Terminal block for printed circuits

Claim 1

An electrical terminal block for printed circuits, comprising: a plurality of terminals each having an insulating casing with an internal space, a connector bar in the internal space of the casing having at an end thereof a tag projecting from the casing, through a first aperture provided in the casing, for connection to a printed circuit, and clamping means in the internal space of the casing for clamping an external conductor to the connector bar, said clamping means including a clamping screw, the casing being provided with a second aperture for insertion of a said external conductor, and having a first external surface substantially parallel to the axis of the clamping screw and opposite the said second aperture, a second external surface substantially parallel to the insertion direction for an external conductor, and a third external surface disposed between, adjoining, and oblique with respect to the said first and second surfaces, the first aperture being in the said third external surface; the said terminals being disposed in a stepped configuration comprising one upper row of said terminals above at least one bottom row of said terminals with a horizontal offset of the terminals in the upper row relative to those in the bottom row(s) equivalent to half the width of one terminal, the terminals of the upper row having front edges bearing on the terminals of a bottom terminal row; and retaining plates which are offset in accordance with the horizontal offset of the terminal rows and are latched at least on the terminal block ends.