Electrical connector element with rewirable spring contacts

• US 7,204,727 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2006
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industria Lombarda Materiale Elettrico ILME SpA
• Original Assignee: Industria Lombarda Materiale Elettrico ILME SpA
• Inventors: Germani, Emilio
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRUC T
• Application Number:
  US11/367,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20060199444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 439/835, 439/106, 439/222
• US Class Current: 439/835
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/62 Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/48275 with an opening in the housing for insertion of a release tool

Abstract

A standard type electrical connector element (1; 100; 200; 300), with a square cross-section measuring about 21×21 mm, includes (2; 102; 202; 302) within which are formed seats (22) adapted to house contacts (4; 204) adapted to receive the conductors (50) of electrical feed cables; a seat (23) adapted to house a contact (6; 106; 206; 306) adapted to go into contact with the conductor of an electrical earth cable, a cover (8; 108) which can be coupled on the body and which is provided with holes (83, 82) disposed in register with the contacts (4; 204) to allow the conductors of the feed and earth cables to be inserted, and spring elements (7) disposed in the seats (22, 23) of the body in which the contacts are housed to clamp the conductors of the electrical cables in contact with the respective contacts.

Claims

1. An electrical connector element (1;

100;

200;

300), adapted to couple with a complementary electrical connector element, said electrical connector element comprising;

a body of insulating material (2;

102;

202;

302) inside which are formed first seats (22) housing respective first metal contacts (4;

204) adapted to receive respective conductors (50) of electrical feed cables, and a second seat (23) housing a second metal contact (6;

106;

206;

306) adapted to come into contact with a conductor of an electrical earth cable, said second metal contact (6;

106;

206;

306) comprising a plate (61) provided with a threaded hole (62) able to accommodate a screw (63);

a cover (8;

108) which can be coupled on said body and provided with first holes (83, 82) disposed in registration with said first and second contacts to allow insertion of the conductors of the feed and earth cables; and

spring clamping means (7) of metal material disposed in said first and second seats (22, 23) to clamp the electrical cable conductors in contact with the respective first and second contacts, the whole so that said first and second metal contacts and said spring clamping means remain protected inside said insulating body.

2. A connector element according to claim 1, wherein said first metal contact (4;

204) comprises a first seat adapted to house said conductor (50) of the electrical cable (5) and a second seat (43) adapted to house said spring means (7).

3. A connector element according to claim 1, wherein said spring means (7) comprises a metal plate bent to form a triangle.

4. A connector element according to claim 1, wherein said cover (8, 108) comprises second holes (81, 84) disposed in registration with said spring means (7) to allow insertion of a tool able to act against said spring means (7) to prepare them for engagement and disengagement of the conductor (50) of the electrical cable.

5. A connector element according to claim 1, comprising three of said first metal contacts (4;

204) and wherein said first and second seats are disposed along the diagonals of the body.

6. A connector element according to claim 1, comprising four of said first metal contacts (4;

204) and wherein said first and second seats are disposed near the corners of the body and said second seat (23) of the earth contact is disposed in a central position.

7. An electrical connector comprising a male connector element and a female connector element according to claim 1.

8. A connector element according to claim 3, wherein said plate of the spring (7) takes the form of a right-angled triangle, in which one cathetus (70) has a further hole (71) adapted to receive the end (72′

) of another cathetus (72).

9. A connector element according to claim 8, wherein said first metal contact comprises a tooth (44) adapted to engage in said further hole (71).

10. A connector element according to claim 4, wherein said first holes are circular and said second holes are square.

11. An electrical connector element (1;

100;

200;

300), adapted to couple with a complementary electrical connector element, said electrical connector element comprising;

a body of insulating material (2;

102;

202;

302) inside which are formed first seats (22) housing respective first metal contacts (4;

204) adapted to receive respective conductors (50) of electrical feed cables, and a second seat (23) housing a second metal contact (6;

106;

206;

306) adapted to come into contact with a conductor of an electrical earth cable,

a cover (8;

108) which can be coupled on said body and provided with first holes (83, 82) disposed in registration with said first and second contacts to allow insertion of the conductors of the feed and earth cables, and

spring clamping means (7) of metal material disposed in said first and second seats (22, 23) to clamp the electrical cable conductors in contact with the respective first and second contacts, the whole so that said first and second metal contacts and said spring clamping means remain protected inside said insulating body,

wherein said first and second seats (22, 23) of the body comprise a rectangular hole (22) adapted to receive the top part of the contact with the respective spring means (7) and a circular hole (25) adapted to receive the bottom part (46;

246) of the contact, destined to couple with the bottom part of a contact of a complementary connector element.

12. A connector element according to claim 11, wherein said first metal contact (4;

204) comprises a first seat adapted to house said conductor (50) of the electrical cable (5) and a second seat (43) adapted to house said spring means (7).

13. A connector element according to claim 11, wherein said spring means (7) comprises a metal plate bent to form a triangle.

14. A connector element according to claim 11, wherein said cover (8, 108) comprises second holes (81, 84) disposed in registration with said spring means (7) to allow insertion of a tool able to act against said spring means (7) to prepare them for engagement and disengagement of the conductor (50) of the electrical cable.

15. A connector element according to claim 11, comprising three of said first metal contacts (4;

204) and wherein said first and second seats are disposed along the diagonals of the body.

16. A connector element according to claim 11, comprising four of said first metal contacts (4;

204) and wherein said first and second seats are disposed near the corners of the body and said second seat (23) of the earth contact is disposed in a central position.

17. An electrical connector comprising a male connector element and a female connector element according to claim 11.

18. A connector element according to claim 13, wherein said plate of the spring (7) takes the form of a right-angled triangle, in which one cathetus (70) has a further hole (71) adapted to receive the end (72′

) of another cathetus (72).

19. A connector element according to claim 18, wherein said first metal contact comprises a tooth (44) adapted to engage in said further hole (71).

20. A connector element according to claim 14, wherein said first holes are circular and said second holes are square.