US2193442A - Solderless connector - Google Patents

Description

SOLDERLESS CONNECTOR Filed Nov. 8, 1938 INVENTOR Czar/es Bay ATTORNEY 40 In Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawing the connector P........1M...1z,194o 4 2,193,442

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SOLDERLESS CONNECTOR Charles A. Bay, Morristown, N. J., assignor to Metropolitan Device Corporation, a corporation of New York J Application November M1938, Serial No. 239,438

1 Claim. (Cl. 24-125) The invention herein disclosed relates to a conthreads 40 that engage the threads of the clampnector for connecting electrical conductors and ing screw 1.

more particularly to a solderless connector in The arms 5 and 6 are bent to extend from the which the two conductors to be .electrically conhead in the same direction and parallel to the 5 nected are mechanically clamped together. axis of the hole through the head. These arms 5 Various attempts have heretofore been made extend from diagonally opposite sections of the to provide a wire clamp of this type. But such head so that they are spaced apart in two direc-- wire clamps as have been suggested are made from tions at right angles to each other. The arm 5 forgings, castings or bar stock and commonly em-' has at its extremity an arcuate hook-shaped sec- 10 ploy some form of contact block. Such connectors tion Sa and the arm 6 has a similar section 6a. 10 are accordingly expensive to manufacture and These hook-shaped sections extend in opposite are not as convenient in use as is desired. directions. The metal. at the hook-shaped sec- An object of this invention is to provide a tionsis extruded and forms surfaces curved transsolderless .connector of this type that is conversely and free from sharp edges as clearly illusstructed from a single strip of metal, that is trated in Fig. 2. The distance between the arms 15 sturdy and capable of withstanding rough usage, is made equal to the pitch diameter of the screw and that is readily and easily applied in connect- I so that when the head is tapped, threads are ing two conductors together. This is realized in also formed in the sides or arms. Additional accordance with this invention by providing a length of thread contact is thus provided.

connector that includes a head having a threaded In applying the connector, the clamping screw 20 opening therethrough to receive a clamping screw 1 is backed oil to allow ample room for the hookand two substantially parallel arms extending shaped sections 5a. and 6a of the arms 5 and 6 'from the head. The arms of the connector are to pass under the conductors. The connector is spaced apart and extend from the head substanpositioned with these hook-shaped sections paraltially parallel to the axis of theopening through lel to the axis of the conductor l and the con- 25 the head. The arms have oppositely directed nector is then placed over the conductor so that openings to receive the conductors, and the it is embraced by the arms of the connector. Next clamping screw clamps the two conductors .tothe connector is turned about the axis of the hole gether. through the head in a direction to cause the oppo- Such a connector is illustrated in the accomsitely extending hook-shaped sections of the arms 30 panying drawing in which: 5 and 6 to pass under the conductor. The con- Fig. 1 is a plan view of the connector; ductor 2 may then be inserted to lie in the hook- Fig. .2 is a longitudinal section of the same shaped sections of the arms and the clamping taken on the line 2-2 of Figl 1; screw is tightened to clamp the conductors to- Fig. 3 is an end elevation oithe same taken gether. With a stranded conductor, such as the 35 from the plane indicated'by the line 3-3 on Fig. conductor 2, the clamping action of the screw 1 2; and causes the strands to spread as shown. In re- Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the same similar moving th connector, the clamping screw is to backed off and the conductor 2 removed. The

is shown as it is applied to effect an electrical e Fi.1niltharms5nd6li,n connection between two stranded conductors l 8 en in g u t e a e o e on and 2. In Fig 4 the connector is illustrated as each side of the conductor I when the connector it is applied to efiect an electrical connection bemay be removed When the connector is used with a solid conmay? stranded conductor I and sohd ductor such as the conductor 3, the solid co'n The connector isgconstructed from a single ductor is preferably placed, dirfectly beneath the heavy strip of metal and consists 'of a head 4, two clamping screw as shown The Shape substantially parallel arms 5 and 6 a d clamp.. of the head of the connector is such that the coning screw 1. In construction, the strip is first ductor is bent on leaving the head in an arc of 50 blanked out to obtain the proper configuration. appropriate radius and there are no sharp edges In making the hole 4a through the head 4, the engaging the conductor. metal of the strip is extruded. In this way a cir- From the foregoing descriptionpf the embodicumferential flange 4b is provided about the ment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, I openings and provides additional length for it will be seen that there is provided by this inven- 55 connector is then turned counter-clockwise as Q tion a connector that is inexpensive to manufacture and that is reliable in service.

It will be obvious that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art in the details of the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the drawing and described above within the prinopening therethrough, the axis of which opening is parallel to said parallel arms and midway between the arms and the pitch diameter of which is substantially equal to the distance between the arms, the arms having oppositely directed hookshaped end sections and the metal thereof extruded outwardly and transversely curved at the hook-shaped sections, and a clamping screw threaded in the hole through the head, whereby two wires within the connector are clamped together between the screw pressing directly on one and the oppositely directed hook-shaped end sections of the arms engaging the other.

CHARLES A. BAY. w

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