Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector for electrically connecting conductors.

Background Art - The field of connectors for connecting electric conductors is a diverse field.

Although there are many types of connector available there is a continuing need to provide new and improved conductors for different purposes and situations.

As is known connectors are required for many fields ranging from residential housing to medical instrumentation.

Disclosure of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a connector for connecting two conductors comprising: a clamping means for receiving and clampingly engaging a first one of the conductors such that the first conductor is electrically connected to the other second one of the conductors, the clamping means comprising a first jaw and a second jaw, the second jaw being moveable relative to the first jaw into and out of a clamping position in which it cooperates with the first jaw to clampingly engage the first conductor, the second jaw being constructed so that it is urged away from the first jaw upon insertion of the first conductor into the clamping means while clampingly engaging the first conductor to resist withdrawal thereof; and release means for selectively moving the second jaw out of the clamping position to release the first conductor from the clamping engagement so as to permit its withdrawal.

In arrangements the combination of release and clamping means provides a connector wherein the first conductor can be readily inserted into and held by the clamping means. After this the first conductor can be readily released using the release means.

Preferably the second jaw is a conductor and is electrically connected to the second conductor and moves into the clamping position so as to connect the first conductor to the second conductor.

In one particularly preferred arrangement the second jaw comprises a leaf spring that is mounted in a cantilever fashion, the free end of which cooperates with the ~first jaw to effect clamping. In this arrangement, the insertion of the first conductor contacts and moves the second jaw away from the first jaw to the clamping position, when in the clamping position withdrawal of the first conductor urges the second jaw towards the first jaw thereby biting into the first conductor and resisting the withdrawal thereof.

The connector may include a portion on which the leaf spring is mounted. The portion may include a support surface for progressively supporting the leaf spring along part of its length as the second jaw is urged away from the first jaw by insertion of the first conductor. In this manner the leaf spring will not be subject to forces that are concentrated at a particular point along its length : This increases the life of and leaf spring.

Preferably the support surface comprises an arcuate surface.

An internal face provided on the body of the connector may define the first jaw, which is fixed relative to the body of the connector.

In one preferred arrangement, the body of the connector includes a passage extending between the exterior of the body and the clamping means, which passage is adapted to guide the first conductor to the clamping means upon its insertion.

The release means may comprise a button that is configured to rock about a fulcrum provided on the body of the connector and may include an actuating part that on rocking of the button engages the second jaw so as to move the second jaw from the clamping position and allow the first conductor to be withdrawn from the connector.

The connector may include more than one of the clamping means and allow for more than two conductors to be connected. In these arrangements, the release means may be operable to selectively release conductors that are releasably connected by the connector. Furthermore the release means may comprise a button that is configured to rock about a fulcrum provided on the body of the ~connector, which button includes actuating parts that on rocking of the button are able to selectably engage any one of the second jaws of the more than one clamping means so as to move that second jaw from the clamping position to thereby allow the corresponding releasably engaged conductor to be withdrawn from the connector.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a connector for electrically connecting two elongated electrical conductors, comprising a clamping means for receiving and clampingly engaging one of the conductors and being adapted for electrical connection to the other conductor, the clamping means comprising a first jaw and a second jaw which is movable relative to the first jaw into and out of a clamping position in which it co-operates with the first jaw to clampingly engage said one conductor, the second jaw being constructed so that it is urged away from the first jaw upon insertion of said one conductor into the clamping means while clampingly engaging said one conductor to resist withdrawal thereof, and release means for selectively moving the second jaw out of the clamping position to release said one conductor from clamping engagement and so permit its withdrawal.

As indicated above, the clamping means is adapted for electrical connection to the other conductor. For preference, it is the second (movable) jaw which is so adapted for connection to said other conductor. The electrical connection may

comprise an electrical path established between said other conductor and said second jaw.

As before the second jaw may comprise a leaf spring one end of which is mounted in cantilever fashion and the other end of which co-operates with the first jaw to effect clamping. The connector may include includes a body on which the leaf spring is mounted in the cantilever fashion, the body having a support surface for progressively supporting the leaf spring along part of its length extending in a direction away from said one end thereof as the leaf spring moves out of the clamping position. The presence of the support surface ensures that the leaf spring progressively bends along its length rather than bending simply at a location adjacent the point at which it cantilevers onto the body.

The body is preferably formed of electrically insulating material and includes a passage extending between the exterior of the body and the clamping means. In this way the passage serves to guide said one conductor to the clamping means.

The connector according to embodiments of the invention has been devised particularly for connecting two electrical cables each having a pair of electrical conductors insulated one from the other. For this purpose, the body of the conductor may accommodate two of the clamping means (each for receiving and clampingly engaging a respective one of the two conductors in one of the cables).

The two second (movable) jaws may be operated independently of each other or in unison. Where the two second jaws are operated independently, respective release means may incorporate a common release element which can rock between operating positions in each of which it moves a respective one of the two (movable) jaws out of its clamping position, and an inoperative position therebetween. The body may provides a fulcrum about which the element can rock.

Further insight into the advantages and characteristics of the present invention can be gained from the following description.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of one specific embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings in which :- Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a connector according to the embodiment; and Fig. 2 is a sectional view similar to Figure 1 with the connector being shown releasably engaging one of a pair of conductors, the other having been released.

Best Mode (s) for Carrying Out the Invention Referring to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown a conductor 10 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention. As shown in Figure 2, the conductor 10 is used for electrically connecting two electrical cables 11 and 12, which each comprise a pair of wire conductors.

The connector 10 is fitted onto one end of the cable 11, the two wire conductors of which are identified by reference numerals 13 and 14 in the drawings. The cable 12 is shown in the drawings only by way of its two wire conductors 15 and 16.

The connector 10 is adapted to provide an electrical connection between conductor 13 of cable 11 and conductor 15 of cable 12, and to provide a separate electrical connection between conductor 14 of cable 11 and conductor 16 of cable 12.

The connector 10 comprises a, body 20 having an outer casing 21 defining an internal cavity 23. The casing 21 has a side wall structure 25 extending between a pair of opposed end walls 27 and 29. A central stem 30 is mounted on the end wall 27 and extends through the cavity 23 towards an opening 31 in the end wall 29. The outer end of the stem 30 defines a fulcrum 33 on which is pivotally mounted a button 35. The button 35 is accommodated within the opening 31 within the end wall 29 and has a pair of inwardly directed actuating parts 37, the

purpose of which will be explained later. The button 35 is adapted to co-operate with the end wall 29 so that it is retained in position within the opening 31 while being able to rock about the fulcrum 33.

The body 20 is provided with a centra) opening 39 in the end wall 27 and two branch openings 41 each extending from the central opening in opposed directions to open onto the cavity 23 within the body. The central opening 39 is adapted to accommodate the end of the cable 11 with the two wire conductors 13 and 14 thereof accommodated one in each of the branch openings 41, as shown in the drawings. A retaining element 43 frictionally engages the cable 11 and the central opening 39 to assist in retaining the cable in position and sealing against ingress of foreign matter such as moisture and dust.

At the other end of the connector the end wall 29 is provided with a pair of passages 45 each adapted to accommodate a respective one of the wire connectors 15,16 of the cable 12. Each passage 45 extends from the exterior of the connector to a clamping means 47 within the body. The clamping means 47 is adapted to receive and clampingly engage a wire conductor presented to it through the respective passage 45.

In this embodiment each clamping means 47 comprises a fixed jaw 51 and a movable jaw 53. The fixed jaw 51 is defined by an internal face 52 of the body adjacent the inner end of the passage 45. The movable jaw 53 comprises a leaf spring 55 one end of which is mounted at 57 in cantilever fashion on the stem 30.

The other end of the spring projects towards the fixed jaw 51 and extends across the inner end of the respective passage 45 when the connector is not in use. With this arrangement, the outer end section of the leaf spring 55 can be contacted by a wire conductor pushed into the respective passage 45 so that the leaf spring deflects inwardly away from the passage and thus moves away from the fixed jaw 51. In this manner a wire conductor can be received between the two jaws. The resilient nature of the leaf spring ensures that it is urged into clamping engagement with the wire conductor so received between the two jaws. The leaf spring effectively"bites"against the wire conductor and resists withdrawal of the wire conductor from the connector. This biting action is enhanced by the fact that

the leaf spring has deflected inwardly in the direction of entry of the wire conductor and so cannot return to its undeflected condition while the wire conductor remains in place.

The respective actuating parts 37 of'the button 35 can be moved into engagement with the deflected leaf spring upon operation of the button to cause the leaf spring to deflect inwardly to a further extent so as to move the second jaw away from the wire conductor thereby allowing the latter to be withdrawn, as shown on the right hand side of the connector illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The stem 30 is provided with a pair of arcuate faces 58, one disposed adjacent ~the inner end of each leaf spring. The arcuate faces 58 provide progressive support for each leaf spring as the latter deflects inwardly. The arcuate face associated with each leaf spring ensures that the leaf spring progressively bends along its length as it is deflected rather than simply bending adjacent the point at which it is cantilevered on the stem.

When there are no wire conductors in the passages 45 (as is the case in Fig. 1 of the drawings), the leaf springs 55 serve to centralise the button 35 and cause it to assume an intermediate position in which it does not deflect either of the leaf springs.

Each leaf spring is formed of electrically conductive material and is connected by flexible electrical line 63 to one of the wire conductors 13,14 of the cable 11.

The connector 10 according to the embodiment provides a simply and effective way of electrically connecting cables 11 and 12. As previously indicated, the connector 10 is fixed onto one end of the cable 11 and when it is desired to connect the two cables together, it is simply necessary to-insert the wire conductors 15 and 16 of cable 12 into the passages 45 of the connector. As each wire conductor is pushed into one of the passages, it contacts the leaf spring and so causes it deflect inwardly so opening the clamping means to accommodate the end section of the wire conductor between the first and second jaws. Because of the clamping action, the connector securely grips the wire conductors and resists

unintentional separation of the cables. When it is desired to separate the cables, it is merely necessary to operate the button 35 so as to deflect the two leaf springs in turn so releasing the clamping engagement on the wire conductors and allowing them to be withdrawn from the passages 45 in the body.

It should be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the scope of the embodiment described. In particular, it should be understood that while the embodiment has been described in relation to a connector for electrically connecting two cables each having two wire conductors, the invention has application to connecting any number of wire conductors one to another, or connecting any number of wire conductors to a single wire conductor.

In the embodiment described there has been provided a connector for connecting two electrical cables each having a pair of electrical conductors insulated from one another, the connector being adapted for releasable connection to one of the cables and being adapted for permanent connection to the other of the electrical cables.

It will be understood that various changes may be made to the form, details, arrangement and proportion of the various parts and steps without departing form the spirit and scope of the invention. Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to the skilled addressee are, at the very least, considered to fall within the scope of the present invention, of which the preferred embodiment described herein is one specific example.

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise"or variations such as"comprises"or"comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.