Terminal connector
AssigneeSMK Corporation
InventorsTakeshi Matsuda, Nobuyuki Mano
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A terminal connector includes a knob at its outer end. A knob cover snaps into the knob to enable rotation of the knob. The knob cover has resiliently urged lock tabs which snap over lock steps on the knob and into grooves beyond the lock steps. The sides of the lock tabs engage sides of the grooves to transmit torque to the knob. The knob covers are color coded so that a selected color can be installed on a selected knob to indicate its function. An insertion prevention lid is integrally molded over a plug insertion opening of the knob cover to prevent insertion of a connector plug therein. A frangible perimeter of the insertion prevention lid permits its removal to enable insertion of a connector plug.
Claims13
A terminal comprising:
- a terminal body;
- means on a first end of said terminal body for attachment to a first external element;
- a knob on a second end of said terminal body;
- at least one lock step on an exterior surface of said knob;
- at least one groove adjacent said lock step in an exterior surface of said knob;
- a knob cover;
- said knob cover fitting onto said second end over a portion of said knob;
- a lock tab resiliently attached to said knob cover;
- said lock tab resiliently engaging said lock step when said knob cover is pushed onto said knob;
- and
- sides of said lock tab engaging sides of said groove to resist relative rotation.
A knob cover comprising:
- an axial cavity fittable over a knob;
- a plug insertion opening at an end of said axial cavity;
- an insertion prevention lid integrally molded across said plug insertion opening;
- said insertion prevention lid preventing access of a plug to said plug insertion opening;
- a frangible portion at a perimeter of said insertion prevention lid;
- and
- said frangible portion permitting easy breakage thereof for removing said plug insertion prevention lid thereby permitting plug access to said plug insertion opening.
A terminal connector comprising:
- an insulative circuit board;
- a plurality of terminals rotatably fixed to a first surface of said insulative circuit board;
- said terminals each having a knob fixed into a top portion of said terminal;
- a knob cover replaceably fixed onto a top portion of at least one knob;
- said knob cover permitting manual rotation of said knob on said terminals for attachment to said circuit board;
- and
- said knob cover including a selectable color for identifying a function of its terminal.
A terminal connector comprising:
- an insulative circuit board;
- a plurality of terminal plates affixed to a second side of said insulative circuit board;
- each said terminal plate having a screw hole;
- a plurality of terminals each having threaded portions threadably engaged to each said terminal plate;
- means for preventing said terminals from losing threaded engagement to said terminal plates;
- a knob covering a first portion of each said terminal to enable manual rotation of each said terminal;
- a knob cover fitted and fixed to each said knob;
- and
- each said knob cover including a selectable color for identifying a function of its terminal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.