US3812449A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Terminal strip
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1973-04-30
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Granted: 1974-05-21
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Expires: 1993-04-30
Abstract
Abstract A terminal strip including an elongate block of electrically insulating material divided lengthwise into a plurality of terminal strip sections. Each terminal strip section has a plurality of wire receiving bores and a plurality of contact elements having spaced wire engaging fingers slidably mounted in the block to engage and interconnect wires in adjacent bores of that section. The sections may be supported in an elevated position to afford use of a tool, such as a pliers, to seat a contact element, and the contact element and the block include means which afford disengaging a contact element with a pointed tool such as a screwdriver.
Inventors
- 👤 R Elm
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:16
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R4/00; H01R4/24; H01R4/2416; H01R4/2445; H01R4/245; H01R4/242; H01R4/2425; H01R4/2429
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
A terminal for electrically interconnecting sets of wires, comprising: a plurality of resilient conductive contact elements each having spaced fingers defining at least two wire accepting slots therebetween adapted for forceful entry of a wire segment under a force sufficient to resiliently separate said fingers to form a positive electrical connection with the wire; a block of insulating material defining a plurality of terminal sections each having opposite first and second surfaces, a plurality of spaced bores in the block between said surfaces each adapted to receive a said wire, and a plurality of sockets extending from said first surface transverse of at least two adjacent cavities, each of said sockets slidably receiving one of said contact elements for movement from a first position with said fingers spaced from the adjacent bores to afford positioning wires therein, to an engaged position with the fingers across said adjacent bores and said slots aligned therewith to engage wires therein, each pair of adjacent bores in each terminal strip section having one of the interconnecting contact elements; and means for mounting said block to a structure with said second surface spaced therefrom to afford engagement of the jaws of a pliers like tool on said second surface and one of said contact elements in the disengaged position to afford pressing the contact element to the engaged position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
224 words
A terminal for electrically interconnecting sets of wires, comprising: a plurality of resilient conductive contact elements each having spaced fingers defining at least two wire accepting slots therebetween adapted for forceful entry of a wire segment under a force sufficient to resiliently separate said fingers to form a positive electrical connection with the wire; a block of insulating material defining a plurality of terminal sections each having opposite first and second surfaces, a plurality of spaced bores in the block between said surfaces each adapted to receive a said wire, and a plurality of sockets extending from said first surface transverse of at least two adjacent cavities, each of said sockets slidably receiving one of said contact elements for movement from a first position with said fingers spaced from the adjacent bores to afford positioning wires therein, to an engaged position with the fingers across said adjacent bores and said slots aligned therewith to engage wires therein, each pair of adjacent bores in each terminal strip section having one of the interconnecting contact elements; and means for mounting said block to a structure with said second surface spaced therefrom to afford engagement of the jaws of a pliers like tool on said second surface and one of said contact elements in the disengaged position to afford pressing the contact element to the engaged position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A terminal strip according to claim 1, further including extraction means for affording movement of said contact elements from the engaged to the disengaged position via the use of a pointed tool such as a screwdriver.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
A terminal strip according to claim 2, wherein said block has notches along said first surface, with each notch being tapered in depth toward and communicating with a different one of said sockets, and each of said contact elements has an opening adapted to receive the tip of said pointed tool and being positioned at the bottom of said notch when said contact element is in the engaged position, said notch affording insertion of a pointed tool along said first surface and into said opening to provide said extraction means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
87 words
A terminal strip according to claim 2, wherein said block has notches along said first surface, with each notch being tapered in depth toward and communicating with a different one of said sockets, and each of said contact elements has a tab projecting normally from its end opposite the fingers, said tab being positioned to project over one of said notches when said contact element is in the engaged position, said notches and tabs affording the insertion of a pointed tool therebetween to provide said extraction means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
A terminal strip according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said contact elements includes a protrusion generally at a right anglE from its end opposite said fingers, said protrusion having a generally centrally located tapped hole, and a screw threadably engaged in said tapped hole and projecting generally normally from said first surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
A terminal strip according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said contact elements includes a rectangular tab at its end opposite said fingers, said tab having sufficient length to project above said first surface when the contact element is in the engaged position and being the male tab of a quick connect terminal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-05-20 | 1977-11-19 | 1978-05-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-20 | 1981-11-19 | 1982-05-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-20 | 1985-11-19 | 1986-05-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |