Abstract: A direct clamp terminal for connecting a conductor in the form of a flexible stranded conductor includes a housing with a chamber and an insertion conduit for inserting the conductor into the chamber. A bus bar or a clamping cage is provided in the housing and a clamping spring is located in the chamber and acts as a compression spring for securing the electrical conductor to the bus bar or the clamping cage in the area of a clamping point. The clamping spring has a clamping limb that can be pivoted about a pivoting axis and that can be shifted from a detent mode in which it is locked in a detent position into a clamping mode in which it is released from the detent mode and presses the electrical conductor against the bus bar or the clamping cage. The clamping limb can be released from the detent mode using two different shifting devices.

Abstract: A direct clamp terminal for connecting a conductor in the form of a flexible stranded conductor includes a housing with a chamber and an insertion conduit for inserting the conductor into the chamber. A bus bar or a clamping cage is provided in the housing and a clamping spring is located in the chamber and acts as a compression spring for securing the electrical conductor to the bus bar or the clamping cage in the area of a clamping point. The clamping spring has a clamping limb that can be pivoted about a pivoting axis and that can be shifted from a detent mode in which it is locked in a detent position into a clamping mode in which it is released from the detent mode and presses the electrical conductor against the bus bar or the clamping cage. The clamping limb can be released from the detent mode using two different shifting devices.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a U-shaped metal clamping frame having vertical base and side walls defining a chamber, a stationary electrical contact mounted in the chamber, and a clamping spring arrangement arranged at least partially within the chamber for biasing toward the electrical contact the bare end of an insulated conductor that is axially inserted downwardly into the chamber. The clamping spring comprises a conductive leaf spring having a clamping leg that is inclined, when in the conductor clamping position, at a first acute angle relative to the insertion axis of the conductor. In one embodiment, the clamping leg is supported by an attachment arrangement including an attachment leg arranged at second acute angle relative to the insertion axis. In another embodiment, the clamping leg is integrally connected with the clamping frame, and with the frame base wall defining the stationary electrical contact.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a U-shaped metal clamping frame having vertical base and side walls defining a chamber, a stationary electrical contact mounted in the chamber, and a clamping spring arrangement arranged at least partially within the chamber for biasing toward the electrical contact the bare end of an insulated conductor that is axially inserted downwardly into the chamber. The clamping spring comprises a conductive leaf spring having a clamping leg that is inclined, when in the conductor clamping position, at a first acute angle relative to the insertion axis of the conductor. In one embodiment, the clamping leg is supported by an attachment arrangement including an attachment leg arranged at second acute angle relative to the insertion axis. In another embodiment, the clamping leg is integrally connected with the clamping frame, and with the frame base wall defining the stationary electrical contact.

Abstract: A connector arrangement includes a housing containing at least one open-topped chamber in which is mounted a stationary upwardly-directed knife device, and a rectangular carrier member arranged for downward insertion within the chamber, thereby to displace an insulated wire supported by the carrier member toward a position in which the knife device pierces the insulation layer and is brought into electrical engagement with the conductor contained therein. The carrier member includes a top surface containing a slot for receiving the tip of an operating tool that displaces the carrier member downwardly in the chamber, and a side wall containing at least one lug and slot arrangement by means of which the carrier member may be upwardly displaced upon lever-like operation of the tool in cooperation with a side wall of the chamber. Preferably, the housing includes a plurality of the chambers arranged in one or more rows.

Abstract: A bridge connector arrangement includes a bridge member moveable between engaged and disengaged positions relative to a pair of adjacent electrical modules, thereby to connect and disconnect rows of female terminals on the modules, The bridge member carries a plurality of male bridging contacts that extend within the female terminals when the bridge member is in the engaged position, whereupon the male bridging contacts are biased by clamping springs into electrical engagement with stationary wall contacts mounted in the female terminals. Release members carried by the bridge member are operable both to release the clamping springs from the male contacts, and to displace the bridge member toward the disengaged position relative to the modules. The bridge member and the modules include a tongue and groove guide arrangement, thereby to fasten both modules together mechanically.

Abstract: A connector arrangement includes a housing containing at least one open-topped chamber in which is mounted a stationary upwardly-directed knife device, and a rectangular carrier member arranged for downward insertion within the chamber, thereby to displace an insulated wire supported by the carrier member toward a position in which the knife device pierces the insulation layer and is brought into electrical engagement with the conductor contained therein. The carrier member includes a top surface containing a slot for receiving the tip of an operating tool that displaces the carrier member downwardly in the chamber, and a side wall containing at least one lug and slot arrangement by means of which the carrier member may be upwardly displaced upon lever-like operation of the tool in cooperation with a side wall of the chamber. Preferably, the housing includes a plurality of the chambers arranged in one or more rows.

Abstract: A bridge connector arrangement includes a bridge member moveable between engaged and disengaged positions relative to a pair of adjacent electrical modules, thereby to connect and disconnect rows of female terminals on the modules, The bridge member carries a plurality of male bridging contacts that extend within the female terminals when the bridge member is in the engaged position, whereupon the male bridging contacts are biased by clamping springs into electrical engagement with stationary wall contacts mounted in the female terminals. Release members carried by the bridge member are operable both to release the clamping springs from the male contacts, and to displace the bridge member toward the disengaged position relative to the modules. The bridge member and the modules include a tongue and groove guide arrangement, thereby to fasten both modules together mechanically.

Abstract: An electrical connector arrangement includes a resilient contact adapted for direct engagement with the bare wire of an insulated conductor without the use of any assembly tool, characterized in that the resilient contact includes a first leg having a first end containing a window opening, a second leg having a first end extending at an acute angle through the window opening for clamping engagement with a conductor bare wire that is also inserted in the same direction therein, and a connecting portion connecting the other ends of the first and second legs to define a closed loop. A clamping edge at the extremity of the first end of the second resilient contact leg engages the bare wire and cooperates with a first edge of the window opening to prevent the withdrawal of the bare wire from the window opening.

Abstract: An electrical connector arrangement includes a resilient contact adapted for direct engagement with the bare wire of an insulated conductor without the use of any assembly tool, characterized in that the resilient contact includes a first leg having a first end containing a window opening, a second leg having a first end extending at an acute angle through the window opening for clamping engagement with a conductor bare wire that is also inserted in the same direction therein, and a connecting portion connecting the other ends of the first and second legs to define a closed loop. A clamping edge at the extremity of the first end of the second resilient contact leg engages the bare wire and cooperates with a first edge of the window opening to prevent the withdrawal of the bare wire from the window opening.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a metal housing having at least one side wall, and first and second end walls cooperating with the side wall to define an open-topped chamber, an inverted generally U-shaped resilient contact having first and second leg portions introduced into the chamber adjacent the first and second end walls, respectively, and a bridging portion adjacent the open top of the metal housing, the housing side wall having a bent portion for supporting the resilient contact bridging portion, the resilient contact first leg portion being connected against coplanar movement relative to the housing first end wall. The resilient contact second leg portion is biased outwardly from the first leg portion, thereby to bias a conductor introduced within the housing chamber toward engagement with a bus bar defined adjacent the housing second end wall. The housing may be formed of an electrically conductive metal, such as copper.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a metal housing having at least one side wall, and first and second end walls cooperating with the side wall to define an open-topped chamber, an inverted generally U-shaped resilient contact having first and second leg portions introduced into the chamber adjacent the first and second end walls, respectively, and a bridging portion adjacent the open top of the metal housing, the housing side wall having a bent portion for supporting the resilient contact bridging portion, the resilient contact first leg portion being connected against coplanar movement relative to the housing first end wall. The resilient contact second leg portion is biased outwardly from the first leg portion, thereby to bias a conductor introduced within the housing chamber toward engagement with a bus bar defined adjacent the housing second end wall. The housing may be formed of an electrically conductive metal, such as copper.

Abstract: An electrical connector or terminal block (1) is adapted for mounting on a printed circuit board or the like (2) at a position at least partially concealing a luminous diode (3), the connector containing a light-conductive member (4) that extends from the luminous diode to an exposed surface (5) of the connector, thereby to present a visible indication of the state of operation of the diode.