Abstract:
A small form factor wiring connector provides a two wire to two point connector with separate-hole insertion for two wires, by having two holes on the first casing side of the connector and a terminal connection on the opposite second side of the connector. The design works well for a pluggable or fixed-mounted connector. The separate wire insertion holes and the internal screw-driven clamping means with U-shaped wire clamp and U-shaped fixed terminal surfaces provides positive connections which will not easily loosen.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to wire connectors and particularly to board-mounted wire connectors. The board-mounted wire connectors might be of the pluggable type, i.e. they can be removed (unplugged) from a fixed terminal on a circuit board, or the wire connector might be directly fixed to the circuit board. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     There is often a need for wires to be joined mechanically for electrical continuity. Wire connectors that allow the wires to rest on top of one another by insertion into a single port on the connector are not always desirable for reasons of potentially reduced conductivity and/or wire retention capability. Ease of wire insertion into the terminal may also be compromised in these arrangements. 
     When wires rest on top of each other at the same connection point, the probability that the connection will lose clamping force overtime causing loose connections is increased. Especially with thicker wire insulations and larger wire gauges a secure connection can be difficult to make in the first instance in this situation. 
     Thus there is a need for easier and more secure wiring connections, especially in the case of known small form factor pluggable or fixed-mounted wire connectors, such as for the typical 5.08 mm wide connector, where two wires are attached at one port. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention provides a fixed-mounted or pluggable wiring connector that easily allows two wires to be inserted along the same axis, e.g. “vertical,” and secured by a single screw so as to minimize the perpendicular axis dimension, e.g. “horizontal,” of the connector. By allowing separate wire openings (sometimes known as “ports”) for each wire, the connection is more secure and easier to make than what might be found in typical 5.08 wide pluggable wire connectors where two wires are inserted and secured in one opening (i.e. port). 
     In various aspects of the invention a wiring connector for two wire to two point connection, comprises: a.) a metallic connector body rectangular shape forming a first interior area, and interior wall forming second interior area, and having a threaded through-hole in a first end wall thereof; b.) a clamping screw having a first end drive head and a second end pressing point and a non-threaded slot portion on its threaded body, the clamping screw attached to the connector body through the threaded through-hole, c.) a conductive fixed terminal within the first interior area of the connector body, the fixed terminal having a U-shape that allows for first and second wire contact surfaces; the fixed terminal further having an extension member extending from the U-shape for connection to a circuit; d.) a wire clamp inside the connector body attached to the clamping screw and translatable through the interior area of the connector body by contact with the clamping screw and the wire clamp having a surface facing the fixed terminal; the clamping screw further attached to the connector wire clamp through the non-threaded slot portion; e.) a spring form inside the U-shape of the fixed terminal that biases the U-shape outwardly and provides a level of pressure on an inserted wire so as to insure proper electrical connection between the wires and the fixed terminal; and f.) a nonconductive housing surrounding the connector body and having first and second wire holes on a first side of the housing and a terminal hole on a second side of the housing for allowing access to the extension member; g.) and whereby: the wire connections are made by inserting one wire through each wire hole and into the connector body and against each wire contact surface of the fixed terminal; tightening the clamping screw through a top hole of the nonconductive housing so as to apply appropriate clamping pressure on the fixed terminal and each wire via the wire clamp and against the interior wall of the connector body. 
     The wiring connector for two-wire separate-hole insertion in some aspects may further comprise: a plastic shield inserted at least partially into the second interior area of the connector body and having a surface for blocking the second wire hole of the nonconductive housing. In other aspects the wiring connector for two-wire separate-hole insertion may further comprise: the wire clamp having a shield surface for blocking the first wire hole of the nonconductive housing. In other aspects the wiring connector for two-wire separate-hole insertion may include the wire clamp shield surface being metal. In other aspects the wiring connector for two-wire separate-hole insertion may include the wire clamp being metal. In other aspects of the present invention the nonconductive housing may include a screw hole for allowing access to the drive head of the clamping screw. In other aspects one or more of the wire clamp, the connector body, and the spring form, may be conductive. In other aspects the fixed terminal may comprise a one piece folded member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other advantages of the disclosed embodiments will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a two wire to two point connector. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross section of the exemplary embodiment with no wires attached. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross section of the exemplary embodiment with one wire attached. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross section of the exemplary embodiment with two wires attached. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As an initial matter, it will be appreciated that the development of an actual commercial application incorporating aspects of the disclosed embodiments will require many implementation specific decisions to achieve the developer&#39;s ultimate goal for the commercial embodiment. Such implementation specific decisions may include, and likely are not limited to, compliance with system related, business related, government related and other constraints, which may vary by specific implementation, location and from time to time. While a developer&#39;s efforts might be complex and time consuming in an absolute sense, such efforts would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of skill in this art having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     It should also be understood that the embodiments disclosed and taught herein are susceptible to numerous and various modifications and alternative forms. Thus, the use of a singular term, such as, but not limited to, “a” and the like, is not intended as limiting of the number of items. Similarly, any relational terms, such as, but not limited to, “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “upper,” “lower,” “down,” “up,” “side,” and the like, used in the written description are for clarity in specific reference to the drawings and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     As seen in the Figures, a wiring connector  10  is illustrated in both exploded view and cross sections. The wiring connector  10  is a single port for a first wire  11  and second wire  12  to be inserted via separate first and second holes,  13  and  14 , respectively, and joined in electrical continuity. 
     The wiring connector  10  comprises a connector body  15 , preferably extruded or formed metal, of rectangular shape forming a first interior area  17 , and with an interior wall  19  forming second interior area  21 , and having a threaded through-hole  23  in a first end wall thereof. 
     A clamping screw  25  passes through the threaded through-hole  23  and has a first end drive head  27  and a second end pressing surface  28  and a non-threaded slot portion  29  on its threaded body connecting the clamping screw  25  to a wire clamp  31  as further explained below. 
     A conductive fixed terminal  33  is located within the first interior area of the connector body  15 , the fixed terminal  33  having a U-shape that allows for a first wire contact surface  35  and second wire contact surface  37  with electrical continuity; the fixed terminal  33  further having an extension member  39  extending from the U-shape for connection to a circuit (not shown). 
     The wire clamp  31  is located inside the connector body  15  and is attached to the clamping screw  25  and is translatable through the interior area of the connector body  15  by contact with the clamping screw  25  with the wire clamp  31  having a surface  41  facing the first wire contact surface  35  of the fixed terminal  33  and a shield surface  32  facing the first wire hole  13 . The clamping screw is attached to the connector wire clamp  31  through the non-threaded slot portion  29 . The wire clamp  31  is preferably metallic for its physical properties such as surface hardness, but need not be conductive. 
     A U-shaped spring form  43  is located inside the U-shape of the fixed terminal  33  and biases the two contact surfaces  35 ,  37  of the U-shape of the fixed terminal  33  outwardly and provides a level of pressure on an inserted wire ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) so as to insure proper electrical connection between the wires and the fixed terminal  33 . 
     A nonconductive housing  45  surrounds the connector body  15  and has the first and second wire holes  13 ,  14  on a first side  46  of the housing  45  and a terminal hole  47  on a second side  48  of the housing  45 , shown as a separate panel, for allowing access to the extension member  39 . 
     Thus, the wire connections are made by inserting one wire each 11, 12 through the holes  13 ,  14  of the housing  45  and into the connector body  15  and against each wire contact surface  35 ,  37  of the fixed terminal  33 . The clamping screw  25  is then tightened through a top hole  49  of the housing  45  so as to apply appropriate clamping pressure on the fixed terminal  33  and each wire  11 ,  12  via the wire clamp  31  and the interior wall  19  of the connector body  15 . It will of course be appreciated upon understanding all aspects of the invention that more than one wire might be put into each port if the end user were to desire this. 
     A plastic shield  51  is inserted with a first leg  53  at least partially into the second interior area  21  of the connector body  15  and has a perpendicular leg  55  for blocking the second wire hole  14  of the nonconductive housing  45 . 
     While particular aspects, implementations, and applications of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the precise construction and compositions disclosed herein and that various modifications, changes, and variations may be apparent from the foregoing descriptions without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.