Teeter terminal clamp

Claim 2

A teeter terminal clamp for removably securing the terminal portion of at least one conductor comprising in combination: a. a threaded shank having a head at one extremity and an entering end portion at the other extremity, said head being configured to cooperate with a tool whereby the shank may be rotated into or out of a threaded aperture, said head having an underhead surface having at least one, integral, substantially V-shaped, substantially-circular protrusion concentric with the shank axis and inter-mediate the inner and outer extremities of the underhead surface; b. a clamping plate substantially centrally apertured to loosely and teeterably receive said shank, said plate having on one side thereof at least one substantially V-shaped, substantially circular recess complementing said V-shaped protrusion but having a larger diameter whereby the extremity of said V-shaped protrusion registers with the inner wall of said recess intermediate the two extremities thereof when said protrusion and said recess are concentrically aligned, sAid plate having wire-engaging, anti-slip surface irregularities on the opposite side thereof; and c. means for retaining said plate on said shank spacedly adjacent said head.

Claim 3

The clamp of claim 1 wherein said means for retaining said plate comprises an integrally-formed annular collar spaced from said head sufficiently to accommodate said clamping plate in loose relationship prior to tightening.

Claim 4

The clamp of claim 1 wherein said means for retaining said plate comprises a nut threaded on said shank.

Claim 5

The clamp of claim 3 wherein said plate has at least two opposed appendages extending from margins thereof away from said head and substantially aligned with the axis of the shank.

Claim 6

The clamp of claim 1 wherein said wire-engaging, anti-slip surface irregularities comprise grooves having at least portions disposed to intersect the wire being clamped substantially transversely.

Claim 7

The clamp of claim 1 wherein said wire-engaging, anti-slip surface irregularities comprise embossments disposed to intersect at least a portion of the wire being clamped substantially transversely.

Claim 8

The clamp of claim 1 wherein said clamping plate is substantially rectilinear.

Claim 9

The clamp of claim 7 wherein said wire-engaging, anti-slip surface irregularities comprise intersecting embossments spacedly adjacent each of the four corners of the clamping plate substantially perpendicular to the sides thereof.

Claim 10

The clamp of claim 8 wherein outer corner portions intermediate said embossments are inclined away from said head.

Claim 11

The clamp of claim 1 including a plurality of said protrusions on the underhead surface in spaced concentric relationship and a plurality of complementary recesses in spaced concentric relationship on said plate.

Claim 12

The clamp of claim 1 wherein the aperture of said clamping plate has a major and a minor axis.

Claim 13

The clamp of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the clamping plate adjacent the aperture and internal radially of said surface irregularities is debossed and the opposed surface adjacent the head is complementarily upraised.

Claim 14

A terminal clamp for removably securing and providing substantially identical loads to wires of the same or differing diameters in the secured position, said clamp comprising in combination: a. a threaded shank having a head at one extremity and an entering end portion at the other extremity, said head being configured to accommodate a tool for rotation of the threaded shank, said head having an underhead surface having at least one integral, substantially-circular protrusion surrounding said shank intermediate the inner and outer extremity, said shank having an annular collar adjacent but spaced from said underhead surface; and b. a substantially rectilinear clamping plate having a substantially centrally-disposed aperture, said clamping plate being loosely and tiltably assembled on said shank between said head and said annular collar, said plate having on the surface adjacent said head at least one substantially circular recess complementing in cross section the configuration of said protrusion but having a larger diameter whereby the extremity of said protrusion registers with the inner wall of said recess intermediate the two extremities thereof when said protrusion and said recess are in registratin, said plate having on the opposite side thereof wire-engaging, anti-slip embossments disposed to intersect the wire being clamped substantially transversely, said embossments being spacedly adjacent each of the four corners and perpendicular to the sides thereof, outer corner portions intermediate said embossments being inclined away from said head.

Claim 15

A terminal clamp for removably securing and providing substantially identical loads to wires of the same or differing diameters in the secured position, said clamp comprising in combination: a. a threaded shank having a head at one extremity and an entering end portion at the other extremity, said head being configured to accommodate a tool for rotation of the threaded shank, said head having an underhead surface having at least one integral, substantially-circular protrusion surrounding said shank intermediate the inner and outer extremity, said shank having an annular collar adjacent but spaced from said underhead surface; and b. a substantially rectilinear clamping plate having a substantially centrally-disposed aperture, said clamping plate being loosely and tiltably assembled on said shank between said head and said annular collar, said plate having on the surface adjacent said head at least one substantially circular recess complementing in cross section the configuration of said protrusion but having a larger diameter whereby the extremity of said protrusion registers with the inner wall of said recess intermediate the two extremities thereof when said protrusion and said recess are in registratin, said plate having on the opposite side thereof wire-engaging, anti-slip embossments disposed to intersect the wire being clamped substantially transversely, said embossments being spacedly adjacent each of the four corners and perpendicular to the sides thereof, outer corner portions intermediate said embossments being inclined away from said head.