Terminal and cramping connector

Abstract: The present invention comprises a terminal for a cramping connector, comprising a plurality of blade portions being arranged at or having same or different heights, wherein the blade portions extend in substantially a same direction and wherein the blade portions are arranged at an angledifferent from 0° or 180° with respect to each other. Furthermore, the present invention comprises a cramping connector, comprising: at least one terminal having a plurality blade portions, and a housing for retaining the terminal and for positioning a plurality of wires, in particular one over the other, such that the wires are pressed into the corresponding blade portions, when the housing is formed or assembled, wherein the blade portions extend in substantially a same direction and wherein the blade portions are arranged at an angle different from 0° or 180° with respect to each other.

Description: The present invention relates to a terminal and to a cramping connector and, particularly to a cramping connector in which a plurality of blade portions are held such that slits thereof open in the same direction. In a known cramping terminal of this type, slit-like parallel blade portions are formed in flat metal strips in order to arrange terminals provided with the blade portions perpendicularly to two parallelly arranged wires. The respective blade portions are formed to have the same height, and are arranged side by side in the case of connecting a plurality of wires. with the above prior art cramping connector, since the wires to be connected are only arranged side by side, there are not a wide range of applications. Further, the arrangement of the wires, as a whole, is invariably wide. A known cramping terminal of this type is a double-sided cramping terminal disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 6-62468 shown in FIG. 15. In this double-sided cramping terminal, separately formed upper and lower covers 2, 3 are fittable to a plate-like housing 1 from above and below, respectively. Fittings 4 are so pressed into the housing 1 as to project from the upper and lower surfaces of the housing 1. Wires 5 are pressed to be connected with the fittings 4 on the upper and lower surfaces of the housing 1. Specifically, the wires are arranged on the upper surface of the housing 1 and the upper cover 2 is fitted to press the wires to be connected with the fittings 4 after being positioned. Subsequently, the housing 1 is turned upside down. Wires are arranged in a similar manner, and the lower cover 3 is fitted to press the wires to be connected with the fittings 4. With the above double-sided cramping connector, the connection operation is cumbersome because the wires have to be connected in order, i.e. first on the upper surface and then on the lower surface or vice versa, and the housing has to be turned upside down in the middle of the operation. US-A-4 778 405 discloses an electrical connector for connecting a pair of side-by-side tap wires to through wires comprising a generally T-shaped housing having side-by-side parallel channels extending through the head for the through wires and having parallel side-by-side channels extending into the free end stem for the tap wires. The electrical connector comprises terminals which are substantially L-shaped. At the end of the L-shaped terminals there are provided slots at same heights in which the wires are made to contact the terminals. In view of the above problem, an object of the invention is to provide a terminal or a cramping connector having an improved wire arrangement operability. In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a terminal or a cramping connector which ensures a wire arrangement with an improved degree of freedom and/or in a compact manner. This object is solved according to the invention by a terminal according to claim 1 or by a cramping connector according to claim 5. Preferred embodiments of the invention are subject of the dependent claims. According to the invention, there is provided a terminal for a cramping connector, comprising a plurality of blade portions being arranged at or having different heights wherein the blade portions extend substantially in a same direction, wherein the blade portions are arranged at an angle different from 0° or 180°, in particular substantially normal, with respect to each other. Furthermore the height difference of the blade portions is substantially equal to or greater than the thickness of the wires to be arranged in the terminal. Preferably, the terminal comprises three or more blade portions. Still further preferably, the terminal further comprises two or more slits, wherein the slits are formed in the opposite ends of a strip from front end portions thereof and wherein the strip is bent at least once at the opposite ends thereof substantially at an angle, in particular at a right angle in the same direction by different lengths and/or wherein the slits are formed on portions of a strip from the lateral side thereof and wherein the strip is bent at an angle along a direction substantially in parallel to the slits, the slits having a different length and/or the side portions of the strips being stepped. According to the invention, there is further provided a cramping connector, comprising: at least one terminal, in particular at least one terminal according to the invention, having a plurality blade portions being arranged at or having different heights, and a housing for retaining the terminal and for positioning a plurality of wires, in particular one over the other, such that the wires are to be pressed into the corresponding blade portions, in particular blade parts, when the housing is formed or assembled. Furthermore, the blade portions extend in substantially a same direction and the blade portions are arranged at an angle different from 0° or 180° with respect to each other, the height difference of the blade portions is substantially equal to or greater than the thickness of the wires. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing comprises at least a pair of casings. Preferably, the plurality of wires is positioned such that, ends of branch wires of the plurality of wires face the blade portions at one side and that main wires of the plurality of wires are inserted between the blade portions at the one side and face the blade portions at the other side, wherein the respective wires are pressed into the corresponding blade portions when the housing, in particular when the pair of casings is assembled. Further preferably, the housing comprises first grooves for accommodating wires to be connected with first blade portions having substantially the same height, the first grooves intersecting under an angle between 0° and 180°, preferably about 45°, 60°, 90°, 120° and/or 135°, with at least second grooves for wires to be connected with second blade portions having one or more heights different than the first grooves, the terminals being particularly mounted at the intersections of the grooves, and/or wherein the housing comprises wire pressing portions which come into contact with the wires so as to press the wires into the blade portions. Most preferably, the blade portions are obliquely arranged in the housing. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided a cramping connector, comprising at least one terminal comprising a plurality of blade parts and/or blade portions being arranged at or having different heights, and a housing for accommodating and/or retaining the terminal such that wires are connected, in particular pressed to be connected with the blade parts and/or blade portions. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing retains a main wire and a branch wire branched from the main wire in its intermediate position, in particular one over the other., the first grooves intersecting under an angle between 0° and 180°, preferably about 45°, 60°, 90°, 120° and/or 135°, with at least second grooves for wires to be connected with second blade portions of other heights than the first grooves, particularly in a manner similar co that of a network and, the terminals being particularly mounted at the intersections of the grooves, and/or wherein the housing comprises wire pressing portions which come into contact with the wires so as to press the wires into the blade portions. Preferably, the terminal is formed by bending a metal strip, particularly in V-shape, so as to form surfaces intersecting, in particular substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal directions of the wires to be connected and in particular wherein the terminal comprises a slit in each surface from an edge, wherein the edge having a steplike contour. According to still a further embodiment, the blade portions are displaced with respect to forward and backward directions, the housing comprising a first casing for arranging and/or retaining the terminals, in particular side by side while orienting the terminals in the same direction, and retaining branch wires by placing them, particularly ends thereof on first blade portions, and a second casing which is fittable on the first casing and is adapted to retain main wires such that the main wires face corresponding second blade portions, the first blade portions having in particular a lower height than the second blade portions. Preferably, the terminal is formed by forming slits in the opposite ends of a strip from front end portions thereof and bending at lease once the opposite ends substantially at an angle, in particular at a right angle in the same direction by different lengths or by forming two or more slits on portions of a strip from the lateral side thereof and bending the strip at an angle along a direction substantially in parallel to the slits, the slits having a different length and/or the side portions of the strips being stepped, wherein particularly the blade portions particularly of different heights are displaced in a lateral direction while facing parallel to each other. Still further preferably, the blade portions are obliquely arranged in the housing. According to a most preferred embodiment, the height difference of the blade portions is substantially equal to or greater than the thickness of the wires. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided a cramping connector, comprising: a terminal comprising a plurality of blade portions of different heights which extend in the same direction, and a housing for accommodating and retaining the terminal such that wires are pressed to be connected with the blade portions. Accordingly, the plurality of blade portions extending in the same direction are so arranged as to have different heights in the terminal. Wires can be pressed to be connected with the blade portions having different heights when the terminal is accommodated in the housing. Accordingly, the connected wires can be arranged at different heights. As described above, since the plurality of blade portions having different heights are provided, the wires can be arranged at different heights, thereby improving a degree of freedom. In this case, the width of the cramping terminal can be narrowed if the wires are arranged in two stages. Accordingly, the housing retains the main wire and the branch wire branched from the main wire in its intermediate position one over the other. When the main wire is inserted, while the end of the branch wire is inserted into the housing, through the housing over the branch wire, the main wire is placed on the branch wire in the housing. The terminal is accommodated in the housing, and the branch wire is pressed to be connected with the blade portion for the lower wire and the main wire is pressed to be connected with the blade portion for the upper wire in its position where it is not placed on the branch wire. In other words, a single terminal connected with the main wire and the branch wire placed one over the other. If such terminals are arranged side by side, the wires can be arranged in two vertical stages. Thus, since the main wire and the branch wires are connected, placed one over the other, the height of the cramping connector can be made smaller. Further preferably, the housing comprises: a lower casing formed with a wire path extending in a lateral direction and an opening in an upward direction for accommodating the terminal such that the blade portions extend in the upward direction, and retaining the lower wire placed on the blade portion therefor, and an upper casing for closing the opening of the lower casing and retaining the upper wire such that the upper wire faces the blade portion therefor when the upper casing closes the opening of the lower casing. Accordingly, the lower casing constructing the housing comprises the wire path extending in the lateral direction and is open in the upward direction, and the terminal is accommodated such that the blade portions extend in the upward direction. The branch wire as the lower wire is placed and retained on the blade portion for the lower wire. On the other hand, the upper casing constructing the housing is capable of recaining the main wire as the upper wire. When the upper casing closes the opening of the lower casing while retaining the main wire, the main wire faces the blade portion for the upper wire of the terminal in the lower casing and the branch wire faces the blade portion for the lower wire. By pressing the upper and lower casings, the wires are connected with the corresponding blade portions. Thus, the connection can be made only by fitting the lower casing and the upper casing retaining the branch wire and the main wire together, making an operation easier. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided a cramping connector, comprising: a plurality of terminals each having a plurality of blade portions of different heights which are so arranged as to cross the longitudinal directions of wires to be connected therewith, a first casing comprising an open surface and grooves for accommodating wires to be connected with the blade portions of the same height in the plurality of terminals in parallel with each other, the grooves intersecting with grooves for wires to be connected with the blade portions of the other heights in a manner similar to that of a network and the terminals being mounted at the intersections of the grooves, and a second casing for covering the open surface of the first casing, the second casing comprising wire pressing portions which come into contact with the wires so as to press the wires into the blade portions. Accordingly, in the first casing having the open surface, the substantially parallel grooves for accommodating the wires to be connected are formed in a manner similar to that of a network. The wires are pressed into these grooves through the open surface to be accommodated therein. Cn the other hand, the terminals each having a plurality of blade portions of the heights which are changed or varied particularly with respect to or along the longitudinal directions of the wire(s) are mounted at the intersections of the grooves. Accordingly, the wires can be connected at the intersections. When the second casing is fitted to the first casing after the wires are accommodated in the first casing, the wire pressing portions come into contact with the wires so as to press them into the blade portions, thereby facilitating the connection by the blade portions in the terminals and holding the wires. As described above, since the substantially parallel grooves are formed for each group of wires to be connected, the plurality of wires are so accommodated in one casing as to intersect in the manner similar to the network. Further, non-intersecting portions of the wires are held by being pressed by the other casing. Accordingly, there can be provided a cramping connector which allows the wires to be arranged through one open surface, thereby improving an operability. In other words, there is provided a cramping connector which ensures a compact wire arrangement. Preferably, each terminal is formed by bending a metal strip in V-shape so as to form surfaces perpendicular to the longitudinal directions of the wires to be connected and making a slit in each surface from an edge. Accordingly, the metal strip is so bent a number of times corresponding to the number of the wires to be connected, thereby forming a plurality or surfaces perpendicular to the longitudinal directions of the wires. Further, the slit is formed in each surface from the edge. The terminals are connected with the intersecting wires at the intersections of the grooves in the first casing. Thus, the terminals can be easily formed only by bending the strips. Further preferably, the edge of each terminal where the slits are formed has a steplike contour. Accordingly, since the edge of each terminal where the slits are formed has a steplike contour, if the slits of the same depth are formed, the blade portions of different heights can be formed in the respective surfaces. Thus, since the edge has a steplike contour, the respective blade portions are easily distinguishable and the heights thereof are easily adjustable. Still further preferably, a metal strip is bent in two at right angles and wherein the first and second casings are formed with two groups of grooves perpendicularly intersecting with each other in a manner similar to that of a checkerboard. Accordingly, the first and second casings are formed with two groups of grooves intersecting with each other in a manner similar to that of a checkerboard, and the terminals each formed by bending a metal strip in two at right angles to form blade portions perpendicular to each other are mounted at the intersections where the wires intersect. Accordingly, the wires are connected with the blade portions and held by the casings by arranging and accommodating the wires in the grooves of the first casing in the manner similar to that of the checkerboard and by covering the first casing with the second casing. Thus, since the grooves intersect at right angles in the manner similar to that of the checkerboard so as to correspond to two groups of wires, the construction can be simplified. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cramping connector according to a first embodiment of the invention in its assembled state, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cramping connector, FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views of a terminal of the cramping connector, FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective and plan views of a terminal according to a second embodiment, respectively, FIG. 7 is a development of a terminal according to a third embodiment, FIG. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the mounted terminal, FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of a housing a according to a fourth embodiment, FIGS. 10 and 11 are sections along A-A of a housing and a cover of FIG. 1, FIGS. 12 and 13 are sections along B-B of the housing and the cover of FIG. 1, FIG. 14 is a fragmentary perspective view of a connection at the terminal, and FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of a prior art cramping connector. In FIGS. 1 to 4, a terminal 110 is formed by bending a metal strip at a substantially right angle so as to have two surfaces perpendicular to each other. The respective surfaces are cut at a right angle from one longer edge of the terminal 110 to form slits 111a1, 112a1. These surfaces formed with slits 111a1, 112a1 act as blade parts 111, 112 and/or as blade portions 111a, 112a, wherein the blade parts 111, 112 comprise or include or carry the blade portions 111a, 112a. The edge of the terminal 110 where the slits 111a1, 112a1 are formed already has a steplike contour before the terminal 110 is bent. By forming the slits 111a1, 112a1 of the same depth, the blade parts 111, 112 and/or the blade portions 111a, 112a having different heights are formed. Although the terminal 110 has the two blade parts 111, 112 formed by bending the metal strip at right angles in this embodiment, it is sufficient to make the longitudinal directions of wires to be connected intersect. The number of blade portions and/or blade parts may be increased as in a terminal shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 which has three blade portions and/or blade parts arranged such that neighboring blade portions are at an angle of substantially 45°. Further, although the edge of terminal 110 where the slits 111a1, 112a1 are formed has a steplike contour in this embodiment, a parallelogrammatical or tropezoidal strip may be bent such that two smaller parallelogrammatical pieces intersect at different heights and the slits 111a1, 112a1 may be formed in the upper edges thereof. By having a steplike contour, the respective blade parts 111, 112 and/or blade portions 111a, 112a can be more clearly distinguished, and the wires can be more easily crossed. The shape of the slits formed in the blade parts 111, 112 and/or the blade portions 111a, 112a is not particularly specified, but may be suitably changed according to the kind of a wire core, i.e. whether the core is made of a single wire or a plurality of wires. In this embodiment, by using the metal strip having a steplike contour and forming the slits of the same depth, the blade parts 111, 112 and/or the blade portions 111a, 112a appeared to have different heights are formed. However, deep slits may be formed in the strip and the height of the actually used portion of the blade part and/or the blade portion may be changed by changing the depth by which the wire is pressed. A housing 120 as a first casing has a substantially square flat shape, and four each of first grooves 121 (121a to 121d) and second grooves 122 (122a to 122d) which intersect at right angles as in a checkerboard are formed in the upper surface of the housing 120. The first grooves 121a to 121d are continuous grooves crossing the housing 120 substantially in parallel. The second grooves 122a to 122d also cross the housing 120, but the bottom surfaces thereof are located higher than those of the first grooves 121a to 121d. Accordingly, the second grooves 122a to 122d are interrupted or crossed by the first grooves 121a to 121d. The first grooves 121a to 121d and the second grooves 122a to 122d intersect in 16 positions arranged in a manner similar to that of a 4×4 matrix. The terminals 110 are mounted at intersections preferably along one diagonal line. Specifically, the terminals 110 are pressed into rectangular walls 123a to 123d projecting from portions of the housing 120 other than the grooves 121, 122 such that the lower blade parts 111 and/or the lower blade portions 111a of the terminals 110 cross the first grooves 121 at substantially right angles and the higher blade parts 112 and/or the higher blade portions 112a cross the second grooves 122 at substantially right angles. How the terminal 110 is mounted is enlargedly shown in FIG. 8. In this embodiment, two groups of first grooves 121 (121a to 121d) and second grooves 122 (122a to 122d) intersecting at right angles are formed. However, the invention is not limited to this arrangement of grooves, but more groups of grooves may be formed provided they intersect in a manner similar to that of a network. For example, terminals having three blade parts and/or blade portions as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 may be used together with a substantially hexagonal shaped housing formed with three groups of grooves as shown in FIG. 9. Further in this embodiment, the terminals 110 are mounted at those of the intersections arranged like a matrix which are located along one diagonal line. The terminals 110 may not necessarily be located on the diagonal line, but may be selectively mounted at other intersections. Although the depth of the first grooves 121a to 121d and the depth of the second grooves 122a to 122d are differed so that the wires can be arranged in a three-dimensional manner or on different planes in the embodiment, the depth of the grooves may need not necessarily be changed. However, by changing the depth of the grooves according to the wires to be intersected at the terminals 110, an operator can easily see wire arrangement positions and an upward or downward displacement of the wires during the arrangement can be prevented. Further, by forming wavy grooves instead of the linear grooves 121, 122, the wires can more securely stay in the grooves. In this embodiment, wedge-shaped projections 124a to 124d which project more as they extend mere downward or which taper downwards are formed at the opposite edges of the openings of the grooves 121a to 121d at one side so as to prevent the wires from easily coming out of the grooves 121a to 121d. A cover 130 is adapted to cover an open upper surface of the housing 120 and is formed with linearly extending first projections 131 (131a to 131d) and second projections 132 (132a to 132d) in conformity with the first grooves 121a to 121d and the second grooves 122a to 122d, respectively. The second projections 132 substantially continuously extend, but the first projections 131 are interrupted or crossed by the lower first projections 131 so as to be pressed while straddling the crossing wires. Accordingly, the wires can be held on the second projections 132 while being tightly held between the interrupted portions of the first projections 131. Since the first projections 131a to 131d and the second projections 132a to 132d face the wires to be connected, portions thereof face the blade parts 111, 112 and/or the blade portions 111a, 112a of the terminals 110. In such portions of the first and second projections 131, 132, slots 133, 134 corresponding to the thickness of the terminals 110 are formed. Accordingly, when the cover 130 is fitted on the housing 120, the blade parts 111, 112 and/or the blade portions 111a, 112a of the terminals 110 are fitted into the slots 133, 134 and the wires are pressed downward at the opposite sides of the blade parts 111, 112 and/or blade portions 111a, 112a. Front and rear walls of the sloes 133, 134 act as wire pressing portions in this embodiment. Although the cover 130 has a substantially square shape so as to correspond to the housing 120 in this embodiment, the shape thereof can be suitably changed according to the shape of the housing 120 in the case that the housing 120 is modified as described above. Further, although the linearly extending first and second projections 131, 132 are formed in conformity with the first and second grooves 121, 122 in order to more easily press the wires in this embodiment, ribs or struts may be formed in positions to project from the cover 130 to press the wires. Further, the wire pressing portions do not have to be slots 133, 134 into which the blade parts 111, 112 and/or the blade portions 111a, 112a are fittable, but can be anything provided they can come into contact with the wires before and after the blade parts 111, 112 and/or the blade portions 111a, 112a and press them. In this embodiment, wedge-shaped projections 135a to 135d, 136a to 136d which project more as they extend more downward or which taper downwards are formed at the opposite edges of the openings of the projections 132 at both sides so that the wires securely stay on the projections 132. The housing 120 and the cover 130 are formed with recesses and projections 125, 137 on their surfaces which come into sliding contact with each other when the housing 120 and the cover 130 are fitted, and can be locked by engaging the recesses and projections 125, 137 (see FIGS. 11 to 14). Next, how the embodiment thus constructed operates is described. The housing 120 is placed such that the grooves 121, 122 are found in the upper surface thereof, and branch wires 141a to 141d to be connected are pressed into the first grooves 121. The.cover 130 is placed such that the projections 131, 132 are found in the upper surface thereof, and main wires 142a to 142d to be connected are held on the second projections 132a to 132d. Since the terminals 110 are mounted at the intersections of the grooves 121, 122 in the housing 120, each branch wire 141 crosses the blade part 111 and/or the blade portion 111a of one terminal 110 when being pressed into the groove 121. The branch wires 141 are merely so placed as to cross the blade parts 111 and/or the blade portions 111a without being pressed into the slits 111a of the blade parts 111, and are locked in the grooves 121 by the projections 124a to 124d at the openings at one side so as not to be displaced. In the cover 130, the main wires 142a to 142d are locked by the projections 135a to 135d, 136a to 136d at the openings at both sides so as not to fall down even when the cover 130 is turned upside down. After e.g. four each of the branch wires 141 and the main wires 142 are accommodated in the housing 120 and the cover 130, respectively, the cover 130 is turned upside down and fitted on the upper surface of the housing 120. Then, the second projections 132a to 132d face and press the main wires 142 into the second grooves 122, and the first projections 131a to 131d face and press the lower located branch wires 141 into the first grooves 121 while straddling the main wires 142. Further, the slots 133, 134 formed in the projections 131, 132 press the branch and main wires 141, 142 crossing over the blade parts 111, 112 and/or the blade portions 111a, 112a particularly in a curved manner into the slits 111a, 112a of the blade parts 111, 112 and/or the blade portions 111a, 112a so as to connect the wires 141, 142 with the blade parts 111, 112 and/or the blade portions 111a, 112a, respectively. When the cover 130 is fully fitted on the housing 120, the cover 130 and the housing 120 are locked by engagement of the projections and recesses 137, 125 and the connected wires are tightly held by the wedge-shaped projections 124, 135, 136 so as not to come out. FIG. 14 shows how the wires are connected with the terminal 110. Although the housing 120 and the cover 130 are assembled after the branch wires 141 and the main wires 142 are separately accommodated therein, the cover 130 may be fitted on the housing 120 after the branch wires 141 and the main wires 142 are accommodated in the housing 120. By separately forming parts for accommodating the branch wires 141 and the main wires 142 as in this embodiment, the operation can be performed in different places and there is no likelihood that the wires are wrongly arranged. As described above, in the housing 120 as a first casing, the parallel first grooves 121a to 121d and the parallel second grooves 122a to 122d are so formed as co intersect; the terminals 110 having the blade parts 111, 112 and/or the blade portions 111a, 112a of different heights or depths are pressed into the rectangular walls 123a to 123d at the intersections; and the branch wires 141 are accommodated in the grooves 121. On the other hand, in the cover 130 as a second casing, the first projections 131a to 131d and the second projections 132a to 132d to be opposed to the grooves 121, 122 are formed. The main wires 142 are held on the projections 132. When the cover 130 is fitted to cover the housing 120, the first projections 131 press the branch wires 141 into the grooves 121; the second projections 132 press the main wires 142 into the grooves 122; and the respective wires 141, 142 are pressed by the front and rear walls of the slots 133, 132 into the slits 111a1, 112a1 of the blade parts 111, 112 and/or the blade portions 111a, 112a to be connected with the blade parts 111, 112 and/or the blade portions 111a, 112a. Since the wires to be connected can be arranged on the upper surfaces of the housing 120 and the cover 130, operability can be improved. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 110 Terminal 111, 112 Blade part 111a, 112a Blade Portion 111a1, 112a1 Slit 120 Housing 121 (121a to 121d) First Groove 122 (122a to 122d) Second Groove 130 Cover 131 (131a to 131d) First Projection 132 (132a to 132d) Second Projection 133, 134 Slot

Claims: A terminal for a cramping connector, comprising a plurality of blade portions (111a, 112a) being arranged at or having different heights, wherein the blade portions (111a, 112a) extend in substantially a same direction and wherein the blade portions (111a, 112a) are arranged at an angle different from 0° or 180° with respect to each other, wherein the height difference of the blade portions (111a, 112a) is substantially equal to or greater than the thickness of the wires (142, 141) to be arranged in the terminal. A terminal according claim 1, wherein the blade portions (111a, 112a) are arranged substantially normal with respect to each other. A terminal according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising three or more blade portions (FIG. 10). A terminal according to one or more of the preceding claims, further comprising two or more slits (111a1, 112a1), wherein the slits are formed in the opposite ends of a strip from front end portions thereof and wherein the strip is bent at least once at the opposite ends thereof substantially at an angle, in particular at a right angle in the same direction by different lengths and/or wherein the slits are formed on portions of a strip from the lateral side thereof and wherein the strip is bent at an angle along a direction substantially in parallel to the slits, the slits having a different length and/or the side portions of the strips being stepped. A cramping connector, comprising: at least one terminal (110), in particular according to one of the preceding claims, having a plurality blade portions (111a, 112a) being arranged at or having different heights, and a housing (120, 130) for retaining the terminal (10; 110; 210; 360) and for positioning a plurality of wires (141, 142), in particular one over the other such that the wires (141, 142) are to be pressed into the corresponding blade portions (111a, 112a), when the housing (120, 130) is formed or assembled, wherein the blade portions (111a, 112a) extend in substantially a same direction and wherein the blade portions (111a, 112a) are arranged at an angle different from 0° or 180° with respect to each other, wherein the height difference of the blade portions (111a, 112a) is substantially equal to or greater than the thickness of the wires (142, 141). A cramping connector according to claim 5, wherein the housing comprises at least a pair of casings (120, 130). A cramping connector according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the plurality of wires (141, 142) is positioned such that, ends of branch wires (141) of the plurality of wires face the blade portions (111a, 112a) at one side and that main wires (142) of the plurality of wires are inserted between the blade portions (111a, 112a) at the one side and face the blade portions (111a, 112a) at the other side, wherein the respective wires (141, 142) are pressed into the corresponding blade portions (111a, 112a) when the housing (120; 130), in particular when the pair of casings (120, 130) is assembled. A cramping connector according to one or more of the preceding claims 56 to 78, wherein the housing (120; 130) comprises first grooves (121) for accommodating wires (141) to be connected with first blade portions (111a) having substantially the same height, the first grooves (121) intersecting under an angle between 0° and 180°, preferably about 90°, with at least second grooves (122) for wires (142) to be connected with second blade portions (112a) having one or more heights different than the first grooves (121), the terminals (110) being particularly mounted at the intersections of the grooves (121, 122), and/or wherein the housing (110; 380) comprises wire pressing portions (112a, 112b; 381) which come into contact with the wires (142, 141; 390, 400) so as to press the wires (142, 141; 390, 400) into the blade portions (111a, 112a; 362a, 363a). A cramping connector according claim 8, wherein the first grooves (121) intersect under about 45°, 60°, 120° and/or 135° with the at least second grooves (122).

Inventors: CHISHIMA MASAMITSU, SEKO SATOMI, CHISHIMA, MASAMITSU, SEKO, SATOMI
Applicants: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: H01R4
IPC codes: H01R4