GB2504279A - Cable connection apparatus and system - Google Patents

Abstract

 A system for connecting apparatus to an electric supply employs wire termination devices 10 that provide electrical connection to a single stripped end of a wire or cable via a contact channel (42, Fig 1) that can be slipped upon a protruding connecting rod 14 on a wire termination assembly device such as an electrical junction box, an electrical consumer unit, an electrical socket or an electrical switch. A plate 16 has sawtooth ribs 34 which allow it to be pushed down to clamp the wire, but it must be pulled out to be released. The contact channels can allow more than one wire termination device to be slipped onto the same rod, see Figs 8 and 9. Wire termination devices 10 can be fixed together using dovetail links 12 and the connected assembly slipped over spaced arrays of protruding connecting rods 14. A wire stripping and insertion tool (64, Fig 21) is used to make safe and secure electrical connection of an individual wire or cable to such a wire termination device.

Description

Cable Connection Araratus and System The present invention [elates to a system and method of providing electrical connection to equipment. The invention also relates to component parts of the system, namely a wire termination component and a mounting means for receiving the wire termination component.

The invention also relates to such a system also including a tool for ease of assembly and wiring.

Increasing levels of electronic and electrical apparatus in homes and offices causes increasing numbers 01 potential users to upgrade electrical connections in homes and businesses that can include improvements in wiring layout and increase to the number of electrical outlet sockets available in each room. The present invention seeks to minimize required upgrading.

Upgrading can often mean installation of new fixtures. Such fixtures can include junction boxes, consumer units, sockets and switches. Installation of new wiring or cables to accommodate fixtures is often a time consuming and fiddly task, for both amateurs and professionals. The present invention seeks to minimize fixture and wiring installation.

A connecting cable installer frequently needs to strip outer insulation or sheathing from a cable and inner sheathing from a wire. Subsequently a wire will need to be introduced to a fixture, and then connected to a terminal. The present invention seeks to provide a system including apparatus that simplifies and minimizes cable end preparation.

Increasing levels of knowledge and expertise mans that many users undertake installation work themselves (although in most regulatory regimes electrical work needs checking by a professional). The present invention seeks to minimize the amount of skill required and to the requirement for professional inspection.

Existing connector strips don! use space efficiently, and it is time consuming to screw wiring within the terminal. The present invention seeks to avoid screwing of wires into terminals.

Particular problems with introducing wires into connector strips and fixtures are when a user needs to connect more than one wire together, or wires are of different length, where space is limited within the fixture, or fixture's pattress box, and wires need to be bent or twisted into place, in turn leading to wires working loose, breaking or otherwise leaving current carrying sections exposed. The current method to hold wires in place at terminals is by way of a grub screw being tightened over the wire. If over-tightened there is a risk of breaking screw heads, or cutting through the wire and necessitating a second cut to the wire, frequently shortening the wire. Connections may not be completely safe or reliable due to lack of space or effectiveness of grip. The present invention seeks to allow automatic avoidance of such problems.

Various Prior Art patent literature have been found.

United Kingdom patent application GB 2 476 710 discloses a socket having a replaceable module, comprising: a socket panel having a socket unit formed thereon; and a replaceable module detachably mounted on the socket panel, the replaceable module having a socket sub-unit disposed therein and a trough formed on an edge thereof, the trough being located between the replaceable module and the socket panel.

Granted United Kingdom patent GB 2380 868 discloses an electrical outlet socket having a housing accommodating electrical supply terminals and related electrical power handling contacts, entry apertures through which registration can be effected between the power handling contacts of the socket and those of a plug member intended for use with the socket, and a module for enhancing or supplementing the functionality of the socket and/or plug member, the module being adapted for mounting externally of the housing.

Granted United Kingdom patent GB 2 320 983 discloses an electrical cutlet device for connection with various types of plugs, comprising: a base casing; a cover Covering said base casing; a grounding conductive assembly including a base frame formed with at least a first clamping portion having a pair of elastic pieces. a second clamping portion having a pair of elastic pieces. and a third clamping portion having a pair of elastic pieces thereon; a first contact conductive assembly and a second contact conductive assembly, each including a rib-like clamping portion composed of a pair of elastic pieces and a screen elastic piece; wherein said elastic pieces of said first and third clamping portions of said grounding conductive assembly each have a top edge formed with a notch; and wherein said elastic pieces of said rib-like clamping portion on said first and second contact conductive assemblies each have a top edge formed with a notch, where the screen plastic piece are bent away from the rib-like clamping portion.

United States Patent US 7 234 962 discloses an improved wire connecting terminal structure, comprising a plastic body, a plurality of metal contact brackets, a latching member and a multi-core cable; wherein: the plurality of metal contact brackets are arranged evenly and integrally formed with the plastic body by plastic injection moulding and have a planar surface, the planar surface of an end portion of each of said plurality of metal contact brackets being exposed from the rear section of said plastic body; said plastic body having an upper groove and a lower groove disposed on both a left side and a right side of the plastic body; the latching member having a pair of latch hooks respectively disposed on a left side and a right side of said latching member, said pair of latch hooks of said latching member being initially latched into said upper groove disposed on both left and right sides of said plastic body, and said latching member includes a plurality of containing grooves corresponding to said plurality of metal contact brackets for respectively receiving conductors of said multi-core cable to contact corresponding metal contact brackets in said containing grooves, said latching member being pressed downward and latched by said pair of latch hooks of said latching member being latched into said lower groove disposed on both left and right sides of said plastic body to press each of said conductors of said multi-core cable in close contact with said planar surface of said end portion of said corresponding metal contact bracket to form an overall wire connecting terminal.

United States patent US 5 936 200 discloses an electrical box apparatus comprising a base, side walls connected to the base, and an open end opposite the base, conductors parallel to the base and insulators between the conductors, connectors extending from the conductors toward the open end, aligned openings in the insulators and conductors for passing the connectors through the openings, conductive receivers on the connectors for receiving wires, and insulating sheaths on the receivers for insulating the wires and the receivers.

United States patent application US 5 747 737 discloses an internally connected electrical junction box comprising: a junction box made of nonconductive material, having a base of lateral dimension and a circumferential wall; a plurality of horizontal rectangular blocks having a dimension of length less than said lateral dimension of said base of said junction box said blocks being, placed on said base of said junction box in parallel spaced relation in back, middle and front rows, the back row having three of the horizontal rectangular blocks, one placed substantially above the other to form a wall, the middle row having two of the horizontal rectangular blocks, one placed substantially above the other to form a shorter wall, and the front row having a single one of the horizontal rectangular blocks; a plurality of mounting blocks placed at regular intervals or stations along uppermost one of the rectangular blocks in each row, each said mounting block providing means for receiving a connecting wire, the connecting wires being of three types: hot wires, neutral wires, and ground wires, said mounting blocks in the back row receiving said hot wires, said mounting blocks in the middle row receiving said neutral wires, and said mounting blocks in the front row receiving said ground wires; the plurality of horizontal rectangular blocks having portions defining a bore through entire length of each said block, and having a metal rod made of conductive material contained in the bore of each said rectangular block, providing moans for connecting said intervals or stations internally; a set screw disposed in threaded relation to each said mounting block, having a flat head exposed at top of said mounting block, providing means to receive the electrical connecting wire to secure the connecting wire in said mounting block and to interconnect the connecting wire with said metal rod; means for connecting the connecting wire held in place by said set screw at one of the mounting blocks to the connecting wire secured at another of said intervals or stations; and a plurality of openings in said circumferential wall, each of said openings positioned opposite one of said intervals or stations on said rectangular blocks, so that one of the connecting wires of selected diameter can be inserted through one of said plurality of openings to one of said intervals or stations opposite one of said openings; whereby a plurality of said connecting wires can be inserted into said openings for interconnection in said mounting blocks.

In contrast, the present invention seeks to provide a streamlined connector means for providing reliable, fast connections of electrical wires or cables providing ease, simplicity and flexibility over what has gone before.

The invention is further explained, by way of example, by the following description, to be read in conjunction wit the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a dimetric exploded view of an example of a wire termination device; Figure 2 shows the device of Figure 1 in which its parts are depicted as transparent the better to show their inter-relationship; Figure 3 shows an isometric partially assembled view of the device of Figures 1 and 2 with its cap extended; Figure 4 shows the partially assembled device of Figure 4 in which its parts are depicted as transparent the better to show their inter-relationship; Figure 5 shows a plan view of the device of Figures 1 to 5; Figure 6 shows an isometric view of an exemplary device assembly plate without devices assembled in place; Figure 7 shows the exemplary assembly plate of Figure 6 with devices assembled in place; Figure 8 shows an example of a four-wide arrangement on an electrical element of double length protruding connecting rods and single length wire termination devices; Figure 9 shows a three-wide arrangement of a double length protruding connecting rods and stacked wire termination devices on the protruding connecting rods; Figure 10 shows a plan view of a junction box fixture; Figure 11 shows an isometric view of Figure 10; Figurel 2 shows a front view of a double switch fascia fixture.

Figures 13 to 16 show, respectively, a rear view, a top view, a bottom view and a side view of Figure 12; Figure 17 shows front view 01 the preferred embodiment of a single lascia fixture Figure 18 to 20 show, respectively, a rear view, an isometric view and a side view of Figure 17; Figures 21 and 22 respectively show isometric views from first and second ends of an exemplary wire stripping and insertion tool; Figure 23 and 24 show, respectively, front obverse and reverse plan views of the wire stripping and insertion tool of figure 21; Figures 25, 26 and 27 show reactively, side, front edge and rear edge views of the wire stripping and insertion tool of Figure 21; And Figure 28 shows an exploded view of the wire stripping and insertion tool of Figure 21.

The drawings are hereunder described by mean of exemplary embodiments.

Attention is drawn to Figures 1 and 2, showing respectively solid and transparent exploded views of a wire termination terminal device 10 according to the invention, and to Figures 3 and 4, showing partially assembled solid and transparent views of the wire termination device of earlier Figures. Attention is also drawn to Figure 5 showing a plan view of the wire termination device.

A wire termination device 10, for accepting stripped wire ends to be inserted and held therein to provide electrical connection, is, in part at least, may be made from non-conducting clear plastic material to allow visualisation of wires, and can, for example, be 1mm thick to encase all conducting components.

The wire termination device 10 only allows a single wire to be inserted so plural wires cannot be crammed therein, thereby reducing the risk of wires coming loose or of having poor contact through secure connections. One device is thus required for each wire Ideally a plurality of such wire termination devices 10 are required, enabling each exposed wire end within the cable to be safely terminated.

Links 12 on the sides of the wire termination device 10 allow attachment to either multiple wire termination devices 10 in a row to form terminal modules 66, or to terminal module attachment sites 62 on associated electrical fixtures.

In yet further and preferred embodiments plural wire termination devices 10 may be stacked to facilitate connection between wires. Each wire termination device 10 is connected by insertion over the distal end of an electrically conductive protruding connecting rod 14 (first shown in Figure 6) affixed at its proximal end to an electrical element 49 (also first shown in Figure 6) wherein the protruding fixture connecting rod 14 may project and connect through both stacked devices.

The wire termination device 10 provides a lock and release method on the wire controlled by position of the top plastic plate 16, which in turn controls the position of a top conducting plate, 18 whereby the incoming wires are held when pressure is applied to the top plastic plate 16, displacing it in a downward direction as viewed in tigures.

The top plastic plate 16 in the preferred embodiments is a non-conducting plastic floating plate 16 that is held in a vertical plane by contrary sawtooth ribs 34 whose action is described here after.

The top plastic plate 16 is also held in a horizontal plane by a head 24 and neck 26 of the top conducting plate 18.

The head 24 and neck 26 of the top conducting plate 18 held the top conducting plate 18 in a vertical plane against the top plastic plate 16. The top conducting plate 18 has protruding sides 28 that hold the top conducting plate in a horizontal plane between sawtooth ribs 30 within the body of the device 10.

Asymmetric sawtooth ribs 30 on the inner walls 32 of the device ensure that as the top plastic plate 16 moves down it catches upon the contrary sawtooth ribs 34 on the sides of the top plastic plate 16, thereby stopping the top plastic plate 16 from moving upwards.

In alternate embodiments a screw may pass through the top plastic plate 16 pulling the top conducting plate 18 up as the screw is turned, thereby allowing controlled displacement.

In all preferred embodiments to release the wire the top plastic plate 16 is pulled out along a horizontal plane by a lip 36, which may be effectively achieved using an associated tool such as a small slot-head screwdriver.

In preferred embodiments the top plastic plate 16 is reset or displaced to an open position by pulling the top plastic plate 16 out horizontally via its lip 36 away from the rear end of the device 10 and towards the wire, thereby moving it out of the hold of the sawtooth ribs 30, up to a point where the top conducting plate 18 head 24 and neck 26 slide to a maximum distance and stop the top plastic plate 16 moving completely out. After which the top plastic plate 16 can then be lifted up and slotted back into a starting position. Means to allow such movements and prevent unauthorised or undesirable movement may include a flared head or neck, a ridge at the entrance or other asymmetric layout on the top plastic plate or body, neither of which is shown.

The surfaces that oppose each other within the wire entry of the device, on a bottom conducting plate 38 and the top conducting plate 18, include a gentle raised and lowered or sawtooth surface 40 which will hold the wire securely once clamped together.

The bottom conducting plate 38 provides a contact channel 42 for example having dimensions of 3mm x 3mm and allows different sized devices 10 to be used in fixtures wherein connection of all protruding connecting rods 14 will be of the same size, in this

example 3mm x 3mm.

The contact channel 42 provides an electrical contact spring retainer 44 having two electrically conductive concave flaps 46 (curved inwards) standing up (and therefore connected) from the surface of the electrical contact spring retainer 44, and allow a protruding connecting rod 14 to pass all the way through and to make good contact by gently pushing the edges of the flaps 46 outwards.

The protruding connecting rod 14 can pass completely through the hook contact channel 42 and device 10 to allow stacking.

The device 10 ideally comes in two sizes, 5 Amp and 30 Ampere. The bottom conducting plate 38 for aS Amp device can be, for example, 1mm thick, and for a 30 Amp device 10 can be 1.5-2mm thick. The entrance is preferably provided to be 2.5mm longer than the revealed wire, for example 7.5mm long in 5 Amp for 5mm length wire of 1 and 1.5mm cable, 12.5mm long in 30 Amp for 10mm length wires of 2.5mm cable.

The device 10 width in the pictured and preferred embodiment is 9mm, with a cross section of 2mm non conducting side walls allowing linkage between devices 10, and 5mm wide conducting plates.

Attention is next drawn to Figure 6, illustrating the mounting arrangement onto an electrical support member 48 used in electrical appliance connection. An electrical support member 48 can be, but is not limited to, electrical elements such as light switches and plug sockets.

The electrical support member 48 is preferably provided to the rear of the electrical element 49. The example shown in Figures is capable of securing three wire termination devices 10.

Three spaced protruding connecting rods 14 are provided, bounded, in this example, by end walls 50 and extending from a the rear face of the electrical element 49.

Attention is drawn to Figure 7 showing the electrical element 49 of Figure 6 with wire termination devices 10 attached. In this example, three wire termination devices 10 are affixed together and then are fixed over the protruding connecting rods 14 to be held. The whole set of assembled wire termination devices 10 may be covered by a protective cover 52. Protruding connecting rods 14 can be arranged vertically or horizontally in rows numbering greater or less than three and in a plurality of rows and tiers.

Attention is next drawn to Figure 8 showing an example of a four-wide arrangement on an electrical element 49 of, in this example, double length protruding connecting rods 14 and single length wire termination devices 10. Wire termination devices 10 are clicked into place on a variety of electrical elements 49 such as, but not limited to, electrical sockets 54 (as shown in Figures 12 to 16) and light switches 56 (as shown in Figures 1 B to 20) junction Ix)xes 58 (shown in Figures 10 and 11) and consumer units. Figure 8 shows how individual wire termination devices 10 can be mounted onto a protruding connecting rod 14 that is longer than the length of an individual wire termination device. Figure 8 also illustrates how several wire termination devices 10 can be attached together so that they can be inserted over correspondingly spaced protruding connecting rods 14.

Attention is next drawn to Figure 9, showing a three-wide arrangement of a double length protruding connecting rods 14 and stacked wire termination devices 10 provided in pairs on the protruding connecting rods 14. Figure 9 shows an example of how two or more wire termination devices 10 can be placed on a protruding connecting rod 14. Protruding connecting rod 14 can be made of any length suitable to receive a selected number of wire termination devices 10. Wire termination devices 10 can be adapted to affix together not only in line abreast, but also in line astern and one above another. Protruding connecting rods 14 can be arranged to accept insertion from any mechanically connected arrangement of wire termination devices 10.

Figure 8 and 9 together show how a single terminal module 66 may be attached to form a spur fixture, or two or more terminal modules 66 can be attached either at two or more terminal module attachment sites 62 or stacked upon each other at a single terminal module attachment site 62 to allow a circuit in series to be provided.

While it is preferred that the protruding connecting rods 14 are the same size as one another, the invention includes a system with two or more different lengths of wire termination deviceslO representing a range of possible currents e.g. 5 amp and 30 amps with the added possibility of there being protruding connecting rods 14 with differing sizes and diameters (if round) reflective of the intended current carrying capacity.

Ideally in preferred embodiments protruding connecting rods 14 allow attachment and transfer of current from individual wire termination devices 10 attached to the same or inter-connected protruding connecting rods 14 to corresponding current circuitry within fixtures.

Protruding connecting rods 14 can be of single length to allow attachment of one level of wire termination devices 1001 double (or gloater) length to allow attachment of two levels of stacked wire termination devices.

An electrical element's 49 54 55 58 existing wiring would have to be adapted to fit tightly, forming new and independent Live, Earth, Neutral and where necessary Common circuitry, each ending at protruding connecting rods 14 can be grouped together at one or more terminal module attachment sites 62. This would be aided by removal of existing screw terminals wherein remaining areas would have space for attachment of several new terminal module attachment sites 62.

Ideally where appropriate the fixture also has an earthing protruding connecting rod 14 to allow, for example, a metal pattress box to be earthed through the fixtures earthing circuitry.

In one preferred embodiment, as shown by way of example in Figures 10 and 11, a junction box 58 in this (example) is provided with an indented or lowered base 60, being colour coded according to connected protruding connecting rods 14 electrical current type. This aids with correct electrical placement of individual wire termination devices 10 on to its proper protruding connecting rod 14. Non-conducting clear plastic is used throughout the system to help with visualisation and recognition ot wires, as ideally are colour coding on fixtures and/or connectors.

Side walls 50 are provided on the side of the terminal module attachment site 62. Aided by the indented base 60 and protruding connecting rods 14, lock the one or more connected wire termination devices 10 in place. The side walls 50 can be single height or double height depending on the connection type required within the fixture.

A terminal module attachment site 62 cap 52 may be used to cover all or any of the examples shown and illustrated in Figure 6 to 20. The cap 52 is employed to cover terminal module attachment sites 62 to safely cover exposed protruding connecting rods 14 or to aid locking and prevent accidental removal of wire termination devices 10. Attachment is via the walls 50 on the side of the terminal module attachment site 62.

Attention is also drawn to figures 12 to 16 showing respectively a front view of a double switch electrical socket 54 fascia fixture, a rear view, a top view, a bottom view and a side view of the fascia fixture 54.

Attention is also drawn to Figure 17 to 20 showing1 respectively, a front view of a single fascia fixture 56, a rear view, an isometric view and a side view of the single fascia fixture 56.The fixture 56 typically but not necessarily a light switch. In Figures 12 to 20, like numbers denote like items.

S In some embodiments of fixtures in the system such as the junction box a wire grip of rubber may firmly hold wires in place, with a grip on the base that is offset to a grip on the lid, which when brought into close opposition prevents wires being pulled when force is applied.

Attention is next drawn to Figures 21, 22, 23 and 24 respectively showing isometric views from first and second ends, and front obverse and reverse plan views of the wire stripping and insertion tool of figure 21. Attention is also drawn to Figures 25 to 28 showing, respectively, side, front edge and rear edge views, and an exploded view of the wire stripping and insertion tool of Figure 21.

The purpose ot the tool 64 is to strip the end of both the inner and outer sheaths of a cable and automatically, by manual continued operation, to insert and secure the stripped wire end into a wire termination device 10 as herein before described. The example of the tool 64 shown is used to strip insulating sheathing from three and four wire (1mm, 1.5mm and 2.5mm) electrical cable ot standard shape as currently available. Having stripped portions of the sheaths from the cable to expose a wire end, the tool 64 then locks each wire within an individual wire termination device 10, with three or tour (or more) wire termination devices 10 being linked together to form a terminal module 66.

There are six cable input tubes 68 for cable stripping depending on cable style for use ranging from 1mm and 1.5mm three-and four-wire cables to 2.5mm three-wire cables. A user therefore inserts an un-stripped cable end as required into an appropriate cable input tube 68, pushing the un-stripped cable end as tar as possible up to the input end thereof.

In the pictured and preferred embodiment the user then squeezes two cutter buttons 70 together, thereby activating two sets of first 72 and second 74 opposed blade sets.

The two sets of blades 72 74 are activated, wherein a first opposed blade set 72 makes cuts to serrate both inner and outer sheaths of insulation of the cable, and a second opposed blade set 74 separated from the first blade set 72, for example by 13mm, makes cuts to serrate the outer insulating cable sheath alone. Distances of the blades' 72 74 movement and cut may in some embodiments be set by the users choice of input or other form of user definition.

Having varying lengths of cable input tubes 68 allows for a variable length of inner conducting wire to be exposed by having the first set of blades 72 at a fixed distance from the end of each cable input tube 68. The first set of blades 72 cuts to strip (serrates) both the inner and outer insulating sheaths from the cable, leaving a fixed 5mm of inner wire revealed for both 1mm and 1.5mm cables, and 10mm for 2.5mm cables, thereby preventing overexposure of conducting wire when inserted into a wire termination device 10.

The distance to the second set of blades 74 from the first set of blades 72 being fixed at 13mm allows for consistent removal of outer sheathing to reveal the inner sheath. This is achieved by the second set of blades 74 which serrate outer sheath alone.

For purposes of wire cutting, the first blade 72 cuts cleanly through the end of the cable at ninety degrees to the cable axis or axes giving the clean cut necessary for wire stripping.

Each blade 72 74 has two cutters, each operable to cut a respective half of wire and/or cable on respective first and second sides thereof. Opposing halt of wires or cables are cut with opposing blades 72 74 from the reverse side of the tool 64. Ideally the blades 72 74 are replaceable and can be removed by cutter buttons 70 moving to one side and lifting each pair of blades 72 74 out.

In other embodiments a rotary mechanism compresses the cable and on pulling the cable out of the wand, the anti-slip mechanism moves with the wire 15mm but no further to stop injury to users by preventing use of excessive force, whilst the distance moved is far enough to allow the sheathing to be removed. This anti-slip mechanism can then be released to allow the wire to be pulled out. The stripped sheathing can then be discarded.

Excess sheathing is typically ejected after the user pulls out the stripped cable. A plunger rod 96 of length 23mm sits with one end at the innermost end of each of the cable input tubes 68 and the other end connected to a flat plate, which moves forwards through the cable input tube to eject wiring sheath remnants when the plunger slider 97 on either side of the wand is pulled back.

The pictured and preferred embodiment of the tool has two sides, a first side 76 with terminal module attachment site 62 tor acceptance of 5 Amp wire termination device 10, and a second side 78 with terminal module attachment site 62 for acceptance of 30 Amp wire termination devices 10, the choice being left to the user depending on whether the cable is 1 or 1.5mm cable for SArnp, or 2.5mm cable for 3OAmp.

The terminal module attachment sites 62, having indented colour coded bases (not shown) and side walls on either side to aid placement of a plurality of wire termination devices 10 forming terminal modules 66 by fixing together of the plurality of wire termination devices 10, each wire termination device 10 having ability to allow a protruding connection rod 14 affixed within the wire termination 10 attachment site 7478 to insert through its contact channel 42 and concave conducting flaps 46.

Depending on whether the cable is three-or four-wire the user inserts a corresponding number and size of wire termination devices 10 into the terminal module attachment site 62 and introduces the cable into the corresponding channel 80 via the channel entrance 92 at end of the tool 64.

The channel 80 being 13mm long, the same length as the exposed inner insulating sheath formed between the first blade set 72 second blade set 74, guides the cable and its inner insulating sheath along from the channel entrance 92 towards the respective wire termination devices 10.

For 5Amp cables there are four channel entrances 92 and channels 80. An outer two channels 80 are straight and 13mm long. An inner two channels 80 have a straight line length of 9.9mm, so the cable is obliged to curve down and back up to make the 13mm distance.

For 30 Amp cables there are three entrances 92 and channels 80. An outer two channels are straight and 13mm long and a single inner channel has a straight line length of 11.8mm, and is the same distance wherein the cable is obliged to curve down and up to gain an extra 1.2mm.

On full insertion of the 13mm inner sheath within the channel 80, the channel entrance 92 restricts the outer sheath of the cable from any further onward movement.

In preferred embodiments the lowermost portion of the channels 80 is colour coded to help correct orientation of wire on insertion, with live, earth then neutral for three-wire cable, and live, common, earth and then neutral for four-wire cable from left to right. The uppermost portion of the channels 80 is clear plastic and forms a channel enclosure 84 that opens on a hinge 86 to the side to allow access to all channels 80.

To provide insulation to earthing wires without sheathing, an earthing sheath is inserted into the earth channel 88 to its full distance of 13mm, then an earthing sleeve cutter 90 is activated to cut the sheath at the channel entrance 92.

The user then pulls a sliding cover 94 forward1 and when the cover 94 is over the terminal module attachment site 62, and consequently enabled to travel orthogonally, pushes the cover 94 onto the wire termination devices 10. On release of pressure on the sliding cover 94, it will spring back to its neutral position.

This push action will squeeze a top plastic plate 16 and the top conducting plate 18 against a bottom conducting plate 38 of each terminal device 10 and consequently crimp the connection of the wire.

The user can then withdraw the cable with its connected terminal module 66 from the tool 64 by opening the sliding cover 94 which simultaneously opens the channel enclosure 84.

The cable with attached terminal module 66 can then be attached to fixtures that have corresponding terminal module attachment sites 62.

The earth and neutral electrical protruding connection rods 14 that insert into the electrical contact spring retainers 44 and concave flaps 46 in the contact channel of the wire termination device 10, are connected to a battery housed in the body of the tool 64 to form a continuity circuit. Battery cover 98 covers a housing for one or more batteries employed in connection testing as described.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention.

S Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. i0

Claims (19)

1. Claims 1. A system for providing electrical connection to apparatus, the system comprising: a wire termination device, operable to provide an electrically conductive termination to a single wire or cable; and a wire termination assembly device operable to receive, support and accept connection from the wire termination devices.
2. 2. A system, according to Claim 1, wherein: the wire termination assembly device comprises a protruding connecting rod for providing electrical connection to the wire termination assembly: the wire termination device comprises a contact channel: and the wire termination device contact channel is insertable onto the protruding connecting rod to provide electrical connection there between.
3. 3. The system according to claim 2, comprising two or more wire termination devices, where the wire termination assembly device comprises two or more spaced protruding connecting rods; the two or more wire termination devices each comprise mechanical fixing means operable to reversibly join the two or more wire termination devices together; and the two or more spaced protruding connecting rods are spaced to engage, when the joined wire termination devices are assembled onto the wire termination assembly device, a respective contact channel in each assembled wire termination device.
4. 4. A system, according to any of the preceding Claims, adapted to accommodate a plurality of different cable types having a plurality of different diameters and a plurality of different current carrying capacities.
5. 5. A system, according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the wire termination assembly device is at least one of: an electrical junction box; an electrical consumer unit; an electrical socket; and an electrical switch.
6. 6. A system, according to any of the preceding Claims when dependent upon Claim 2, wherein the wire termination device is fabricated from insulating material adapted to prevent contact with contact channel when handled.
7. 7. A system according to any of the preceding Claims, further comprising: a wire stripping and insertion tool; where the wires stripping and insertion tool comprises means operable to receive a cut end of a wire or cable; the wires stripping and insertion tool also comprises means operable to receive and releasably support a wire termination device; the wires stripping and insertion tool comprises means operable to strip electrical sheathing from the cut end of the wire or cable; the wires stripping and insertion tool comprises means operable to insert the stripped end of the wire or cable into the supported wire termination device; and the wires stripping and insertion tool comprises means is operable to secure the stripped end of the wire or cable in the contact channel of the wire termination device.
8. 8. The system, according to any of the preceding claims when dependent upon Claims 7 and 3, wherein the wire stripping and insertion tool comprises: means operable to accept and support two or more joined wire termination devices; and wire or cable guiding channel means operable to guide an inserted wire or channel into a respective wire termination device; wire type indication means operable to indicate the type of connection of a wire or cable is to be provided to each respective wire or cable guiding means.
9. 9. The system according to claim 7 or 8 when dependent upon Claim 3, comprising electrical connection testing means operable to test and provide indication of correctness of connections made by and within the wire stripping and insertion tool.
10. 10. A system, substantially as described with reference to the appended drawings.
11. 11. A wire termination device for connecting an electrical current from a wire or cable to a wire termination assembly that includes a protruding connecting rod, the wire termination device comprising; means to attach onto a single separately provided wire or cable; the terminal wire termination device also oomprising: a wire or cable entrance; a conducting contact channel adapted to fit upon a protruding connecting rod; and connection means adapted to allow a wire or cable, introduced into the wire entrance, to make electrical connection with the contact channel.
12. 12. A device according to claim 11 comprising: a displaceable insulating top plate; wherein the top insulating plate is displaceable in two different directions in relation to wire termination device, the two displacement directions serving separate but complimentary functions.
13. 13. A device according to claim 12 comprising: a top conducting plate; wherein the displaceable insulating top plate is effective to hold the top conducting plate in an orthogonal plane relative to a bottom conducting plate
14. 14. A device according to claim 11, 12 or 13 wherein invention the body is provided with ribs onto which the top plastic plate fits and engages.
15. 15. A device according to any of Claims 11 to 14 comprising asymmetric ribs, operable to allow movement towards a wire or cable, and to prevent movement away from the wire or cable, without displacement away from wire termination device and the contact channel.
16. 16. A device according to any of Claims 11 to 15 wherein the wire termination device comprises mechanical fixing means operable to reversibly join one or more other wire termination devices together in a configuration whereby two or more joined wire termination devices can be inserted with each of their respective conducting channels onto a respective one of an array comprising a corresponding plurality of protruding connecting rods.
17. 17. A device according to any of claims 11 to 16 comprising male and female parts allowing linkage of a plurality of devices.
18. 18. A device according to a preceding claim wherein the conducting contact channel is adapted to allow a single protruding connecting rod to pass through more than one wire termination device.
19. 19. A device, substantially as described, with reference to the appended drawings.A wire stripping and insertion tool for stripping wire and inserting and securing stripped ends of wire into a wire termination device, the tool comprising: means operable to receive a cut end of a wire or cable; means operable to receive and releasably support a wire termination device; means operable to strip electrical sheathing from the cut end of the wire or cable.means operable to insert the stripped end of the wire or cable into the supported wire termination device; and means operable to secure the stripped end of the wire or cable in the wire termination device.21. A tool, according to Claim 20, comprising: means operable to accept and support two or more joined wire termination devices; and wire or cable guiding channel means operable to guide an inserted wire or channel into a respective wire termination device; wire type indication means operable to indicate the type of connection of a wire or cable to be provided to each respective wire or cable guiding means.22. The tool, according to claim 20 or 21, comprising electrical connection testing means operable to test and provide indication of correctness of connections made by and within the wire stripping and insertion tool.23. A tool according to any of Claims 20 or 22 comprising two sets of opposed pairs of wire stripping blades, a first pair of opposed blades being disposed spaced in the direction of the channel guide means relative to a second pair of opposed blades and adapted to serrate inner and outer sheaths of a presented cable.24. A tool according to any one of Claims 20 to 23 comprising stripped sheath disposal means operable to dispose stripped sheath within the tool.25. A tool according to any one of Claims 20 to 24 comprising stripped sheath ejection means operable to eject stripped sheath from the tool.26. A tool according to any of Claims 20 to 25 comprising a connector press operable to lock wires within terminal device.27. A tool according to claim 26 wherein release 01 the connector press is operable to S release one or more wire termination devices to allow removal of wire or cable with attached wire termination device or devices.28. A tool, substantially as described with reference to the appended drawings. i0