Apparatus for establishing multi-point electrical contact with an insulated conductor

Abstract

Predetermined portion or segment of an insulated conductor is positioned adjacent to a first contact, and thereafter conductor is sequentially engaged with spaced apart teeth of a second contact. Preferably, insulation is extruded away from contact points. Second contact is moved through a curved path so as to sequentially pinch conductor at spaced apart locations. In another form, conductor segment is positioned in predetermined position and move multi-toothed connector in an arcuate manner to establish electrical contact. Apparatus effects swinging motion of multi-toothed connector or contact relative to first member and insulated wire segment so as to exert relatively great forces against first end of segment, and insure complete and adequate penetration of insulating coating to insure good electrical circuit. Electrical connector assembly includes first jaw and second jaw movable through arc relative to first jaw. Each jaw has contact portion formed with teeth having cutting face. The teeth on facing jaw portions have cutting faces disposed in opposite directions. Teeth on at least one jaw sequentially bite into axially spaced apart portions of insulated wire segment, extrude wire insulation material, and establish contact with wire conductor. Jaws handle range of conductor sizes. Contact portions of jaw asemblies fabricated from file segments and clamped in place. Contacts have at least two working surfaces and it is possible to reorient contact to provide new working surface. Shim means may be selectively added or removed to accommodate conductors having sizes within different predetermined ranges of conductor sizes.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.