Junction box

• US 4,195,194 A
• Filed: 05/22/1978
• Issued: 03/25/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AMP Limited
• Original Assignee: AMP Limited
• Inventors: Kuster, Charles W., Renshaw, Floyd H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reynolds, B. A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tone, D. A.
• Application Number:
  US05/908,295
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 174/59, 174/60, 339/198 R, 339/18 R, 339/18 B, 339/18 P, 339/19, 339/97 R, 339/105
• US Class Current: 174/59
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/2445 the contact members having additional means acting on the insulation or the wire, e.g. additional insulation penetrating means, strain relief means or wire cutting knives
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/2462 the contact members being in a slotted bent configuration, e.g. slotted bight
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/22 Bases, e.g. strip, block, panel for printed circuits H01R12/50
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2625 with built-in electrical component
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/16 structurally associated with support for line-connecting terminals within the box

Abstract

The invention relates to a junction box having a plurality of terminals adapted to complete electrical circuits. More particularly, the invention includes an insulating housing with an attached cover and wire-in-slot terminals positioned in separate bays along the floor of the housing. Facing terminals are closed by a contact screw positioned therein between.

Claims

1. A junction box, comprising:

a. a base member of insulating material having a floor and upstanding walls to define a compartment;

b. a structure within the compartment consisting of a plurality of vertical walls which define a plurality of cells, each cell being electrically isolated from another,

c. barrier means positioned in each cell adapted to divide the cell into two cavities, further, each of said vertical walls having a vertical rib near said barrier means to define a vertical channel therebetween;

d. a plurality of conductive terminals having a U-shaped spring section at one end and a terminating section at another end, said terminals being positioned in the cavities with the legs of the U-shaped spring section extending onto the barrier means; and

e. commoning means adapted to be removably biased against the legs of the two spring sections overlying the barrier means in each cell whereby

the two terminals therein may be selectively electrically joined.

2. The junction box of claim 1 wherein said terminals include a vertical section between the spring section and terminating section with the edges of said vertical section being positioned in the vertical channel.

3. The terminals of claim 2 wherein the edges of the vertical section includes tines projecting obliquely upwardly, said tines adapted to dig into the vertical ribs to retain the terminals in the cavities.