Dual compressive connector
First Claim
1. A photovoltaic panel, comprising:
- a circuit board;
a wall; and
an electrical connector, comprising;
a casing, comprising a first casing wall, a second casing wall facing the first casing wall, a third casing wall, a fourth casing wall facing the third casing wall, and an extension portion that extends through the wall and electrically connects to the circuit board, the casing forming a first opening to receive a first bus bar and a second bus bar and a second opening to receive a third bus bar and a fourth bus bar;
a first elastic strip, comprising a first leg configured to hold the first bus bar against the first casing wall, and a second leg configured to hold the second bus bar against the second casing wall; and
a second elastic strip, comprising a third leg configured to hold the third bus bar against the third casing wall, and a fourth leg configured to hold the fourth bus bar against the fourth casing wall.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical connector for electrically connecting multiple photovoltaic bus bars. A casing includes first and second opposing walls. An elastic strip is bent into a bent elastic strip with a first leg and a second leg. The bent elastic strip is disposed between the first and second walls of the casing with the first leg pressing against the first wall and the second leg pressing against the second wall. The bent elastic strip is configured to hold at least one of the photovoltaic bus bars between the first leg and the first wall and another of the photovoltaic bus bars between the second leg and the second wall. The bent elastic strip may be formed of resilient spring metal with a thickness and an elastic modulus. The thickness and/or the elastic modulus of the elastic strip is/are configured so that the bus bars are inserted without requiring a tool to open a space and so that the bus bars are removed from the connector without requiring a tool to break the electrical connection.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A photovoltaic panel, comprising:
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a circuit board; a wall; and an electrical connector, comprising; a casing, comprising a first casing wall, a second casing wall facing the first casing wall, a third casing wall, a fourth casing wall facing the third casing wall, and an extension portion that extends through the wall and electrically connects to the circuit board, the casing forming a first opening to receive a first bus bar and a second bus bar and a second opening to receive a third bus bar and a fourth bus bar; a first elastic strip, comprising a first leg configured to hold the first bus bar against the first casing wall, and a second leg configured to hold the second bus bar against the second casing wall; and a second elastic strip, comprising a third leg configured to hold the third bus bar against the third casing wall, and a fourth leg configured to hold the fourth bus bar against the fourth casing wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An electrical connector, comprising:
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a casing, comprising a first wall, a second wall facing the first wall, a third wall, a fourth wall facing the third wall, and an extension portion configured to electrically connect to a circuit board, the casing forming a first opening to receive a first bus bar and a second bus bar and a second opening to receive a third bus bar and a fourth bus bar; a first elastic strip, comprising a first leg configured to hold the first bus bar against the first wall and a second leg configured to hold the second bus bar against the second wall; and a second elastic strip, comprising a third leg configured to hold the third bus bar against the third wall and a fourth leg configured to hold the fourth bus bar against the fourth wall. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method, comprising:
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folding a sheet of metal to form a casing, comprising a first wall, a second wall facing the first wall, a third wall, a fourth wall facing the third wall, and an extension portion configured to electrically connect to a circuit board, wherein the casing forms a first opening to receive a first bus bar and a second bus bar and a second opening to receive a third bus bar and a fourth bus bar; and inserting a first elastic strip through the first opening between the first wall and the second wall, wherein the first elastic strip comprises a first leg configured to hold the first bus bar against the first wall and a second leg configured to hold the second bus bar against the second wall; and inserting a second elastic strip through the second opening between the third wall and the fourth wall, wherein the second elastic strip comprises a third leg configured to hold the third bus bar against the third wall and a fourth leg configured to hold the fourth bus bar against the fourth wall. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification