US 11,233,368 B2Granted

Wire clamp

AssigneeTE Connectivity Services GmbH

InventorsChadwick Alan Kerstetter, Richard R. Dobson, Jr.

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Abstract

A wire clamp includes a base and first and second jaws. The first jaw is pivotally mounted to a first upright portion of the base via a first pivot axle, and the second jaw is pivotally mounted to a second upright portion of the base via a second pivot axle. The first and second jaws crisscross each other at an overlap area, and are spring-biased to pivot relative to the base towards a closed position. Respective hook members of the first and second jaws define a mouth above the overlap area that is configured to receive a wire. A size of the mouth adjusts automatically to a size of the wire within the mouth as the first and second jaws pivot towards the closed position. The wire may be held within the mouth in an in-line orientation with a corresponding terminal to which the wire will be crimped.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A wire clamp comprising:

a base including a first upright portion and a second upright portion;
and
a pair of first and second jaws mounted to the base, the first jaw pivotally mounted to the first upright portion via a first pivot axle, the second jaw pivotally mounted to the second upright portion via a second pivot axle that is spaced apart laterally from the first pivot axle, the first and second jaws each including a respective hook member, the first and second jaws crisscrossing each other at an overlap area, the hook members of the first and second jaws defining a mouth between the first and second jaws that is configured to receive a wire, wherein the overlap area is disposed below the mouth and above the first and second pivot axles,
wherein the first jaw is coupled to a first drive shaft and the second jaw is coupled to a second drive shaft, the first drive shaft extends from the first jaw and is coupled to a first spring mounted to the first upright portion of the base, the second drive shaft extends from the second jaw and is coupled to a second spring mounted to the second upright portion of the base, the first and second springs biasing the first and second jaws, via the first and second drive shafts, respectively, to pivot relative to the base from an open position towards a closed position, and wherein a size of the mouth adjusts automatically to a size of the wire within the mouth when the first and second jaws are allowed to pivot towards the closed position.

1 more element

A wire clamp comprising:

a base including a first upright portion and a second upright portion;
and
a pair of first and second jaws mounted to the base, the first jaw pivotally mounted to the first upright portion via a first pivot axle, the second jaw pivotally mounted to the second upright portion via a second pivot axle that is spaced apart laterally from the first pivot axle, the first and second jaws each including a respective hook member, the first and second jaws crisscrossing each other at an overlap area, the hook members of the first and second jaws defining a mouth between the first and second jaws that is configured to receive a wire, the mouth located above the overlap area,
wherein the first jaw is coupled to a first drive shaft and the second jaw is coupled to a second drive shaft, the first drive shaft extends from the first jaw and is coupled to a first spring mounted to the first upright portion of the base, the second drive shaft extends from the second jaw and is coupled to a second spring mounted to the second upright portion of the base, the first and second springs biasing the first and second jaws, via the first and second drive shafts, respectively, to pivot relative to the base from an open position towards a closed position, and wherein a size of the mouth adjusts automatically to a size of the wire within the mouth when the first and second jaws pivot towards the closed position,
wherein the first jaw is connected to the second jaw via a link and pivoting of the first jaw relative to the base causes the second jaw to pivot relative to the base via the link.

2 more elements

A wire clamp comprising:

a base including a first upright portion and a second upright portion;
and
a pair of first and second jaws mounted to the base, the first jaw pivotally mounted to the first upright portion via a first pivot axle, the second jaw pivotally mounted to the second upright portion via a second pivot axle that is spaced apart laterally from the first pivot axle, the first and second jaws each including a respective hook member, the first and second jaws crisscrossing each other at an overlap area, the hook members of the first and second jaws defining a mouth between the first and second jaws that is configured to receive a wire, the mouth located above the overlap area,
wherein the first jaw is coupled to a first drive shaft and the second jaw is coupled to a second drive shaft, the first drive shaft extends from the first jaw and is coupled to a first spring mounted to the first upright portion of the base, the second drive shaft extends from the second jaw and is coupled to a second spring mounted to the second upright portion of the base, the first and second springs biasing the first and second jaws, via the first and second drive shafts, respectively, to pivot relative to the base from an open position towards a closed position, and wherein, as the first and second jaws pivot from the open position towards the closed position, a size of the mouth decreases and a center of the mouth moves in a direction away from the base.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.