US 5,704,816 A · Hinged electrical connector

Abstract

An electrical connector includes a first jaw member 12 that has an inside surface, an outside surface, a first end 16 and a second end 18. The first jaw member further has a curved portion 24 formed on the inside surface adjacent the first end and a plurality of spaced apart pairs of fingers 28, 30 and 32 extending inwardly from the second end. A second jaw member 14 has an inside surface, an outside surface, a first end 20 and a second end 22. The second jaw member also has a curved portion 26 formed on the inside surface adjacent the first end and spaced apart finger pairs 36 and 38 extending inwardly from the second end. A terminal in the form of a stirrup 40 is secured between the second ends of the first and second jaw members. The stirrup has a gap 50 formed therethrough. Projecting from the second end of the first jaw member is a stop member 34. The stop member is positioned between the gap in the stirrup in order to prevent axial movement of the same along the electrical connector. The free ends of the finger pairs are swaged about a portion of the stirrup 40.

Claims10

Dependent claims

An electrical connector for facilitating the connection between an energized line and a tap line comprising:

a first metal jaw member having an inside surface, an outside surface, a first end and a second end, said first jaw member having a curved portion formed on said inside surface adjacent said first end, said first jaw member further having a first hinge means positioned adjacent said second end thereof;
a second metal jaw member having an inside surface, an outside surface, a first end and a second end, said second jaw member having a curved portion formed on said inside surface adjacent said first end, said second jaw member further having a second hinge means positioned adjacent said second end thereof;
a metal stirrup secured between said first and second hinge means, said stirrup having a gap formed therein, wherein said metal stirrup is a pintle about which said first and second hinge means are swaged together so that said jaw members are hingedly connected to each other, and
stop means on one of said jaw members and positioned in said gap in said stirrup for preventing lateral movement of said stirrup.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hinged electrical connector

Life of this patent

Hinged electrical connector

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10