Safety cover and identifier for electric terminal block

• US 9,225,155 B1
• Filed: 09/04/2013
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rauckman Utility Products LLC
• Original Assignee: James B. Rauckman
• Inventors: Rauckman, James B., McGuire, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, Briggitte R
• Application Number:
  US14/017,813
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/465 Identification means, e.g. labels, tags, markings H01R9/2475, H01R9/2683 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2475 Means facilitating correct wiring, e.g. marking plates, identification tags

Abstract

A safety cover and identifier to cover wire terminals in an electric terminal block. The cover/identifier comprises a body comprising dielectric material having a first leg and an opposed, spaced apart second leg The two legs are joined adjacent their midpoints by an integral, resilient spring element. The opposed proximal ends of the legs each have a terminal covering surface and define serrated jaws. The jaws are opened by compression of the distal ends of the legs. The jaws are attached to the electrical terminal block to cover wire connections and each of the proximal ends covers one of a functional pair of wire connectors. The resilient spring element biases the jaws toward each other to secure the cover in place. The cover/identifier includes indicia to identify aspects of the wires attached to the cover wire connectors.

Claims

1. A device for covering a functional pair of wire terminals in a terminal block comprising:

a first leg having a distal end and a proximal end configured to cover one of said functional pair of wire terminals, said proximal end having a substantially flat distally angled face;

a second leg having a distal end and a proximal end configured to cover the other of said functional pair of wire terminals, said proximal end having a substantially flat distally angled face, the proximal ends of said first and second legs having marginal surfaces defining opposed serrated laws;

wherein each distally angled flat face terminates in a raised shoulder; and

a resilient spring structure connecting said first and second legs;

wherein the device comprises dielectric material.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is a predetermined color, said color corresponding to predetermined indicia.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the resilient spring structure has a substantially C-shaped configuration.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the first and second legs are mirror images of each other.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said distal ends defines a hole.

6. The device of claim 5 further comprising a connector peg dimensioned to fit within the holes defined in the distal ends of two adjacent devices to connect said devices.

7. The device of claim 5 further comprising an indicator element secured in the hole defined by the distal end of a leg.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein one of the raised shoulders defines a hole.

9. The device of claim 8 further comprising a connector peg dimensioned to fit within the holes defined in the raised shoulders of two adjacent devices to connect said devices.

10. A device for covering a functional pair of wire terminals in an electric terminal block comprising:

a first leg having distal end and a proximal end, said proximal end having a distally angled flat face configured to cover one of said functional pair of wire terminals;

a second leg configured as a mirror image of said first leg and having a distal end and a proximal end, said proximal end configured to cover the other of said function pair of wire terminals;

said proximal ends of the legs each define a hole therein;

the proximal ends of said first and second legs having marginal surfaces defining opposed, serrated laws;

the distal ends of the legs each defining an opening therein;

a resilient spring structure connecting said first and second legs at their approximate midpoints;

a connector peg configured and dimension to engage the holes in the distal ends or the holes in the proximal ends of the device to connect adjacent devices;

wherein the device comprises a dielectric material.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the device is a predetermined color, said color corresponding to predetermined indicia.

12. The device of claim 10 further comprising an information element attached at the opening in the distal end of one of said legs.

13. In a terminal block having a body and at least one functional pair of opposed wire terminals, a cover/indicator device comprising:

a first leg having distal end and a proximal end, said proximal end having a distally angled flat face configured to cover one of said functional pair of wire terminals;

a second leg having a distal end and a proximal end, said proximal end configured to cover the other of said functional pair of wire terminals;

the proximal ends of said first and second legs each having marginal surfaces defining opposed serrated jaws; and

a resilient spring structure connecting said first and second legs;

wherein the device comprise a dielectric material.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the device is a predetermined color, said color corresponding to predetermined indicia.

15. The device of claim 13 wherein the resilient spring structure has a substantially C-shaped configuration.