Patent Application
20090142972
The described invention relates in general to terminal clips or fastening devices for the terminals of electrical conductors and more specifically to a spring-loaded contact for use with electrical conductors.
Spring-loaded electrical contacts or terminals are devices that are frequently incorporated into connector systems used with electrical conductors (e.g., electrical wire). Such electrical contacts may be used with either stranded or solid wire for providing a convenient and mechanically secure means by which to terminate the wire prior to making an electrical connection. Despite its widespread adoption, this type of electrical contact does suffer from a number of significant limitations. Particularly, many of these contacts have multiple-piece construction, which adds complexity and expense to the manufacturing process. Additionally, most prior art contacts of this type require high insertion force; therefore, the risk of buckling a wire (particularly stranded wire) during the termination process is significant. Finally, most prior art contacts of this type are not designed to accommodate different gauges of wire; thus, different size contacts are necessary for different gauges of wire. Thus, there is an ongoing need for an electrical contact having a single-piece construction and that is capable of easily accommodating multiple wire gauges that may or may not include multiple strands.
The following provides a summary of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention. This summary is not an extensive overview and is not intended to identify key or critical aspects or elements of the present invention or to delineate its scope.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a connector system for electrical conductors is provided. This system includes a first electrical contact adapted to receive a length of electrically conductive wire; a second electrical contact adapted to receive a length of electrically conductive wire and to receive a portion of the first electrical contact and form an electrical connection therewith; a first device adapted to receive the first electrical contact therein and temporarily compress the flexible engagement member of the first electrical contact into linear alignment with the stationary engagement member of the first electrical contact for creating a channel into which a length of electrical wire may be inserted; and a second device adapted to receive the second electrical contact therein and temporarily compress the flexible engagement member of the second electrical contact into linear alignment with the stationary engagement member of the second electrical contact for creating a linear channel into which a length of electrical wire may be inserted. Both the first and second electrical contacts include a stationary engagement member; a flexible engagement member; and a biasing member disposed between the stationary engagement member and the flexible engagement member. The biasing member displaces the flexible engagement member from linear alignment with the stationary engagement member in the absence of compressive force on one or both of the engagement members.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a contact for use with electrical conductors is provided. This contact includes a stationary engagement member; a flexible engagement member; and a biasing member (e.g., a spring) disposed between the stationary engagement member and the flexible engagement member. The action of the biasing member displaces the flexible engagement member from linear alignment with the stationary engagement member in the absence of compressive force on the engagement members. Compressive force applied to the stationary engagement member and/or the flexible engagement member brings these components into linear alignment with one another for creating a wire-receiving channel or “wire trap”.
In yet another aspect of this invention, a method for terminating an electrical conductor is provided. This method includes first providing an electrical contact adapted to receive a length of electrically conductive wire. The electrical contact includes a stationary engagement member; a flexible engagement member; and a biasing member disposed between the stationary engagement member and the flexible engagement member. The biasing member displaces the flexible engagement member from linear alignment with the stationary engagement member in the absence of compressive force on the engagement members. Next, the electrical contact is enclosed within an enclosure (e.g., a housing) that temporarily compresses the flexible engagement member of the contact into linear alignment with the stationary engagement member of the electrical contact and creates a channel into which a length of electrical wire may be inserted. Next, a length of stripped wire is inserted into the channel and, finally, linear force is exerted on the wire. Exerting force on the length of wire moves (i.e., slides) the contact within the enclosure thereby decompressing the flexible engagement member. Decompression of the flexible engagement member secure, i.e., “traps” the length of stripped wire between the stationary engagement member and the flexible engagement member.
Additional features and aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments. As will be appreciated by the skilled artisan, further embodiments of the invention are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and associated descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative and not restrictive in nature.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, schematically illustrate one or more exemplary embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description given above and detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention, and wherein:
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are now described with reference to the Figures. Reference numerals are used throughout the detailed description to refer to the various elements and structures. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form for purposes of simplifying the description. Although the following detailed description contains many specifics for the purposes of illustration, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many variations and alterations to the following details are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following embodiments of the invention are set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the claimed invention.
The present invention relates to electrical connector systems and electrical contacts for use with electrical systems and devices. As previously indicated, a first general embodiment of this invention provides a connector system for electrical conductors such as electrical wires; a second general embodiment of this invention provides a spring-loaded electrical contact; and a third general embodiment of this invention provides a method for terminating an electrical conductor such as an electrical wire. With reference now to the Figures, one or more specific embodiments of this invention shall be described in greater detail.
With reference now to the Figures,
When contact 100 is not enclosed within housing 14, the normal spring action of biasing member 102 displaces flexible engagement 114 member from linear alignment with stationary engagement member 110 (see
As shown in
The present invention provides both a connector system for use with electrical conductors such as wire and an electrical contact for use in terminating electrical conductors. As shown in
As best shown in
Contacts 100 and 200 are each typically manufactured from a single piece of electrically conductive metal, such as copper alloy, according to known manufacturing and/or fabricating methods and techniques. Advantageously, contacts 100 and 200 may accommodate different gauges of wire as well as single stranded and multi-stranded wire. In most instances, the insertion force required to insert wire 12 and activate the wire trap portion of the contact is significantly less than is required by prior art spring-loaded electrical contacts. Thus, the risk of buckling or otherwise damaging the wire or other conductor is reduced with the present invention. Housing 14 may act as an insulator and may be manufactured from any suitable material or materials including dielectric materials.
While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of exemplary embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in certain detail, it is not the intention of the Applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to any of the specific details, representative devices and methods, and/or illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant's general inventive concept.
