BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a connector which is suitable for use in making a branch connection to a trunk line for example in the manner which is required in a blasting system. [0002] Connections to establish a blasting system are often made under difficult conditions. For example, an underground location’s lighting may be poor and accessibility may be limited. It is not always possible to make branch connections to a trunk line beforehand and in many instances such connections are made on site. The person making the connections may, in many cases, be guided more by feel and sound than by vision. [0003] A second factor which is important, particularly in poor lighting conditions, is the need to determine that a physical connection of the branch line to the trunk line has been adequately made and that the connector has been correctly assembled. A connector which facilitates this determination is also desirable.

[0004] The connector should be robust and able to withstand rough handling and arduous conditions. It is also desirable that parts of the connector should be easily identifiable by touch.

[0005] An aim of the current invention is to meet at least partly these requirements.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0006] The invention provides a connector which includes a first component, a second component which is pivotally connected to the first component, conductive terminals which are mounted to the first component, the second component being movable relative to the first component from a first position, at which the terminals are exposed, to a second position, at which the second component overlies the first component and covers the terminals, a catch formation, on the first component, a catch, on the second component, engageable with the catch formation for releasably securing the second component in the second position to the first component, and a channel formation, on the first component, which extends between the catch formation and the conductive terminals and which includes retention means for retaining at least one conductor, positioned in the channel formation, in position relative to the conductive terminals and the first component.

[0007] The second component may include a member which, when the second component is in the second position, urges at least one conductor into the channel formation and into firm engagement with the retention means. [0008] The connection between the first component and the second component may be a hinge. The hinge may be a butt hinge or a barrel hinge.

[0009] The catch may have a flexible nature so that it is distorted as the second component is moved to the second position and, when the second component reaches the second position, the catch is restored to its original non-distorted configuration due to its inherent resilience or memory and then automatically engages with the catch formation.

[0010] The catch may include first and second spaced apart hook formations which, with the second component in the second position, are on opposed sides of an entry to the channel formation.

[0011] The connector may include first and second spaced apart recesses which are on opposed sides of the entry to the channel formation and which are respectively positioned to align with and receive the first and second hook formations in the second position. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

[0012] The invention is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a connector according to the invention in an open configuration;

Figure 2 is a plan-view of the connector in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the connector in Figure 1 coupled to a trunk wire and branch wires;

Figure 4 is an end view of the connector in Figure 1 ; Figure 5 is a side view of the connector in Figure 1 ;

Figure 6 is an underplan view of the connector in Figure 1 ;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the connector of Figure 1 in a closed configuration; and

Figure 8 is an end view of the connector in Figure 7.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0013] Figure 1 shows a connector 10 according to the invention, for use in a blasting system, the connector including a body 12 comprising a first component 14 and a second component 16 that are joined to each other by means of a hinge 18.

[0014] The hinge preferably comprises a pin 18A and a barrel 18B which is of a robust construction. [0015] The first component 14 and the second component 16 are pivotally movable relative to each other, about the hinge 18, between a first position, also referred to as an open configuration (Figure 1), and a second position, also referred to as a closed configuration (Figure 7).

[0016] Conductive terminals 20 and 22 are located on a surface 24 of the component 14. [0017] In the open configuration (Figures 1 to 6) the conductive terminals 20 and 22 are exposed. In the closed configuration (Figures 7 and 8) the second component 16 overlies the first component 14 thus covering the conductive terminals 20 and 22.

[0018] The conductive terminals 20 and 22 respectively include a U-shaped member comprising insulation displacement formations 20A, 20B, 20C, and 22A, 22B, 22C (see Figure 3). The insulation displacement formations are utilized, in a manner known in the art, to establish a conductive link between wires in insulated branch lines 26A and 26B, and in an insulated trunk line 28 (as shown in Figure 3).

[0019] A channel formation 30 extends in the first component 14 from a splitter 32 adjacent the conductive terminals 20 and 22 to an entry location 34 at which the trunk line 28 enters the first component 14.

[0020] The trunk line 28 includes two conductive wires 28A and 28B which are passed through respective gap formations 36 at the splitter 32 before being engaged with the insulation displacement formations 20A and 20C (wire 28A) and 22A and 22C (wire 28B) to establish a connection to the corresponding conductors in the branch lines 26A and 26B which are in conductive communication with the conductive terminals 20 and 22 via respective connections to the insulation displacement formations 20B and 22B.

[0021] Figure 4 shows undercut retention formations 38 which flank the channel formation 30, which form opposing ridges 40 of the channel formation 30 and which serve to retain the trunk line 28 inside the channel formation 30. A rib 42 (see Figure 1 or 2) is located on the second component 16 and opposes the channel formation 30 when the first component 14 and the second component 16 are in the second position (Figure 7). This rib 42 bears onto the trunk line 28 forcing the trunk line 28 into the channel 30, when the components 14 and 16 are in the closed configuration, thus enhancing the retention action of the formations 38.

[0022] The first component 14 includes slots 44 (Figure 5) which are respectively aligned with the insulation displacement formations 20B and 22B to receive and guide the branch lines 26A and 26B into engagement with the insulation displacement formations 20B and 22B respectively.

[0023] The slots 44 are bounded by relatively sharp ridges 46 to enable blind identification, by way of touch, of their positions.

[0024] Figure 7 shows the connector 10 in a closed configuration wherein the second component 16 overlies the first component 14 and covers the conductive terminals 20 and 22.

[0025] The outer surfaces of the first component 14 and of the second component 16 include fingerhold formations 48 which project outwardly on opposed sides of the components to facilitate handling of the connector 10, particularly in poor visibility conditions. [0026] A catch 50 is provided to releasably secure the second component 16 to the first component 14 in the closed configuration. The catch 50 has spaced apart hook formations 52 which, with the components in the closed configuration straddle the trunk line 28 at the entry location 34. The catch 50 is resiliently deformable so that the hook formations 52 can be engaged with corresponding recesses 54 located on opposite sides of the location 34 on the first component 14 (Figure 6).

[0027] In addition to the hook formations 52, the catch 50 includes a flexible lever 56 integrally formed with the hook formations 52. The lever 56 is at an end of the second component 16 and stands proud of an adjacent surface of the component 16 - features which facilitate the use of the connector in poor visibility conditions.

[0028] The outer shape of the first component 14 and of the second component 16 are distinctive to the touch and allow an operator, who is required to connect the trunk line 28 to the branch lines 26A and 26B under conditions of poor visibility, to identify the components and the operative locations in the components, with the fingerhold formations 48 simplifying handling.