Patent Publication Number: US-11050169-B2

Title: Wiring terminal and corresponding electrical component

Description:
FIELD 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a wiring terminal and a corresponding electrical component. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the electrical components, the electric wires are usually connected and secured by terminals. When the electric wires are being connected to the terminals, the metal conductor inside the electric wires has been exposed. The terminals are connected to the exposed metal conductor to establish a conductive connection between the terminals and the electric wires. Existing electric wires conventionally have two types, i.e., single-core hard conductor and multi-core soft conductors and the terminals of the existing electrical components usually include threaded and unthreaded terminals. The threaded terminals are mainly applied to connect with both the multi-core soft conductors and the single-core hard conductor, whereas the unthreaded terminal is only adapted to connect with the single-core hard conductor. Since the standards and specifications of terminals of electrical components vary in different countries and regions, in order to adapt to the various standards and specifications, it is required to configure corresponding types of terminals in the electrical components. 
     SUMMARY 
     The known electrical components generally adopt only one of the above two types of terminals, which limit the application range thereof. Besides, the threaded terminal and the connector in the wiring terminal are usually fabricated separately and then connected together through a plurality of connecting process such as soldering. Such design incurs errors in fabrication and assembly and thus reduces reliability of the terminal, especially in the scenario where the terminal is used repeatedly. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a wiring terminal and an electrical component comprising the wiring terminal and are intended to at least partially address the above and/or other potential problems in the design of the terminals. 
     In a first aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a wiring terminal. The wiring terminal comprises a U-shape connector comprising a first part and a second part opposite to each other, and a third part connecting the first part and the second part; a threaded terminal formed on a first surface of the first part and being integral with the first part; and an unthreaded terminal coupled to a second surface of the first part of the connector, the second surface being opposite to the first surface, and the unthreaded terminal being electrically coupled to the threaded terminal. 
     According to embodiments of the present disclosure, by incorporating both threaded and unthreaded terminals into the same terminal, the advantages of both the terminals are combined accordingly. This design can satisfy the actual needs of different customers at the same time. Meanwhile, by making the threaded terminal and the connector to be integrated, the multiple connections and thus the errors of multi factors in fabrication and assembly can be reduced. In this way, the electrical connecting performance of the wiring terminal can be improved and reliability of the wiring terminal can be increased as well. 
     In some embodiments, the threaded terminal comprises: a wire cavity comprising an opening formed on one end thereof for a conducting wire to be inserted; a threaded hole formed on a side wall surrounding the opening and proximate to the first part; and a screw passing through the threaded hole and being adapted to press the conducting wire. In this way, the secure wiring of the threaded terminal can be achieved. 
     In some embodiments, the connector comprises a hole formed on the first part; and the unthreaded terminal comprises a U-shape bracket comprising a top part and a bottom part opposite to each other; and wherein each of the top part and the bottom part comprises an elongation, the elongation comprising a hook inserted into the hole of the first part. In this way, the bracket can be securely coupled to the connector to enhance firmness of wiring of the unthreaded terminal. 
     In some embodiments, the bracket further comprises a lateral part connecting the top part and the bottom part, and a lug is formed on the lateral part. 
     In some embodiments, the unthreaded terminal further comprises: an elastic piece comprising a base being pressed against the lateral part of the bracket by the lug. In this way, the elastic piece is firmly coupled to the bracket to further increase the reliability of the unthreaded terminal. 
     In some embodiments, the elastic piece further comprises: a first extension and a second extension respectively extending from two ends of the base, the first extension and the second extension being capable of abutting the first part of the connector under an elastic force of the elastic piece. In this way, the firmness of the elastic piece can be enhanced. 
     In some embodiments, the first part comprises a groove, the groove adapted for the conducting wire to be inserted and allowing the conducting wire to be held in the groove by the first extension and the second extension of the elastic piece. In this way, the fastness of the connection between the conducting wire and the unthreaded terminal can be increased. 
     In some embodiments, the connector comprises a release hole disposed on the first part, the release hole being adapted to release the conducting wire from the unthreaded terminal in response to an external force pushing the elastic piece away from the first part through the release hole when the conducting wire is inserted into the unthreaded terminal. In this way, the conducting wire can be detached from the unthreaded terminal conveniently. 
     In some embodiments, the wiring terminal further comprises: a locating hole positioned on the third part of the connector, the locating hole being adapted to be sleeved into a locating column of a mounting body to secure the wiring terminal to the mounting body. In this way, the wiring terminal can be coupled to an expected mounting body, so as to expand the adaptable range of the wiring terminal. 
     In a second aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electrical component comprising the wiring terminal of the first aspect. In this way, the electrical component can satisfy actual needs of different customers at the same time and enhance the reliability of the electrical components. 
     In some embodiments, the electrical component is a switch or a socket. In this way, the switch or the socket can satisfy actual needs of different customers at the same time and the stability and reliability of the switch or the socket can be enhanced. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Through the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, the above and other objectives, features, and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will be more apparent. In the drawings, a plurality of embodiments of the present disclosure are explained in an exemplary and non-restrictive manner, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a terminal in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a further perspective view of the terminal in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein unthreaded terminal is omitted; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates another perspective view of the terminal in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an upward-view perspective view of the terminal in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of the electrical component having the terminal in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Principles of the present disclosure are now explained with reference to various example embodiments illustrated in the drawings. It should be appreciated that description of those embodiments is merely to enable those skilled in the art to better understand and further implement the present disclosure and is not intended to limit the scope disclosed herein in any manner. It should be noted similar or same reference signs can be used in the drawings where feasible, and similar or same reference signs may represent similar or same functions. Those skilled in the art will easily understand from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structure and method explained herein can be adopted without departing from the principles of the present invention described herein. 
     As mentioned above, existing electrical components often intends to use either threaded terminals or unthreaded terminals only. However, it may be required to choose between threaded terminals and unthreaded terminals during actual use based on the practical needs of customers. Therefore, the electrical components with a single type of threaded terminal are restricted during promotion. 
     Some example embodiments are described now with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 2 .  FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a wiring terminal  100  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.  FIG. 2  illustrates a further perspective view of the wiring terminal  100  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure wherein the unthreaded terminal is omitted for the sake of clarity. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , embodiments of the present disclosure provide a wiring terminal  100 , which generally includes a connector  300 , a threaded terminal  400  and an unthreaded terminal  500 . The connector  300  is generally of a U shape and can be formed by a first part  301 , a second part  302  and a third part  303 . The first part  301  and the second part  302  are disposed opposite to each other and are connected by the third part  303 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the threaded terminal  400  is formed on a first surface  308  of the first part  301  of the connector  300 . The threaded terminal  400  is integrally formed with the connector  300 . The threaded terminal  400  and the connector  300  may be fabricated integrally through molding characteristics of a copper piece. It is to be understood that the threaded terminal  400  and the connector  300  may also be fabricated integrally through other metals in addition to copper. The specific material is not restricted by embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the unthreaded terminal  500  is coupled to a second surface  309  of the first part  301  of the connector  300 , the second surface  309  be opposite to the first surface  308 . The unthreaded terminal  500  is electrically coupled to the threaded terminal  400 . In the embodiment shown by  FIG. 1 , the threaded terminal  400  and the unthreaded terminal  500  are arranged side by side. It is to be appreciated that the unthreaded terminal  500  and the threaded terminal  400  can be arranged in other manners according to the specific using environment. For example, the unthreaded terminal  500  in  FIG. 1  may be rotated clockwise by 90 degrees to connect with the first part  301 , the second part  302  and the third part  303 , such that the threaded terminal  400  and the unthreaded terminal  500  are arranged at two sides. 
     In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, the wiring terminal  100  includes the threaded terminal  400  and the unthreaded terminal  500 . In this way, the wiring terminal  100  can satisfy the needs of the customers using both the unthreaded terminals and the threaded terminals, which further improves wiring capability of the wiring terminal  100  and expands its adaptable range. Meanwhile, by making the threaded terminal  400  and the connector  300  to be integrally fabricated, multiple connections and many factor errors in manufacturing and assembly can be reduced, such that the product gains a more satisfactory electrical connection performance and becomes more stable and reliable. 
     Some example implementations of the wiring terminal  100  are described hereinafter with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 .  FIG. 3  illustrates another perspective view of the wiring terminal  100  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure and  FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom perspective view of the wiring terminal  100  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     In some embodiments, the threaded terminal  400  may include a wire cavity  410 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the wire cavity  410  is formed on its one end  415  with an opening  411 . The opening  411  is dimensioned and shaped to allow users using the threaded terminal  400  to insert a conducting wire. The threaded terminal  400  may also include a threaded hole  413 , which is disposed on a side wall  412  partially surrounding the opening  411  and being proximate to the first part  301 . The threaded terminal  410  may also include a screw  420 , which passes through the threaded hole  413  and presses against the conducting wire along screwing of the screw  420  when the conducting wire is inserted into the wire cavity  410 . In this way, the fastness of the wiring of the threaded terminal  400  can be effectively guaranteed. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , in some embodiments, the wire cavity  410  may substantially be cuboid and the opening  411  is positioned at the bottom of the wire cavity  410 . It should be understood that this is only exemplary and the wire cavity  410  may have other shapes in addition to cuboid in other embodiments, as long as the cavity  410  can be formed to accommodate the conducting wire. The opening  411  may also be set in different orientations and/or positions, such that the conducting wire can be inserted into the wire cavity  410  from different directions based on the actual requirements. 
     Moreover, in alternative embodiments, the screw  420  and the threaded hole  413  can be configured on other side walls of the wire cavity  410  as long as the specific configuration would not interfere the usage of other components. For example, the threaded hole  413  can be arranged on a side wall  416  opposite to the side wall  412  shown in  FIG. 4  or on a side wall  417  next to the side wall  412 . The position and screwing direction of the screw  413  are adjusted accordingly. 
     In some embodiments, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the connector  300  may have a hole  304  formed on the first part  301 . The unthreaded terminal  500  may include an elastic piece  520  and a U-shaped bracket  510  mated therewith. The bracket  510  may have a top part  511  and a bottom part  513  opposing to each other, and a lateral part  512  connecting the top part  511  and the bottom part  513 . 
     As shown, the top part  511  and the bottom part  513  may have respective elongations  514 . The end of each of the elongations  514  has a hook  515  adapted to insert into a respective hole  304  of the connector  300 . Accordingly, the bracket  510  can be firmly coupled to the connector  300 , thereby achieving stable wiring of the unthreaded terminal  500 . 
     In some embodiments, a lug  516  is formed on the lateral part  512  of the bracket  510 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the bracket  510  has two lugs  516 . It is to be appreciated that other numbers of lugs may also be disposed on the lateral part  512 . 
     The unthreaded terminal  500  may also include an elastic piece  520  for use with the bracket  510 . The elastic piece  520  can be at least partially made of an elastic material. The elastic piece  520  may also include a base  521 , which is “hugged” by the lug  516  and is then pressed against the lateral part  512  of the bracket  510 . In this way, the elastic piece  520  is firmly coupled to the bracket  510 , which further increases the wiring reliability of the unthreaded terminal  500 . 
     In some embodiments, the elastic piece  520  may also include a first extension  522  and a second extension  523  extending from the base  521 , wherein both the extensions  522 ,  523  may be at least partially made of elastic materials. Since the base  521  of the elastic piece  520  is held on the lateral part  512  of the bracket  510  by the lug  516  of the bracket  510 , the first extension  522  and the second extension  523  abut the second surface  309  of the first part  301  of the connector  300  under the action of the elastic material of the elastic piece  520 . Therefore, the firmness of the elastic piece  520  is increased. 
     In some embodiments, the connector  300  is provided on its first part  301  with a groove  305  and the groove  305  may have a circular cross section. When being inserted along the groove  305 , the conducting wire  700  pushes the first extension  522  and the second extension  523  of the elastic piece  520  away and is then compressed between the first extension  522  and the second extension  523  of the elastic piece  520  and the first part  301  of the connector  300  under the elastic force of the elastic piece  520 . Therefore, a firm wiring between the conducting wire  700  and the unthreaded terminal  500  can be ensured. 
     In some embodiments, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the connector  300  may further include a release hole  307  on the first part  301 . When it is required to release the conducting wire  700  from the unthreaded terminal  500 , an external force may be applied via the release hole  307  onto the first extension  522  and the second extension  523  of the elastic piece  520 . Accordingly, the elastic piece  520  can be moved away from the first part  301  of the connector  300  along a direction A as shown in  FIG. 3 , such that the conducting wire  700  is released from the unthreaded terminal  500 . The external force may be applied by means of a tool like screwdriver. The tool may enter through an inlet  418  on the side wall  414  of the threaded terminal  400  and then pass through the release hole  307 , so as to release the conducting wire  700 . With the arrangement of the release hole  307 , when users intend to replace or disassemble the conducting wire  700 , the conducting wire  700  can be conveniently released from the unthreaded terminal  500 . 
     In some embodiments, the wiring terminal  100  may also include a locating hole  306 , which may be coupled with a locating column on a mounting body. For example, the locating hole  306  may be sleeved into the locating column of the mounting body, so as to locate the wiring terminal  100  on the mounting body. In this way, the users can couple the wiring terminal  100  to an intended position as required, which can greatly increase the application range of the wiring terminal  100 . 
     An electrical component  600  using the above described wiring terminal  100  is described hereinafter with reference to  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of the electrical component  600  having the wiring terminal  100  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The electrical component  600  comprises the above described wiring terminal  100 . The electrical component  600  including the above wiring terminal  100  can satisfy the actual needs of various customers and also improve the reliability. 
     In some embodiments, the electrical component  600  may be a switch or a socket. In some embodiments, the electrical component  600  may also be other electrical components adapted to use the wiring terminal  100 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the electrical component  600  comprises two terminals  100 . It is to be understood that other numbers of terminals  100  may also be used according to the actual requirements. For example, the electrical component  600  may comprise only one wiring terminal  100  or alternatively comprise three or four or even more terminals  100 . 
     Although the claims of the present application are made for certain combinations of the features, it should be appreciated that the scope of the present disclosure also includes any explicitly or implicitly summarized novel features or novel combinations of the features no matter whether or not the features relate to the same solutions in any claims sought for protection.