Electrical distribution and/or connection device
First Claim
1. An electrical bridging connector (10) for electrically connecting a pair of adjacent generally parallel conductive contact members (14) each contained within a separate insulated housing (11), respectively, said housings being mounted on a common support (22), comprising(a) a conductive U-shaped bridge member (10) extending between, and arranged with its axis extending parallel with the axes of, said contact members, said bridge member including a pair of parallel arm portions (12) extending in electrical engagement within openings contained within adjacent portions of said contact members, respectively, said bridge member also including a transverse portion (16) connecting said arm portions at one end;
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Accused Products
Abstract
Electrical distribution and/or connection devices include an electrically connecting bridge having two contact limbs with respective contact points for the connection of respective electrical conductors. The contact points may comprise spring clamps. The devices may be formed for mounting in line on a rail and may be formed for the connecting bridge of adjacent devices to be interconnected by a removable bridge component which has two contact limbs for engaging the respective said connecting bridges at web portions thereof disposed between the respective contact points.
274 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An electrical bridging connector (10) for electrically connecting a pair of adjacent generally parallel conductive contact members (14) each contained within a separate insulated housing (11), respectively, said housings being mounted on a common support (22), comprising
(a) a conductive U-shaped bridge member (10) extending between, and arranged with its axis extending parallel with the axes of, said contact members, said bridge member including a pair of parallel arm portions (12) extending in electrical engagement within openings contained within adjacent portions of said contact members, respectively, said bridge member also including a transverse portion (16) connecting said arm portions at one end; - and
(b) a handle head member (17) formed of insulating material and mounted on said bridge member transverse portion, whereby upon manual grasping of the handle head member, the bridge member may be inserted in electrical engagement between, or removed from engagement with, said pair of contact members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. Resilient electrical connector means for clamping an electric conductor beneath a terminal of a separate contact bridge formed as an abutment, comprising
a spring member (48) of generally tubular configuration including a first portion (48b) extending parallel with said contact bridge and connected against longitudinal displacement relative thereto, said spring member including a second portion (48c) arranged at an angle relative to said contact bridge, said second portion containing a conductor-receiving opening (48e).
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13. Connector means for electrically connecting the ends of a pair of conductors, comprising
(a) a contact bridge member (90) containing at opposite ends openings (104) for receiving said conductors, respectively; - and
(b) claimping spring means (91,92) for clamping said conductors in said openings, respectively, said clamping spring means including at each end of said contact bridge member (1) a resilient U-shaped portion arranged on one side of said contact bridge member, said U-shaped portion including a first arm portion (101,105) spaced from the associated end of said contact bridge member and connected against longitudinal displacement relative thereto, said U-shaped portion also including a second arm portion (95) containing an opening (97) receiving the associated end portion of said contact bridge member; (2) the other side of said contact bridge member containing a slot (96) communicating with the associated conductor-receiving opening, the free end (95a) of said second arm portion extending within said slot to retain a conductor within the conductor-receiving opening. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. An electrical connector assembly, comprising
(a) a plurality of terminal housings (110) each formed of insulating material and containing a conductive contact bridge member having at each end a conductor-receiving opening, and clamping spring means for retaining conductors in said openings, respectively; - and
(b) a mounting rail (111) having longitudinally extending marginal flange portions; (c) each of said housings including foot-like extensions (121) adapted for cooperation with one of said marginal flange portions to define a pivot axis (117) extending longitudinally of said mounting rail, thereby to permit the housing to be pivoted about said one marginal flange portion toward a mounted position on, and extending transversely of, said rail; and (d) retaining dog and recess means (115,116) releasably connecting said housings together against longitudinal displacement relative to said mounting rail. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification