Abstract: An assembly for contacting an electrical conductor includes a clamping spring which acts as a pressure spring for fixing an electrical conductor in a spring-force clamp and a retaining spring for locking the clamping spring in an open position such that the conductor can be introduced into a contact region in a shifting direction. The clamping spring touches the retaining spring along a contact surface in a locked state and during movement from the locking state into a unlocking state.

Abstract: A spring-loaded terminal is designed as a direct plug-in terminal for connecting a conductor. The terminal includes a busbar for contacting the conductor, a clamping spring for retaining the electrical conductor in the terminal, and a retaining spring for latching the clamping spring in an open position so that the conductor can be inserted into a contact area. The clamping spring has a pivotable clamping leg and a clamping edge. The retaining spring has a pivotable pivoting leg having at least one retaining device as a first latching device. The clamping leg has a corresponding latching device cooperating with the retaining device of the pivoting leg in a latching state of the clamping leg. The clamping leg is adjustable from the latching state by displacing the electrical conductor into a clamping state in which the clamping leg is unlatched from the retaining device and presses the electrical conductor with the clamping edge of the clamping leg against the busbar.

Abstract: A disconnect terminal includes an enclosure, a first conductor rail, a second conductor rail, a switching device, and an actuation device. The switching device can be switched by the actuation device from a connecting position, in which the first conductor rail and the second conductor rail are electrically connected by the switching device into a disconnecting position in which the electrical connection of the first conductor rail and the second conductor rail is separated or disconnected, and back. A visible portion of the actuation device aligns with a surface of a portion of an upper side of the enclosure or with a part connected with the enclosure. In the disconnecting position, the visible portion of the actuation device protrudes from a surface of a portion of an upper side of the enclosure or of a part connected with the enclosure in a clearly visible manner. An assembly is provided of at least two aligned disconnect terminals.

Abstract: A disconnect terminal includes an enclosure, a first ladder rail, a second ladder rail, a switching device, and an actuation device. The switching device can be switched by the actuation device from a connecting position, in which the first ladder rail and the second ladder rail are electrically connected by the switching device into a disconnecting position in which the electrical connection of the first ladder rail and the second ladder rail is separated or disconnected, and back. A visible portion of the actuation device aligns with a surface of a portion of an upper side of the enclosure or with a part connected with the enclosure. In the disconnecting position, the visible portion of the actuation device protrudes from a surface of a portion of an upper side of the enclosure or of a part connected with the enclosure in a clearly visible manner. An assembly is provided of at least two aligned disconnect terminals.

Abstract: A plug connector and a method of coding of same is characterized by first and second coding elements that are pre-mountable as a unit on at least one of a pair of plug connector components. The other plug connector component is configured so that when the connector components are initially connected together in an axial direction, one of the coding elements is connected with one of the components and the other coding element is connected with the other component. When the components are separated axially, the respective coding elements are separated so that each are retained on the component with which it was originally connected.

Abstract: A printed circuit board arrangement and method includes a planar generally-rectangular vertically-arranged printed circuit board having front and rear surfaces terminating in a peripheral edge, at least one of the front and rear surfaces having a conductive printed circuit thereon. The printed circuit board has a vertical side edge portion containing a recess, and arranged adjacent the recess is a fixed contact connected with a conductor portion of the printed circuit. A relatively narrow conductor housing arranged outside the peripheral edge of the printed circuit board is mounted in the recess with a movable contact carried by the housing in electrical engagement with the fixed contact. The connector housing is supported by a rear wall mounted on the rear surface of the printed circuit board, and by a resilient clip on the connector housing that engages the printed circuit board adjacent the recess.

Abstract: A connector assembly for printed circuit board terminal blocks and the like includes a housing having spaced side and end walls defining a chamber, and a first connector component mounted in the chamber adjacent an access opening contained in the housing walls. A second connector component external of the housing is displaceable between an engaged position in electrical engagement with the first connector component, and a disengaged position disengaged from the first component. A separating lever pivotally connected with the second connector component includes a cam arrangement that cooperates with the housing side walls to displace the second connector component from the engaged position toward the disengaged position relative to the first connector component. A locking arrangement may be provided for locking together the connector components in the electrically engaged condition.

Abstract: A connector assembly for a planar vertical printed circuit board includes a housing having a pair of parallel space planar vertical side walls defining an open-topped vertical chamber in which the printed circuit board is mounted. First electrical connectors mounted on the vertical end edges of the printed circuit board include body portions that extend outward beyond the vertical edges of the side walls, which extending body portions contain access openings affording communication with first connector contacts in electrical engagement with the printed circuit board. Protective side cover members are fastened to the housing side walls to partially enclose the extending connector body portions, which cover members contain openings opposite the connector body access openings. The cover members contain ventilation openings for cooling the printed circuit board, and the housing includes a mounting foot arrangement for mounting the printed circuit board assembly on a support rail.

Abstract: A connector arrangement includes a universal terminal block having a body containing a chamber in which is removably mounted one of a plurality of function control modules as used in commercial, industrial and residential installations, wherein a pair of module contacts on the module are brought into electrical engagement with a pair of stationary contacts mounted in the chamber, thereby to connect the module to a pair of external insulated conductors via bus bars and terminals contained in the terminal block body. Various types of function control modules may be used with a single universal terminal block. The modules may include locking devices for locking the module to the universal terminal block. The terminal block includes mounting feet on the side thereof remote from the chamber, whereby selective modules may be substituted for one another when the terminal block is mounted on a support rail.

Abstract: A connector assembly for printed circuit board terminal blocks and the like includes a housing having spaced side and end walls defining a chamber, and a first connector component mounted in the chamber adjacent an access opening contained in the housing walls. A second connector component external of the housing is displaceable between an engaged position in electrical engagement with the first connector component, and a disengaged position disengaged from the first component. A separating lever pivotally connected with the second connector component includes a cam arrangement that cooperates with the housing side walls to displace the second connector component from the engaged position toward the disengaged position relative to the first connector component. A locking arrangement may be provided for locking together the connector components in the electrically engaged condition.

Abstract: A connector assembly for a planar vertical printed circuit board includes a housing having a pair of parallel space planar vertical side walls defining an open-topped vertical chamber in which the printed circuit board is mounted. First electrical connectors mounted on the vertical end edges of the printed circuit board include body portions that extend outward beyond the vertical edges of the side walls, which extending body portions contain access openings affording communication with first connector contacts in electrical engagement with the printed circuit board. Protective side cover members are fastened to the housing side walls to partially enclose the extending connector body portions, which cover members contain openings opposite the connector body access openings. The cover members contain ventilation openings for cooling the printed circuit board, and the housing includes a mounting foot arrangement for mounting the printed circuit board assembly on a support rail.

Abstract: A plug connector and a method of coding of same is characterized by first and second coding elements that are pre-mountable as a unit on at least one of a pair of plug connector components. The other plug connector component is configured so that when the connector components are initially connected together in an axial direction, one of the coding elements is connected with one of the components and the other coding element is connected with the other component. When the components are separated axially, the respective coding elements are separated so that each are retained on the component with which it was originally connected.

Abstract: A printed circuit board arrangement and method includes a planar generally-rectangular vertically-arranged printed circuit board having front and rear surfaces terminating in a peripheral edge, at least one of the front and rear surfaces having a conductive printed circuit thereon. The printed circuit board has a vertical side edge portion containing a recess, and arranged adjacent the recess is a fixed contact connected with a conductor portion of the printed circuit. A relatively narrow conductor housing arranged outside the peripheral edge of the printed circuit board is mounted in the recess with a movable contact carried by the housing in electrical engagement with the fixed contact. The connector housing is supported by a rear wall mounted on the rear surface of the printed circuit board, and by a resilient clip on the connector housing that engages the printed circuit board adjacent the recess.

Abstract: A connector arrangement includes a universal terminal block having a body containing a chamber in which is removably mounted one of a plurality of function control modules as used in commercial, industrial and residential installations, wherein a pair of module contacts on the module are brought into electrical engagement with a pair of stationary contacts mounted in the chamber, thereby to connect the module to a pair of external insulated conductors via bus bars and terminals contained in the terminal block body. Various types of function control modules may be used with a single universal terminal block. The modules may include locking devices for locking the module to the universal terminal block. The terminal block includes mounting feet on the side thereof remote from the chamber, whereby selective modules may be substituted for one another when the terminal block is mounted on a support rail.

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.