Grounding clip

• US 7,686,625 B1
• Filed: 11/07/2008
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TE Connectivity Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Dyer, Jacob M., Mostoller, Matthew Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Ta; Tho D
• Application Number:
  US12/266,578
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 439/857, 439/92, 439/907, 439/65, 439/66, 439/74
• US Class Current: 439/92
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/22 End pieces terminating in a spring clip
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/185 combined with a U-shaped insulation-receiving portion
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/26 Connections in which at least one of the connecting parts has projections which bite into or engage the other connecting part in order to improve the contact H01R4/188, H01R4/203, H01R4/5075 take precedence; using shape memory materials H01R4/01
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/64 Connections between or with conductive parts having primarily a non-electric function, e.g. frame, casing, rail
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/907 Contact having three contact surfaces, including diverse surface

Abstract

The invention is directed to a grounding clip which can provide an electrical connection between a ground wire, a first panel and a second panel. The grounding clip has a wire terminating section for terminating a grounding wire thereto, a first panel receiving portion for terminating a first panel therein, and a second panel receiving portion for terminating a second panel therein.

Claims

1. A grounding clip comprising:

a wire terminating section for terminating a grounding wire thereto;

a first panel receiving portion for terminating a first panel therein, the first panel receiving portion having tines which are inclined inwardly into the first panel receiving portion;

a second panel receiving portion for terminating a second panel therein;

wherein the wire terminating section, the first panel receiving portion and the second panel receiving portion conduct current thereacross to provide grounding between components electrically connected thereto.

2. The grounding clip as recited in claim 1 wherein the first panel receiving portion has a first wall and an oppositely facing second wall, the first wall and the oppositely facing second wall extending from a bight portion.

3. The grounding clip as recited in claim 2 wherein the tines extend inwardly from proximate edges of the first wall, the tines being inclined inwardly relative to the first wall and extending toward the bight portion.

4. The grounding clip as recited in claim 3 wherein the tines have sharp points to facilitate making an electrical connection with a first panel when the first panel is inserted into the first panel receiving portion.

5. The grounding clip as recited in claim 1 wherein the second panel receiving portion has a first wall and an oppositely facing second wall, the first wall and the oppositely facing second wall extending from a bight portion.

6. The grounding clip as recited in claim 5 wherein second tines extend inwardly from proximate edges of the first wall, the tines being inclined inwardly relative to the first wall and extending toward the bight portion.

7. The grounding clip as recited in claim 6 wherein the second tines have sharp points to facilitate making an electrical connection with a second panel when the second panel is inserted into the second panel receiving portion.

8. The grounding clip as recited in claim 1 wherein the first panel receiving portion has a first outside wall and an oppositely facing inside wall, the outside wall and the inside wall extending from a first bight portion, the second panel receiving portion having a second outside wall and the oppositely facing inside wall, the second outside wall and the inside wall extending from a second bight portion, the first bight portion extending from a first edge of the inside wall and the second bight portion extending from an oppositely facing second edge of the inside wall.

9. The grounding clip as recited in claim 8 wherein the wire terminating section extends from the first outside wall of the first panel receiving portion.

10. The grounding clip as recited in claim 9 wherein the wire terminating section has a transition section which spaces a crimp section of the wire terminating section from the first outside wall.

11. The grounding clip as recited in claim 8 wherein the inside wall has a connecting portion which extends between the first panel receiving portion and the second panel receiving portion.

12. A grounding clip comprising:

a wire terminating section for terminating a grounding wire thereto;

a first panel receiving portion for terminating a first panel therein, the first panel receiving portion having a first outside wall and an oppositely facing inside wall, the outside wall and the inside wall extending from a first bight portion;

a second panel receiving portion for terminating a second panel therein, the second panel receiving portion having a second outside wall and the oppositely facing inside wall, the second outside wall and the inside wall extending from a second bight portion;

the first bight portion extending from a first edge of the inside wall and the second bight portion extending from an oppositely facing second edge of the inside wall;

wherein the wire terminating section, the first panel receiving portion and the second panel receiving portion conduct current thereacross to provide grounding between components electrically connected thereto.

13. The grounding clip as recited in claim 12 wherein the inside wall has a connecting portion which extends between the first panel receiving portion and the second panel receiving portion.

14. The grounding clip as recited in claim 12 wherein tines extend inwardly from proximate edges of the first outside wall and the second outside wall, the tines being inclined inwardly relative to the respective first outside wall and the second outside wall and extending toward the respective first bight portion and second bight portion.

15. The grounding clip as recited in claim 14 wherein the tines have sharp points to facilitate making an electrical connection with a respective first panel and a respective second panel when the first panel is inserted into the first panel receiving portion and the second panel is inserted into the second panel receiving portion.

16. The grounding clip as recited in claim 12 wherein tines extend inwardly from proximate edges of the inside wall, the tines being inclined inwardly relative to the inside wall and extending toward the respective first bight portion and second bight portion.

17. The grounding clip as recited in claim 12 wherein the wire terminating section extends from the first outside wall of the first panel receiving portion.

18. The grounding clip as recited in claim 17 wherein the wire terminating section has a transition section which spaces a crimp section of the wire terminating section from the first outside wall.