Abstract:
An electrical connector for connecting the bare end of an insulated conductor with a circuit on a printed circuit board, including a horizontal printed circuit board having an electrical circuit thereon, an electrically conductive contact arrangement mounted on, and electrically connected with the circuit of, the printed circuit board, the contact arrangement including at least two spaced resilient contacts having adjacent end portions that are biased together, a housing formed from electrically insulating material and containing a conductor opening for receiving the conductor bare end; and a positioning arrangement operable by an actuating tool for positioning the conductor bare end in a clamped position between the contact end portions. When the contact arrangement is in the form of a pair of leaf spring contacts connected in a V-shaped manner, an adjusting device is provided for adjusting the space between the adjacent ends of the contacts.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of PCT International Application No. PCT/EP2010/070075 filed Dec. 17, 2010, claiming priority of the German application No. 20 2010 000 681.3 filed Jan. 7, 2010. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     An electrical connector for connecting the bare end of an insulated conductor with a circuit on a printed circuit board, including a horizontal printed circuit board having an electrical circuit thereon, an electrically conductive contact arrangement mounted on, and electrically connected with the circuit of, the printed circuit board, the contact arrangement including at least two spaced resilient contacts having adjacent end portions that are biased together, a housing formed from electrically insulating material and containing a conductor opening for receiving the conductor bare end; and a positioning arrangement operable by an actuating tool, such as a screwdriver, for positioning the conductor bare end in a clamped position between the contact end portions. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     In the case of spring terminals, an electrical conductor is mostly pressed against a busbar and is clamped by means of a clamping body. In the process, at least one restoring force, generated by means of a spring, acts upon the clamping body, which, for example, can be adjusted by means of a screw so that the clamping body, as the screw is reset, can again be separated from the conductor. Such a spring terminal with a clamping body that can be adjusted by means of a screw is shown by way of example in publication EP 0 836 242 B1. 
     In the case of spring force terminals, the conductor, on the other hand, is pressed against an electrically conducting abutment by means of a leaf spring. Such a spring force terminal, for example, is shown in publication DE 20 2005 08168. 
     The above-mentioned spring terminals and spring force terminals commonly share the fact that, along with the conductor and the bus bar, much structural space is required for the structural parts, especially for clamping bodies and clamping springs that, as such, are not involved in the conduction of the current. To some extent, these parts considerably enlarge the dimensions of the terminals. There is a tendency to make electrical appliances ever smaller; therefore, however, there is a considerable requirement for electrical connection elements with miniaturized dimensions. 
     In the case of such small connection elements, the parts are accordingly small so that they are difficult, both in terms of their production and when the user wants to use them to connect a conductor. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention therefore is to create a very space-saving electrical connection element that will facilitate the connection of a conductor with a few simple parts and that can therefore be easily handled in terms of its utilization and that is furthermore produced in a very simple and inexpensive manner. 
     A more specific object of the invention is to provide an electrical connector for connecting the bare end of an insulated conductor with a circuit on a printed circuit board, including a horizontal printed circuit board having an electrical circuit thereon, an electrically conductive contact arrangement mounted on, and electrically connected with the circuit of, the printed circuit board, the contact arrangement including at least two spaced resilient contacts having adjacent end portions that are biased together, a housing formed from electrically insulating material and containing a conductor opening for receiving the conductor bare end; and a positioning arrangement operable by an actuating tool for positioning the conductor bare end in a clamped position between the contact end portions. When the contact arrangement is in the form of a pair of leaf spring contacts connected in a V-shaped manner, an adjusting device is provided for adjusting the space between the adjacent ends of the contacts. 
     This object is solved with a spring terminal, especially a front terminal for the connection of an electrical conductor with an electrical subassembly with a contact part and with a housing part, whereby, for the purpose of connection with the contact part, the electrical conductor can be stuck into the housing part, whereby the spring terminal has an insertion opening for an actuation means, especially a screwdriver, whereby the contact part comprises a clamping jaw that by means of the actuation member can be adjusted from a shifting state in which the conductor is not clamped together with the clamping jaw into a clamping state in which the conductor is clamped together with the clamping jaw, whereby the clamping jaw conducts current. 
     According to the invention the contact part that conducts current is provided for the purpose of connecting the conductor with the electrical subassembly so that it is used as such for clamping the conductor; therefore, one does not need any clamping bodies for the purpose of clamping the conductor. As a result, one can save the structural space that is required for these parts and for these subassemblies so that the spring terminal will take up comparatively little structural space and on the whole can be made with very small dimensions. Besides, the number of parts used for the inventive spring terminal is minimized so that supply storage management is good. 
     In a preferred embodiment the conductor can be arranged by means of the actuation member between the clamping jaws so that the spring terminal by means of the conductor itself can be adjusted from the shifting state to the clamping state. In another preferred embodiment, the interval between the clamping jaws is, in particular, reversible and changeable. As a result, the spring terminal can be switched from the shifting condition into the clamping condition. The shifting is done preferably by means of the actuation member. 
     Preferably, the clamping jaw is made as a spring, in particular, as a leaf spring. During the adjustment of the contact part, especially during the clamping of the conductor, the clamping jaws therefore are tensed due to their spring properties and during resetting, especially during the removal of the conductor are relaxed. Therefore, no additional springs are needed for the clamping of the conductor so that one can also get along without those springs and so that the needed structural space is very small. 
     Preferably, the clamping jaw is reversibly adjustable from the shifting state into the clamping state so that the conductor can again be separated out of the spring terminal. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the spring terminal comprises an adjusting means with which the actuation member cooperates. The adjusting means is preferably provided on the housing part or on the contact part, in particular, on each of the clamping jaws, and makes it possible at least partly to alter the interval between the clamping jaws so that by using the clamping means, one can adjust the spring terminal from the clamping state into the shifting state and back again. With the help of the actuation member, even when the spring terminals have very small practical shapes, it is very easily possible to connect the conductor. The adjusting means is executed as a wedge in a particularly preferred manner. 
     Preferably, several spring terminals can be lined up one against the other so that they will form a terminal block, in particular, a terminal front block. 
     In a preferred version, the contact part comprises two clamping jaws between which the conductor can be clamped. Preferably, by clamping the conductor between the clamping jaws, one can at the same time fasten the housing part upon the contact part. The conductor them works as fastening means between the housing part and the contact part so that no further fastening means are needed. 
     Preferably, the clamping jaws are essentially arranged v-shaped or essentially u-shaped with respect to each other, whereby the clamping of the conductor with the contact part preferably takes place in a form-locking manner. 
     The actuation member is preferably provided at an angle or parallel to an insertion direction of the conductor. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the insertion opening is provided on the housing part. As an alternative, the insertion opening can be provided on the contact part. Furthermore, the insertion opening is arranged on a rocker arm that, in particular, can be reset in an elastic manner. In a preferred embodiment, the rocker arm can be rotated around a rotation axis. In this embodiment, the direction of actuation for the actuation member can be provided in an angle, in particular, a right angle with respect to the insertion opening of the conductor into the spring terminal. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the housing part, when in the shifting state, is not arranged on the contact part. Then the contact part and the housing part are not assembled against each other in the context of the production process. Assembly during the production process is thus omitted so that the terminal spring can be produced in a very reasonably priced manner. 
     In a particularly preferred manner, by clamping the electrical conductor together with the contact part, the housing part can be fastened upon the contact part. Because the housing part is fastened first by the connection of the conductor in the contact part, one can furthermore get along without parts or without structural measures with regard to the fastening of the contact part in the housing part. That eliminates the terminal assembly of the contact part upon the housing part, and the production of the spring terminal becomes very simple and very cost favorable. 
     In a preferred manner, the shape of the housing part is so executed in a manner corresponding to the contact part that one can arrange the housing part upon the contact part, whereby, if the conductor is clamped no the contact part, the removal of the housing part from the contact part is no longer possible without the separation of the conductor. 
     In a further preferred embodiment, the spring terminal comprises an insulation busbar upon which is preferably arranged a guide peg for the guidance of the housing part. That signifies the positioning of the housing part upon the contact part. 
     In a likewise preferred embodiment, there is arranged on the housing part a stop means so that the housing part can be shifted upon the contact part. In a particularly preferred manner, the stop means are so provided that they will prevent the separation of the housing part from the contact part. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the contact part is made in the shape of a box. In a particularly preferred manner, the housing part can be inserted into the contact part. This embodiment facilitates a very compact design of the inventive spring terminal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, when viewed in the light of the accompanying drawing, in which: 
         Figs. 1   a -  1   e  are perspective view of a first embodiment of the electrical connector arrangement of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2   a -  2   d  are perspective views of a second embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 3   a -  3   d  are perspective views of a third embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 4   a -  4   g  are perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 5   a -  5   g  are perspective views of a fifth embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 6   a -  6   e  are perspective views of a sixth embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  are perspective views of another embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 8   a and  8   b  are perspective views of a further embodiment; 
         FIGS. 9   a -  9   g  are perspective views of a still another embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 9   h  illustrates a plurality of the devices of  FIG. 9   g  mounted on a support; and 
         FIG. 9   i  is a modification of the apparatus of  FIG. 9   h . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring first to the embodiment shown in  Figs. 1   a -  1   e , the electrical connector or spring terminal  1  of the present invention includes a housing  2  for connecting the bare end  4   a  of an insulated conductor  4  with a resilient contact arrangement  3  mounted on an electrical subassembly  5 . The housing  2  contains a conductor insertion opening  6  through which the bare end of the conductor  4  is inserted in the insertion direction  51  into the housing  2 . Furthermore, the housing  2  contains a tool insertion opening  7  for receiving an actuation member  8  inserted in the actuation direction  81 . Then spring terminal  1  is shown in an assembling shifting state V, wherein conductor  4  is not yet attached to the contact arrangement  3 . In this embodiment, conductor  4  furthermore in the shifting state can be inserted through the insertion opening  6  into housing part  2 . 
     The shape of housing  2  and the shape of contact arrangement  3  are so related that the arrangement of housing  2  on contact arrangement  3  can be accomplished in a very simple manner with an actuation member  8 . Specifically, the tip of the actuation member  8  in this embodiment is introduced through the tool insertion opening  7  into housing part  2 , and during the arrangement of housing  2  on contact assembly  3 , the contacts extend into corresponding pairs of contact openings  11 ,  11  and  12 ,  12  in the housing, and during the clamping operation, the housing causes the contact pairs to be clamped to the conductor  4 . Besides, during the fitting of housing part  2  upon contact part  3 , respectively during the clamping of conductor  4  between clamping contacts  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34 , the actuation member  8  is inserted into the spring terminal arrangement  1  at a right angle  85  with respect to insertion direction  51  of conductor  4 , so that actuation direction  81  is arranged at a right angle with respect to insertion direction  51 . 
     If housing  2  is arranged on contact arrangement  3  with the help of actuation member  8  during the assembling shifting state V with conductor  4  inserted in housing part  2 , then conductor  4  is clamped between clamping jaws  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  of contact part  3 . Spring terminal  1  is then in a clamping state K. 
     According to the invention, the contact arrangement  3  is provided both in a current conducting manner and also for the clamping of an electrical conductor  4 . In this case, contact arrangement  3  includes four rod-shaped clamping jaws  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34 , of which two, in each case, are spaced apart from each other and are therefore essentially arranged neighboring each other in a U-shaped manner. Clamping jaws  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34 , therefore, have a closed side  38  upon which the adjoining clamping jaws  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  are connected with each other, and an open side  39 . To facilitate clamping of the electrical conductor  4 , clamping jaws  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  are preferably made in a resilient manner. 
     In this case, actuation member  8  is guided at a right angle  84  with respect to insertion direction  51  of conductor  4 ; therefore, clamping jaws  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  during the clamping are forced apart on their open side  39  by conductor  4  so that the interval  10  between two neighboring clamping jaw pairs  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  will become larger. 
     In the insertion process, clamping jaws  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  simultaneously clamp housing  2  upon contact arrangement  3  so that the housing  2  can no longer be removed from contact part  3  without the separation of conductor  4 . Therefore, by clamping conductor  4  with contact arrangement  3 , housing  2  is attached upon the conductor  4 . In other words, with conductor  4  being inserted due to the shifting of housing  2  that in the assembling shifting state V is not arranged on contact arrangement  3 , not only will conductor  4  be clamped together with contact arrangement t  3 , but the housing  2  will also be attached upon contact arrangement  3 . 
     In the spring terminal  1  shown here, we are dealing with a front terminal that can be lined up in succession.  FIGS. 1   a - 1   d  show spring terminal  1  in the shifting state V in which conductor  4  can be shifted in housing part  2 . In  FIG. 1   e , spring terminal  1  is in the clamping state K in which conductor  4  is clamped together with contact arrangement  3  and electrically engages the latter. 
       FIGS. 2   a - 2   d  illustrate a second embodiment of the inventive spring terminal  1 . Here again,  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  illustrate the arrangement of housing part  2  of spring terminal  1  upon contact part  3  as well as the clamping of conductor  4  in contact part  3 , in the shifting state V, and  FIGS. 2   c  and  2   d  illustrate the apparatus in the clamping state K. 
     This embodiment differs from the embodiment of  FIGS. 1   a - 1   e  in that, between conductor plate  5  and contact part  3 , there is provided an insulation member  9 . Insulation member  9  contains an opening  93  that affords electrical connection between the contact arrangement  3  and the circuits on the printed circuit board  5 . Here, the connection means (not shown) extends from contact assembly through the opening  93 . Furthermore, the insulation member  9  includes guide pegs  91 ,  92 , which, when spring terminal  1  is in the clamping state K, engage corresponding recesses  21 ,  22  contained in the housing  2 . The position of guide pegs  91 ,  92  and recesses  21 ,  22  can be adjusted as required in each particular case and differ here in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , and in  FIGS. 2   c  and  2   d.    
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3   a - 3   d , a third embodiment of the inventive spring terminal  1  is shown, including a housing  302  for connecting the bare end of a conductor  4  to a contact arrangement  303 , mounted on a printed circuit board base  5 . In the assembling shifting state V of  FIGS. 3   a - 3   c , the conductor  4  can be displaced in housing part  2  and is not clamped between clamping jaw contacts  331 ,  332 , whereas in the clamping state K of  FIG. 3   d , the conductor  4  is clamped between clamping jaws  331 ,  332  of the contact assembly  303 . 
     As in the embodiments of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the shape of housing part  302  and the shape of contact assembly  303  are so executed in a manner corresponding to each other that it is possible to arrange housing part  302  upon contact assembly  303 , in particular, with the help of contact adjusting means  325 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 3   a - 3   d , the contact assembly includes only two clamping jaw contacts  331 ,  332 , which essentially are arranged in V-shape with respect to each other and which are executed as resilient members, in this case as leaf springs. In the following, the terms “clamping jaw contacts” and “leaf spring contacts” are used synonymously. In the assembling shifting state V, leaf springs  331 ,  332  are spaced apart from each other upon their open side  38 , and upon their closed side  39 , they are preferably connected with each other. A base portion  303   a  of the contact assembly is connected with the printed circuit board  5 . 
     Regarding the handling of spring terminal  1 , this arrangement shows a difference with respect to the embodiments in  FIGS. 1 and 2  during the connection of conductor  4 . 
     In order to be able to clamp conductor  4  between leaf springs  331 ,  332 , the interval  10  between leaf springs  331 ,  332  on their closed side  39  must first of all be enlarged. Then conductor  4  is placed between leaf springs  331 ,  332 , and subsequently interval  10  again is reduced until leaf springs  331 ,  332  come to rest against conductor  4  and clamp the latter. Starting with the leaf springs  331 ,  332 , which initially rest against each other in  FIG. 3   a , the interval  10  between leaf springs  331 ,  332  in clamping state K in which conductor  4  is arranged between them is enlarged. 
     This embodiment, above all, offers the advantage that conductor  4 , by widening the interval  10  between leaf springs  331 ,  332  with respect to each other, can again be taken out of spring terminal  1  and that in the process, due to the resetting forces of leaf springs  331 ,  332 , there will be no deformations so that spring terminal  1  can be used again. 
     To alter the interval  10  between leaf springs  331 ,  332 , housing part  2  has an adjusting device  325 , here in the form of a wedge, which, with the help of actuation member  8 , can be inserted between leaf springs  331 ,  332 . The insertion opening  7  for actuation member  8  is provided on a particularly resilient rocker arm  327  so that actuation member  8  in the actuation direction  81  is actuated at a right angle  85  with respect to insertion direction  51 , whereby adjusting means  325  is inserted between leaf springs  331 ,  332  on the closed side  39 . The insertion opening  7  for actuation member  8  is provided here on adjusting means  325 . In order starting from mutually adjoining leaf springs  331 ,  332  to be able to insert adjusting means  325  between leaf springs  31 ,  32 , the latter are bent outward on their side that faces toward adjusting means  25  so that adjusting means  325  engages between leaf springs  331 ,  332 . 
     The embodiments of  FIGS. 4-9  also include spring terminals  1  with contact assemblies  3 , there, in each case, with two clamping jaws defined by mutually V-shaped arranged leaf spring contacts. In these embodiments, there are also provided in each case adjusting means in order first of all to increase the interval of leaf spring contacts from each other starting with the assembling shifting state V so as then to insert conductor  4  and then to reduce the interval until conductor  4  in clamping state K is clamped between the leaf spring contacts. Of course, spring terminals  1  in  FIGS. 4-7  and  9  are so provided that actuation member  8  and conductor  4 , upon insertion and clamping of conductor  4 , are arranged somewhat parallel with respect to each other between the leaf spring contacts. 
     Therefore, in  FIGS. 4   a - 4   g , there is provided in each case an adjusting means  435 ,  436  on each leaf spring  431 ,  432 , whereby the adjusting means  435 ,  436  in each case are so arranged with respect to each other in the form of a wedge that the tip of the actuation tool  8  can be inserted via the longitudinal tool passage  7  on the open side  38  between adjusting means  435 ,  436 , and on the closed side  39  will in the process increase interval  10  between leaf springs  431 ,  432 . 
       FIG. 4   a  shows housing part  402  and contact part  403  separate from each other,  FIGS. 4   b - 4   e  show spring terminal  1  in the shifting state V, and  FIG. 4   f  shows spring terminal  1  in clamping state K. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , spring terminal  1  offers the advantage that, owing to the generally L-shaped configuration of the contact assembly  403 , the arrangement of spring terminal  1  upon printed circuit board  5  is possible both in an alignment parallel to an insertion direction  51  of conductor  4  into housing part  2 , and in an alignment normal with respect to insertion direction  51 . More particularly,  FIG. 4   g  shows the arrangement of spring terminal  1  upon a printed circuit board  5 , which is arranged normal with respect to insertion direction  51  of conductor  4 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 5   a - 5   g , a wedge-shaped adjusting means  525  is arranged for displacement on housing  502 . 
     Actuation direction  81  for actuation tool  8  via opening  7  is provided parallel to insertion direction  51  of conductor  4 , so that adjusting means  525  is guided in actuation direction  81  starting from the open side  38  between leaf spring contacts  531 ,  532  until the latter are pressed apart from each other on their closed side  39  and conductor  4  can be inserted between leaf spring contacts  531 ,  532 . Adjusting means  525  is preferably provided in a resilient return fashion by return spring means (not shown), so that upon retraction of actuation tool  8  against actuation direction  81 , adjustment will take place likewise against actuation direction  81 . In the process, leaf spring contacts  531 ,  532  are also restored until they rest against conductor  4  and clamp the latter. 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 6   a - 6   e , a rotatable wedge  625  is arranged on the housing  602  and has a generally oval cross-sectional configuration, thereby defining an adjusting means between the leaf spring contacts  631  and  632 . For this purpose, the leaf spring contacts include on their closed side  39  in each case an extension portion  612 ,  622  between which the adjusting means  625  is arranged. Therefore, the interval  10  between leaf spring contacts can be enlarged on their closed side  39  upon rotation of the adjusting means. Here again, the rotation is done by means of actuation member  8 , which is inserted parallel to insertion direction  51  of conductor  4  into the insertion opening. Here again, after the insertion of conductor  4  between the leaf spring contacts  631  and  632  by turning adjusting means  625  back, leaf springs  631  and  632  are released until they rest in clamping engagement against conductor  4 . 
       FIG. 6   a  shows the housing  602  separate from each other,  FIGS. 6   b - 6   d  show the spring terminal  1  in the adjusting state V, and  FIG. 6   e  shows spring terminal  1  in the clamping state K. 
       FIGS. 7   a - 7   b  similarly illustrate a modification of spring terminal  1  for two conductors  4 , whereby in this case, for each conductor  4 , there are provided in each case two pairs of adjacent V-shaped leaf spring contacts  731 ,  732  and  733 ,  734 , with only one adjusting means  725  is provided on housing  702  for the purpose of altering interval  10  of the closed side  39  of leaf spring contacts  731 ,  732  and  733 ,  734  from each other. Therefore, interval  10  of leaf spring contacts  731 ,  732 ,  733 ,  734  from each other can be adjusted here simultaneously for both conductors  4 . 
       FIG. 7   a  shows spring terminal  1  in the clamping state K, and  FIG. 7   b  shows spring terminal  1  in the disassembled shifting state V, wherein the conductors  4  are separated from the spring terminal  1 . 
       FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  illustrate an eighth embodiment of the inventive spring terminal, including a wedge-shaped adjusting means  835  arranged on the pivotable rocker arm  840  of contact assembly  803 . Rocker arm  840  is pivotally connected with contact assembly  803  by means of a hinge  871  and can be swung around a pivot axis  872 . Insertion opening  7  contained in the rocker arm  840  is adapted to receive the tip of the actuation tool  8 , which, upon actuation, opens contact part  3 . 
     Leaf spring contacts  831 ,  832 , analogous to those of the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , are connected in a V-shaped fashion and have an open side  38  and a closed side  39 , whereby in the shifting state V on the open side  38 , they are spaced apart from each other, and on the closed side  39 , they rest against each other. 
     Starting from adjoining leaf spring contacts  831 ,  832 , in order to be able to insert adjusting means  835  between leaf springs  831 ,  832 , the latter are bent outwardly on their sides facing the adjusting means  835 . 
     To actuate adjusting means  835  by means of actuation member  8 , the latter is so displaced that it will be arranged parallel to the insertion direction  51  of conductor  4 , so that it will engage between leaf spring contacts  831 ,  832 . Actuation member  8  is actuated in the actuation direction  81  at a right angle  85  with respect to insertion direction  51 . Then adjusting means  835  can be inserted on closed side  39  between leaf spring contacts  831 ,  832  so that interval  10  (see  FIG. 3 ) of leaf springs  831 ,  832  with respect to each will become greater. 
     Conductor  4  is guided from open side  38  between the two leaf spring contacts  831 ,  832  until it is arranged on closed side  39  between leaf springs  831 ,  832 . 
     Rocker arm  837  is preferably connected in a resilient manner, so that during the resetting of actuation member  8  against actuation direction  81 , it will swing back. As the result, leaf spring contacts  831 ,  832  at their closed end  39 , are also reset so that their interval again will be reduced until leaf spring contacts  831 ,  832  rest against conductor  4  and clamp the latter. 
       FIGS. 9   a - 9   i  illustrate a ninth embodiment of an inventive spring terminal  1  for connecting a conductor  4  with an electrical subassembly or printed circuit board  5 . 
     Contact part  3  of spring terminal  1  is made in the shape of a box and therefore has four box walls  931 ,  932 ,  933 ,  934 , which essentially are arranged at a right angle with respect to each other. In two opposite box walls  931 ,  932 , there are provided two clamping jaw contacts  935 ,  936 , which are arranged in V-shaped fashion with respect to each other, whereby clamping jaw contacts  935 ,  936  on their closed side  39  point into the interior of contact assembly  903 . For connection with an electrical subassembly  5 , contact assembly  903  furthermore has two contact feet  951 ,  952 , which are bent outwardly from box wall  934 . 
     It will be apparent that an embodiment of contact assembly  903  with only one clamping jaw  935  is also possible, in which case conductor  4  can be clamped between clamping jaw  935  and the opposite box wall  932 . 
     With a first end  923 , which can be stuck into contact assembly  903 , housing  902  can be inserted into the interior of contact assembly  903 . It has a second end  924  that cannot be inserted into contact assembly  903  upon which are arranged the insertion opening  6  for conductor  4  as well as the insertion opening  7  for actuation member  8 . Insertion opening  7  and insertion opening  6  are so arranged with respect to each other that actuation member  8  in an actuation direction  81  can be actuated parallel to the insertion direction  51  of conductor  4 . Conductor  4  is guided starting from the open side  38  of contact assembly  903  between clamping jaws  935 ,  936 . 
     Housing  902  has adjusting means  925  which, upon activation of the actuation member  8  in actuation direction  81 , is inserted between clamping jaws  935 ,  936 . As a result, clamping jaws  935 ,  936  on their closed side  39  are pressed apart from each other so that conductor  4  can be inserted between clamping jaws  935 ,  936 . 
     During the retraction of actuation member  8  against actuation direction  81 , clamping jaws  935 ,  936 , due to their reset force, are reset. In the process, conductor  4  is clamped between clamping jaws  935 ,  936 . Housing  902  in the process is also shifted against actuation direction  81 . 
     On the first end, which can be inserted into contact assembly  903 , stop means  928  ( FIG. 9   a ) are provided on housing  902 . After insertion into contact assembly  903  against actuation direction  81 , housing  902  therefore can be pulled out of contact assembly  903  only so far until the stop means  928  rest against contact assembly  903 . Because housing  902  by means of stop means  928  is attached upon contact assembly  903 , it cannot automatically be separated from contact assembly  903  during the shifting action against the actuation direction  81 . 
     In the modification of  FIG. 9   i , a second insulating housing part  100  is provided around contact part  3 . 
     A screwdriver  8  can be used advantageously as actuation member in all embodiments. Housing  2  is preferably formed from an insulating material, in particular, a synthetic plastic substance. 
     Contact assembly  3  is formed from a conductive material, in particular, a metal or a metal alloy. The resilient clamping jaws  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  are preferably made of a metal with good restoring properties. Because clamping jaw contacts  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  furthermore conduct current, the preferred material at the same time has good conductive properties. The inventive spring terminal can be made with miniaturized dimensions. 
     While in accordance with the provisions of the Patent Statutes the preferred forms and embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made without deviating from the invention described above.