Patent ID: 8579651

Claim:
An electrical connector adapted for connection with the bare end of a vertically-arranged insulated conductor, comprising: (a) a U-shaped sheet metal clamping frame ( 3 ) including a vertical planar base wall ( 6 ), and a pair of vertical parallel spaced planar side walls ( 7 , 8 ) extending orthogonally from said base wall, said base and side walls cooperating to define a chamber (C) having top ( 10 ), bottom ( 11 ), and side ( 9 ) openings; (b) contact means defining a stationary electrical contact ( 6 ; 19 ; 32 ) so arranged relative to said chamber that the conductor may be axially inserted vertically downwardly into said frame chamber via said top opening toward an inserted position adjacent said stationary contact; (c) clamping spring means ( 4 ) arranged at least partially within said chamber for biasing the conductor bare end laterally toward engagement with said electrical contact, said clamping spring means comprising a conductive leaf spring including: (1) a clamping leg ( 14 ); and (2) attachment leg means supporting said clamping leg in said chamber on the opposite side of the conductor insertion axis from said electrical contact, said attachment leg means supporting said clamping leg in a clamping position in which said clamping leg is arranged at a first acute angle (β) relative to said insertion axis, said attachment leg means including: (1) a resilient integral first bend portion ( 13 ) connected at one end with one end of said clamping leg; (2) an attachment leg ( 12 ) having a first end integrally connected with the other end of said first bend portion; and (3) connecting means connecting said attachment leg with said frame at a second acute angle (α) relative to said insertion axis, said connecting means including: (a) at least one lateral protrusion ( 15 ) on said attachment leg; and (b) a corresponding slot ( 17 ) contained in the adjacent frame side wall for receiving said attachment leg lateral protrusion, and (d) a housing ( 1 ) formed of electrical insulating material, said housing containing a housing chamber ( 27 ) in which said clamping frame is mounted, said housing containing a conductor inlet opening ( 28 ) communicating with said housing chamber opposite said spring clamping leg.