Cluster assembly and connector clip therefor

Claim 2

A connector clip consisting of a one piece sheet metal element for making electrical connection between a lead wire and a pin comprising, ferrule means for gripping a lead wire, a pair of wings projecting in opposite directions from said ferrule means, a shank projecting from said ferrule means, a strip projecting from said shank, said strip being looped upon itself to form a receptacle for the receipt of said pin, the dimension between the extremities of said wings being substantially the same as the width of said strip, and means tightly clamping the end of said strip against said shank, thereby forming two low resistance current paths from said receptacle to said shank.

Claim 3

A cluster assembly comprising, an insulative housing having three longitudinal passageways opening at one end of said housing for receiving connector clips, said housing having a transverse pin receiving opening communicating with each passageway, said housing having two opposed transverse detent receiving holes adjacent each said opening, longitudinal grooves narrower than and centrally located in opposed surfaces of each passageway, said grooves extending from said one end of said passageway and terminating in abutments adjacent said holes, a connector clip in each passageway and including a receptacle and a ferrule to which a lead wire is attached, each clip having a pair of projecting detents integral with said receptacle and projecting outwardly and toward said ferrule aligned with said grooves, said detents riding in said grooves and finally passing over said abutment and into said detent receiving holes when said clip is inserted into a passageway with said clip leading and said lead wire trailing, thereby minimizing the possibility of deforming said detents.

Claim 4

A cluster assembly comprising, an insulative housing having three longitudinal passageways opening at one end of said housing for receiving connector clips, said housing having a transverse pin receiving opening communicating with each passageway, said housing having two opposed transverse detent receiving holes adjacent each said opening, longitudinal grooves narrower than and centrally located in opposed surfaces of each passageway, said grooves extending from said one end of said passageway and terminating in abutments adjacent said holes, a connector clip in each passageway and including a receptacle and a ferrule to which a lead wire is attached, each clip having a pair of projecting detents integral with said receptacle and projecting outwardly and toward said ferrule aligned with said grooves, said detents riding in said grooves and finally passing over said abutment and into said detent receiving holes when said clip is inserted into a passageway with said clip leading and said lead wire trailing, thereby minimizing the possibility of deforming said detents.

Claim 5

A block for a cluster assembly comprising, an insulative housing having three longitudinal passageways opening at one end of said housing for receiving connector clips, said housing having a transverse pin receiving opening communicating with each passageway, said housing having two opposed transverse detent receiving holes adjacent each said opening, longitudinal grooves narrower than and centrally located in opposed surfaces of each passageway, said grooves extending from said one end of said passageway and terminating adjacent said clip receiving holes, and an abutment at the end of each groove adjacent said hole adapted to be engaged by a detent on a connector clip.

Claim 6

A block for a cluster assembly comprising, an insulative housing having three longitudinal passageways opening at one end of said housing for receiving connector clips, said housing having a transverse pin receiving opening communicating with each passageway, said housing having two opposed transverse detent receiving holes adjacent each said opening, longitudinal grooves narrower than and centrally located in opposed surfaces of each passageway, said grooves extending from said one end of said passageway and terminating adjacent said clip receiving holes, and an abutment at the end of each groove adjacent said hole adapted to be engaged by a detent on a connector clip.

Claim 7

A connector clip for making electrical connection between a lead wire and a pin and adapted to be mounted in a block comprising, ferrule means for gripping the lead wire, a shank projecting from said ferrule means, a strip projecting from said shank, said strip being looped upon itself to form a receptacle for the receipt of said pin, means clamping the end of said strip against said shank, the end of said strip having a clamping portion lying against said shank and a detent carrying portion projecting from said clamping portion perpendicularly to said shank and having opposed edges, and a detent projecting from each said edge of said detent carrying portion for locking said clip in a block.

Claim 8

A connector clip for making electrical connection between a lead wire and a pin and adapted to be mounted in a block comprising, ferrule means for gripping the lead wire, a shank projecting from said ferrule means, a strip projecting from said shank, said strip being looped upon itself to form a receptacle for the receipt of said pin, means clamping the end of said strip against said shank, the end of said strip having a clamping portion lying against said shank and a detent carrying portion projecting from said clamping portion perpendicularly to said shank and having opposed edges, and a detent projecting from each said edge of said detent carrying portion for locking said clip in a block.

Claim 9

A cluster assembly comPrising, an insulative housing having three longitudinal passageways opening at one end of said housing for receiving connector clips, said housing having a transverse pin receiving opening communicating with each passageway, said housing having two opposed transverse detent receiving holes adjacent each said opening, longitudinal grooves narrower than said passageways located in opposed surfaces of each passageway, said grooves extending from said one end of said passageway and terminating adjacent said detent receiving holes, a connector clip in each passageway and including a receptacle and a ferrule to which a lead wire is attached, each receptacle having opposed parallel edges lying close to said opposed surfaces and a pair of detents projecting beyond the plane of said edges and adapted to ride in said grooves as said clip is inserted into said housing, the engagement of said receptacle edges with said opposed surfaces preventing said receptacle from rocking during insertion, whereby deformation of said detents riding in said grooves is minimized.

Claim 10

A cluster assembly comPrising, an insulative housing having three longitudinal passageways opening at one end of said housing for receiving connector clips, said housing having a transverse pin receiving opening communicating with each passageway, said housing having two opposed transverse detent receiving holes adjacent each said opening, longitudinal grooves narrower than said passageways located in opposed surfaces of each passageway, said grooves extending from said one end of said passageway and terminating adjacent said detent receiving holes, a connector clip in each passageway and including a receptacle and a ferrule to which a lead wire is attached, each receptacle having opposed parallel edges lying close to said opposed surfaces and a pair of detents projecting beyond the plane of said edges and adapted to ride in said grooves as said clip is inserted into said housing, the engagement of said receptacle edges with said opposed surfaces preventing said receptacle from rocking during insertion, whereby deformation of said detents riding in said grooves is minimized.