US3717840A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical circuit connection
Assignee: Inc NV
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Filing: 1971-02-03
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Granted: 1973-02-20
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Expires: 1991-02-03
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure is directed to an elastic circuit connector comprising a plurality of stacked alternately spaced conducting and non-conducting elements to define a terminal block interposed between complementary housing members. The conducting elements of the terminal block are formed with a flange portion having blanked therefrom a locking tongue to form a screwless electrical connection between a conducting wire and an electrical element. The arrangement is such that the connecting wires of like circuits are co-plannarily connected. The complementary housing member includes an opening formed therein to frictionally secure the enclosing sheath of a conducting wire or the like in the assembled position. It is also contemplated that the housing may include an outlet in the nature of a plug socket or toggle switch having contacts complementing a quick connect control formed integral to the conducting element of the terminal block.
Inventors
- 👤 W Vaughan
- 👤 Noel B Graeme
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 11:59
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R9/00; H01R4/00; H01R4/28; H01R4/48; H01R4/4809; H01R4/4846; H01R4/4848; H01R4/48185; H01R4/4819; H01R4/4821; H01R4/484; H01R4/485
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A terminal block comprising: a plurality of stacked alternately spaced layers of conducting and non-conducting elements whereby the latter electrically insulate the former from one another, complementary means formed on the adjacent layers of said conducting and non-conducting elements for receiving and frictionally securing the ends of a conducting wire in electrical connection with the conducting element so that wires of like circuit are co-plannarily electrically connected, and means for securing said elements in their respective stacked positions, where each conducting element includes a plate member having a connecTed circumscribing flange angularly disposed relative to the plane of said plate member, and said complementary means including flexible locking tongue blanked out of a portion of said flange.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A terminal block comprising: a plurality of stacked alternately spaced layers of conducting and non-conducting elements whereby the latter electrically insulate the former from one another, complementary means formed on the adjacent layers of said conducting and non-conducting elements for receiving and frictionally securing the ends of a conducting wire in electrical connection with the conducting element so that wires of like circuit are co-plannarily electrically connected, and means for securing said elements in their respective stacked positions, where each conducting element includes a plate member having a connecTed circumscribing flange angularly disposed relative to the plane of said plate member, and said complementary means including flexible locking tongue blanked out of a portion of said flange.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
117 words
A terminal block comprising: a plurality of stacked alternately spaced layers of conducting and non-conducting elements whereby the latter electrically insulate the former from one another, complementary means formed on the adjacent layers of said conducting and non-conducting elements for receiving and frictionally securing the ends of a conducting wire in electrical connection with the conducting element so that wires of like circuit are co-plannarily electrically connected, and means for securing said elements in their respective stacked positions, where each conducting element includes a plate member having a connecTed circumscribing flange angularly disposed relative to the plane of said plate member, and said complementary means including flexible locking tongue blanked out of a portion of said flange.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
117 words
A terminal block comprising: a plurality of stacked alternately spaced layers of conducting and non-conducting elements whereby the latter electrically insulate the former from one another, complementary means formed on the adjacent layers of said conducting and non-conducting elements for receiving and frictionally securing the ends of a conducting wire in electrical connection with the conducting element so that wires of like circuit are co-plannarily electrically connected, and means for securing said elements in their respective stacked positions, where each conducting element includes a plate member having a connecTed circumscribing flange angularly disposed relative to the plane of said plate member, and said complementary means including flexible locking tongue blanked out of a portion of said flange.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
125 words
A terminal block comprising: a plurality of stacked alternately spaced layers of conducting and non-conducting elements whereby the latter electrically insulate the former from one another, complementary means formed on the adjacent layers of said conducting and non-conducting elements for receiving and frictionally securing the ends of a conducting wire in electrical connection with the conducting element so that wires of like circuit are co-plannarily electrically connected, and means for securing said elements in their respective stacked positions, each of said conducting layers includes a flange portion, and said complementary means includes a locking tongue blanked out of a portion of said flange whereby said tongue is hingedly connected and adapted to flex inwardly of said block for receiving the end of a wire conductor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
125 words
A terminal block comprising: a plurality of stacked alternately spaced layers of conducting and non-conducting elements whereby the latter electrically insulate the former from one another, complementary means formed on the adjacent layers of said conducting and non-conducting elements for receiving and frictionally securing the ends of a conducting wire in electrical connection with the conducting element so that wires of like circuit are co-plannarily electrically connected, and means for securing said elements in their respective stacked positions, each of said conducting layers includes a flange portion, and said complementary means includes a locking tongue blanked out of a portion of said flange whereby said tongue is hingedly connected and adapted to flex inwardly of said block for receiving the end of a wire conductor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
A terminal block as defined in claim 2 wherein said locking tongue has its free end formed with a notched-out portion adapted to frictionally engage the end portion of a conducting wire, and the adjacent portion of said flange from whence said tongue has been blanked having a complementary notched-out portion whereby said notched end of said tongue and notched adjacent portion of said flange cooperate to frictionally secure a wire conductor therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
A terminal block as described in claim 2 wherein said non-conducting element is formed in an opening therein for receiving the end of an electrical conducting wire, said opening being disposed in substantial alignment with the spacing defined between the free end of said locking tongue and adjacent portion of said flange from whence said tongue is blanked.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A terminal block as defined in claim 4 wherein the location of the spacing defined between the locking tongue and adjacent end portions of the respective layers of said conducting elements and the complementary aligned opening formed in the non-conducting elements are staggered.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A terminal block as defined in claim 4 wherein said non-conducting element includes a complementary notch associated with the locking tongue of an adjacent conducting member to limit the insertion of a conducting wire into said block.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A terminal block as defined in claim 2 including at least two spaced apart layers of conducting elements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A terminal block as defined in claim 2 including three spaced apart layers of conducting elements.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A terminal block as defined in claim 2 and including means for electrically insulating a portion of one of said conducting elements from another portion of the same element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A terminal block as defined in claim 2 wherein each said conducting element is defined an an endless member having flanged portions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
A terminal block as defined in claim 2 wherein each said conducting element includes a connector tab means blanked out of said element, and an outlet means having complementary connecting tab contact means adapted to make electrical contact with said connector tab means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention as defined in claim 11 wherein said outlet comprises a plug outlet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention as defined in claim 12 wherein said outlet comprises a switch outlet.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
81 words
The invention as defined in claim 2 and including a housing for encasing said terminal block, said housing including a cover member and a complementary base member, said cover member and base member having complementary portions defining an opening for receiving a sheathed cable or circuit conducting wires, sheath securing means operatively associated with said defined opening to securely grip the sheath of said cable therebetween in the assembled position, and means for securing said housing members in the assembled position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention as defined in claim 14 wherein Said sheath securing means includes integrally formed grippers formed on at least one of said housing members.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
103 words
The invention as defined in claim 14 wherein said sheath securing means includes: means defining complementary aligned recessed portions formed in said housing members adjacent the opening defined therein, a resilient washer adapted to receive the sheathed cable deposed between the aligned recessed portion of said housing member, said washer having a diameter slightly greater than the width of said recessed portion in the assembled position of said housing member whereby the compression imparted to said washer in the assembled position of said housing members permits a flexing of said washer that results in frictionally securing the sheathed cable between said housing members.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
143 words
An electrical circuit connector comprising: a housing including a base member and a complementary cover member, said base member and cover member having complementary portions defining an opening for receiving a cable comprising of a plurality of circuit defining wires, means operatively associated with said defined openings to lock said cable between said members in the assembled positions thereof, means defining a terminal block interposed between said base member and cover member, said block including a plurality of conducting layers, and a non-conducting layer interposed between adjacent conducting layers wherein said conducting planes are disposed in spaced apart planes, means formed in each of said conducting layers for frictionally locking the ends of a conducting wire in electrical contact therewith so that wires of like circuits are co-plannarily connected, and means for securing said housing members together for encasing said laminated block therebetween.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
143 words
An electrical circuit connector comprising: a housing including a base member and a complementary cover member, said base member and cover member having complementary portions defining an opening for receiving a cable comprising of a plurality of circuit defining wires, means operatively associated with said defined openings to lock said cable between said members in the assembled positions thereof, means defining a terminal block interposed between said base member and cover member, said block including a plurality of conducting layers, and a non-conducting layer interposed between adjacent conducting layers wherein said conducting planes are disposed in spaced apart planes, means formed in each of said conducting layers for frictionally locking the ends of a conducting wire in electrical contact therewith so that wires of like circuits are co-plannarily connected, and means for securing said housing members together for encasing said laminated block therebetween.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-20 | 1976-08-21 | 1977-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-20 | 1980-08-21 | 1981-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-20 | 1984-08-21 | 1985-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |