Screwless type electrical terminal block

A screwless-type electrical terminal block comprising:

• a housing having a base, a passage through the base, a rear, two opposing sides with inner surfaces, an open top constituting a first opening, and a front possessing a second opening, each of the opposing sides of said housing possessing on its inner surface a cylindrical boss located on the upper portion thereof toward the front of said housing and opposite the boss on the opposing housing side, each of the opposing sides of said housing also possessing on its inner surface a latching detent located on the upper portion thereof toward the rear of said housing;
• an integral electrical terminal within said housing, said terminal being made of electrically conductive metal, said terminal being generally C-shaped and possessing top and bottom portions, said top and bottom portions constituting respectively upper and lower gripping elements, said lower gripping element being supported by said housing base and having means for connection to a circuit board, said connection means being disposed to cooperate with the passage through the base of said housing, to establish electrical connection between said second gripping element and the circuit board, said upper gripping element being moveable toward said lower gripping element in response to an applied force;
• said upper gripping element having an upper gripping end, said lower gripping element having a lower gripping end, said upper and lower gripping ends being generally opposed and projecting toward one another and formed to clamp a wire therebetween when said upper gripping element is moved toward said lower gripping element;
• and
• a cam-lever having a body portion, an integral lever arm, a cam face, and two opposing sides, each of said cam-lever sides possessing a cavity located in said body portion of said cam-lever, each of said cavities being located opposite the cavity on the opposing cam-lever side, said cavities permitting mating of said cam-lever with the respective bosses on the opposing sides of said housing, each of said cam-lever sides also possessing a detent near the end of said lever arm and so located as to mate with the respective latching detents on the housing sides, said cam face contacting said electrical terminal upper gripping element and depressing said upper gripping element toward said lower gripping element when said lever arm is depressed and locked into said detents, causing said gripping elements to clamp the wire inserted therebetween, making an electrical connection.

A screwless-type electrical terminal block, comprising:

• a housing of electrically insulative material and having a base adapted for mounting on a circuit board, the base having a passage therethrough to permit electrical connection with the circuit board, and the housing further having an interior cavity communicating with an open top and a front opening;
• an integral and generally C-shaped electrical terminal supported in the cavity of the housing and having upper and lower gripping elements in normally spaced apart position confronting the front opening, said upper gripping element having a first gripping end, said lower gripping element having a second gripping end, said first and second gripping ends being generally opposed and projecting toward one another and formed to clamp a wire therebetween, said lower gripping element having means for connection to a circuit board, said connection means being disposed to cooperate with the passage through said housing base;
• manually operable cam means including a cam-lever and cam body having a camming surface;
• means for supporting the cam means on the housing for rotation of the cam body in the cavity of the housing in engagement with the upper gripping element, by rotation of the cam-lever disposed in the open top of the housing;
• the cam means being operative with the cam-lever in a raised position to permit the gripping elements to remain apart for insertion of the wire therebetween via the front opening of the housing, and being operative with the cam-lever in a lowered position to cause the gripping elements to close to clamp the wire therebetween.

A screwless-type electrical terminal block for connecting a wire to a circuit board, comprising:

• a housing of electrically insulative material including:
• a base having a connecting passage to the circuit board;
• a top having a top opening;
• and
• a front having a front opening to receive the wire;
• an integral, generally C-shaped terminal disposed within said housing including:
• an upper gripping element;
• a lower gripping element supported on said base;
• a first end extending from said upper gripping element proximal said front of said housing and projecting generally toward said lower gripping element;
• a second end extending from said lower gripping element proximal said front of said housing and projecting generally toward said upper gripping element and generally opposing said first end;
• and
• means for connection to the circuit board, disposed on the lower gripping element cooperate with said connecting passage in said base;
• and
• a cam means for moving said upper gripping element toward said lower gripping element to grip the wire inserted through said front opening between said first end and said second end, said cam means being rotatably mounted in said top opening and including:
• a cam lever;
• and
• a cam surface engageable with said upper gripping element upon rotation of said cam means to move said upper gripping element toward said lower gripping element.

A screwless-type electrical terminal block for connecting a wire to a circuit board, comprising:

• a housing of electrically insulative material including:
• a base having a connecting passage to the circuit board;
• a top having a top opening;
• and
• a front having a front opening to receive the wire;
• an integral, generally C-shaped terminal disposed within said housing including:
• an upper gripping element;
• a lower gripping element supported on said base;
• a first end extending from said upper gripping element proximal said front of said housing and projecting generally toward said lower gripping element;
• a second end extending from said lower gripping element proximal said front of said housing and projecting generally toward said upper gripping element and generally opposing said first end;
• and
• means for connection to the circuit board comprising a tongue cut from said lower gripping element said tongue having a substantially rectangular shape and being bent to project from said lower gripping element through said connecting passage to contact the circuit board;
• and
• a cam means for moving said upper gripping element toward said lower gripping element to grip the wire inserted through said front opening between said first end and said second end, said cam means being rotatably mounted in said top opening and including:
• a cam lever;
• and
• a cam surface engageable with said upper gripping element upon rotation of said cam means to move said upper gripping element toward said lower gripping element.

A screwless-type electrical terminal block for connecting a wire to a circuit board, comprising:

• a housing of electrically insulative material including:
• a base having a connecting passage to the circuit board;
• a top having a top opening;
• and
• a front having a front opening to receive the wire;
• an integral, generally C-shaped terminal disposed within said housing including:
• an upper gripping element;
• a lower gripping element supported on said base;
• a first end extending from said upper gripping element proximal said front of said housing and projecting generally toward said lower gripping element;
• a second end extending from said lower gripping element proximal said front of said housing and projecting generally toward said upper gripping element;
• means integral with said lower gripping element cooperative via said connecting passage in said base for connection with connecting means of the circuit board;
• and
• a cam means for moving said upper gripping element toward said lower gripping element to grip the wire inserted through said front opening between said first end and said second end, said cam means being rotatably mounted in said top opening and including:
• a cam lever;
• and
• a cam surface engageable with said upper gripping element to move said upper gripping element toward said lower gripping element upon rotation of said cam means.