Spring clamp actuator
US5679021A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 5, 1996 |
| Grant date | Oct 21, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 5, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01R4/4816
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An actuator for opening and closing a spring clamp terminal mounted within a connector housing is receivable within a cavity of the housing. The actuator comprises a tapered first camming surface for progressively biasing the spring clamp open, and a second rest surface for maintaining the spring clamp open for reception of a wire without requiring use of the tool. Once the wire has been placed in a wire receiving hole of the spring clamp, the actuator can be released by tilting thereof about a pivot line such that the spring arm of the spring clamp engages the first camming surface hence pushing the actuating means outwardly of the cavity, thereby enabling clamping of the wire.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.