Abstract: A wire installing tool for inserting wire into a multifingered electrical connector comprising a handle containing a reversible elongated stem having recesses on both ends; the recesses being sized differently in depth to adapt to electrical connectors having various thicknesses, and a disposable blade releasably mounted on the stem and aligned with the recess to form a cavity which is bounded on three sides by the stem and on the fourth side by the blade, the depth of the cavity dependent upon which end of the stem is aligned with the blade. At least one end of the blade has a two-sided edge, the outer side shaped at an optimum shear angle for shearing wire to be inserted in the electrical connector, and the inner side of the edge being shaped to allow for a wire tail to protrude a predetermined distance from the electrical connector.

Abstract: An electrical circuit tester for use in testing terminal blocks having protruding electrical connectors, the tester comprising a body made from an insulating material, the body having a plurality of circuit testing assemblies, each assembly including a chamber, each chamber including a chamber extension extending to the exterior of the body and capable of receiving the electrical connectors. Positioned within each chamber is a piston having a piston rod extending therefrom, the piston rod extending into the chamber extension. The chamber includes a piston retaining wall having an aperture through which the piston rod moves. When the piston rod is in its fully extended state, there is room in the chamber extension to receive the electrical connector. Positioned within the chamber is a conductive grommet and a resilient conductive spring which contacts the grommet and functions to urge the piston and piston rod to the fully extended position.

Abstract: A mounting bracket for use in mounting quick connect circuit blocks to a wall or pipe comprising a pair of flanges for attachment of the bracket to the wall, a block supporting beam for supporting the circuit block, the block supporting beam being parallel to and spaced from the flanges by connecting webs. A pair of dowel-like protrusions project from the center of the beam and provide a fixed point about which the terminal block can be suspended and allowed to pendulate and come to rest in a vertical position. A method of mounting the bracket is disclosed wherein a first bracket is leveled and mounted on a wall, a second bracket is affixed to a first circuit block, and the first circuit block is suspended from one of the dowel-like protrusions and allowed to pendulate and to come to rest in a vertical position. The circuit block is then affixed to the first bracket and the second bracket is affixed to the wall.

Abstract: A wire installing tool for inserting wire into a multifingered electrical connector comprising a handle containing a reversible elongated stem having recesses on both ends; the recesses being sized differently in depth to adapt to electrical connectors having various thicknesses, and a disposable blade releasably mounted on the stem and aligned with the recess to form a cavity which is bounded on three sides by the stem and on the fourth side by the blade, the depth of the cavity dependent upon which end of the stem is aligned with the blade. One end of the blade has a two-sided edge, the outer side shaped at an optimum shear angle for shearing wire to be inserted in the electrical connector, and the inner side of the edge being shaped to allow for a wire tail to protrude a predetermined distance from the electrical connector. The other end of the blade has a blunt end rather than a cutting edge, the blunt end being used to install wire on an electrical connector without cutting the wire.

Abstract: An electrical circuit element which defines a conductor matrix having column and row conductors is characterized by field repairability and ease of programming and reprogramming. The circuit element comprises a matrix terminal block which serves as a housing for commonly bussed individual terminal elements and plural integral multiple terminal elements.

Abstract: There is disclosed a terminal connecting block and bracket assembly. The terminal connecting block contains a plurality of flat elongate electrically conductive elements. Each element in the block comprises a flat base portion and at least one pair of opposing insulating shearing contact fingers projecting from the base portion and integral therewith. The opposing contact fingers project upwardly from the terminal block. Each electrically conductive element also contains a tang projecting from the opposite end of the base portion. A plurality of the electrically conductive elements are in electrical contact with a unitary electrical connector, e.g., a male or female connector, by means of electrically conductive wires. One end of each wire is attached to one of said tangs and the other end of each wire is attached to the unitary electrical connector. The terminal connecting block is used in combination with a bracket for mounting the block on a surface.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electrical connector which comprises three adjacent fingers extending from a base. When an insulated electrical conductor is inserted between a pair of fingers, the insulation is crushed or cut making the desired contact. There is also disclosed a block of insulating material containing such connectors.

Abstract: There is disclosed a bridging clip assembly useful for interconnecting a plurality of electrical terminals spaced apart in vertical rows in a terminal connecting block. The bridging assembly comprises a longitudinal supporting means, e.g., a wire or rod, having a plurality of connector clips separably attached thereto at spaced intervals. The connector clips are spaced along the supporting means in the same relationship as the terminals are spaced in the terminal connecting block. The assembly may be used to connect two or more terminals in the connecting block situated in a vertical row by inserting a connector clip over the top of each of the blade-like terminals which it is desired to connect together. If it is desired to connect only certain ones of the terminals in the row, an appropriate number of connector clips may be removed from the supporting means, the ones being removed being those which would be situated above the terminal or terminals in the block which it is not desired to connect.