Wire connectors with binding terminals
AssigneeHubbell Incorporated
InventorsThomas L. Scanzillo, Edward Bazayev
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Configurations for wire connectors and for electrical wiring devices that mate with or connect to the wire connectors are disclosed. The wire connectors have a housing and one or more contact assemblies positioned within the housing. Each contact assembly can receive and secure one or more wires, where the wires can be secured to or released from a contact assembly using a fastener accessible through an aperture in the housing.
Claims30
The wire connector according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical tightening terminal is at least partially accessible from the outer surface of the housing.
The wire connector according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical tightening terminal comprises a screw binding terminal.
The wire connector according to claim 1, wherein at least one cavity comprises a first cavity, a second cavity and a third cavity.
An electrical device kit comprising:
- an electrical wiring device;
- and
- a wire connector, comprising:
- a housing comprising:
- at least one cavity;
- at least one housing wire opening extending between the at least one cavity and an outer surface of the housing;
- and
- a plug member for mating with the electrical wiring device, wherein at least a portion of the plug member includes a portion of the at least one cavity, and wherein the plug member has at least one slot for receiving a contact blade aligned with the portion of the at least one cavity;
- and
- at least one contact assembly positioned within the at least one cavity, the at least one contact assembly comprising:
- a contact member having a contact body and a contact pair of flexible fingers extending from the contact body that form a gripping portion to receive the contact blade, so as to electrically couple the contact member to the contact blade;
- and
- a mechanical tightening terminal coupled to the contact member.
A wire connector, comprising:
- a housing comprising:
- at least one cavity;
- at least one housing wire opening extending between the at least one cavity and an outer surface of the housing;
- a plug member for mating with an electrical wiring device, wherein at least a portion of the plug member includes a portion of the at least one cavity, and wherein the plug member has at least one slot for receiving a contact blade aligned with the portion of the at least one cavity;
- and
- a cover movable between an open position and a closed position;
- and
- at least one contact assembly positioned within the at least one cavity, the at least one contact assembly comprising:
- a contact member having a contact body and a pair of flexible fingers extending from the contact body that form a gripping portion to receive the contact blade, so as to electrically couple the contact member to the contact blade;
- and
- a screw binding terminal coupled to the contact member and having a screw that is at least partially accessible from the outer surface of the housing, wherein the cover prevents access to the screw accessible from the outer surface of the housing when in the closed position, and wherein the cover permits access to the screw accessible from the outer surface of the housing when in the open position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.