TERMINAL BLOCK AND TERMINAL CONNECTOR

• US 3,775,733 A
• Filed: 04/12/1971
• Issued: 11/27/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mcgraw-Edison Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Hans Ege
• Inventors: Ege, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Champion, Marvin A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US05/133,006
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 339/198,262,272,263,256SP,258S,192,206,207,208,209,210
• US Class Current: 439/724
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/00 Coupling parts adapted for simultaneous co-operation with two or more identical counterparts, e.g. for distributing energy to two or more circuits supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/88
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/02 Intermediate parts for distributing energy to two or more circuits in parallel, e.g. splitter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/92
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2491 Terminal blocks structurally associated with plugs or sockets

Abstract

The terminal block and terminal connector form part of a terminal block assembly in which one or more terminal blades of the terminal connector are located in one or more apertures of the terminal block for receiving thereon female quick-connect terminal connectors. The terminal blades are connected to a lug which, together with a collar type fastener is received in a cavity of the terminal block, into which a wire conductor can be inserted for the securing of the wire conductor to the lug for supplying electric potential to the blades. The terminal block also has an opening therein which communicates with the cavity and through which a tool can be inserted for fastening or unfastening a wire conductor to the terminal connector.

Claims

1. In combination, a terminal block and a terminal connector, said terminal block having at least one aperture and at least one cavity, and said terminal connector including a terminal strip having a base, at least one terminal blade extending therefrom and received in said one aperture, and a lug extending laterally of and from said base into said cavity, and a fastening means received and confined in said cavity for fastening a wire conductor, inserted into said block, so sAid lug, wherein said terminal strip of said terminal connector includes a plurality of terminal blades extending from said base and said terminal block has a plurality of slots therein equal in number to the number of blades of said terminal connector, each blade being received in one of said slots.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said slots communicates with said one aperture whereby said plurality of blades is received in said one aperture.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said terminal block has a plurality of apertures therein, the number of said apertures being equal in number to the number of said slots, and each of said slots communicating with only one of said apertures.

4. In combination, a terminal block and a terminal connector, said terminal block including a connector-receiving portion and a retaining plate secured to said connector-receiving portion, said connector-receiving portion having at least one recess adapted to receive said connector, said recess opening against said retaining plate, said connector-receiving portion having at least one aperture and at least one cavity, and said terminal connector including a terminal strip having a base, at least one terminal blade extending therefrom and received in said one aperture and a lug extending laterally of and from said base into said cavity, and a fastening means received and confined in said cavity for fastening a wire conductor, inserted into said block, to said lug, said recess and said plate being adapted to snugly retain said base in said recess against said plate wherein said terminal strip of said terminal connector includes a plurality of terminal blades extending from said base and said terminal block has a plurality of slots therein equal in number to the number of blades of said terminal connector, each blade being received in one of said slots.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein each of said slots communicates with said one aperture whereby said plurality of blades is received in said one aperture.

6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said terminal block has a plurality of apertures therein, the number of said apertures being equal in number to the number of said slots, and each of said slots communicating with only one of said apertures.

7. In combination, a terminal block and a terminal connector, said terminal block including a connector-receiving portion and a retaining plate secured to said connector-receiving portion, said connector-receiving portion having at least one recess adapted to receive said connector, said recess opening against said retaining plate, said connector-receiving portion having at least one aperture and at least one cavity, and said terminal connector including a terminal strip having a base, at least one terminal blade extending therefrom and received in said one aperture and a lug extending laterally of and from said base into said cavity, and a fastening means received and confined in said cavity for fastening a wire conductor, inserted into said block, to said lug, said recess and said plate being adapted to snugly retain said base in said recess against said plate, wherein said terminal connector includes a connecting portion which connects said lug to said base in such a manner that said lug is offset from said base.