ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS HAVING FIELD MODIFIABLE LUGS

• US 20160141774A1
• Filed: 11/13/2015
• Published: 05/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Boutin, Kris Robin
• Granted Patent: US 9,559,443 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/11 End pieces or tapping pieces for wires, supported by the wire and for facilitating electrical connection to some other wire, terminal or conductive member H01R11/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/12 End pieces terminating in an eye, hook, or fork
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/16 for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending

Abstract

Electrical connectors having field modifiable lugs are provided. In some embodiments, the electrical connectors include a lug having at least two different modification guide features, which assist the user to modify lug from its blank or unmodified state shown in to a modified state while ensuring that the modified connector maintains the desired compliance to the various regulatory and overseeing bodies.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising:

a conductor-connecting region; and

a terminal-connecting region having at least two different modification guide features, which are configured to assist a user to modify the terminal-connecting region from a blank or unmodified state to a modified state.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein one of the two different modification guide features comprises a weakened section at which the user can modify a dimension of the terminal-connecting region along the weakened section.

3. The electrical connector of claim 2, wherein the weakened section is on a surface of the terminal-connecting region selected from the group consisting of a top surface, a bottom surface, and combinations thereof.

4. The electrical connector of claim 2, wherein the weakened section comprises a plurality of weakened sections.

5. The electrical connector of claim 2, wherein the dimension is selected from the group consisting of a length of the terminal-connecting region, a width of the terminal-connecting region, and combinations thereof.

6. The electrical connector of claim 2, wherein one of the two different modification guide features comprises a pilot section at which the user can modify the terminal-connecting region to include one or more holes at the pilot section.

7. The electrical connector of claim 6, wherein the pilot section comprises a plurality of pilot sections.

8. The electrical connector of claim 6, wherein the pilot section is selected from the group consisting of a printed indicia, a score line, and combinations thereof.

9. The electrical connector of claim 6, wherein the pilot section is on a surface of the terminal-connecting region selected from the group consisting of a top surface, a bottom surface, and combinations thereof.

10. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein one of the two different modification guide features comprises a pilot section at which the user can modify the terminal-connecting region to include one or more holes at the pilot section.

11. An electrical connector comprising:

a conductor-connecting region; and

a terminal-connecting region having a blank or unmodified state that is modifiable by a user to a modified state,

the terminal-connecting region comprising a plurality of weakened sections configured allow the user to modify the terminal-connecting region so that the modified state is selected from the group consisting of a modified a length of the terminal-connecting region, a modified width of the terminal-connecting region, and combinations thereof, and

the terminal-connecting region comprising a plurality of pilot sections configured allow the user to modify the terminal-connecting region so that the modified state is selected from the group consisting of a number of holes, a location of holes, a size of holes, and combinations thereof.

12. The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the plurality of pilot sections are selected from the group consisting of printed indicia, score lines, and combinations thereof.

13. The electrical connector of claim 12, wherein the plurality of pilot sections are on a surface of the terminal-connecting region selected from the group consisting of a top surface, a bottom surface, and combinations thereof.

14. The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the plurality of weakened sections are on a surface of the terminal-connecting region selected from the group consisting of a top surface, a bottom surface, and combinations thereof.

15. The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the plurality of pilot sections are on a surface of the terminal-connecting region selected from the group consisting of a top surface, a bottom surface, and combinations thereof.