Patent ID: 7785134

Claim:
A terminal assembly for an electrical terminal block, the terminal assembly comprising: a terminal support; an electrical contact member mounted to the terminal support, a spring assembly mounted to the contact member, the spring assembly including a spring support having a wall with a first and second end, a spring mounting surface extending from the first end and a contact engagement surface extending from the second end to form a channel, and a spring mounted to the spring mounting surface for securing the conductor within a respective terminal, having a substantially asymmetric S-shaped configuration being and configured to extend within the channel from the spring mounting surface towards the contact engagement surface where deflection of the spring is in a plane substantially parallel to the wall, the contact engagement surface and contact having interlocking members for securing the electrical contact member and spring assembly together without tools; and wherein the spring further comprises: a mounting leg configured for mounting to the spring mounting surface; an extension leg extending at an angle away from and relative to the mounting leg towards the contact engagement surface and in a direction opposite an insertion direction of a conductor; and a bent portion and an engaging portion both extending towards the contact engagement surface at an angle relative to the insertion direction and at an angle relative to the extension leg, the engaging portion being configured to substantially prevent the conductor from moving in a direction opposite the insertion direction; and where the mounting leg, extension leg, bent portion and engaging portion are connected to each other in series.