Patent Description:
A terminal device or crimp terminal uses a metal assembly (or conductive member) and an elastic conductor (or metal elastic plate) wrapped in an insulating housing (usually made of plastic materials) to press or connect the wire inserting into the terminal device to form an electrical connection or release the wire, which is a well-known art.

This type of electrical connection terminal includes a type that is inserted into a circuit board (such as, a PC circuit board), and a type of snap-fit grounding mounting rail (or conductive rail) with electrical connection terminals arranged side by side, so as to establish a common grounding device for electrical or mechanical equipment to drain the residual voltage or static electricity of the equipment.

This type of electrical connection terminal (or rail-type electrical connection terminal) usually includes an insulating housing. The housing has a wire inlet for a wire to be inserted into the housing. The housing also defines a cavity to be equipped with a platy conductive support (or conductor assembly) for pivotally connecting the grounding wires from the equipment. The conductor assembly has a metal grounding member, which is welded, riveted or connected to the conductive support. The metal grounding member has two ends to be respectively snapped onto a grounding mounting rail (or conductive rail). The operator may use a tool (such as a screwdriver) to pull a hooked foot area at the lower end of the insulating housing, so that the foot area drives one end of the grounding member to deform and offset outwardly, so as to disengage the grounding member from the mounting rail.

A topic related to the structure and operation of the conventional electrical connection terminal structure is that both ends of the grounding member is easily deformed due to the outward pulling operation by the operator. Because of improper operation by the operator and/or long-term (or high-frequency) use, it is easy to reduce the subsequent fastening and fixing effect with the mounting rail and affect the electric conduction effect of the conductor assembly.

In order to improve the foregoing situation, the prior art also discloses a structure in which multiple grounding members are connected side by side. However, those who are familiar with this technique know that the structure having multiple grounding members connected side by side not only increases the material cost but also relatively requires a lot of operating force exerted by the operator to pull the grounding members outwardly. Therefore, the operation is laborious. This is not what we expect.

Typically, these references show the structural combination design and application of the electrical connection terminal device. If the structure of the conductor assembly or the grounding member can be redesigned to make its structure different from the prior art, it will change its use and be different from the prior art. In fact, it will also increase its application effect.

A more ideal terminal device or conductor assembly needs to be able to overcome or improve the issues discussed above. It should also include the following design considerations.

<CIT> discloses a conductive member (or grounding member) applied to a rail-type terminal device. The conductive member has a bow section, a left (hook) section and a right (hook) section connected with the bow section for latching with a grounding rail. A tail end portion of the left section is formed with an outward protruding section to help in securing the conductive member on a case and permit the case to drive the outward protruding section so as to drive the left section to separate from the grounding rail. <CIT> discloses a conductive member (or grounding member) applied to a rail-type terminal device. The conductive member has bow sections, a first section connected with the bow sections and a second section latched on the grounding rail. A tail end portion of the first section is formed with protruding engagement sections to help in securing the conductive member on a case and permit the case to drive the protruding engagement sections so as to drive the first section to separate from the grounding rail.

The primary object of the present invention according to claim <NUM> is to provide a conductor assembly structure for a rail-type terminal device, comprising a conductor assembly and an insulating housing. The conductor assembly structure can reduce manufacturing waste and has a larger contact surface and a better electric conduction effect. The conductor assembly has a base portion that can be pivotally connected with a conductive connector, and a first area and a second area connected to the base portion. The first area and the second area are respectively formed with a bowed portion, and a first section and a second section connected to the bowed portion and configured to be snapped onto a grounding mounting rail. At least one of the first area and the second area is provided with a load arm and an elastic member connected to the load arm. The elastic member is movable in response to movement of at least one of the first section and the second section for accumulating and releasing energy and for increasing the elastic fixing effect (force) of the first section and/or the second section on the grounding mounting rail, thereby improving the problem that the prior art is likely to cause unstable fastening and elastic fatigue to affect the fixing effect due to long-term or high frequency use.

According to the conductor assembly structure for a rail-type terminal device of the present invention, the conductor assembly is an integrally formed structure. An upper end of the base portion is formed with a first arm and a second arm. The first arm and the second arm extend laterally, respectively. The load arm is in a T-shaped configuration and has a secondary arm. A distance is defined between the secondary arm and the first area (or the second area) to establish a limit distance to regulate the movement range or displacement of the first section (or the second section) or the load arm. This can reduce the elastic (or material) fatigue or fracture of the first section (or the second section) due to improper operation by the operator or long-term (or high frequency) use.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, a conductor assembly structure for a rail-type terminal device of the present invention includes a conductor assembly (or grounding member) that is represented by reference number <NUM>. The conductor assembly <NUM> is installed in a housing <NUM> made of an insulating material to form an electrical terminal device or a wire connection terminal. The housing <NUM> has a wire inlet <NUM> for insertion of a wire and an operation hole <NUM>.

In the following description, the upper portion, above, lower portion, under, side, and the like are based on the direction shown in the figures as the reference direction.

In this embodiment, the conductor assembly <NUM> is generally in a platy configuration, having a base portion 10a, a first area <NUM> and a second area <NUM>. The first area <NUM> and the second area <NUM> are connected to the base portion 10a and extend laterally as shown in the figures, respectively. The first area <NUM> and the second area <NUM> are each formed with a bowed portion <NUM>, and a first section <NUM> and a second section <NUM> are connected to the bowed portion <NUM>, so that the first section <NUM> and the second section <NUM> can be respectively (elastically) snapped onto a grounding mounting rail (not shown) to form an electrical grounding function.

As shown in the figures, a distal end 14a of the first section <NUM> defines a recess 14b. A lip 15b protrudes from a distal end 15a of the second section <NUM>. The lip 15b cooperates with the recess 14b (and/or the housing <NUM>) of the first section <NUM> to fix the conductor assembly <NUM> to the mounting rail tightly.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, at least one of the first area <NUM> and the second area <NUM> is provided with a load arm <NUM> and an elastic member <NUM> mounted to the load arm <NUM>. The elastic member <NUM> is movable in response to movement of the first section <NUM> and/or the second section <NUM> to establish a mechanism for accumulating and releasing energy and for increasing the elastic fixing effect (force) of the first section <NUM> and/or the second section <NUM> on the grounding mounting rail, thereby improving the problem that the prior art is likely to cause unstable fastening and elastic fatigue to affect the fixing effect due to long-term or high frequency use.

In detail, the first area <NUM> and/or the second area <NUM> define a space <NUM>. The first area <NUM> and/or the second area <NUM> is provided with a shoulder <NUM> close to the space <NUM> to define an opening <NUM> communicating with the space <NUM>. The load arm <NUM> is in a T-shaped configuration and has a secondary arm 16a. One end of the load arm <NUM> is connected to the first section <NUM> (and/or the second section <NUM>), so that the other end of the load arm <NUM> or at least one portion of the load arm <NUM> (and the second arm 16a) is located in the space <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the elastic member <NUM> is in a U-shaped configuration having a groove <NUM> and two closed portions <NUM> located at two ends of the groove <NUM>. Therefore, when the groove <NUM> of the elastic member <NUM> is connected to the load arm <NUM>, the closing portions <NUM> abut against the secondary arm 16a and the shoulder <NUM>, respectively. The elastic member <NUM> is located in the space <NUM>.

In a feasible embodiment, the housing <NUM> may be formed with a hole <NUM> for positioning the elastic member <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the housing <NUM> is provided with a rib-shaped stop portion <NUM> for limiting a movement distance or displacement of the first section <NUM> (and/or the second section <NUM>) of the conductor assembly or the load arm <NUM>. This can reduce the elastic (or material) fatigue or fracture of the first section <NUM> (or the second section <NUM>) due to improper operation by the operator or long-term (or high frequency) use to affect the fastening and fixing function of the mounting rail and the electric conduction effect of the conductor assembly.

In consideration of reducing (or not increasing) manufacturing waste, the conductor assembly <NUM> is an integrally formed structure to improve its manufacturing, processing and assembly efficiency. The upper end of the base portion 10a is formed with a bent portion 10b, a first arm <NUM> and a second arm <NUM>. The first arm <NUM> and the second arm <NUM> extend laterally from the bent portion 10b, respectively. The bent portion 10b can increase the structural strength of the conductor assembly <NUM>. The first arm <NUM> and the second arm <NUM> each are in a platy configuration, having a wider or larger (electric conduction) contact surface, which relatively improves its electric conduction efficiency and is suitable for different wires with large and small diameters. The first arm <NUM> and the second arm <NUM> are configured to pivotally connect a conductive connector <NUM> or metal elastic plate (for example, L-shaped elastic plate, α-shaped elastic plate, etc.).

In this embodiment, the conductive connector <NUM> is connected with a fastener <NUM> (for example, a screw). The conductive connector <NUM> is a modular structure in a cuboid-shaped configuration, so that the conductive connector <NUM> can be manufactured easily and can be detachably fitted with other specifications of conductive parts. The conductive connector <NUM> has a mouth <NUM> and a locking hole <NUM>. The mouth <NUM> is configured to receive the first arm <NUM> or the second arm <NUM>.

It can be understood that the wire can be inserted through the wire inlet <NUM> of the housing <NUM> into the mouth <NUM>. The fastener <NUM> is inserted through the operation hole <NUM> of the housing <NUM> into the locking hole <NUM> for locking the wire, the conductive connector <NUM>, the first arm <NUM> and/or the second arm <NUM> to form an electrical connection or a wire collection function.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the bottom of the housing <NUM> is provided with a main buckle portion <NUM> and a secondary buckle portion <NUM>. The main buckle portion <NUM> and the secondary buckle portion <NUM> enable the housing <NUM> to fix the conductor assembly <NUM> (the first area <NUM> and the second area <NUM> as well as the distal end 14a of the first section <NUM> and the distal end 15a of the second section <NUM>) firmly. This can prevent the conductor assembly <NUM> from being deformed or warped due to the operation of clamping the wire to break the housing <NUM> or the terminal device. The housing <NUM> is provided with a rib-shaped restriction portion <NUM> and a block-shaped secondary restriction portion <NUM> located above the restriction portion <NUM> for fixing the base portion 10a of the conductor assembly <NUM>. The housing <NUM> forms a point or line contact (fixing) mechanism with the restriction portion <NUM>, the secondary restriction portion <NUM> and the conductor assembly <NUM>, and improves the heat dissipation effect, and avoids the conductor assembly <NUM> from being deformed due to overheating.

Referring to <FIG>, when the operator uses a tool <NUM> (such as a screwdriver) to pull the housing <NUM> outward (or the left in the figure) from a foot-shaped area <NUM> at the lower portion of the housing <NUM>, the housing <NUM> will drive the first section <NUM> of the conductor assembly <NUM> to move toward the left in the figure (such as the situation depicted by the imaginary line in <FIG>). In cooperation with the movement of the first section <NUM> to the stop portion <NUM>, the load arm <NUM> (and the secondary arm 16a) drives the elastic member <NUM> to accumulate energy, so as to disengage the recess 14b (and the lip 15b) from the mounting rail.

It can be understood that when the force exerted by the operator disappears, the elastic member <NUM> will release the accumulated energy to return the first section <NUM> to its initial position.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in a modified embodiment, the first area <NUM> and/or the second area <NUM> of the conductor assembly <NUM> is provided with a secondary shoulder 17a in the space <NUM>. A distance w is defined between the secondary shoulder 17a and the secondary arm 16a to establish a limit distance to regulate the movement range or displacement of the load arm <NUM> of the first section <NUM> (or the second section <NUM>). This can reduce the elastic (or material) fatigue or fracture of the first section <NUM> (or the second section <NUM>) due to improper operation by the operator or long-term (or high frequency) use to affect the fastening and fixing function of the mounting rail and the electric conduction effect of the conductor assembly.

<FIG> depicts a modified embodiment of the elastic member <NUM> combined with the conductor assembly <NUM>. The groove <NUM> of the elastic member <NUM> is formed with (at least) an oblique raised portion <NUM>. When the oblique raised portion <NUM> (cooperating with the closed portions <NUM>) facilitates the groove <NUM> to be connected to the load arm <NUM>, they are respectively located at the front and rear of the load arm <NUM> to increase the stability of the elastic member <NUM> installed on the conductor assembly <NUM>.

Typically, the conductor assembly structure used for rack-type terminal devices has the following advantages compared with the prior art under the condition of reducing (or not increasing) manufacturing waste.

Therefore, the present invention provides an effective conductor assembly structure for rack-type terminal devices. Its spatial configuration is different from that of the prior art, and it has advantages that are incomparable in the prior art. The present invention possesses considerable inventiveness and fully meets the requirements of an invention patent.

Claim 1:
A conductor assembly structure for a rail-type terminal device, comprising: a conductor assembly (<NUM>); the conductor assembly (<NUM>) having a base portion (10a), a first area (<NUM>) and a second area (<NUM>), the first area (<NUM>) and the second area (<NUM>) being connected to the base portion (10a) and extending laterally respectively; the first area (<NUM>) and the second area (<NUM>) being respectively formed with a bowed portion (<NUM>) and a first section (<NUM>) and a second section (<NUM>) connected to the bowed portion (<NUM>), the first section (<NUM>) and the second section (<NUM>) being configured to be snapped onto a grounding mounting rail; and
wherein at least one of the first area (<NUM>) and the second area (<NUM>) being provided with a load arm (<NUM>) and an elastic member (<NUM>) connected to the load arm (<NUM>), the elastic member (<NUM>) being movable in response to movement of at least one of the first section (<NUM>) and the second section (<NUM>) for accumulating and releasing energy and for assisting in increasing an elastic force on the grounding mounting rail of at least one of the first section (<NUM>) and the second section (<NUM>);
wherein at least one of the first area (<NUM>) and the second area (<NUM>) defines a space (<NUM>), and at least one of the first area (<NUM>) and the second area (<NUM>) is provided with a shoulder (<NUM>) close to the space (<NUM>) to define an opening (<NUM>) communicating with the space (<NUM>);
wherein the load arm (<NUM>) is in a T-shaped configuration and has a secondary arm (16a), one end of the load arm (<NUM>) is connected to at least one of the first section (<NUM>) and the second section (<NUM>);
characterised in that at least one portion of the load arm (<NUM>) and the second arm (16a) are located in the space (<NUM>);
and that the elastic member (<NUM>) is in a U-shaped configuration having a groove (<NUM>) and two closed portions (<NUM>) located at two ends of the groove (<NUM>); the groove (<NUM>) of the elastic member (<NUM>) is formed with at least one oblique raised portion (<NUM>);
the groove (<NUM>) of the elastic member (<NUM>) is connected to the load arm (<NUM>), the closed portions (<NUM>) abut against the secondary arm (16a) and the shoulder (<NUM>) respectively so that the elastic member (<NUM>) is located in the space (<NUM>).