Claims
- 1. A connector assembly including a stamped and formed sheet metal connecting device for commonly connecting a plurality of wires, the device being of the type having wire-receiving slots for the wires, the slots having opposed edges which contact the wires upon movement of the wires laterally of their axes and into the slots, the device comprising:
- two rows of U-shaped members, each U-shaped member comprising a bight and first and second arms extending from the bight, the U-shaped member of each row being in spaced-apart aligned relationship, the first arms in each row being coplanar and the second arms of each row being coplanar, adjacent U-shaped members in each row having opposed edges which define the wire-receiving slots,
- each row having first and second connecting sections which extend for the length of the row, the first and second arms of each U-shaped member having ends which re integral with the associated first and second connecting sections respectively, the first arms of corresponding U-shaped members in the two rows being opposed and proximate to each other, the second arms being remote from each other and facing outwardly in opposite direction,
- two rows of U-shaped members being connected to each other by a web which extends from one of the connecting sections of one of the rows to the corresponding connecting section of the other row, and
- a molded insulating housing body is provided for covering the connecting device, the insulating housing body having openings which are in registry with the wire-receiving slots thereby to permit movement of the wires into the slots, and
- the molded insulating housing body comprising a plurality of E-shaped sections in aligned relationship in a row, each section having a central leg, outer legs on each side of the central leg, and a transverse back member from which the legs extend, the central legs being received between the first arms of corresponding U-shaped members, the outer legs extending beside the second arms of corresponding U-shaped members in the two rows, each E-shaped section being in covering relationship with a pair of corresponding U-shaped members, the E-shaped sections being spaced-apart thereby to provide the openings which are in registry with the slots, the central legs having outer ends which are integral with a continuous central frame member which extends for the length of the device between the ends thereof.
- 2. A connector assembly as set forth in claim 1 characterized in that the housing body has end sections at each end of the row of E-shaped sections, the central frame member being integral with the end sections.
- 3. A connector assembly as set forth in claim 1 characterized in that the web extends between, and is integral with, the connecting sections which are integral with the second arms of the U-shaped members.
- 4. A connector assembly as set forth in claim 1 characterized in that the outer legs of adjacent E-shaped members are connected by panel members.
- 5. A connector assembly as set forth in claim 4 characterized in that interengaging means comprising latch ears on the housing body and recesses in the connecting sections of the connecting device are provided for retaining the housing body on the connecting device.
- 6. A connector assembly as set forth in claim 4 characterized in that a housing cover is provided for the housing body, the housing cover extending over the transverse back members of the E-shaped members, the housing cover having spaced-part wire-inserting ribs on the one surface thereof which is against the transverse back members when the cover is on the housing body, the housing cover and body having interengaging means for securing the cover to the body.
- 7. A connector assembly as set forth in claim 6 characterized in that the housing body and the housing cover have wire strain relief means in alignment with the wire-receiving slot means.
- 8. A connector assembly as set forth in claim 7 characterized in that each of the strain relief means comprises a clamping rib on the one surface of the cover and a resilient wire support on the housing body whereby a wire extending through the housing body and into a wire-receiving slot is clamped between the clamping rib and the resilient wire support.
- 9. A connector assembly as set forth in either of claims 1 or 8 characterized in that each wire receiving slot has an entrance portion, a central portion, and an inner end portion, the entrance portion and the inner end portion being relatively wider than the central portion, each of the connecting device arms having an oval shaped opening therein, each opening having a major axis which extends parallel to the associated slot and a minor axis which extends normally of the slot, the portions of each arm which are between the opening and the adjacent slot means being beams having fixed ends which are proximate to the entrance portion and the inner end portion of the adjacent slot, the beams extending laterally from their fixed ends to their central portions, the beams having a controlled width, as measured between the edges of the slot and the associated opening whereby, after insertion of the wire into the slot, the beams are flexed by the wire and contact forces on the wire are maintained by the flexed beams, and the connector device arms otherwise substantially unstressed.
- 10. A connector assembly as set forth in claim 1 characterized in that the web extends between, and is integral with, the connecting sections which are integral with the first arms of the U-shaped members.
- 11. A connector assembly as set forth in claim 10 characterized in that the web has a mounting ear extending therefrom at one end thereof for mounting the device on a grounding surface.
- 12. A sheet metal connecting device for forming an electrical connection with a wire, the device comprising a plate-like member having a wire-receiving end and a wire-receiving slot extending into the wire-receiving end, the width of a portion of the slot being less than the diameter of the wire, the device being characterized in that:
- the slot has an entrance at the wire-receiving end, an inner end and a central portion, the entrance portion and the inner end portion being relatively wider than the central portion, the slot being formed by opposed beams having fixed ends, the fixed ends being proximate to the entrance portion and the inner end of the slot,
- the beams being tapered from their fixed ends towards their central portions and inclined from their fixed ends to their central portions, the beams having a controlled width, whereby, after insertion of the wire into the slot, the beams are flexed by the wire and contact forces on the wire are maintained by the flexed beams.
- 13. The sheet metal connecting device of claim 12 characterized in that the plate-like member has a pair of oval shaped openings therein, one opening being provided on each side of the wire-receiving slot, each opening having a major axis which extends parallel to the slot and a minor axis which extends normally of the slot, portions of the plate-like member which are between the openings and the slot comprising the beams.
- 14. The sheet metal connecting device of claim 13 characterized in that the beams extend generally arcuately from their fixed ends to their central portions.
- 15. A sheet metal connecting device for forming an electrical connection with a wire, the device comprising a plate-like member having a wire receiving slot, the slot having a wire-receiving end, an inner end, and a central portion, the slot being defined by opposed beams having fixed ends proximate the wire-receiving end and the inner end of the slot, the beams being configured with tapered sections between the fixed ends and the section of the beams adjacent the central portion of the slot, such that upon insertion of a wire into the slot, the sections of the beams adjacent the central portion of the slot are plastically deformed, with the stresses in the fixed ends of the beams adjacent the wire-receiving end and the inner end of the slot remaining generally below the elastic limit.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of Application Ser. No. 236,584 filed Aug. 25, 1988 now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (8)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
236584 |
Aug 1988 |
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