Bridging terminal block

A terminal block assembly for interconnecting respective conductors of insulated wires, the assembly being of the type having a housing member having at least two housing sections for respective terminals, and terminals disposed in respective terminal-receiving cavities of the terminal housing sections each having at least one conductor-receiving opening of the terminal housing sections for receipt of a respective at least one conductor thereinto for termination to a respective terminal, characterized in that:

• a wire member bridging element is disposed in the housing member including a body section having respective contact sections at the ends thereof associated with each said terminal, said contact sections coextending from said body section and being adapted to be inserted into respective holes into a bottom surface of said housing member and received along grooves of a terminal-proximate internal surface of said terminal-receiving cavities of two of said at least two housing sections, each said groove having a depth less than a diameter of said contact section such that a portion of said contact section protrudes into a respective said terminal-receiving cavity to engage a surface of a respective said terminal for electrical engagement with said associated terminal upon full assembly of the terminal block assembly, thus commoning said terminals of said at least two housing sections;
• and
• said housing member is adapted to contain said bridging element for said contact sections thereof to engage said terminals,
• whereby all conductors inserted into apertures of the assembly become commoned upon termination to respective terminals upon actuation of the terminals.