 108) which can be coupled on the body and which is provided with holes (83, 82) disposed in register with the contacts (4; 204) to allow the conductors of the feed and earth cables to be inserted, and spring elements (7) disposed in the seats (22, 23) of the body in which the contacts are housed to clamp the conductors of the electrical cables in contact with the respective contacts.

Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. An electrical connector element (1;

100;

200;

300), of the standard type with a square cross section measuring about 21×

21 mm, adapted to couple with a complementary electrical connector element, said electrical connector element comprising;

a body of insulating material (2;

102;

202;

302) inside which are formed;

seats (22) adapted to house respective metal contacts (4;

204) adapted to receive respective conductors (50) of electrical feed cables, and

a seat (23) adapted to house a metal contact (6;

106;

206;

306) adapted to come into contact with a conductor of an electrical earth cable,

a cover (8;

108) which can be coupled on said body and provided with holes (83, 82) disposed in register with said contacts (4;

204) to allow insertion of the conductors of the feed and earth cables, characterized in that it further comprises;

spring clamping means (7) of metal material disposed in said seats (22, 23) of the body in which the contacts are housed, to clamp the electrical cable conductors in contact with the respective contacts, the whole so that said metal parts of the connector element remain protected inside said insulating body, allowing the connector element to be used with rated voltages up to 400 Volts, even in metal cases.

14. A connector element according to claim 13, characterized in that said contact (4;

204) comprises a first seat adapted to house said conductor (50) of the electrical cable (5) and a second seat (43) adapted to house said spring means (7).

15. A connector element according to claim 13, characterized in that said spring means (7) consist of a metal plate bent to form a triangle.

16. A connector element according to claim 15, characterized in that said plate of the spring (7) takes the form of a right-angled triangle, in which one cathetus (70) has a hole (71) adapted to receive the end (72′

) of another cathetus (72).

17. A connector element according to claim 16, characterized in that said contact comprises a tooth (44) adapted to engage in said hole (71) of the spring (7).

18. A connector element according to claim 13, characterized in that said cover (8, 108) comprises holes (81, 84) disposed in register with said spring means (7) to allow insertion of the tip of a tool able to act against said spring means (7) to prepare them for engagement and disengagement of the conductor (50) of the electrical cable.

19. A connector element according to claim 18, characterized in that said cover (8;

108) comprises circular holes (83, 82) to allow insertion of the conductors of the electrical cables and square holes (81, 84) to allow insertion of the tip of a tool which acts on the spring means.

20. A connector element according to claim 13, characterized in that said earth contact (6;

106;

206;

306) comprises a plate (61) provided with a threaded hole (62) able to accommodate a screw (63) for fixing to the case.

21. A connector element according to claim 13, characterized in that said seats (22, 23) of the body comprise a rectangular hole (22) adapted to receive the top part of the contact with the respective spring means (7) and a circular hole (25) adapted to receive the bottom part (46;

246) of the contact, destined to couple with the bottom part of a contact of a complementary connector element.

22. A connector element according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises three pole contacts (4;

204) and one earth contact and in that said seats of the contacts 22, 23) are disposed along the diagonals of the body.

23. A connector element according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises four pole contacts (4;

204) and one earth contact and in that said seats of the pole contacts (22) are disposed near the corners of the body and said seat (23) of the earth contact is disposed in a central position.

24. An electrical connector comprising a male connector element and a female connector element according to claim 13.