Wire terminals and method of uses

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11791573-B2
Application number	US-202217700883-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2022
Priority date	Apr 15, 2021
Publication date	Oct 17, 2023
Grant date	Oct 17, 2023

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to wire terminals and/or termination mechanisms arranged and configured for use with a wiring device The wire terminals may be used in any suitable line-voltage wiring device. The wire terminals are arranged and configured to selectively receive a distal end of a wire therein.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wiring device, comprising:
a housing and an electrical contact disposed at least partially within the housing; and
a wire terminal arranged and configured to mechanically and electrically secure a line-voltage AC electrical wire to the electrical contact, the wire terminal including:
a lever arranged and configured to move between a first position and a second position, the lever including an aperture;
a first pivot pin received within the aperture formed in the lever so that the lever can be rotated between the first and second positions;
a second pivot pin, the lever including an elongated arcuate slot, wherein the elongated arcuate slot is arranged and configured to receive the second pivot pin;
a cage arranged and configured to contact the electrical contact, the cage at least partially defining an electrical wire receiving space; and
a spring positioned at least partially within the electrical wire receiving space defined by the cage;
wherein, in the second position, the lever moves the spring away from the electrical contact to enlarge the electrical wire receiving space to receive the electrical wire, and, in the first position, the lever biases the spring into contact with the electrical wire to securely retain the electrical wire within the electrical wire receiving space and in contact with the electrical contact.

2. The wiring device of claim 1 , wherein the spring includes an aperture formed therein, the aperture formed in the spring being arranged and configured to receive the second pivot pin so that, in use, when the lever is moved to the second position, the spring is pulled away from the electrical contact thereby enlarging the electrical wire receiving space.

3. The wiring device of claim 2 , wherein the spring includes a first segment including the aperture, a second segment extending from an end of the first segment, and a third segment extending from an end of the second segment, the third segment being arranged and configured to engage the cage.

4. The wiring device of claim 1 , wherein the spring includes a sharpened edge portion arranged and configured to contact the electrical wire to provide additional retention force in maintaining the electrical wire in the electrical wire receiving space.

5. The wiring device of claim 1 , wherein the wire terminal includes first, second, and third levers, each of the first, second, and third levers being color-coded to indicate ground, neutral, and phase connection.

6. The wiring device of claim 1 , wherein, in the second position, the lever moves the spring away from the electrical contact to enlarge the electrical wire receiving space so that the electrical wire can be freely inserted without interference or resistance.

7. A wiring device, comprising:
a housing and an electrical contact disposed at least partially within the housing; and
a wire terminal arranged and configured to mechanically and electrically secure a line-voltage AC electrical wire to the electrical contact, the wire terminal including:
a lever arranged and configured to move between a first position and a second position, the lever including an aperture;
a first pivot pin received within the aperture formed in the lever so that the lever can be rotated between the first and second positions;
a cage arranged and configured to contact the electrical contact, the cage at least partially defining an electrical wire receiving space, wherein the cage include a first arm, a second arm, and a sidewall extending therebetween, the first and second arms each including an opening arranged and configured to enable the electrical contact to pass therethrough, the first and second arms and the sidewall partially defining the electrical wire receiving space; and
a spring positioned at least partially within the electrical wire receiving space defined by the cage;
wherein, in the second position, the lever moves the spring away from the electrical contact to enlarge the electrical wire receiving space to receive the electrical wire, and, in the first position, the lever biases the spring into contact with the electrical wire to securely retain the electrical wire within the electrical wire receiving space and in contact with the electrical contact.

8. A wiring device, comprising:
a housing and an electrical contact disposed at least partially within the housing; and
a wire terminal arranged and configured to mechanically and electrically secure a line-voltage AC electrical wire to the electrical contact, the wire terminal including:
a lever arranged and configured to move between a first position and a second position, the lever including an aperture;
a first pivot pin received within the aperture formed in the lever so that the lever can be rotated between the first and second positions;
a cage arranged and configured to contact the electrical contact, the cage at least partially defining an electrical wire receiving space; and
a spring positioned at least partially within the electrical wire receiving space defined by the cage;
wherein, in the second position, the lever moves the spring away from the electrical contact to enlarge the electrical wire receiving space to receive the electrical wire, and, in the first position, the lever biases the spring into contact with the electrical wire to securely retain the electrical wire within the electrical wire receiving space and in contact with the electrical contact; and
wherein the lever is biased by the spring to the first position.

9. A wiring device, comprising:
a housing and an electrical contact disposed at least partially within the housing; and
a wire terminal arranged and configured to mechanically and electrically secure a line-voltage AC electrical wire to the electrical contact, the wire terminal including:
a lever arranged and configured to move between a first position and a second position;
a cage arranged and configured to contact the electrical contact, the cage at least partially defining an electrical wire receiving space for receiving the electrical wire; and
a spring at least partially positioned within the electrical wire receiving space defined by the cage;
wherein, in the second position, the lever moves the spring away from the electrical contact to enlarge the electrical wire receiving space to receive the electrical wire, and, in the first position, the lever biases the cage, which biases the spring into contact with the electrical wire to securely retain the electrical wire within the electrical wire receiving space and in contact with the electrical contact; and
wherein the lever includes a body portion and a lever arm extending from the body portion, the body portion includes a first cam arranged and configured to contact the cage when in the first position and a second cam arranged and configured to contact the spring in the second position.

10. The wiring device of claim 9 , wherein the body portion comprises a cylinder, the second cam being larger than the first cam so that the second cam extends from an outer surface of the body portion by a distance greater than a distance of the first cam.

11. The wiring device of claim 9 , wherein the first and second cams are rotationally offset relative to each other by ninety-degrees.

12. The wiring device of claim 9 , wherein the spring includes a first segment, a second segment extending from an end of the first segment, and a third segment extending from an end of the second segment, the third segment being arranged and configured to engage the cage.

13. The wiring device of claim 12 , wherein, in the second position, the second cam formed on the body portion o

Assignees

• Leviton Manufacturing Co

Inventors

• Kamor Michael
• Tyler Kelly
• Mayer Stanley
• Grande William
• Randall William

Classifications

• H01R4/489 Primary

  spring force increased by screw, cam, wedge, or other fastening means · CPC title

• H01R4/483 Primary

  Pivoting arrangements, e.g. lever pushing on the spring · CPC title

• H01R4/485

  Single busbar common to multiple springs · CPC title

• H01R4/4821

  Single-blade spring · CPC title

• H01R4/4836 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic