Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
  • H01H9/02—Bases, casings, or covers
  • H01H9/0264—Protective covers for terminals
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
  • H01R4/28—Clamped connections, spring connections
  • H01R4/38—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a clamping member acted on by screw or nut

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an electrical terminal with finger-proof protection.
• connecting terminals generally constituted by a slider which is actuated by a screw and is suitable to press the end of a wire in contrast with a fixed part which is rigidly coupled to the body of the device.
• the slider generally moves within a seat provided with a transverse hole for the insertion of the end of the wire and with an axial hole for accessing the head of the screw by means of a conventional screwdriver.
• a problem of conventional terminals is that the transverse hole, which must be substantially larger than the cross- section of the wire, remains open even after the terminal has been closed and the wire has been secured inside it.
• Another problem of conventional terminals is due to the fact that it is possible to mistakenly insert the wire outside the moving body, preventing correct engagement of the end.
• Terminals have been proposed which have a diaphragm which is rigidly coupled to the sliding body and is suitable to partially close the opening once the terminal has been tightened.
• a significant drawback of these terminals is that they entail an additional part to be assembled, making it more complicated and expensive to manufacture the electrical device.
• Another drawback is that the diaphragm partially overlaps the edge of the sliding part, preventing the abutment of the sheath of the electric wire against the moving part of the terminal. In other words, it has been found that the partial protection of the edge of the slider by the diaphragm does not allow to insert the wire fully in the seat.
• the aim of the present invention is to provide an electrical terminal with finger-proof protection, particularly for electrical devices, in which the wire insertion opening remains substantially closed once the wire has been secured.
• An object of the invention is to provide a terminal which is constructively very simple.
• a further object is to provide a terminal which can be assembled easily and in a manner which is substantially similar to that of conventional terminals without significantly increasing production times and costs.
• a further object is to provide a terminal whose use is extremely simple and entirely similar to the use of conventional terminals.
• an electrical terminal with finger-proof protection comprising a body which can slide within a seat which is suitable to accommodate the end of an electrical conductor to be connected, the seat having a longitudinal transverse opening for the insertion of the electric conductor, the sliding body having an actuation means for its sliding within the seat and at least one lower wall which is provided with an edge and suitable to cooperate with a fixed contact member which is rigidly coupled to the seat in order to clamp the electrical conductor; characterized in that it comprises a diaphragm member which is rigidly associated with the sliding body below tne edge and is suitable to at least partially block the opening after the electric conductor has been inserted in the seat and clamped between the fixed contact and the wall of the slider.
• Fig. 1 is a lateral sectional view of the terminal according to the invention.
• Fig. 2 is a sectional view, similar to Fig. 1, taken along a different plane which is substantially median with respect to the sliding body;
• Fig. 3 is a front view of the terminal according to the invention.
• Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the terminal according to the invention.
• the terminal with finger-proof protection according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, includes an insulating body 3 which can be an integral part of an electrical device (not shown), such as for example a breaker, which forms a seat 5 for a sliding body or slider 7.
• the seat 5 has at least one opening 9 for the insertion of an electrical conductor, such as for example an end 11, with the sheath 15 removed, of an electric wire 13.
• the slider 7 is advantageously formed monolithically by bending a metal strip so as to form a parallelepiped with an upper wall 17 which is perforated and threaded in order to receive an actuation screw 19 and with a lower wall 21 which is connected to the upper face by two side walls 23.
• the lower wall 21 has a front edge and a hook 25, advantageously obtained from the metal strip, which is suitable to lock an insulating member 27 which is arranged outside the face 21 and is provided with a front side 29 which faces the opening 9.
• the insulating member 27 advantageously has two wings 31 adapted to cooperate with recesses formed partially on the edges of the lower wall 21 and on the side walls 23 of the slider.
• the operation of the terminal according to the invention is evident.
• the end 11 of the wire 13 is inserted through the opening 9 into the slider 7 between the lower wall 21 and a fixed contact 33 which is rigidly coupled to the body 3.
• the slider 7 is moved toward the fixed contact 33 and the end 11 of the wire is clamped between the lower wall 21 of the slider and the fixed contact 33.
• the front side 29 of the insulating member 27 constitutes a diaphragm and obstructs the opening 9 so as to prevent the accidental insertion of a finger, for example.

Landscapes

• Connections Arranged To Contact A Plurality Of Conductors (AREA)
• Breakers (AREA)
• Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
• Thermistors And Varistors (AREA)
• Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
• Emergency Protection Circuit Devices (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=11376083

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Cited By (9)

Citations (4)

• 1997
  • 1997-05-20 IT IT1997MI000354U patent/IT237508Y1/it active IP Right Grant
• 1998
  • 1998-04-30 EP EP98925508A patent/EP0914663B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-04-30 DE DE69838661T patent/DE69838661T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-04-30 AU AU77603/98A patent/AU7760398A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1998-04-30 AT AT98925508T patent/ATE377836T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1998-04-30 WO PCT/EP1998/002559 patent/WO1998053470A1/en active IP Right Grant

Patent Citations (4)

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