# US 2021/0280993 A1 · Electrical power connection device

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- Number: US 2021/0280993 A1
- Document ID: US20210280993A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/625,432
- Filed: 2018-06-20
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Earliest claimed: 2017-06-20
- Assignees: CommScope Technologies LLC
- Applicants: Commscope Technologies LLC
- Inventors: David Patrick MURRAY; Christopher Charles TAYLOR
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210280993A1

## CPC

- H01R 4/2445: the contact members having additional means acting on the insulation or the wire, e.g. additional insulation penetrating means, strain relief means or wire cutting knives
- H01R 4/2433: one part of the base being movable to push the cable into the slot
- H01R 12/515: {Terminal blocks providing connections to wires or cables}
- H01R 43/01: for connecting unstripped conductors to contact members having insulation cutting edges
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS

## Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to an electrical connection device having features for cutting an electrical power conductor while maintaining downstream continuity and limiting access to the electrical power conductor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electrical connection device for connecting to an insulated conductor including an electrical conductor surrounded by insulation material, the electrical connection device comprising:
a dielectric body having at least one channel for receiving the insulated conductor;
a cap made of a non-conductive material that is movable in relation to the dielectric body between an open position and a closed position;
a severing blade made of a conductive material extending across the channel; and
at least one insulation displacement blade in the channel;
wherein the cap pushes the insulated conductor into the severing blade and the insulation displacement blade as the cap moves from the open position to the closed position;
wherein the severing blade is electrically connected to the insulation displacement blade;
wherein the severing blade is located in the channel such that it contacts the electrical conductor of the insulated conductor prior to a cutting edge of the insulation displacement blade contacting the electrical conductor as the cap is moved from the open position to the closed position; and
wherein the insulation displacement blade is located in the channel such that its cutting edge contacts the electrical conductor of the insulated conductor prior to the severing blade completely severing the electrical conductor as the cap is moved from the open position to the closed position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein when the cap is in the open position the insulated conductor can be maneuvered under the cap and into the channel.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the severing blade is removable from the channel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the channel has an open top and a closed bottom.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric body defines a pair of the channels each containing the severing blade and the insulation displacement blade, and wherein the insulation displacement blades are electrically connected to each other.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5, wherein the longitudinal axes of the channels are parallel to one another.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein a latch arrangement connects the cap to the dielectric body, and wherein an actuator is used to move the cap form the open position to the closed position.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The device of claim 7, wherein the latch arrangement prevents the cap from being removed from the dielectric body when the cap is in the open position, and the latching arrangement prevents the cap from being displaced from the closed position when the cap is in the closed position.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The device of claim 7, wherein the actuator includes a bolt having a head and a threaded shank, and wherein the threaded shank is adapted to thread within a threaded interface of the dielectric body to draw the cap toward the dielectric body.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The device of claim 9, wherein the bolt has a pre-determined break location between the head and the threaded shank, and wherein the head breaks from the shank at the pre-determined break location when the cap reaches the closed position.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The device of claim 9, wherein the threaded interface is defined by an internally threaded insert mounted within a main body of the dielectric body.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The device of claim 10, wherein the head is captured relative to the cap so as to not disengage from the cap when the bolt breaks at the pre-determined break location.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The device of claim 9, wherein the threaded shank does not engage the threaded interface when the cap is in the open position.

### Claim 14 (depends on 7)

The device of claim 7, wherein the latch arrangement includes a ratchet and pawl arrangement.

### Claim 15

An electrical connection device for connecting to an insulated conductor including an electrical conductor surrounded by insulation material, the electrical connection device comprising:
a dielectric body having at least one channel for receiving the insulated conductor;
a cap made of a non-conductive material that is movable in relation to the dielectric body between an open position and a closed position;
at least one insulation displacement blade in the channel, wherein
the cap is permanently connected to the dielectric body.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The device of claim 15, further comprising a latching arrangement that prevents the cap from being disconnected from the dielectric body when the cap is in the open position and prevents the cap from being displaced from the closed positon once the cap has been moved to the closed position.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The device of claim 16, wherein the latching arrangement comprises a ratchet mechanism.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The device of claim 17, wherein the ratchet mechanism comprises a pair of arms extending from a bottom side of the cap into a mating pair of recesses in the dielectric body, each arm including a plurality of teeth that engage a pawl in the corresponding recess.

### Claim 19

An electrical connection device for connecting to an insulated conductor including an electrical conductor surrounded by insulation material, the electrical connection device comprising:
a dielectric body having at least one channel for receiving the insulated conductor;
a cap made of a non-conductive material that is movable in relation to the dielectric body between an open position and a closed position;
at least one insulation displacement blade in the channel; and
a threaded fastener having exterior threads and a threaded structure having interior threads mating with the exterior threads of the threaded fastener, the threaded fastener extending through the cap and the threaded structure being located in the dielectric body, wherein
the threaded fastener has a structurally weak portion along a shank of the threaded fastener that causes a head of the threaded fastener to break away when the threaded fastener is threaded into the threaded structure to a point that the cap is in the closed position.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The device of claim 19, wherein the threaded fastener is a bolt.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The device of claim 19, wherein the threaded structure is a rivet nut.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

The device of claim 19, wherein the structurally weak portion is a circumferential notch in the shank.

### Claim 23 (depends on 19)

The device of claim 19, wherein the head is captured by the cap when it breaks away.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The device of claim 23, wherein the threaded fastener comprises a notch on the shank that engages a collar on the cap.

### Claim 25 (depends on 19)

The device of claim 19, wherein a lower portion of the shank of the threaded fastener is free of the exterior threads and does not engage the threaded structure in the dielectric body when the cap is in the open position.