US 6,082,942 AGranted

Electrical connection terminal assembly and tilt washer

OwnerE. Grant Swickinventor

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Abstract

An electrical terminal clamping assembly of the character that will simultaneously accommodate and securely grip one or more conductor wires of substantially different diameters. The assembly includes a threaded terminal screw and a uniquely configured generally circular shaped clamping plate or tilt washer which is adapted to freely tilt relative to the undersurface of the head of the terminal screw in a manner to move gripping projections provided on the undersurface of the washer into secure clamping engagement with a wire of large diameter disposed on one side of the axial center line of the terminal screw and into secure clamping engagement with a wire of much smaller diameter disposed on the opposite side of the axial center line. The undersurface of the tilt washer is provided with several different types of uniquely configured gripping protuberances that provide multiple contact points for firmly gripping the different diameter conductor wires which are disposed on opposite sides of the terminal screw.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A connector assembly to which electrical wires can be detachably connected comprising:

(a) a threaded member having a shank portion of a first diameter and a head portion, said shank portion having a longitudinal axis and said head portion having a lower surface comprising first and second angularly inclined surfaces:
(b) a clamping plate including a body portion having first and second spaced-apart surfaces and a centrally disposed opening for closely receiving said shank portion of said threaded member, said opening having a second diameter only slightly greater than said first diameter and having upper and lower, inwardly tapered surfaces which are angularly inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of said shank portion and which join at a point intermediate said first and second spaced apart surfaces to define a generally ring shaped apex for engagement with said threaded member, whereby said clamping plate will pivot relative to said shank portion of said threaded member about said apex;
(c) screw-head engaging means provided on at least one of said first and second surfaces of said clamping plate for engaging the undersurface of said head portion of said threaded member;
and
(d) gripping means provided on at least one of said first and second surfaces of said clamping plate for gripping a wire placed proximate said clamping plate.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/048,974Filed 26 Mar 1998 · continuation in part
Priority: 22 Nov 1993
Granted: 4 Jul 2000
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

H01R 4/44
Utilising a clamping member acted on by screw or nut: clamping areas on both sides of screw
H01R 4/304
Utilising a screw or nut clamping member: having means for improving contact
Y10S 411/959
Biting tooth: bolt- or nut-carried
H01R
Electrically-conductive connections

Family

Serial155,387Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 22 Nov 1993
Serial561,439Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 21 Nov 1995
US 5,827,028 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,470,183 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,082,942 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.