Patent Description:
A conventional terminal device or wire-pressing terminal has an insulation case (generally made of plastic material) and a metal leaf spring mounted in the insulation case to press and electrically connect with a conductive wire plugged in the insulation case. A tool can be inserted into the insulation case to press and move the metal leaf spring so as to release the conductive wire.

Basically, the metal leaf spring of such kind of connection terminal is assembled with a slenderer or narrower terminal pin in a symmetrical form for plugging on a circuit board (such as a PCB, not shown) and electrically connecting with the circuit board.

With respect to such kind of terminal device, it is necessary to operate a tool to electrically disconnect the metal leaf spring from the conductive wire. This is quite inconvenient. In order to eliminate this shortcoming, an improved terminal device has been disclosed. The improved terminal device has a shift member or drive member disposed on the insulation case for controlling the metal leaf spring to press and electrically connect with the conductive wire plugged into the case or release the conductive wire.

<CIT> discloses an electrical connection terminal having a case and a press section and a metal leaf spring assembled in the chamber of the case. One end of the press section is assembled with a shaft pin as a swinging fulcrum. The other end of the press section is connected with an oblique cover end. The oblique cover end has a downward protruding hollow tubular body and a perforation in communication with the hollow tubular body, whereby the conductive wire is permitted to plug through the perforation into the hollow tubular body into contact with the metal leaf spring and the conductive component. <CIT> employs the press section to press down the hollow tubular body and force the hollow tubular body to push away the metal leaf spring, whereby the conductive wire can be plugged into the conductive component. According to the structural characteristic of <CIT>, the position where the hollow tubular body pushes away the clamping spring is very close to the position where the clamping spring is assembled with the stake. This means that an operator needs to apply a greater operation force to the hollow tubular body for pushing away the clamping spring.

<CIT> discloses a wire connection terminal device including a housing, a busbar (or conductive component), an actuating element and an α-shaped clamping spring. The α-shaped clamping spring has a spring bend and a resting section in contact with the busbar. The spring bend is upward bent from one end of the resting section to form an actuating section. The actuating section is downward bent to form a clamping section. A middle portion of the clamping section is formed with a conductor leadthrough opening. The other end of the resting section is upward bent to form a bearing arm positioned at the conductor leadthrough opening. The rear end of the bearing arm is formed with a free end hooked with the actuating element and a bearing spindle. In <CIT>, the top part of the actuating element must be upward pushed by <NUM> degrees and the actuating finger must press down the spring bend to make the conductor leadthrough opening move downward so as to expose sufficient space for plugging in or extracting out the conductive wire. Therefore, <CIT> also has the shortcoming that the operation space and the volume of the housing must be enlarged so that the conductor leadthrough opening can have sufficient operation travel to move downward to expose sufficient of the conductor leadthrough opening.

<CIT> discloses a wire connection terminal device including a connection terminal, a clamping spring, a metal part and an actuating element. One end of the actuating element is pivotally connected with a conductor pivot pin of the connection terminal, whereby the actuating element can reciprocally move. The actuating element has an actuating wall and an unlocking section and a pressing section connected with the actuating wall. The unlocking section and the pressing section are respectively positioned on the upper and lower sides of the actuating wall. When operating the actuating element to move downward, the pressing section is forced to press the clamping spring. When pushing the actuating element upward, the unlocking section pushes and lifts the clamping spring to release the electrical conductor from the pressing of the clamping spring. In <CIT>, the actuating element must be upward pushed and rotated by at least <NUM> degrees to make the unlocking section lift the clamping spring so as to expose sufficient space for plugging in or extracting out the conductive wire. Therefore, <CIT> also has the shortcoming that the operation space or volume must be enlarged.

<CIT> and <CIT> both disclose examples of wire connecton terminal devices.

<CIT> discloses a wire connection terminal device according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

Please refer to <FIG>, which shows a conventional connection terminal equipped with the shift member. Such kind of terminal device can be plugged on a circuit board (such as a PCB, not shown). The connection terminal includes an insulation case <NUM> and a shift member <NUM> mounted on the case <NUM>. The case <NUM> has a perforation or a wire inlet <NUM> for a conductive wire <NUM> to plug into the case <NUM>. The case <NUM> defines a chamber <NUM> in which a metal leaf spring <NUM> is mounted. By means of operating the shift member <NUM>, the metal leaf spring <NUM> is controlled to contact or electrically connect with the conductive wire <NUM> plugged into the case <NUM>.

To speak more specifically, the metal leaf spring <NUM> includes a head end <NUM> inserted on a hole <NUM> of the shift member <NUM>. After the conductive wire <NUM> is plugged into the case <NUM>, the head end <NUM> of the metal leaf spring <NUM> will bite the conductive wire <NUM> and prevent the conductive wire <NUM> from easily detaching from the metal leaf spring <NUM> or the case <NUM>. Only when an operator pushes down the shift member <NUM> to drive the head end <NUM> of the metal leaf spring <NUM>, the conductive wire <NUM> is released from the pressing of the metal leaf spring <NUM>.

However, as well known by those who are skilled in this field, the above conventional connection terminal has a relatively complicated structure that the shift member <NUM> is formed with the hole <NUM> on which the head end <NUM> of the metal leaf spring <NUM> is inserted. Also, it is more troublesome to assemble these components. In addition, the volume of the shift member <NUM> must be enlarged so that the handle <NUM> can protrude out of the case <NUM> for an operator to operate. This will increase the possibility of mis-touch of the operator to the shift member <NUM>. Moreover, with respect to the above conventional connection terminal, it is necessary to reserve a larger operational space around the connection terminal to allow the operation and motion of the shift member <NUM>. This will more limit the arrangement of the environmental equipment in the working site. This is not what we expect.

<CIT> discloses a wire connection terminal device similar to the example of <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a connection terminal equipped with a drive member <NUM> to minimize the operational and motional space of the conventional shift member <NUM> or increase the arrangement space of the environmental equipment in the working site. The connection terminal has a case <NUM> defining a chamber <NUM>. The chamber <NUM> is formed with a longitudinal cavity <NUM> in which the drive member <NUM> is mounted. The drive member <NUM> is allowed to reciprocally move along the cavity <NUM>.

When the drive member <NUM> pressed down the head end <NUM> of the metal leaf spring <NUM>, the conductive wire <NUM> is allowed to plug into the case <NUM> from the wire inlet <NUM>. After the down pressing force of the drive member <NUM> disappears, the head end <NUM> of the metal leaf spring <NUM> will bite the conductive wire <NUM> and electrically connect therewith. Only when an operator presses down the drive member <NUM> again to push away the head end <NUM> of the metal leaf spring <NUM>, the conductive wire <NUM> is released from the pressing of the metal leaf spring <NUM>.

It should be noted that the drive member <NUM> must have sufficient operational travel so as to truly control and drive the metal leaf spring <NUM> to press or release the conductive wire <NUM>. Therefore, the above connection terminal must be structurally designed with a case <NUM> with enlarged volume so that the cavity <NUM> can provide larger longitudinal operational travel range. However, this is unbeneficial to the structural design of the connection terminal. Also, the drive member <NUM> has the structural form that protrudes from the case <NUM> in normal state. This increases the possibility of mis-touch of the operator to the drive member <NUM>.

Please now refer to <FIG>, which shows a conventional connection terminal employs a push member <NUM> in cooperation with an a -shaped metal leaf spring <NUM>. This connection terminal improves the shortcoming of mis-touch of the operator. The case <NUM> is formed with a transverse slot <NUM>, whereby the push member <NUM> can transversely move along the slot <NUM> to push/press the metal leaf spring <NUM> and expose the opening <NUM> of the metal leaf spring <NUM>. Under such circumstance, the conductive wire <NUM> can be plugged into the case <NUM> and the opening <NUM> from the wire inlet <NUM>.

After the push member <NUM> restores to its home position, the head end <NUM> of the metal leaf spring <NUM> cooperates with the opening <NUM> to bite the conductive wire <NUM> and electrically connect therewith. Only when an operator again operates the push member <NUM> to transversely move along the slot <NUM> to push away the head end <NUM> of the metal leaf spring <NUM> and expose the opening <NUM>, the conductive wire <NUM> is released from the pressing of the metal leaf spring <NUM>.

It should be noted that the push member <NUM> must have sufficient operational travel so as to truly control and drive the metal leaf spring <NUM> to press or release the conductive wire <NUM>. Therefore, the above connection terminal also must be structurally designed with a case <NUM> with enlarged volume so that the slot <NUM> can provide larger transverse operational travel range. Moreover, the moving direction of the push member <NUM> along the slot <NUM> is different from the down pressing direction of the metal leaf spring <NUM>, (that is, the force is not applied in such a direction as to directly press down the metal leaf spring <NUM>). Therefore, it is laborious to operate the push member <NUM>.

With respect to the structural design and application of such kind of terminal devices, all the above terminal devices have the shortcoming that the structural design is not ideal. For example, the handle <NUM> of the shift member <NUM> or the drive member <NUM> protrudes out of the case <NUM> so that the possibility of mis-touch of the operator is increased or the arrangement space of the environmental equipment in the working site is affected. Also, the volume of the case <NUM> must be enlarged so that the drive member <NUM> or the push member <NUM> can have sufficient operational travel. In addition, it is laborious to operate the push member <NUM>.

To speak representatively, the conventional connection terminals or terminal devices and the shift member (or drive member and push member) and the metal leaf spring have some shortcomings in design of the relevant assembling structures. To overcome the above shortcomings, it is necessary to redesign the assembling structures of the terminal devices and the shift member (or drive member and push member) and the metal leaf spring so as to change the structure and the use form of the terminal devices and widen the application range thereof as well as enhance the convenience in operation of the terminal devices.

In order to overcome or improve the above shortcomings of the structural form of the conventional terminal devices, the present invention provides a wire connection terminal device having several advantages in design. For example, in the condition that as a whole, the terminal device can keep securely pressing the conductive wire, the terminal device includes a pressing/moving unit. The force application direction of the pressing/moving unit is identical to the down pressing direction of the metal leaf spring so as to improve the shortcoming of the conventional terminal device that it is laborious to operate the push member. Also, in the condition that the volume of the case is not increased, the operational travel range of the pressing/moving unit is as minimized as possible. This improves the shortcomings of the conventional terminal device that the arrangement space of the environmental equipment in the working site is affected and the handle <NUM> of the shift member <NUM> or the drive member <NUM> protrudes out of the case <NUM> to cause mis-touch of the operator. All these are not substantially taught, suggested or disclosed in the above conventional terminal devices.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a wire connection terminal device according to claim <NUM> including a main body and a pressing/moving unit assembled with the main body, the main body defining a chamber, a metal leaf spring and a terminal pin component being mounted in the chamber, the main body being formed with a wire inlet in communication with the chamber, the pressing/moving unit having a shafted section, a cam section connected with the shafted section, a force application section formed on the cam section and a press section formed on the cam section, the shafted section being pivotally connected on a shaft post of the main body, whereby the cam section can freely swing within the chamber, wherein pressing the force application section drives the press section to press a head end of the metal leaf spring so as to allow a conductive wire to be extracted out of the main body, wherein a length between the force application section and the shafted section being smaller than a length between the press section and the shafted section, The metal leaf spring is responsive to the motion of the pressing/moving unit to release the conductive wire. The wire connection terminal device improves the shortcomings of the conventional structure that the volume of the case and the operational space are larger and the motional travel is longer.

In the above wire connection terminal device, preferably, the shafted section of the pressing/moving unit is formed with a shaft hole pivotally connected on the shaft post of the main body, whereby the shaft post serves as a fulcrum or rotational center or swinging center for the pressing/moving unit to rotate or swing around the shaft post. In addition, the down pressing motional direction of the press section is identical to the motional direction of the metal leaf spring so that the metal leaf spring can be directly pressed and moved. Moreover, the distance between the force application section and the shafted section is smaller than the distance between the press section and the shafted section, whereby the operational travel of the pressing/moving unit is as minimized as possible.

The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:.

Please refer to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>. The wire connection terminal device of the present invention includes a main body <NUM> made of insulation material and a pressing/moving unit <NUM> assembled with the main body <NUM>. The main body <NUM> defines a chamber <NUM>. A metal leaf spring <NUM> and a terminal pin component <NUM> are mounted in the chamber <NUM>. The terminal pin component <NUM> is plugged on a circuit board (such as a PCB, not shown). The main body <NUM> includes a wire inlet <NUM> in communication with the chamber <NUM> and a recessed section 42a formed on the wire inlet <NUM>. The recessed section 42a serves to help in guiding a conductive wire <NUM> to plug through the wire inlet <NUM> into the chamber <NUM>. After plugged into the chamber <NUM>, the conductive wire <NUM> is pressed by the metal leaf spring <NUM> and electrically connected with the terminal pin component <NUM>.

The upper section, upper side, lower section, lower side or bottom section mentioned hereinafter are referred to with the direction of the drawings as the reference direction.

In this embodiment, the metal leaf spring <NUM> is responsive to the motion of the pressing/moving unit <NUM> to release the conductive wire <NUM>. To speak more specifically, the pressing/moving unit <NUM> has a shafted section <NUM>, a cam section <NUM> connected with the shafted section <NUM> and a force application section <NUM> formed on the cam section <NUM> and a press section <NUM> formed on the cam section <NUM>.

As shown in the drawings, the shafted section <NUM> is formed with a shaft hole <NUM> pivotally connected on a shaft post <NUM> of the main body <NUM> (or the chamber <NUM>). Accordingly, the cam section <NUM> can freely rotate or swing within the chamber <NUM> of the main body <NUM>. The force application section <NUM> protrudes from an upper section of the cam section <NUM> to form two stepped structures. In addition, the force application section <NUM> and the cam section <NUM> together define a cavity <NUM>. A base board <NUM> is formed on one side of the cam section <NUM> (or one of the stepped structures). One end of the base board <NUM> protrudes from the base board <NUM> to form the press section <NUM>.

In this embodiment, as shown in the drawings, the upper section of the main body <NUM> is formed with a socket <NUM> and an insertion section <NUM> for detachably assembling with a cover <NUM>. Corresponding to the socket <NUM> and the insertion section <NUM>, the cover <NUM> is formed with an insertion block <NUM>, an insertion portion <NUM> and a shoulder section <NUM> formed at a rear end of the insertion portion <NUM>. Accordingly, when the insertion block <NUM> and the shoulder section <NUM> are respectively mounted into the socket <NUM> and the insertion section <NUM> of the main body <NUM>, the insertion portion <NUM> of the cover <NUM> is received in the cavity <NUM> of the pressing/moving unit <NUM>.

In a preferred embodiment, the main body <NUM> is formed with a stopper section <NUM> in adjacency to the shaft post <NUM>. The stopper section <NUM> is a block body structure, which can cooperate with the base board <NUM> to hinder the pressing/moving unit <NUM> from being over-rotated. For example, the base board <NUM> can be formed with a protrusion section or a slot rail structure 67a assembled with the stopper section <NUM>. When operating the pressing/moving unit <NUM> to swing, the slot rail structure 67a can cooperate with the stopper section <NUM> to restrict the rotation or swing of the pressing/moving unit <NUM> within a certain range.

The mechanism for restricting the rotation or swing of the pressing/moving unit <NUM> within a certain range can also include a stop section <NUM> formed on the main body <NUM> in the form of a block body structure. Therefore, when the base board <NUM> of the pressing/moving unit <NUM> is rotated or swung to a position where the stop section <NUM> is positioned, the stop section <NUM> will stop the base board <NUM> to prevent the pressing/moving unit <NUM> from being over-rotated or over-swung.

As shown in the drawings, the lower end section of the base board <NUM> is formed with a restriction section <NUM>. The restriction section <NUM> has an extension face 68a in the form of a slope structure for guiding the conductive wire <NUM> to enter the terminal pin component <NUM>. That is, when the conductive wire <NUM> passes through the extension face 68a, the slope structure of the extension face 68a will guide the conductive wire <NUM> into the terminal pin component <NUM>. A notch <NUM> is formed between the restriction section <NUM> and the press section <NUM>. The restriction section <NUM> also serves to help in restricting the rotation or swing of the pressing/moving unit <NUM> within a certain range. This will be further described hereinafter.

Please further refer to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>. The metal leaf spring <NUM> is a substantially U-shaped structure. The metal leaf spring <NUM> has a first section <NUM>, a second section <NUM> and a bight section <NUM> connected between the first and second sections <NUM>, <NUM>. The first section <NUM> includes a head end <NUM> and the second section <NUM> includes a tail end <NUM>. The metal leaf spring <NUM> is mounted on a stake <NUM> of the main body <NUM>, whereby the first section <NUM> and/or the head end <NUM> can move or swing within the chamber <NUM>. As shown in the drawings, the pressing/moving unit <NUM> and the metal leaf spring <NUM> are respectively disposed on two sides of the chamber <NUM> of the main body <NUM>.

Please now refer to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>. The terminal pin component <NUM> is mounted in the chamber <NUM> of the main body <NUM>. The terminal pin component <NUM> is a board body structure with a geometrical configuration. The terminal pin component <NUM> includes a first side <NUM>, which is bent and formed on lower side of the board body structure, a second side <NUM> positioned above the first side <NUM>, a subsidiary side <NUM> connected with the first side <NUM> and terminal pins <NUM> bent and protruding from the first side <NUM>. The second side <NUM> has the form of a slope inclined from the first side <NUM>. The inclination angle of the second side <NUM> is equal to the angle by which the conductive wire <NUM> is plugged into the main body <NUM> or the wire inlet <NUM>, whereby the second side <NUM> can more snugly contact the conductive wire <NUM>. In addition, the second side <NUM> has a tip <NUM> for helping the head end <NUM> of the metal leaf spring <NUM> to together bite the conductive wire <NUM> and truly secure the conductive wire <NUM>.

As shown in the drawings, the first side <NUM> of the terminal pin component <NUM> is positioned on the bottom section <NUM> of the main body <NUM> with the terminal pins <NUM> extending out of the main body <NUM>. In addition, the second section <NUM> and the tail end <NUM> of the metal leaf spring <NUM> respectively contact the first side <NUM> and the subsidiary side <NUM> of the terminal pin component <NUM>. The head end <NUM> of the metal leaf spring <NUM> contacts the second side <NUM> of the terminal pin component <NUM>.

Please now refer to <FIG>. The above structurally cooperative form permits an operator to directly plug the conductive wire <NUM> through the wire inlet <NUM> into the chamber <NUM>. Due to the elasticity of the metal leaf spring <NUM> and/or the head end <NUM>, the conductive wire <NUM> can move along the second side <NUM> of the terminal pin component <NUM> to be pressed or bitten by the head end <NUM> of the metal leaf spring <NUM> and electrically connected with the terminal pin component <NUM> and the metal leaf spring <NUM>.

Please refer to <FIG>. When the operator presses down the force application section <NUM> of the pressing/moving unit <NUM> (in the direction of the arrow), the press section <NUM> is driven to press down the head end <NUM> of the metal leaf spring <NUM> so as to release the conductive wire <NUM> from the pressing or biting of the head end <NUM>. At this time, the operator can extract the conductive wire <NUM> out of the main body <NUM>.

As shown in the drawings, the restriction section <NUM> of the pressing/moving unit <NUM> contacts the tail end <NUM> of the metal leaf spring <NUM> or the base board <NUM> is stopped by the stop section <NUM> of the main body <NUM>. That is, the rotation range or swing range of the pressing/moving unit <NUM> is set to the position where the restriction section <NUM> reaches the tail end <NUM> of the metal leaf spring <NUM> or the first side <NUM> (or the subsidiary side <NUM>) of the terminal pin component <NUM>, or the rotation range or swing range of the pressing/moving unit <NUM> is set to the position where the base board <NUM> reaches the stop section <NUM>. In this case, the pressing/moving unit <NUM> will not be over-rotated or swung.

It should be noted that in case the position where the shaft hole <NUM> of the pressing/moving unit <NUM> is pivotally connected with the shaft post <NUM> as a fulcrum is defined as a rotational center or swinging center C, the length L1 between the force application section <NUM> (or the force application point) and the swinging center C (or the shaft hole <NUM> and the shaft post <NUM>) is smaller than the length L2 between the press section <NUM> and the swinging center C (or the shaft hole <NUM> and the shaft post <NUM>). Accordingly, the (depressing) displacement S1 of the force application section <NUM> is smaller than the (depressing) displacement S2 of the press section <NUM>. That is, in comparison with the conventional terminal device, the motional travel of the pressing/moving unit <NUM> or the force application section <NUM> is as minimized as possible. The operator only needs to operate the force application section <NUM> to move by a smaller amount or travel so as to release the conductive wire <NUM> from the pressing of the head end <NUM> of the metal leaf spring <NUM> and electrically disconnect the conductive wire <NUM> from the metal leaf spring <NUM>.

It should be noted that the (depressing) operational direction of the force application section <NUM> or the press section <NUM> is as identical to the (longitudinal) motional direction of the metal leaf spring <NUM> as possible. This is beneficial to directly press the head end <NUM> of the metal leaf spring <NUM>. In this case, the shortcoming of the conventional structure that it is laborious to use a push member to laterally push/press the metal leaf spring.

To speak representatively, the wire connection terminal device of the present invention can be stably operated to truly press the conductive wire. In comparison with the conventional terminal device, the wire connection terminal device of the present invention has the following advantages:.

In conclusion, the wire connection terminal device of the present invention is effective and different from the conventional terminal device in space form.

Claim 1:
A wire connection terminal device comprising a main body (<NUM>) and a pressing/moving unit (<NUM>) assembled with the main body (<NUM>), the main body (<NUM>) defining a chamber (<NUM>), a metal leaf spring (<NUM>) and a terminal pin component (<NUM>) being mounted in the chamber (<NUM>), the main body (<NUM>) being formed with a wire inlet (<NUM>) in communication with the chamber (<NUM>),
the pressing/moving unit (<NUM>) having a shafted section (<NUM>), a cam section (<NUM>) connected with the shafted section (<NUM>),
a force application section (<NUM>) formed on the cam section (<NUM>) and a press section (<NUM>) formed on the cam section (<NUM>), the shafted section (<NUM>) being pivotally connected on a shaft post (<NUM>) of the main body (<NUM>), whereby the cam section (<NUM>) can freely swing within the chamber (<NUM>), wherein pressing the force application section (<NUM>) drives the press section (<NUM>) to press a head end (<NUM>) of the metal leaf spring (<NUM>) so as to allow a conductive wire (<NUM>) to be extracted out of the main body (<NUM>), characterized by a length between the force application section (<NUM>) and the shafted section (<NUM>) being smaller than a length between the press section (<NUM>) and the shafted section (<NUM>).