Terminal strip having U-shaped LSA-PLUS terminals

Claim 1

Electrical terminal apparatus adapted to connect a plurality of insulated wires, said terminal apparatus comprising: an elongated electrically insulative terminal strip; a plurality of solderless, non-screwed and stripping-free terminal elements, each having a polytropic air gap; a plurality of U-shaped terminal members, each said terminal member comprising two said terminal elements in spaced relationship; said terminal strip being shaped and configured to receive and positively retain said terminal members in tandem in the longitudinal direction, each said terminal member being oriented at 180° relative to each adjacent similar member in said terminal strip so that each terminal member, as mounted in said terminal strip, is effectively a mirror image of each adjacent terminal member throughout the length of said terminal strip; each said terminal element being formed of resilient, leaf-shaped contact material including a slot, the main portion of said slot adjoining an enlarged insertion opening and being defined by sharp edges, said slot being oriented at an angle of about 45° with respect to the longitudinal axis of said terminal strip and with respect to the axis of the wire being terminated and having a width that is smaller than the thickness of the metallic core of the wire so that when the wire is urged into the slot, the wire insulation is severed and a torquing contact is made between the wire and said terminal element; whereby each two longitudinally adjacent terminal elements, when connecting a respective wire, exert a torque on said terminal strip of substantially equal magnitude and opposite direction so that the net external torque on said terminal strip due to connections to the wires is maintained at substantially zero.