Rapid connection device for an electrical conductor

Claim 2

Rapid connection device for an electrical conductor, said device comprising a flat element and a support adapted to hold said flat element rotatable around an axis of rotation perpendicular to its middle plane, said support anD flat element having respectively a complementary hollow and projection forming said axis of rotation, a support surface provided on the support, a gripping surface at the periphery of the flat element situated facing said support surface, one at least of the gripping and support surfaces being metallic and electrically conducting, and at least one flexible strip forming an integral part of the flat element and constituting elastic means adapted to urge the flat element in a direction of rotation such that after positioning an electrical conductor between said surfaces, the elastic means facilitate wedging and locking of the conductor between said surfaces under the action of traction exerted on said conductor.

Claim 3

Device according to claim 1, including a tongue on the flat element which can project out of the support and enables the flat element to be rotated in a direction which compresses the elastic means and frees the conductor.

Claim 4

Device according to claim 1, in which the gripping surface of the flat element is constituted by a curved cam surface eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of the flat element, wherein said flexible strip extends said gripping surface and is adapted to be supported against the support.

Claim 5

Device according to claim 1, wherein said projection is borne by the flat element and said hollow by the support, said hollow and projection being constituted by portions of cylindrical surfaces of partly circular contour, wherein the projection is located centrally in the flat element, the latter being symmetrical with respect to an axis perpendicular to its middle plane and comprising two tongues and two gripping surfaces, the support of the device having also an axis of symmetry at right angles to the middle plane of the said support, so that two conductors arranged on both sides of the support can be locked in the latter by the single flat element, a radial play being provided between the conjugate cylindrical surfaces of the flat elements and of the support to enable substantially identical gripping of the two conductors.

Claim 6

Device according to claim 1, wherein the support comprises a cavity of sufficient dimensions to receive two flat elements of which the middle planes are coincident, the axes of rotation of said elements being separated in a direction of introduction of the conductors in the support, the directions of rotation of said flat elements causing the wedging of the conductors being opposite, the flexible strip constituting the elastic means extending between the two elements and forming an integral part of at least one of them.

Claim 7

Device according to claim 1, wherein the support comprises a cavity in which the flat element is placed, said cavity being limited on one side only by a wall of the support parallel to the middle plane of the flat element and being open on the other side, whereby several supports may be arranged side by side so that said wall of each support closes the open side of said cavity, an individual flange being provided to close the cavity of the last support.

Claim 8

Device according to claim 1, wherein the support surface of the support forms an obtuse angle arranged for contact with the conductor.

Claim 9

Device according to claim 1, wherein the flat element is of beryllium-copper.

Claim 10

Device according to claim 1, wherein the flat element is formed from cut-out sheet material.

Claim 11

Device according to claim 1, wherein the support is constituted by a cage of molded plastic material, and a metallic part imprisoned in said cage and which serves as support surface and constitutes an electrical output element adapted to contact a said conductor locked in the casing.

Claim 12

Device according to claim 1, wherein the flat element is formed from molded material.

Claim 13

Rapid connection device according to claim 1, said device including a tongue on the flat element which can project out of the support and enables the flat element to be rotated in a direction which compresses the elastic means and frees thE conductor, the gripping surface of the flat element being constituted by a curved cam surface eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of the flat element, wherein said flexible strip extends said gripping surface and is adapted to be supported against the support and wherein said projection is borne by the flat element and said hollow by the support, said hollow and projection being constituted by portions of cylindrical surfaces of partly circular contour, wherein the projection is located centrally in the flat element, the latter being symmetrical with respect to an axis perpendicular to its middle plane and comprising two tongues and two gripping surfaces, the support of the device having also an axis of symmetry at right angles to the middle plane of the said support, so that two conductors arranged on both sides of support can be locked in the latter by the single flat element, a radial play being provided between the conjugate cylindrical surfaces of the flat elements and of the support to enable substantially identical gripping of the two conductors.

Claim 14

Rapid connection device for an electrical conductor, said device comprising, a flat element and a hollow support adapted to contain said flat element, said flat element being so-shaped as to comprise a boss at a first portion of its periphery, a cam surface at a second portion of its periphery, and elastic means at a third portion of its periphery, all of these elements lying in the same plane, said hollow support having an inner surface forming socket means for said boss to enable the rotation of said flat element in its plane and also forming a support surface to face and cooperate with said cam surface, one at least of said cam and said support surfaces being electrically conductive, said elastic means being so arranged as to tend to rotate said flat element in said socket means and urge said cam surface against said support surface, whereby on inserting said conductor between said cam surface and support surface it is gripped therebetween, traction on said conductor having the effect of locking it between said cam and said support.

Claim 15

Rapid connection device for an electrical conductor, said device comprising, a flat element and a hollow support adapted to contain said flat element, said flat element being so-shaped as to comprise a boss at a first portion of its periphery, a cam surface at a second portion of its periphery, and elastic means at a third portion of its periphery, all of these elements lying in the same plane, said hollow support having an inner surface forming socket means for said boss to enable the rotation of said flat element in its plane and also forming a support surface to face and cooperate with said cam surface, one at least of said cam and said support surfaces being electrically conductive, said elastic means being so arranged as to tend to rotate said flat element in said socket means and urge said cam surface against said support surface, whereby on inserting said conductor between said cam surface and support surface it is gripped therebetween, traction on said conductor having the effect of locking it between said cam and said support.

Claim 16

Device according to claim 13, wherein said elastic means is arranged to thrust against the inner surface of said hollow support.