Electrical connector apparatus and cover therefor

• US 6,984,148 B1
• Filed: 07/16/2004
• Issued: 01/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xantrex Technology Incorporated (Mission Critical Electronics LLC)
• Original Assignee: Xantrex Technology Incorporated (Mission Critical Electronics LLC)
• Inventors: Nanda, Amar Kant, Umedaly, Mossadiq
• Primary Examiner(s): TA, THO DAC
• Application Number:
  US10/892,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20060014421A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 439/777, 439/521, 439/892, 439/908, 439/883, 439/801, 439/564, 439/573, 439/942, 439/719, 439/546, 439/547
• US Class Current: 439/564
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/282 comprising means for facilitating engagement or disengagement, e.g. quick release terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/629 Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances separate tools or apparatus H01R43/26
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/908 Contact having two contact surfaces for electrical connection on opposite sides of insulative body

Abstract

An electrical connector apparatus includes an electrically insulating base, and a conductor extending through the base. The conductor may include a first electrical terminal located on a first side of the base and a second electrical terminal located on a second side of the base. The apparatus further includes at least three spaced apart guides on the first side of the base, all of the spaced apart guides being adjacent the first electrical terminal and being operable to guide a wire terminated to the first electrical terminal to extend in any direction between two adjacent guides. A cover may be applied to the electrical connector, the cover including a housing including joined rigid wall portions configured to extend about a perimeter and over a top of an electrical terminal, at least one of the wall portions having a conductor opening. The cover apparatus further includes a conductor guard having a rigid guide wall extending from at least one of the wall portions, adjacent the conductor opening, to guard a wire terminated to the electrical terminal against small-radius bends near the electrical terminal.

Claims

1. An electrical connector apparatus comprising:

an electrically insulating base;

a conductor extending through said base, said conductor comprising a first electrical terminal located on a first side of said base and a second electrical terminal located on a second side of said base, said first electrical terminal comprising a threaded opening in said conductor; and

at least three spaced apart guides on said first side of said base, all of said spaced apart guides being adjacent said first electrical terminal and being operable to guide a wire terminated to said first electrical terminal to extend in any direction between two adjacent said guides.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second sides of said base are on opposite sides of said base.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said guides have respective flat planar distal end surfaces.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second electrical terminal comprises a second threaded opening in said conductor.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said first and second threaded openings are coterminous and form a threaded passageway through said conductor.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said first and second threaded openings are coaxial.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said base is molded about said conductor.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said base include a mounting portion.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said mounting portion includes a flat surface on said second side of said base.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said flat surface has threaded inserts disposed therein, for receiving fasteners for fastening said base to a device.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said base includes a projection extending from said flat surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said flat surface has threaded inserts disposed therein symmetrically about said projection.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said base includes a stage portion on said first side of said base.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said at least three spaced apart guides are disposed about said stage portion.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said base includes bridging surface portions extending between said guides, adjacent said stage portion.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said base includes a first opening in said staging portion that extends to a second coterminous opening in a distal end of said projection forming a bore extending through said base, said bore being operable to hold said conductor therein.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said conductor has first and second end portions with first and second distal surfaces respectively, and a length, measured between said first and second distal surfaces, that is slightly longer than said bore such that said first and second end portions project slightly beyond the distal end of said projection and the staging portion.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said first and second coterminous openings and said passageway are coaxial.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said conductor includes a rotation preventer operable to prevent rotation of the conductor relative to the base.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said rotation preventer includes a flat surface on said conductor.

21. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said conductor has first and second coterminous openings in said first and second distal surfaces respectively, forming a passageway through said conductor.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said first and second coterminous openings and said passageway are threaded for receiving first and second bolts in said first and second openings respectively, for securing connectors on respective wires to said first and second electrical terminals respectively.

23. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said flat surface has an o-ring groove therein, the o-ring groove extending around said projection.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said guides have respective flat planar distal end surfaces and wherein said flat planar distal end surfaces are disposed at a distance from said staging portion.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said flat planar distal end surfaces are coplanar.

26. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said guides have respective threaded inserts in respective said flat planar distal end surfaces, said threaded inserts being operable to receive fasteners for fastening a cover to said base.

27. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a cover apparatus including a housing comprising joined rigid wall portions configured to extend about a perimeter and over a top of an electrical terminal, at least one of said wall portions having a conductor opening, and a conductor guard comprising a rigid guide wall extending from said at least one of said wall portions, adjacent said conductor opening, to guard a wire terminated to said electrical terminal against small-radius bends near said electrical terminal.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said rigid guide wall has an outwardly flared shape.

29. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein at least one of said wall portions has a landing formed therein, said landing having an opening, for receiving a fastener.

30. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein at least one of said wall portions has a test probe opening operable to receive a test probe to permit contacting the test probe with the electrical terminal without requiring removal of the cover from the electrical terminal.

31. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein at least one of said wall portions is curved and is configured to extend over said top portion of the electrical terminal and has a test probe opening operable to receive a test probe to permit contacting the test probe with the electrical terminal without requiring removal of the cover from the electrical terminal.

32. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said wall portions and said rigid guide wall are embodied in a unitary piece of insulating material.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said insulating material comprises plastic.

34. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein at least one of said wall portions is curved and is configured to extend over said top portion of the electrical terminal.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein at least one of said wall portions is curved and is positioned opposite said at least one of said wall portions having a conductor opening.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said wall portion extending over said top portion of the electrical terminal and said wall portion positioned opposite said at least one of said wall portions having a conductor opening are joined by an angled wall portion.

37. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said wall portions configured to extend about a perimeter the electrical terminal have edges that lie in a common plane.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said rigid guide wall is generally U-shaped and has first and second leg portions having edges lying in said common plane.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein said rigid guide wall includes a curved joining portion joining the first and second leg portions, the curved joining portion having a radius of curvature becoming progressively larger progressively farther away from said housing.