Patent ID: 6488527
Filing Date: 2002-12-03
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
A terminal assembly comprising:a plurality of terminal bodies each having a plurality of wire receiving holes; a plurality of rotatable hinge shafts formed into each of said terminal bodies; wire connecting engagement members coupled to each of said rotatable hinge shafts, said wire connecting engagement members configured to rotate with said rotatable hinge shafts; separation walls formed inside of each of the bodies and adapted to limit the rotation of the wire connecting engagement members; a conductive link strip configured to come into contact with wires received in the wire receiving holes thereby electrically connecting the wires together; a plurality of springs each arranged between an associated one of the wire connecting engagement members and said terminal body associated with the wire connecting engagement member and adapted to urge the corresponding wire connecting engagement member toward the link strip and the corresponding separation wall, said link strip including a plurality of inverted U-shaped bent portions maintained to be in contact with respective outer surfaces of the separation walls, and a connecting portion formed between said plurality of inverted U-shaped bent portions configured to couple said inverted U-shaped bent portions together at a substantially 90Â° angle; said link strip having a first length configured to extend simultaneously through a penetration hole defined through said plurality of terminal bodies.