Tubular electrical connector

Claim 1

An electrical connector for connecting the terminal ends of electrical conductors in a terminal block assembly, said terminal block assembly including a projection thereon adapted to cooperatively engage said electrical connector, said electrical connector comprising: first and second tubular contact members, each contact member having a bottom wall extending longitudinally between opposite ends, a top wall and opposite side walls; the confronting ends of the bottom walls of the first and second tubular contact members and at least first ones of said top and side walls being spaced apart longitudinally such that a gap exists between the first and second tubular contact members; a strap unitary with corresponding second ones of said top and side walls and bridging the gap between the first and second tubular contact members; a contact bar extending into each tubular contact member, juxtaposed with the bottom walls thereof, and bridging the gap, said contact bar being of a material having an electrical conductivity greater than that of the material of the strap; a clamping member mounted in the top wall of each tubular contact member for clamping a conductor against the contact bar; wherein the contact bar includes opposite end portions located within the tubular contact members against the bottom walls thereof, and an intermediate portion located longitudinally between the confronting ends of the bottom walls such that relative longitudinal movement between the contact bar and the tubular contact members is precluded by engagement of the intermediate portion with the confronting ends of the bottom walls; and wherein the gap is adapted to engagingly receive said terminal block projection to secure the connector in the terminal block and establish an abutment between the tubular contact members, against which abutment the conductors may be placed.