Bridging member for electrical terminals

• US 7,182,631 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2005
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WAGO Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH (WAGO Holding GmbH)
• Original Assignee: WAGO Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH (WAGO Holding GmbH)
• Inventors: Kollmann, Hans-Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Tulsidas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel; Harshad C
• Application Number:
  US11/105,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20050233634A1
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 439/510, 439/511, 439/516, 439/248, 339/64, 339/17.LC
• US Class Current: 439/511
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6599 Dielectric material made conductive, e.g. plastic material coated with metal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/08 Short-circuiting members for bridging contacts in a counterpart
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/18 for manufacturing bases or cases for contact members

Abstract

A bridging member for electrical terminals provides each of the connecting pins of the bridging member with a sleeve of insulating material, which extends in the axial direction around the connecting pin in such a way that an inner free space is present between the connecting pin and the sleeve of insulating material, whereby the connecting pin possesses a material constriction in the depth of the sleeve of insulating material. The connecting pin can execute equilibrating movements in the free space of the sleeve of insulating material and also can be removed from the sleeve of insulating material by means of a rotational movement.

Claims

1. A cross bridging member for electrical terminals, which are arranged in a row adjacent to one another comprising:

current buses of the terminals that include connector receptacles, into which connecting pins of the cross bridging member can be plugged,

the connector receptacles of the terminals arranged in a row next to one another are positioned centrally symmetric to a common connector receptacle plane, which extends in the direction of the row of terminals,

the cross bridging member possesses a bridge head and two or more connecting pins which are electrically connected and extend out as a comb from the bridge head and are centrally symmetric to a common comb extension plane, wherein the comb extension plane is equally covered when the cross bridging member is plugged into the connector receptacle plane of the terminals,

the bridge head of the cross bridging member is protected by means of insulating material,

is hereby characterized in

that, proceeding from the insulating material of the bridge head for each connecting pin of the cross bridging member, a sleeve of insulating material is formed, which extends in the axial direction around the connecting pin in such a way that an inner free space is present between the connecting pin and the sleeve of insulating material,

that the connecting pin has a material constriction inside the sleeve of insulating material and at a distance from the open end of the sleeve of insulating material,

that the free space of the sleeve of insulating material around the connecting pin is dimensioned such that the free end of the connecting pin can execute a pivoting and/or rotational movement around the material constriction,

and that the connector receptacle includes a resilient spring disposed at a free end of the connecting pin on one side thereof and a fixed bearing surface disposed opposite to said resilient spring on the opposite side of said connecting pin so that when the connecting pin is inserted into said receptacle a secure contact is produced by the resilient spring urging the connecting pin against the bearing surface.

2. The cross bridging member according to claim 1, further characterized in

that the material constriction of the connecting pin is positioned in the depth of the sleeve of insulating material in the vicinity of the bridge head of the cross bridging member.

3. The cross bridging member according to claim 1, further characterized in

that the open end of the sleeve of insulating material of the cross bridging member, when the cross bridging member is plugged in, extends up to the vicinity of the current-bus connector receptacle of the respective terminal.

4. A bridging member including an electrical receptacle comprising:

a bridge head;

at least one connecting pin for receipt in said electrical receptacle;

said at least one connecting pin extending from said bridge head to a free end thereof;

an insulating sleeve for receiving said connecting pin and extending about the connecting pin to define an inner free space therebetween;

said connecting pin having a material constriction inside the insulating sleeve and at a distance from the free end of said connecting pin;

the defined inner free space being dimensioned such that the free end of the connecting pin can pivot and/or rotate about the material constriction,

and that the electrical receptacle includes a resilient spring disposed at a free end of the connecting pin on one side thereof and a fixed bearing surface disposed opposite to said resilient spring on the opposite side of said connecting pin so that when the connecting pin is inserted into said receptacle a secure contact is produced by the resilient spring urging the connecting pin against the bearing surface.

5. The bridging member according to claim 4 wherein the material constriction of the connecting pin is positioned within the sleeve in the vicinity of the bridge head.

6. The bridging member according to claim 4 wherein the material constriction is in the form of a reduced diameter.

7. The bridging member according to claim 4 wherein the insulating sleeve has an open end whereby, when the bridging member is plugged in, the open end extend up to the vicinity of the electrical receptacle.

8. The bridging member according to claim 4 wherein said electrical receptacle includes a housing of insulation material having defined therein at least one recess shaft for receiving therein said insulating sleeve and connecting pin, and the receptacle housing having a port of a diameter greater than the diameter of the connecting pin so as to enable said pin pivoting.

9. A cross bridging member for insertion in connector receptacles arranged in the busbars of terminal blocks disposed directly adjacent to one another;

the bridging member comprising;

a bridge head;

at least three connecting pins, each extending from said bridge head to a free end thereof for receipt in said connector receptacles;

each connecting pin has a material constriction in the form of a reduced diameter serving as a break-off site, which is positioned in the vicinity of the bridge head;

each connecting pin is surrounded with a sleeve of insulating material proceeding from the insulation material of the bridge head and extending in the axial direction around the connecting pin up to the vicinity of the busbar, in which the connector receptacle of the respective terminal block is arranged;

each insulating sleeve defines an inner free space between the inner surface of said sleeve and the outer surface of the connecting pin such that the free end of the connecting pin can be grasped with a tool and can be removed by vigorous rotating movements of the connecting pin around its material constriction without damaging the insulating sleeve which remains in its entire length.

10. A bridging member including an electrical receptacle and comprising:

a bridge head;

at least one connecting pin for receipt in said electrical receptacle;

said at least one connecting pin extending from said bridge head to a free end thereof;

an insulating sleeve for receiving said connecting pin and extending about the connecting pin to define an inner free space therebetween;

said connecting pin having a material constriction inside the insulating sleeve and at a distance from the free end of said connecting pin;

the defined inner free space being dimensioned such that the free end of the connecting pin can pivot and/or rotate about the material constriction,

wherein said electrical receptacle includes a housing of insulation material having defined therein at least one recess shaft for receiving therein said insulating sleeve and connecting pin, and the receptacle housing having a port of a diameter greater than the diameter of the connecting pin so as to enable said pin pivoting.