Connector means for connecting a conductor to a ground rail

US5890916A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KG and PH · DE

Inventors

• Jörg Diekmann · Bielefeld, DE
• Rainer Schulze · Detmold, DE
• Walter Hanning · Detmold, DE
• Manfred Wilmes · Detmold, DE
• Bernhard Schuster · Detmold, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 31, 1997
• Grant date: Apr 6, 1999
• Expiry date: Jul 31, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01R4/485
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A connector assembly is operable to connect a conductor with a generally U-shaped ground rail having a pair of upwardly extending legs that terminate in outwardly directed flange portions, including a conductive plate having a body panel that extends transversely above the rail. At a first end, the body panel included a downwardly extending hook portion the extends in locking relation beneath the flange portion of the associated first rail; at its other end, a first plate support panel is connected with the bottom of the body pane for bending movement about a first generally horizontal fold lined to a support position generally normal to the body panel and in engagement with the upper surface of the flange portion of the other rail. The plate is connected with the other rail leg by an inverted generally U-shaped spring member having a base portion that extends parallel with the body panel above the first support panel, and a pair of leg portions having end extremities that extend beneath the associated edge of the first plate support panel and the adjacent rail flange portion, respectively.