Electrical wiring connector block

Claim 2

In a plastic electrical connector block of the type having an elongated generally rectangular base with a plurality of equally spaced transversely extending partitions molded thereon to form a series of transverse lug receiving cavities, the improvement which comprises a plurality of protrusions formed on said base within each lug receiving cavity and located on a line parallel to one of the longitudinal sides of said block, for serving as anvils upon which to crimp connector lugs, preassembled in said lug receiving cavities, about corresponding electrical conductors, each of said protrusions being electroplated to provide increased surface hardness whereby the effectiveness of said protrusions as crimping anvils is improved.

Claim 3

In a plastic electrical connector block of the type having an elongated generally rectangular base with a plurality of equally spaced transversely extending partitions molded thereon to form a series of transverse lug receiving cavities, the improvement which comprises a plurality of protrusions formed on said base within each lug receiving cavity and located on a line parallel to one of the longitudinal sides of said block, for serving as anvils upon which to crimp connector lugs, preassembled in said lug receiving cavities, about corresponding electrical conductors, each of said protrusions being in the form of a portion of an ellipsoid having its major axis aligned transversely of said block.

Claim 4

In a plastic electrical connector block of the type having an elongated generally rectangular base with a plurality of equally spaced transversely extending partitions molded thereon to form a series of transverse lug receiving cavities, the improvement which comprises a plurality of protrusions formed on said base within each lug receiving cavity and located on a line parallel to one of the longitudinal sides of said block, for serving as anvils upon which to crimp connector lugs, preassembled in said lug receiving cavities, about corresponding electrical conductors, each of said protrusions being in the form of a portion of an ellipsoid having its major axis aligned transversely of said block.

Claim 5

In a plastic electrical connector block of the type having an elongated generally rectangular base with a plurality of equally spaced transversely extending partitions molded thereon to form a series of transverse lug receiving cavities, the improvement which comprises a plurality of protrusions formed on said base within each lug receiving cavity and located on a line parallel to one of the longitudinal sides of said block, for serving as anvils upon which to crimp connector lugs, preassembled in said lug receiving cavities, about corresponding electrical conductors, said connector block having a side yoke extending longitudinally across the tops of said transverse partitions along one edge of the block and a center yoke extending parallel to and spaced from said side yoke, whereby a terminal lug may be securely held in each of said lug receiving cavities without the need for separate fasteners.

Claim 6

In a plastic electrical connector block of the type having an elongated generally rectangular base with a plurality of equally spaced transversely extending partitions molded thereon to form a series of transverse lug receiving cavities, the improvement which comprises a plurality of protrusions formed on said base within each lug receiving cavity and located on a line parallel to one of the longitudinal sides of said block, for serving as anvils upon which to crimp connector lugs, preassembled in said lug receiving cavities, about corresponding electrical conductors, said connector block having a side yoke extending longitudinally across the tops of said transverse partitions along one edge of the block and a center yoke extending parallel to and spaced from said side yoke, whereby a terminal lug may be securely held in each of said lug receiving cavities without the need for separate fasteners.

Claim 7

An electrical connector block as defined in claim 3, in which said protrusions are located on a longitudinal line spaced between said side yoke and said center yoke.

Claim 8

An electrical connector block housing assembly comprising: a. at least two elongated plastic electrical connector blocks, each having: (1) a flat rectangular base with a plurality of spaced transverse partitions molded thereon for dividing the base into a series of transverse lug receiving cavities, and (2) spring means formed on one edge of the base thereof; b. a plurality of malleable metallic terminal lugs removably secured by molded retaining means in said lug receiving cavities, and each lug having means at one end for making a mechanical and electrical connection with an electrical conductor, and being formed with a spring contact portion at the other end; and c. a molded hollow rectangular plastic housing having: (1) at least one open side for slidably receiving said connector blocks, said connector blocks being oriented in said housing so that said one end of each of the terminal lugs is adjacent said open side; (2) flexible latching means for removably securing said blocks to said housing; and (3) stop means disposed within said housing, said spring means of the connector blocks cooperating with said flexible latching means to yieldably urge the opposite edges of said connector block base against said stop means.

Claim 9

An electrical connector block housing assembly comprising: a. at least two elongated plastic electrical connector blocks, each having: (1) a flat rectangular base with a plurality of spaced transverse partitions molded thereon for dividing the base into a series of transverse lug receiving cavities, and (2) spring means formed on one edge of the base thereof; b. a plurality of malleable metallic terminal lugs removably secured by molded retaining means in said lug receiving cavities, and each lug having means at one end for making a mechanical and electrical connection with an electrical conductor, and being formed with a spring contact portion at the other end; and c. a molded hollow rectangular plastic housing having: (1) at least one open side for slidably receiving said connector blocks, said connector blocks being oriented in said housing so that said one end of each of the terminal lugs is adjacent said open side; (2) flexible latching means for removably securing said blocks to said housing; and (3) stop means disposed within said housing, said spring means of the connector blocks cooperating with said flexible latching means to yieldably urge the opposite edges of said connector block base against said stop means.

Claim 10

An electrical connector block housing assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said flexible latching means comprise integral portions of at least one of the faces of said housing adjacent said open side and having finger portions extending in the way of said open side for releasable engagement with said blocks when they are completely inserted in said hoUsing.

Claim 11

An electrical connector block housing assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein said housing is adapted to receive two connector blocks oriented so that the spring contact surfaces of the terminal lugs face each other and includes a. an elongated opening in the side opposite said open side for receiving the edge of a printed circuit board, said board having electrical contact strips extending perpendicularly from said edge and spaced coincidentally with the spring contact surfaces of said terminal lugs, whereby said strips will make electrical contact with the opposing spring contact surfaces of said terminal lugs when the board is inserted in said elongated opening and b. wedge means whereby the thrust of said spring means against the fingers of said latching means tends to force the inner edges of the bases of said connector blocks together whereby the opposing surfaces of said lug spring contact portions will make sealing contact when said printed circuit board is withdrawn from said assembly.

Claim 12

An electrical connector block comprising a base having a plurality of mutually spaced partitions formed thereon to define a series of lug receiving cavities, with a protrusion formed on said base within each lug receiving cavity and located on the longitudinal centerline thereof for serving as an anvil upon which to crimp connector lugs, preassembled in said lug receiving cavities, about corresponding electrical conductors, said protrusions being in the form of a portion of an ellipsoid and being electroplated to provide increased surface hardness whereby the effectiveness of said protrusions as crimping anvils is improved.

Claim 13

An electrical connector block comprising a base having a plurality of mutually spaced partitions formed thereon to define a series of lug receiving cavities, with a protrusion formed on said base within each lug receiving cavity and located on the longitudinal centerline thereof for serving as an anvil upon which to crimp connector lugs, preassembled in said lug receiving cavities, about corresponding electrical conductors, said protrusions being in the form of a portion of an ellipsoid and being electroplated to provide increased surface hardness whereby the effectiveness of said protrusions as crimping anvils is improved.

Claim 14

An electrical connector block comprising a base having a plurality of mutually spaced partitions formed thereon to define a series of lug receiving cavities, with a protrusion formed on said base within each lug receiving cavity and located on the longitudinal centerline thereof for serving as an anvil upon which to crimp connector lugs, preassembled in said lug receiving cavities, about corresponding electrical conductors, said electrical connector block having a first yoke extending longitudinally across the tops of said partitions along one edge of the block, and a second yoke extending parallel to and spaced from said first yoke and also extending across the tops of said partitions, whereby a terminal lug may be securely held in each of said lug receiving cavities without the need for separate fasteners.

Claim 15

An electrical connector block comprising a base having a plurality of mutually spaced partitions formed thereon to define a series of lug receiving cavities, with a protrusion formed on said base within each lug receiving cavity and located on the longitudinal centerline thereof for serving as an anvil upon which to crimp connector lugs, preassembled in said lug receiving cavities, about corresponding electrical conductors, said electrical connector block having a first yoke extending longitudinally across the tops of said partitions along one edge of the block, and a second yoke extending parallel to and spaced from said first yoke and also extending across the tops of said partitions, whereby a terminal lug may be securely held in each of said lug receiving cavities without the need for separate fasteners.

Claim 16

An electrical connector block as in claim 9 in which said protrusions are located between said first yoke and said second yoke.