Device for connecting insulated wires to twin-terminal contact elements

Claim 2

A terminal element for connecting to insulated wires, said terminal element comprising: a V-shaped member formed of resilient electrical contact material, each side of said V-shaped member being shaped and configured with a slot opening into one edge thereof, said slot being defined by closely spaced sharp edges; an entry opening in each side of said V-shaped member, said opening communicating with said slot and having a width greater than the width of said slot, said slot having a width narrower than the thickness of the conductor portion of a wire to which said terminal element is adapted to connect; said sides of said V-shaped member being oriented at an angle of 45° with respect to the axis of the wire so that the confronting edges of said slot torque with respect to each other upon forced entry of the wire into said slot, whereby the sharp edges of said slot cut through the insulation of the wire to establish electrical connection between the conductor portion of the wire and said terminal member, the torque on one side of said V-shaped member being in the opposite direction to the torque on the opposite side when two of said wires are inserted into said member; adjacent ones of said V-shaped members being adapted to be longitudinally mounted to an electrically insulated terminal strip in at least one row, the apex of each V-shaped terminal element being oriented in opposite directions for each two adjacent terminal elements so that the more closely adjacent V-shaped member sides are arranged in spaced confronting parallel relationship; each said V-shaped member being adapted to receive two of said insulated wires, one in each slot in each side of said member.

Claim 3

The terminal element recited in claim 1 and further comprising an extension projecting from said V-shaped member in a direction away from said one edge, said extension being shaped and configured so that when two said V-shaped members are mounted on opposite sides of a terminal strip said extensions form normally closed disconnectable contacts to electrically interconnect said V-shaped members.

Claim 4

The terminal element recited in claim 1 and further comprising an extension projecting from said V-shaped member in a direction away from said one edge, two of said extensions being integrally connected to thereby interconnect two V-shaped members, the composite terminal element having four said slots, each being adapted to receive a single one of said wires.

Claim 5

The terminal element recited in claim 3 wherein said interconnecting extension further comprises a tap contact external connection.

Claim 6

A terminal strip shaped and configured to receive a multiplicity of terminal elements arranged in at least one row of adjacent terminal elements, said terminal elements being adapted for interconnection to insulated wires, each said terminal element comprising: a V-shaped member formed of resilient electrical contact material, each side of said V-shaped member being shaped and configured with a slot opening into one edge thereof, said slot being defined by closely spaced sharp edges; an entry opening in each side of said V-shaped member, said opening communicating with said slot and having a width greater than the width of said slot, said slot having a width narrower than the thickness of the conductor portion of a wire to which said terminal element is adapted to connect; said sides of said V-shaped member being oriented at an angle 45° with respect to the axis of the wire so that the confronting edges of said slot torque with respect to each other upon forced entry of the wire into said slot, whereby the sharp edges of said slot cut through the insulation of the wire to establish electrical connection between the conductor portion of the wire and said terminal member, the torque on one side of said V-shaped member being in the opposite direction to the torque on the opposite side when two of said wires are inserted into said member; adjacent ones of said V-shaped members being adapted to be longitudinally mounted to said terminal strip in at least one row, the apex of each V-shaped terminal element being oriented in opposite directions for each two adjacent terminal element so that the more closely adjacent V-shaped member sides are arranged in spaced confronting parallel relationship; each said V-shaped member being adapted to receive two of said insulated wires, one in each slot in each side of said member.

Claim 7

A terminal strip shaped and configured to receive a multiplicity of terminal elements arranged in at least one row of adjacent terminal elements, said terminal elements being adapted for interconnection to insulated wires, each said terminal element comprising: a V-shaped member formed of resilient electrical contact material, each side of said V-shaped member being shaped and configured with a slot opening into one edge thereof, said slot being defined by closely spaced sharp edges; an entry opening in each side of said V-shaped member, said opening communicating with said slot and having a width greater than the width of said slot, said slot having a width narrower than the thickness of the conductor portion of a wire to which said terminal element is adapted to connect; said sides of said V-shaped member being oriented at an angle 45° with respect to the axis of the wire so that the confronting edges of said slot torque with respect to each other upon forced entry of the wire into said slot, whereby the sharp edges of said slot cut through the insulation of the wire to establish electrical connection between the conductor portion of the wire and said terminal member, the torque on one side of said V-shaped member being in the opposite direction to the torque on the opposite side when two of said wires are inserted into said member; adjacent ones of said V-shaped members being adapted to be longitudinally mounted to said terminal strip in at least one row, the apex of each V-shaped terminal element being oriented in opposite directions for each two adjacent terminal element so that the more closely adjacent V-shaped member sides are arranged in spaced confronting parallel relationship; each said V-shaped member being adapted to receive two of said insulated wires, one in each slot in each side of said member.

Claim 8

A terminal element adapted to connect to insulated wires, said terminal element comprising: a V-shaped contact member, each side thereof being formed with an inner and an outer contact arm having juxtaposed confronting edges forming a slot therebetween, said slot opening into one edge of said V-shaped member, said edges of said juxtaposed contact arms defining said slot being relatively sharp; an entry opening in each side of said V-shaped member, said entry opening being wider than and communicating with said slot, said slot being narrower than the diameter of the conductor portion of a wire to which said terminal is adapted to connect; said V-shaped member being integrally formed of a resilient electrically conductive material with said inner arms being connected at the common apex of said V for mutual self-support, said inner and outer arms being interconnected at the bottom of said slots to form a unitary terminal; said sides of said V-shaped member being oriented at an angle of 45° with respect to the axis of the wire so that the confronting edges of said inner and outer arms torque with respect to each other upon forced entry of the wire into said slot, whereby the sharp edges of said arms sever the wire insulation to establish electrical contact between the conductor portion of the wire and said terminal member; each of said slots being adapted to receive a separate wire, the torque on said inner arms being in opposite directions when a wire is inserted in each of the two slots in said terminal, whereby the net torque on said terminal from two connected wires is zero; a plurality of said V-shaped members being adapted to be mounted to a terminal strip in mutually adjacent relationship in at least one row, the apex of each V-shaped terminal element being oriented in opposite directions for each two adjacent terminal elements, each two adjacent terminal elements having their more closely adjacent sides arranged in confronting spaced parallel relationship.

Claim 9

A terminal element adapted to connect to insulated wires, said terminal element comprising: a V-shaped contact member, each side thereof being formed with an inner and an outer contact arm having juxtaposed confronting edges forming a slot therebetween, said slot opening into one edge of said V-shaped member, said edges of said juxtaposed contact arms defining said slot being relatively sharp; an entry opening in each side of said V-shaped member, said entry opening being wider than and communicating with said slot, said slot being narrower than the diameter of the conductor portion of a wire to which said terminal is adapted to connect; said V-shaped member being integrally formed of a resilient electrically conductive material with said inner arms being connected at the common apex of said V for mutual self-support, said inner and outer arms being interconnected at the bottom of said slots to form a unitary terminal; said sides of said V-shaped member being oriented at an angle of 45° with respect to the axis of the wire so that the confronting edges of said inner and outer arms torque with respect to each other upon forced entry of the wire into said slot, whereby the sharp edges of said arms sever the wire insulation to establish electrical contact between the conductor portion of the wire and said terminal member; each of said slots being adapted to receive a separate wire, the torque on said inner arms being in opposite directions when a wire is inserted in each of the two slots in said terminal, whereby the net torque on said terminal from two connected wires is zero; a plurality of said V-shaped members being adapted to be mounted to a terminal strip in mutually adjacent relationship in at least one row, the apex of each V-shaped terminal element being oriented in opposite directions for each two adjacent terminal elements, each two adjacent terminal elements having their more closely adjacent sides arranged in confronting spaced parallel relationship.

Claim 10

A terminal strip shaped and configured for interconnection to a multiplicity of insulated wires, said terminal strip comprising: a multiplicity of terminal elements, each said terminal ement comprising: a V-shaped contact member, each side thereof being formed with an inner and an outer contact arm having juxtaposed confronting edges forming a slot therebetween, said slot opening into one edge of said V-shaped member, said edges of said juxtaposed contact arms defining said slot being relatively sharp; an entry opening in each side of said V-shaped member, said entry opening being wider than and communicating with said slot, said slot being narrower than the diameter of the conductor portion of a wire to which said terminal is adapted to connect; said V-shaped member being integrally formed of a resilient electrically conductive material with said inner arms being connected at the common apex of said V for mutual self-support, said inner and outer arms being interconnected at the bottom of said slots to form a unitary terminal; said sides of said V-shaped member being oriented at an angle of 45° with respect to the axis of the wire so that the confronting edges of said inner and outer arms torque with respect to each other upon forced entry of the wire into said slot, whereby the sharp edges of said arms sever the wire insulation to establish electrical contact between the conductor portion of the wire and said terminal member; each of said slots being adapted to receive a separate wire, the torque on said inner arms being in opposite directions when a wire is inserted in each of the two slots in said terminal, whereby the net torque on said terminal from two connected wires is zero; an electrically insulative housing, said housing being shaped and configured to receive said V-shaped members in adjacent relationship in at least one row, the apex of each V-shaped terminal element being oriented in opposite directions for each two adjacent terminal elements, each two adjacent terminal elements having their more closely adjacent sides arranged in confronting parallel relationship; said terminal strip having means for supporting the outer edges of said outer arms of said V-shaped member to prevent motion of said outer edge upon insertion of a wire into said slots, there being a torquing action only between the confronting edges of the arms defining said slots.

Claim 11

A terminal strip shaped and configured for interconnection to a multiplicity of insulated wires, said terminal strip comprising: a multiplicity of terminal elements, each said terminal ement comprising: a V-shaped contact member, each side thereof being formed with an inner and an outer contact arm having juxtaposed confronting edges forming a slot therebetween, said slot opening into one edge of said V-shaped member, said edges of said juxtaposed contact arms defining said slot being relatively sharp; an entry opening in each side of said V-shaped member, said entry opening being wider than and communicating with said slot, said slot being narrower than the diameter of the conductor portion of a wire to which said terminal is adapted to connect; said V-shaped member being integrally formed of a resilient electrically conductive material with said inner arms being connected at the common apex of said V for mutual self-support, said inner and outer arms being interconnected at the bottom of said slots to form a unitary terminal; said sides of said V-shaped member being oriented at an angle of 45° with respect to the axis of the wire so that the confronting edges of said inner and outer arms torque with respect to each other upon forced entry of the wire into said slot, whereby the sharp edges of said arms sever the wire insulation to establish electrical contact between the conductor portion of the wire and said terminal member; each of said slots being adapted to receive a separate wire, the torque on said inner arms being in opposite directions when a wire is inserted in each of the two slots in said terminal, whereby the net torque on said terminal from two connected wires is zero; an electrically insulative housing, said housing being shaped and configured to receive said V-shaped members in adjacent relationship in at least one row, the apex of each V-shaped terminal element being oriented in opposite directions for each two adjacent terminal elements, each two adjacent terminal elements having their more closely adjacent sides arranged in confronting parallel relationship; said terminal strip having means for supporting the outer edges of said outer arms of said V-shaped member to prevent motion of said outer edge upon insertion of a wire into said slots, there being a torquing action only between the confronting edges of the arms defining said slots.