Dual durometer twist-on connector

Abstract

A twist-on or wire-nut electrical connector having a rigid, electrically insulative upper body, a flexible, elastic, electrically insulative lower skirt, and a coil spring within the body for gripping wires which may be inserted therein. The provision of a flexible, elastic skirt allows the insertion of a larger number of wires (or larger sized wires) into the connector; the skirt further deforms to fit more easily within a crowded junction box or other high-density wiring environment. Unlike prior art twist-on connectors, the lower skirt is attached directly to the open end of the polymeric body, allowing greater application of torque to the rigid body. In the preferred embodiment, the upper body is formed of polypropylene, the lower skirt is formed of a styrenebutylene compound or an olefinic thermoplastic vulcanizate, and the connector is constructed by multicomponent injection molding.