Description of the Prior Art In the prior art, it is known to provide a pad mount for such purposes as feeding the electrical output of the secondary side of a transformer to a plurality of secondary lines. Many of these pad mounts, however, arrange the secondary lines at different angles, have connectors for the secondary lines which interfere or obstruct each other so that at least some of the connectors are inaccessible, and/or require the ends of the secondary lines to be pushed longitudinally through openings or wrapped around screws or similar posts, which can be difficult if the secondary lines are frayed or if the connectors are inaccessible. Similarly, the prior art frequently requires that the ends of the conductor of the secondary lines are free of burrs.

Recent examples of prior art in this field in U. S. Patent No. 5,690,516 entitled"Transformer Stud Electrical Connector", issued on November 25,1997

to Fillinger; U. S. Patent No. 5,199,905 entitled "Lay-In Pedestal Connector Bar and Method", issued on April 6,1993 to Fillinger; and U. S. Patent No.

5,189,596 entitled"Transition for Electrical Apparatus", issued on February 23,1993 to Runge.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a multi-tap pad connector which aligns the secondary connectors to be parallel with each other.

It is therefore a further object of this invention to provide a multi-tap pad connector in which the connectors are all substantially accessible and free from interference from one another.

It is therefore a still further object of this invention to provide a multi-tap pad connector in which the ends of the wires of the secondary connectors are not required to be pushed longitudinally through an aperture.

It is therefore a still further object of this invention to provide a multi-tap pad connector in which the ends of wires of the secondary connectors are not required to be wrapped around a screw or similar post.

It is therefore a still further object of this invention to provide a multi-tap connector which can accommodate burrs on the ends of the conductors of the secondary lines.

These and other objects are attained by providing a multi-tap pad connector in which a

female threaded element is formed along the longitudinal axis for receiving the bushing stud from the secondary side of a transformer. Open channels are formed along the body of the multi-tap pad connector which intersect the longitudinal axis, but are perpendicular thereto, thereby positioning the secondary connectors parallel to each other and perpendicular to the bushing stud from the secondary side of the transformer. The open channels allow the secondary conductors to be laid laterally into the open channels, rather than axially inserted through an aperture. A wall of the channel is formed obliquely to the longitudinal axis and threaded set screw apertures are formed therein so that the set screws which effectively close the channel and engage the secondary connectors therein are perpendicular to the open channels but oblique to the longitudinal axis of the pad connector. This arrangement of the set screws provides for high accessibility of the set screws and minimal or no interference therebetween.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side plan view, partially in phantom, of the multi-tap pad connector of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the multi-tap

pad connector of the present invention with the set screws illustrated in an exploded position.

Figure 3 is a side perspective view of a first alternative embodiment of the multi-tap pad connector of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a side perspective view of a second alternative embodiment of the multi-tap pad connector of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a side perspective view of a third alternative embodiment of the multi-tap pad connector of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views, one sees that Figure 1 is a side plan view, partially in phantom, of multi-tap pad connector 10. Multi-tap pad connector 10 is formed of a unitary piece of conductive material, such as aluminum. Longitudinal axis 12 is directed through the middle of multi-tap pad connector 10. The centerline of female threaded blind aperture 14 is formed along a portion of longitudinal axis 12.

Mouth 16 of female threaded blind aperture 14 is formed on end 18 of multi-tap pad connector 10.

Female threaded blind aperture 14 receives the threaded stud of a bushing of the secondary side of a transformer (not shown). This secondary side of the transformer provides the primary or feeder line for multi-tap pad connector 10 via female threaded blind aperture 14.

As shown on Figure 2, secondary line tap connector channels 20,22,24,26,28,30 are formed perpendicularly to longitudinal axis 12 and include lower partially circular nesting portions 32,34, 36,38,40,42 with respective centers of curvature 44,46,48,50,52,54 through which longitudinal axis 12 passes.

Secondary line tap connector channels 20,22, 24,26,28,30 further include oblique planar portions 56,58,60,62,64,66 rising from respective lower partially circular nesting portions 32,34,36,38,40,42. Oblique flanges 68,70,72, 74,76,78 are substantially perpendicular to oblique planar portions 56,58,60,62,64,66 and likewise at an oblique angle of 45° to longitudinal axis 12. Oblique flanges 68,70,72,74,76,78 include respective threaded apertures 80,82,84, 86,88,90 which threadably engage respective allen set screws 92,94,96,98,100,102 (see Figure 2).

Threaded apertures 80,82,84,86,88,90 and respective allen set screws 92,94,96,98,100,102 are oriented obliquely at a 45° angle with respect to longitudinal axis 12, but perpendicularly with respect to secondary line tap connector channels 20, 22,24,26,28,30. Threaded apertures 80,82,84, 86,88,90 are oriented toward respective centers of curvature 44,46,48,50,52,54 so that respective allen set screws 92,94,96,98,100,102 pass through respective centers of curvature 44,46,48, 50,52,54 so as to engage secondary electrical connectors (not shown) securely, both electrically

and mechanically, within respective lower partially circular nesting portions 32,34,36,38,40,42.

The arrangement and orientation of oblique flanges 68,70,72,74,76,78 allows simple access to respective allen set screws 92,94,96,98,100,102 and to respective secondary line tap connector channels 20,22,24,26,28,30.

Alternative embodiments are disclosed in Figures 3-5.

To install multi-tap pad connector 10, the installer typically threads the threaded stud of a bushing of the secondary side of a transformer (not shown) into female blind threaded aperture 14 thereby providing the feeder or primary line to multi-tap pad connector 10. The installer then strips the insulation from the secondary connector wires (not shown) and places the exposed conductors laterally into secondary line tap connector channels 20,22,24,26,28,30 and then tightens allen set screws 92,94,96,98,100,102 to tightly engage the conductors of the secondary connector wires, both mechanically and electrically. This lateral placement of the secondary conductor wires into secondary line tap connector channels 20,22,24, 26,28,30 allows multi-tap pad connector 10 to accommodate frayed or burred secondary conductor wires.

Thus the several aforementioned objects and advantages are most effectively attained. Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby and its scope is to be determined by that of the appended claims.