Spring loaded parallel pad clamp

• US 7,666,024 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2008
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Burndy Technology, LLC (Hubbell, Inc.)
• Inventors: De France, Robert V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke; Renee S
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSUKERMAN, LARISA Z
• Application Number:
  US12/026,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20080194153A1
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 439477-479, 439781-782
• US Class Current: 439/479
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/15 Hook in the form of a screw clamp
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2101/00 One pole
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/28 Coupling parts carrying pins, blades or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/4872 axially compressed to retain wire end
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/20 for assembling or disassembling contact members with insulating base, case or sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49208 by assembling plural parts

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an electrical connector. The electrical connector includes an upper pad, a lower pad, a fastener, and a spring. The upper pad includes a first upper groove, a second upper groove, and an upper hole. The upper hole extends through the upper pad between the first upper groove and the second upper groove. The lower pad includes a first lower groove, a second lower groove, and an elongated hole. The elongated hole extends through the lower pad between the first lower groove and the second lower grove. The fastener extends through the upper hole and the elongated hole. The spring is between the fastener and the lower pad. The spring is configured to bias the upper pad and the lower pad towards each other. The lower pad is configured to be pivotable around the fastener, and relative to the upper pad, at the elongated hole.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising:

an upper pad comprising a first upper groove, a second upper groove, and an upper hole, wherein the upper hole extends through the upper pad between the first upper groove and the second upper groove, and wherein the first upper groove is configured to contact a first conductor when the first conductor is in an installed position;

a lower pad comprising a first lower groove, a second lower groove, and an elongated hole, wherein the elongated hole extends through the lower pad between the first lower groove and the second lower grove, and wherein the first lower groove is configured to contact the first conductor when the first conductor is in the installed position;

a single fastener extending between the first and second upper grooves and between the first and second lower grooves, wherein the single fastener extends through the upper hole and the elongated hole; and

a spring between an end of the fastener and the lower pad, wherein an end of the spring is proximate the elongated hole, and wherein the spring is configured to bias the upper pad and the lower pad towards each other;

wherein the lower pad is configured to be pivotable around the fastener, and relative to the upper pad, at the elongated hole.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the first upper groove and the second upper groove are substantially parallel to each other.

3. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the upper pad and the lower pad each further comprise an angled flange extending from the second upper groove and the second lower groove, respectively, and wherein the flanges are configured to provide a lead-in feature for a conductor.

4. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the spring is spaced from the upper pad.

5. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the first upper groove and the second upper groove are substantially parallel to each other, wherein the upper pad and the lower pad each further comprise an angled flange extending from the second upper groove and the second lower groove, respectively, and wherein the flanges are configured to provide a lead-in feature for a conductor.

6. The electrical connector of claim 5 wherein the spring is spaced from the upper pad.

7. The electrical connector of claim 6 wherein the upper pad and the lower pad are each one-piece members.

8. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the first lower groove and the second lower groove are substantially parallel to each other.

9. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the upper hole is substantially perpendicular to the first upper groove and the second upper groove.

10. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the elongated hole is substantially perpendicular to the first lower groove and the second lower groove.

11. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the upper pad further comprises a pair of tabs extending from opposite ends of the upper pad, wherein a gap between the tabs accommodates a width of the lower pad.

12. The electrical connector of claim 11 wherein the lower pad further comprises flat grooves extending along opposite ends of the lower pad, wherein the flat grooves receive the tabs of the upper pad.

13. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the elongated hole further comprises a counter bore feature.

14. An electrical connector clamp comprising:

an upper pad comprising a first flange, wherein a first side of the upper pad is configured to contact an upper portion of a first conductor and an upper portion of a second conductor;

a lower pad comprising a second flange, wherein a first side of the lower pad iS configured to contact a lower portion of the first conductor and a lower portion of the second conductor, and wherein the first side is opposite the upper pad;

a fastener connected between the upper pad and the lower pad; and

a spring at a second side of the lower pad connected to the fastener, wherein the second side of the lower pad is opposite the first side of the lower pad;

wherein the clamp is configured to receive the second conductor between the first flange and the second flange against a bias of the spring, and wherein the clamp is configured to secure the first conductor and the second conductor by a clamping force only between the upper pad and the lower pad.

15. The electrical connector clamp of claim 14 wherein the fastener extends through a hole of the upper pad and an elongated hole of the lower pad.

16. The electrical connector clamp of claim 15 wherein the elongated bole comprises a counter bore feature.

17. The electrical connector clamp of claim 16 wherein the counter bore feature supports an end of the spring.

18. The electrical connector clamp of claim 14 further comprising a washer between the spring and the fastener.

19. The electrical connector clamp of claim 14 wherein the upper pad and the lower pad each further comprise grooved areas, and wherein the grooved areas form a first conductor receiving area and a second conductor receiving area.

20. The electrical connector clamp of claim 19 wherein the fastener extends between the first conductor receiving area and the second conductor receiving area.

21. The electrical connector clamp of claim 14 wherein the fastener further comprises a bolt and a nut.

22. The electrical connector clamp of claim 14 wherein the upper pad and the lower pad are each one-piece members.

23. The electrical connector clamp of claim 14 wherein the clamp is configured to be attached to a utility linesman'"'"'s hot stick.

24. A method of manufacturing an electrical connector:

providing an upper pad comprising a first upper groove, a second upper groove, and an upper hole, wherein the upper pad is a one-piece member, and wherein the upper hole extends through the upper pad between the first upper groove and the second upper groove;

providing a lower pad comprising a first lower groove, a second lower groove, and an elongated hole, wherein the lower pad is a one-piece member, and wherein the elongated hole extends through the lower pad between the first lower groove and the second lower grove;

connecting a fastener to the upper pad and the lower pad, wherein the fastener extends through the upper hole and the elongated hole; and

connecting a single spring between the fastener and the lower pad, wherein the lower pad is between the spring the upper pad, and wherein the electrical connector is configured such that only the single spring provides a bias on the upper pad and the lower pad;

wherein the lower pad is configured to be pivotable around the fastener, and relative to the upper pad, at the elongated hole.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the connecting of the spring further comprises connecting the spring between the fastener and the lower pad and spaced from the upper pad.