Terminal block
First Claim
1. A terminal block for electrically connecting a single wire conductor to a plurality of wire conductors in electrical circuits comprising:
- at least one unitary connector made from a single blank of conductive material, said blank having longitudinally staggered tab portions with narrow interconnecting portions for reducing offal and forming a compact connector with more than two output terminals, said unitary connector having an input terminal portion for attaching a wire conductor, more than one pair of tubular output terminal portions for attaching a pair of wire conductors to said first conductor and narrow portions for connecting said input terminal portion to said output terminal portions, said output tubular terminal portions being disposed inc lose staggered and parallel relationship to each other; and
an insulative housing encasing said unitary connector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A compact universal terminal block for connecting single wire conductors to plural wire conductors in series-parallel electrical circuits. The terminal block has a generally rectangular insulative housing with a stepped end portion and plural unitary connectors inside of the housing. Each connector is made from a blank of conductive material and has an input terminal and multiple tubular output terminals for operatively connecting multiple wire conductors to a single wire conductor. The tubular output terminals are arranged in parallel and staggered relationship with respect to each other to minimize the size of the terminal block and the amount of material used for stamping the connectors. Connectors having differing numbers of output terminals are provided in the common insulative housing to serve the requirements of many users.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A terminal block for electrically connecting a single wire conductor to a plurality of wire conductors in electrical circuits comprising:
- at least one unitary connector made from a single blank of conductive material, said blank having longitudinally staggered tab portions with narrow interconnecting portions for reducing offal and forming a compact connector with more than two output terminals, said unitary connector having an input terminal portion for attaching a wire conductor, more than one pair of tubular output terminal portions for attaching a pair of wire conductors to said first conductor and narrow portions for connecting said input terminal portion to said output terminal portions, said output tubular terminal portions being disposed inc lose staggered and parallel relationship to each other; and
an insulative housing encasing said unitary connector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- at least one unitary connector made from a single blank of conductive material, said blank having longitudinally staggered tab portions with narrow interconnecting portions for reducing offal and forming a compact connector with more than two output terminals, said unitary connector having an input terminal portion for attaching a wire conductor, more than one pair of tubular output terminal portions for attaching a pair of wire conductors to said first conductor and narrow portions for connecting said input terminal portion to said output terminal portions, said output tubular terminal portions being disposed inc lose staggered and parallel relationship to each other; and
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12. A terminal block for electrically connecting a single wire conductor to a plurality of wire conductors in electrical circuits comprising:
- at least one unitary connector made from a single blank of conductive material, comprising;
a plurality of unitary connectors, each of said connectors made from a single blank of a conductive material, each of said blanks having staggered tab portions with narrow interconnecting arm portions for reducing offal and forming a compact connector with an input terminal and more than two output terminals, each of said connectors having more than one pair of tubular output terminal portions, said tubular output terminal portions being disposed in close parallel and staggered relationship to each other; and
a generally rectangular insulative housing encasing said plurality of unitary connectors.
- at least one unitary connector made from a single blank of conductive material, comprising;
Specification