Connecting clamp for electrical conductors

• US 4,768,981 A
• Filed: 04/10/1986
• Issued: 09/06/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WAGO Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH (WAGO Holding GmbH)
• Original Assignee: WAGO Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH (WAGO Holding GmbH)
• Inventors: Hohorst, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): DESMOND, EUGENE
• Application Number:
  US06/850,283
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 339/200 R, 339/200 P, 339/204, 339/205, 339/206 R, 339/206 P, 339/207 S, 339/215 S, 339/219 R, 339/244 R, 339/249 R, 339/252 R, 339/253 S , 339/253 R, 339/253 L, 339/256 R, 339/256 S, 339/75 R, 339/248 R, 339/248 S, 339/75 MP, 339/75 P, 439/259, 439/296, 439/786, 439/789, 439/790, 439/816, 439/822, 439/828, 439/829, 439/835, 439/438
• US Class Current: 439/835
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/48455 insertion of a wire only possible by pressing on the spring

Abstract

The invention concerns a connecting clamp for electrical conductors with a clamping spring disposed on a current bar, where said clamping spring clamps at least two conductors. The object is to manufacture such clamps economically and appropriately for automatic handling. This objective is achieved by providing a contact point for a conductor above and below the current bar, and by forming both clamping points jointly through a single clamping spring.

Claims

1. A connecting clamp for electrical conductors, comprising an insulating housing having a front portion with an entry hole for the introduction of a first conductor therein and a rear portion with an entry hole for the introduction of a second conductor therein, a clamping spring located in said housing formed of a flat, flexible material and including a first leg located adjacent to the front portion of said housing and having an opening formed therein defined by an upper edge and a lower edge, a second leg joined to said first leg and being bent relative thereto to form a spring loop having a closed face that is located adjacent to the rear portion of said housing, said second leg having a free end that extends through said opening in said first leg, a current bar located in said housing and extending through said opening in the first leg of said clamping spring and being disposed substantially in underlying parallel relation with respect to the second leg of said clamping spring, said first conductor extending underneath said current bar through the opening in the first leg of said clamping spring and being clamped between said current bar and the lower edge of said opening thereby forming an underneath clamping point, said second conductor extending over said current bar and through the opening in the first leg of said clamping spring and being clamped between said current bar and said free end of said second leg of said clamping spring thereby forming an upper clamping point, said upper clamping point and said underneath clamping point being disposed approximately one above the other so that a tilting moment exerted against the clamping spring is prevented and a positive anchoring of said clamping spring on said current bar is not required.

2. A connecting clamp as claimed in claim 1, said current bar including an upstanding portion located adjacent to the rear position of said housing, said upstanding portion engaging the underside of said second leg of said clamping spring for spacing said second leg away from said current bar in the area adjacent to the rear portion of said housing in order that the second conductor can be inserted more easily between said current bar and the second leg of said clamping spring.