Wire connectors for surge protectors and other electrical components

An electrical apparatus comprising:

• an electrical component having a terminal comprising a pair of contact members having a pair of adjacent edges;
• a wire-holding member comprising a wire-holding conduit and a passage intersecting the wire-holding conduit, the wire-holding member pivotal to a connection configuration wherein the terminal is received in the passage and a wire received in the wire holding conduit extends through a space between the adjacent edges of the contact members to make electrical contact with the terminal;
• a probe-access cover movably connected for movement with respect to the wire-holding member to:
• a closed configuration, wherein the probe-access cover protects the terminal from contact;
• and
• an open configuration, wherein the probe-access cover is spaced apart from the terminal for exposing at least a portion of the terminal to contact by an electrical probe;
• wherein, when the probe-access cover is in the open configuration and the wire-holding member is in the connection configuration, the cover portion is spaced apart from the face;
• wherein, when the wire-holding member is in the connection configuration, at least a portion of the terminal projects into a probe-access channel, the probe-access channel comprising a recessed region in the face;
• and
• wherein, when the wire-holding member is in the connection configuration, the probe access channel extends on both sides of the terminal in a longitudinal direction generally parallel with the wire-holding conduit.

An electrical apparatus comprising:

• an electrical component having a terminal comprising a pair of contact members having a pair of adjacent edges;
• a wire-holding member comprising a wire-holding conduit and a passage intersecting the wire-holding conduit, the wire-holding member pivotal to a connection configuration wherein the terminal is received in the passage and a wire received in the wire holding conduit extends through a space between the adjacent edges of the contact members to make electrical contact with the terminal;
• a probe-access cover movably connected for movement with respect to the wire-holding member to:
• a closed configuration, wherein the probe-access cover protects the terminal from contact;
• and
• an open configuration, wherein the probe-access cover is spaced apart from the terminal for exposing at least a portion of the terminal to contact by an electrical probe;
• wherein the wire-holding member is pivotal to a second configuration wherein the wire is electrically disconnected from the terminal;
• and
• wherein the probe-access cover is pivotal relative to the wire-holding member about a first pivot joint formed between the probe-access cover and the wire-holding member.

An electrical apparatus comprising:

• an electrical component having a terminal comprising a pair of contact members having a pair of adjacent edges;
• a wire-holding member comprising a wire-holding conduit and a passage intersecting the wire-holding conduit, the wire-holding member pivotal to a connection configuration wherein the terminal is received in the passage and a wire received in the wire holding conduit extends through a space between the adjacent edges of the contact members to make electrical contact with the terminal;
• a probe-access cover movably connected for movement with respect to the wire-holding member to:
• a closed configuration, wherein the probe-access cover protects the terminal from contact;
• and
• an open configuration, wherein the probe-access cover is spaced apart from the terminal for exposing at least a portion of the terminal to contact by an electrical probe;
• wherein:
• the electrical component comprises a plurality of terminals, each terminal comprising a corresponding pair of contact members having a corresponding pair of adjacent edges;
• the wire-holding member comprises a plurality of wire-holding conduits and a plurality of passages, each passage intersecting a corresponding one of the wire-holding conduits and wherein, when the wire-holding member is pivoted to its connection configuration, a corresponding one of the terminals is received in each of the passages and, for each passage, a wire received in the corresponding one of the wire-holding conduits makes electrical contact with the corresponding one of the terminals;
• when the probe-access cover is in its closed configuration and the wire-holding member is in its connection configuration, the probe-access cover protects the plurality of terminals from contact;
• and
• when the probe-access cover is in its open configuration and the wire-holding member is in its connection configuration, the probe-access cover is spaced apart from the terminals for exposing at least a portion of each of the terminals to contact by electrical probes;
• wherein, when the probe-access cover is in the closed configuration and the wire-holding member is in the connection configuration, a cover portion of the probe-access cover extends along a face of the wire holding member in contact with at least a portion thereof;
• wherein, when the wire-holding member is in the connection configuration, at least a portion of each of the terminals projects into a corresponding probe-access channel, each probe-access channel comprising a recessed region in the face;
• and
• wherein, when the wire-holding member is in the connection configuration, each probe access channel extends on both sides of the corresponding terminal in a direction generally parallel with the corresponding wire-holding conduit.

An electrical apparatus comprising:

• an electrical component having a terminal comprising a pair of contact members having a pair of adjacent edges;
• a wire-holding member connected for pivotal motion with respect to the terminal, the wire-holding member penetrated by a wire-holding conduit for receiving a corresponding wire and pivotal to a connection configuration wherein the corresponding wire extends through a space between the adjacent edges of the contact members to make electrical contact with the terminal;
• a probe-access cover connected for pivotal motion with respect to the wire-holding member, the probe-access cover pivotal to:
• a closed configuration, such that when the probe-access cover is in its closed configuration and the wire-holding member is in its connection configuration, a cover portion of the probe-access cover extends along a face of the wire-holding member for protecting the terminal from contact;
• and
• an open configuration, such that when the probe-access cover is in its open configuration and the wire-holding member is in its connection configuration, the cover portion is spaced apart from the face for exposing at least a portion of the terminal to contact by an electrical probe.

An electrical apparatus comprising:

• an electrical component having a terminal comprising a pair of contact members having a pair of adjacent edges;
• a wire-holding member comprising a wire-holding conduit and a passage intersecting the wire-holding conduit, the wire-holding member pivotal to a connection configuration wherein the terminal is received in the passage and a wire received in the wire holding conduit extends through a space between the adjacent edges of the contact members to make electrical contact with the terminal;
• means for protecting the terminal from contact when the wire-holding member is in the connection configuration;
• and
• means for facilitating contact between an electrical probe and the terminal when the wire-holding member is in the connection configuration.