Abstract:
A compression connector for securing wires therein is disclosed. The compression connector comprises a first body portion connected to a second body portion, each of the first and second body portions having two pairs of leg portions extending therefrom to form two conductor receiving channels, respectively. The compression connector also has a first pair of slots and a second pair of slots for receiving a cable tie to secure wires therein before crimping. At least one transversely-oriented slot extends between the first pair of slots and the second pair of slots. A method for securing wires within a compression connector is also disclosed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 10/668,847, filed Sep. 23, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,818,830, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. Nos. 60/413,768, filed on Sep. 26, 2002, and 60/491,113, filed on Jul. 30, 2003, the entireties of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to an H-tap compression connector and, more particularly, to an H-tap compression connector with an easy installation feature and a longitudinally-oriented hole therethrough. 
   Examples of H-tap compression connectors can be found in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,307,216; 3,183,025; 3,235,654; 3,354,517; 5,162,615; 5,396,033; 5,552,564; 5,635,676; and 6,525,270. However, none of these prior art compression connectors have a transversely-oriented slot extending between a first pair of slots on one side of the compression connector and a second pair of slots on the other side of the compression connector. Moreover, none of these prior art compression connectors have a longitudinally-oriented hole extending through the center of the compression connector. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It would be desirable to provide an H-tap compression connector having increased mechanical strength. 
   It would also be desirable to provide an H-tap compression connector having a longitudinally-oriented hole therethrough. 
   It would further be desirable to provide an H-tap compression connector having symmetry about a centerline passing transversely through the center of the compression connector. 
   It would also be desirable to provide an H-tap compression connector that facilitates one person installation. 
   A compression connector for securing wires therein is disclosed. The compression connector has a first body portion connected to a second body portion. Each of the first and second body portions has two pairs of leg portions extending therefrom to form two conductor receiving channels, respectively. The compression connector also has a first pair of slots and a second pair of slots for receiving a cable tie to secure wires therein before crimping. A transversely-oriented slot extends between the first pair of slots and the second pair of slots, and an aperture extends through the first body portion or the second body portion. 
   Preferably, the aperture extends either longitudinally or transversely through the compression connector, and a central body portion connects the first body portion and the second body portion. 
   Preferably, the aperture may extend through: 1) the first body portion and the central body portion; 2) the second body portion and the central body portion; or 3) the first body portion, the central body portion and the second body portion. 
   Preferably, the first and second pair of leg portions have diagonally opposed symmetry, and are substantially parallel or curved. Alternatively, the first and second pair of leg portions have same-side symmetry, and are substantially parallel or curved. 
   Preferably, the third and fourth pair of leg portions have diagonally opposed symmetry, and are substantially parallel or curved. Alternatively, the third and fourth pair of leg portions have same-side symmetry, and are substantially parallel or curved. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a compression connector of the present invention shown secured around run and tap wires after crimping; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the compression connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the compression connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a right side view of the compression connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the compression connector taken along lines  5 — 5  of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a front view of the compression connector of  FIG. 1  after the run and tap wires have been secured but before crimping; 
       FIG. 7  is a front view of the compression connector of  FIG. 1  after crimping; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a compression connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a front view of the compression connector of  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a right side view of the compression connector of  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a compression connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 12  is a front view of the compression connector of  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a right side view of the compression connector of  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a compression connector according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention shown secured around run and tap wires after crimping; 
       FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the compression connector of  FIG. 14 ; 
       FIG. 16  is a left side view of the compression connector of  FIG. 14 ; 
       FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view of the compression connector taken along lines  17 — 17  of  FIG. 16 ; 
       FIG. 18  is a front view of the compression connector of  FIG. 14  after the run and tap wires have been secured but before crimping; 
       FIG. 19  is a front view of the compression connector of  FIG. 14  after crimping; and 
       FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional view of the compression connector taken along lines  20 — 20  of  FIG. 19 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The illustrated embodiments of the invention are directed to an H-tap compression connector having a pair of slots cut through both sides to provide a space to loop a cable tie around wires in the compression connector to secure the wires before crimping, and a transversely-oriented slot extending between the compression connector sides. Moreover, the compression connector has a longitudinally-oriented hole therethrough. 
   A first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1–7 .  FIG. 1  shows an H-tap compression connector  20  secured around wires, such as run wires  22  and tap wires  24 , after crimping. Preferably, compression connector  20  is a one-piece member made of electrically conductive material, such as copper. However, it is likewise contemplated that compression connector  20  may be made of any suitable materials or elements. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2–5 , compression connector  20  has a first section  26  and a second section  28 . First section  26  includes a first body portion  30  having four leg portions  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  extending therefrom to form conductor receiving channels  40 ,  42  in which run wires  22  and tap wires  24  can be placed. Second section  28  is identical to first section  26 . Thus, second section  28  includes a second body portion  44  having four leg portions  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52  extending therefrom to form conductor receiving channels  54 ,  56  in which run wires  22  and tap wires  24  can be placed. As best seen in  FIG. 4 , a central body portion  58  connects first body portion  30  and second body portion  44 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , compression connector  20  includes four slots  60 ,  61 ,  62 ,  63  cut through the sides of compression connector  20 . Slots  60 ,  61 ,  62 ,  63  provide space to loop a cable tie  64  to secure run wires  22  and tap wires  24  to compression connector  20  before crimping, as shown in  FIG. 6 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , a transversely-oriented slot  66  extends between slots  60 ,  62 , and as best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , slot  66  is positioned below conductor receiving channels  40 ,  54 . Similarly, a transversely-oriented slot  67  extends between slots  61 ,  63 , and as best seen in  FIG. 4 , slot  67  is positioned above conductor receiving channels  42 ,  56 . Slots  60 ,  61 ,  62 ,  63  allow crimped wire material to flow between first section  26  and second section  28 . During crimping, the wire material that flows between first section  26  and second section  28  fills slots  66 ,  67  creating a mechanical lock. Thus, slots  66 ,  67  increase wire pullout force and, in turn, increase the mechanical strength of compression connector  20 . 
   In operation, run wires  22  and tap wires  24  are inserted into compression connector  20  and retained in position prior to crimping using cable tie  64 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . Alternatively, a first cable tie may be utilized to secure tap wires  24  to compression connector  20 , and then a second cable tie may be utilized to secure run wires  22  and tap wires  24  to compression connector  20 . When run wires  22  and tap wires  24  are secured to compression connector  20 , the installer is free to position the crimp tool over compression connector  20  and begin crimping. Compression connector  20  is crimped with one single crimp over first section  26  and second section  28 . Compression connector  20  is crimped with cable tie  64  in place using a crimp tool, such as Panduit® CT-2940 crimp tool, fitted with a pair of crimp dies, such as Panduit® CD-940H-250 crimp dies. As shown in  FIG. 7 , after crimping, cable tie  64  is loosely secured around run wires  22  and tap wires  24 . Cable tie  64  can be removed or left in place. 
   A second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 8–10 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , an H-tap compression connector  120  is substantially the same as compression connector  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 1–7 , except compression connector  120  has curved leg portions and is designed to accommodate smaller wires than compression connector  20 . However, compression connector  120  functions similarly to compression connector  20 . 
   A third embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 11–13 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , an H-tap compression connector  220  is substantially the same as compression connector  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 1–7 , except compression connector  220  has curved leg portions and is designed to accommodate smaller wires than compression connector  20 . However, compression connector  220  functions similarly to compression connector  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 1–7 . 
   A fourth embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 14–20 .  FIG. 14  shows an H-tap compression connector  320  secured around wires, such as run wires  322  and tap wires  324 , after crimping. Preferably, compression connector  320  is a one-piece member made of electrically conductive material, such as copper. However, it is likewise contemplated that compression connector  320  may be made of any suitable materials or elements. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 15–17 , compression connector  320  has a first section  326  and a second section  328 . First section  326  includes a first body portion  330  having four leg portions  332 ,  334 ,  336 ,  338  extending therefrom to form conductor receiving channels  340 ,  342  in which run wires  322  and tap wires  324  can be placed. Second section  328  is identical to first section  326 . Thus, second section  328  includes a second body portion  344  having four leg portions  346 ,  348 ,  350 ,  352  extending therefrom to form conductor receiving channels  354 ,  356  in which run wires  322  and tap wires  324  can be placed. 
   As best seen in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , a central body portion  358  connects first body portion  330  and second body portion  344 , and central body portion  358  has a longitudinally-oriented hole  360  extending therethrough. Alternatively, hole  360  may extend transversely through central body portion  358 . Preferably, hole  360  extends longitudinally through first body portion  330 , central body portion  358  and second body portion  344 . Alternatively, hole  360  may extend through only first body portion  330  and central body portion  358 . Similarly, hole  360  may extend through only second body portion  344  and central body portion  358 . During crimping, and as shown in  FIG. 20 , run wires  322  and tap wires  324  get pushed into hole  360 , and a mechanical lock is created. Thus, hole  360  increases wire pullout force and, in turn, increases the mechanical strength of compression connector  320 . 
   Typically, leg portions  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  have diagonally opposed symmetry. As best seen in  FIG. 3 , leg portions  32  and  38  are symmetrical, and leg portions  34  and  36  are symmetrical. Similarly, leg portions  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52  have diagonally opposed symmetry. As best seen in  FIG. 5 , leg portions  46  and  52  are symmetrical, and leg portions  48  and  50  are symmetrical. 
   Conversely, the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 14–20  incorporates symmetry about a center line passing transversely through the center of compression connector  320 . Thus, as best seen in  FIG. 15 , leg portions  332  and  334  are symmetrical, and leg portions  336  and  338  are symmetrical. Similarly, as best seen in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , leg portions  346  and  348  are symmetrical, and leg portions  350  and  352  are symmetrical. As a result, during the crimping process, compression connector  320  remains continually in the same position relative to the crimping die, which eliminates jamming of the crimp tool caused by pivoting or shifting of compression connector  320  during crimping. 
   As shown in  FIG. 15 , compression connector  320  includes four slots  362 ,  363 ,  364 ,  365  cut through compression connector  320 . Slots  362 ,  363 ,  364 ,  365  provide space to loop a cable tie  366  to secure run wires  322  and tap wires  324  to compression connector  320  before crimping, as shown in  FIG. 18 . Slots  362 ,  363 ,  364 ,  365  also allow crimped wire material to flow between first section  326  and second section  328 . During crimping, the wire material that flows between first section  326  and second section  328  acts as a mechanical lock with the inside edges of compression connector  320  to increase wire pullout force. 
   In operation, run wires  322  and tap wires  324  are inserted into compression connector  320  and retained in position prior to crimping using cable tie  366 , as shown in  FIG. 18 . Alternatively, a first cable tie may be utilized to secure tap wires  324  to compression connector  320 , and then a second cable tie may be utilized to secure run wires  322  and tap wires  324  to compression connector  320 . When run wires  322  and tap wires  324  are secured to compression connector  320 , the installer is free to position the crimp tool over compression connector  320  and begin crimping. Compression connector  320  is crimped with one single crimp over first section  326  and second section  328 . Compression connector  320  is crimped with cable tie  364  in place using a crimp tool, such as Panduit® CT-2940 crimp tool, fitted with a pair of crimp dies, such as Panduit® CD-940H-250 crimp dies. As shown in  FIG. 19 , after crimping, cable tie  366  is loosely secured around run wires  322  and tap wires  324 . Cable tie  366  can be removed or left in place. 
   The disclosed invention provides an H-tap compression connector having a longitudinally-oriented hole therethrough. It should be noted that the above-described illustrated embodiments and preferred embodiments of the invention are not an exhaustive listing of the form such a compression connector in accordance with the invention might take; rather, they serve as exemplary and illustrative of embodiments of the invention as presently understood. By way of example, and without limitation, a transversely-oriented hole may be formed through the compression connector. Many other forms of the invention are believed to exist.