Wire connect and disconnect indicator
AssigneeRaychem Corporation
InventorsJames A. Pinyan, Gerald L. Shimarak, Van L. Huynh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention provides for an electrical connection device wherein the portion of the device making the electrical contact is part of but spaced from the point of mechanical retention of the wire to which an electrical contact is made. The invention also provides for an electrical connection/wire insulation disconnect indicator to enable the installer to know when an electrical contact is formed or an insulated wire can be withdrawn from the apparatus without stripping the electrical insulation therefrom.
Claims20
Apparatus for forming an electrical connection to a plurality of different gauges of wire comprising:
- a base member;
- a first aperture in the base member for receiving an electrical wire;
- a second aperture spaced apart from the first aperture for receiving a cap, the second aperture intersecting the first aperture;
- an electrically conductive binding post fixed in the base member and protruding into said second aperture;
- a cap substantially filling the second aperture and capable of engaging the binding post, the cap including a central conductive portion and an outer nonconductive portion surrounding the central conductive portion, the central conductive portion including conductive means for cutting wire insulation and means for mechanically cooperating with the base member to retain a wire within the apparatus while forming an electrical contact thereto;
- cooperative restraining means between the binding post and the cap to restrain the conductive cutting means from completely severing the smallest wire intended to be inserted into the first aperture;
- a first indicator on the cap to indicate when a wire can be withdrawn from the first aperture;
- and
- a second indicator, spaced apart from the first indicator, on the cap to indicate a level of tightness sufficient to form an electrical contact to a largest gauge of wire capable of being inserted into the first aperture.
An electrical connector suitable for forming an electrical connection to a plurality of different size gauge of wire, and having a binding post and a binding post cap, the binding post cap which includes:
- a first indicator on the binding post cap to indicate when wire can be withdrawn from the binding post;
- and
- a second indicator on the binding post cap, spaced apart from the first indicator, to indicate when an electrical connection is made to the largest gauge of insulated wire capable of being inserted into the binding post.
A method of indicating the formation of an electrical connection to a wire and the disconnection from the insulation on the wire comprising:
- providing an electrical connection means for indicating an electrical connection to an insulated wire on a binding post connector cap;
- and
- providing an insulation disconnection means for indicating a disconnection from the wire insulation on the binding post connector cap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.