# Patent

## Title
Terminal block

## Abstract

The invention relates to a terminal block for data and telecommunications systems, comprising at least one insulating body. At least one connecting element (8), designed to house a grounding clip (9), is configured on the underside of said body. According to the invention, the grounding clip (9) has a first detent geometry for connecting to the connecting element (8) and a second detent geometry for connecting to a mounting frame. The connecting element (8) has a geometry that is independent of the mounting frame, the first detent geometry of the grounding clip (9) is adapted to the geometry of the connecting element (8) and the second detent geometry is adapted to the mounting frame.

## Background
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/492,395, filed Apr. 8, 2004, U.S. Pat. No. 7,008,243, which application is a 371 of PCT/EP02/10284, filed Sep. 13, 2002; which application claims priority to German application 101 50 045.9, filed Oct. 10, 2001; which application(s) are incorporated herein by reference.


The invention relates to a terminal block for telecommunications and data systems equipment according to the preamble of patent claim 1.
A terminal block of this type is already known for example from DE 37 28 368 C1. For latching the terminal block onto round profiled bars, the terminal block has on the underside of its insulating part arcuate connecting elements which enclose the profiled bars by an angle of over 180°. The inside diameter of the arcuate connecting elements corresponds to the outside diameter of the round profiled bars. On account of the terminal blocks, and in particular the lower part, being formed from plastic, the side walls of the connecting elements are flexible, so that they can be pressed over the round profiled bar and latched onto it. The arcuate connecting elements bear on the outer side rectangular wire-guiding saddles, which are slotted in the center. Extending through the arcuate connecting elements, parallel to the outer walls of the upper part, are through-slots, into which there can be inserted metallic ground-contact saddles, which are clamped onto the round profiled bars at ground potential and onto which contact terminals of a surge arrester mounting unit, which can be inserted into the terminal block, can be clamped from above. The ground-contact saddles have in the lower region three arcuate saddles, the inner contour of which is made to match the round profiled bar. Formed onto one saddle of the ground-contact saddle is a contacting prong, which engages in an upwardly open chamber of the terminal block. The lower part of the terminal block also has on the outer side of the arcuate connecting elements insertion slots which are used for prizing the terminal block out of the position in which it is latched with a round profiled bar using a screwdriver.
A terminal block with two terminal strips angled away from one another and a shielding device is known from DE 100 01 553 A1. Each terminal strip comprises 24 insulation-displacement contact elements, the respectively opposing insulation-displacement contact elements of the two terminal strips being electrically connected to one another. The insulation-displacement contact elements are arranged in an insulator, on the underside of which half-shell-shaped fastening elements are arranged, by means of which the terminal block can be pushed or latched onto a profiled bar. Groups of three neighboring insulation-displacement contact elements serve for the wiring of a twin conductor with shielding. The upper terminal strip in this case forms the switching side, and the terminal strip aligned vertically in relation to said upper terminal strip forms the cable-conductor side. The shielding device comprises a shielding plate, a web arranged perpendicularly in relation to the shielding plate and a row of contact fingers. On the shielding plate, T-shaped webs are provided on its underside and further T-shaped [lacuna] are provided centrally. Furthermore, the shielding plate has two screw-contact elements. The web projects perpendicularly from the upper side of the shielding plate, the row of contact fingers again being formed perpendicularly in relation to the web. As a result, the contact fingers form a plane parallel to the shielding plate. The shielding plate, the web and the row of contact fingers are in this case preferably formed in one piece. For connecting a cable with eight twin conductors and shielding, the cable is initially fastened to the T-shaped webs by means of cable ties. The shielding is twisted and is mechanically and electrically connected to the shielding plate by means of one of the screw-contact elements. Then, in the mounted state, the shielding plate is electrically connected to the profiled bars by means of a connection not described in any more detail and is grounded by means of said profiled bars. The insulation-displacement contact elements assigned to the shielding are connected by means of the contact fingers to the shielding plate and consequently to ground.
A terminal block for latching onto a mounting bracket is known from DE 196 52 422 C1, a connecting element corresponding to the mounting bracket being arranged on the underside. The connecting element in each case comprises two essentially parallel side walls, on which latching projections are arranged, so that, during latching onto the mounting bracket, said latching projections press against said mounting bracket and latch the terminal block. A ground connection between the terminal block and the mounting bracket via this connecting element is not envisaged.
On account of the increasing requirements with regard to transmission speed, terminal blocks with shielding contacting, as described for example in DE 100 01 553 A1, are being used increasingly. On the other hand, the terminal blocks are to be as flexible as possible in their use for the different types of mounting locations, such as for example round profiled bars or mounting brackets, so that a ground connection to mounting brackets is also made possible.
The invention is therefore based on the technical problem of providing a terminal block by means of which a ground connection to various mounting locations can be flexibly realized.
The solution to the technical problem is provided by the subject matter with the features of patent claim 1. Further advantageous configurations of the invention emerge from the subclaims.
For this purpose, the connecting element has a geometry independent of the mounting rack, the first latching geometry of the grounding clip being adapted to the geometry of the connecting element and the second latching geometry being adapted to the mounting rack. This achieves the effect that the same terminal block can be used for fastening on different mounting racks, the adaptation being performed just by the use of different grounding clips, the first latching geometry of which, for the connection to the connecting element, is the same. By simply exchanging the grounding clips, a terminal block previously latched onto a round profiled bar can be mounted onto a mounting bracket, and vice versa. A possibly desired ground connection of a surge arrester mounting unit remains completely unchanged in this case, since this takes place by means of the first latching geometry of the grounding clip, which always remains the same.
In a preferred embodiment, the connecting element is formed by essentially parallel side walls, on the longitudinal edges of which guiding edges are arranged, along which the grounding clip can be pushed with its first latching geometry onto the connecting element. In a corresponding way, the grounding clip comprises four essentially parallel guiding edges, which correspond to the guiding edges of the connecting element, latching lugs which snap into corresponding latching openings on the guiding edges of the connecting element being arranged on the guiding edges of the grounding clip. The advantage is the very simple geometry, which makes a very firm connection possible between the connecting element and the grounding clip.
In a further preferred embodiment, the grounding clip is formed with a fork contact, via which a simple electrical connection to a shielding plate can be established. The fork contact is preferably arranged between two guiding edges.
The grounding clip for fastening on a mounting bracket has on its second latching geometry at least one latching slot, into which a spring bracket partially protrudes. During latching on, the edge of the mounting bracket then presses the spring bracket to the side. The spring bracket then engages in an opening in the mounting bracket and establishes a good mechanical connection with the mounting bracket.
In a further preferred embodiment, an unlocking eyelet is arranged on the spring bracket, by means of which the spring bracket can be bent away out of the latching slot, so that the latched-on terminal block can be removed again from the mounting trough.
The unlocking eyelet is preferably formed as a clearance cut out from the spring bracket.
In a further preferred embodiment, the unlocking eyelet is arranged virtually at right angles in relation to the spring bracket.
In a further preferred embodiment, the unlocking eyelet is aligned in relation to the respectively neighboring end side of the terminal block, so that it is easily accessible from the outside by means of an implement.
In a further preferred embodiment, the grounding clip comprises two side walls, which are respectively formed with a latching slot, the two side walls being connected to one another by a web and there being formed on the web a U-shaped saddle, which is bent between the side walls and the two legs of which protrude as a spring bracket into the initial region of the latching slots. The use of two latching slots improves the mechanical strength of the connection, the fastening operation being synchronized on account of the connection of the two legs.
For fastening on a round profiled bar, the second latching geometry of the grounding clip is formed essentially in a semicircular manner. In this case, three bearing points are arranged on the inner sides of the semicircular latching geometry, directed toward the profiled bar, so that a mechanical and electrically secure connection with the round profiled bar is obtained.
The two described embodiments of the grounding clips may also be merged into a single grounding clip, so that universal mounting can be realized on the various mounting racks with a single grounding clip.



The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of a preferred exemplary embodiment. In the figures:
FIG. 1 shows a perspective front view of a terminal block with a grounding clip for a mounting bracket;
FIG. 2 shows a perspective rear view of the terminal block according to FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 shows a perspective side view of the grounding clip for a mounting bracket;
FIG. 4 shows a perspective front view of the grounding clip according to FIG. 3 and
FIG. 5 shows a perspective side view of a grounding clip for round profiled bars.



In FIG. 1, a terminal block 1 is represented in a perspective front view. The terminal block 1 comprises two terminal strips 2, 3, which are arranged at an angle of 90° in relation to one another. The insulator of the terminal block 1 is divided into two and has an upper part 4 and a lower part 5, which after fitting with insulation-displacement contact elements 6 are latched to one another. On the lower part 5, wire-guiding saddles 7 are respectively arranged on the end sides of the terminal block 1. Arranged on the underside of the lower part 5 are two connecting elements 8. The connecting elements 8 serve for receiving a grounding clip 9 each, and for fastening a shielding plate 10. The connecting element 8 comprises two parallel side walls 11, on the longitudinal sides of which guiding edges 12 are respectively arranged. The side walls 11 or the guiding edges 12 are formed with latching openings 13.
The grounding clip 9 has essentially a U shape and is formed in one piece. The longitudinal sides of the two side walls 14 form guiding edges 15, on which a latching lug 16 is respectively arranged. The two side walls 14 are respectively formed with a latching slot 17. Also arranged centrally on the one side wall 14 is a fork contact 18. Arranged on the web 19 connecting the side walls 14 is a saddle 20, which is bent between the side walls and is formed in a U-shaped manner in the upper region. The two legs 21 of the U-shaped saddle 20 in this case protrude slightly obliquely into the initial region of the latching slot 17 and act like two spring brackets. Lying between the two legs 21 is an unlocking eyelet 22, which is cut out from the two legs 21 and is bent at right angles in relation to the legs 21 toward the end side of the terminal block 1. For fastening, the grounding clip 9 is pushed with its guiding edges 15 along the guiding edges 12 of the connecting element 8, until the latching lugs 16 of the grounding clip 9 engage in the latching openings 13 of the connecting element 8. As this happens, the fork contact 18 contacts a contact web 23 of the shielding plate 10, which is represented in FIG. 2. The guiding edges 15 of the side wall 14 with the fork contact 18 are formed such that they are slightly longer than the opposite guiding edges 15, so that, after latching on, the front regions rest on a bearing surface 24 of the connecting element 8 and lend the connection greater stability.
The shielding plate 10 is formed with contact fingers 25, which are connected to every third insulation-displacement contact element 6 of the terminal strip 3, which is represented in FIG. 1.
On account of the electrical connection of the respectively opposing insulation-displacement contact elements 6 of the two terminal strips 2, 3, consequently every third insulation-displacement contact element 6 of the terminal strip 2 is also connected to the shielding plate 10.
If the terminal block 1 with the latched grounding clip 9 is then latched onto a mounting bracket (not represented), the edge of the mounting bracket presses the legs 21 aside and can penetrate into the latching slot 17, the legs 21 engaging resiliently in openings in the edge of the mounting bracket. This brings about a mechanical connection between the mounting bracket and the grounding clips 9. Then, the shielding plate 10 is connected to the ground potential of the mounting bracket via the grounding clips 9. For releasing the latched-on terminal block 1, the unlocking eyelet 22 is pressed downward with an implement, so that the legs 21 are pressed to the side and the terminal block 1 can be pulled down.
In FIGS. 3 and 4, the grounding clip 9 is represented on its own. As can be seen, the respective leg 21 lies in front of the latching slot 17 and is pressed by the edge of a mounting bracket in the direction of the edge 26. The edge 26 acts in this case at the same time as a stop edge for the legs 21. The edge 26 is in this case set back slightly with respect to the latching slot 17, so that, when the leg 21 is bearing against the edge 26, the latching slot 17 is completely exposed. This happens for example when the unlocking eyelet 22 is pressed downward. For easier insertion, the one inner edge 27 of the latching slot 17 has in the front region a bevel and a slight curvature 28, the curvature 28 establishing the electrical contact with the mounting bracket.
In FIG. 5, a further grounding clip 9 for latching onto a round profiled bar is represented, the same elements being provided with the same designations as the grounding clip according to FIGS. 3 and 4. With regard to the formation of the connecting element of the terminal block, reference can be made to the comments on FIGS. 1 and 2 in their entirety. The grounding clip 9 again comprises two side walls 14, which are connected to one another by two webs 19. The longitudinal sides of the two side walls 14 form guiding edges 15 and are formed with latching lugs 16.
The two side walls 14 have in the front region respectively semicircular cutouts, the diameter of which is adapted to the diameter of the round profiled bar. The upper side wall 14 is slightly longer and has in the rear region a rectangular cutout, into which the fork contact 18 protrudes. Three bearing points 30 are arranged in each case on the inner side 29 of the semicircular cutouts of each side wall 14. In this case, the three bearing points 30 are respectively offset by about 90° in relation to one another. In this case, the two centrally arranged bearing points 30 are of a cuboidal form and the other bearing points 30 are of a curved form. This results in a good mechanical and electrical three-point bearing.
LIST OF DESIGNATIONS


    1) Terminal block
    2) Terminal strip
    3) Terminal strip
    4) Upper part
    5) Lower part
    6) Insulation-displacement contact elements
    7) Wire-guiding saddles
    8) Connecting element
    9) Grounding clip
    10) Shielding plate
    11) Side wall
    12) Guiding edge
    13) Latching opening
    14) Side wall
    15) Guiding edge
    16) Latching lug
    17) Latching slot
    18) Fork contact
    19) Web
    20) Saddle
    21) Leg
    22) Unlocking eyelet
    23) Contact web
    24) Bearing surface
    25) Contact finger
    26) Edge
    27) Inner edge
    28) Curvature
    29) Inner side
    30) Bearing points

## Claims

1. A grounding clip for use in a terminal block for telecommunications and data systems equipment, comprising:
a generally U-shaped body including two legs connected together by a web, the two legs defining generally parallel sidewalls, each sidewall defining a generally semicircular cutout configured to receive a round-profiled conductive element, the sidewalls defining edges with a latching lug disposed on each of the edges and the sidewalls defining bearing points arranged around the cutout for making contact with the round-profiled conductive element.

2. The grounding clip as recited in claim 1, wherein the latching lug disposed on each of the edges includes a ramped surface.

3. The grounding clip according to claim 1, further including a fork contact disposed between the edges with the latching lugs.

4. The grounding clip according to claim 1, wherein the bearing points are respectively offset by about 90 degrees in relation to another around the cutout.

5. The grounding clip according to claim 1, wherein the bearing points include opposing bearing points having ramped surfaces that ramp in toward an interior of the cutout for retaining the round-profiled conductive element within the cutouts once received therein.

6. The grounding clip according to claim 1, wherein the bearing points include opposing bearing points having ramped surfaces that ramp away from an interior of the cutout for receiving the round-profiled conductive element by flexing out of the cutout.

7. A grounding clip for use in a terminal block for telecommunications and data systems equipment, comprising:
a generally U-shaped body including two legs connected together by a web, the two legs defining generally parallel sidewalls, each sidewall defining a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion of each sidewall including a latching slot configured to receive a conductive mounting element, the rear portion of at least one of the sidewalls including a cutout into which a fork contact protrudes, the sidewalls defining edges with a ramped latching lug disposed on each of the edges, the body including a U-shaped saddle disposed between the sidewalls, the saddle including two legs protruding as a spring bracket into the latching slot.

8. The grounding clip according to claim 7, wherein the fork contact is disposed in the cutout between the edges with the latching lugs.

9. The grounding clip according to claim 7, wherein the spring bracket includes a portion extending out past the sidewalls for unlocking the grounding clip from the conductive mounting element after the conductive element has been mounted to the grounding clip.

10. The grounding clip according to claim 9, wherein the portion of the spring bracket extending out past the sidewalls includes an unlocking eyelet that can be deflected to unlock the grounding clip from the conductive mounting element.

11. A terminal block for telecommunications and data systems equipment, comprising:
an elongate insulative body including a first end, a second end, and a plurality of insulation displacement contacts disposed between the first and second ends;
a metallic grounding element disposed between the first and second ends of the body, the metallic grounding element electrically connected to at least some of the insulation displacement contacts;
first and second connecting elements, the first connecting element located adjacent the first end of the body and the second connecting element located adjacent the second end of the body, each connecting element including two generally parallel side walls, the sidewalls defining guiding grooves and latching slots within the guiding grooves; and
first and second metallic grounding clips, the first metallic grounding clip coupled to the first connecting element and the second metallic grounding clip coupled to the second connecting element, each metallic grounding clip including:
(a) two generally parallel side walls defining a front end and a rear end, the parallel side walls of the metallic grounding clips defining guiding edges and a latching lug disposed on each of the guiding edges, wherein the guiding edges slide within the guiding grooves of the connecting elements and the latching lugs latch into the latching slots of the connecting elements to mechanically couple the metallic grounding clips to the connecting elements;
(b) a fork contact adjacent the rear end establishing electrical contact with the metallic grounding element connected to at least some of the insulation displacement contacts of the body; and
(c) an opening adjacent the front end of the parallel side walls for receiving a conductive mounting element, the conductive mounting element held within the opening under spring tension once received within the opening.

12. The terminal block as recited in claim 11, wherein the fork contact is disposed between the guiding edges of each of the grounding clips.

13. The terminal block as recited in claim 11, wherein the insulative body includes a wire guide adjacent each of the first and second ends.

14. The terminal block as recited in claim 11, wherein the opening adjacent the front end of the parallel side walls of each of the metallic grounding clips includes a latching slot.

15. The terminal block as recited in claim 11, wherein the opening adjacent the front end of the parallel side walls of each of the metallic grounding clips includes a semicircular cutout.

16. The terminal block as recited in claim 11, wherein the opening adjacent the front end of the parallel side walls of each of the metallic grounding clips includes bearing points arranged within the opening.

17. The terminal block as recited in claim 11, wherein each metallic grounding clip includes a U-shaped saddle disposed between the sidewalls, the saddle including two legs protruding as a spring bracket into the latching slot.

18. The terminal block as recited in claim 17, wherein the spring bracket includes a portion extending out past the sidewalls for unlocking the metallic grounding clip from the conductive mounting element after the conductive element has been mounted to the grounding clip.

19. The terminal block as recited in claim 18, wherein the portion of the spring bracket extending out past the sidewalls includes an unlocking eyelet that can be deflected to unlock the metallic grounding clip from the conductive mounting element.