Electrical Connectors And Related Methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016226157-A1
Application number	US-201514609302-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 29, 2015
Priority date	Jan 29, 2015
Publication date	Aug 4, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Electrical connectors including a cable clamp (e.g., having a first clamp portion, a second clamp portion, and a hinge coupled to the first and second clamp portions such that the first and second clamp portions are movable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position in which the first and second clamp portions define a cable passageway), and a piercing conductor configured to place a fixture wire into electrical communication with an electrical cable disposed within the cable passageway. In at least some of these electrical connectors, a longitudinal axis of the cable passageway is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cable clamp when the first and second clamp portions are in the closed position. In at least some of these electrical connectors, at least one of the clamp portions comprises a flexible sidewall that at least partially defines the cable passageway.

First claim

1 . An electrical connector comprising:
a cable clamp comprising:
a first clamp portion;
a second clamp portion;
a hinge coupled to the first and second clamp portions such that first and second clamp portions are movable relative to each other in a plane between an open position and a closed position in which the first and second clamp portions define a cable passageway extending through the cable clamp; and
a fixture wire passageway having a longitudinal axis that is non-parallel to the plane;
where a longitudinal axis of the cable passageway is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cable clamp when the first and second clamp portions are in the closed position; and
a piercing conductor coupled to the cable clamp and configured to place a fixture wire disposed within the fixture wire passageway into electrical communication with an electrical cable disposed within the cable passageway when the first and second clamp portions are in the closed position.

2 . The electrical connector of claim 1 , where at least one of the first and second clamp portions comprises a flexible sidewall that at least partially defines the cable passageway.

3 . An electrical connector comprising:
a cable clamp comprising:
a first clamp portion;
a second clamp portion;
a hinge coupled to the first and second clamp portions such that first and second clamp portions are movable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position in which the first and second clamp portions define a cable passageway; and
a fixture wire passageway having a longitudinal axis that is non-parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cable passageway;
where at least one of the first and second clamp portions comprises a flexible sidewall that at least partially defines the cable passageway; and
a piercing conductor coupled to the cable clamp and configured to place a fixture wire disposed within the fixture wire passageway into electrical communication with an electrical cable disposed within the cable passageway when the first and second clamp portions are in the closed position.

4 . The electrical connector of claim 3 , where the cable passageway extends through the cable clamp.

5 . The electrical connector of claim 4 , where:
the first and second clamp portions are movable relative to each other in a plane between the open position and the closed position; and the longitudinal axis of the fixture wire passageway is non-parallel to the plane.

6 . The electrical connector of claim 5 , where the sidewall is defined, at least in part, by a portion that:
extends from the at least one of the first and second clamp portions in a first direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cable passageway; and increases in a thickness along the first direction.

7 . The electrical connector of claim 6 , where the sidewall defines a groove.

8 . The electrical connector of claim 7 , where the sidewall tapers in a transverse dimension along the longitudinal axis of cable passageway.

9 . The electrical connector of claim 8 , where the sidewall is configured such that an interior transverse dimension of the cable passageway varies along the longitudinal axis of the cable passageway.

10 . The electrical connector of claim 1 , where the piercing conductor is configured to cut insulation around the electrical cable in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cable passageway.

11 . The electrical connector of claim 1 , where the piercing conductor defines an opening configured to receive the fixture wire.

12 . The electrical connector of claim 11 , comprising a fixture wire disposed in the opening.

13 . The electrical connector of claim 1 , where the piercing conductor comprises a barb configured to locate the piercing conductor relative to the cable clamp.

14 . The electrical connector of claim 1 , where the first clamp portion, second clamp portion, and hinge are unitary with one another.

15 . The electrical connector of claim 1 , where the hinge defines a recess configured to receive at least a portion of the electrical cable when the first and second clamp portions are in the closed position.

16 . The electrical connector of claim 1 , where the cable passageway extends through the hinge.

17 . The electrical connector of claim 1 , where the cable clamp comprises a latch configured to releasably secure the first and second clamp portions in the closed position.

18 . The electrical connector of claim 17 , where the cable passageway extends through the latch.

19 . The electrical connector of claims 1 - 18 , where at least one of the first and second clamp portions comprises a gripping surface configured to facilitate movement of the first and second clamp portions to the closed position.

20 . The electrical connector of claims 1 - 19 , where at least one of the first and second clamp portions comprises:
a first end coupled to the hinge; and a second end defining a gripping surface configured to facilitate movement of the first and second clamp portions to the closed position.

21 . (canceled)

22 . A method comprising:
disposing an electrical cable within a recess defined by a first clamp portion of a cable clamp; moving a second clamp portion of the cable clamp relative to the first clamp portion to a closed position in which the cable clamp defines a cable passageway having a longitudinal axis that is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cable clamp when the first and second clamp portions are in the closed position; and placing a fixture wire into electrical communication with the electrical cable, the fixture wire disposed in a fixture wire passageway of the cable clamp having a longitudinal axis that is non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cable passageway.

23 . A method comprising:
disposing a fixture wire into a fixture wire passageway of a first clamp portion of a cable clamp; and inserting a piercing conductor into the first clamp portion such that the fixture wire is retained relative to the first clamp portion and is in electrical communication with the piercing conductor; where the cable clamp comprises a second clamp portion movable relative to the first clamp portion to a closed position in which the cable clamp defines a cable passageway having a longitudinal axis that is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cable clamp when the first and second clamp portions are in the closed position.

24 . The method of claim 23 , where inserting the piercing conductor cuts insulation of the fixture wire.

Assignees

• Home Depot Product Authority Llc

Inventors

• Nelson Michael R
• Vanhiel Brian
• Charles Kirk
• Ambrecht Adam

Classifications

• H01R4/2416 Primary

  the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type · CPC title

• H01R43/01

  for connecting unstripped conductors to contact members having insulation cutting edges · CPC title

• H01R11/20

  End pieces terminating in a needle point or analogous contact for penetrating insulation or cable strands · CPC title

• H01R13/501

  comprising an integral hinge or a frangible part · CPC title

• H01R4/242 Primary

  the contact members being plates having a single slot · CPC title