The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 17, 1981
Filed:
Dec. 03, 1979
Earl J Genz, Des Plaines, IL (US);
Illinois Tool Works Inc., Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates to a wire engagement and release arrangement for electrical switches, and the like, wherein the wire engagement arrangement consists of an electrical contact which is bifurcated to form two flat spring arms, one of which is shorter than the other. A pair of individual passageways through the housing of the device to be wired are provided for receiving the bare end of an electrical wire of a pair of insulated wires which are inserted into the passageways so as to pass therethrough against the ends of the spring arms whereby the spring arms will deflect and will force the bare ends of these wires against the housing walls of the electrical device. The ends of the spring arms are provided with widened portions which allow the force on the bare ends of the wire to be applied over a larger area. The release arrangement is provided by a pair of elongated apertures which extend through parallel surfaces of the housing that are aligned normal to the side dimension of the flat spring arms. The elongated apertures are offset from each other and are positioned so that their elongated axes are not substantially normal to their adjacent spring arm. The connecting wires may thus be released individually from the spring arms by movement of a pin in the elongated aperture. The aperture is dimensioned so that the spring arm cannot be deflected far enough to overstress it, and thereby cause it to take a set.