Wire terminal

An electrical connector having a split bolt and a cap. The slot in the bolt extends axially into the bolt to a point displaced from a lateral flange. When a wire is passed through the slot, the cap is threaded onto the bolt deflecting the wire into a non-linear path and clamping it in at least two places.

The present invention is directed to an electrical connector or wire 
terminal, the features and advantages of which will be fully appreciated 
after a reading of the following specification when taken in conjunction 
with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The electrical connector or wire terminal of the present invention is shown 
generally at 10. This connector is comprised of a connector bolt 12 and a 
connector cap 14. Bolt 12 has an axially extending member 16 and a 
laterally extending flange 18. Upper surface 19 of flange 18 forms a first 
reference surface. Typically, the connector bolt will be mounted in a 
terminal post 20 of circuit board 22 with the flange 18 seated against the 
upper surface 24 of post 20. The lower or mounting portion 26 of bolt 12 
may be configured with recesses 28 to provide retention in post 20. Board 
22 including post 20 is preferably of a plastic material which will cold 
flow into recesses 28. 
Axially extending member 16 has a threaded portion 30 with a longitudinal 
slot 32 extending axially into it. The depth of the slot 32 is such that 
the slot bottom 34 is in a plane that is axially displaced from that of 
flange 18, the slot bottom defining a second reference surface. The upper 
surface of flange 19 and slot bottom 34 are interconnected by axially 
extending walls 35. Slot 32 is wide enough to accomodate the largest 
diameter wire with which it is intended the electrical connector 10 is to 
be used. 
Cap 14 of the first embodiment has a first outer component 36 which is 
preferably made of plastic or other insulative material with a serrated 
exterior to facilitate gripping. Inner component 38 is preferably metallic 
having an internal thread 40 which will mate with threaded portion 30 of 
bolt 12. This thread defines a first maximum inner dimension of the cap. A 
recess 42 is formed in one end of the cap and defines a second maximum 
inner dimension greater than said first dimension. Recess 42 defines a 
shoulder 44 at its point of maximum extention into cap 14 and an annular 
surface 46 extending toward the end 48 of the cap. An opening 50 is 
provided in the other end of the cap to provide access to component 38. 
This opening 50 permits the connection to be tested. 
As best shown in FIG. 2, a stripped wire end 52 is inserted into slot 32 in 
bolt 12. Cap 14 is placed over bolt 12 and threads 40 of component 38 
engaged with threads 30 of the bolt. As the cap is tightened, end 48 
engages portions of wire 52 deflecting them downward toward the flange 18. 
The wire is forced downward and held firmly between slot bottom 34 and 
shoulder 44. The deflection of wire 52 into a non-linear path brings the 
wire at least partially into contact axially extending walls 35 and 
further insures solid electrical contact. Depending on tolerances and the 
wire diameter, wire 52 may be clamped between additional surfaces. In this 
embodiment, those surfaces can include walls 35 and annular internal 
surface 46 and/or the first reference surface 19 and the end 48 of cap 14. 
It is a feature of the electrical connector of the present invention that 
wire 52 can be securely clamped to connector bolt 12 without mashing the 
wire or squeezing out some of the wire strands as may occur with some 
connectors. However, the clamping action will cause some movement of the 
materials in flange 18, component 38 and wire 52, which will provide a 
prevailing torque. Even though the amount of material movement may be so 
small as to be almost imperceptible, the prevailing torque is sufficient 
to prevent undesired loosening of the cap. 
A second embodiment is depicted in FIGS. 3-5. The only difference in the 
connector bolt 10 from that of the previous embodiment is that flange 18 
has two opposed radial slots 54. Depending upon the configuration of 
terminal post 20, this will permit the wire 52 to enter and exit at angles 
to the horizontal as may be required. Further, these slots 54 keep the 
wire on opposite sides of bolt 12 preventing wrapping which could cause 
the wire to pull loose from its connection at the opposite end. 
Cap 14 of this embodiment is a one-piece plastic member with threads 40 
being molded or cut directly in the plastic. Opening 50, again, provides 
access for testing the connection, the meter leads being brought into 
contact with the end of bolt 12 rather than with component 38 as in the 
previous embodiment. The cap 14 is recessed on the sides at 15 to provide 
better finger gripping. 
Both embodiments of the electrical connector of the present invention 
provide a simple but effective terminal which clamps the wire, without 
mashing it, in at least two places. The wire is deformed without 
stretching, as well as clamped, increasing the surface contact between the 
wire and connector to improve electrical contact. 
Various changes, alterations and modifications will become apparent to a 
person of ordinary skill following a reading of the foregoing 
specification. Accordingly, it is intended that all such changes, 
alterations and modifications as come with the scope of the appended 
claims be considered part of the present invention.