Terminal retaining connector block

Claim 2

A terminal retaining connector block comprising a housing, at least one passage defined by said housing and extending through the length thereof and adapted to receive an electrical terminal, said passage having at least first and second opposed walls substantially facing each other, said first wall being shaped to receive the terminal and hold the terminal immobile when it is inserted, and said second wall including resilient tang means integral therewith and extending therefrom for locking the terminal against axial movement thereof in said passage and urging the terminal into firm contacting relationship with said one shaped wall to prevent lateral movement of the terminal when the terminal is inserted in said passage.

Claim 3

The terminal block of claim 1, wherein said resilient tang means includes flange means for releasing the locked terminal to provide for removal of the terminal after it has been inserted into and locked in the passage.

Claim 4

The terminal block of claim 1 wherein said resilient tang means is an integrally molded portion of said housing.

Claim 5

The terminal block of claim 1 wherein said resilient tang means includes a latching abutment carried thereon; a terminal inserted in said passage, and a recess on said terminal receiving said latching abutment whereby said terminal is locked in said passage and said terminal is urged into firm contact with said shaped first wall.

Claim 6

The terminal blocK of claim 4 wherein said terminal further includes projecting means for aligning said recess with said latching abutment.

Claim 7

The terminal block of claim 1 further including a first housing extension on the aforementioned housing at one end of said passage, a second housing having at least one passage defined by said second housing and extending through the length thereof and adapted to receive a second electrical terminal, said passage having at least third and fourth walls facing each other, said third wall being shaped to receive the second terminal and hold the terminal immobile when it is inserted, said fourth wall including resilient tang means extending therefrom for locking the second terminal against axial movement thereof in said last mentioned passage and urging the terminal into firm contacting relationship with said third wall to prevent lateral movement of the terminal when the terminal is inserted in the last mentioned passage, and a second housing extension on said second housing at one end of its passage, said first and second housing extensions being coupled to each other joining the first mentioned and second housings together into an integral assembly with their respective passages in substantially axial alignment with each other.

Claim 8

The terminal block of claim 6 wherein each resilient tang means includes a latching abutment carried thereon; a pair of terminals in electrical contact with each other, one of said terminals being inserted in each of said aforementioned passages, and a recess on said terminals receiving said latching abutment whereby each of said terminals is locked in each of its respective passages and is urged into firm contact with its respective first and third shaped walls.

Claim 9

The terminal block of claim 7 wherein at least one of said terminals further includes projecting means for aligning the recess of said one of said terminals with its associated latching abutment.

Claim 10

The terminal block of claim 7 wherein one of said terminals is male and the other is female.

Claim 11

The terminal block of claim 9 wherein said terminals are substantially cylindrical.

Claim 12

The terminal block of claim 10 wherein at least one of said abutments includes a recessed notch facilitating insertion and removal of its associated substantially cylindrical terminal.

Claim 13

The terminal block of claim 1 wherein said second wall is imperforate and said tang means is mounted on said second imperforate wall and moveable relative thereto.

Claim 14

The terminal block of claim 1 including means in said passage for engaging the terminal when the terminal has been fully received in said passage for preventing rotation of the terminal in said passage.

Claim 15

The terminal block of claim 1, said resilient tang means including a recessed notch for facilitating insertion and removal of the terminal into and out of said passage.

Claim 16

The terminal block of claim 1 including latching means for engaging and locking the terminal against axial movement in said passage, and cam means positioned in said passage for engagement with the terminal as the terminal is moved axially in said passage, said cam means moving said latching means away from the terminal when the terminal is moved axially in said passage.

Claim 17

The terminal block of claim 15 wherein said latching means and said cam means are spaced apart.

Claim 18

The terminal block of claim 15 wherein said latching means and said cam means are located on said resilient tang means.

Claim 19

The terminal block of claim 15 wherein said latching means is positioned further into said passage than said cam means in the direction of movement of the terminal as the terminal is inserted in said passage.

Claim 20

The terminal block of claim 15 wherein said latching means locks the terminal against axial movement when the latter has been fully inserted in said passage.