Patent ID: 7686627

Claim:
A rail-type grounding terminal structure for releasable coupling to opposing flanges of a grounding rail, comprising: an insulating housing having a plurality of receiving spaces formed therein and a foot section formed on a lower portion of one end of the insulating housing; a leaf spring mounting member disposed in a first of the plurality of receiving spaces; a plurality of wire connecting members respectively disposed in a plurality of second receiving spaces and being electrically coupled to the leaf spring mounting member; and a grounding member disposed below the leaf spring mounting member in a third receiving space located adjacent a bottom side of the insulating housing and electrically coupled to the leaf spring mounting member, the grounding member including: a pair of spaced apart insertion legs engaged with the leaf spring mounting member, each leg having a slightly outward deflected head end passing through an opening formed through the leaf spring mounting member; a pair of bow sections extending upwardly in a direction toward the leaf spring mounting member and respectively disposed intermediate a corresponding one of the pair of insertion legs and respective opposing end portions of the grounding member to provide for elastic deformation of the end portions; a a first bent section having a hook-shaped contour formed on one of the end portions, the hook-shaped bent section defining a groove into which a respective one of the flanges of the grounding rail is engaged, the groove having an inclined inner wall face corresponding to a distal end portion of the hook-shaped bent section to provide for pivotal displacement of the grounding member and the insulating housing therewith relative to the grounding rail; and a second bent section formed on the opposing end portion, the second bent section having a protruding tongue section formed thereon for latchingly engaging the opposing flange of the grounding rail, wherein the tongue portion is displaced out of engagement with the opposing flange of the grounding rail by a respective portion of the insulating housing responsive to a corresponding displacement of the foot section using a tool engaged therewith.