Patent Description:
It is known to use a terminal block with a conductive bar to electrically link plugged conductors. To this purpose, the terminal block comprises a plurality of plugs with a releasable mechanisms to maintain an electrical contact between each conductor and the conductive bar. For example <CIT> describes a terminal block according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

Such a release mechanism usually comprises a retaining spring. This construction enables to constraint the conductor to build an efficient electrical contact.

In addition to that, it is important to correctly guide the conductor during insertion so that the conductor can be in the right place to cooperate with retaining spring. To that end, an insulating casing of the terminal can have dedicated walls, the conductive bar can have a specific form or additional accessories can be used.

This is especially the case when multi-stranded conductors are used. There is a need to prevent that some strands deviate and are not in the proper area between the conductive bar and the retaining spring.

It implies terminal block constructions that can be complex and with several parts. There is therefore a need to provide a simple constructive solution to enable a reliable plugging of the conductors.

The present invention aims to solve all or some of the disadvantages mentioned above.

For this purpose, the present invention relates to a terminal block comprising an insulating casing, a conductive bar and a retaining spring, the insulating casing extending according to a main plane and presenting a lateral recess arranged for an insertion of the conductive bar and the retaining spring transversally to the main plane into a mounted position, the conductive bar presenting in mounted position a base portion extending according to a middle plane transversal to the main plane and a lateral portion attached to the base portion and extending parallel to the main plane, the conductive bar further comprising a support leg attached to the base portion and configured to cooperate with a support part of the retaining spring and a cooperating leg attached to the base portion and configured to cooperate with a conductor inserted in a plug of the terminal block when the conductor is maintained by the retaining spring, the support leg and cooperating leg being transverse to the middle plane and extending in opposite directions transversally to the middle plane, the lateral portion and the cooperating leg extending according to the same direction transversally to the middle plane.

In other words, the support leg, the cooperating leg and the lateral portion are each attached to the base portion and extending transversally with respect to the base portion. The support leg is extending from the base portion according to a direction and both the cooperating leg and the lateral portion are extending from the base portion according to the opposite direction.

This construction enables to laterally maintain the plugged conductor and also to exert a maintaining force on the conductor in proximity to a junction between the base portion and the lateral portion with the retaining spring.

This facilitates the insertion and the positioning of the conductor in the plug of the terminal block. This geometry is especially efficient when a multi-stranded conductor is used but also suits for rigid pushed conductors. With a multi-stranded conductor, it improves the quality of the electrical contact as there is a limited risk of strand deviation during insertion of the conductor.

According to an aspect of the invention, the lateral recess of the insulating casing presents a bottom surface; the retaining spring, the support leg and the cooperating leg being located between the bottom surface and the lateral portion transversally to the main plane.

When inserted, the conductor is located between the lateral portion and the bottom surface transversally to the main plane. The conductor is then guided on one side by the conductive bar and on the other side by the insulating casing.

According to an aspect of the invention, the conductive bar presents an L-shaped profile constituted by the base portion and the lateral portion. This provision enables to guide and maintain the plugged conductor laterally with a conductive bar constituted by a limited amount of conductive material.

According to an aspect of the invention, the plug has an inserting hole made in the insulating casing, said inserting hole extending transversally to the middle plane and opening on the lateral recess.

During the insertion, the conductor is maintained transversally to the main plane by the insulating casing on both sides in the inserting hole and then on one side by the lateral portion and on the other side by the bottom surface in the lateral recess.

According to an aspect of the invention, the retaining spring is a leaf spring provided with two strips that are symmetrical with respect to a central plane of the retaining spring without any constraints applied on the retaining spring.

This provision enables a fast mounting of the spring in the lateral recess as there is no specific orientation for the retaining spring.

According to an aspect of the invention, in mounted position, the central plane is transversal to the main plane and to the middle plane.

Preferably, in mounted position, the central plane is inclined with respect to the inserting hole. More particularly, the central plane is perpendicular to the main plane and inclined with respect to the middle plane, the inclination being greater than <NUM>°.

This provision enables the retaining spring to exert a pressure on the conductor in an inclined way with respect to the middle plane. As the support leg and the cooperating leg are located on both sides of the middle plane, this means that the retaining spring also comprises parts on the two sides of the middle plane. The assembly constituted by the conductive bar and the retaining spring is then compact transversally to the middle plane.

According to an aspect of the invention, the insulating casing is provided with an actuating orifice of made in the insulating casing, said actuating orifice extending transversally to the middle plane and opening on the lateral recess.

The actuating orifice being oriented toward a movable part of the retaining spring. The actuating orifice is configured to enable a tool such as a screwdriver to displace said moving part. The moving part is configured to exert a constraint on the conductor in the absence of actuation to maintain the conductor electrically connected on the cooperating leg.

According to an aspect of the invention, each strip of the retaining spring extend according to a corresponding direction and presents to undulations, a first undulation opposed to the central plane and designed to be in front of the actuating orifice and a second undulation toward the central plane to confer an ending part of the retaining spring an inclined orientation with respect to the central plane.

The first undulation offers a better grip for the tool to actuate the retaining spring. The second undulation enables to orient the ending part of the retaining spring away from the central plane. It enables a better grip on the support leg and on the conductor.

According to an aspect of the invention, the lateral recess is a lateral blind slot in the thickness of the terminal block, the lateral recess comprising an insert for receiving the retaining spring and the conductive bar within the thickness of the terminal block.

The lateral blind slot enables an easy insert of the retaining spring and the conductive bar.

The thickness of the terminal block is defined as being the dimension of the terminal block transversally to the main plane. The conductive bar and the retaining spring are contained within the thickness dimension of the terminal block.

According to an aspect of the invention, the support leg and the cooperating leg are folded cut-outs of the conductive bar, said folded cut-outs engendering a passage through the base portion transversally to the middle plane.

This provision simplifies the manufacturing of the conductive bar.

According to an aspect of the invention, the support leg has a lower blocking element arranged to cooperate with a support extremity of the retaining spring to prevent the displacement of said support extremity in a lower direction opposed to the base portion transversally the middle plane.

The lower blocking element defines a fixed place for the support extremity of the retaining spring. During the insertion of the conductor in the plug, the support extremity stays in place transversally to the middle plane.

According to an aspect of the invention, the lower blocking element is a placement corner engendered by a bending made in the support leg.

This provision simplifies the manufacturing of the conductive bar as there is no need to have an additional part of the conductive bar to block the support extremity according to the lower direction.

According to an aspect of the invention, the cooperating leg has a higher blocking element arranged to cooperate with a cooperating extremity of the retaining spring to prevent the displacement of said cooperating extremity in a higher direction opposed to the base portion transversally the middle plane.

The higher blocking element defines a fixed place for the cooperating extremity of the retaining spring. In the absence of the conductor in the plug, the cooperating extremity stays in place transversally to the middle plane. This means that in the absence of the conductor the support extremity and the cooperating extremity are maintained in place transversally to the middle plane.

According to an aspect of the invention, the higher blocking element is a placement corner engendered by a bending made in the cooperating leg.

According to an aspect of the invention, the cooperating leg comprises a tilted end and a linking part that connects the tilted end to the base portion, the tilted end and the linking part engendering a cooperating protrusion for cooperating with the conductor.

The cooperating protrusion provides a better electrical contact between the conductor and the support part. Preferably the higher blocking element is located on the linking part.

According to an aspect of the invention, the conductive bar is constituted by a conductive sheet plate that is folded according to a main axis to form the lateral portion and the base portion, the support leg and the cooperating leg being folded parts according to two parallel axis that are transverse to the main axis.

The construction of the conductive bar is simple as there are a few folding steps. In the same time the conductive bar is rigid enough for its use.

According to an aspect of the invention, the conductive sheet plate presents an overall rectangular form, the lateral portion being a side strip and the base portion, support leg and cooperating leg constituting the other strip. The support leg and the cooperating leg are contiguous parts of said other strip. Thus, the folding of the support leg and of the cooperating leg engender the passage through the base portion transversally to the middle plane.

According to an aspect of the invention, the side strip presents at least one groove along its length. This confers rigidity to the lateral portion.

The terminal block comprises a clipping system for installing conductive bar in mounted position. The conductive bar comprising a first part of the clipping system and the insulating casing comprises a second part of the clipping system.

According to an aspect of the invention, the conductive bar comprises a plurality of associated support legs and cooperating legs for a plurality of corresponding plugs of the terminal block.

The different aspects defined above that are not incompatible can be combined.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the detailed description that is set out below with reference to the appended drawing in which:.

In the following detailed description of the figures defined above, the same elements or the elements that are fulfilling identical functions may retain the same references so as to simplify the understanding of the invention.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a terminal block <NUM> comprises an insulating casing <NUM>, a conductive bar <NUM> and a retaining spring <NUM>. The insulating casing <NUM> extends according to a main plane <NUM> and presents a lateral recess <NUM> arranged for an insertion of the conductive bar <NUM> and the retaining spring <NUM> transversally to the main plane <NUM> into a mounted position.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the conductive bar <NUM> presents in mounted position a base portion <NUM> extending according to a middle plane <NUM> transversal to the main plane <NUM> and a lateral portion <NUM> attached to the base portion <NUM> and extending parallel to the main plane <NUM>.

The conductive bar <NUM> further comprises a support leg <NUM> attached to the base portion <NUM> and configured to cooperate with a support part <NUM> of the retaining spring <NUM> and a cooperating leg <NUM> attached to the base portion <NUM> and configured to cooperate with a conductor <NUM> inserted in a plug <NUM> of the terminal block <NUM> when the conductor <NUM> is maintained by the retaining spring <NUM>.

The support leg <NUM> and the cooperating leg <NUM> are transverse to the middle plane <NUM> and extending in opposite directions transversally to the middle plane <NUM>, the lateral portion <NUM> and the cooperating leg <NUM> extending according to the same direction transversally to the middle plane <NUM>.

In other words, the support leg <NUM>, the cooperating leg <NUM> and the lateral portion <NUM> are each attached to the base portion <NUM> and extending transversally with respect to the base portion <NUM>. The support leg <NUM> is extending from the base portion <NUM> according to a direction and both the cooperating leg <NUM> and the lateral portion <NUM> are extending from the base portion <NUM> according to the opposite direction.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the lateral recess <NUM> of the insulating casing <NUM> presents a bottom surface <NUM>. The retaining spring <NUM>, the support leg <NUM> and the cooperating leg <NUM> are located between the bottom surface <NUM> and the lateral portion <NUM> transversally to the main plane <NUM>.

When inserted, the conductor <NUM> is located between the lateral portion <NUM> and the bottom surface <NUM> transversally to the main plane <NUM>. The conductor <NUM> is then guided on one side by the conductive bar <NUM> and on the other side by the insulating casing <NUM>. The conductive bar <NUM> presents an L-shaped profile constituted by the base portion <NUM> and the lateral portion <NUM>.

The plug <NUM> has an inserting hole <NUM> made in the insulating casing <NUM>, said inserting hole <NUM> extending transversally to the middle plane <NUM> and opening on the lateral recess <NUM>.

During insertion, the conductor <NUM> is maintained transversally to the main plane <NUM> by the insulating casing <NUM> on both sides in the inserting hole <NUM> and then on one side by the lateral portion <NUM> and on the other side by the bottom surface <NUM> in the lateral recess <NUM>.

As illustrated on <FIG>, the retaining spring <NUM> is a leaf spring provided with two strips <NUM> that are symmetrical with respect to a central plane <NUM> of the retaining spring <NUM> without any constraints applied on the retaining spring <NUM>.

In mounted position, the central plane <NUM> is transversal to the main plane <NUM> and to the middle plane <NUM>. In addition, the central plane <NUM> is inclined with respect to the inserting hole <NUM>. More particularly, the central plane <NUM> is perpendicular to the main plane <NUM> and inclined with respect to the middle plane <NUM>, the inclination being greater than <NUM>°.

The insulating casing <NUM> is provided with an actuating orifice <NUM> of made in the insulating casing <NUM>, said actuating orifice <NUM> extending transversally to the middle plane <NUM> and opening on the lateral recess <NUM>.

The actuating orifice <NUM> is oriented toward a movable part <NUM> of the retaining spring <NUM>. The actuating orifice <NUM> is configured to enable a tool such as a screwdriver <NUM> to displace said moving part <NUM>. The moving part <NUM> is configured to exert a constraint on the conductor <NUM> in the absence of actuation to maintain the conductor <NUM> electrically connected on the cooperating leg <NUM>.

Each strip <NUM> of the retaining spring extend according to a corresponding direction and presents two undulations, a first undulation <NUM> opposed to the central plane <NUM> and designed to be in front of the actuating orifice <NUM> and a second undulation <NUM> toward the central plane <NUM> to confer an ending part <NUM> of the retaining spring <NUM> an inclined orientation with respect to the central plane <NUM>.

The lateral recess <NUM> is a lateral blind slot in the thickness <NUM> of the terminal block <NUM>, the lateral recess <NUM> comprising an insert for receiving the retaining spring <NUM> and the conductive bar <NUM> within the thickness <NUM> of the terminal block <NUM>.

The thickness <NUM> of the terminal block <NUM> is defined as being the dimension of the terminal block <NUM> transversally to the main plane <NUM>. The conductive bar <NUM> and the retaining spring <NUM> are contained within the thickness dimension of the terminal block <NUM>.

The support leg <NUM> and the cooperating leg <NUM> are folded cut-outs of the conductive bar <NUM>, said folded cut-outs engendering a passage <NUM> through the base portion <NUM> transversally to the middle plane <NUM>.

The support leg <NUM> has a lower blocking element <NUM> arranged to cooperate with a support extremity <NUM> of the retaining spring <NUM> to prevent the displacement of said support extremity <NUM> in a lower direction <NUM> opposed to the base portion <NUM> transversally the middle plane <NUM>.

The lower blocking element <NUM> defines a fixed place for the support extremity <NUM> of the retaining spring <NUM>. During the insertion of the conductor <NUM> in the plug <NUM>, the support extremity <NUM> stays in place transversally to the middle plane <NUM>.

The lower blocking element <NUM> is a placement corner engendered by a bending made in the support leg <NUM>.

The cooperating leg <NUM> has a higher blocking element <NUM> arranged to cooperate with a cooperating extremity <NUM> of the retaining spring <NUM> to prevent the displacement of said cooperating extremity <NUM> in a higher direction <NUM> opposed to the base portion <NUM> transversally the middle plane <NUM>.

The higher blocking element <NUM> defines a fixed place for the cooperating extremity <NUM> of the retaining spring <NUM>. In the absence of the conductor <NUM> in the plug <NUM>, the cooperating extremity <NUM> stays in place transversally to the middle plane <NUM>. This means that, in the absence of the conductor <NUM>, the support extremity <NUM> and the cooperating extremity <NUM> are maintained in place transversally to the middle plane <NUM>.

The higher blocking element <NUM> is a placement corner engendered by a bending made in the cooperating leg <NUM>.

The cooperating leg <NUM> comprises a tilted end <NUM> and a linking part <NUM> that connects the tilted end <NUM> to the base portion <NUM>, the tilted end <NUM> and the linking part <NUM> engendering a cooperating protrusion <NUM> for cooperating with the conductor <NUM>.

The higher blocking element <NUM> is located on the linking part <NUM>.

The conductive bar <NUM> is constituted by a conductive sheet plate that is folded according to a main axis <NUM> to form the lateral portion <NUM> and the base portion <NUM>, the support leg <NUM> and the cooperating leg <NUM> being folded parts according to two parallel axis <NUM> that are transverse to the main axis <NUM>.

The conductive sheet plate presents an overall rectangular form, the lateral portion <NUM> being a side strip and the base portion <NUM>, support leg <NUM> and cooperating leg <NUM> constituting the other strip. The support leg <NUM> and the cooperating leg <NUM> are contiguous parts of said other strip. Thus, the folding of the support leg <NUM> and of the cooperating leg <NUM> engender the passage <NUM> through the base portion <NUM> transversally to the middle plane <NUM>.

The side strip presents at least a groove <NUM> along its length which confers rigidity to the lateral portion <NUM>.

The terminal block <NUM> comprises a clipping system <NUM> for installing conductive bar <NUM> in mounted position. The conductive bar <NUM> comprises a first part of the clipping system <NUM> and the insulating casing <NUM> comprises a second part of the clipping system <NUM>.

The construction of the terminal block <NUM> enables to laterally maintain the plugged conductor(s) <NUM> and also to exert a maintaining force on the conductor(s) <NUM> in proximity to a junction between the base portion <NUM> and the lateral portion <NUM> with the retaining spring <NUM>.

This facilitates the insertion and the positioning of the conductor(s) <NUM> in the plug(s) <NUM> of the terminal block <NUM>. This geometry is especially efficient when a multi-stranded conductor <NUM> is used but also suits for rigid push-in conductors <NUM>. With a multi-stranded conductor <NUM>, it improves the quality of the electrical contact as there is a limited risk of strand deviations during insertion of the conductor <NUM>.

The plugged conductor <NUM> is guided and maintained laterally with a conductive bar <NUM> constituted by a limited amount of conductive material. The construction of the conductive bar <NUM> is simple as there are a few folding steps. In the same time the conductive bar <NUM> is rigid enough for its use.

Claim 1:
Terminal block (<NUM>) comprising an insulating casing (<NUM>), a conductive bar (<NUM>) and a retaining spring (<NUM>), the insulating casing (<NUM>) extending according to a main plane (<NUM>) and presenting a lateral recess (<NUM>) arranged for an insertion of the conductive bar (<NUM>) and the retaining spring (<NUM>) transversally to the main plane (<NUM>) into a mounted position, the conductive bar (<NUM>) presenting in mounted position a base portion (<NUM>) extending according to a middle plane (<NUM>) transversal to the main plane (<NUM>); the terminal block being characterized by the conductive bar further presenting a lateral portion (<NUM>) attached to the base portion (<NUM>) and extending parallel to the main plane (<NUM>), the conductive bar (<NUM>) further comprising a support leg (<NUM>) attached to the base portion (<NUM>) and configured to cooperate with a support part (<NUM>) of the retaining spring (<NUM>) and a cooperating leg (<NUM>) attached to the base portion (<NUM>) and configured to cooperate with a conductor (<NUM>) inserted in a plug (<NUM>) of the terminal block (<NUM>) when the conductor (<NUM>) is maintained by the retaining spring (<NUM>), the support leg (<NUM>) and cooperating leg (<NUM>) being transverse to the middle plane (<NUM>) and extending in opposite directions transversally to the middle plane (<NUM>), the lateral portion (<NUM>) and the cooperating leg (<NUM>) extending according to the same direction transversally to the middle plane (<NUM>).