Electrical connector with resilient pressure pad

Claim 2

In a connector for coupling an electrical conductor to a terminal position of the type having a tubular body having first and second spaced apart portions for receipt of an electrical conductor therebetween; a terminal portion for engagement with a terminal position at a first end and having its second end positioned adjacent said second portion of said tubular body for receipt thereon of an electrical conductor; a clamping screw threadably engaging a threaded hole in said first portion of said tubular body; said clamping screw having a slot for receiving a tool at a first end thereof for advancing and retracting the second end thereof into and out of said tubular body and a pressure plate coupled to said second end of said clamping screw, the improvement comprising: resilient pad means coupled to said pressure plate for engaging an electrical conductor placed in said tubular housing when said clamping screw is completely advanced into said tubular body and holding said electrical conductor in intimate contact with said second end of said terminal portion.

Claim 3

A connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said resilient pad means is so proportioned and contoured that when said resilient pad means is brought into contact with said electrical conductor said resilient pad means forms a seal about said electrical conductor within said connector.

Claim 4

A connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said second end of said terminal portion has a plurality of insulation and oxide piercing teeth formed on the portion of its surface arranged to engage an electrical conductor.

Claim 5

A connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said pressure plate has first and second extensions extending from first and second transverse ends, said extensions centering said pressure plate within said tubular body.

Claim 6

A connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said tubular body is formed of a length of elongated materiaL formed to provide said first and second portions with an open seam adjacent said second portion; apertures in the portions of said body extending between said first and second portions; and tabs on said terminal portion adjacent said second end to engage said apertures in the portions of said body extending between said first and second portions to assemble said terminal portion to said body and to retain the ends of said body member adjacent said seam.

Claim 7

A connector as defined in claim 5, wherein said second end of said terminal portion has a plurality of insulation and oxide piercing teeth formed on the portion of its surface arranged to engage an electrical conductor.

Claim 8

In a connector for coupling an electrical conductor to a terminal position of the type having a tubular body having first and second spaced apart portions for receipt of an electrical conductor therebetween; a terminal portion for engagement with a terminal position at a first end and having its second end positioned adjacent said second portion of said tubular body for receipt thereon of an electrical conductor; a clamping screw threadably engaging a threaded hole in said first portion of said tubular body; said clamping screw having a slot for receiving a tool at a first end thereof for advancing and retracting the second end thereof into and out of said tubular body and a pressure plate coupled to said second end of said clamping screw, the improvement comprising: resilient pad means coupled to said pressure plate for engaging an electrical conductor placed in said tubular housing when said clamping screw is completely advanced into said tubular body and holding said electrical conductor in intimate contact with said second end of said terminal portion; said resilient pad means having first and second generally parallel sides, each of said sides having a groove therein and said coupling between said pressure plate and said resilient pad means is provided by turning lateral edges of said pressure plate adjacent said first and second sides of said resilient pad means inwardly into the grooves of said first and second sides of said resilient pad means.

Claim 9

In a connector for coupling an electrical conductor to a terminal position of the type having a tubular body having first and second spaced apart portions for receipt of an electrical conductor therebetween; a terminal portion for engagement with a terminal position at a first end and having its second end positioned adjacent said second portion of said tubular body for receipt thereon of an electrical conductor; a clamping screw threadably engaging a threaded hole in said first portion of said tubular body; said clamping screw having a slot for receiving a tool at a first end thereof for advancing and retracting the second end thereof into and out of said tubular body and a pressure plate coupled to said second end of said clamping screw, the improvement comprising: resilient pad means coupled to said pressure plate for engaging an electrical conductor placed in said tubular housing when said clamping screw is completely advanced into said tubular body and holding said electrical conductor in intimate contact with said second end of said terminal portion; said resilient pad means having first and second generally parallel sides, each of said sides having a groove therein and said coupling between said pressure plate and said resilient pad means is provided by turning lateral edges of said pressure plate adjacent said first and second sides of said resilient pad means inwardly into the grooves of said first and second sides of said resilient pad means.

Claim 10

In a connector for coupling an electrical conductor to a terminal position of the type having a tubular body having first and second spaced apart portions for receipt of an electrical conductor therebetween; a terminal portion for engagement with a terminal position at a first end and having its second end positioned adjacent said second portion of said tubular body for receipt thereon of an electrical conductor; a clamping screw threadably engaging a threaded hole in said first portion of said tubular body; said clamping screw having a slot for receiving a tool at a first end thereof for advancing and retracting the second end thereof into and out of said tubular body and a pressure plate coupled to said second end of said clamping screw, the improvement comprising: resilient pad means coupled to said pressure plate for engaging an electrical conductor placed in said tubular housing when said clamping screw is completely advanced into said tubular body and holding said electrical conductor in intimate contact with said second end of said terminal portion; said resilient pad means having an aperture extending generally from a first face to a second face thereof and said pressure plate having a protrusion thereon; said protrusion arranged to extend into and through said aperture of said resilient pad means to retain said resilient pad to said pressure plate and to limit the advancement of said clamping screw into said tubular body.

Claim 11

In a connector for coupling an electrical conductor to a terminal position of the type having a tubular body having first and second spaced apart portions for receipt of an electrical conductor therebetween; a terminal portion for engagement with a terminal position at a first end and having its second end positioned adjacent said second portion of said tubular body for receipt thereon of an electrical conductor; a clamping screw threadably engaging a threaded hole in said first portion of said tubular body; said clamping screw having a slot for receiving a tool at a first end thereof for advancing and retracting the second end thereof into and out of said tubular body and a pressure plate coupled to said second end of said clamping screw, the improvement comprising: resilient pad means coupled to said pressure plate for engaging an electrical conductor placed in said tubular housing when said clamping screw is completely advanced into said tubular body and holding said electrical conductor in intimate contact with said second end of said terminal portion; said resilient pad means having an aperture extending generally from a first face to a second face thereof and said pressure plate having a protrusion thereon; said protrusion arranged to extend into and through said aperture of said resilient pad means to retain said resilient pad to said pressure plate and to limit the advancement of said clamping screw into said tubular body.

Claim 12

In a connector for coupling an electrical conductor to a terminal position of the type having a tubular body having first and second spaced apart portions for receipt of an electrical conductor therebetween; a terminal portion for engagement with a terminal position at a first end and having its second end positioned adjacent said second portion of said tubular body for receipt thereon of an electrical conductOr; a clamping screw threadably engaging a threaded hole in said first portion of said tubular body; said clamping screw having a slot for receiving a tool at a first end thereof for advancing and retracting the second end thereof into and out of said tubular body and a pressure plate coupled to said second end of said clamping screw, the improvement comprising: resilient pad means coupled to said pressure plate for engaging an electrical conductor placed in said tubular housing when said clamping screw is completely advanced into said tubular body and holding said electrical conductor in intimate contact with said second end of said terminal portion; said resilient pad means having an aperture extending generally from a first face to a second face thereof; said pressure plate means having an aperture extending therethrough and said clamping screw having a protrusion thereon at said second face thereof; said clamping screw protrusion extending through said aperture in said pressure plate to releasably mount said pressure plate to said screw and into and through said aperture of said resilient pad means to retain said resilient pad to said pressure plate and to limit the advancement of said clamping screw into said tubular body.

Claim 13

In a connector for coupling an electrical conductor to a terminal position of the type having a tubular body having first and second spaced apart portions for receipt of an electrical conductor therebetween; a terminal portion for engagement with a terminal position at a first end and having its second end positioned adjacent said second portion of said tubular body for receipt thereon of an electrical conductOr; a clamping screw threadably engaging a threaded hole in said first portion of said tubular body; said clamping screw having a slot for receiving a tool at a first end thereof for advancing and retracting the second end thereof into and out of said tubular body and a pressure plate coupled to said second end of said clamping screw, the improvement comprising: resilient pad means coupled to said pressure plate for engaging an electrical conductor placed in said tubular housing when said clamping screw is completely advanced into said tubular body and holding said electrical conductor in intimate contact with said second end of said terminal portion; said resilient pad means having an aperture extending generally from a first face to a second face thereof; said pressure plate means having an aperture extending therethrough and said clamping screw having a protrusion thereon at said second face thereof; said clamping screw protrusion extending through said aperture in said pressure plate to releasably mount said pressure plate to said screw and into and through said aperture of said resilient pad means to retain said resilient pad to said pressure plate and to limit the advancement of said clamping screw into said tubular body.

Claim 14

A connector as defined in claim 9, wherein said resilient pad means has first and second generally parallel sides, each of said sides having a groove therein and the lateral edges of said pressure plate adjacent said first and second sides of said resilient pad means being turned inwardly into the grooves of said first and second sides of said resilient pad means to assist in coupling said resilient pad means to said pressure plate.