Patent ID: 8251738

Claim:
An electrical connector for connecting the bare end of an insulated conductor ( 2 ) to a contact ( 12 ), comprising: (a) a connector housing ( 11 ; 27 ) containing a chamber having walls; (b) cage means ( 3 ; 3 ′) including a bus bar ( 5 ; 5 ′) mounted in said chamber, said housing chamber including a wall containing a conductor opening ( 14 ; 114 ) for introducing the conductor bare end into said chamber toward a clamping position ( 32 ) adjacent said bus bar, said cage means further including an electrical contact ( 12 ; 12 ′) connected with said bus bar, said contact being arranged in a contact opening ( 13 , 13 ′) contained in a wall of said housing chamber; (c) a clamping spring ( 6 ; 6 a , 6 b ) mounted in said chamber, said clamping spring normally having a released closed condition in which said clamping spring is biased toward with said bus bar; (d) retaining means ( 19 , 24 ; 19 ′, 24 ′) for retaining said spring in a retained open condition spaced from said bus bar, thereby to permit the conductor bare end to be introduced between said clamping spring and said bus bar; and (e) release means for releasing said spring from said retained condition, thereby to bias the conductor toward electrical engagement with said bus bar, said release means including: (1) an operating member ( 15 ; 25 ); and (2) control means ( 21 ; 21 ′) controlling the movement of said operating member relative to said housing, said control means comprising cam track means ( 21 ; 21 ′), and a cam follower ( 19 ; 19 ′) extending into said cam track means.