1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an electrical connector limiter structure of wire connection terminal, and more particularly to an electrical connector limiter assembled with metal leaf springs. The limiter has higher rigidity and is able to help in fixing and restricting moving path of the metal leaf springs.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional wire connection terminal device has an insulation case (generally made of plastic material), a metal component (or so-called electrical conductive component) and a metal leaf spring. The metal component and the metal leaf spring are enclosed in the insulation case to press and electrically connect with a conductive wire plugged in the terminal device. The terminal device can be mounted on an operation panel or a distributor box of an electronic or electrical apparatus as an electrical wiring connection device.
With respect to the operation and application of the assembling structure of the conventional wire connection terminal, when the conductive wire is plugged into the case and the wire connector, the conductive wire will first press down the metal leaf spring. Then, the metal leaf spring applies an elastic force to the conductive wire to bite or hold the conductive wire together with the wire connector so as to electrically connect with the conductive wire. It often takes place that when the conductive wire is plugged into the case, due to the large number of plug-in operation and human negligence, the metal bare end of the conductive wire thrusts and damages the case or deflects the metal leaf spring to scrape and break the case and fail to stably hold the conductive wire. In order to improve the above problem, a conventional wire connector limiter is assembled with the wire connector to restrict the moving path of the metal leaf spring.
However, as well known by those who are skilled in this field, such limiter assembled with the wire connector or the conductive plate has a relatively complicated structure and it is troublesome and time-consuming to process the limiter. Moreover, in the case that two or more conductive wires need to be connected, in practice, it will be necessary to arrange two or more connection terminals and wire connectors for correspondingly connecting with every conductive wire. This will lead to increase of the total volume of the wiring device and occupy extra space. Also, this is unbeneficial to the development and design trend of miniaturized wire connection terminal. This is not what we expect.
To speak representatively, the above reveals some shortcomings existing in the conventional electrical connection terminal or wire connector and metal leaf spring and the relevant assembling design.
In case the structure and assembly of the wire connector and the metal leaf spring are redesigned to be different from the conventional wire connection terminal, the use form of the wire connection terminal can be changed to practically widen the application range thereof. For example, in the condition that the development and design trend of miniaturized terminal device are satisfied and the volume of the terminal device is not increased, the fixing structures or assembling relationship of the conventional wire connector and metal leaf springs are changed, whereby the structure of the terminal device is easy to manufacture and operate so as to improve the shortcomings of the conventional terminal device that the operation is troublesome and time-consuming and the structure is relatively complicated.
In addition, a wire connection terminal device (or electrical connector) equipped with a limiter is provided. The limiter has a first space and a second space with fully closed peripheries for truly receiving the metal leaf springs and restricting the moving path of the metal leaf springs. Moreover, at least two conductive wires can be side by side plugged into the electrical connector to respectively assemble with the metal leaf springs. In order to truly restrict and guide the metal leaf springs, the peripheries of the first and second spaces of the limiter are fully closed. This is specially considered and required.
This is because in the case that the peripheries of the first and second spaces of the limiter are not fully closed, the limiter will be unable to have sufficient structural strength. Under such circumstance, when a first conductive wire is plugged in, the limiter is bent and compressed. In this case, some sidewalls of the limiter are apt to deform to affect the plug-in operation of the second conductive wire. As a result, the normal (swinging) function and motional form of the metal leaf springs will be affected or interfered with. All these are the shortcomings of the conventional wire connection terminal.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector limiter structure of wire connection terminal is easily operable to enhance the stability of the operation and motion of metal leaf springs. The wire connection terminal includes conductive components mounted in the insulation case and electrical connector assembled with the conductive components. The electrical connector has a limiter for receiving the metal leaf springs and restricting moving path thereof. The limiter is partitioned to define a first space and a second space with fully closed peripheries, in which the metal leaf springs are mounted. The wiring circuits or conductive wires coming from an apparatus can be easily directly plugged into the first and second spaces of the limiter to insert with the metal leaf springs. The limiter serves to prevent the metal leaf springs from deflecting in operation.
To achieve the above and other objects, the electrical connector limiter structure of the present invention includes a limiter. The limiter includes a first side, a second side connected with the first side, a third side connected with the second side and a fourth side connected with the third side to together form a rectangular frame structure. The first side is bent toward the third side to form a first subsidiary side. The first subsidiary side extends to a position in adjacency to the third side so as to define a first space with a fully closed periphery. The fourth side is bent toward the second side and extends to form a fifth side. The fifth side and the first side are positioned on the same plane face. The fifth side is bent toward the third side to form a second subsidiary side. The first and second subsidiary sides are side by side arranged in parallel to each other. The second subsidiary side extends to a position in adjacency to the third side so as to define a second space with a fully closed periphery.
In the above electrical connector limiter structure, at least the second side and the first subsidiary side help in restricting the moving path of one metal leaf spring and the fourth side and the second subsidiary side help in restricting the moving path of the other metal leaf spring.
In the above electrical connector limiter structure, the third side is formed with a window and the first subsidiary side and/or the second subsidiary side extends into the window. Accordingly, the window can restrict and bear the first subsidiary side and/or the second subsidiary side to form a stable structure without deflection. Accordingly, in the operation process, the metal leaf springs will not deflect or shake so as to together truly restrict the moving path of the metal leaf springs.
The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:
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In a preferred embodiment, the limiter 10 is selectively made of a flat blank material with higher rigidity or hardness, such as iron, steel, etc. The flat blank material is processed to form a rectangular frame structure of the limiter 10 as shown in
As shown in the drawings, the limiter 10 includes a first side 11, a second side 12 connected with the first side 11, a third side 13 connected with the second side 12 and a fourth side 14 connected with the third side 13. The first side 11 is bent toward the third side 13 to form a first subsidiary side 16. (For example, the first side 11 and the first subsidiary side 16 can contain an acute angle, a right angle or an obtuse angle.) The first subsidiary side 16 extends to a position in adjacency to the third side 13 so as to define a first space 18 with a fully closed periphery.
As shown in the drawings, the fourth side 14 is bent toward the second side 12 and extends to form a fifth side 15. The fifth side 15 and the first side 11 are positioned on the same plane face. The fifth side 15 is bent toward the third side 13 and extends to forma second subsidiary side 17. (For example, the fifth side 15 and the second subsidiary side 17 can contain an acute angle, a right angle or an obtuse angle.) The second subsidiary side 17 extends to a position in adjacency to the third side 13 so as to define a second space 19 with a fully closed periphery. The first and second subsidiary sides 16, 17 are side by side arranged in parallel to each other. Metal leaf springs can be respectively received and assembled in the first and second spaces 18, 19, whereby the metal leaf springs can swing within the limiter 10 (or the first and second spaces 18, 19) to securely hold the conductive wires.
In this embodiment, at least the second side 12 and the first subsidiary side 16 help in restricting the moving path of one metal leaf spring and the fourth side 14 and the second subsidiary side 17 help in restricting the moving path of the other metal leaf spring.
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It should be noted that the length of the first and second subsidiary sides 16, 17 at least is such that the first and second subsidiary sides 16, 17 extend to a position close to or adjacent to the third side 13 (or the protrusion end 16a of the first subsidiary side 16 passes through the window 20 of the third side 13). Under such circumstance, the first and second spaces 18, 19 with the fully closed peripheries can be truly defined to make the limiter 10 have sufficient or optimal structural strength for resisting against or bearing the plug-in operation of the conductive wire. Only in this case, the metal leaf springs can be truly received and guided to restrict the moving path thereof.
In a preferred embodiment, leg sections 12a, 14a protrude from the bottom ends or bottom sections of the second and fourth sides 12, 14 of the limiter 10. In addition, finger sections 12b, 14b are formed on (lateral sides) of the leg sections 12a, 14a. The finger sections 12b, 14b help in securely assembling the limiter 10 with the metal leaf springs (or the conductive support, electrical connector, etc.)
Also, as shown in the drawings, an upper end of the third side 13 of the limiter 10 is (perpendicularly) bent to form an extension section 30. The extension section 30 can selectively electrically contact the other components of the switch device or the electrical connection terminal to close the circuit or non-contact with the other components to open the circuit.
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To speak representatively, in the condition that the trend to design miniaturized terminal device is satisfied and the volume of the terminal device is not increased, in comparison with the conventional terminal device, the electrical connector limiter structure of wire connection terminal of the present invention has the following advantages:
In conclusion, the electrical connector limiter structure of wire connection terminal of the present invention is different from the conventional wire connection terminal in space form and is advantageous over the conventional wire connection terminal. The electrical connector limiter structure of wire connection terminal of the present invention is greatly advanced and inventive.
The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many modifications of the above embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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105203357 | Mar 2016 | TW | national |