Strip for electrical connectors

• US 5,564,571 A
• Filed: 06/02/1995
• Issued: 10/15/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cembre S.p.A.
• Original Assignee: Cembre S.p.A.
• Inventors: Zanotti, Aurelio
• Primary Examiner(s): Gehman, Bryon P.
• Application Number:
  US08/458,161
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 206/713, 206/714, 206/716, 206/725, 206/726, 206/493, 206/345, 206/347, 206/479, 206/485, 206/487, 206/488, 206/489
• US Class Current: 206/716
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/055 with contact member feeding mechanism

Abstract

Flexible strip on which the electrical connectors are arranged at uniform intervals and placed mechanically without the aid of adhesive substances and/or fixing elements. The strip has, at uniform distances, openings in which the electrical connectors are placed; the contour of the openings is studied so as to ensure simple and reliable containment of the connector and an equally easy and immediate extraction thereof. The contours blanked in the flexible strip are mostly provided, at their ends, with oppositely arranged protrusions that face the mostly circular openings of the connectors in order to retain them. Other mostly circular openings are blanked in the flexible strip at a constant pitch, mostly alternated with the openings for positioning the electrical connectors, and are used for the traction and positioning of the strip in the apparatus for automatically fixing the connector to the electrical conductor.

Claims

1. In combination, a strip for pre-insulated terminals each having a stem and a plurality of sleeves each for containing a respective terminal, wherein said strip is made of a material which is flexible at least along its longitudinal extension and forms a plurality of mutually parallel and spaced openings each having an elongated shape with an axis, each opening of said openings having, at two oppositely arranged points, a protrusion to define a pair of protrusions that detachably engage the axial ends of a respective sleeve of said sleeves to detachably retain a plurality of mutually spaced terminals arranged side by side, each said sleeve being tubularly shaped and adapted to accommodate the stem of one said terminal.

2. Combination according to claim 1, wherein the axis of each of said openings is arranged substantially at right angles to the longitudinal extension of said strip.

3. Combination according to claim 2, wherein each pair of protrusions is arranged substantially on the axis of its respective opening.

4. Combination according to claim 1, wherein each of said openings has a shape that is substantially complementary to the outer surface of a respective sleeve of said sleeves.

5. Combination according to claim 1, wherein said protrusions extend laterally with respect to said strip with each protrusion defined by indentations for engagement with the axial edges of one of said sleeves.

6. In combination, a strip for pre-insulated terminals each having a stem and a plurality of sleeves each for containing a respective terminal, wherein said strip is made of a material which is flexible at least along its longitudinal extension and forms a plurality of mutually parallel and spaced openings each having an elongated shape with an axis, each opening of said openings having, at two oppositely arranged points, a protrusion to define a pair of protrusions that detachably engage the axial ends of a respective sleeve of said sleeves to detachably retain a plurality of mutually spaced terminals arranged side by side, each said sleeve being tubularly shaped and adapted to accommodate the stem of one said terminal, said strip further comprising uniformly spaced single perforations arranged between said openings which allow for engaging means for jogging said strip.

7. Combination according to claim 6, wherein the axis of each of said openings is arranged substantially at right angles to the longitudinal extension of said strip.

8. Combination according to claim 7, wherein each pair of protrusions is arranged substantially on the axis of its respective opening.

9. Combination according to claim 6, wherein each of said openings has a shape that is substantially complementary to the outer surface of a respective sleeve of said sleeves.

10. Combination according to claim 6, wherein said protrusions extend laterally with respect to said strip with each protrusion defined by indentations for engagement with the axial edges of one of said sleeves.