Patent ID: 8066525

Claim:
A modular electrical connector for connecting uninsulated wire ends, the connector comprising: an electrically-conductive spiral unit comprising a holder tube and a spiral generally transverse to the holder tube, wherein the spiral coils around and defines an axial passageway, and, in a relaxed-configuration, has a relaxed internal diameter; and an electrically-insulating housing surrounding the spiral unit and comprising a main body surrounding the holder tube and an inner end of the spiral, and an end cap surrounding an outer end of the spiral; wherein said end cap comprises a central bore with an outer opening generally coaxial with and in communication with said axial passageway of the spiral, for receiving uninsulated wire ends through said outer opening and into said axial passageway of the spiral when the spiral is in the relaxed configuration; wherein said main body and said end cap are rotatable relative to each other to rotate the outer end of the spiral relative to the inner end of the spiral and relative to the holder tube, to tighten said spiral into a tightened-configuration having a tightened internal diameter that is smaller than said relaxed internal diameter, for gripping said uninsulated wire ends to place said spiral and said holder tube in electrical contact with said wire ends; and wherein the electrical connector further comprises a latch that retains the spiral in said tightened-configuration after relative rotation of the main body and the end cap and for retaining said wire ends inside, and in electrical contact with, said spiral unit.