Wire-to-wire connector with shunt
AssigneeAVX Corporation
InventorBrent Lybrand
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This disclosure provides a method and apparatus for connecting and disconnecting a first wire to a second wire. More specifically, an apparatus that includes a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, an insulated housing, and a male contact prong (i.e., a shunt) is disclosed. In an embodiment, the first and second electrical contacts conductively connect with a first and second wire, respectively, via an insulation displacement connector. Furthermore, the male contact prong conductively connects (i.e., shunts) the first and second electrical contacts together. A wire-to-wire contact with shunt allows for two wires to be quickly and efficiently connected and disconnected.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a shunt portion comprising an electrically-conductive contact portion configured to selectively engage an electrical contact;
- and
- a cap portion detachably connected to the shunt portion, wherein the cap portion comprises an insulated insert portion configured to selectively engage the electrical contact in place of the electrically-conductive contact portion.
A system comprising:
- a connector comprising:
- an insulated housing;
- and
- a first electrical contact within the insulated housing;
- wherein the insulated housing includes a male-contact-receptacle portion exposing a portion of the first electrical contact;
- and
- an electrical shunt comprising:
- a shunt portion comprising an electrically-conductive contact portion configured to selectively electrically and mechanically engage the first electrical contact through the male-contact-receptacle portion;
- and
- a cap portion comprising an insulated insert portion configured to selectively mechanically engage the first electrical contact.
A method of disconnecting a first and a second wire comprising:
- removing an electrical shunt from an insulated housing, wherein removing the electrical shunt removes an electrically-conductive contact portion of the electrical shunt from a male-contact-receptacle portion of the insulated housing;
- and
- inserting an insulated insert portion of a cap portion of the electrical shunt into the male-contact-receptacle portion of the insulated housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.