# US 12,119,602 B2 · Terminal > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,119,602 B2 - Document ID: US12119602B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/436,115 - Filed: 2020-03-06 - Published: 2022-05-26 - Granted: 2024-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2019-03-13 - Assignees: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG - Applicants: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG - Inventors: Kevin Berghahn; Martin Gebhardt; Ralph Hoppmann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12119602B2 ## CPC - H01R 4/4833: {Sliding arrangements, e.g. sliding button} - H01R 4/48365: {with integral release means} - H01R 4/4821: {Single-blade spring} - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract A terminal for connecting an electrical conductor includes a housing, a current bar arranged in the housing, a clamping spring arranged in the housing for clamping the conductor to be connected against the current bar in a conductor connection space formed between the current bar and the clamping spring, and an actuation element, which is displaceably mounted in the housing, wherein a clamping leg of the clamping spring can be actuated by means of the actuation element in order to transfer the clamping leg from a clamping position into an open position. The clamping leg has at least one skid, which with at least one pressure face formed on the actuation element, interacts during transfer of the clamping leg from the clamping position into the open position in such a way that the clamping leg slides along the at least one pressure face with the at least one skid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A terminal for connecting an electrical conductor, the terminal comprising: a housing; a current bar arranged in the housing; a clamping spring arranged in the housing for clamping the conductor to be connected against the current bar in a conductor connection space formed between the current bar and the clamping spring; and an actuation element, which is displaceably mounted in the housing in a purely linear or a purely translational manner, wherein a clamping leg of the clamping spring is configured to be actuated by the actuation element in order to transfer the clamping leg from a clamping position into an open position, wherein the clamping leg has at least one skid, which with at least one pressure face formed on the actuation element, interacts during the transfer of the clamping leg from the clamping position into the open position in such a way that the clamping leg slides along the at least one pressure face with the at least one skid, wherein the clamping leg has a second skid and the actuation element has a second pressure face, and wherein, when the clamping leg is transferred from the clamping position into the open position, the second skid and the second pressure face interact in such a way that the clamping leg with the second skid slides along the second pressure face. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The terminal according to claim 1, wherein at least one pressure face has an arcuate shape. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the at least one skid has an arcuate shape. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the clamping leg has a second side tab arranged to the side of the clamping tab, wherein the second skid is formed on the second side tab, wherein the clamping tab is arranged between the first side tab and the second side tab. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the actuation element has at least one actuating arm, wherein the at least one actuating arm delimits the conductor connection space transversely to the insertion direction of the conductor into the conductor connection space, and wherein the at least one pressure face is formed on a side face of the at least one actuating arm facing the clamping spring. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The terminal according to claim 5, wherein the at least one actuating arm has a first longitudinal side face, which is longer than a second longitudinal side face opposite the first longitudinal side face, wherein the at least one pressure face extends from the first longitudinal side face to the second longitudinal side face. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the clamping leg has a clamping tab and at least one side tab arranged to the side of the clamping tab wherein a clamping edge for clamping the conductor to be connected against the current bar is formed at a free end of the clamping tab, and wherein the at least one skid is formed on the at least one side tab. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The terminal according to claim 7, wherein the clamping tab projects beyond the at least one side tab in the longitudinal direction of the clamping leg. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the actuation element has a second actuating arm on which the second pressure face is formed on a side face facing the clamping spring, wherein the first actuating arm and the second actuating arm are arranged opposite each other and each laterally delimit an opening of the actuation element, through which the current bar is guided and the conductor to be connected can be guided. ### Claim 10 A terminal for connecting an electrical conductor, the terminal comprising: a housing; a current bar arranged in the housing; a clamping spring arranged in the housing for clamping the conductor to be connected against the current bar in a conductor connection space formed between the current bar and the clamping spring; and an actuation element, which is displaceably mounted in the housing in a purely linear or a purely translational manner, wherein a clamping leg of the clamping spring is configured to be actuated by the actuation element in order to transfer the clamping leg from a clamping position into an open position, wherein the clamping leg has at least one skid, which with at least one pressure face formed on the actuation element, interacts during the transfer of the clamping leg from the clamping position into the open position in such a way that the clamping leg slides along the at least one pressure face with the at least one skid, wherein the clamping leg has a second side tab arranged to the side of the clamping tab, wherein a second skid is formed on the second side tab, and wherein the clamping tab is arranged between the first side tab and the second side tab.