Patent ID: 7568939

Claim:
A plug-in electrical connector arrangement adapted for connection with one of a plurality of insulated conductors ( 14 - 16 ) having diameters of different sizes, comprising: (a) a terminal block ( 1 ) formed of an electrically-insulating synthetic plastic material, said terminal block containing a chamber, the upper portion of said terminal block containing at least one inlet opening ( 18 ) communicating with said chamber; (b) a bus bar ( 3 ) mounted in said chamber, said bus bar including a vertical transverse wall ( 3 c ) adjacent said conductor opening; and (c) a resilient contact member ( 6 ) mounted in said chamber adjacent said inlet opening, said resilient contact member ( 6 ) including: (1) a fixed horizontal generally linear first leg portion ( 7 ) adjacent said inlet opening, said first leg portion containing a conductor opening ( 8 ) opposite said inlet opening, said bus bar transverse wall having a tab portion ( 3 d ) extending into said conductor opening; (2) an intermediate portion ( 9 ) bent upwardly at one end of said first leg portion; and (3) a movable second leg portion ( 10 ) bent from said intermediate portion to extend over said first leg portion, the free extremity of said second leg portion terminating in a clamping portion that extends into said conductor opening, said second leg portion being resiliently biased outwardly toward said bus bar transverse wall; (4) said second leg clamping portion having a configuration to define at least two discrete clamping surfaces ( 11 , 13 ) so arranged that when the bare end of a conductor of one of a number of given diametric sizes is introduced into said bus bar chamber via said inlet opening to a position between said bus bar transverse wall and said second leg clamping portion, the circumferential surface of the conductor is engaged by the corresponding one of said clamping surfaces for displacement of the conductor toward electrical engagement with said transverse bus bar wall.